'Rapture' question

[bignickel]

I've been thinking how to phrase this. The thought popped into my head when I read the marvelous Chthulu Chick-parody.

A person who is 'alive' is someone who can breathe, ingest nourishment, is not brain-dead, etc.

If someone does not fit these three (or at least 2 of them at the very least), we consider them to be 'dead'.

Now: the 'Rapture' believers believe that when the 'Rapture' arrives, G_d will grab all the worthy people, leaving the unworthy behind to suffer horrible tribulations (which happen to be interesting enough to be turned into block-busting novels that make tons of money).

Am I wrong in thinking that when G_d 'grabs' all the 'worthy': they are DEAD afterwards? ie NOT on this plane of existance anymore, not eating, not breathing, etc.

Do we have large groups of people in this world who look forward to the day when G_d will kill them? Or am I missing something here? Whats the differance between someone who is 'worthy' who dies a day before the 'Rapture', and when who is 'grabbed' by G_d during the 'Rapture'?

 

[triadboy]

God snatches spirits, not physical bodies...(except for a couple)

 

[bignickel]

If I'm not mistaken, Triadboy, the 'Rapture' folk believe that the 'worthy' will be BODILY taken up to Heaven ('bodily' being some kind of adverb, weirdly enough).

 

[jcon96]

And the rest of us will have free new cars to pick from!

 

[triadboy]

If I'm not mistaken, Triadboy, the 'Rapture' folk believe that the 'worthy' will be BODILY taken up to Heaven ('bodily' being some kind of adverb, weirdly enough).

Don't the Rapture people think our bodies are disgusting earth-bound vehicles for our shining-light souls to putter around in?

My God, if you were taken bodily to Heaven - you would still have your genitalia! Eewwww, gross!!!

I'd like to hear from a Rapturist on this.

 

[Hexxenhammer]

I'm pretty sure the "Left Behind" type of rapture believer thinks the whole body goes up.

For a very cool vision of the Rapture read Heinlein's "Job". Probably the most mathematical and practical telling of the how the rapture might happen.

 

[bignickel]

But they all do agree that they will be for all effects and purposes: dead. That their G_d will one day come down and kill them.

Although they won't word it that way.

 

[the_ignored]

I think it's more like they're supposed to get "new kinds of bodies" or something; maybe like the "Organians" in that one original series Star Trek episode...


**hopes there's enough geeks here to know what I was referring to**

 

[Atlas]

I know of two passages that address the Rapture

1 Thessalonians Chapter 4: verses 15-17 -- seems to suggest that the humans are snatched up bodily:
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.



1 Corinthians Chapter 15: verses 50-55 -- Seems to tell a slightly different story of living bodies lifted to Heaven

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

 

[bignickel]

Oh wow.

There's a song I have called "we shall be saved" by Cop Shoot Cop that contains nothing but samples from the verses you just cited.

So that's what that song's about...

 

[Atlas]

With a name like Cop Shoot Cop... It sounds like a group you'd be wise to listen to.

 

[Ralph]

I've been thinking how to phrase this. The thought popped into my head when I read the marvelous Chthulu Chick-parody.

A person who is 'alive' is someone who can breathe, ingest nourishment, is not brain-dead, etc.

If someone does not fit these three (or at least 2 of them at the very least), we consider them to be 'dead'.

Now: the 'Rapture' believers believe that when the 'Rapture' arrives, G_d will grab all the worthy people, leaving the unworthy behind to suffer horrible tribulations (which happen to be interesting enough to be turned into block-busting novels that make tons of money).

Am I wrong in thinking that when G_d 'grabs' all the 'worthy': they are DEAD afterwards? ie NOT on this plane of existance anymore, not eating, not breathing, etc.

Do we have large groups of people in this world who look forward to the day when G_d will kill them? Or am I missing something here? Whats the differance between someone who is 'worthy' who dies a day before the 'Rapture', and when who is 'grabbed' by G_d during the 'Rapture'?

The impression I got was rapture=death. You now have all of eternity ahead of you to sit around and rap with Jesus.

How the hell is Jesus going to find the time to rap with several million christians????

Will there be a waiting line.

Will Jesus get bored with this after a few thousand years?

One interesting thing I noticed over there---the ones that are most anxious for this to happen are also the ones who seem to be the most miserable with life here on earth.

