Biblical Rapture postponed

Press, 15 September 1988, Page 1

Biblical Rapture postponed

NZPA-AP Little Rock, Arkansas The man who predicted all the faithful would be called to heaven by yesterday morning, leaving a warring world of non-believers, has revised his prediction. Edgar Whisenant now believed a process called the Rapture will begin this morning, said Dianne McArthur, general manager of a Christian radio Staton, KAAY, at Little Rock.

Calls to Mr Whisenani’s Rapture 88 ministries in Little Rock were greeted by an answering machine, and he did not return a call to the Associated Press. Mr Whisenant, aged 56, a retired civil engineer and selftaught Bible student, has predicted in broadcasts carried by more than 90 radio stations throughout the United States that Jesus would “rapture the Church” — take the faithful'.to heaven — on September 11,12

or 13. Mrs McArthur said .she spoke with Mr Whisenant on Tuesday.• “I wanted to nail down when he felt was the last possible moment before the Rapture,” she said. That is when she discovered his revision. “All through this, Edgar has been basing things on Jerusalem time because he feels like God’s heart is in Jerusalem,” Mrs McArthur

said. But Mr Whisenant was reminded yesterday of Bible teachings that the Rapture would not occur until the last trumpet blast on Earth signalling the end of • Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, Mrs McArthur said. Mr Whisenant estimates that the last trump will occur along the international- dateline, and will signal Christians that they are about “to meet the Lord in the clouds.”