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It might sound like a joke, but for millions of fundamentalist Christians the idea that one day they will be instantaneously sucked off the face of the earth and disappear forever is one they hold dear.
In certain parts of the US you can even buy a bumper sticker for your car giving a warning that at any time the driver may be transported to heaven and can't be held responsible for the ensuing crash.
After the lightning speed "flight upstairs", believers will be given a ringside seat for the end of the world, and seven years of living hell will be unleashed below.
The scenario may seem far-fetched, unbelievable even, but a series of books based on this very premise, the Left Behind books, has sold over 60 million copies in the US. The series has also sold over a million copies outside America and has been translated in to 34 languages, including Dutch, with more foreign editions planned.
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This week Amsterdam Forum focuses on the Christian fundamentalist concept of Rapture and the following "End Time."
In the programme Left Behind co-author Jerry Jenkins explains the key ideas of the Rapture movement and studio guests Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte, a professor in theology, and Feike ter Velde, a believer in the Rapture concept from the Dutch End Time group Het Zoeklicht ("the searchlight") debate the pros and cons of this fundamentalist approach.
After explaining the concept of the faithful being "Raptured" to take a seat in the heavens, Jerry Jenkins goes on to explain that the Antichrist will come to rule on earth for a period of seven years know as the Tribulation.
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Scripture expert Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte says that the basis of the arguments put forward by the fundamentalist hinge on their literal interpretation of the Bible, one that he does not share.
"I don't see the Bible as literally true, I see it as inspired by the Holy Spirit as the tradition says, I fully adhere to that, but in my view that doesn't mean every word of the Bible is true as it stands."
"I do doubt whether you can just take up the prophesies as they were interpreted in 1st and 2nd centuries and apply these re-interpretations of Old Testament prophesies to our time today."
As ever with the forum, listeners sent in questions and comments for the guests.
Thomas Kuca from New York: "As one of the unbelievers who will be destroyed in the conflagration, I find it sad and unbelievable, here in the 21st century, that there are people who believe in such foolishness. Then again, what if the Boston Red Sox should win the World Series? And, who is to say that Jesus wants to come back? Maybe He has changed His mind."
Feike ter Velde: "Beware, there is a living God and there will be a day of judgment . . . and that is something terrible and if you read the last book of the Bible, and some Old Testament prophets, it will be a terrible time. And today with so many weapons in this world, nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, the day of judgement cannot be far – it is like a volcano that we are living on . . . don't be so foolish to mock God and his word."
Also central to the chain of events for the Rapture and end of the world is the fall of Babylon, the site of current day Iraq. Believers always watch unrest and war there closely as a sign the end phase may be about to begin.
The establishment of the state of Israel was another pre-condition for the return of Jesus, and the expansion of Israel to occupy the rest of its `Biblical lands´ is regarded as a vital next step.
Forum host Andy Clark asked Feike ter Velde if groups who believed in this End Time scenario tried to exert pressure politically to hasten the coming of the end.
"Maybe in America, but I'm not sure about that, I don't believe that political pressure on political leaders will further the plans of God. I mean, God has the world in his hands and he knows when these things are realised as written by the prophets."
Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte was not so sure: "The present administration [is] run by George W Bush [who] advocates himself as a born-again Christian – there's nothing wrong with that but it could be, and I'm not sure about that, that expectations of the End Time do influence people in that administration."
"Ronald Reagan in the early 80s did consider himself an instrument of God in a battle against the Evil Empire [the Soviet Union] I get scared by that, when someone sees themselves as an instrument of God who has the power to press the button for nuclear war."
Leo Zijlstra from the Netherlands put a question to Professor Peerbolte: "Would you try to warn the people, if you knew that the End Time is near and these terrible things are soon going to happen? Many Christians are certain about the End Times and try to warn people to turn back to the Lord, so they won't come in the Tribulation time. [the seven-year hell on earth] Don't you see the importance off this all?"
The professor says he shares the underlying call for decency, which comes from End Time groups, but he re-iterates he does not share their literal reading of the Bible.
Other listeners who have their say in the programme include Paul Tremblay from Quebec City, Canada; Nnaikhe Friday from Nigeria and Roberto C. Alvarez-Galloso from Miama.
Our panellists:
Feike ter Velde is chief editor of the bi-weekly
magazine from the group Het Zoeklicht – the searchlight. Het
Zoeklicht is an End Time movement. "One's world view needs to be
based upon something. I believe we live in a created universe and
in a self-revealing God. The Bible is the source for that. History
and future are in God's hand. Future means: the return of Jesus
Christ and the coming of His Kingdom. The Bible points to many
signs in that connection, which we see visible in our world
today."
Bert Jan
Lietaert Peerbolte teaches theology at the Theological
University in Kampen: "Whenever you transfer antique ideas and
predictions one on one to a society in 2004, you are actually doing
nothing different than a fundamentalist imam. In America the
influence of the Christian fundamentalist circles is directly
recognisable in the White House. In the Netherlands this small
group doesn't form a power base."