Dr. Tim LaHaye
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| LaHaye and Jenkins | “I believe God has chosen to bless this (Left Behind) series. In doing so, he’s giving the country and maybe the world, one last, big wake-up call before the events transpire. We have asked God to give us unusual insight in producing what we call believable conversions. Instead of producing a preachy book, we wanted it to have believable stories of Christian conversions that are reproducible in the heart of the reader.” | Tim and Beverly |
- Eschatology Erupts
- Craig Unger – American Rapture – Tim LaHaye (2006) “Best-selling author and evangelical leader Tim LaHaye has contacts that extend to the White House. That could spell trouble, since his theology espouses a bloody apocalypse in Israel“
- The End: Best-selling books don’t see it alike – “It’s about much more than selling books, scholars say. The high-stakes publishing battle between the two men comes on the heels of the millennial fervor surrounding the year 2000, and feeds a stream of fear rippling just below the surface of public consciousness. ” “To Hanegraaff, Revelation was written before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple to encourage persecuted Christians. He says the “end-time model presented in Left Behind is hermeneutically false in that it attributes powers to the beast that belong only to God, but it is historically false because it places the beast in the 21st century.”
- LaHaye’s Tribulation “The Last Disciple was coauthored by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer, and teaches that most prophecies in Revelation have already been fulfilled. The Left Behind series, however, is grounded in a premillennial, dispensationalist view of the end times, which includes a pre-Tribulation Rapture. “I guess you would say I am disappointed, perplexed, and confused,” LaHaye told Christianity Today. Ron Beers, Tyndale’s senior vice president and publisher, said his company wants to promote healthy dialogue on eschatology. Beers said, “We haven’t come up with a consensus on end-times issues.”
- Press: LaHaye: “New End Times Thriller Teaches ‘Ridiculous’ Views” – Tyndale Defends Choice to Publish Hanegraaff’s Preterist Series – “The pre-trib author says the new book by Hanegraaff erroneously teaches that all of Revelation’s prophecies have come to pass and the rapture has already occurred. “Their idea that the Book of Revelation was written in 64 or 66 A.D. means it’s passed — it was all fulfilled,” he notes. “Personally, I think it’s an absolutely ridiculous view — and indefensible.”
- Press: New Take on Rapture puts authors in apocalyptic feud (Fully Preterist Comment from Bible Answer Man?) – Dallas News (Hank Hanagraaf: “John …was writing about the times he was living in, using symbolism from the Old Testament prophets to describe conditions in the first century. All the major elements of the Book of Revelation – Tribulation, Armageddon, Rapture – took place at that time.”)
- No Fear of the Text – “Tim LaHaye has written another book on prophecy. No Fear of the Storm[1] was written because LaHaye recognizes that dispensational premillennialism is in trouble.”
FROM END TIMES CONTROVERSY
“Many Bible-believing Christians find it astounding that anyone would teach that our Lord Jesus Christ has already returned to earth and that we are now living in the kingdom age predicted throughout the Bible. Yet that is what preterists believe and teach. And surprisingly, their numbers are growing — not because their arguments for what they are trying to believe are so convincing, but because many of their new followers have only heard one side of the argument.” (p.7; cf. Critical Article Archive)
“..most preterists are Bible-believing Christians who love the Lord and are striving to serve Him.” (p.7)
“In his book The Last Days According to Jesus, Dr. Sproul narrows down preterists to two main divisions: “Full Preterism and Partial Preterism.” Reduced to the most significant distinction between them, a full preterist is one who believes all prophecy was fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D.70, including the second coming of Jesus. Partial preterists such as Sproul and Gentry believe that even though Matthew 24 and the book of Revelation have largely been fulfilled, they still understand some Bible passages to teach a future second coming (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). They see the second coming of Jesus, the resurrection of the dead, the Judgment Seat of Christ, and heaven as yet future.” (pp. 7-8)
“those who teach Christ came physically in A.D. 70 are borderline heretics” (End Times Controversy, p. 10)
“The preterist view – that Revelation was written prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 – cannot be supported either externally (historically) or internally (scripturally). The truth is the preterists advocate this theory because they need it to support their allegorizing or spiritualizing system for interpreting prophecy. They would have us believe the whole book was fulfilled prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D…. we have already seen that preterists try desperately to find some internal bible evidence to establish the date of Revelation during the reign of Nero (A.D.64) in an attempt to prove the book was written before the fall of Jerusalem. This helps them avoid facing the fact that the prophecies of Revelation are yet future.” (Revelation Unveiled, p.27,182)
“What evidence do preterists have that the tragic siege of Jerusalem in A.D.70 was indeed a fulfillment of Jesus’ description of the Great Tribulation? Anyone who reads history must admit that the Inquisition and Hitler’s holocaust were far worse and occurred long after A.D.70.”
“Nero went down in history as the emperor who fiddled while Rome burned. Only those preterist “scholars” who need him desperately to fill the role of Antichrist (to keep from admitting that Revelation was written in A.D.95) can even hold to this view. In truth, such a notion is historically ridiculous.” (ETC, p. 13)
(On II Thessalonians 2:8)
“There are, of course, other passages that teach a physical coming of Jesus — for example, 2 Thessalonians 2:8: “Then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (KJV). It should be obvious that for Christ to destroy Satan, who will be standing in the temple and blaspheming God, Christ will have to appear physically.” (End Times Controversy, p. 10)
(On Revelation 1:7)
“Note again the reference John cited from Jesus’ words: “every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him” (emphasis added). All men will see the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming — those in heaven, those on earth, and evidently, those under the earth “who pierced Him.” Again, this cannot refer to anything short of a physical, literal second coming.” (End Times Controversy, p. 9)
(On Date of Revelation)
“Revelation was written by John in A.D. 95, which means the book of Revelation describes yet future events of the last days just before Jesus comes back to this earth.” (ETC, p. 13)
(On King Jesus?)
“Christ’s second coming is yet future, as taught in Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 19:11-21. He will indeed rule this world as “King of kings and Lord of lords.” (End Times Controversy, p. 10)
“When Jesus comes, He is going to be “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 20:1-3). Could anyone even suggest that for the last 1,900 years Jesus has be Lord and King over the kings of the earth.. To say that Christ is ruler now is a statement that reaches almost blasphemous proportions.” (p. 11)
(On Imminency in the First Century)
“The apostles and first century church universally expected His return in their lifetime, which is why they were so motivated to live holy lives and so dedicated to evangelism and reaching the world for Christ.” (“The Signs of the Times Imply His Coming,” in 10 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Soon: Ten Christian Leaders Share Their Thoughts: Multnomah, p. 191)
(On Gog and Magog; Dispensationalist Etymology)
“Etymology is the study of linguistic changes and the history of words. We will investigate the etymology of the names of nations. As we will see, “Magog” is an ancient name for the nation now known as Russia. “Gog” merely means “the chief prince of Magog,” or more literally, the chief prince of Meschech and Tubal (38:2-3; 39:1). The name “Moscow” derives from the tribal name “Meshech,” and “Tobolsk, the name of the principal state, from “Tubal.” The noun “Gog” is from the original tribal name “Magog,” which gradually became “Rosh,” then “Russ,” and today is known as “Russia.” (“Will God Destroy Russia, in Storming Towards Armageddon: Essays in Apocalypse, ed. Wm. James (Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Press, 1992), p. 260-261)
“Russia is unquestionably the nation identified in the prophecies of Ezekiel 38 and 39.” (“Will God Destroy Russia, in Storming Towards Armageddon: Essays in Apocalypse, ed. Wm. James (Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Press, 1992), p. 259)
(On the Signs of the Times)
“An increase in earthquakes, even multiple and enormous earthquakes was predicted by both our Lord in Matthew 24:7, and also by the apostle John in the book of Revelation, for the time of the end.. Notice in the following chart how they have increased during the past five decades, according to the U.S. Geological Society: 1940-1949: 4; 1950-1959: 9; 1960-1969: 13; 1970-1979: 56; 1980-1989: 74″ LaHaye, Tim, “The Signs of the Time Imply His Coming,” in 10 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Soon: Ten Christian Leaders Share Their Thoughts (Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 1998), p. 205-206)
“In 1993, a news report indicated there were other worldwide problems of nature: South Africa experienced widespread crop failures.. floods. Bangladesh – nearly half under water, 316 people killed, 6 million homeless. 1100 flood victims in Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. 700 die in floods in India. In our country, in one year we experienced hurricane Andrew in Florida, which destroyed 40,000 homes at a cost of over $20 billion.. Floods hit the Mississippi valley at a cost of $20 billion. Early in 1995, torrential rains hit northern California and devastated a whole region.” LaHaye, Tim, “The Signs of the Time Imply His Coming,” in 10 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Soon: Ten Christian Leaders Share Their Thoughts (Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 1998), p. 206-207)
(On John N. Darby)
“John Darby figures to be a central figure in any study of the pre-Trib Rapture. There is little question that he did more than any other man to organize and popularize the view both in the United States and Great Britain. Born in 1800 and single all his life, he dedicated his boundless energies to advancing the cause of Christ through soul-winning, preaching, Bible teaching, church building, conference teaching, and publishing.” (Rapture under Attack Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 1998)
(On the Third Temple)
“Anyone interested in end-time events has his eyes on the temple project.. various groups have been working clandestinely to prepare all the materials” needed to storm Mount Moriah and begin construction of a new temple.” (Are We Living In The End Times?, 1999)
(On Armageddon)
“I am convinced, for two reasons, that the invasion described in Ezekiel is not the Battle of Armageddon.. In the Battle of Armageddon, armies will come from all the countries of the world against Christ – not Israel. Yet, while this warfare will not be the real Battle of Armageddon, to the participants it will seem like it.” (“Will God Destroy Russia, in Storming Towards Armageddon: Essays in Apocalypse, ed. Wm. James (Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Press, 1992), p. 275
“‘In a few moments you will be led to the central building, where you will tell the staff whether you want your loyalty mark on your forehead or your right hand. The area you choose will then be disinfected with an alcohol solution. When it is your turn, you will enter a cubicle, where you will sit and be injected with a biochip, while simultaneously tattooed with the prefix 216, which identifies you as a citizen of the United Carpathian States. The application takes just seconds.'” (Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, The Mark: The Beast Rules the World, 2000, p. 285)
Form letter from an organization called the “Pre-Trib Research Center.” Boasting such public personalities as Dr. Tim LaHaye, Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. Larry Crutchfield, Martin DeHaan, Dr. Norman Geisler, Dave Hunt, Dr. Thomas Ice, Dr. Robert Lightner, Dr. Hal Lindsey, Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost, Dr. Charles Ryrie, Dr. Stanley Toussaint, Dr. John Walvoord and Jeffrey Townsend, the letter had this to say:
As we near the year 2000, many contemporary events are pointing to our Lord’s return. The fact that Israel has been back in her land for 50 years constitutes “God’s super-sign for the end times.” In our lifetime, the stage is being set for the end-time drama that has been laid out for us in the Bible.
…We have two main objectives: First, to help Christians avoid the deception our Lord predicted would plague people in end times. And, second, to help them anticipate His imminent coming. Historically, whenever the church has anticipated his return, it has motivated Christians to holy living in an unholy age, greater evangelism and more zeal for world-wide missionary giving and sending. Contrary to what some Evangelicals are saying, anticipation of the Lord’s return, when properly understood, does not lead to inactivity; instead, such a hope in the Bible is the basis for sacrificial action.
This letter is sent to you because we believe you are vitally interested in promoting those same effects in your own congregation. Attending such a conference will help! In addition, it will help offset some of the “false teachers, false prophets,” and even “false messiahs” Jesus predicted would come, by presenting them the truth about future things. (From Moody)
Tim LaHaye’s Temperament
by Dave MacPherson
A couple decades ago I learned how serious Tim LaHaye had become when it came to my pretrib history research—-and it wasn’t very becoming.
On January 5, 1981 he had sent a letter from the Scott Memorial Baptist Church he then pastored in the San Diego area to an evangelical publisher in another state. In the letter, which later came into my hands, LaHaye bluntly discussed yours truly and told the recipient: “Praise God you’re going to answer this turkey—-if I didn’t already have 89 irons in the fire I’d take it on—-some one should!”
Back in those days LaHaye was well-known for his bestselling Spirit-Controlled Temperament book (temperaments that fundamentalist and evangelical critics have traced to the world of the occult!). Unfortunately that book didn’t reveal the type of temperament LaHaye could possess (a LaHaodicean one?) in order to call me a “turkey.” Maybe his pretrib “feathers” had been ruffled by the many evangelical leaders who’d “gobbled” up my research and then praised it during the previous decade:
In his 1974 book When Is Jesus Coming Again, J. Barton Payne reflected it when he wrote that “the dispensational position…began only in 1830 with J. N. Darby’s acceptance of Margaret Macdonald’s revelation in Port Glasgow of a dispensationally divided return.”
During the same year Christianity Today called it a “staunch defense” and Moody Monthly (while Jerry Jenkins was a top name there) referred to my “careful, factual sleuthing.”
In Canada The Prairie Overcomer at Prairie Bible Institute concluded that “MacPherson’s case seems to be watertight” while The Witness (the oldest and largest Darbyist Brethren magazine in England!) declared: “What he [MacPherson] succeeds in establishing is that the view outlined was first stated by a certain Margaret Macdonald…early in 1830.” (Who knows the British, and the British ways of speaking, better than the British do?)
Some other comments during that period came from Harold Ockenga’s letter (“You have done your research well”), Ian S. Rennie’s Dreams, Visions and Oracles (“it is likely that [Margaret’s revelation] was grist for Darby’s mill”), and J. Gordon Melton in the Encyclopedia of American Religions (“The best scholarship available [views Margaret as the pretrib originator]”).
