Five

Days to Rapture?

With regard to Harold Camping and the Rapture, which he predicts will be this coming Saturday, I find myself both disturbed and intrigued. Disturbed because of the publicity and responses to this imminent 'Judgement Day' has attracted and intrigued because people are being urged to 'get ready'.

In an interview, Camping claimed that the Rapture will begin at six on Saturday 'on the other side of the country' with what he describes as a progressive earthquake that will go from country to country. This will see the graves thrown open and this is, "Absolutely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, going to happen." Wisely perhaps, he refused to answer a question asking whether, if he was still around, he'd be willing to come back for a second interview.

But what do we take from this whole happening and how do we answer those who are already asking whether we really expect Jesus to return and what we're going to do when He doesn't? How do we deal with the people who want to ready for Saturday but aren't ready today?

This item from the Seattle News reflects the viewpoint of many atheists:

"Seattle atheist Paul Case is holding a "Rapture party" on Saturday. Speaking of the situation he says Saturday is a 'can't lose proposition, for if the Rapture happens and the Christians are transported to heaven, "We know as atheists, we're not going and if it occurs, it's a good thing for us, we get the real estate and cheap cars, and we won't have to worry about separation of church and state."

If, on the other hand, the Rapture doesn't happen, "It's another egg in the face of those who say the end times will come. So it's a win-win for us," Case said.

Looking at biblical passages, and using mathematical calculations, Camping says he's pinpointed the date of the Rapture to May 21. Those left on Earth will then go through five months of "horror and chaos beyond description" before the world ends on Oct. 21, according to Camping's Family Radio's website.

Thomas Holt, a volunteer with Family Radio, calls those who poke fun at Camping's predictions "scoffers," referring to 2 Peter 3:3-4, which says: "you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this 'coming' he promised?' "

But Camping's prediction is not widely accepted, despite his beliefs being featured on billboards in various cities and in media stories nationwide.

For many Christians, end-of-the-world scenarios aren't something they give much attention to.

And of the many who do, there have been concerns raised that Camping's prediction contradicts Scripture.

"There are a long line of brilliant people who, through intricate calculations, have made predictions about the end of the world," said Pastor Joseph Fuiten with Cedar Park Assembly of God Church in Bothell. "Unfortunately they have overlooked the obvious words of Jesus: 'You do not know the day or the hour' of such events."

But it's atheists, in particular, who appear to be poking the most fun. In Tacoma, producers of the weekly radio show "Ask an Atheist" are sponsoring the local Rapture party. Their slogan: "Countdown to Backpedaling: The End is Nah!"

While Seattle Atheists aren't hosting a party that night, they are collecting money for humanitarian relief should the Rapture occur. The end of the world "is obviously disconcerting news, and we thought we'd lend a hand," the group says on its "Rapture Relief" website. "While the rest of the world is tortured in this terrible Apocalypse, ... elite squads of godless heathens will ... help bring people out of the rubble and rebuild their lives."

(If the end times don't happen as predicted, Seattle Atheists says the money raised will go to Camp Quest, which teaches children critical thinking skills.)

Holt, of Family Radio, for one, has no doubt that the Rapture will occur Saturday: "The Bible clearly predicts it will.""