Understand The Times, International

Comment from Understand The Times:

The following article shows how followers of a cult can be manipulated by using the Bible to control people. In this case, it appears that people who believe that the Bible teaches there will be a rapture (catching away of born-again Christians - I Thessalonians 4:16-17) are nothing more than crackpots who are on the lunatic fringe.

This is of course is what the Roman Catholic Church teaches. They call the idea that God could rapture believers, the "rapture trap." Of course, there are many views that Christians hold regarding this event as to when it happens. They fight amongst themselves, often hating those who do not agree with their view of what the Bible teaches.

Let it be said that the rapture is not the same as salvation through Jesus Christ alone. There have been many Christians throughout history who have died before the rapture and are present now with the Lord. However, there is an event coming in the future when saved people will be taken off planet earth in a twinkling of an eye (I Corinthians 15: 51-52).

Those who are not born again and miss the rapture, will be left behind on earth. When the rapture happens, unbelievers will say that those who were taken are the evil ones who were holding back human evolution because of their narrow-minded views on the Bible.

For example, the Roman Catholic Church not only teaches there will not be a rapture, they believe that they along with others who don't believe in the rapture will build the kingdom of god for the antichrist. For God will send a strong delusion and they will believe the "lie" (2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12).

For example, if you have access to kingdom builders who are building the kingdom for the antichrist, ask them if they have repented of their sins, been born again by the Spirit of God and have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior by faith alone.

September 19 - Leader of Calif. religious sect hospitalized

Article: Culls

The leader of a breakaway religious sect was hospitalized Sunday for a mental evaluation, after members of her group went missing and left behind evidence that they were awaiting the rapture or some catastrophic event.

Officers had been searching a wide swath of Southern California since Saturday after family members found letters saying the group was awaiting an apocalyptic event and would soon see Jesus and their dead relatives in heaven. The group of El Salvadoran immigrants described as "cult-like" by sheriff's officials, was led by Chicas, a 32-year-old woman from Palmdale in northeast Los Angeles county, sheriff's Captain Mike Parker said.

Members left behind cell phones, identifications, deeds to property, and letters indicating they were awaiting the Rapture.

"We've got a group here that's practicing some orthodox and some unorthodox Christianity," Parker said. "Obviously this falls under the unorthodox."

About six months ago, the group had planned to head to Vasquez Rocks, a wilderness area near Palmdale, to await a catastrophic earthquake or similar event, but one member of the group revealed details of the trip to relatives, Parker said. The trip was called off and the member kicked out.