What some will do for greed’s?
Caring for Pets Left Behind by the Rapture For a fee, this
service will place your dog or cat in the home of a caring atheist on Judgment
Day
service will place your dog or cat in the home of a caring atheist on Judgment
Day
Many people in the U.S.—perhaps 20 million to 40
million—believe there will be a Second Coming in their lifetimes, followed by
the Rapture. In this event, they say, the righteous will be spirited away to a
better place while the godless remain on Earth. But what will become of all the
pets?
million—believe there will be a Second Coming in their lifetimes, followed by
the Rapture. In this event, they say, the righteous will be spirited away to a
better place while the godless remain on Earth. But what will become of all the
pets?
Bart Centre, 61, a
retired retail executive in New Hampshire, says many people are troubled by
this question, and he wants to help. He started a service called Eternal
Earth-Bound Pets that promises to rescue and care for animals left behind by
the saved.
retired retail executive in New Hampshire, says many people are troubled by
this question, and he wants to help. He started a service called Eternal
Earth-Bound Pets that promises to rescue and care for animals left behind by
the saved.
Promoted on the Web
as "the next best thing to pet salvation in a Post Rapture World,"
the service has attracted more than 100 clients, who pay $110 for a 10-year
contract ($15 for each additional pet.) If the Rapture happens in that time,
the pets left behind will have homes—with atheists. Centre has set up a
national network of godless humans to carry out the mission. "If you love
your pets, I can't understand how you could not consider this," he says.
as "the next best thing to pet salvation in a Post Rapture World,"
the service has attracted more than 100 clients, who pay $110 for a 10-year
contract ($15 for each additional pet.) If the Rapture happens in that time,
the pets left behind will have homes—with atheists. Centre has set up a
national network of godless humans to carry out the mission. "If you love
your pets, I can't understand how you could not consider this," he says.
Centre came up with
the idea while working on his book, The Atheist Camel Chronicles, written under
the pseudonym Dromedary Hump. In it, he says many unkind things about the
devout and confesses that "I'm trying to figure out how to cash in on this
hysteria to supplement my income."
the idea while working on his book, The Atheist Camel Chronicles, written under
the pseudonym Dromedary Hump. In it, he says many unkind things about the
devout and confesses that "I'm trying to figure out how to cash in on this
hysteria to supplement my income."
Whatever motivates
Centre, he has tapped into a source of genuine unease. Todd Strandberg, who
founded a biblical prophecy Web site called raptureready.com that draws 250,000
unique visitors a month, agrees that Fido and Mittens are doomed. "Pets
don't have souls, so they'll remain on Earth. I don't see how they can be taken
with you," he says. "A lot of persons are concerned about their pets,
but I don't know if they should necessarily trust atheists to take care of
them."
Centre, he has tapped into a source of genuine unease. Todd Strandberg, who
founded a biblical prophecy Web site called raptureready.com that draws 250,000
unique visitors a month, agrees that Fido and Mittens are doomed. "Pets
don't have souls, so they'll remain on Earth. I don't see how they can be taken
with you," he says. "A lot of persons are concerned about their pets,
but I don't know if they should necessarily trust atheists to take care of
them."
This paradox poses a
challenge for Centre. He must reassure the Rapture crowd that his pet rescuers
are wicked enough to be left behind but good enough to take proper care of the
abandoned pets. Rescuers must sign an affidavit to affirm their disbelief in
God—and they must also clear a criminal background check. "We want people
who have pets and are animal lovers," Centre says. They also must have the
means to rescue and transport the animals in their charge. His network consists
of 26 rescuers covering 22 states. "They take this very seriously,"
Centre says.
challenge for Centre. He must reassure the Rapture crowd that his pet rescuers
are wicked enough to be left behind but good enough to take proper care of the
abandoned pets. Rescuers must sign an affidavit to affirm their disbelief in
God—and they must also clear a criminal background check. "We want people
who have pets and are animal lovers," Centre says. They also must have the
means to rescue and transport the animals in their charge. His network consists
of 26 rescuers covering 22 states. "They take this very seriously,"
Centre says.
