# Let's Say I've Decided the Rapture Is Imminent. Now What Do I Do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 12, 2004, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365 "2004-11-12T11:13:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/121 "2004-11-17T14:49:39Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > So instead of a Trumpet blast, the Rapture may sound more like millions of bubble wrap pops? _G_ The Rapture goes “BAMF!”?! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Psycho\_Pirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Psycho\_Pirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psycho_Pirate)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/122 "2004-11-17T20:34:43Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Psycho Pirate Thanks for explaining. I remain confused about one aspect though. If the Holy Spirit alone can grant understanding of the NT (and presumably, having the Spirit touch you and grant you understanding is an experience that convinces people to become Christians), what about the OT? And what about all the Jews and Muslims who believe in and worship the God of Abraham, but don’t believe in the NT? Do they not understand the OT? or does God grant them an understanding of the OT but not the NT? I don’t claim to have it all figured out when it comes to this topic, but here is my thinking. The Holy Spirit guides a person into truth of the scriptures regardless of whether it is the OT or the NT. There are many ‘types’ of Jesus (that is, symbolic pictures or representatives) in the OT, so I am not just writing off the OT. As for the Jews and Muslims, it is not a popular view, but I do not believe that they have a ‘true’ understanding of the OT. I completely realize how arrogant and exclusionary that last sentence sounds. To claim that Jews, many of whom are taught to memorize significant portions of the OT, and Muslims, who can be extremely devout, do not understand the OT, sounds condescending and dismissive. However, I can’t resolve my understanding of the scriptures in any other manner. Christ spoke of the road to heaven being narrow, and the path to destruction being broad. I believe that Jews and Muslims are capable of going to heaven, but only by believing on the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection and confessing their sins (i.e., just like everybody else). Sorry I didn’t respond sooner. It has been (and still is) a busy week. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/123 "2004-11-17T20:39:53Z")
> [@Psycho Pirate](#): > > I completely realize how arrogant and exclusionary that last sentence sounds. Because it _is_. To claim that Jews, many of whom are taught to memorize significant portions of the OT, and Muslims, who can be extremely devout, do not understand the OT, sounds condescending and dismissive. [/quote] Becauise it _is_…it’s also ignorant. > [@](#): > > However, I can’t resolve my understanding of the scriptures in any other manner. Christ spoke of the road to heaven being narrow, and the path to destruction being broad. I believe that Jews and Muslims are capable of going to heaven, but only by believing on the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection and confessing their sins (i.e., just like everybody else). In other words, Muslims and Jews can still go to heaven as long as they become Christians. Hoe wonderfully this God of yours is. :rolleyes: Sorry I didn’t respond sooner. It has been (and still is) a busy week. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/124 "2004-11-17T21:03:08Z")
> [@Siege](#): > > Uhmm, thanks, but I think that was **Polycarp**. It’s ok – we look a lot alike. 😉 > > CJ > Hmmm… Revelation 3:3: “I shall come upone you like a thief, and you will not know the moment of my coming.” > [Matthew 22:34-40](http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Matthew+22%3A34-40&NIV_version=yes&language=english&x=10&y=10) [Matthew 25:44-46](http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Matthew+25%3A44-46&NIV_version=yes&language=english&x=10&y=10) :smack: D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/125 "2004-11-18T01:42:04Z")
My Dad got saved as a Baptist and then lost the faith, but the way he explains it, once you’re saved you can’t get unsaved. So, if you’re already right with Jesus, and the Rapture’s coming, I’d advise buying lots of stuff on credit. Preferably whores, drugs, and other things you probably can’t get in Heaven unless you’re a Muslim. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/126 "2004-11-18T01:48:20Z")