With reactions like these coming from a noticeable percentage of the evangelical literati, you can see why Tim was dispensationally distraught over the possibility that comments from thinking evangelicals might have a dire effect on his ability to keep on making pretrib (la)hay while the sun was shining!
But now let’s fast forward until we reach the year 1992 and the arrival of LaHaye’s No Fear of the Storm—-a book that’s had no fear of being exposed as one of the most shabby, slipshod, slovenly (and, yes, even dishonest) prophecy books ever!
While flipping LaHaye’s pages in order to spot his comments on the pretrib origin (the way my book The Rapture Plot describes it), I quickly found one sentence on page 180 that has four historical errors.
In it he asserts that 19th century (Plymouth) Brethren scholar S. P. Tregelles claimed in two of his books, spaced 11 years apart, that fellow Brethren member J. N. Darby derived pretrib from the Jews and Margaret Macdonald. Since Margaret wasn’t Jewish, LaHaye sees Tregelles naming two different sources and contradicting himself.
If you’ve been totally immersed in pretrib rapture origin research since 1970 (as I have), you’ll soon find (as I did) these four errors:
- The two Tregelles works were not two books but an article (1855) and a book (1864).
- They were nine years apart.
- The article spoke only of “Judaisers” within Christianity. (This was the first time I’d ever found anyone claiming that theJews had been blamed for originating pretrib!)
- The book referred to “an ‘utterance’ in Mr. Irving’s Church.” (Margaret never even visited Edward Irving’s church!)
LaHaye obviously had been influenced by other writers, including R. A. Huebner and John Walvoord, who had previously aired the supposed Tregelles contradiction. (Elsewhere in the present book I show that Tregelles did not contradict himself.)
After being flabbergasted by this blunder-packed sentence, I decided to check the accuracy of LaHaye’s reproduction of Margaret Macdonald’s key 1830 revelation. With all 117 lines of her revelation in front of me (as found in my books including The Incredible
Cover-up and The Great Rapture Hoax), I began comparing LaHaye’s version with it. Everything matched perfectly during the first few lines.
But when I got to lines 10-11, LaHaye’s copy spoke of Margaret’s “great burst.” Was this a reference to the “inbreaking of God…about to burst on this earth” (lines 42-43)? Or perhaps her vision of the final collapse of the pretrib view? Well, neither. Between the words “great” and “burst” LaHaye had omitted “darkness and error about it; but suddenly what it was.” This omission can keep his readers in the dark concerning her cultic pride in thinking that only she could really explain “the sign of the Son of man” (Matt. 24:30)!
In addition to a variety of other copying errors, LaHaye also omitted eight words in lines 16-17, a word in line 51, another word in line 58, 11 words in lines 74-75, nine words in lines 76-77, and eight words in lines 111-112—-sins of “omission” that can easily result in faulty analyses of Macdonald’s prophetic words! (I wrote LaHaye in regard to his many copying errors. He never responded.)
LaHaye’s version of Margaret’s words is actually found in Robert Norton’s Memoirs of James & George Macdonald, of Port-Glasgow (1840). But somehow he had prefaced it as being part of Norton’s The Restoration of Apostles and Prophets; In the Catholic Apostolic Church (1861). All I had to do was find someone who had carelessly combined the 1840 text with the 1861 title.
Within minutes, while going through my files, I ran across a 1989 publication that had the same combination. And it had the same copying errors—-including the same 48 omitted words—-in the same places! The author was Thomas Ice!
(When LaHaye decided to plagiarize Ice’s reproduction of Margaret’s revelation instead of doing his own research, he didn’t realize that Ice’s sloppiness would trip up himself as well as Ice. But of course they are still friends and partners—-especially in connection with the Pre-Trib Research Center—-because they are sloppy and dishonest birds of a feather! Incidentally, Ice never responded after my letter to him asked about his many copying errors.)
In addition to LaHaye’s “bumped” words, I tallied 84 other errors he makes when quoting various writers on 27 other pages discussing pretrib beginnings. LaHaye omits 11 words when quoting Walvoord’s The Rapture Question: Revised. Walvoord, echoing Huebner, was asserting that my evidence has not proven that Margaret and Irving taught the pretrib view. But readers are kept in the dark about the assertion in the book in question because LaHaye somehow deletes what Walvoord was concluding!
On page 169 LaHaye says that at the Library of Congress he obtained photocopies of Manuel Lacunza’s work, the title of which is The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty. Perhaps he can explain why on two pages this title appears as The Coming of Messiah in Power and Glory and is listed on a later page as The Coming of Christ in Power and Great Glory. Equally serious are his book’s other copying errors including erroneous sources and page numbering in footnotes as well as inaccurate historical dates in the text.
Something else. If I fail to rectify some notions that LaHaye has repeated, others in the 20th century tradition of copying (and miscopying) may very well repeat and even embellish them.
LaHaye gives the impression that my father, Norman, changed from pretrib to posttrib during his Southern California pastorate from which he was ousted, and that Biola’s position on the rapture was the only one ever held by that Los Angeles school. LaHaye even has a chapter about me entitled “MacPherson’s Vendetta” and assumes that personal revenge on my part is the reason for my decades-long research on pretrib beginnings.
For the record here are my responses:
- My father changed from pretrib to posttrib before his 1944 bookTriumph Through Tribulation. Through meetings in my parents’ living room, the church in question was formed in 1947. Folks knew about his previous change, but he was always a calm and scholarly preacher, almost never brought up posttrib, and never made any rapture view a test of fellowship. Later on, some pretrib outsiders joined, evidently intent on making the church a pretrib church.
I still have the handwritten notes that my mother took at the May 16, 1951 ouster meeting. One of the voiced criticisms of my father that she recorded: “He has no right to interpret prophecy contrary to Scofield.” (This critic obviously was influenced only by Scripture and not by human agency in the same way Darby was!)
- The doctrinal statement in Biola’s catalog says merely that the “Lord Jesus is coming again to this earth, personally, bodily, and visibly.” The school’s founders chose such a broad statement because they wanted persons to have freedom to hold and discuss what were then viewed as non-essentials: for example, differing tribulational and millennial views.
Nowadays the Biola catalog includes this explanatory note (following the doctrinal statement): “The Scriptures are to be interpreted according to dispensational distinctives with the conviction that the return of the Lord for His Church will be premillennial, before the Tribulation, and that the Millennium is to be the last of the dispensations.”
When I applied in 1952 for admission to the original Bible Institute of Los Angeles campus in downtown L. A., I was given the original doctrinal statement which allows for non-conflicting non-essentials.
Since my father had been a schoolmate of Biola’s president at Princeton Seminary (hardly a pretrib school), I saw no harm in occasionally sharing copies of my father’s 1944 book with some student friends and some of my teachers. If the school had told me to stop this, I would have. If I had been a threat all year to Biola’s “official” position, why did it wait until just two weeks before the end of the school year to kick me out?
