The Right Article-Formatnewsletter-Format Article for Newsletter

You Are Here: Home Page » Formatnewsletter » Format Article for Newsletter

Newsletter Article

Here is Is The Singularity The Rapture? formatted for a newsletter with 65 characters per line.

Return to Is The Singularity The Rapture?

Is The Singularity The Rapture?

by Britt_Gillette

In the near future, the advance of human technology will become
so rapid the unaided human mind will be unable to comprehend its
implications. The point in time at which this occurs is generally
known as �the singularity,� and many believe it will usher in a
new and exciting era for the human race. Throughout the world,
many intellectuals and futurists have noted their belief in the
nearness of the singularity, with quite a few predicting it will
occur within our generation.

Some proponents of the singularity have promised immortality and
post-biological bodies for the human race, prompting many
adherents to draw parallels between these events and the
prophesied rapture of the bible. Lacking a clear understanding of
bible prophecy, some of these people have come to believe that
the singularity and the rapture are one and the same. However,
nothing could be further from the truth. So let�s examine the
facts about the singularity and the rapture.

What is the Singularity?

As previously stated, the singularity is a future point in time
when societal, economic, and technological change increases at
such a rapid pace that the unaided human mind cannot begin to
comprehend its implications.

The concept of the singularity is built on the premise that
human technological advancement is not linear, but rather
exponential. In other words, conventional wisdom (the linear
view) holds that the next 100 years will bring the same amount of
progress as the previous 100 years. However, those who predict
the singularity (the exponential view) believe the next 100 years
might well bring the equivalent of twenty or more 20th Centuries
of progress.

Mere observation tends to support the exponential view. For
instance, the 20th Century brought more technological progress
than the 19th Century. And the 1990�s brought more technological
progress than the 1980�s. As a result, it�s logical to conclude
that the human race is rapidly approaching the singularity.

What is Transhumanism?

In preparation for the singularity, a new worldwide
social/religious movement has emerged: the Transhumanist
Movement. Identifying themselves �singularitarians� and
�transhumanists,� these people look forward to the singularity
with a fervor usually reserved for religious zealots. Many within
the movement believe the singularity will lead to the emergence
of �post-biological humans� who are able to shed their biological
bodies and �upgrade their hardware.� Many believe that by
downloading themselves into a network, they will effectively
become �immortal.� True believers have modified their diets,
exercise routines, and entire lifestyle in an effort to increase
the likelihood of living to witness human reversal of the aging
process and eventual human �immortality.�

In light of the emergence of this new movement and its clearly
stated goals, these words of warning from our Lord take on new
meaning:
�In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire
human race will be destroyed. But it will be shortened for the
sake of God�s chosen ones.� Matthew 24:22 (NLT)

Through the centuries, this verse has been interpreted to mean
that the Glorious Appearing of Christ will arrive just before the
human race managed to destroy itself in war. However, it could
mean that �no flesh will be saved� because the human race will
attempt to transform itself into a race of �post-biological
humans.�

Why Do Some People Believe This is the Rapture?

So why are some people arriving at the conclusion that the
singularity and the transhumanist desire for post-biological
bodies portend the rapture? What is the basis for this reasoning?
Believe it or not, the root of this idea comes from scripture.
However, as will soon be illustrated, the scriptures cited have
been taken out of context.

Post-Biological Bodies

Human transcendence of biology is a process which has already
begun. People who have pacemakers or artificial limbs are in a
sense, merging with non-biological human technology. As this
technology advances, the human race will engage in much more
sophisticated enhancement of the human body, including
enhancement of brain power and the connecting of human brains to
local or global networks. In addition, a person�s exterior body
could be modified to become stronger than steel, making them less
susceptible to life-threatening trauma.

Some who foresee this future believe it will be a fulfillment of
bible prophecy:

�And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will
never die. For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed
into heavenly bodies that will never die.� 1 Corinthians 15:52-53
(NLT)

In addition, they believe these post-biological bodies will
enable them to inherit the Kingdom of God:

�Every human being has an earthly body just like Adam�s, but our
heavenly bodies will be just like Christ�s. Just as we are now
like Adam, the man of the earth, so we will someday be like
Christ, the man from heaven. What I am saying, dear brothers and
sisters, is that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of
God. These perishable bodies of ours are not able to live
forever.� 1 Corinthians 15:48-50 (NLT)

Proponents of this idea believe that when humans shed their
biological bodies (i.e. flesh and blood), the door will be opened
to a new earthly paradise.

Immortality

In addition, transhumanists believe the information in our
brains (i.e. memories, knowledge, and the varying patterns that
make a person unique) can be translated into code and uploaded
into new hardware. Imagine for a moment that a human body is like
a computer, and the personal information you have on your
computer comprises all the memories and knowledge of a lifetime.
When your old computer becomes broken or obsolete, you simply get
a new one. And when you do, you transfer all the important files
and information from the old one (or a backup) onto the new one.
This is a fairly accurate description of the transhumanist vision
for humans.

