NotJon : i don't think it was a racist joke and to tell you the true if it is im sorry i put because people are always making bad racist jokes at me

NotJon : Hmm... this has the potential to be both terrifying and hilarious.

I will be waiting patiently for May 22nd. Lol.

danielalexander : It's okay.

Elara : Indeed! I can't wait to see what happens. I'll probably make a thread update.

Nah, I dont believe it will really happen, it is like 2012, it will be believed in some religions, but I dont believe it will happen.

If Vegas has a line set on this event I am sure it wouldn't look good for the believers. It is simply that no one with this claim has been correct to our knowledge. Basically the people claiming these dates haven't been batting that high so why would this one? Is there anything about his claim that makes him seem more in touch than others of the past?

I highly doubt it would happen on that day. I've been keeping track at this for awhile, and I can say that no Christian can truly know when Jesus would return. It should also be noted that within Christianity there are different beliefs about the end times (amillennial, premillennial, postmillenial, etc) and some do not believe a rapture would occur, so just because someone says the rapture would happen on one day does not mean that automatically Christians would believe him.

It should be reminded of what Jesus said to His disciples:
"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake." (Mark 13:32-36)


Whether it would happen on that day, or 2012, or 50 years from now, the more important question is: Are you ready?

Sidenote: I would not be surprise that it did happen on that day. The signs all around us show that we are getting close.

So there are going to be a bunch of sleep-deprived people on May 21st? I assume that the people that believe it are going to take that passage literally and refuse to sleep... ignoring the part about not knowing when it is supposed to happen.

Which also makes me wonder, if you take that passage literally, it basically says that Christians are not allowed to sleep. Ever. Not until this Rapture happens at any rate.

Elara : hahahaha...no, that is not taken literally. Stay awake means to be alert, be ready, not literally stay awake. It is a symbolic relation between being alert and being awake. Of course, there will always be someone who would neglect context and take a verse literally or figuratively in the wrong way.

play4fun : Please, inform me. What signs are you referring to? Is it the earthquake in Japan? If so, just think of the Plague. What was it again, one-third of all humans died or something? It's not that bad. And the rapture is only the first part of it. The world is supposed to end (according to these same people) in October of this year.

Regarding the quote, no one knows for sure. They have faith that the rapture will occur on that date, that does not mean that they know.

Am I ready? What does this mean? My schedule is very flexible when it comes to death. It's not like I can hold it off and set if for a later date.

NotJon : You forgot the wars and famine that existed at the same time that the Plague was ripping through Europe. They literally did think that the Apocalypse was upon them. It is one of the factors in why the Renaissance differed so greatly from the Medieval Period.

Elara : Well the point was, things looked much bleaker back then but humanity pulled through and here we are today. Just because some bad things happen, that doesn't mean that we need to jump to conclusions like the world is ending.

NotJon : I totally agree. Hey, maybe we can somehow get a second Renaissance out of this? (doubtful, but I can dream)

Elara : Lol I was actually thinking about that too. However, I think the global cultures have become too commodified for anything like that to happen.

NotJon : Well from the verse that I mentioned, there was a huge chunk of verses before where Jesus talked about the signs of the end of days. (Mark 13:3-27)

You can read through if you want (or try to interpret the Book of Revelation if you want), but here are the list of things that would happen near end of times.

1. Many will come and claim to be Jesus, or the Messiah.
2. Hear of wars and rumor of wars
3. "or nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines.

"These are but the beginning of the birth pains."

4. Christians will be persecuted. (more outside of the US)
5. "And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death."
6. Christ followers will be hated for Jesus' name sake.
7. "The Abomination of Desolation" (You can look it up on what this is)
8. "For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be."
9. "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect."
10. Jesus comes back for the elect. (after the tribulation)

When I said signs, I was more referring to how there are more natural disasters in closer clumps between each other (like the figurative image of birth pains), the rich gets rich, poor gets stumped on, Middle East Conflict, wars. These are all just signs that it is coming soon, we just don't know how soon.

My question of "are you ready?" is asking are you ready when Jesus returns, because if we are still alive when Jesus returns (before or after the rapture depending on what type of eschatology one believes in), Jesus returns to have the Final Judgment, and if your name is not written in the Book of Life, then you are not justified by Jesus' blood for your sins because you did not receive the gift of salvation, and you would sent to hell, like Satan and the false prophets.