Revelation 21:27 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/127 "2004-11-18T03:02:23Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Because it _is_. > To claim that Jews, many of whom are taught to memorize significant portions of the OT, and Muslims, who can be extremely devout, do not understand the OT, sounds condescending and dismissive. Becauise it _is_…it’s also ignorant. In other words, Muslims and Jews can still go to heaven as long as they become Christians. Hoe wonderfully this God of yours is. :rolleyes: Sorry I didn’t respond sooner. It has been (and still is) a busy week. [/QUOTE] [/QUOTE] I guess that means God’s covenant with Abraham was false and He never intended to honor it? :eek: I have a problem with that just as you do. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/128 "2004-11-18T11:44:10Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > Revelation 21:27 Revelation 21:27: “but nothing unclean shall enter, nor anyone whose ways are false or foul, but only those who are inscribed in the Lamb’s roll of the living.” You know, I know some pretty unclean and foul Christians, and I know at least one pure and good Wiccan. If you’re going to cite verses, it might be a good idea to post what they say, or at least link to it. [Here’s a good website for doing that.](http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible) CJ ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/129 "2004-11-18T19:03:05Z")
> [@Psycho Pirate](#): > > Christ spoke of the road to heaven being narrow… You ain’t just a-whistlin’ Dixie! ---
**Author:** ![Psycho\_Pirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Psycho\_Pirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psycho_Pirate)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/130 "2004-11-18T21:22:55Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > In other words, Muslims and Jews can still go to heaven as long as they become Christians. > > Hoe wonderfully this God of yours is. :rolleyes: Frankly **Diogenes** , your opinion on my alleged ignorance of the Bible is totally meaningless. How do you propose Muslims and Jews will go to heaven? Keep in mind John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” It may sound ignorant to you, but we can’t all be right. When two or more “truths” collide, they can’t all be truths. > [@SteveG1](#): > > I guess that means God’s covenant with Abraham was false and He never intended to honor it? :eek: I have a problem with that just as you do. :rolleyes: I apologize for not being clearer. I did not mean to imply this at all. I believe that Abraham went to Heaven (Paradise or Abraham’s bosom first, but you get my idea). I believe that faithful Jews went to Paradise upon death. I think that they believed on God’s faithfulness to His covenant, and on the promise of the Messiah. Though Abraham never heard the name of Jesus, He saw Him in the near-sacrifice of Isaac, and God’s provision of a sacrifice to take Isaac’s place. Certainly God’s covenant with the Jews will be honored. One of David’s seed will reign in Jerusalem forever. I believe that person to be Jesus Christ. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/131 "2004-11-19T01:55:49Z")
From the KJV, Revelation 3:3 says If thou shalt not watch, I will come as a theif, and you will not know what hour I come upon thee. So…if we DO watch, we WILL know when. Interesting. Anyway, the OP’s query has been answered. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/132 "2004-11-19T03:36:03Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > From the KJV, Revelation 3:3 says > If thou shalt not watch, I will come as a theif, and you will not know what hour I come upon thee. > > So…if we DO watch, we WILL know when. > > Interesting. > Anyway, the OP’s query has been answered. It doesn’t say “watch,” it says _gregoreses_- “awake.” This verse is from a letter to the Church at Sardis which was wealthy and had reputedly slid into hedonistic behaviors. The letter says to “remember what you have recieved” (the Gospel) and “repent.” It then says, [symbol]Ean oun mh grhgorhshV[/symbol] ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/133 "2004-11-19T03:40:48Z")
Sorry, I hit submit when I meant to hit preview. Anyway, it says [symbol]Ean oun mh grhgorhshV[/symbol] (“If you do not therefore awake” i.e. stop the partying and get back to the Gospel) “I will come like a thief in the night.” It’s a warning to Sardis but in a more general sense, this is just a warning that you have to follow the Gospel at all times because you never know when you’re going to die. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365/134 "2004-11-19T03:45:11Z")
That WAS cryptic, there. I’m still waiting for the cite where it says we hang around on clouds in Heaven. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-ive-decided-the-rapture-is-imminent-now-what-do-i-do/274365.md?page=6)