Throughout this century pretrib has changed from being a non-essential to being an expedient essential at Biola and many similar schools, primarily because of its tremendous fund-raising potential.
- LaHaye concludes wrongfully that my pretrib origin research of a quarter of a century is nothing more than my vengeful reaction to what happened to my family in the 1950’s.
If so, it must be one of the slowest reactions ever. I didn’t even wonder about the origin until two decades after the California incidents. Long before my research began, numerous tragedies including untimely death had overtaken the ringleaders in the church trouble. During the years between the early 1950’s and the early 1970’s (when my research began), I was never bitter towards anyone at either the church or Biola—-and haven’t been down to the present day.
In the same No Fear book of his, LaHaye has an entire chapter discussing my books. The fair and honest thing, when citing books, is to list the books in footnotes or at least in a bibliography—-unless a writer has something to hide. The reason LaHaye doesn’t list any of my works in this manner is that he is neither fair nor honest!
As if all of the above isn’t enough, there’s even plagiarism in some of LaHaye’s books! I’ll give an example by comparing Hal Lindsey’s There’s A New World Coming (1973) with LaHaye’s Understanding the Last Days (1998).
On p. 281 Lindsey wrote: “The New Testament refers to the ‘Book of Life’ eight times, and although the Old Testament doesn’t call it by that name, it refers three times to a book in which names are written. This book contains the name of every person born into the world. If by the time he dies, a person has not received God’s provision of sacrifice to remove sin, then his name is blotted out of this ‘Book of Life.'”
On pp. 192, 194 LaHaye wrote: “The New Testament refers to the book of life eight different times, and although the Old Testament does not call it by that name, it does allude three times to a book in which names are written…The book of life is that book in which the names of all people ever born into the world are written. If, at the time of a person’s death, he has not called upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, his name is blotted out of the book of life.”
After I told LaHaye in a letter that I had found plagiarism in his books, he sent me the one and only letter I’ve ever gotten from him, dated March 3, 1999. His first two sentences said: “You are the first person who (to my knowledge) has ever accused me of plagiarizing anything from anyone. And with forty books in print I would think someone would have if it were true.” I immediately sent him evidence that he had plagiarized various books by Walvoord and Lindsey. To this day he has never responded in connection with the proof that I sent to him!
My book The Rapture Plot has an appendix exhibiting plagiarism, by means of comparison quotes, in popular pretrib prophecy books. Not only is Tim LaHaye’s plagiarism portrayed, but there’s proof also of the same literary thievery in writings by Jerry Falwell, Ed Hindson, Ed Dobson, Charles Ryrie, Paul Tan, and Jack Van Impe, for starters!
If students at Christian Heritage College (LaHaye’s former stomping ground) or Falwell’s Liberty University were to plagiarize their neighbors’ answers during an exam, they’d be in danger of getting an “F” for the exam and maybe for the entire course.
But when pretrib leaders cut corners and cheat in print, which of course allows them to turn out rapture rush jobs much more quickly, they are awarded honorary (if not honorable) degrees—-like the Doctor of Literature degree that Falwell’s school gave to LaHaye!
LaHaye gives the impression these days that his huge book sales are proof that he’s being blessed by the Lord. Well, if financial success is the most important standard (and it seems to be in the eyes of many pretrib authors and publishers), then the Lord must also be blessing the Mafia and Columbian drug lords and even Osama Bin Ladin!
But when does success become greed? LaHaye is currently suing fellow Christians over the Left Behind film rights! His lawsuit even states that he has suffered “emotional and mental stress, including anxiety, worry, mental anguish and sleeplessness”—-characteristics, as you can tell, of Spirit-controlled temperament!
Jeremiah 17:11 is a verse that LaHaye has somehow left behind. It says that “he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.”
Finally, here’s the big question:
In light of recently uncovered evidence revealing the long-covered-up, sordid history of the pretrib rapture view, and in light of the fact that God’s judgment of careless and apostate Christendom is rapidly increasing these days, will Tim LaHaye temper his outlook and change his temperament or will he lose his temper, let his temperature rise, and become temperamental?
What do YOU think ?
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Comments
I believe that if people really wanted to search out the truth on the “end times”, they would look at the history of the church and view where it stood on these beliefs, before and after John Darby. I know we all won’t fully agree on eschatology, but I do believe that the church was satisfied with a more completed book of Revelation (and Daniel, etc.) than it is today due to these “sci-fi” writers. With “Left Behind” in the way, the teaching of “today is the day of salvation” falls to “watch the signs”.
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I love all the books that I have read so far. I was wanting to know how I could get Dr. LaHaye’s autograph.
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The books are labeled as Christian Fiction. Although I believe a lot of what’s in these books is scripturally based, I believe a lot is also embellished; hence, fiction. As for the end times, no one knows the time or the day when Jesus will return. Only the Father knows…so stop trying to figure it out, you can’t. And yes, I do believe Jesus is coming back for His church. I myself am a pre-tribber, thank you. *smile* God bless
Date:Comments
When were JerryB Jenkins and Tim LaHaye Born?
Comments
You have assembled an impressive list of “scholars” here to put forth your opinions. I may stand alone here , but there must be a couple of comments added about your stories. In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonica congregation Paul specifically addressed the fate of those dead in Christ, and then next those alive in Christ concerning His return. We know that Paul was correct. All will receive their new bodies “at the twinkling of an eye” at the return of Christ. That means the dead in sin and those that are alive without salvation also get their eternal bodies. Paul never said the unsaved were not part of this happening. Jesus very, very plainly tells us in Matthew with the parable and subsequent explanation of the “wheat and the tares” what happens in the end time. The harvest is His return, and it is an absolute that wicked(analagy to the tares) SHALL be gathered up first and destroyed. Now how can there be a “rapture” secret or not. The wicked SHALL be gathered first. Not the Church. The Church will be left with Christ forever. The “rapture theory assumes an “antichrist” yet this term is used only 5 times -all by John in his epistles, and each time we are told it is a “spirit of antichrist. Not a person, and the man of desolation cannot be this mythical figure called “The Antichrist” because in the first century when John wrote his epistles that “spirt of antichrist” was already appearing.This is a condition-not a person. The gnostics denied that it was actually Christ on the cross, and many others had false doctrine. Inour time we choose to ignore scripture, call ourselves educated, and forsake scripture. Jesus plainly tells us that there will be no “rapture;”, that there will be a gathering up of the wicked first, and that there will be a judgement. All scripture pertaining to THE returnof Christ tells us of ONE return, and it is final. The judgement will take place , and you know the rest as Revelation tells us. The “rapture theory” was first heard in England in the late 1860’s , proposed by a womanpreacher, and we already know the only function prohibited by God(through Paul’s letters to Timothy) is for a women to lead in the assembly. Even when prophesy was still here from those that the apostles had laid hands on for the furtherment of the spoken word-women have had many functions in the spreading of the gospel-except from the pulpit. The proclamation of the message was even flawed therefore.Paul warns us to not preach another doctrine. This “Left Behind” seies could teach the world correctly-that there shall be but one return, one judgement, the wicked shall be gathered first,yet it seems to further the falsehoods first presented a century and a half ago about a taking away of the “elect” first. Jesus did not teach that, neither Paul. Thessalonians was addressed to Christians in subject matter, referred to the plight of Christians, and many have concluded in error that the unsaved have no part in this. All the dead will rise, and all the alive will join next with the Lord. The wicked shall be judged, those unto salvation shall be rewarded, and Christ shall rule forever. That story is not fiction.
You have assembled an impressive list of “scholars” here to put forth your opinions. I may stand alone here , but there must be a couple of comments added about your stories. In the letters to the Thessalonica congregation, Paul specifically addressed the fate of those dead in Christ, and then next those alive in Christ concerning His return. We know that Paul was correct. All will receive their new bodies “at the twinkling of an eye” at the return of Christ. That means the dead in sin and those that are alive without salvation also get their eternal bodies. Paul never said the unsaved were not part of this happening. Jesus very, very plainly tells us in Matthew with the parable and subsequent explanation of the “wheat and the tares” what happens in the end time. The harvest is His return, and it is an absolute that the wicked(analagy to the tares) SHALL be gathered up first and destroyed. Now how can there be a “rapture”- secret or not? The wicked SHALL be gathered first, not the Church. The Church will be left with Christ forever. The “rapture theory” assumes an “antichrist”, yet this term is used only 5 times -all by John in his epistles, and each time we are told it is a “spirit of antichrist. Not a person, and the “man of desolation” cannot be this mythical figure called “The Antichrist” because in the first century when John wrote his epistles that “spirt of antichrist” was already appearing.This is a condition-not a person. The gnostics denied that it was actually Christ on the cross, and many others had false doctrine. In our time we choose to ignore scripture, call ourselves educated, and forsake scripture. Jesus plainly tells us that there will be no “rapture;”, that there will be a gathering up of the wicked first, and that there will be a judgement. All scripture pertaining to THE return of Christ tells us of ONE return, and it is final. The judgement will take place , and you know the rest as Revelation tells us. The “rapture theory” was first heard in England in the late 1860’s , proposed by a woman preacher, and we already know the only function prohibited by God(through Paul’s letters to Timothy) is for a women to lead in the assembly. Even when prophesy was still here- from those that the apostles had laid hands on for the furtherment of the spoken word-women have had many functions in the spreading of the gospel-except from the pulpit. The proclamation of the message was even flawed therefore.Paul warns us to not preach another doctrine. This “Left Behind” seies could teach the world correctly-that there shall be but one return, one judgement, the wicked shall be gathered first,yet it seems to further the falsehoods first presented a century and a half ago about a “taking away” of the “elect” first. Jesus did not teach that, neither did Paul. Thessalonians was addressed to Christians in subject matter, referred to the plight of Christians, and many have concluded in error that the unsaved have no part in this. All the dead will rise, and all the alive will join next with the Lord. The wicked shall be judged, those unto salvation shall be rewarded, and Christ shall rule forever. That story is not fiction.
Comments
I live in Australia and I have recently watched a news documentary interviewing Mr La Haye about his books and the message he is spreading through the U.S. He portrays the United Nations in his book at the anti-christ although he is saying that is not what he really believes. My thoughts about his beliefs are that he and his evangalising through his books do no better for our world and society than the fundamentalist Islamists or Christians or Religious rightist in any part of the world. People who think like him (Benny Hinn, for example) incite racism with their belief in the bible and the incorrect assumption that all in that book really did happen and that they can interpret and make a place for that interpretation in our current society. In my opionion George Bush and American’s like Mr La Haye are more like an “anti christ” and the world needs to be fighting the terror that they incite…..look at Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, and now Iraq. Of course, it does not count – the killing of millions of innocent people, because they were not white christians. They just don’t count. The minute a few thousand people are blown up in America, as tragic as it was, next thing we have a war on the world. Take a look at yourselves and the sick society you have created, you Yanks. Look in the mirror and try and find a human with a heart and compassion and ethics. Stop trying to pin your hopes all on a “God” that does not exist. K.Athe Australia
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If John wrote to the seven churches in Asia about things that wouldn’t occur until some 2,000 years later, he was either greatly deceiving them or was greatly deceived himself. Revelation was not that difficult for first century Jewish Christians living in the Roman Empire to understand. Modern evangelists have complicated it in order to sell books and videos. They are the false prophets! The fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in 70AD proves that Revelation was inspired by God. Nero’s name in Hebrew adds up to 666. He was the “Beast”. Christ is with us right now in the sacraments. The early Church Fathers could see it. Do you presume to know more than they? Steve Moore sweat167@aol.com
21:49:10
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If John wrote to the seven churches in Asia about things that wouldn’t occur until some 2,000 years later, he was either greatly deceiving them or was greatly deceived himself. Revelation was not that difficult for first century Jewish Christians living in the Roman Empire to understand. Modern evangelists have complicated it in order to sell books and videos. They are the false prophets! The fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in 70AD proves that Revelation was inspired by God. Nero’s name in Hebrew adds up to 666. He was the “Beast”. Christ is with us right now in the sacraments. The early Church Fathers could see it. Do you presume to know more than they? Steve Moore sweat167@aol.com
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where were you born… and you need a website all about yourself and Mr. Jenkins. Im doing a report on you guys and all the stuff is about your books. Put something out about your childhood and stuff and your life. That would be great
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The bible is clear on the end of the age and history is clear on when that was—70AD. We must rein and rule with Him in the advancement of His Kingdom(Spiritual-same as the first advent)here on earth. When the church starts preaching and teaching this truth,then,the effect on society will turn around the present leftist-liberal system of thought. God is at work on this proper perspective of eschatology. Tony Hill
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1st Chronicles 5:4, says Gog is a Reubenite. 1st Chronicles 5:26 says they were taken into Assyria and are there …unto this day. Micah 5 says Jesus will someday fight the Assyrian, which connects these together along with Ezekiel 38. I’m a Christian and I believe the word of G-d above man’s oppinion. Paul Swinford
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ALL OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED BY THE END OF THE WAR OF A.D.70.<p> In Luke 21:22, Jesus said, <b>”For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”</b><br> This verse seems to be ignored by most, if not all, Premillennial, futuristic commentators, probably because they see so many Old Testament promises to Israel which have not been fulfilled. What they fail to see is that God’s promises were almost always two-sided coins, so to speak. On the one side were promises of blessings for belief and obedience, on the other side were judgements for unbelief.<P> Only one example is needed to explain, and that is the so-called “Palestinian Covenant,” given in Deuteronomy chapter 30. When futurists mention that covenant, they almost never quote the whole covenant, stopping before they reach the 10th verse. But verses 1 thru 9 list all the good things God would do for Israel if they listened to His words. Verses ten thru 20 are the rest of the covenant, describing what might happen to Israel if she disobeyed (the flip side of the coin). Much of the Old Testament reveals “what might have been” had Israel not rejected the Son of God 2000 years ago. Not that God was in any way surprised when they rejected and crucified His Holy Son; that was His plan from the beginning. Part of that plan was His converting all Jews back into Gentile status, from whence they came (Romans 11:32), and making everyone, Jew and Gentile alike.<P> Mac <P> biblebits.com
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Uh, I think I agree with the people that said that Tim LaHaye needs to have a biography site. I am also doing a report-ish thing regarding Tim LaHaye, and I have no information regarding such simple facts, such as birthplace and date. This is insane… And as for what I believe on the series and the end times and it’s Biblical perspectives, I have a lot to say. But I won’t; I have a paper to write. God Bless, Megan any info on Tim LaHaye, PLEASE e-mail me @ Megaroni009@hotmail.com Thankyou.
