6-week series: April 17/18, 2024 – May 29/30, 2024
Wednesdays Online @ 11am
Thursdays @ 1pm, Community Classroom
During our study of Mark we were introduced to “the little apocalypse”. Join Pastor Danielle for a study of other apocalyptic literature, how it relates to the “Left Behind” phenomenon in recent years, and what alternative ways Revelation & other apocalyptic literature might be interpreted using The Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing, Lutheran seminary professor and former chair of the Lutheran World Federation climate delegation to the United Nations Conference of the Parties.
The idea of “The Rapture” — the return of Christ to rescue and deliver Christians off the earth — is an extremely popular interpretation of the Bible’s Book of Revelation and a jumping-off point for the best-selling “Left Behind” series of books. This interpretation, based on a psychology of fear and destruction, guides the daily acts of thousands if not millions of people worldwide. In The Rapture Exposed, Barbara Rossing argues that this script for the world’s future is nothing more than a disingenuous distortion of the Bible. The truth, Rossing argues, is that Revelation offers a vision of God’s healing love for the world. The Rapture Exposed reclaims Christianity from fundamentalists’ destructive reading of the biblical story and back into God’s beloved community.
Books can be purchased from your favorite bookseller or MORE BOOK INFO
Join us in person or use the recorded sessions for a self-guided study!
Contact info@tllc.org for the login information for the online class or to get the recorded videos of each class.
Class Schedule:
weekly summaries posted each week
Week 1: April 17/18
This week we will focus on the Introduction & Chapter 1 of The Rapture Exposed & do a brief overview of Revelation. A handout of discussion questions will be coming soon (let us know if you would like a copy). In the meantime you can look at questions 1-2, 8-11 in the book’s discussion guide, which begins on pg. 189.
Week 2: April 24/25
This week we continue our study of apocalyptic literature, how it relates to the “Left Behind” phenomenon in recent years, and what alternative ways Revelation & other apocalyptic literature might be interpreted using The Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing, Lutheran seminary professor and former chair of the Lutheran World Federation climate delegation to the United Nations Conference of the Parties. This week we will review Chapter 2 of the book along with Daniel 9:25-27 & Mark 13.
Week 3: May 1/2
This week we continue our study of apocalyptic literature, how it relates to the “Left Behind” phenomenon in recent years, and what alternative ways Revelation & other apocalyptic literature might be interpreted using The Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing, Lutheran seminary professor and former chair of the Lutheran World Federation climate delegation to the United Nations Conference of the Parties. This week we will review Chapter 3 of the book along with Matthew 24-25.
Week 4: May 8/9
This week we continue our study of apocalyptic literature, how it relates to the “Left Behind” phenomenon in recent years, and what alternative ways Revelation & other apocalyptic literature might be interpreted using The Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing, Lutheran seminary professor and former chair of the Lutheran World Federation climate delegation to the United Nations Conference of the Parties. This week we will review Chapter 4 of the book along with Revelation 21-22.
Week 5: May 15/16
This week we will review Chapters 5-7 of the book along with Revelation 1-2, 4-5. See the attached Revelation Overview Guide to help with your study of Revelation (note that it includes some additional chapters which you do not need to read but add some additional understanding to John’s vision plot).
Week 6: May 22/23
This week we will review Chapters 8-9.
Please note there will be NO WEDNESDAY CLASS next week (5/29) so plan to join us Thursday at 1:00 in the Community Classroom or watch the recorded session.
Week 7: May 30 (Thursday only)
Join us as we conclude our study of apocalyptic literature, how it relates to the “Left Behind” phenomenon in recent years, and what alternative ways Revelation & other apocalyptic literature might be interpreted using The Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing.