Doesn't the Book of Revelations say only 144,000 will be raptured...

[revree]

and won't they all be Jews, descendants of the 12 tribes of Isreal? Just asking why all these fundie Christians, millions of them, think they are going anywhere anytime soon...actually I wish they would!

I am in a mood today.

[UdoKier]

1. There's no such thing as a "rapture" in the Bible.

nt

[Hobarticus]

5. Yes...completely man-made, circa late 1800's, I believe.

All them "Rapture" bumper-sticker holders are stuck with the rest of us as we slide into doomsday, I'm afraid.

[ceile]

2. I thought the 144,000 was a Jevhova's Witness belief

I could be wrong though.

[MemphisTiger]

7. That's true

You would think they wouldn't go around to everyones door to recruit. Kinda screws up the odds for them.

[trotsky]

8. I think for JWs

There is a "special" heaven for the 144,000, and a "regular" heaven for the rest of them. Paradise versus Paradise double plus good.

[Maple]

3. Going to Heaven

but not raptured.

Jewish male virgins in fact.

[Hand]

4. Oy gevalt... a bunch of sissy boys! nt

[TlalocW]

6. Best line in a somewhat amusing movie

Coneheads

When the Immigration Officers come to the Conehead residence disguised as Jehovah Witnesses (All the Coneheads are in costumes that disguise their cones for a party later that night - Dan Ackroyd's character, Beldar, is Abraham Lincoln).

Immigration Officer: When the end times come, we believe only 144,000 of use will be saved.
Bledar: (Exchanges knowing glances with Primat - Jane Curtin) We do not believe it will be that many.

TlalocW

[Lerkfish]

9. not sure if you wanted a serious response, but here goes...

the 144,000 referst to the number of jews, from all twelve tribes that John of revelations saw in the kingdom of heaven. BUT it also says there are others (meaning non-jews) without number.

The rapture, as its called (but not called that in the bible) refers to two sources: one, when christ said there would be two in the field, one taken, and one left...and in revelations where its said the faithful would be taken up to avoid the worst of the tribulations of the endtimes...however, the revelation account is open to interpretation, frankly.

sorry to interrupt your wishful thinking for fundies, though.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. What the passage about "one taken and one left" sounds like

more than anything is what really happened at Hiroshima: people lived or died depending on whether they were standing in front of a window or in the shadow of a house.

I saw a documentary in Japan about people who had survived close to the epicenter, and it was literally little chance bits of luck like that. As I was watching, I recalled that Biblical passage.

[MellowOne]

14. one taken and one left

Jesus was addressing the people standing before him that they would see these things come to pass. He was warning them of the destruction of Jerusalem of 70 A.D. Fifty percent of the population was destroyed.

[catbert836]

10. It's simple biblical numerology

12= Number of tribes of Israel
12= Number of Jesus's apostles

12 X 12= 144

1,000= An immense number, infinity

144 X 1,000= everyone

It means that everyone can be saved.

[universalcitizen]

11. no, they aren't "Jews"; no, they aren't "Christians"

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:13-17

For they are not all Israel (Jews), which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Romans 9:6-8

Bush and all of his babylonian war mongers are children of the flesh, who are setting up their own earthly kingdom. They have a surprise coming.

[T_i_B]

13. Revelation chapter 7

Revelation chapter 7 verses 4-16. I haven't done a post like this in the religion forum in ages!

http://bibleontheweb.com/Bible.asp

4 And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel,
5 twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad,
6 twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand of the tribe of Naph'tali, twelve thousand of the tribe of Manas'seh,
7 twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand of the tribe of Is'sachar,
8 twelve thousand of the tribe of Zeb'ulun, twelve thousand of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin.
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!"
11 And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen."
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?"
14 I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night within his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.