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Anybody have any info on Tim Lahaye I.e Birthdate birthplace. or have any info on a web-site or something. Email me any info at Grammakrly@aol.com Thanks so much and God Bless
Need Tim Lahaynes birthdate/place and childhood facts for my english report!!! how can he be so famous, and not have any infromation about himself on the net?!?! I realize I won’t have the info in time, but maybe someone could post something for the next kid doing a report?
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I’M GLAD HANK IS PRESENTING A DIFFERENT VIEW BUT HIS VIEW IS TOO DRASTIC. LAHAYE’S VIEW IS TOTALLY WRONG TOO. JESUS RETURNS ONLY ONE TIME AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS. THIS IS THE SAME VIEW THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL TAUGHT TOO. THE GREAT TRIBULATION IS SATEN’S WRATH AGAINST GOD’S SAINTS WHO ARE LIVING AT THE TIME OF THE END. DANIEL’S VIEW AGREES WITH THIS TOO. A SECRET RAPTURE IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET SOME TRUTH OUT OF THESE NOVELS YOU BETTER LOOK IN THE SCRIPTURES THEY ARE VERY MISLEADING. THE PEOPLE WRITING THESE NOVELS DO NOT HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF BIBLICAL SYMBOLOGY. THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT IS SYMBOLIC AND WHAT IS LITERAL. SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHETHER YOU BECOME DECEIVED AND TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST. THAT’S WHY BELIEF IN THE PRE TRIB RAPTURE IS BAD AND WHY THE PRETERIST VIEW IS BAD. NEITHER VIEW PREPARES ONE FOR THE UPCOMING FALLING AWAY. JESUS SAID IF IT WERE POSSIBLE THE VERY ELECT WOULD BE DECEIVED. ARE YOU ALREADY DECEIVED BY LAHAYE AND HANK?
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I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE CRITICS OF THE BIBLE ARE CALLED OF GOD TO DO SO.I ONLY SEE CONFUSION AND DIVISION AND INSULTS.IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO STUDY MY BIBLE AND GLEAN FROM IT THE TRUTHS OF GOD WHILE CRITICS ARE ARGUING WITH THOSE WHO WRITE COMMENTARIES AND BOOKS OVER DOCTRINAL ISSUES.CRITICS SHOULD START UP THEIR OWN CHURCHS AND CALL IT THE “CHURCH OF CONFUSION”
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i would love to know where you get the idea that all news christians will have a mark to be known by and will be protected from the worst of the plagues , dont get me wrong doc , i want this to be true , but show me where in the bible it says this , i read that only 144,000 jews will be marked and protected
Date:
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The Pope teaches 3 = 2. This is the Mark of the Beast. Preterism believes #2. Orthodox believes #3. We all believe #1. 3 general resurrections – 1Cor 15.22-24; Jesus Anointed, AD 32; Old Heavens, AD 77, New Heavens, End of Time. Preterism denies #3, because of the Pope. sidwilliams7spirits@granitecity.com 3 dispensations – 2Pet 3; Pre-flood, 2492 BC, Old Heavens, AD 77, New Heavens, End of Time.
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Hi my name is Tamara Schie Me and my husband love all of your books left behind and the ones that go with the first one,and i would like to see if you could give me alist of all the books that go with left behind and the books that fallew it . Thankyou Tamara Schie
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Regarding the summary of the early history of millennial teaching, it is interesting that the author appeals to Gaius for support of a “biblical” position. When Gaius ranted against Cerinthus, he was also condemning the canonical book of Revelation. Gaius and the Alogi attributed the book of Revelation and the Gospel of John to Cerinthus, and rejected the book of Hebrews, because these books were effectively used by Montanists to support their “New Prophecy.” Hippolytus wrote a treatise against the Alogi entitled “On the Gospel of John and the Apocalypse.” Though the work is not extant, the Syrian Ebedjesu (Cat. libr. omn. eccl. 7) recalled that it attacked the heresy of the Alogi who denied the doctrine of the Logos and disparaged books of holy Scripture. For more on this see Metzger’s The Canon of the New Testament.
Date: 03 Apr 2005
Time: 10:10:44
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I walked away from fundamentalism after years of researching the history of the “scriptures” and “authors”. I believe that “Jesus” was indeed talking to the “generation” of THAT time, not some 2000 years in the future. Jesus makes reference to that particular generation many times. “Do not let them decieve YOU”…not someone 2000 years in the future. It’s very clear. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. My 10 year old grandson figured it out on his own. Now, did “Jesus” return? I have no idea. It’s possible his “kingdom” is merely a state of spirituality. No where in the scriptures is the word “rapture”, you can tell me about your “twinkling in an eye” all you want, and to be brought up into the clouds with Christ, who knows what that means? It’s all so complicated and interpreted so many ways. Mr. LaHaye, how do you know anything for certain? You don’t and you can’t. I think fundamental christians are spending too much time looking up to the sky.
Date: 07 Apr 2005
Time: 11:58:52
Comments:
Whether Time Lehaye is right or wrong is a secondary issue to the fact that you have attacked a fellow Christian through your words and especially through the tastless cartoon on this page. We can disagree in the Spirit of Christ without making personal attacks against a fellow Christians work or motives.
Who are you to make yourself a judge of this mans motives… judging him as greedy and “laughing all the way to the bank”.
This is clearly indicative that even if your doctrine is correct… YOUR SPIRIT IS NOT OF CHRIST.
I suppose you will sluff off what I have just said as the words of someone who does not agree with you. Is this pleasing to our Lord?
Date: 01 Oct 2005
Time: 13:28:11
Comments:
although i am a pre trib believer all points of view should be tolerated. in matthew 24 v. 29 Jesus says immediately after the tribulation the Son of Man will appear in the clouds and the angels will gather up all believers. all will see Him. did this happen in the 1st. century? no.hannegraff says that johns use of the words soon and the time is near proves revelation was intended for a first century audience. doesnt Jesus use of the word immediately mean the same thing jesus did not return in the first century.
Date: 01 Oct 2005
Time: 17:24:48
Comments:
Absolute deception!!!
