Are the 'Rapture Fanatics' a cult? Mentally ill?
Jun 28, 2023 3:00:09 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Jun 28, 2023 3:00:09 GMT -5
First of all, let me make myself clear: I agree that we should be watching for the rapture each and every day, not only because we're obviously very, very close, but it's the best incentive to live a pure and holy life. My first thought when I wake up is always, "Maybe today!", but in the parable of the 10 servants, the master told them, "Occupy 'till I come" when he went on a trip with an unspecified date of return. (Luke 19:13) In other words, we're to go about our daily lives as usual, but at the same time be about our Father's business: sharing the gospel, praying for the lost, studying the Word, and doing good. As one preacher put it (paraphrasing), "We're to live as if Jesus was coming for us today, yet be prepared to be here another 100 years."
People - including followers of Edgar Whisenant and now Mandi Ralph - have been so certain of the date of the rapture which was confidently revealed to them by their favorite false prophet that they've given away their possessions, quit their jobs, and even had their beloved pets put to sleep! (This last particularly disturbs me; they claim to be have faith in Jesus, yet don't trust Him to rescue their pets - whom He loves even more than their owners do - at the rapture!) Lives have been ruined, relationships irreparably destroyed, and some have even committed suicide when the rapture didn't take place when they were assured it would.
Watching for the Lord does not mean seeking after signs and omens, spending many hours (even hundreds of hours, as some do) twisting and torturing numbers until they "prove" what you want them to; assigning meaning to random numbers you see; thinking every silly dream is prophetic; listening for (and even imagining) sounds and/or voices, and more - in fact, these practices (numerology, divination, astrology, seeking after signs, etc.) are expressly forbidden in the Bible, yet many professing "Christians" engage in them on a regular basis, thinking they're pleasing God, when the exact opposite is true.
One of my master's degrees is in counseling (the other is in Bible studies) and I've long thought that many - perhaps most - of those who fanatically follow their favorite false prophets year after year, despite their never being right about anything, and who vehemently defend them to their critics (calling those who actually have discernment mockers and scoffers) have both mental and spiritual issues. I'm not judging their salvation - only God can do that - but it's neither normal nor healthy to become so obsessed with something that it dominates every facet of your life and you think of little else.
The narrator in this YouTube channel is speaking specifically about Mandi Ralph and a woman named Jess (do a search in the "Here's Your Sign" forum if you're not familiar with them), but what she has to say is applicable to all those who are fanatically obsessed with the rapture, both the false prophets/teachers and those who so avidly follow them and hang onto their every word as if it were Holy Writ despite them clearly being lies.
Do Jess and Mandi have a cult? Let's break it down
There are some wise comments, and some just prove the narrator's point:
The one thing that really stood out to me in the comments of Mandi's following was "Don't be discouraged Mandi, we believe in you". To me that says a lot about her following, dangerous!!
***
When a new video gets posted they get this dopamine rush and they think its the holy spirit. Notice how so many say i know its close i can feel it.
***
Jesus "pray to be found worthy to ESCAPE" HIS words!!! Hello?
@actuallycant
yes indeed. Pray to be found worthy, and go about living your life being worthy. Don't hide in your bedroom reading horoscopes.
***
@actuallycant Luke 21:36 watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass. This is clearly talking about Gods wrath in the Tribulation and sorry but he clearly says we are not appointed to his wrath before you go blasphemy Gods word i would seek the Holy Spirit on Truth and not mislead people into your fleshly opinion.
***
Were told to keep watch, and study. We will get revelation, also spiritual gifts (Ephesians 1:17, 1 thessalonians 5:1-12, 1 Corinthians 12, kjv). I'm not saying I agree with everything they say but this video sounds like it denies biblical truth.
***
@actuallycan
Oh no I'm not denying spiritual gifts. I'm talking about the esoteric pursuits of numerology and such. Secret knowledge only a special club is privy to.
