August 22nd?

Question

The UN has ordered Iran to stop with it's nuclear weapons. Iran has replied saying they will give their answer on August 22nd. Now, as I found out August 22nd is a holy day of some type to the Muslin world (i believe it's muslin). This leads me (along with various newscasters) to think that they very may well release their nuclear weapons on Jerusalem.

Now, if this happens and is successful Jerusalem will be obliterated. If my memory serves me correctly, according to the bible, God won't allow this to happen to His children. So, assuming that this is the outcome: Do you think that August 22nd, 2006 is the start of the rapture?

Please - no stupid or moronic replies. I'm past 3rd grade and don't have any desire to deal with that mentality anymore.

Also - my facts may be a lil bit off. I'm going from memory based on tidbits I've read here and there. Any insight would be greatly appreciated and welcomed.

http://www.inthebullpen.com/archives/5184

- A great source of information regarding the theory.

Answer 1

I doubt it because it would have to be the end of the world.

“Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, ‘Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?’ He said unto them, ‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him, ‘Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.’’” (Matthew 13:24 – 29 KJV)

Now that is an interesting story, and it can be a little confusing; fortunately, because the disciples found this story a little confusing they also and asked Jesus to explain if further. Because our God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), Jesus explained what this parable meant.

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, ‘Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.’ He answered and said unto them, ‘He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.’” (Matthew 13:36 – 42 KJV)

A closer study of this parable would seem to completely disprove the theory of a secret rapture of the church. Let’s take a look at what Jesus had to say about the time of the end through this parable. There are two groups on the earth represented by the wheat (the good or the church) and the tares (the evil). The workers of the field (probably representing angels) are troubled by the tares that the evil one (the devil) has planted. They ask the farmer (Jesus) if they should gather the weeds now and purify the field (the world). The farmer (Jesus) said that it should not happen that way because some of the wheat may come up with the tares. He then declares, “Let both grow together until the harvest (the end of the world): and in the time of harvest (the end of the world) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” I find it hard to be a proponent of a secret rapture for the church when Jesus said that both the good and the evil will grow together until the harvest (the end of the world). How can the church be raptured, leaving the evil on the earth, when Jesus said they will be together until the very end?

There is another issue raised by this parable. Many well intentioned Christians use the story in Matthew 24:40 & 41 and Luke 17:34 – 36 as key proof of a secret rapture for the church, but if we examine this story about the end times with the earlier story Jesus told about the end times in Matthew 13, we get a completely different picture from what most Christians interpret this story to mean. Let’s look at what Jesus said in these verses.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:40 – 42 KJV)

“I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17:34 – 36 KJV)

Now I do not think that I am wrong in thinking that most Christians interpret these stories to mean that the man taken from the field, the woman that is taken while grinding, and the man taken in his sleep are the ones that belong to the group that is the church and are ruptured. This does not seem to be a plausible explanation however. Jesus gives an order for things to happen back in Matthew 13. “Gather ye together first the tares (the evil), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat (the good or the church) into my barn.” Jesus clearly says that the evil will be gathered first. If we take this understanding and apply it to Matthew 24 and Luke 17, we get a very different understanding. The ones that are taken are not in the group we want to be in. The ones who are taken are the tares (the evil) that are being gathered to be burned, but the ones that are left are the wheat (the good) that are saved.

There is another metaphor that many well intentioned Christians use to support a secret rapture for the church; I feel that this too is an invalid interpretation of a story.

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:43 & 44 KJV)

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:39 & 40 KJV)

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10 KJV)

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15 KJV)

Here again, most Christians would attempt to say that this metaphor of a thief in the night is depicting a secret rapture for the church. I believe that most Christians have misinterpreted this too. First, Jesus explains what this metaphor means. He says that the meaning is not that the second coming is a secret but we do not know when it will occur. If we knew what day the Lord was to come, we would get ready the day before it, but since we do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), we must be ever ready! Just examine what Peter had to say of this metaphor in 2 Peter 3:10; he says that when the Lord comes as a thief,” the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therine shall be burned up.” Now I am not sure how all that could be kept a secret from anyone or how people would be able to live on the earth when it has passed away, burned up, and all the elements in it have melted.

