Is it the end of the world as we know it?

I'm really not one of those christians who like to throw things in other's faces and shove scripture down you throat, but when I saw this blog post by my friend Alex, I had to repost.

The Rapture is Tomorrow?!

I read while studying for my band exam on Thursday, May 19th, and see even more speculation across the Internet today, that Harold Camping, a Christian radio talk show host, states that the Rapture (the taking up into heaven of God’s “elect” people) will take place on May 21, 2011 at 6 P.M. local time-the rapture will sweep the globe time zone by time zone. He previously predicted it to happen previously on September 6, 1994, which predictions were obviously wrong, due to “a mathematical error”. I call it seeing things that weren’t there.

To all of this preceding, here, and coming I say: go look up 1st Thessalonians, chapter 5, before making such bold predictions. I don’t even read The Bible as often as I should and I know that the Rapture is unpredictable.

1 Thessalonians 5 (The Message)

^1-3I don’t think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars. He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other—”We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

^4-8But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

^9-11God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.

The Way He Wants You to Live

^12-13And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

^13-15Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

^16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

^19-22Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

^23-24May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!

^25-27Friends, keep up your prayers for us. Greet all the followers of Jesus there with a holy embrace. And make sure this letter gets read to all the brothers and sisters. Don’t leave anyone out.

²⁸The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you!

Basically: yeah, I will be coming home from work at 11:00 (or whenever we finish closing) to see all will be well, and that people who make such predictions are only attention hungry. An episode of The Simpsons actually reminds me of this now. And now I read the synopsis again, it probably doesn’t help my point. But regardless: no rapture tomorrow, that old man is full of garbage.

It is currently 11:45 AM, Saturday morning in Nukualofa, Tonga (at the time of this post). We’ll know in 6 hours and 15 minutes whether the Rapture has truly come or not.

Matthew 25:1-13 (The Message)

The Story of the Virgins

^1-5 “God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.

⁶“In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bridegroom’s here! Go out and greet him!’

^7-8“The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’

⁹“They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’

¹⁰“They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.

¹¹“Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’

¹²“He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’

¹³“So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.