It has been almost a month since the Doomsday predictions of  a devout minority of Christian did not come to pass.  Secretly, I breathed a sigh of relief since my birthday was that same weekend – not fun memories to know that the world went all Revelations on my birthday – though it would’ve made for great conversation behind the pearly gates.

But on a more serious note, as the date May 21st came and passed,there were a mix of reactions to this fact - indifference, relief, derision.

On the surface, it seemed ludicrous that any one man would even think they could predict the date and time that the Second Coming of Christ will occur, and so we laughed as a society at the absurdity.

But as I reflected on these exclamations, I began to realize how wrong ridiculing these believers may actually be.

It states clearly in the Bible that the Lord will take His believers with him to Heaven, and then that He will return to judge non-believers (The Rapture and the Second Coming).  There are a number of Bible Verses referring to both the Rapture and Second coming, and About.com… does a good job of listing some scripture dealing with both.  Whether you are Christian or not, it is clear this belief is not simply the crackpot assertions of a deranged people.

The Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ – Is There a Difference?

Biblical References to the Rapture

The belief in the Rapture and Second Coming is a belief of faith, so to deride those Christians that profess this on any given day, is essentially deriding one of the aspects of the Christian faith. It seems like fun and games, but when it comes down to it - society’s disbelief became disrespect of a tenet of the Christian faith.

There are such things as false prophets – but that does not diminish all aspects of the Bible, just because it is spoken out of the mouth of a false prophet.  Also, just because a majority of people disbelieve, doesn’t make the position of the minority one seated in derangement and disillusionment.

I guess when it boils down to it, by laughing at these doomsday predictors, and the incredulity of it all, we are really taking jabs at the religion and some people’s faith.

I had to step back and think about it – especially as a Christian.  It was all good fodder and entertainment in media and popular sharing platforms, but the underlying theme of these predictions was based on a religion I follow and the Word of God whom I serve.  So I say more power to them – they were wrong – but I do believe that the Rapture and Second Coming will happen, one day.

And for me, that is not really a laughing matter.

At least that’s how I think of it…I’d be interested in other opinions.

 

 

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