So my question of are you ready is referring to "do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, or are you born again?"

"Regarding the quote, no one knows for sure. They have faith that the rapture will occur on that date, that does not mean that they know."

This guy is actually saying that he is for sure that it will happen at this time, (even though he has a horrible record for predicting these sorts of things), and I'm saying that no one knows when.

I just think it is a waste of time for people to try to know when Jesus is returning or the rapture happens when no one knows and no one is suppose to know. If they are Christians, why the hype of knowing it? If you are saved, you will be raptured and your name is in the Book of Life. Christians' focus should be to share the gospel to everyone, and to be disciples and worshipers of Christ for His glory.

PS.: I don't believe that you don't get a second chance after the rapture, because people can still come to Christ after the rapture, but they will undergo tribulation till Jesus returns or they die during the tribulation. (then again, eschatology is not a primary issue in Christianity, so we can study about it, but no point intensely arguing about it. Simple point, if you are saved, you will be with Christ.

Heh, another religious end of the world prophecy. And with a date that's little more than a month away. You certainly don't hear about those everyday. A rapture. Although I was never a religious person I've gone to church a lot in my early years (not by choice). I've learned a few things about the "2nd coming", read the book of Revelations and such. Everybody talks about God coming down, taking believers with him while condemning the others to hell. So, let assume a rapture will come to pass. People disappear, others are left behind and yadda yadda. Why is it that nobody talks about what's happens after everything is done? Why does nobody mention that in the Bible people don't stay in hell forever, that after a certain amount of time the damned are released? And that God puts people back on Earth for 1000 years before finally taking EVERYONE up with him? Well?

I don't really believe in that stuff anyway, but as someone who's gone to church for half his life that's just my two cents. And before someone gets serious with the Mayan calendar bulls*** in this thread don't bother. I've already debunked the threads made about it here on Vizzed. It's just the end of a calendar, not the world.

pffft. like THAT'S gonna happen. no way!

play4fun : This is getting a little off topic but I was wondering, would you consider yourself a literalist?

Many of these things have been occurring throughout history...

1. I remember reading about all these guys that claimed to be Jesus and they were wromg. This one I heard about killed himself about 30 years ago. This is nothing new is what I'm saying.

2. Wars are always happening and far worse than the ones occurring now. Tell me a period which did not experience any wars.

3. Earthquakes happen every day. Much worse earthquakes have happened in the past (remember the earthquake that caused the tsunami back in 2004? that was much worse). These 'birthpains' as you call them have been occurring since the Earth has had tectonic plates (which were millions of years ago even though I know you don't believe that).

4. It's the Middle East - the epicenter of Islam - I wouldn't call what a few individuals are doing persecution of the entire Christian population. Besides, Christians still have power in the US, Europe, Central and South America, etc.

5. I can't tell, does this have something to do with homosexuality?

6. A lot of people get irritated but I wouldn't call that 'hate'. Hate's a strong word.

7. I looked it up and I did not understand this one.

8. Well that hasn't really happened yet...

9. Just like #1, 2, and 3, this has been happening all of the time.

10. See #8.

Much of this list that you provided is old news. It may seem like all of this is happening if you're only looking at things through your perspective/present day eyes.

This guy is actually saying that he is for sure that it will happen at this time, (even though he has a horrible record for predicting these sorts of things), and I'm saying that no one knows when.

Like I said, he thinks he knows but that doesn't mean that he knows for sure. You keep lying to yourself and eventually you start to believe yourself (plus the dude's 89 years old).

I agree with you. People should stop trying to predict the end of the world. What's the point? You might as well use your time to be a better person and help your fellow human being.


I don't believe that you don't get a second chance after the rapture

DOUBLE NEGATIVE! I kid. I know what you're saying.

Oh, one of the many reasons I call myself the FullMetal Atheist
Is there any proof this could possibly happen? Is there actually any possibilities toward our souls being controlled by any one, if we even do have any? I think this will not happen... From what I've heard, none of the religous historical things have happened, plus this is some random guy, saying that on some random day, the world win end with about a handful of random people will go to a random place. It's all just to much of a spontaneous thing to have happened to actually be true. Kinda like 2012

MegaRevolution1 : Apparently the guy responsible for all of this came up with the date from getting the date of the Great Flood (remember Noah?) and adding 7,000 years to it. That day is May 21, 2011 apparently.

Like I said, most people don't believe in this actually happening.