I've seen some reluctance about "leaving" though from some of them........I get the impression they're better off financially---have a pretty good marriage--and seem hesitant about leaving all this good stuff.

A few even asked about being able to come back after the rapture.

I don't think they like the idea about parting with their "stuff".

 

[Atlas]

Re: Re: 'Rapture' question

The impression I got was rapture=death.

Ralphy, thats so negative... Think of it like: rapture=not alive

How the hell is Jesus going to find the time to rap with several million christians? Will there be a waiting line.

Yes, but there will also be donuts.

Will Jesus get bored with this after a few thousand years?

Yes, and here's a tip... smart ascenders will not waste the batteries in their Gameboys. Little known fact, Jesus loves Gameboys.

 

[VicDaring]

Re: Re: 'Rapture' question

One interesting thing I noticed over there---the ones that are most anxious for this to happen are also the ones who seem to be the most miserable with life here on earth.

By, "over there," I assume you mean the Rapture Ready Board.

And you're dead on right. I love it when they make long, rambling posts about how awful everyting is on earth, and the USA in particular, and end with: *looking up*

The clear inference here is that they're looking for Jeebus to come get them and end their horrid suffering. What's so comforting about this god stuff again?

 

[Ralph]

Re: Re: Re: 'Rapture' question

Ralphy, thats so negative... Think of it like: rapture=not alive

Yes, but there will also be donuts.

Yes, and here's a tip... smart ascenders will not waste the batteries in their Gameboys. Little known fact, Jesus loves Gameboys.

What about the saved christian who FINALLY goes out & buys that Corvette convertable he's been lusting after all his life?

Three hours after he drives home with it-----the rapture occurs.

Do you think maybe he might want Jesus to just hold off a little while longer-----or maybe even let him take the car with him???

 

[the_ignored]

Uh, can't quite describe this...

Of course, you can guess where this thread came from...


The irony is, this guy is ignorant:

SCORES of prophecies concerning the first coming of Jesus (His birth) are found in the Old Testament. ALL WERE FULFILLED TO THE LETTER; not one prophecy concerning His birth failed to be fulfilled.
Since the same prophets prophesied of His second coming also, I expect these prophecies to be fulfilled in every detail--and they will!

<~~for one thing, there IS no mention of a "second coming" in the OT/Judaic prophecies!

and sites like http://www.messiahtruth.com shoot down the rest of that nonsense.

 

[the_ignored]

Mother of Madness, this is surreal!

What should I do at the Rapture?

If you are among the Chosen for Insta-Salvation, you will hear the voices of God and the Archangel calling out of the sky. Please take any necessary actions to leave the Earth in a safe state:

park your vehicle OR
secure an alternate pilot
unplug all coffee pots or hot-plates
stamp out any cigarettes or open flames
leave money on the table
move towards open sky, skylights or at least upper stories*


*The bible states: "Taken Up" but is without comment on material barriers. This could be embarrassing for people taken up from the ground floor of a large building.

If you are chosen, all cares will now be behind you. Go with God, and Blessed Be.

But what if you hear the Call and stand there, waiting? Again, it is unclear how long the time is between the opening of the graves and the taking of the living. Remain patient, and optimistic, and keep moving towards open ground.

It is unsure whether the Divine Call will be heard by the unworthy, but those Left Behind will certainly become aware of the two big signs of the Rapture. Any Christian hearing stories of mass grave desecration, WORLD WIDE, should be able to determine the cause. But if you are still on Earth when the stories of millions of missing non-buried Christians are told, you may have to consider that you are not going to be taken up.

 

[the_ignored]

I'm putting the title for my last post in the "Coolest post title Ever" category...

or, alternatively, the "Most hysterical post title Ever" category.

I wanna get something for that...

 

[jimmygun]

Bignickel...just curious... why do you print the word 'god' with the vowel missing?

 

[bignickel]

Bignickel...just curious... why do you print the word 'god' with the vowel missing?

In case the Great Head of Cabbage in the sky gets upset with me using his name. And turns me into a carrot.

Doesn't everyone see G_d as a big vegetable?



Anyways, I might be doing it as a punny throwback to ancient Hebrew, where there are no vowels. So, instead of J_V_H, I put G_D. Then again, only G_d knows why I do the things I do...

I wish I could ask some Rapturists about waiting for The Big Guy to kill them, but I'd get bounced immediately if I went over to Rapture Ready.