Liberal Christianity

Lesson 7: Prophecy and The End Times

Optional Exercise

Research the origin and basis of End Times theology including The Rapture, Tribulation and Dispensationalism.

Your writing must speak to the following items:

1. The Importance of Prophecy in a Religious Context.

a. Prophecy concerning the future.

b. Prophecy as a personal gift of discernment about one's self and others in a spiritual community.

c. The intent of the author of the Book of Revelation.

2. The origin of the Rapture as a scriptural subject of prophecy.

a. When was it first taught and by whom? Name the principal actors involved and to what Christian congregations they belonged.

3. Trace the movement of a belief in the Rapture over the past three centuries.

a. How did the Rapture expand in the 19th and 20th centuries in North America?

4. Weave into your writing the inclusion of the Times of Tribulations, differentiating between the different views of these coming times.

5. Address as they exist in the 21st century, the concepts of:

a. Dispensationalism

b. Christian Reconstructionism

c. Christian Dominionism

6. Summarize the arguments of those who believe that the United States should turn to a rule of "Old Testament Law" as advocated by, among others, Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia and Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsvylvania.

7. Express your own conclusion as to the legitimacy of the Rapture, End Times, and America's potential future political circumstance.

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