Do you believe that the concept of rapture is merely an escape mechanism used by

1. 83

   gmwilliamsposted 8 years ago

   Do you believe that the concept of rapture is merely an escape mechanism used by religionists
   
   who are unhappy, powerless, & wishing to somehow right societal wrongs instead of proactively doing something constructively to change society?
   
   

   replyreport
2. 79

   dashingscorpioposted 8 years ago

   
   
   More often than not I believe talk of the "rapture" is a selling point to "get right with God" now before it's too late.
   There are two basic sales pitches one makes to a prospect.
   1. List all the advantages they stand to gain by moving forward.
   2. List all the negative horrible things that may happen if the don't.
   "Get your SALAVATION! Come and Get it!" Time is running out!
   Not having a "deadline" makes it difficult to motivate buyers.
   Every ministry wants to grow and be prosperous. This can only happen if membership increases. Some ministries preach "fire & brimstone" while others preach about "health & prosperity" all from the same book!
   From their point of view there is nothing for them to do but have faith.
   "The meek shall inherit the earth."
   When Jesus returns everything will be as it should. (That's their belief.) Until it happens some will keep predicting "end dates".
   Back in 1987 Oral Roberts made a dramatic appeal. If his supporters did not send donations totaling $8 million dollars within three months, he warned that God would "call me home."
   I guess you can use the "end of days" pitch individually too!

   replyreport
   1. 84

      Austinstarposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Shysters and shyster tactics. I'm not surprised except at the people who fall victim to their wild cult theories.

      replyreport
3. 60

   Kiss andTalesposted 8 years ago

   I agree with dashing on how people use religion,  the same as using a hammer,  but if a hammer is in the wrong hands things can be destroyed , even a human, the point is if the individual throws the hammer and hits windows , people would say that is awful , they would not say who made the hammer !
   Yet that is, the very case with religion many have abused it's message and purpose and they blame religion total , instead of the people who abuse the power .
   The real purpose and the real benifits are 
   totally absent as to cover many into a brand New earth under Jesus Administration because of the true knowledge they reject because of the bad name religion has made.
   So while people are stoning the company of the hammer , the real problem continues, because the distroyer changes tools and do the same damage.
   Yet the maker of the tools is innocent yet accused .
   All the damage done to earth is because man has done it . God Almighty has not interfered with man choices even if they offend him he does not reach out to scold and destroy .
   But humans take it upon themselves to do and judge what God alone has the only right to do.
   So the sad thing is many will miss out on a New Earth because the door into paradise
   Is finding truth.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Kiss andTalesposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      The rapture doctrin is based on Jesus coming and taking righteous people to heaven, the problem with that thinking is
      No rapture was need for Noah, they were declared righteous
      8 people. The earth has done nothing so why be taken away from it.

      replyreport
4. 84

   Billie Kelpinposted 8 years ago

   For the life of me, I cannot conceive how anyone can believe in such a cruel theory.  How unjust would be a god who would arrange for a rapture of believers while non-believers were left back! It's totally antithetical to anything hard wired in the human brain.  I think it comes actually from people's knowledge and fear that some day, no matter how distant, life on earth will become problematic.  Thank goodness, scientists continue to  proceed forward and work on what intuitively seems to be mankind's destiny -  figuring out how intelligent life can continue to survive and explore the mysteries of universe that only the naive and arrogant believe they understand.  It makes me incredibly sad to know that otherwise rational humans can buy into such an illogical, cruel, selfish concept.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Kiss andTalesposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      The rapture is a believed doctrin of men.
      So you are correct God is not cruel, again misinformed infomation would make this seem true.
      The truth has not been touched or mention at all. Sad because it is a very happy truth.

      replyreport
5. 85

   M. T. Dremerposted 8 years ago

   Sort of. There are people who believe in the rapture who do constructive things to change society. So it isn't just an excuse to avoid being productive. Personally I think it's more of a mental sense of justice than something that outwardly affects them. In other words, they can process the bad things that happen because there is a point in time where all will be made right. I think something similar, as an atheist, when I think of a time where we'll all be star dust again and my worries about money and my job will be washed away by the cosmic cycle. It's a bridge for our minds to comprehend a random and unforgiving world.

   replyreport
6. 80

   kenneth averyposted 8 years ago

   When God made mankind, He gave him a free will to choose living for God or Satan. And to believe whatever he chooses including the Rapture Theory. I say "theory" for that is what it is. Too many people are caught up in the scripture in 1st Thesselonnians that states "we shall be caught up in the air" when Jesus returns. The Hebrew Manuscripts say that this simply means that after Anti-Christ is expelled from earth, and Jesus returns to set up his earthly Messaniac Kingdom, His first breath will draw His children into His life and will. No one on TV who teaches the Rapture ever quote the scripture from Ezekiel that says, "woe unto them that teach MY children to fly like birds to save their souls," and that has to mean God is not about the Rapture. If He was, why then are we believers to keep our armour ready at all times? And why does He want us to study "show ourselves approved" which includes the Book of Revelation if we are going to fly away?
   I know that the Anti-Christ will use the tool of deception as much as he can to deceive Christians everywhere and that includes using the Rapture theory. Beware what you read and whom you follow.

   replyreport