Are you rapture ready?

[lenpettis74]

In the news all of the buzz has been about China wanting a "worldwide currency" that has been on the IMF shelf since the 1960's called SDR's or Special Drawing Rights. Most of this is in reaction to the complete screw job our country has given them with printing money faster than we can spend it, and them losing 30 percent of their investment in the dollar thanks to us. But you can be sure other countries will jump on this bandwagon, particularly those in eastern Europe being screwed by the euro hoarding countries of Germany, France, and the UK.

I am always skeptical of end times prophecy interpretation, but if, IF this happens, can we now say we are approaching end times, given the other so-called signs over the last several decades?

 

[gracechick]

They are so close to their goal of one world currency followed by domination, if I wasn't a believer, I would be petrified. A 20 something clerk told me he would be happy when everything becomes plastic and I was so stunned at his ignorance I didn't know where to start with the truth.
That being the day that happens is the day of "end game".

 

[hiscosmicgoldfish]

No, i don't believe in rapture.. and nobody else has ever believed it either, since before the 20th century back until the time of Christ.

 

[gracechick]

No, i don't believe in rapture.. and nobody else has ever believed it either, since before the 20th century back until the time of Christ.

That's what I thought until I saw some research that stated the early church did and was anxious for it. And who hasn't over the generations, but we're the one that will see so much and the rapture come to pass

 

[hiscosmicgoldfish]

That's what I thought until I saw some research that stated the early church did and was anxious for it. And who hasn't over the generations, but we're the one that will see so much and the rapture come to pass

No one in the history of the world has ever believed that Jesus comes back in secret and steals away Christians, then returns for a third time.. only until the 20th century in America.

 

[BeforeTheFoundation]

Actually, it was in the 18th century that the idea began, though it wasn't until Darby in the 19th century that it really took off with the idea of Dispensationalism. Any claim that it is older than that is revisionist history. Note, however, that while I do not believe in the Rapture, the fact that it is a fairly recent addition to theology does not in itself negate its validity. You could just as easily claim that it is a newer (and better) interpretation of the Bible or a new revelation etc. However, none of the Early Church Fathers seem to believe in it, neither do the Midaeval Believers or the Reformers etc. It is not until the last couple hundred years that it makes its mark.

That's what I thought until I saw some research that stated the early church did and was anxious for it.

I myself have done a great deal of research on this topic. Out of curiosity, what were the claims made by your research? Who in the early church mentioned anything resembling the rapture? (setting aside differences of interpretation of Biblical texts).

As far as the world currency thing goes, would someone kindly present verifiable proof that this is China's plan? Far from it being "all of the buzz" this informed citizen of the world has heard nothing about this.

 

[hiscosmicgoldfish]

It’s enough for me that no one came up with the idea before, none of the reformers, none of the church fathers, just some wacky Americans, a bit like the Mormon ideas, or the prophet Mrs Ellen Smith of the SDA’s.. seems to be a similar cultish type of belief to me, and almost exclusively an American belief, the full-on dispensationalism.

 

[Hockey_Fan]

The pastor of a church I attend was explaining how the concept of a rapture was taught as early as 150 AD and then sort of lost during the dark ages.

I'm curious where the whole idea started. I don't think Jesus ever talked of such.

 

[hiscosmicgoldfish]

The pastor of a church I attend was explaining how the concept of a rapture was taught as early as 150 AD and then sort of lost during the dark ages.

I'm curious where the whole idea started. I don't think Jesus ever talked of such.

ask your pastor if he's a dispensationalist, and try and get a straight answer out of him/her.

 

[BeforeTheFoundation]

Also ask him or her to what text he or she is actually referring. A lot of people will claim that the Early Church taught the Rapture, but until they actually produce texts that show them teaching it the claim is purely erroneous.

 

[Dark_Lite]

They might be taking the "some of the apostles/disciples thought that Jesus' coming would be within their lifetimes" to mean "the rapture was thought up at the start of Christianity!"

Which, of course, is an erroneous conclusion...

 

[hiscosmicgoldfish]

They might be taking the "some of the apostles/disciples thought that Jesus' coming would be within their lifetimes" to mean "the rapture was thought up at the start of Christianity!"

Which, of course, is an erroneous conclusion...

yes but the return of Christ, in the time of Paul, was never a secret rapture.. that was the return of Christ as it was always thought of.. whether they want to call it 'rapture' as the saints meet the Lord in the air.. again never a secret rapture.. in that people leave their clothes on the seats of aircraft.. and they secret off to heaven..

 

[lenpettis74]

If you want to debate the rapture, please do me the courtesy of starting a new post. The question was "are we in end-times?" based on some of the signs of recent history, most recently the Chinese recommending world-wide currency. I used the rapture to get attention, and now I regret it completely.

 

[hiscosmicgoldfish]

but yes.. these are the end times.. the conditions are coming together, but people have mis-read and mis-interpreted Revelation and used various other biblical books to back it all up..