Christians have generally believed for 2000 years that Christ will return to judge the earth at some point (e.g., Heb. 9:28). Of course I do not think that an informed biblical theology will include a seven year tribulation or a rapture that is somehow separated from the judgment in time. Indeed, it seems likely to me that in 1 Thessalonians 4 believers meet Jesus in the air only to return to the earth for the judgment.
Unless Harold Camping is the greatest prophet since John the Revelator, I doubt very seriously there will be a rapture today. I will continue grading. He has no clue how to read the Bible in context, and he falls into a predictable pattern. On Sunday he will either recalculate or say the rapture happened in some spiritual way. It's all been done before... many times... especially in America.
And once again, people will associate Christianity with stupidity. Christianity will take another knock this week. Those with the signs this week, they should be silent for a while. They should take stock, realizing that they have made God look bad... again.
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3 comments:
I once knew a pastor who claimed that revival was coming 'this year'. When it didn't, I challenged him over it. His response was that he was experiencing revival in his heart, and that if I wasn't, there was something wrong with me. Says it all!
Is it any less stupid to believe that this world and human beings are "perfectable" and that reconciliation and restoration will come on this earth? I don't think so. And it is ONLY the naive that would hold to either position.
Angie: regarding perfectibility, I would refer you to those the historic Orthodox Catholic Traditions calls "Saints" and I would include certain Protestants in this category as well.
Concerning "reconciliation and restoration": no, not completely, this side of the actual Parousia, but the Church is to be a sign of that "becoming what it is", so we don't get to cop out on struggling for it in here and now (and, in a real sense, this reconciliation and restoration is realized liturgically here and now whenever the Eucharist is celebrated according to the norms of the Apostolic Tradition).
Finally, concerning Camping and company: I will only paraphrase St. Paul quoting Isaiah: "The Name of God is blasphemed among non-believers because of the likes of you".
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