The Rapture: And Other Silly Things Christians Get Consumed With

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R

renewedfaith1964

Guest
#1
I was thirteen years old when I first got saved. My mom took me to an Assembly of God church that was playing the Rapture movie A Thief in the Night. We didn’t attend the church but went to watch the movie. The movie quite literally scared the hell out of me. Or into me. I’m not sure which.
In the movie, Christians are taken to heaven in the Rapture and non-Christians are left to deal with the aftermath. Scary, scary things happen to the folks left behind, including decapitation for becoming a Christian. At the end of the movie, the pastor gave an altar call and I practically ran up front to get saved. I wanted no part with guillotines or the Antichrist.
I spent the next several months terrified that I, nonetheless, would be left behind. My mother was a rock-solid Christian. If she walked out of a room without me seeing her leave, I was terrified that the Rapture had taken her and left me behind. I tried to keep tabs on my mom at all times. If she went anywhere, I went with her.
I kept telling myself that even if I got left behind, there was no way I would take the mark of the Beast. I constantly psyched myself up, assuring myself that when they stuck my head in the guillotine, I would never deny Christ. I would let them take my head off. Being a young Christian was, uh, great! Sorta.
Many years have passed and I don't believe in the Rapture anymore. Prior to the 20th Century, Christians never even talked about the Rapture. In the 20th Century, it became HUGE. It's so inconsistent with what scripture actually teaches. And, no, you don't lose your salvation for not believing in the Rapture.
I like to poke fun at some of the crazy things Christians believe. I wrote a chapter called "The Rapture Bogey Man." You can read the book free (it's free at Smashwords.com). It's called: "iDoubt: When Faith Falters." Some people get deeply offended when I mention a free book. Relax. It's free. It costs nobody nothing. Just enjoy it if you want. If not, don't sweat it. I really poke fun at some other silly things Christians believe, like Y2K was the end of the world, etc. Enjoy.
 
Nov 2, 2013
1,380
6
0
#2
I have been lead to understand that the rapture is real. However, the meanins are literaly quite far from each other. What I have spiritually encountered is being taken up in a cloud that is bowed in the body of Christ. Just as Noah's ark specifications give way to certain hints as to what the story is really about spiritually with God. Then finding myself returned to God in Christ spiritually pure to start again.

Revelations
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

8*I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

9*I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Genesis
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the*Lord.

9*These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

10*And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11*The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12*And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

13*And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

14*Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
gopher wood- man
Pitch- blood sacrifice


15*And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
............
proportions are equivalent to those of the human body....l-300×w30:the human body is 6 times as long as it is wide:depth 1/10th
.............
16*A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
................
one window above- always looking up to God for understanding....and "one door"
................
John
*---Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8*All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9*I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
...,..............
Genesis
17*And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

18*But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

19*And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

20*Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

21*And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

22*Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

12*And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

13*I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

14*And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

15*And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16*And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

17*And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth

Anyway if you are still reading this is from what I understand to be the rapture.
 
