Of SARS and Tribulations

just the other day i was sharing with some friends that were this iraq war (gulf war ii) to escalate into a long, uncontrollable squiggly line of further events that would constitute the end of our times, i wouldn't mind being one of the few (now many) people struck down by the sars virus that has been spreading like wildfire in recent months. i mean, if given the choice between passing away peacefully on a nice cosy hospital bed surrounded by lovely nurses and handsome doctors and getting bombed, starved, raped, beaten up and killed in a war, i would certainly prefer the former...

could this be the start of the rapture, and therefore, the start of the tribulation which marks the end times? strangely enough, as soon as i shared my premonitions on tuesday night with my friends, the first 2 sars deaths in singapore were reported in the news the following day - one of whom is a pastor at Faith Assembly of God Church! however, i had heard that the issues of rapture and tribulation were tricky ones, with biblical scholars divided over whether the rapture would occur before, during or after the tribulation.

well, this is what i have found out so far:

1. like "Holy Trinity", the term "Rapture" isn't actually found in the bible; it's a term coined by people to refer to an event which is actually referred to and described in the bible.

2. the first rapture recorded in history can be found in Genesis 5, where in a blink of an eye Enoch the prophet was taken by God directly to heaven. i.e. he did not die! (Hebrew 11:5 says that "by faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death...")

3.the second rapture recorded can be found in 2 Kings 2, where "a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared...and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind" (v11).

4. a rapture event is also recorded in the New Testament. Acts 8:39 describes how Philip was supernaturally removed from the desert and then materialized at the city of Azotus where he continued preaching the Gospel in several cities.

5. in 1 Corinthians 12:2-4, Paul talks about a man he once knew who was raptured up to the "Third Heaven" (1st Heaven = the sky above the earth; 2nd Heaven = includes outer space; 3rd Heaven = dwelling place of Almighty God) - he "was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak" (v4).

6. in 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, Paul seems to imply that during the Rapture, living Christians will enter the Kingdom directly without experiencing death (which is referred to as "sleeping", a Greek metaphor for physical death).

7. in Luke 17:26-36, Jesus explains the days of Rapture as thus:

""Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything.
Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."

- just as the flood was released only after Noah and his family were safely in the ark, and the destruction of sodom occurred only after Lot had departed from the city, Jesus seems to imply that believers will be removed by God before the REALLY tough times happen on Earth - i.e. prior to God's wrath being poured out...

 
A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, without saying aword, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 5cms in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. Then then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "Yes".

The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar - effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

Now, said the professor as the laughter subsided, I want you to recognise that this jar represents your LIFE. The ROCKS are the important things - your family, your partner, your health and your children - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The PEBBLES are the other things that matter - like your job, your house and your car. The SAND is everything else - the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are important to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There is always time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the fence Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand!

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers.