Left Behind: The Rapture

An article about the Left Behind Series and the Rapture

Do you consider yourself a "true believer?"

And I don't mean Marvel Comics, I mean about God's son Jesus Christ.

If you take a look at what's happening in the news everyday, I run the risk of being convinced that the world is ending and judgement day will soon be upon us.

Of course people have been trying to interpret what the Bible says about the end of the world for about 2000 years after Jesus ascended into Heaven.

Recently a best-selling fictional series Left Behind has tried to tackle some of the issues regarding end times prophesy in the new testament and particularly the Bible's Final Book Revelation.

The series follows a group of people who were left behind after the rapture. That is when over a third of the world's population disappears in the blink of an eye, with only articles of clothing and personal effects left behind.

All of the "True Believers" in Jesus Christ were taken out of this world, and the ones that are left are faced with the reality of facing the seven years of Tribulation that follows the rapture.

The people who are left now have to band together, helping others become followers and fighting against the forces of the antichrist in the process.

It all leads up to the second coming of christ where he returns to the world and deposes the evil forces of the world. The series has had a very successful run and will likely create more followers as a result of its success with the christian and world views markets.

The fact is what does all of this have to do with you and me? Haven't people been preaching about the end of the world for centuries with no evidence to show for it? That's true, there have been many predictions about when the end will begin, but I will say this, the signs are there. Don't believe me? Just go and take a look at the gas prices at your local gas station.

Unfortunately the economy is in dire straights. And so far none of our leaders are capable or willing to do anything about it. Will this last forever? I think its a bit of a stretch, but what gives me peace is knowing that these circumstances do not last, nothing ever does.

So what is it about the left behind series? Does it parallel what is happening now? Well yes. We are having to choose between food and gas, wars are breaking out everywhere and our economy is in really bad shape and seemingly getting worse.

With that said where does it lead us? Well we aren't exactly projected to get any better in the next few years either. Does that mean the rapture is going to happen soon? I can't say for sure but it certainly feels like it.

So what would the rapture be like? And what does it mean for those who will live through the Tribulation period?

My best guess is the idea that a lot of people will be caught off guard when it happens. I could be sitting here typing and the next I will be gone with the rest of my personal effects left behind. Once that happens the world will be thrown into complete chaos, the likes of which the civilized world has never seen before.

So what will happen?

1. All the people who are true believers will be taken away. That includes your friends, family, business leaders, even career politicians.

2. Gas and food prices will skyrocket at least a few whole dollars in a matter of days. Just like they're doing now.

3. Wars will break out everywhere, including in the states.

4. Your support system will now consist of everyone who wasn't a true believer. And those groups of people shall go unnamed.

Are you going to be one of those left behind?

Not if you are indeed a "True Believer" that means having a personal relationship with God's son Jesus Christ.

For me, I am a True Believer. As for everyone else, it's only a question of if that proclamation is true. They will find out.

What about you? I can't speak to what your beliefs are, I can only point out what I believe will happen in the near future.

The one thing I can say to the people who can't acknowledge the truth of our times, are more than likely listening to this classic song from the 1980s by Timbuk 3. Remember the lyrics:

"Things are going great and their only getting better!"

"The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades!"

Comments

Just delete this useless fantastical trash.

hello, you asshole! I just wanted to tell you that this is a RETRO site. leave your religious and political views on another one. there is nothing wrong with religion. there IS something wrong with preaching to people who very clarly, don't wanna hear it.

Look, I have no problems with you being religious. That's your business. But this is a site devoted to memories. So, this article fails on that merit alone.

I had a long reply ready (as someone who is quite familiar with the Book of Revelations and realizes that you have made so many fundamental errors), but decided instead to just give you a thumbs down rather than continue a useless debate.

Guess what? Gas prices are going down around me. You're a failure. Your little storybook is a failure.

Shazbot, don't even try and argue with him. He's set in his ways and will always try and trump what you have to say. That's how he is.

if you feel that you should bite the bullet and keep doing what you are doing (which is showing what a complete imbecile he is) keep going! You are acutally making more sense than him.

No, the white horse comes first and it does not represent a failing economy due to gas prices, it represents conquest or victory.

And which economy is nearing ruin? America's? Surely you realize that America isn't the only country on earth and that others are actually not doing too badly at all?

I will say this gas prices aren't mentioned, but it does imply in the Book of Revelation that the economy in general will be put under stress, and that in turn will lead to war. The four horsemen aren't literally angels, they are symbolic of what is going on. The black horse, which rides first, represents economic ruin, then the rapture occurs. And so far our economy is on the verge of economic ruin.

Sorry, I missed the part in the Bible where it says that gas prices will rise. Besides, linking the Rapture to the state of the economy of a country that didn't even exist when the Bible was written is hilarious.

Acknowledging "the truth of our times" should entail the realization that a person who is capable of reading and tying their own shoes should be above the need to dedicate one's self to dogma written in a time when people wallowed in their own excrement and sacrificed lambs to appease an invisible wizard.

@DebrisStorm

You should have said Nostradumbass.... I would have been crackin up.

your article was alright to start with, but then you started adding more pictures than paragraphs, and near the end it was vice versa. try to keep your paragraphs and pictures at a rhythm rather than setting them out in an order

I appreciat this article you've written. I own all the installments of the Left Behind series and I will say I love them. I'm glad someone will take the time to share the Word on a public forum. To me it's not a matter of who is religious and who isnt. Religion is way different from Christianity. I think religious people just shun everyone else and basically talk the talk but dont walk the walk. You're trying to help people, let them know that there will be a second coming and you're just simply informing. So to anyone else who reads..I dont think this person is trying to condemn anyone..they're only trying to spread the word. If you really got to thinking about it. Every day could be our last. We just have to live each day to the fullest and have our ducks in a row. dont waste one second of life. It's a privelege, not a right.

Ugh.
Overzealous religious people.

I can only wish they were a piece of nostalgia lost to time.

Hey Nostradamus, did you see this heading to the back pages?

I don't like it when others preach about an supossed ending to the world. This article doesn't bring back anything relating to nostalgia or retroness. Just because you mention the Left Behind series that was in the 90s, doesn't even touch your article. You just basically put a picture of the book series to go along with your outstretched conspiracy theory.

I will say this again like it was in the forum that you put up; I don't care to know when the world ends. I would rather live my life in happiness and around the ones I consider family and friends. I don't need you or anyone else to push religious topics.