The First Fruits of the Rapture? Colony Collapse Disorder The following information has been widely report during the first half of 2007. [footnote 1] Stefan Lovgren, writing in Los Angeles for the National Geographic News, in an article titled, "Mystery Bee Disappearances Sweeping U.S." dated February 23, 2007 [footnote 2] "Without a trace, something is causing bees to vanish by the thousands." "Pennsylvania beekeeper Dave Hackenberg was the first beekeeper to report to bee researchers what's become known as colony collapse disorder (CCD)." ""I came to pick up 400 bee colonies and the bees had just flat-out disappeared," Hackenberg said. "There were no dead bees, no bees on the ground, just empty boxes." "In almost 50 years as a beekeeper, I've never seen anything like it." "A lot of people think honeybees are only important for the honey they produce," entomologist Maryann Frazier said. "But much, much more important are their pollination services." The Pennsylvania State University professor is part of the 12-person task force looking into the crisis. No carcasses are found near the hive—the bees are just gone. "It's a total mystery where they're going and why they're leaving," Frazier said. Epidemics of disappearances like the current one have been documented as far back as 1896. But no cause has ever been established, scientists say. The CCD epidemic "may have started at least two or three years ago," said Jerry Bromenshenk, a University of Montana entomologist who leads a company called Bee Alert Technology, Inc.
An undocumented statement widely attributed to Albert Einstein by various media outlets and internet sites affirms: "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man"
This mysterious disappearance of honey bees (which remains unexplained to date) may cause some rethinking of long-held theological beliefs. One eschatological belief that may have to be rethought is that of the rapture of the Church. The traditional views have almost entirely occupied themselves with the issue of the timing of the rapture, i.e. in relationship to the beginning of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (the Tribulation), and the Second Advent of Christ. These views are commonly referred to as pretribulational, prewrath, midtribulational, and posttribulational. The only deviation from this focus to date has been the partial rapture view that sees inclusion in the rapture as tied to one’s spiritual condition when it takes place. There does not seem to have been any serious consideration given so far to the possibility of a progressive rapture wherein the Church is raptured over a period of time rather than suddenly. This is related to the timing of the rapture, but focuses more on the manner in which the event will unfold. The current issue of "Colony Collapse Disorder" (CCD) among honey bee populations may be the beginning of something directly related to end time events, which, if viewed as a pattern, would indicate that there is a progressive nature to the expected fulfillments not previously anticipated. 1. If, in fact, the insects go first, then the animals, then the humans, this would fit somewhat the pattern seen in the loading of the Ark by Noah, i.e. the animals went on board first, then the family of Noah. [footnote 3] 2. If the disappearance of the honey bees is indicative of how the disappearance of the Church will occur, then the gradual, progressive manner of this disappearance may need to be factored into our eschatological views. Along with the incidence of CCD during the past few decades has been the rise of Progressive Dispensationalism which may provide a sympathetic forum for the consideration of Progressive Rapturism, a new alternative to the traditional views. The most serious objection to this new alternative may come from those who see a sudden, unified rapture required by 1 Thessalonians 4:16, "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". This objection may not be insurmountable if the duration of the "shout", the "voice", and the "trump" is more extensive than previously considered. If the possibility may be entertained as plausible that this is more like an entire symphony than a single blast on the trumpet, then the time span may allow for a progressive rapture. What about your church? Noticed any unexplained "disappearances" lately? How is the health of your "colony"? Will there be any of your "hive" left after the rapture? 
Footnotes: 1. Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_Collapse_Disorder. 2. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070223-bees.htmlhttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070223-bees.html. 3. Genesis 6:11-7:10. | 
