In 2005 a well-known Christian ministry, Jack van Impe ministries, produced a video to support the rapture theory, and also made it as an online message “for those left behind after the rapture” to take hold of and to find their way (such videos online have been multiplying). In the video a quote was shared to trace back the history of the rapture belief even to the early time of when the Dead Sea Scrolls were buried (predating and going into the 1st Century AD). In this short article, we want to explore that claim.
What did this ministry post?
Jack van Impe read the following in his broadcast, introducing it as “a late breaking report” supposedly provided by “the journalist David Augustine” with headline reading, “A Newly Discovered Dead Sea Scroll Has Revealed Who Will be Left Behind When the Rapture Comes a Leading Scholar Reports.” (Jack van Impe Ministries, June 16, 2005)
Quoted on the screen as the “leading scholar” in the article was a person referenced as Dr. William Harold, professor of Canon Law, at the Theological Seminary of Essex, GB [Great Britain]. The following two quotes were attributed to this Dr. William Harold.
“Without doubt, this is the most important discovery in the history of Biblical archeology. The scroll, written in Aramaic, the language spoken in the Holy Land during Jesus time on earth, was found in a cave on the shores of the Dead Sea by geologists conducting a survey for the Israeli government.”
The scrolls read:
“The Rapture will occur suddenly. And countless thousands will vanish from the earth. Swept up to heaven to live with Jesus and escape the torment of the Tribulation, the others will be left behind.” — The Dead Sea Scrolls
A few thoughts and comments:
Upon first hearing such an idea, those who believe in the rapture might be overjoyed to find some kind of evidence for their belief dating all the way back to the first century AD at least! However, upon further investigation of these claims serious questions and doubts begin to arise. Here they are in list format with some additional thoughts on them.
- A journalist name and headline were given. No media organization was given. Why not? The point of giving quotes and references is so that others can verify your source and decide for themselves if the evidence is correct or strong enough to put stock into. Upon Google searching the supposed “headline” which was supposed to have been “late breaking news” and the journalist name, not a single reference to any kind of original article appears! That’s very strange for such a discovery as the one mentioned to be “late breaking news.” We live in an international world today where news hits the other side of the planet moments after something takes place. All noteworthy news agencies put their information online (both local and world news). Again, why did we not receive a media organization name and why does a headline Google search on the stated headline along with the journalist name reveal nothing? In fact, it only brings up Jack van Impe ministry references alone, or internet sites which referenced Jack van Impe ministries for their primary source regarding this article and claim. If the information was reliable and genuine, why not give us the news agency where this was supposedly reported from?
- Next, we ought to at least be able to find the “leading scholar” who made these claims in the first place, if not the news agency. To research him, we only need to make contact with the “Theological Seminary of Essex” in Great Britain [GB]. However, upon Google searching for the stated Seminary we find that it strangely has no web presence! That surely seems impossible for a university of any shape or size today! Especially one that has “leading scholars” and large departments! After researching for Seminaries in the UK, nothing by that name ever comes up! The closest possible match was the University of Essex who did in fact have a webpage (click here to visit). However, after looking over all their departments they have no department in Theology, no religion department, and no mention whatsoever of any Seminary. A bit strange, huh? Must not be the right place.
- Finally, our next best bet would be to look at the quotes themselves to see what can be uncovered. The first statement doesn’t seem like a surprising one in any case no matter what the DSS (Dead Sea Scroll) discovery had been. The second quote, if true and verifiable would be an incredible reference for history of the rapture theory if in fact it was true. Again, a simple Google search of both quotes by themselves turns up nothing more than a number of blogs referencing Jack van Impe ministries’ statement made from their broadcast. The primary source of information for anybody always seems to rest upon Jack van Impe ministries, which doesn’t say much of anything to legitimate the claim. It only seems to suggest that this information primarily originated with them, and not any outside sources.
- Furthermore, every scroll and fragment found in the 11 caves at Qumran near the Dead Sea, between 1946 and 1956, have been meticulously categorized for reference and are very well and carefully preserved for researchers! They are listed by cave number they were found in, and also scroll or fragment name or number. For example, fragment number 27 found in Qumran Cave 1 would be 1Q27. Fragments 299-301 found in Qumran Cave 4 would be 4Q299-301. All the fragments and items found and labeled as part of the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) are referenced in this way! So, why does the quote from Jack van Impe ministries simply say below his prize jewel of a quote, “The Dead Sea Scrolls.” With over 981 texts having been discovered and categorized from these 11 caves that is an extremely vague kind of a reference! And this also makes it unverifiable! Why not give us a specific reference since this would be such an earth shattering discovery for the theory of the rapture? No evidence has ever been produced that such a statement has ever been found among the Dead Sea Scrolls other than the claims of Jack van Impe ministries. Again, that is cause for very serious doubts as to the validity of such claims.
Conclusion
There is no evidence whatsoever that the Dead Sea Scrolls ever make a single reference to the idea of the rapture. The statements and quotes provided by Jack van Impe ministries do not pan out when attempting to verify them. (1) There is no evidence of any such article or journalist existing, (2) No news agency given, (3) No such theological seminary or stated “leading scholars” were able to be verified, (4) No outside sources verifying the claims on Google other than Jack van Impe ministries claim itself, and (5) No specific Dead Sea Scroll reference or materials coming up to match these claims. The quote given by the Jack van Impe ministry is therefore an unreliable and useless reference for anybody wanting to talk about the history of the rapture theory. The use of it by said ministries brings the ministry itself into question and the kind of resources they like to use.