People today are not lead by the Holy Spirit, but by mere men.
God wants us to know the truth, but it can’t happen unless we are seeking his face by the way in which we live.
Jesus came back to that last generation of Israelites, just like He promised. (Matt 10:23, Matt 16:27,28, Matt 24:34)
Remember, His “kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36)
Date: 01 Oct 2005
Time: 16:57:26
Comments:
Praise the Lord for Phillip. He had the true understanding of the truth that the seventy weeks are already fulfilled.
The most absurd thing is that all these so called “Preachers” are deceived and deceiving others, just like the religious leaders of our Lords time!
Jaime M. Gomez
San Jacinto, Cal.
jaime.irmapv@verizon.net
Date: 26 Oct 2005
Time: 15:07:43
Comments:
This is the first time a visit this site. very interesting. I do believe that alot of the modern church is involved in fables and the ideas of men. Because we dont know the bible as well as we know the fables.
Christus Vincit
Christus Regnat
Christus Imperat
May the truth remain and every fable be done away with. So that Zion can take her rightfull place.
FJ Du Plessis
South Africa
Date: 06 Jan 2006
Time: 09:12:54
Comments:
what exactly do preterist believe about the resurrection?
if Jesus came in 70AD then why are we still here?
What about all of the earthquakes and disasters that Revelation talks about?
I am disgusted with all this debate and controversy. what are non believers supposed to think. i think we should be more focused on trying to tell others about Jesus than trying to figure out if the events in Revelation have happened or not. se explanation used by Americans – “O my God!!” Is this a sign?
Date: 02 Jan 2006
Time: 06:36:25
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To all the comment writers here that are asking questions like, “Did all believers meet Jesus in the air in 70AD?”, you must realize something. All these verses are not speaking of something literal. This is all symbolic talk about the difference between the flesh and the spirit. At Jesus coming in 70AD everyone was changed in a twinkling of an eye. No, it wasn’t something you could see physically like some sci-fi movie. The change that is talked about was the covenant. The old covenant of law and DEATH, death being sin, was replaced by God’s new covenant of grace, or life. Why doesn’t anyone seem to get that? Paul tells us over and over in all his writings this very thing and people just don’t seem to put two and two together. Paul tells us that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God so why does anyone believe that Jesus is coming back to earth in a body and we are going to be raised with a new body? Bodies have flesh and blood.
Jesus was speaking to Israels last generation. Their end was coming in that generation and their generations would cease to exist. When God made his covenant with natural Israel he said that many of the things he was giving them in the law like the Levitical priesthood would last for ALL of their generations. If Israel still exists or has now come back why don’t they have these things like the Levitical preisthood? Was God mistaken? Futurists are just not consistent with what the Bible says. The entire Bible from front to back has been fulfilled. That is why we no longer have inspired writing concerning those events, the covenants, the history of God’s interation with Israel, or anything else pertaining to the history of the Bible. All the writing that we see in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation was written while Israel was under the first covenant and now that we live in the Messianic age, or second
Date: 02 Mar 2006
Time: 10:22:06
Comments:
Greetings Saints and blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As a prodigal I am, in these uncertian times, overwhelmed at the and appalled at the trivial things we christians can fight about. As a student of the whole Bible I believe we all must look to a simpler, more profound truth.
In Revelation 19:10 overwhelmed at the sight of the angel the writer falls down to worship him, the angel stops John saying “Do not do it” identifying with the writer as “a fellow servant of not only John but all those with a testimoney of Jesus” The angel then make what I believe to be the most critical statement of the ages
“the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”
Therefore let us live today with the testimony of Jesus on our lips to all we come incontact with. The rest of these arguments and debates will pale in comparrison to His Glorious return.
For I am convinced that when He (Jesus) comes for us (the Church) on that glorious day, my mom and I and Hank and Tim and all those that have gone before us and to come will meet with the Lord and He will make plain that which we are not able to see clearly now.
Rev 19:9 Blessed are they that are invited to the Marriage supper of the Lamb.
SO GO OUT AND SPREAD THE INVITATIONS!!!
Date: 01 Mar 2006
Time: 09:55:40
Comments:
i’m 14 and i am really intersted in teh bible and the revalation. my granpa(who is really religous) introduced me to the ancient prophecie that is coming true. but what i want to nkow is why in the book of revalation is there seven of everything,like seven seals and ect.?
Date: 03 Mar 2006
Time: 17:31:36
Comments:
I really think the docmentation is good. However, I would like to comment that I am a church of Christ minister and I have doubts about the way we believe. The church thinks the end will not occur will not occur this way. I would like to contact Dr. Lahaye and discuss this matter at a different level. Can give his contact information.
Evangelist John Eldridge
Date: 04 Mar 2006
Time: 21:12:09
Comments:
Many Christians don’t know this, but there are really three major “prophetic schools” of interpretation now in conflict – Preterism, Historicism, and Futurism. Each of these schools view the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation differently.
The 1st is that of the Praeterists; respecting the subject of prophecy, except in its two or three last chapters [of Revelation], to the catastrophes of the Jewish nation and old Roman Empire … which Scheme, originally propounded, as we saw, by the Jesuit Alcasar, and then adopted by Grotius … by Professor Moses Stuart in the United States of America, and by disciples in the German School in England …
“The 2nd is the Futurist Scheme; making the whole of the Apocalyptic Prophecy, (excepting perhaps the primary Vision and Letters to the Seven Churches,) to relate to things now future, viz. the things concerning Christ’s second Advent: a Scheme first set forth, [as] we saw, by the Jesuit [Francisco] Ribera, at the end of the 16th century; and which in its main principle has been urged alike by Dr. S.R. Maitland, Mr. Burgh, the Oxford Tractator o¬n Antichrist, and others, in our own times and era, not without considerable success …
“The 3rd is what we may call emphatically the Protestant continuous Historic Scheme of Interpretation; that which regards the Apocalypse as a prefiguration in detail of the chief events affecting the Church and Christendom, whether secular or ecclesiastical, from St. John’s time to the consummation: – a Scheme which, in regard of its particular application of the symbols of Babylon and the Beast to Papal Rome and Popedom, was early embraced, as we saw, by the Waldenses, Wickliffites, and Hussites; then adopted with fuller light by the chief [Protestant] reformers, German, Swiss, French and English, of the 16th century; and transmitted downwards uninterruptedly, even to the present time.
A complete treatment of Preterism, Futurism, and Historicism can be found in Steve Wohlberg’s eye-opening book, End Time Delusions. Or go to endtimeinsights.com
Date: 08 May 2006
Time: 16:28:40
Comments:
I’m from the UK and have no idea what anybody is talking about, nor do I care..
Debate is fine, but our job is to lead people to the Lord, who otherwise will go to hell.
This is not a joke. This is serious!
Stop talking and arguing about all this ‘stuff’.
Start getting out more and try winning souls over to Christ.
