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The Firebird In Russian folklore the Firebird is a magical glowing bird with eyes that sparkle like diamonds and feathers that gleam like silver and gold. These feathers continue to shine even after they are plucked, and a single one can light up a big room. During the night this bird can illuminate the area around it as brightly as a thousand lights. When it sings, pearls fall from its beak, and anyone who finds them can use them to buy food. Its song can also heal sickness and give sight to blind people. It is an immortal bird with eternal youth and beauty.
The Rapture Some Christians eagerly look forward to an expected future event known as the Rapture. When the expected moment arrives, Jesus will suddenly appear in the clouds and miraculously pull all true Christians up to him, then take them to heaven. Non-Christians and insincere believers will be left behind on the earth, where they will have to go through a period of terrible suffering called the Tribulation.
During the Rapture all saved people will be pulled up to Jesus at exactly the same moment, thereby vanishing instantly from the face of the earth. At the same time all dead people who lived good Christian lives will be resurrected and also pulled up. During this process, the bodies of all the chosen will be transformed into an immortal state of perfect health, and their minds will be freed from any tendency to do sinful things or even to have sinful thoughts. This transformation is regarded as a necessary step in preparing a saved person for entry into heaven.
During recent decades the idea of the Rapture has become very popular among certain groups of Christians. But there are also numerous doubters, and many people consider this to be one of the weirdest Christian beliefs.