One of Centre's
atheist recruits is Laura, a woman in her 30s who lives near the buckle of the
Bible Belt in Oklahoma, and who prefers not to give her last name. She has two
dogs of her own and has made a commitment to rescue four dogs and two cats
when—if—the time comes. "If it happens, my first thought will be, 'I've
got work to do,'" Laura says. "The first thing I'll do is find out
where I need to go exactly."
atheist recruits is Laura, a woman in her 30s who lives near the buckle of the
Bible Belt in Oklahoma, and who prefers not to give her last name. She has two
dogs of her own and has made a commitment to rescue four dogs and two cats
when—if—the time comes. "If it happens, my first thought will be, 'I've
got work to do,'" Laura says. "The first thing I'll do is find out
where I need to go exactly."
The rescuers won't
know the precise location of the animals until the Rapture arrives, at which
time they will contact Centre for instructions. "I've got to get to [the
pets] within a maximum of 18 to 24 hours. We really don't want them to wait
more than a day." A day she believes will never come.
know the precise location of the animals until the Rapture arrives, at which
time they will contact Centre for instructions. "I've got to get to [the
pets] within a maximum of 18 to 24 hours. We really don't want them to wait
more than a day." A day she believes will never come.
Centre doesn't think
he will ever have to follow through on the service he offers. But he believes
in virtuous acts. His Web site directs about $200 a month in proceeds from
Google ads to food banks in Minnesota and New Hampshire. And to pet owners, he
has already delivered something of great value: peace of mind, for just 92
cents a month. "If we thought the Rapture was really going to
happen," Centre says, "obviously our rate structure would be much
higher."
he will ever have to follow through on the service he offers. But he believes
in virtuous acts. His Web site directs about $200 a month in proceeds from
Google ads to food banks in Minnesota and New Hampshire. And to pet owners, he
has already delivered something of great value: peace of mind, for just 92
cents a month. "If we thought the Rapture was really going to
happen," Centre says, "obviously our rate structure would be much
higher."
Di Paola is a
reporter for Bloomberg News
reporter for Bloomberg News
Sir Michael Black-Feather the English first minister and Arch
Bishop to the free reformed church of England said, he had never heard such tot,
he said all animals have souls and if fact he himself has given many crossing
over blessing to help guide peoples pet over and the Rapture is a reference to
the being caught up referred to in the Biblical passage Thess when in the End
Times the Christians will be gathered together in the air to meet Christ.
Bishop to the free reformed church of England said, he had never heard such tot,
he said all animals have souls and if fact he himself has given many crossing
over blessing to help guide peoples pet over and the Rapture is a reference to
the being caught up referred to in the Biblical passage Thess when in the End
Times the Christians will be gathered together in the air to meet Christ.
The primary passage used to support the idea of the Rapture
is 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, in which Paul cites "the word of the
Lord" about the return of Jesus to gather his saints, Michael the Arch Angel
use the words when the father calls our names we shall stand by his side.
is 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, in which Paul cites "the word of the
Lord" about the return of Jesus to gather his saints, Michael the Arch Angel
use the words when the father calls our names we shall stand by his side.
And the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.1 Thess 4
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.1 Thess 4
Sir Michael said there are many views among Christians
regarding the timing of Christ's return including whether it will occur in one
event or two, and various views regarding the destination of the 1 Thessalonians
4 aerial gathering:
regarding the timing of Christ's return including whether it will occur in one
event or two, and various views regarding the destination of the 1 Thessalonians
4 aerial gathering:
Some Dispensationalist Premillennialists including many
Evangelicals hold the return of Christ to be two distinct events or one second
coming in two stages which is due to their misinterpretations which in common within
many faiths that have rewritten the words of God to suit their own beliefs,
this can be very clearly seen not only in some Bibles but also some versions of
the Qur’an that have been written by men and misinterpreted and used for their corruptions
of souls, greed and control over the people.
Evangelicals hold the return of Christ to be two distinct events or one second
coming in two stages which is due to their misinterpretations which in common within
many faiths that have rewritten the words of God to suit their own beliefs,
this can be very clearly seen not only in some Bibles but also some versions of
the Qur’an that have been written by men and misinterpreted and used for their corruptions
of souls, greed and control over the people.
