If all of the Christians of the world were raptured, do you really believe you would celebrate as some have claimed. I am curious how it would be percieved if hypothetically all of the nonbelievers looked up and the believers had disappeared with no explanation. What would you make of this phenomenon and would this have any effect on your beliefs? Do you think a scientifically logical answer could be found if something occurs and a significant portion of the population including all of the children disappeared? I was just wondering how those who have been exposed to religious beliefs would process such an occurrence.
2007-05-27 16:13:42 · 21 answers · asked by future dr.t (IM) 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I was brought up Baptist and we believe that all Christians alive and those in the grave will be Raptured at the Second Coming. I am not sure but I think Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the 144,000 only.
2007-05-27 16:21:06 · update #1
Supporting Bible verses.
Luke 17:34-35 I tell you, on that night there will be two men in one bed; one will be taken, and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken, and the other will be left.
Mathew 24:30-31 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, an then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
2007-05-27 16:27:57 · update #2
As far as the children, I think the children before the age of accountability will be taken but I do know there is discussion on this point. Some think it will be the children of believers only and some think all. I do not know all of the evidence to support either of these so I am presenting my personal opinion.
2007-05-27 16:35:08 · update #3
We just like to say that to make fun of the idiots that think that could happen. I am sure that if it did we would have to seriously reevaluate things.
But it won't...
2007-05-27 16:17:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Since this Rapture nonsense was essentially made up around 1850, I see no reason to anticipate it. However, for the sake of argument let's say it somehow does happen.
The implications are thet the most rigid, bigoted, xenophobic subsect in Christianity was right, and that their god of choice not only exists but is of the very same mold--a tyrannical, arbitrary, egotistical, narrow-minded, Bronze-Age tribal chief. While there would be no choice but to believe in its existence, I would seriously find it very difficult to even respect such a being let alone worship it.
Despite Christian protestations to the contrary, the God as described in the Bible is unpredictable, tempramental, plays favorites, and likes to show off his muscles on anyone at any time. If this being is in fact God, then I have no choice: I cannot force myself to worship this unjust, unloving being. I'll fight the bad guys and the tyrants, but I cannot be made to worship something I can't respect.
2007-05-27 23:27:02 · answer #2 · answered by Scott M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well I believe that when the rapture do occur all those who know the Bible and don't abide by it will know what has taken place. I don't think that children will be raptured unless their parents are saved. If children are old enough to understand right from wrong, even their parents status won't save them. There is a scripture in the Bible that talks about how one will be taken and the other left. That will truly happen. The one left will be the one who missed the rapture.
2007-05-27 23:28:33 · answer #3 · answered by Khandi 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It wouldn't take an event that dramatic to make me think the Christians had something.
If I saw a group of Christians praying around the daughter of my friend, in her wheel chair, and she was suddenly able to get up and out of it, and walk, I'd really begin to rethink my beliefs.
If I saw a group of Christians praying for an amputee, and that person walked away with a regrown limb, I'd be even more impressed.
To date, nothing that I've seen demonstrated as a miracle in Christianity is beyond that which I see in other religions, or for that matter, in nature as a whole.
The Bible tells of Moses showing great miracles that could not be duplicated by the Egyptians. Why do they not happen today?
2007-05-27 23:23:36 · answer #4 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would take it as profoundly meaningful that those who remained on Earth were not cast into Oblivion by the event. Hope would live even in such a world. Such a separation would only occur if it served to make the path to be chosen more clear to the remaining.
It would also be interesting to see who was still here that thought they would be gone.
But, then, I might not be here myself !!!
2007-05-27 23:34:47 · answer #5 · answered by Happy Camper 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would certainly celebrate. As for my beliefs; if the other religions went too, it would definitely be a sign of a higher power. The catch is that we who remained would see it as the higher power removing the problem that is destroying the planet. There would be great cause for celebration as the religions that oppress the masses of people on the planet would no longer exist.
If only Christians went I'd still celebrate, but it would be a smaller party.
2007-05-27 23:28:40 · answer #6 · answered by Billy W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There won't be much celebration after the rapture, because fire will engulf the Earth. It won't be anything like the "Left Behind" books are suggesting--the rapture will come AFTER the tribulation, not before. Check out the first link below.
2007-05-29 07:38:23 · answer #7 · answered by Pastor Chad from JesusFreak.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
while we daydream what if the world all of a sudden became peaceful prosperous and enlightened both spiritually and scientifically . I would think I was transported to a future existence in a time machine or on a really heavy hallucinogen
I'm not saying this is not possible but highly unlikely and that isn't even as far fetched as rapture.
peace in our life really possible for all?
2007-05-27 23:21:02 · answer #8 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I might think they were abducted by aliens, not god or Jesus.
So...I will start drinking in advance. Cheers!
Not to be rude, but aren't only 144,000 supposed to be chosen?
That kind of knocks a hole in your "significant" portion of the population disappearing idea.
And there are more non Christians than Christians in the world.
And how can small children and babies have the understanding of what you say is the price of salvation by accepting Jesus as their personal savior?
2007-05-27 23:15:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
all children would not disappear. only thoes that have accepted Christ may go to heaven. the children thing was added to the bible later to stifle the questions of grieving parents. untill they figured out that they could charge a baptisim fee to ensure that the baby would go to heaven....then they had to be baptised.
second...yeah i would party. first off because it would be a new beginning for the world and a time to remember. and we remember with celebrations. new religions would sprout up and old religions would become known again.
the population would drop to where people could live from the land without chemical farming and enhanced meat products.
all reasons to celebrate....
2007-05-27 23:20:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The rapture has about as much chance of happening as Dubya getting named Mensa Member of the Year.
The rapture is not even IN the bible -- it's an invention from the 1800s. You need to stop reading those Left Behind Books.
2007-05-27 23:17:34 · answer #11 · answered by Resident Heretic 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