Rapture?

"We will not be surprised that Christ has not returned according to any human's timetable. But we should not be relieved. Lord come quickly." - Albert Mohler

Today is the day that Harold Camping called for the rapture. As it is past 6 PM CST, I can officially say he was mistaken. However, I knew he was mistaken before that.

"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. - Mark 13:32 (ESV)

As a Christian, it is tempting to just dismiss this entire episode and move on. Yet, there are lessons to be taken away. The gloating of skeptics, atheists and even other Christians, should result in even greater prayers for their salvation and for a deeper understanding of grace and love.

We should not stop at verse 32 but hear Christ's command in verse 33:

"Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come."

We should be taking this opportunity to again ask ourselves if we are truly ready...are we on guard against those forces around us that want to destroy our faith? We should be asking God to show us the stumbling blocks in our lives and hearts that threaten to extinguish our passion for our Lord. This is a time to be humble rather than prideful that we didn't fall for Camping's proclamation.

The idea of the rapture is taken from Matthew 24:38-42:

"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."

I remain unsure whether this passage can be extrapolated into a literal rapture. I will let John Piper offer some definitions and counsel on this matter:

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/articles/definitions-and-observations-concerning-the-second-coming-of-christ

Finally, here is a very well written letter to those who followed Camping:

http://www.patheos.com/community/philosophicalfragments/2011/05/21/a-letter-to-harold-camping-and-those-who-expected-judgment-day/

http://www.patheos.com/community/philosophicalfragments/2011/05/27/harold-camping-needs-an-intervention/

As of March 2012, Camping has admitted his sin and will stop making end of the world predictions:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/harold-camping-admits-sin-announces-end-to-doomsday-predictions-70953/