'Rapture' moment will destroy Earth in next seven years, warns prophecy

London: Floods, earthquakes and deadly plagues will destroy the Earth in the next seven years, according to a prophecy by some Christian groups.

The terrifying prophecy claimed that the 'Rapture' phenomenon will destroy all humanity and the civilised world as we know it, bringing about a global Apocalypse before 2021, the Daily Express reported.

Traced back to ancient Biblical texts, believers claim warnings of the impending Armageddon also signal the second coming of Jesus and said that similar events have been charted in ancient history including the Biblical Flood of 2,348 BC, told in Genesis, and the Three Plagues of Egypt.

“The 'Rapture' is likely to occur between now and 2021 before the Second Coming between 2018 and 2028, said Dr F Kenton Beshore,” President of the World Bible Society.

Beshore, who holds five doctoral degrees in theology, bases his prediction on texts in the Bible including the book of Thessalonians which state “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: 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.”

Stating that it is written in the book of Matthew and also claimed that messages hidden in the Bible give warnings of when to expect the “End Times”, he warned that the human race needs to be prepared for the return of “our Lord and Saviour” and be ready for “His return at all times.”

However Rev Jonathan Blake, Bishop of Greater London, denounced the claims as “Hollywood scaremongering.”

He said that at a time when people are leaving religion in their droves, such warnings are made to scare people into following a certain doctrine, adding that these are just imaginative, fantastical and illusionary stories people use to try to express the concept of judgement, their original purpose was perhaps to make people take stock of their lives.

He added that the Bible is written in apocalyptic language and people hang on to it to gain power over others particularly at a time when religion is failing.

While some people dismissed the claims, others insist that such calamitous theories are true and warn the impending disaster will destroy the planet.

(With ANI inputs)