Is Armageddon Just Around The Corner?

Top 18. Mar 4, 2005 12:17 PM

» RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Point of the Issue Involved

In response to Pinky102

Sorry, but this message eludes me. Clarify?

-- posted by RichardSpeaks

Top 19. Mar 4, 2005 1:32 PM

» Pinky102 - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Point of the Issue Involve

In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Point of the Issue Involved posted by RichardSpeaks:

Heh heh -- It's just that I've never seen or heard that expression before and it struck me as funny. It had nothing to do with the context--just the statement. smile

-- posted by Pinky102

Top 20. Mar 4, 2005 10:02 PM

» RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Point of the Issue Inv

In response to Pinky102

Got it. Have a good weekend.

By the way, to any and all reading this, I have another edgy article coming out on the 15th. You'll get a kick out of it, i'm certain. It's all about SIN!! And how to enjoy it.

-- posted by RichardSpeaks

http://www.exitmundi.nl/exitmundi.htm

Top 21. Mar 5, 2005 1:09 AM

» hawknut - Re: What a Load!

In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A Point of the Issue Involve posted by Pinky102:

I've never seen or heard that expression before ['what a load']

You've gotta get out more, PJ. smile smile You've never heard of 'what a load' of...bull, malarky, bunk, b.s., crapola, s**t, etc.?

Anyway, very interesting discussion. I've been following along. If memory serves me, only Matthew's gospel reports Jesus saying that one of two would be 'caught up'. Mark and Luke report He said the elite would be 'gathered'. None of the three report what will happen to these folks once caught up or gathered. John's gospel has no end-times chapter at all, if I remember right. So, the rapturists are relying on a symbolic dream (or bad wine) the writer had? What's the difference between John's nightmare account and these other apocalypse versions?

-- posted by hawknut

Top 22. Mar 5, 2005 6:59 AM

» Pinky102 - Re: Re: What a Load!

In response to Re: What a Load! posted by hawknut:

"You've gotta get out more, PJ."

Tell me about it.

I've always been a late bloomer. smile

-- posted by Pinky102

Top 23. Mar 5, 2005 3:22 PM

» RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: What a Load!

In response to Hawknut

There is only a certain (good-sized) 'band' of believers that accepts the so-called Rapture as truth. And, indeed, they base it on that very passage where Jesus says one would be taken, the other left. I, being young at the time, simply took it on faith that the proposers of that interpretation were right. When I got older, and began my own research, the Rapture went out the window. Up in a puff, as it were.

But Jesus also said something that has been my mainstay ever since I entered New Thought. He said, in Luke 17:21 that the Kingdom of God is within us. New Thought is based on that assumption. It changes everything. No outside vengeful, judging god, no outside evil, tempting devil. Everything within. We are responsible. No one else. The impllication is clear: we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling! Meaning, of course, it's all up to us.

-- posted by RichardSpeaks

Top 24. Mar 5, 2005 3:27 PM

» RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: What a Load!

In response to Pinky102

Nothing wrong with a bit of innocence. It's a rare and valuable commodity. Hear, Hear!!

-- posted by RichardSpeaks

Top 25. Mar 6, 2005 9:11 AM

» _Boanerges_ - Re: Re: Re: What a Load!

In response to Re: Re: What a Load! posted by RichardSpeaks:

band' of believers that accepts the so-called Rapture as truth. And, indeed, they base it on that very passage where Jesus says one would be taken, the other left.

Hi Richard.. Actually, that refers to judgment. The Rapture is mentioned by Paul.. As well, Jerome used 'rapiemur' in the Latin Vulgate, which is translated, to snatch out, to take out... So, you might wanna check that out, you know, to be sure!...

"deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus" (1Thessalonians 4:17 Latin Vulgate )

-- posted by _Boanerges_

Top 26. Mar 6, 2005 6:54 PM

» RichardSpeaks - Re: Re: Re: Re: What a Load!

In response to Boanerges

Y'see?? You just proved my point. You say the 'one taken' passage is about judgement; others, including many fundamentalists, say it's about the Rapture. And where does Paul specifically mention "The Rapture?" Perhaps I've missed it, but I don't recall where it might be, if at all.

Again, the major scholars have argued with fundamentalists and evangelicals for decades that the Rapture, as laid down in those sects, does not appear in New Testament writings. And as far as Jerome is concerned, he along with Epiphanius were aware that the Nazoreans believed in the speedy return of Jesus. But by Jerome's time in the 4th century a.d., the Nazoreans were about to fade into history because it had become clear that Jesus was not going to make a speedy return. And here it is, nearly 2000 years later, and the fundamentalists are still claiming a speedy return, that 2000 years means nothing to God and all that rot. Two thousand years is a long time.

No, my friend, no rapture. No quick return. No physical return at all. If the spirit of Christ (meaning 'anointed') is not already living in one's heart, it certainly is not going to come floating down out of heaven on a cloud. Heaven, as I have said many times and will continue to stress, is in the heart.

By the way, I think I have recommended this book before, but nonetheless, I highly recommend "The Mind of the Bible Believer" by Edmund Cohen. I found a used copy at a local bookstore about seven years ago. It's published by Prometheus Books, Amherst, New York. You might find it on Amazon.com. It's a powerful read. And a true mind opener.

-- posted by RichardSpeaks