Signs of the end times: It’s a high-tech version of the cliche cartoon character — the zealot in long beard and robe holding the sign that predicts the end of the world. It’s the Rapture Index, a kind of gauge of how close we are to Jesus’ return to the earth, the Rapture and the Apocalypse as predicted in the Book of Revelations and various Old Testament visions.
This week’s rating is 160, based on measures of 45 different components that ostensibly portend the end of the world. A rating under 60 represents a period of slow prophetic activity, whereas anything over 145 is considered a pretty good indicator that there is going to be a lot of driverless vehicles on the interstate very soon. The 45 components are ranked on a scale of one to five, with five being high prophetic activity. This week low unemployment, lack of supernatural activity and the peace process (as represented by the cease-fire in Lebanon) all get a one ranking. Good signs of the rapture include high oil/gas prices, poor political leadership, developments in Israel, Gog (Russia) and Persia; and droughts, floods, wild weather and volcanoes all rate a five.
Reading the Rapture Index’s analysis is kind of like getting those annoying cryptic readings from a palmist:
- Supernatural: Satanism is reported to be flourishing in Russia
- Leadership: During the past few weeks, several end-time categories have become locked in a holding pattern.
- Ecumenism: World religions have been at odds with each other.
- Gog: Events in the Middle East are moving closer to the Ezk 38 & 39 prophecy.
- Mark of the Beast: The U.S. Patriot Act has failed to get enough votes for extension.
- Date Settings: Several organizations have been talking about Iran launching an attack against Israel on 22 Aug. The claim is based on the doomsday beliefs of Iran’s President.
Instead of the Dow Jones of the Apocalypse, the Rapture Index prefers to see itself as a kind of prophetic speedometer — the higher the number, the faster we are hurtling toward the end.
It’s an interesting attempt to quantify biblical prophesies as they are supposedly manifested in the news. But it’s a load of hooey. The world has always been going to hell in a handbasket, and the prophets of doom have always been among us, waving their signs and exhorting us to repent, the end is nigh. This is just a more entertaining poster for the end of the world.
Read Konrad Lorenz’ book on “Aggression” (translated from the original German of course) and you will see that indeed, most everything happening in and to our world is inevitable. I warn you though that it is a tough read, as the thoughts and theories are so complex, and written for fellow scientists, that you may often find yourself re-reading a paragraph several times to grasp the full import of it.
In case you don’t know who he is, he is one of the world’s leading experts in the nature/nurture schools of thought and debate.
Thanks for the Pensito Review. I’m wondering if you could possibly air the other side of the huge “Rapture Index” controversy. Typing in “The Rapture Index (Mad Theology)” on Google or Yahoo will bring up the “other side” and hopefully inspire you. Jon