Does anyone else believe this

[Halloweenqueen]

I first heard of this on The View. Sherrie Shepard talked about how she believed the world was coming to an end in 1979. She said she didn't see the need to pay her bills because the upcoming rapture. Of course nothing happened and she ended up with bad credit. lol

Her advice to the May 21st believers....pay your bills!

 

[cinabug]

I didn't know you got points on here for posting the wrong things. Do they revoke your license to post with too many points? How do you know if you have points?

And, despite the newly discovered fear of accruing points, no I don't think the rapture is any more likely to happen on May 20th than on any other date. I'm not worried about the end end of the world in 2012. I don't believe in ghosts or the chupacabra(sp?). I can get myself all wound up about the fear of a global pandemic or epidemic breakdown though. I think we all have different things that scare us. Most of those fears are pretty irrational or at least unlikely.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I don't believe it will be that day. I remember the one that was to be in the 1980's. We had a party and baked a cake!

I know there was one day in the late 80's and they (whoever "they" were) gave an actual date AND time. I was sitting in class (this was probably 7th grade) staring at the clock as the time got closer. You'll never believe what happened next! Nothing.

 

[HelenaB]

I find it very interesting that this "Rapture" thing is pretty much solely an American phenomenon.

I'm an atheist but I was brought up a Catholic in an Anglican country and have a reasonable knowledge of both my former religion and others. However the idea of "Rapture" doesn't seem to be mentioned or discussed in branches of Christianity outside of the US (and believe me I spent a lot of time at church as a child!).

There seems to have been quite a few cults in the 19th Century US that predicted the end of the world (at a set date) and usually required their followers to give up all their money and possessions to the cult leaders.

I'd be interested to know if this idea of Rapture was popular/common much prior to the popularity of such cults or when it was popularised by mainstream Christianity in the US. Also - is it all "flavours" of Christianity in the US that believe in Rapture or just certain branches.

 

[momrek06]

I thought it was the name of a band as earlier today I noticed my DS had posted on his FB page "Rapture party at my house May 21st". He lives an hour south of me and I haven't chatted with him today. Now I figured it all out.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Thats for sure. I wont be left behind.

 

[NaLisa]

Nope, don't believe it. Never heard of Harold Camping or Family Radio before this ad campaign. One huge PR ploy, if you ask me. It's a shame that some people are gullibe enough to fall for it.

I have no problems with the DIS banning discussions of religion and politics. There are plenty of other places to discuss those topics.

 

[ilovemk76]

It is only certain Christians who believe in the rapture. They are the one saying they know they will be picked.

Many Biblical scholars are not convinced the Book of Revelations are even about the second coming. We don't know anything about the man who wrote it. It is the last book of the Bible because it did not fit anywhere else but they still wanted it included. Many writing were not included in the Bible.

There are more books in the Catholic Bible than in the KJV Bible.

I find it very interesting that this "Rapture" thing is pretty much solely an American phenomenon.

I'm an atheist but I was brought up a Catholic in an Anglican country and have a reasonable knowledge of both my former religion and others. However the idea of "Rapture" doesn't seem to be mentioned or discussed in branches of Christianity outside of the US (and believe me I spent a lot of time at church as a child!).

There seems to have been quite a few cults in the 19th Century US that predicted the end of the world (at a set date) and usually required their followers to give up all their money and possessions to the cult leaders.

I'd be interested to know if this idea of Rapture was popular/common much prior to the popularity of such cults or when it was popularised by mainstream Christianity in the US. Also - is it all "flavours" of Christianity in the US that believe in Rapture or just certain branches.

 

[J3nn78]

No, considering Jesus himself does not know when, I am certain that no one knows.

 

[luvsJack]

It is only certain Christians who believe in the rapture. They are the one saying they know they will be picked.

Many Biblical scholars are not convinced the Book of Revelations are even about the second coming. We don't know anything about the man who wrote it. It is the last book of the Bible because it did not fit anywhere else but they still wanted it included. Many writing were not included in the Bible.

