Trying to find name of a short story about astronauts missing the second coming of Jesus on earth

I remember reading about this short story where a group of astronauts are travelling close to the speed of light to a nearby star.

When they return to Earth several years later after completing their mission they find that Jesus returned, gave everyone a few days to set their affairs in order, and then spirited them away to be judged/go to heaven. As the astronauts weren't on Earth when it happened they got left behind and now have to live on an abandoned Earth.

Does anyone know of this story? Thanks a million in advance!

Answer

I'm almost certain you are looking for Judgement Passed by Jerry Oltion

Published first in Wastelands Stories of the Apocalypse, Edited by John Joseph Adams.

“Judgment Passed,” which is original to this volume, tells of the Biblical day of judgment from a rationalist viewpoint; a starship crew returns to Earth to find that the rapture has occurred without them. Oltion has strong views on religion–namely that it’s a scourge on humanity–that led him to write this story, which speculates on whether or not being “left behind” would be such a bad thing.

There is an excerpt posted on the same page I got the above blurb from:

http://www.johnjosephadams.com/wastelands/contents/judgment-passed-by-jerry-oltion/

I first heard this story on the Drabblecast Podcast, episode 257

http://www.drabblecast.org/2012/09/23/drabblecast-257-judgement-passed/

Comments

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