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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.
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.