tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post8497577561877770481..comments2024-03-26T11:33:59.219-06:00Comments on Religion in American History: Rapture Ready (Or Not)Paul Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13881964303772343114noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-78540764701981473842011-05-31T16:37:42.653-06:002011-05-31T16:37:42.653-06:00I saw two good articles about Harold Camping while...I saw two good articles about Harold Camping while Googling - - - "Stamping Out Harold Camping" and "Harold Camping's Rapture Hoax." Fascinating stuff. TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-46010011088938661582011-05-20T11:45:48.464-06:002011-05-20T11:45:48.464-06:00Two quick points. In relation to May 21 phenomena,...Two quick points. In relation to May 21 phenomena, Lauri Lebo of Religion Dispatches also noted the "rapture parties" and raised the question of which cocktails and musical suggestions were most appropriate. In addition, she pointed to a Craig's List ad where an individual was offering to buy everything which soon to be raptured individuals possessed at a steep discount.<br /><br />Second point. I've often wondered if the "post-trib rapture" which arose in the mid 1800's and which LeHaye holds to didn't arise specifically because of the dynamic over the date. Almost all of the prognosticators base their time line on the beginning and end of the tribulation as big landmarks in their prophecies. (For Camping it is a 23 year tribulation and a rapture 6 months before the end, when I was growing up, we were taught tribulation in 1993, and rapture somewhere around 2000, since God is apparently on the a mild variation of the Gregorian calendar.) At any rate, a literal reading of Jesus' statement about the immpossibility of knowing the time or season of the coming of man created a paradox for many believers, who also believed that the rapture would occur at some set period, usually seven years, after the beginning of the "great tribulation." Ergo, perhaps, the "pre-tribulation" model, which solves that problem, but leaves the bigger one of what happens to repentant and/or revived Christians who believe in Christ during the tribulation. <br /><br />For any brand of Christianity which insisted upon a "perfection", "second works", or "infilling of the spirit" doctrine there was an easy answer... no one would be saved after the rapture, they would just suffer the wrath of a loving God who wanted to torture them for not accepting his love. For the moderate evangelical crowd, especially those of Baptist heritage, there was a problem here, as well, since all they need for salvation is "belief in the Lord Jesus Christ." LeHaye's tale of "Rapture Force's" helped solve that dilemma as well.<br /><br />OK, off the stump and back to productivity! =:-)jspiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08468497011322958898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-8075124139963796102011-05-20T11:02:43.379-06:002011-05-20T11:02:43.379-06:00Apocalypse insurance from LaHaye for yourself and ...Apocalypse insurance from LaHaye for yourself and peace of mind for your pet from After the Rapture Pet Care - what more could you ask for?esclarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794977716560232353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-29553053498064050962011-05-20T10:36:02.981-06:002011-05-20T10:36:02.981-06:00Emily, LaHaye uses the slogan, "perhaps today...Emily, LaHaye uses the slogan, "perhaps today?", for his prophecy books in particular. We can never really know until the righteous are caught away or snatched. What is interesting is that LaHaye sells an assurance of one's status as likely to be raptured. Buy the books to miss Tribulation. Camping's campaign doesn't seem to be about reassurance unless you support/believe/proselytize Family Radio. I think the lack of dare setting and assurance is why LaHaye has wider appeal (and oh, the little book series called Left Behind). <br /><br />I'll let you know when the article comes out.Kelly J. Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328894784072518452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-74373575880707884792011-05-20T08:30:21.906-06:002011-05-20T08:30:21.906-06:00I hadn't even thought to look at what LaHaye a...I hadn't even thought to look at what LaHaye and others were saying about Camping and crew. Not only do they have competing visions, their visions also dictate their different methods of proselytizing. LaHaye sells you his vision via books, and so not setting a date but continuing to call the rapture soon works with his method. Family Radio on the other hand hits the streets with urgency and tries to briefly communicate with everyone they can. Not only do their visions compete, but this feeds into their approach to the masses. Great post Kelly. I can't wait to read your article. <br /><br />Also, my newspaper today featured a half page ad for Family Radio warning how tomorrow is Judgement Day. I wonder if they'll have another one tomorrow. Not to sounds too snarky, but an "I told you so" ad from them would be fantastic.esclarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794977716560232353noreply@blogger.com