"God is coming to heal the world, not to kill millions of people". A quote from the preface of Barbara R. Rossing's "The Rapture Exposed"

The predicted “rapture” of the believers did not happen on May 21, 2011. No surprise there. But there continues to be a dis-ease among some Christians, uneasiness that maybe, just maybe we really are living in the “end times”. What with wars, fires, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and tornadoes, one could certainly wonder if God is mad at us and plans to destroy the world. Maybe God really will let his “chosen ones” escape it all and go directly to heaven before the tribulation starts. A “get-out-of-tribulation-free” card, so to speak. But none of that is biblical, trust me.

We will hear more and more of this as we approach Harold Camping’s (of Family Radio) new end-of-the-world prophecy – Oct. 21, 2011. It seems he made a small error with the May 21 date. It was really the “end of God’s salvation program”, not the rapture that happened on that day. No worries; everything is still on schedule. He’s absolutely sure of the October date for God’s final judgment. And if it doesn’t happen then, well we know about the Mayan calendar and the prophecies of Nostradamus – Dec. 21, 2012 at the latest, then we’re done for.

I recently read Barbara R. Rossing’s “The Rapture Exposed: the Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation”. I read it immediately following the hype around the May 21 date. I must confess, my usual response when people ask about the rapture and the tribulation is to mumble that “it’s not biblical” and “I generally don’t think much about it at all”, but that’s about all I say. Barbara Rossing has given me some helpful language with which to respond to these questions.

She points out how this is not an innocuous heresy, but a dangerous, escapist theology that has been so woven into the American narrative, since its invention in the mid 19th century, that many people don’t question it. They assume it’s in the bible.

I believe that our little church, The Episcopal Church of the Nativity, has a wonderful opportunity to express a narrative of hope and love instead a narrative of fear. We’re good at it; that’s our strength.

I am starting a “Rector’s Book Club” at 7pm on Wed. evenings at Nativity. Starting July 6, we’ll look at the above mentioned book, and then we’ll explore Rob Bell’s “Love Wins” starting August 10.

In my opinion, people shouldn’t be afraid to question, they shouldn’t live in fear of being “left behind”, and they shouldn’t renege on their responsibility to care for God’s creation.

Join us if you can. Oh, and don’t worry, I don’t think the world is going to end, nor do I believe that a world-wide tribulation will to start on October 21. I do, however, live in hope and trust that God’s kingdom will come and God’s will is going to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God’s Peace,
The Rev. Rita Henault