Father Orthoduck read an odd news story today. As many of you know, one group of Evangelicals is forecasting that the Rapture will happen this Saturday, 21 May. The forecast is being strong pushed by Family Radio, which is on radio stations in every state in the Union, as well as having a presence in Canada and in other countries.
But, what surprised Father Orthoduck was to find out that there are some self-acknowledged atheists making money from this forecast. They have begun to offer services for picking up your pets after the Rapture and caring for them in a loving manner. Another service offers a message delivery service to your loved ones so that they may know that you loved them and that there is still time to repent.
What makes it interesting is that these services guarantee performance based on their being staffed by guaranteed non-Christians. They, of course, are betting the odds that nothing will happen and they will have gotten something for nothing. But, what troubles Father Orthoduck is the Christian ethic behind using such services. That is, the Christian who uses such services is counting that none of the people involved will become Christians in an untimely way and be unable to complete the service. More than that, this means that the incentive is for the Christian to fail to witness to the people who own these businesses lest they be unable to carry out their duties! Rather than hoping that no one should perish, it almost seems as though Christians who sign up for these Rapture services are OK with the idea that these people will perish. It seems to be rather odd thinking for a Christian.
Will the Rapture come in four days? Well, no, not the Rapture. The Orthodox do not look at the end times like those who follow a dispensationalist theology. Perhaps a better way to ask it is, “Will Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Second Coming be this Saturday?” The correct answer is that no person knows the day nor the hour, save Our Father in heaven. Therefore, it is entire possible that Our Lord will return this Saturday, and it is entirely possible that Our Lord will not return this Saturday. Nevertheless, St. Andrew of Caesarea did write a strong commentary on the Book of the Revelation around the year 611 AD. If he is correct, then it is highly probable that this Saturday will not be the day. St. Andrew wrote to calm apocalyptic fears back in those times. Perhaps we should read him again today!
And we’re also getting a “WHEN PROPHECIES COLLIDE” situation. On YouTube, “The Third Eagle of the Apocalypse” (i.e. the “It’s Prophesied, It’s Prophesied” Guy) is denouncing “5/21/2011” Camping as a false prophet because Third Eagle has a different date set.
Camping also has lots of billboards up around the country, including one near me at Euclid & Broadway in Anaheim, CA. In some parts of the country, competing End Time Prophecy types are putting up billboards opposite Camping’s denouncing Camping as a fake and Trumpeting the REAL Rapture date. (Mayan Calendar 2012 seems to be popular among these guys.)
It’s like something out of South Park.
South Park. Your analogy is spot-on.
As Woody Allen puts it in “Hannah and Her Sisters”:
“If Jesus Christ came back today and saw what was being done in his name, he’d never stop throwing up.”
How about a little lighter take on the subject?
Or this one?