Wondering if the concept of the Rapture is a MIHOP situation

[spacelady]

Because of the increase in dialogue about it... from books to movies to activist religious factions to even the new episode of the Simpsons tonight. Then the thought of the actions of the Bush Administration to the new Pope choosing his name etc. ad nauseum. Perhaps the ol' self-fulfilling prophesy, maybe?

Edited to say--If so, can it be stopped by anyone?

[MrModerate]

1. I'm pretty confident that . . .

No matter what wicked and stupid acts the rapturists may carry out, they ain't gonna be carried off into the sky.

I'd bet a sizable amount of money that that particular prophecy will not be fulfilled, self- or otherwise.

[Taxloss]

2. Sad, isn't it?

Some people wanting to destroy everything they know and love to skip of to some mystical fantasyland. It's like Jonestown on a global scale.

[NAO]

3. In the 70's, my fundy church taught that UFOs were going to be

the secular "cover story" for the rapture. All the Christians were going to "meet the Lord in the clouds" and just disappear. Then the people left behind would wonder what happened to them. The secular government of the anti-christ would suggest that they had been abducted by UFOs. Makes perfect sense. Right then.

[beyurslf]

4. From those old movies from the 70's right? I cant think of the names

now but it was like a movie version from the 70;s of the Left behind books today. I remember watching all of them.

[leesa]

6. Did she happen to mention why they would need a "cover story" for the

Rapture? Is it bad? Would we notice they were gone?

[NAO]

12. Well, there would be Christians driving, flying planes, operating machines

So there would be all these freak accidents and mysterious disappearances that would have to be explained.

Now they couldn't just tell them that Jesus took them to Heaven, because they might repent of their sins and accept salvation instead of getting the Mark of the Beast.

So the UFO cover story allows the whole rapture phenomena to be explained without resorting to the supernatural origins of the event.

Those satanic secular servants of the dark prince are clever smooth talkers...like that John Kerry - he only appeared to win the debates by his smooth - and frankly French sounding - fancy talking. But Kerry, like all the homosexual baby-killing, gun-confiscating, Satan-worshiping, communistic Democrats, 'reported for duty' directly to...Satan.

[AntiCoup2K4]

5. Nope. Can't happen that way.

Jesus made it clear to His disciples that not even He knew the day and the hour of his return. The entire thing was on His Dad's timetable. So there's no way to MIHOP the rapture. Though some other end time prophecies, such as the Russian-led invasion of Israel in Ezekiel 38 & 39 could certainly be "encouraged".

[dragonlady]

7. I doubt they can actually pull it off

but it makes one wonder about their intentions in view of the horrendously escalting national debt and the deteriorating environment. If they don't intend to be here anymore, it makes worry about those subjects moot (at least for them).

[R. A. Fuqua]

8. forgive me for being

ignorant--but I don't really understand "the rapture". Can someone explain this to me? Is it supposed to be the end of the world?

[alcuno]

9. There's a book called, "The Apocalyptic President."

It says exactly that. We shouldn't have someone convinced of the end times because as president because he could believe he is acting out part of Revelation.

[Topeewaalaa]

11. I donno about Rapture

I do not know anything about Rapture.....but I do hear stories from Christians and Muslims that Jesus and Mohammad ascended to heaven. It just sounds unrealistic!!!!

[Wilms]

10. .

[hlthe2b]

13. Doesn't he just always know how to put things in perspective?

Love, Far Side! LOL

[Joebert]

15. Never noticed that the supreme being was left handed. n/t.

[spacelady]

14. I am just hypothesizing about a sort of "snowball effect"

wherein all these elements of civilization seem to be tracking together on this theme of religious and mystical prophecy, ie. the popularity of books like "the Da Vinci Code", The Pope, Middle East warfare, climate and natural disasters like the tsunami, etc. that add fuel to the fire of "Christian" zealotry and give those who believe in "end times" the impetus to act in a way that will "bring on" an apocalyptic event.

edited to add "Jonestown on a global scale." is an apt comparison.