Answer 2

I wouldn't say that it is stupid and moronic to take the Bible as a matter of fact when much of it has no historical or even logical backing, but I do think it's pretty foolish. I am aghast to think that anyone could seriously consider the possibility, let alone the imminence, of the "rapture."
You're right; your facts are slightly off. So let's get the facts straight. Iran is a major threat to the Western world, true. However, it is still years away from developing nuclear weapons. Even if it had them, the Ayatollah, who is a good deal more moderate than the radical president, would never allow Iran to use them in such an obvious manner as bombing Israel, because of the inevitable international backlash it would cause.
And the reason Israel can't be destroyed so easily is because it has received and continues to receive tremendous backing from the United States and Western Europe.
You can sit around and wait to be transported up to heavenly bliss if you want to. But I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Answer 3

The Urantia Book - 122:8.1 All that night Mary was restless so that neither of them slept much. By the break of day the pangs of childbirth were well in evidence, and at noon, August 21, 7 B.C., with the help and kind ministrations of women fellow travelers, Mary was delivered of a male child. Jesus of Nazareth was born into the world, was wrapped in the clothes which Mary had brought along for such a possible contingency, and laid in a near-by manger.

But to answer your question, no I don't think August 22 is the start of the rapture since I don't believe in that concept. I think it was likely just an arbitrary date.

Answer 4

Isn't it sad how many people didn't and still don't believe this? I am one who knows that day will be very significant in Isreal, and American as well. I am afraid there will be many lives lost starting that day. You should really watch Glenn Beck, he is on CNN (you can google him to find out when). Watch him, you will learn a lot about this topic.

I would like to believe that day will be just another day, but my intuition tells me otherwise. It is a VERY big holiday in the Muslim culture, and they believe that by wiping Isreal off the face of the world will bring back their Missiah. But in the process, they think that they have to destroy the U.S. too.

Be prepared. I am terrified of that day. What scares me the most is that I am scheduled to give birth (induced) on Monday (the 21st). So I hope that my daughters have the chance to grow old.

Answer 5

Well I sure would be amazed if they released their nuclear weapons on anyone anytime soon.

You see, my brainwashed child, it takes a long time to make a neuclear weapon. And by a long time I do not mean how long it takes you to watch 4 "Barny & Friends". It takes years and years.

Even if they did have a warhead they do not have the technology to deliver it. Since they just started working with nuclear fuel they are easily 10 years away from developing a usable warhead.

And your right - your facts are a bit off.

Answer 6

Greetings,
Well should you have searched the scriptures you would be aware that all prophecies given in the bible need to be fulfilled concerning the times of the end. For instance the seven years of peace brokered by the anti-christ with the nation of Israel must be accomplished before we can assume that the rest of Daniel's and the revelation predictions can see fruition.

a work in progress

Answer 7

God is still in control and He may very well let the state of Israel be obliterated. Do you not think that He has the power to protect His chosen people? It isn't the state God protects, it's the people.

And since when does Iran tell anyone point blank what they are going to do? They never do what they say they will.

Answer 8

22nd August is just the date. Nothig to do with Muslim Calender or holy day what so ever. If that time war begin at least we know already not the time when jewish army attack lebanons people without strong reason.

I'm not the one agreed with war but something could be happen if no action taken for peace.

Peace brother.

Answer 9

Wow, I never thought of that, but I have to say that even Jesus doesn't know when the apocalypse/rapture/endoftime/leftbehind/thingy is going to happen. I don't believe that it will happen for years, and I don't believe it will happen on August 22nd. Also, that's not what the rapture is supposed to be. It's supposed to be the return and every Christian comes to heaven, not we save Jerusalem, then every Christian goes to heaven.

Answer 10

After watching the 60 minutes interview with Iran's leader, I think they will do something such as you suggest. He said that they are raised to use their bodies as weapons in defense of their religion and they will be martyrs and go to heaven. He says that the western world is against Islam, that he provides bombs and IED's to kill Americans and the Zionists because he loves all people, all over the world. With logic like that, anything is possible.