There are more books in the Catholic Bible than in the KJV Bible.

Many Christians that do no believe in the rapture believe completely different things about heaven and hell than the Christians that do believe. And I think they also have different beliefs of who wrote Revelations. I may be wrong, but I seem to remember being told who wrote it (again, may just be the belief of that preacher??) And of course any of it is possible. We just really do not know for sure.

As for everyone saying this is about fear--well, actually, Christians who are believers of the rapture are not afraid at all. It would be welcoming. BUT, most of us don't go around thinking its coming tomorrow or trying to asign a date.

I actually thought the rapture was the first thing that is supposed to happen when the end is near, I guess I am confusing Left Behind with Revelations. Need to go back and read!

Anyone that doesn't know what the rapture is, read Left Behind. Remember it IS fiction, but it can give a general explanation of it. There are really good books. (and a lot easier to understand that Revelations )

 

[Mermaid02]

No, I don't believe it in the least. I honestly have a hard time understanding why anyone believes this kind of stuff.

What she said.

 

[torinsmom]

I do not believe so. You behavior when you think the end it near is not the true you. What you have done until now the real you.



The "Left Behind" books are fiction.

There's only one thing you have to do, and it is very easy. Even people who do this AFTER the rapture will be saved, but will have to wait until they die or until the second coming(7 years after the Rapture to the day according to the bible) to go to heaven.

Thats for sure. I wont be left behind.

Yeah, that's why I'm not worried about me. I am worried about some of my friends though :-(

Many Christians that do no believe in the rapture believe completely different things about heaven and hell than the Christians that do believe. And I think they also have different beliefs of who wrote Revelations. I may be wrong, but I seem to remember being told who wrote it (again, may just be the belief of that preacher??) And of course any of it is possible. We just really do not know for sure.

As for everyone saying this is about fear--well, actually, Christians who are believers of the rapture are not afraid at all. It would be welcoming. BUT, most of us don't go around thinking its coming tomorrow or trying to asign a date.

I actually thought the rapture was the first thing that is supposed to happen when the end is near, I guess I am confusing Left Behind with Revelations. Need to go back and read!

Anyone that doesn't know what the rapture is, read Left Behind. Remember it IS fiction, but it can give a general explanation of it. There are really good books. (and a lot easier to understand that Revelations )

There are a lot of signs that give us warning that the end is near. I have a link to a series of audio recordings that talk about the signs that have happened and those still to come. Although we don't know the day or hour, God did tell us to be watching for these signs, so that we know He is coming soon. I don't believe it will be May21, but I do think it could be fairly soon. Of course, our time and God's are very different. I don't worry, but it IS exciting to me to think it could happen in my lifetime. I think people who give dates give a bad rap to anyone who believes in the rapture and tribulation.

 

[chuckml]

Nope, don't believe it. If I did, why would I have booked my next Disney vacation in September?
I'm not super religious, in fact, I'd call myself agnostic at best, but it seems that somebody has a date for the end of the world nearly every other day now. It makes me believe less and less in religion than the little I already did. I'll just keep on living my life and roll the dice with my soul I guess.

 

[NaLisa]

From ReligiousTolerance.org: "As a word of comfort, we would point out that religious leaders, scientists, fiction writers, and others have made tens of thousands of predictions of apocalyptic scenarios that were supposed to have happened in our past. All have failed."

There are several links to the too-many-to-count predictions of the end of the world (going back thousands of years). http://www.religioustolerance.org/end_wrld.htm

The more I think about Harold Camping and his prediction, the less funny I find it. Some gullible people may make huge, irreversible life-and-death decisions based on believing rapture is near. Will Camping be held responsible?

 

[PUZZLDY5]

I remember back in the 80's my parents and I went to a public function and there was a man outside the gate holding a bible and a cross and was yelling at the top of his lungs that "The end is near. Repent now." Absolutely scared me to death. I was just a child an I will never forget that.
Then we all can't forget Y2K.
I don't believe in specific dates for several reasons. One, God himself said that nobody will know. Also, there's a whole international date line thing that throws a monkey wrench in all of their predictions. Is it the 21st here in the US or in China or Australia. KWIM.
Honestly, I wish I had a dollar for every time "The end was near".
So to answer your question No I do not believe that the end is near. I don't believe the 2012 thing either.