***
numerology, Translating letters into numbers is ancient. Hebrews used it. It can be misunderstood and misused also though. Just like astronomy, that's what the sun moon and stars were created for (genesis 1:14-17 kjv) however that can be misunderstood and misused also. (Proverbs 25:2 kjv
***
@actuallycant
The number value of Hebrew letters is hardly esoteric science. Same with astronomy. I agree there can be a fine line between astronomy and astrology, but there is a line. Cults are famous for using mystical sciences to offer special knowledge.
People - including followers of Edgar Whisenant and now Mandi Ralph - have been so certain of the date of the rapture which was confidently revealed to them by their favorite false prophet that they've given away their possessions, quit their jobs, and even had their beloved pets put to sleep! (This last particularly disturbs me; they claim to be have faith in Jesus, yet don't trust Him to rescue their pets - whom He loves even more than their owners do - at the rapture!) Lives have been ruined, relationships irreparably destroyed, and some have even committed suicide when the rapture didn't take place when they were assured it would.
Watching for the Lord does not mean seeking after signs and omens, spending many hours (even hundreds of hours, as some do) twisting and torturing numbers until they "prove" what you want them to; assigning meaning to random numbers you see; thinking every silly dream is prophetic; listening for (and even imagining) sounds and/or voices, and more - in fact, these practices (numerology, divination, astrology, seeking after signs, etc.) are expressly forbidden in the Bible, yet many professing "Christians" engage in them on a regular basis, thinking they're pleasing God, when the exact opposite is true.
One of my master's degrees is in counseling (the other is in Bible studies) and I've long thought that many - perhaps most - of those who fanatically follow their favorite false prophets year after year, despite their never being right about anything, and who vehemently defend them to their critics (calling those who actually have discernment mockers and scoffers) have both mental and spiritual issues. I'm not judging their salvation - only God can do that - but it's neither normal nor healthy to become so obsessed with something that it dominates every facet of your life and you think of little else.
The narrator in this YouTube channel is speaking specifically about Mandi Ralph and a woman named Jess (do a search in the "Here's Your Sign" forum if you're not familiar with them), but what she has to say is applicable to all those who are fanatically obsessed with the rapture, both the false prophets/teachers and those who so avidly follow them and hang onto their every word as if it were Holy Writ despite them clearly being lies.
Do Jess and Mandi have a cult? Let's break it down
There are some wise comments, and some just prove the narrator's point:
The one thing that really stood out to me in the comments of Mandi's following was "Don't be discouraged Mandi, we believe in you". To me that says a lot about her following, dangerous!!
***
When a new video gets posted they get this dopamine rush and they think its the holy spirit. Notice how so many say i know its close i can feel it.
***
Jesus "pray to be found worthy to ESCAPE" HIS words!!! Hello?
@actuallycant
yes indeed. Pray to be found worthy, and go about living your life being worthy. Don't hide in your bedroom reading horoscopes.
***
@actuallycant Luke 21:36 watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass. This is clearly talking about Gods wrath in the Tribulation and sorry but he clearly says we are not appointed to his wrath before you go blasphemy Gods word i would seek the Holy Spirit on Truth and not mislead people into your fleshly opinion.
***
Were told to keep watch, and study. We will get revelation, also spiritual gifts (Ephesians 1:17, 1 thessalonians 5:1-12, 1 Corinthians 12, kjv). I'm not saying I agree with everything they say but this video sounds like it denies biblical truth.
***
@actuallycan
Oh no I'm not denying spiritual gifts. I'm talking about the esoteric pursuits of numerology and such. Secret knowledge only a special club is privy to.
***
numerology, Translating letters into numbers is ancient. Hebrews used it. It can be misunderstood and misused also though. Just like astronomy, that's what the sun moon and stars were created for (genesis 1:14-17 kjv) however that can be misunderstood and misused also. (Proverbs 25:2 kjv
***
@actuallycant
The number value of Hebrew letters is hardly esoteric science. Same with astronomy. I agree there can be a fine line between astronomy and astrology, but there is a line. Cults are famous for using mystical sciences to offer special knowledge.
