Doomsday evangelicals have long believed the world was on the edge of apocalypse, but recent events surrounding President Donald Trump seem to lead many to believe the rapture -- or saving of true Christians just before Armageddon -- will soon be upon us.
As Vox reports, these supposed apocalypse signs -- the president's decision to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and the "smear campaign" against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore -- have triggered memories in people raised evangelical. Many have found community with the #RaptureAnxiety hashtag, which highlights the fear surrounding the rapture that they experienced as children. Those fears were often rooted in being "left behind" after family members where taken up to heaven.
"If you have experienced or still experience rapture anxiety, it may be acting up with the #JerusalemEmbassy news," ex-evangelical writer Christopher Stroop tweeted over the weekend.
If you have experienced or still experience rapture anxiety, it may be acting up with the #JerusalemEmbassy news. I… https://t.co/ncWsRfK8pW— Chrissy Stroop’s resting festive face (@Chrissy Stroop’s resting festive face) 1512829868.0
Soon, people began sharing their stories.
"I had nightmares about the rapture. I was a child. Despite saying the sinners prayer at 4, getting baptized at 6, I constantly worried that I would be left behind," Twitter user M Livingston wrote. "Once we got a dog, I wondered, 'When the rapture happens, who will take care of my dog? He'll starve to death in the house alone.' My parents told me looters would break in during the aftermath, so he'd be ok. God would make sure of it."
Writer D.L. Mayfield claimed she didn't plan on going to college, because she thought she'd be raptured before she was 16 years old.
this really is how I grew up. Prepared for the end times. Never thought I would live past 16 (which is partly why I… https://t.co/NLjQsObrLH— D.L. Mayfield (@D.L. Mayfield) 1513010279.0
This is far from the first time that evangelicals said they had "evidence" of the impending Armageddon. Podcast host Mason Mennenga said her youth pastor told her and their Sunday school class that the Iraq War and natural disasters signaled the End Times, but told they were "told to not fear but rejoice for Jesus was coming soon."
"Needless to say that did not subdue my fear," Mennenga tweeted.
As a 9 year old I was obviously scared to death, but simply told to not fear but rejoice for Jesus was coming soon.… https://t.co/MCr3aPOfYF— Mason Mennenga (@Mason Mennenga) 1512837443.0
Check out some of the best #RaptureAnxiety tweets below.
I grew up in an evangelical church and had such severe anxiety as a child that I couldn't sleep and had chronic hea… https://t.co/jc6664bzsG— AnnaMaria Stephens (@AnnaMaria Stephens) 1512965779.0
@arxvet @C_Stroop Yes. At every alter call (there were a multitude) I would sit & silently pray (again) for Jesus t… https://t.co/r2E41MOAGy— StaraIaah (@StaraIaah) 1512829566.0
Most of all I wondered when the war was going to start, when the moon was going to turn to blood, and when God woul… https://t.co/9lfYHNIX8H— Josh Way (@Josh Way) 1513014823.0
#RaptureAnxiety as an Evangelical teenager: wanting to get married and have sex (in that order of course!) before t… https://t.co/PL0UD4k9eo— Chrissy Stroop’s resting festive face (@Chrissy Stroop’s resting festive face) 1512844791.0
We had to watch movies in Sunday School about waking up and finding your family was just a pile of clothing. I live… https://t.co/aP14rVQWug— Chase Night (@Chase Night) 1512833513.0
This is some real shit. Read the #RaptureAnxiety hashtag. I still have deep, possibly permanent damage from being t… https://t.co/V1sugDnGbs— Jon Jones (@Jon Jones) 1512859372.0
I wasn’t equipped to think critically about what was being told to me by these people I trusted. Some of the first… https://t.co/RFRSXOKO5a— caity 🔪 (@caity 🔪) 1512839968.0
@C_Stroop when i was a teenager i came home to find an empty house with the tv on & groceries half put away. i thou… https://t.co/rULL8RVO6t— Tina Kills 🎄 (@Tina Kills 🎄) 1512962160.0
I remember coming home from school and my mom was supposed to be home but she wasn't so I was certain the Rapture h… https://t.co/mBkhXNRcC8— Christian Nightmares (@Christian Nightmares) 1513015444.0
My #RaptureAnxiety came from fearing Jesus would come before I confessed a forgotten sin, & would leave my friends… https://t.co/LBcKWtft72— Amy. (@Amy.) 1512969935.0
#RaptureAnxiety was a powerful evangelistic tool when targeted at children and teenagers. I wrote notes to the pare… https://t.co/lgOhBFmwjB— The Morrigan (@The Morrigan) 1512856713.0
I'd start to freak out that the rapture had happened. This was still happening into my *twenties*. It seemed lik… https://t.co/aAT0w4sp2I— Warwick (@Warwick) 1512852806.0
