Reply #64: so are you quoting a pre-millenialist view? [View All]

[RevCheesehead]

The post-millenialists believe that Christ will return to earth, there will be a 1,000 year reign of peace, then all will be taken up to heaven (raptured). Then the earth is destroyed, along with all the "unsaved."

Quite frankly, I don't believe in ANY of it. All of this Darbyist sh*t came from the delusional feverish rantings of a preacher with way too much time on his hands. His teachings are disseminated at the Dallas School of Theology...and are popular with many evangelical, non-denominational churches. Also regurgitated in the writings of Hal Lindsay ("the late, great planet Earth") and, of course, the "Left Behind" crap of Tim LaHaye.

But there is NO historical doctrine that this thought was EVER espoused by the Christian Church (with perhaps the exception of the Essenes - whom we know very little about). And the early church was simply trying to survive the fall of the Roman Empire AND the martyrdom of the faithful.

MOST Christians DO NOT believe in the Rapture. I would venture to say that most people don't even know what it is.

(Sorry for the rant - it's my MDiv regurgitating on me!)