J

John_S

Guest
#3
I was thirteen years old when I first got saved. My mom took me to an Assembly of God church that was playing the Rapture movie A Thief in the Night. We didn’t attend the church but went to watch the movie. The movie quite literally scared the hell out of me. Or into me. I’m not sure which.
In the movie, Christians are taken to heaven in the Rapture and non-Christians are left to deal with the aftermath. Scary, scary things happen to the folks left behind, including decapitation for becoming a Christian. At the end of the movie, the pastor gave an altar call and I practically ran up front to get saved. I wanted no part with guillotines or the Antichrist.
I spent the next several months terrified that I, nonetheless, would be left behind. My mother was a rock-solid Christian. If she walked out of a room without me seeing her leave, I was terrified that the Rapture had taken her and left me behind. I tried to keep tabs on my mom at all times. If she went anywhere, I went with her.
I kept telling myself that even if I got left behind, there was no way I would take the mark of the Beast. I constantly psyched myself up, assuring myself that when they stuck my head in the guillotine, I would never deny Christ. I would let them take my head off. Being a young Christian was, uh, great! Sorta.
Many years have passed and I don't believe in the Rapture anymore. Prior to the 20th Century, Christians never even talked about the Rapture. In the 20th Century, it became HUGE. It's so inconsistent with what scripture actually teaches. And, no, you don't lose your salvation for not believing in the Rapture.
I like to poke fun at some of the crazy things Christians believe. I wrote a chapter called "The Rapture Bogey Man." You can read the book free (it's free at Smashwords.com). It's called: "iDoubt: When Faith Falters." Some people get deeply offended when I mention a free book. Relax. It's free. It costs nobody nothing. Just enjoy it if you want. If not, don't sweat it. I really poke fun at some other silly things Christians believe, like Y2K was the end of the world, etc. Enjoy.
1. You are NOT "saved". That is another silly thing that Christians believe. NO ONE will be saved until you die and God deems you worthy of being allowed into Heaven. To teach people that they are "saved" is antichristian because WE decide that WE are going to Heaven and completely take it out of God's hands. That teaching is disgusting and shameful and people should be utterly ashamed that they believe such nonsense.
2. That kind of childhood, seems like child abuse. NO child should have to be raised like that.
3. You are absolutely right. The Pre-Trib Rapture will NOT be happening.
4. I'm NOT interested in reading your book.
 

zone

Senior Member
Jun 13, 2010
27,214
164
63
#4
I was thirteen years old when I first got saved. My mom took me to an Assembly of God church that was playing the Rapture movie A Thief in the Night. We didn’t attend the church but went to watch the movie. The movie quite literally scared the hell out of me. Or into me. I’m not sure which.
In the movie, Christians are taken to heaven in the Rapture and non-Christians are left to deal with the aftermath. Scary, scary things happen to the folks left behind, including decapitation for becoming a Christian. At the end of the movie, the pastor gave an altar call and I practically ran up front to get saved. I wanted no part with guillotines or the Antichrist.
I spent the next several months terrified that I, nonetheless, would be left behind. My mother was a rock-solid Christian. If she walked out of a room without me seeing her leave, I was terrified that the Rapture had taken her and left me behind. I tried to keep tabs on my mom at all times. If she went anywhere, I went with her.
I kept telling myself that even if I got left behind, there was no way I would take the mark of the Beast. I constantly psyched myself up, assuring myself that when they stuck my head in the guillotine, I would never deny Christ. I would let them take my head off. Being a young Christian was, uh, great! Sorta.
a little like kids being tormented by thoughts of purgatory and other ideas.
a heartbreaking story - but told with humor....nice:)

i wonder how many kids today are going through what you did.
 

zone

Senior Member
Jun 13, 2010
27,214
164
63
#5
1. You are NOT "saved". That is another silly thing that Christians believe. NO ONE will be saved until you die and God deems you worthy of being allowed into Heaven. To teach people that they are "saved" is antichristian because WE decide that WE are going to Heaven and completely take it out of God's hands. That teaching is disgusting and shameful and people should be utterly ashamed that they believe such nonsense.
2. That kind of childhood, seems like child abuse. NO child should have to be raised like that.
3. You are absolutely right. The Pre-Trib Rapture will NOT be happening.
4. I'm NOT interested in reading your book.
wow.

abiding in the vine is not hard, is it:confused:....who wants to be anywhere but with Christ:confused:

sorry dear...the Bible says we can know we are saved.
and we have assurance - we are supposed to have assurance.
i`m sorry for you that you do not.

1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Romans 8
15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ
 
J

John_S

Guest
#6
wow.

abiding in the vine is not hard, is it:confused:....who wants to be anywhere but with Christ:confused:

sorry dear...the Bible says we can know we are saved.
and we have assurance - we are supposed to have assurance.
i`m sorry for you that you do not.

