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THE AMSTERDAM FORUM "Rapture is a word that does not appear in scriptures, it's a theological term that's used for the snatching away from the earth of true believers when Jesus comes at some point in the future. We believe he'll come in the clouds and the Bible says in the twinkling of an eye that the true believers will be caught up in the air with him and go with him to heaven. This happens so fast that the people who are left behind don't even see it." Jerry Jenkins co-author Left Behind books It might sound like a joke, but for millions of fundamentalist Christians the idea that one day they will be instantaneously sucked off the face of the earth and disappear forever is one they hold dear.In certain parts of the US you can even buy a bumper sticker for your car giving a warning that at any time the driver may be transported to heaven and can't be held responsible for the ensuing crash. After the lightning speed "flight upstairs", believers will be given a ringside seat for the end of the world, and seven years of living hell will be unleashed below. The scenario may seem far-fetched, unbelievable even, but a series of books based on this very premise, the Left Behind books, has sold over 60 million copies in the US. The series has also sold over a million copies outside America and has been translated in to 34 languages, including Dutch, with more foreign editions planned. The Amsterdam Forum focuses on the Christian fundamentalist concept of Rapture and the following "End Time." In the programme Left Behind co-author Jerry Jenkins explains the key ideas of the Rapture movement and studio guests Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte, a professor in theology, and Feike ter Velde, a believer in the Rapture concept from the Dutch End Time group Het Zoeklicht ("the searchlight") debate the pros and cons of this fundamentalist approach.
Notes of Webmaster: 1. A fundamentalist is somebody who has a fundament, his believes are founded on a certain truth as he sees it. There is nothing wrong with that. In this way to be called a fundamentalist is an honour. However this word is a synonym for extremism nowadays and although some fundamentalists are extremists, it is not correct to use the name in this way for the whole group.Christians who believe in the Bible and see the signs of the End Time as written in the Bible and try to warn people for the coming time of tribulation are no extremists. But it is a pity that some groups that believe these things about the end time use it as a political item. A prophet must warn the people, but he can't force them to obey. |
What is meaning of The Cross?
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Feike
ter Velde is chief editor of the bi-weekly magazine from the group Het
Zoeklicht – the searchlight. Het Zoeklicht is an End Time movement.
"One's world view needs to be based upon something. I believe we live in a
created universe and in a self-revealing God. The Bible is the source for that.
History and future are in God's hand. Future means: the return of Jesus Christ
and the coming of His Kingdom. The Bible points to many signs in that
connection, which we see visible in our world today."
Bert
Jan Lietaert Peerbolte teaches theology at the Theological University in
Kampen: "Whenever you transfer antique ideas and predictions one on one to
a society in 2004, you are actually doing nothing different than a
fundamentalist imam. In America the influence of the Christian fundamentalist
circles is directly recognisable in the White House. In the Netherlands this
small group doesn't form a power base."
