As a Christian, I believe that one day Jesus will return, God’s Kingdom will be established on earth, and the universe will no longer groan under the weight of sin: Aslan will sing entropy into reverse.
Jesus himself didn’t know the date that this would occur (Mark 13:32); never fear, though, because Harold Camping does:
Harold Camping, 89, predicts that Jesus Christ will return to earth on Saturday and true believers will be swept up, or “raptured”, to heaven.
He has used broadcasts and billboards to publicise his ideas.
He says biblical texts indicate that a giant earthquake on Saturday will mark the start of the world’s destruction, and that by 21 October all non-believers will be dead.
Clearly Harold Camping subscribes to twerp theology; God doesn’t, nor would he wish to lend credence to someone who does, so the last date God the Father is likely to pick for the rapture is May 21st 2011. The Devil might want to give Harold more air time, of course, so I wouldn’t be particularly surprised to hear of the odd earthquake tomorrow.
What is certain is that death is inevitable: by Eternity’s measure, in a very short time I and everyone I know will have ceased to live on this earth and will face the unappetising prospect of judgement for the way we lived or mercy through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Your choice.
I could of course be really awkward and take issue with your title, pointing out that you can’t say that for the very same reason that Harold Camping can’t say the opposite. But I’m not like that, so I won’t. 😉
Since you’re not saying that, I won’t say that for God to set that date for the rapture would make him appear perversely capricious – although, I suppose he can appear any way he wants if it suits his purposes.
I also won’t say anything about him not acting in a way that is in discord with his nature.
Or about how, if the rapture is to happen tomorrow, Mark 13:32 would really have to read “about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father and Harold Camping”
What’s more, if the rapture does occur tomorrow, I will delete this post – assuming I have time.
Since you didn’t say that, I won’t reply that should for some unfathomable reason God decide that the jig is up tomorrow, I wouldn’t dream of hanging around on the sidelines with a potentially amused expression as you explain to God his character flaws. 😀
I rather do suspect that under such hypothetical circumstances Anglican Samizdat’s last post could be quite amusing for millenia to come.
Though, hold on, would that mean no more blogging after the parousia? What do the theologians say about this, that’s what I want to know.
Thing is with the date setters, they’re like a broken clock. One of them will be right, eventually.
Though, I’m not a believer in a pre-trib rapture anyway. I think that’s an all too comfortable theory for first world armchair christians, or indeed anybody who would like to avoid “in this world you will have trouble” type passages….
I’m a believer in waiting to see what happens and then saying “told you so” to those who got it wrong.
I admit that a pre-tribulation rapture does seem too convenient.
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I want my stuff back!!!!