1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Romans 8
15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ
...and I'm Sorry that YOU think that YOU have decided that YOU are going to Heaven.
People who think like this think that they are BETTER than God and have made God irrelevant.
 

zone

Senior Member
Jun 13, 2010
27,214
164
63
#7
...and I'm Sorry that YOU think that YOU have decided that YOU are going to Heaven.
People who think like this think that they are BETTER than God and have made God irrelevant.

1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.


there....nice and big for ya.
 
A

Anonimous

Guest
#8
1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.


there....nice and big for ya.
occasionally I FEEL THERE IS A BIG OL' STICK THAT NEEDS TO ACCCOMPANY SOFT WORDS...
 
J

John_S

Guest
#9
So zone and Anonymous DON'T need God. They can just proclaim that they have been "saved", commit ANY sins that they want to, and then THEY are going to decide that THEY will be going to Heaven.

Okey Dokey. Good Luck with that.
 
Jan 19, 2013
11,909
141
0
#11
1. You are NOT "saved". That is another silly thing that Christians believe.
NO ONE will be saved until you die and God deems you worthy of being allowed into Heaven.
That's not what the NT teaches.

To teach people that they are "saved" is antichristian because WE decide that WE are going to Heaven and completely take it out of God's hands.
No, through the gift of faith by grace (Php 1:29; 2Pe 1:1; Ac 18:27; Ro 12:3),
WE believe what the NT teaches.

3. You are absolutely right. The Pre-Trib Rapture will NOT be happening.
R.Faith did not say the rapture was pre-trib.
 
R

renewedfaith1964

Guest
#12
1. You are NOT "saved". That is another silly thing that Christians believe. NO ONE will be saved until you die and God deems you worthy of being allowed into Heaven. To teach people that they are "saved" is antichristian because WE decide that WE are going to Heaven and completely take it out of God's hands. That teaching is disgusting and shameful and people should be utterly ashamed that they believe such nonsense.
2. That kind of childhood, seems like child abuse. NO child should have to be raised like that.
3. You are absolutely right. The Pre-Trib Rapture will NOT be happening.
4. I'm NOT interested in reading your book.

I'm presuming that the large "J" below your name does not stand for joy. Just a hunch.
 
Jan 19, 2013
11,909
141
0
#13
So zone and Anonymous DON'T need God. They can just proclaim that they have been "saved", commit ANY sins that they want to, and then THEY are going to decide that THEY will be going to Heaven.

Okey Dokey. Good Luck with that.
Obviously you are unaware of NT teaching on the subject.
 

zone

Senior Member
Jun 13, 2010
27,214
164
63
#14
So zone and Anonymous DON'T need God. They can just proclaim that they have been "saved", commit ANY sins that they want to, and then THEY are going to decide that THEY will be going to Heaven.

Okey Dokey. Good Luck with that.
you don't have the witness of the Holy Spirit in you, assuring you, you are adopted and accepted in the Beloved?
are you afraid of God? or is He your Papa?

They can just proclaim that they have been "saved", commit ANY sins that they want to
oh....we can?

eh....not interested in doing that. i had my fill.
 
Jan 19, 2013
11,909
141
0
#15
John_S said:
1. You are NOT "saved". That is another silly thing that Christians believe. NO ONE will be saved until you die and God deems you worthy of being allowed into Heaven. To teach people that they are "saved" is antichristian because WE decide that WE are going to Heaven and completely take it out of God's hands. That teaching is disgusting and shameful and people should be utterly ashamed that they believe such nonsense.
2. That kind of childhood, seems like child abuse. NO child should have to be raised like that.
3. You are absolutely right. The Pre-Trib Rapture will NOT be happening.
4. I'm NOT interested in reading your book.
I'm presuming that the large "J" below your name does not stand for joy. Just a hunch.
And a good one, I might add.
 