 

[kirbydog48]

What she said.

ditto

 

[IndianaMouse]

What exactly is the rapture?

It's what all those parents are going to feel when they drop their kids off at the park on May 21 for free range kids day.

Sorry I couldn't resist, as soon as I saw May 21 that's the first thing I thought of. And no, I wouldn't drop my kids off at a park just because someone tells me I should.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

It's what all those parents are going to feel when they drop their kids off at the park on May 21 for free range kids day.

Sorry I couldn't resist, as soon as I saw May 21 that's the first thing I thought of. And no, I wouldn't drop my kids off at a park just because someone tells me I should.

 

[robinb]

I first heard of this on The View. Sherrie Shepard talked about how she believed the world was coming to an end in 1979. She said she didn't see the need to pay her bills because the upcoming rapture. Of course nothing happened and she ended up with bad credit. lol

Her advice to the May 21st believers....pay your bills!

I heard piece on NPR this weekend about the upcoming Rapture: http://www.npr.org/2011/05/07/136053462/is-the-end-nigh-well-know-soon-enough. They interviewed a number of believers and one of them said that both she and her husband quit their jobs because they didn't need the money and that it seemed "greedy" to continue to work. She gave up her dream of medical school, she and her family (husband, 1 child and pregnant with a 2nd) moved from NYC to Orlando and have blown through their savings. As a non-believer, I find their actions really sad. Come May 22nd they will have no Rapture, no jobs, no savings, one toddler to feed and another child ready to be born in a couple of weeks .

I didn't know you got points on here for posting the wrong things. Do they revoke your license to post with too many points? How do you know if you have points?.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm #13 covers infractions.

 

[luvsJack]

There's only one thing you have to do, and it is very easy. Even people who do this AFTER the rapture will be saved, but will have to wait until they die or until the second coming(7 years after the Rapture to the day according to the bible) to go to heaven.



Yeah, that's why I'm not worried about me. I am worried about some of my friends though :-(



There are a lot of signs that give us warning that the end is near. I have a link to a series of audio recordings that talk about the signs that have happened and those still to come. Although we don't know the day or hour, God did tell us to be watching for these signs, so that we know He is coming soon. I don't believe it will be May21, but I do think it could be fairly soon. Of course, our time and God's are very different. I don't worry, but it IS exciting to me to think it could happen in my lifetime. I think people who give dates give a bad rap to anyone who believes in the rapture and tribulation.

I would love to have that link! I agree that that those that make predictions do give believers a bad rap. I really, really wish everyone would realize that those that truly believe in what is said in the Bible do not go around making predictions

Nope, don't believe it. If I did, why would I have booked my next Disney vacation in September?
I'm not super religious, in fact, I'd call myself agnostic at best, but it seems that somebody has a date for the end of the world nearly every other day now. It makes me believe less and less in religion than the little I already did. I'll just keep on living my life and roll the dice with my soul I guess.

True Christians do not believe in this stuff either. So it shouldn't turn anyone away from relegion.

From ReligiousTolerance.org: "As a word of comfort, we would point out that religious leaders, scientists, fiction writers, and others have made tens of thousands of predictions of apocalyptic scenarios that were supposed to have happened in our past. All have failed."

There are several links to the too-many-to-count predictions of the end of the world (going back thousands of years). http://www.religioustolerance.org/end_wrld.htm

The more I think about Harold Camping and his prediction, the less funny I find it. Some gullible people may make huge, irreversible life-and-death decisions based on believing rapture is near. Will Camping be held responsible?

and it is really sad that this may happen. Christians may believe that it will happen in their lifetime or not but most do not make decisions based on that belief. You cannot live your life by when the rapture may or may not happen no more than you can live your life by when your own death may or may not come.