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Why you should stop waiting for the rapture
Originally I wanted to name this post: “The implications of eschatological pessimism and escapism” but then I imagined the average response of my target audience would be: “boooring.” Then I wanted to label it “why we should not be stockpiling an underground bunker full of freeze dried food and weapons as we wait for a seven year battle with the antichrist” but it was too long. Too bad, I liked that one. So instead I titled it as short and controversial as I can, hoping all the rapture-obsessed folks could climb out of their bunkers and come here to take a look.
The Gospel of Jesus the End Times
I remember being young and hearing prophets, who were said to be channeling God (in a “Thus saith the Lord” way), speak of the impending end times. Their words drove fear into my bones. As I lay on my bed I would imagine a dystopian future, and ponder whether I would have the ability of sacrificing my life to be saved. (For some reason I was convinced I wouldn’t make it in the rapture and would be left behind). My only option in most fantasies and day dreams was to run away and hide. I would imagine exotic places where we could be safe. Yet we Pentecostals were hardly alone in having an end time centered theology and missiology; many Christian groups were and still are just as strongly focused on the rapture, which (last I checked) is a few months away. Those that grew up without the ecstatic prophecies, grew up in a world dominated by something even more frightening: rapture films.[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd7m6NZammI?rel=0]
Who can forget the dread from seeing the arm-patch-wearing soldiers abducting and forcing people to be killed by that chrome guillotine in “Thief in the night.” This movie did for the rapture what Star Wars did for science fiction. For an 8 year old, it was scarier than ‘Friday the 13th’ and Lady Gaga. Every time my parents disappeared without telling me, I was convinced the Day of the Lord was upon us. I even appointed a few persons as my rapture barometers. They were so good that I knew that I if they were still around, the rapture hadn’t happened. I was so antsy, a neighbor practicing his trumped could startle me into thinking the trumpet call of the Lord was upon us. We cared about this stuff, alot. Every barcode was eyed suspiciously. The government, even more suspiciously. Some preached about the antichrist with such vigor that I often felt he would burst into the room at any second. The end times were a big deal and many of us just wanted to run and hide.
The consequences of “rapture-ready”
Because of the size and influence of this rapture preaching machine that continually spits out books, films, and conferences, it is no wonder many dispensationalists (those that hold to the “Left Behind” rapture view) are fascinated and driven by the end times. It often takes one of the most pivotal roles in their theology. Without question some of my good friends are strongly convinced that it is only a few years away, of course they said the same thing a few years ago as well. When it comes to those who are captivated by the rapture and the end times, not all is bad. Some tend to be fervent in conducting evangelism (good) because they believe this is the last harvest. Though some might do this by telling people they have only a few years before Armageddon (not so good, because if someone repents to be saved from the imminent end times, but lives many years without seeing this, they may doubt their faith) While some try to “prepare the final harvest” many others take a pessimistic escapist approach. I once had a very distant uncle who left his family in the states and went to Saudi Arabia to prepare a place for them. He was robbed and came back empty-handed. Fortunately, a good 15 years later he has not needed his Arabian getaway. I know of others who moved to rural areas of South America to avoid the microchips. I last heard a rumor that they were dealing with disease and poverty, being unable to move back to the states. Still others are preparing basements full of pickled cucumbers and Kent Hovind dvd’s. As Mars Hill Everett is moving into a new building, which was previously an armory, there has already been one person who has approached the church, having the wrong idea about the word “Armory” and the church's missiology, asking when he can bring the ammunition and start building the underground bunker. So many people, from so many nations and denominations are ready to hunker down and hide out, as if “Hurricane Antichrist” is bearing down and needs to be weathered.For many people to be “rapture ready” means to lock the doors, pack your bags, and wait for the rapture taxi. There is no mission, no neighbors to love, no life goals, only the fear of a world ready to explode and the plans of a secret escape in the middle of the night.
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