B

BradC

Guest
#16
you don't have the witness of the Holy Spirit in you, assuring you, you are adopted and accepted in the Beloved?
are you afraid of God? or is He your Papa?



oh....we can?

eh....not interested in doing that. i had my fill.
As as an adopted son, I have the witness of the Spirit in me through the Father that I am not appointed to wrath, to condemnation or the time of the great tribulation and no man can take that from me any more then they can take away my adoption.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,094
113
#17
So zone and Anonymous DON'T need God. They can just proclaim that they have been "saved", commit ANY sins that they want to, and then THEY are going to decide that THEY will be going to Heaven.

Okey Dokey. Good Luck with that.
good grief brother.

have you not read the book?

we have a sure hope!!

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.


(Hebrews 6:17-20)

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.


(1 John 3:14)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(Romans 5:1-2)

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

(2 Timothy 1:12)


this sentiment is repeated again and again and again through the Word. and whereby do we obtain this salvation?

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.


(John 10:27-29)

what edification to young believers do you possibly think you are bringing by telling them they have no assurance of the promises of God? do you think Christ's sacrifice was insufficient? do you think some power can snatch us out of His hand?

pff.


have you read Ephesians?

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

(Ephesians 2:1-10)

now is it by our works that we obtain salvation? do we do good works and shun sin because we're trying to commend ourselves to God? can we do any good work without God? whose name is glorified by this wonderful gift? you think it's possible at all for you to do something and become worthy of it?

i find it distasteful that you would call these brothers & sisters of ours heretics because they have grabbed hold of the assurance​ that the true Faith teaches.
 
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maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,261
2,386
113
#18
I wrote a chapter called "The Rapture Bogey Man."
I realize there are people with different views on eschatology.

I'm not going to get into that.

I'm just going to clarify a few things.


1. Some people absolutely DO teach the rapture as some horrible frightening thing -
ONLY WITH THE INTENTION OF SELLING STUFF.
They want to scare every man, woman and child, lost or saved, just to take advantage of them.
It's nothing more than a money making opportunity.
This really happens.

2. Whether or not you believe in the rapture, the standard teaching holds a much different view
than what I mentioned above, in point #1.

The standard teaching shows:
IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, THERE IS NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF.
NOTHING.

3. Conversely, if you are NOT a Christian, there IS something to be afraid of.
If you are not a believer, you SHOULD ALWAYS be afraid of the wrath of God...
AT ALL TIMES, WITH OR WITHOUT THE RAPTURE.


4. Summation:
The standard teaching on the rapture is that it's just a point of eschatology...
there is nothing for Christians to fear, and there is nothing EXTRA that non-believers should fear, who are, already, under the condemnation of God.

5. There are people who intentionally misrepresent parts of the rapture doctrine, just to scare people into buying stuff.
This is true.
But again, according to standard teachings on the rapture, a believer has nothing to fear, and an unbeliever ALWAYS has judgement to fear, whether the rapture is imminent or not.


Like I said, my point wasn't to debate eschatology in this thread.
I was just pointing out that the STANDARD teaching on the rapture has nothing to do with frightening Christians, or scaring small children.

It's always better to debate facts, and doctrine, than strawmen.

God Bless,
Max
 
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starfield

Senior Member
Jun 13, 2009
3,393
58
48
#19
As as an adopted son, I have the witness of the Spirit in me through the Father that I am not appointed to wrath, to condemnation or the time of the great tribulation and no man can take that from me any more then they can take away my adoption.
As an adopted child of God, I have the witness of the Spirit in me through the Father that the great tribulation is past and no man can take that from me any more than they can take away my adoption. :)
 
B

BradC

Guest
#20
As an adopted child of God, I have the witness of the Spirit in me through the Father that the great tribulation is past and no man can take that from me any more than they can take away my adoption. :)
What's new, you are just keeping up with your reputation as being contrary. No surprise here.