Human bodies become obsolete. They decay and eventually stop
functioning, and when they do, a person has no backup. All their
memories and knowledge are lost forever. Transhumanists believe
they can halt this process by uploading a person�s unique
thoughts and brain patterns into a �more reliable vessel,� one
better equipped for long-term functionality than a mere
biological entity. By creating backups of their brain patterns,
decentralizing themselves over a network such as the Internet,
and continually upgrading their hardware, transhumanists believe
they can effectively live forever.

And some transhumanists believe a scriptural basis exists for
this human immortality:

�When this happens � when our perishable earthly bodies have
been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die � then
at last the Scripture will come true: �Death is swallowed up in
victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your
sting?�� 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 (NLT)

Taken out of context, it�s not difficult to see how someone
could be deceived into believing the singularity and
transhumanism will help them to cheat death. However, neither one
addresses the root problem of death � sin. And the only way to
blot out sin is through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Why the Singularity and Transhumanism Are Not the Rapture

The singularity and transhumanism are not the methods deployed
by God for the rapture. Although some people have made this
connection, bible prophecy must be taken out of context to draw
such a conclusion. Below is a list (perhaps not comprehensive) of
why the singularity and the rapture are not one and the same:

Post-Biological Humans Will Not Appear in the Twinkling of an
Eye

The singularity and human transformation into a post-biological
state will both occur rapidly, but not in a literal instant. In
Chapter Six of �The Singularity Is Near,� author Ray Kurzweil
underscores this point:

�But this is not the primary way that I envision the transition
to non-biological experience taking place. It will happen,
rather, in the same way that all other paradigm shifts happen:
gradually (but at an accelerating pace).� (Kurzweil, page 324)

Yet, the bible is clear that the rapture of the church will take
place in �the twinkling of an eye�:

�But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us.
Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. It will
happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last
trumpet is blown.� 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NLT)

The singularity is not the rapture, because the rapture occurs
instantaneously.

The Transformative Power of the Rapture is Everlasting, Not
Temporary

The singularity and human transformation into a post-biological
state will provide the illusion of immortality, but not literal
immortality. In Chapter Six of �The Singularity Is Near,� author
Ray Kurzweil underscores this point:

�By the middle of the twenty-first century humans will be able
to expand their thinking without limit. This is a form of
immortality, although it is important to point out that data and
information do not necessarily last forever.� (Kurzweil, page
325)

The transhumanist claim of immortality falls short of its stated
goal, unlike the promise of the rapture which will result in
spiritual bodies which will never perish:

�Our earthly bodies, which die and decay, will be different when
they are resurrected, for they will never die. Our bodies now
disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of
glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be
full of power. They are natural human bodies now, but when they
are raised, they will be spiritual bodies. For just as there are
natural bodies, so also there are spiritual bodies.� 1
Corinthians 15:42-44 (NLT)

One day, humanity might well achieve a post-biological state of
being, but it will simply be trading in one fragile vessel for
another. Those who participate in the rapture, however, will
remain with Christ forever:
�Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on
the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each
other with these words.� 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (NLT)

The singularity will herald a time of unprecedented human power,
but this power will pale in comparison to the awesome power of
God, meaning it cannot be eternal in nature. On the other hand,
the rapture will bring with it the everlasting authority of Jesus
Christ. Therefore, the singularity is not the rapture.

Conclusion

The bible is clear concerning the characteristics of the
rapture. It is an event that will be precipitated by the
appearance of Jesus Christ in the clouds. It will happen in �the
twinkling of an eye,� and it will not be an event in which the
whole world will participate. The rapture will transform human
bodies into spiritual bodies, while even the boldest of
transhumanists claims merely assert that the singularity will
transform fragile human bodies into relatively less fragile human
bodies. The singularity is simply not the rapture. Despite the
claims, which will no doubt increase in number as we approach the
end of this age, no scriptural basis exists for believing
otherwise.

As such, be careful that you aren�t deceived by false prophets
and messiahs who claim the singularity and the transhumanist
movement will usher in an earthly paradise. One such person might
be the Antichrist who Paul describes as one who will �use every
kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction�
2 Thessalonians 2:10 (NLT).

Those who place their faith in the singularity and the
transhumanist agenda will be greatly disappointed.  Nevertheless,
human beings are still inclined to believe they can conquer the
power of death. The prophet Isaiah foresaw these days, as well as
the futility of those who would place their faith in that which
is merely human:

�Don�t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as
breath. What good are they?� Isaiah 2:22 (NLT)

This is a brilliant observation, instructive to any generation.
Instead of placing faith in fallen mankind and the material
things of this world, people should put their faith in Jesus
Christ. If they do, God promises they will never be
disappointed:

�And anyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed.� 1
Peter 2:6 (NLT)

Britt Gillette is author of <a
href="http://brittgillette.com/WordPress/">BrittGillette.Com</a>,
a website studying the links between bible prophecy and advanced
technology.  To learn more about bible prophecy, the singularity,
and <a href="http://brittgillette.com/WordPress/?p=68">the
rapture</a>, visit his site.

Syndicated by The Right Article - www.therightarticle.com