Thessalonians 4:15-17 is seen to be a preliminary event to
the return described in Matthew 24:29-31. Although both describe a return of
Jesus, these are seen to be separated in time by more than a brief period. The
first event may or may not be seen (which is not a primary issue), and is
called the rapture, when the saved are to be 'caught up,' from whence the term
rapture is taken. The 'second coming' is the public event when Christ's
presence is prophesied to be clearly seen as he returns to end a battle staged
at Armageddon, though possibly fought at the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The
majority of dispensationalists hold that the first event proceeds the period of
Tribulation, even if not immediately, Michal says he will be at the head of his
father’s army when he commands, and all those of corrupted and greed shall be
fallen and will not enter the kingdom of his father but will every remain as a
lost being.
the return described in Matthew 24:29-31. Although both describe a return of
Jesus, these are seen to be separated in time by more than a brief period. The
first event may or may not be seen (which is not a primary issue), and is
called the rapture, when the saved are to be 'caught up,' from whence the term
rapture is taken. The 'second coming' is the public event when Christ's
presence is prophesied to be clearly seen as he returns to end a battle staged
at Armageddon, though possibly fought at the Valley of Jehoshaphat. The
majority of dispensationalists hold that the first event proceeds the period of
Tribulation, even if not immediately, Michal says he will be at the head of his
father’s army when he commands, and all those of corrupted and greed shall be
fallen and will not enter the kingdom of his father but will every remain as a
lost being.
Amillennialists deny the interpretation of a literal 1000
year rule of Christ, and as such Amillennialism does not necessarily imply much
difference between itself and other forms of millennialism besides that denial.
However, there is considerable overlap of Amillenialism (such as in most Roman
Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians (PCUSA), and
others), Postmillennialists (such as some Presbyterians, and others), and
Historic Premillennialists (such as with some Calvinistic Baptists, and others)
with those who hold that the return of Christ will be a single, public event.
year rule of Christ, and as such Amillennialism does not necessarily imply much
difference between itself and other forms of millennialism besides that denial.
However, there is considerable overlap of Amillenialism (such as in most Roman
Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians (PCUSA), and
others), Postmillennialists (such as some Presbyterians, and others), and
Historic Premillennialists (such as with some Calvinistic Baptists, and others)
with those who hold that the return of Christ will be a single, public event.
Those who identify the Rapture with the
Second-Coming-to-Earth are likely to emphasize mutual similarities between
passages of scripture where clouds, angels or the archangel Michael,
resurrection, and gathering are mentioned. Although some (such as some
Amillennialists) may take the Rapture to be figurative, rather than literal,
these three groups are likely to maintain that passages regarding the return of
Christ describe a single event. Then some may also claim that the "word of
the Lord" cited by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 is the Olivet Discourse
which Matthew separately describes in Matthew 24:29-31. Although the doctrinal
relationship of the rapture and the Second Coming are the same in these three
groups, Historic Premillennialists are more likely to use the term
"rapture" to clarify their position in distinction from Dispensationalists.
Second-Coming-to-Earth are likely to emphasize mutual similarities between
passages of scripture where clouds, angels or the archangel Michael,
resurrection, and gathering are mentioned. Although some (such as some
Amillennialists) may take the Rapture to be figurative, rather than literal,
these three groups are likely to maintain that passages regarding the return of
Christ describe a single event. Then some may also claim that the "word of
the Lord" cited by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 is the Olivet Discourse
which Matthew separately describes in Matthew 24:29-31. Although the doctrinal
relationship of the rapture and the Second Coming are the same in these three
groups, Historic Premillennialists are more likely to use the term
"rapture" to clarify their position in distinction from Dispensationalists.
Dispensationalists see the immediate destination as heaven,
with an eventual return to earth. Roman Catholic commentators, for example
Walter Drum (1912), identify the destination of the 1 Thessalonians 4:17
gathering as heaven.
with an eventual return to earth. Roman Catholic commentators, for example
Walter Drum (1912), identify the destination of the 1 Thessalonians 4:17
gathering as heaven.
While Anglicans have many views in all areas of theology,
some Anglican commentators, for example N. T. Wright, identify the destination
as a specific place on earth. Often the destination identified is Jerusalem.
This interpretation may sometimes be connected to Christian-environmentalist
concerns but many have missed the words that have been hidden within the holy
words because they’re just not meant to see them, they’re not for them to see
and that’s the will of God, the holy word are the ways we should conduct our
lives and the true words are the guide of life to life.
some Anglican commentators, for example N. T. Wright, identify the destination
as a specific place on earth. Often the destination identified is Jerusalem.
This interpretation may sometimes be connected to Christian-environmentalist
concerns but many have missed the words that have been hidden within the holy
words because they’re just not meant to see them, they’re not for them to see
and that’s the will of God, the holy word are the ways we should conduct our
lives and the true words are the guide of life to life.
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