He died once for all of us. We need to tell people of this, not argue about all this nonsense I am trawling through. It is pointless and fruitless and devoid of any of the Spitiual Gifts.
How is this benifitting the body of Christ?
How is it helping win people over to God?
What purpose does all this rambling on about something really inconsequential help us move on in our walk with Christ and living a life which demonstrates the light of God?
Andy, United Kingdom
Date: 13 May 2006
Time: 23:06:57
Comments:
I would like to have Revelation 9:21 & 22 Explained since it seems from what I read, NO MAN is going to accept Jesus Christ EVEN
Date: 13 May 2006
Time: 23:11:18
Comments:
I would like to have Rev. 9:21 & 22 Explained since it seems NO MAN SHALL ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST EVEN AFTER ALL THE PLAGUES ARE MEETED OUT.
You didn’t give that in your books, none of the people who survive will accept God. How can there be people saved if no one accepts him?????
scarletteone2844@aol.com
Date: 29 May 2006
Time: 09:49:23
Comments:
The popularity of some recent books, videos and even a movie on what is commonly called “rapture” could leave some Christians feeling “Left Behind”. It can be hard not to feel left out as friends and others talk about the popular series.
Don’t feel left out or left behind. The Orthodox, Roman Catholic and mainstream Protestant Churches all reject this popular myth. You might be surprised to know that the idea of rapture didn’t even exist until about 170 years ago. No Christian believed in this term for the first 1,800 years of Christianity.
The event described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 is known to pre-millennialists as the rapture. It is viewed as occurring prior to the millennial reign of Christ. It, therefore, should not be confused with the resurrection of the unsaved, which occurs at the end of the millennium. Pre-millennialists differ as to the timing of the rapture, and generally hold to one of three positions (though there are others).
The pre-tribulation rapture position states that Christ will return for his Church prior to the 7-year tribulation period. Thus, believers will not experience the reign of antichrist.
The mid-tribulation rapture position states that Christ will return for his Church at the mid-point of the 7-year tribulation period. The second half of the tribulation is seen as the time when God’s wrath is poured out upon a Christ-rejecting world. Since the Church is exempt from God’s wrath, the Church will be raptured prior to this pouring out of God’s wrath.
The pos-tribulation rapture position states that the rapture will occur at Christ’s second coming. The Church will be present on earth during the entire tribulation period, but will not experience God’s wrath. It will, however, experience the antichrist’s persecution.
Eastern Orthodoxy rejects these teachings as being heretical in nature. There is also potential for great harm in mass dissemination of the notion of rapture.
All Christians up until the 1830’s believed in basically the same things about the second coming of Christ. During the 1830’s Margaret Macdonald, a Scottish member of a sect known as the Irvingites, made the first claim that there would be a trance (or rapture) and the faithful would be gathered to Christ before the period of persecution. The Protestant leader John Nelson Darby picked up this view. Cyrus Ingerson Scofield picked up Darby’s views and placed them in the footnotes of his Scofield Reference Bible. This Bible was widely used in England and America and many who read it readily accepted the idea of rapture.
Since that time other views on rapture have started, but all are still based on the notion of the rapture itself.
What is the “Orthodox view? As an Orthodox Christian, I believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ, the ensuing judgment of our sins and the resulting eternal life, spent either in bliss or in torment. Everything that the Bible says about a time of tribulation and suffering is accepted, but that the faithful will be present for all of it.
Christ himself tells us that all will suffer and that no one knows when he will return for judgment day.
Why Don’t Orthodox Christians Believe in the Rapture?
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:9-13)
First of all we have to be suspicious something that no Church taught for 1,800 years suddenly emerges. That’s not enough of a reason to simply reject it, but it does mean that it should be viewed carefully.
Without getting into complex interpretations of Scripture, here are some basic Orthodox Christian considerations:
• Tradition: The Orthodox teachings about the end of the world reflect 2000 years of tradition originating with Christ’s Apostles. Believe it or not, the Church Fathers and their successors weren’t ignorant of scripture. We follow the teachings of the Church to avoid shortsighted interpretations of Scripture. This has helped the Orthodox Church avoid the spread of heretical teachings.
• Shaky Scriptural Basis: Through all the wonderful, intelligent teachers Christianity has had over time (Orthodox & non-Orthodox), the idea of rapture didn’t come about until it was envisioned by a 15 year-old girl in Scotland in the year 1830. The modern arguments in favor or rapture can be called into question through an even handed examination of the passages commonly used when arguing in favor of it. Even among Protestant denominations who believe in a totally literal reading of scripture rapture is not universally accepted.
Is it dangerous to believe in “Left Behind”? Yes, it may well be. Many of the arguments used in favor of rapture are taken from the Book of Revelation. Chapter 22:18-19 warn that anyone who adds to or takes away from the words in Revelation will meet with punishment from God. The interpretation of Revelation is therefore a very sticky issue. Revelation is the only New Testament book that the Orthodox Church doesn’t read in any of its worship. St. Peter also warns us that no prophecy is to be of private interpretation, yet many insist of reading into the book of Revelation.
Rather than argue over what the end will look like, we should keep in mind one unavoidable fact; we will all face judgment. Christ will examine each of us and as a result those who have done good will be resurrected to life and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:29) Everything beyond preparing for Christ’s second coming (and judgment) is nothing more than a distraction. You have to ask yourself, “who would benefit the most by causing us to be distracted?”
Date: 18 Jun 2006
Time: 20:07:46
Comments:
I have been reading the new series of Babylon Rising and have been enjoying it as much as the Left Behind series, but in the third book Europa Rising there is an error regarding Bingham, see pg 311, 317, 322, and 326 I had to reread through a few times to make sure I was not misreading. In addition I was surprised to see that Saddam had started to rebuild Babylon in the book and did research online and found that to be true. Very interesting.
Date: 22 Jun 2006
Time: 08:37:21
Comments:
Rev. Tim LaHaye has really opened my eyes!! Specifically his comment that “I don’t think that people understand that 666 is not a good time,” LaHaye said. He said he sees signs of an upcoming “tribulation period” that leads to the Antichrist’s arrival in a movement toward one-world government, a single economic system and single religion.
He said it….!! Its happening now. Look at what our dear God fearing leader George W. Bush is doing. Thanks so much Reverand for making it so clear that these times are upon us and that Bush is leading the way with you right by his side.
Date: 03 Sep 2006
Time: 20:50:42
Comments:
I beecame a preterist believer when I discovered the last chapter in Bible has a city with good and outside evil, so I crossed referenced and found the New Jerusalem was a new covenant,not a city, and it was easy to believe after that. I find the Bible now to be very understandable when it is read as it is written. I thank God everyday for his love for me with revealing the truth that I search for. Thanks for this article
Date: 24 Sep 2006
Time: 21:25:47
Comments:
Stay in the Bible and you will see that Tim LaHaye speaks from it. Has anyone seen Jesus coming on the cloud yet? If not, He is not here yet and we are still waiting. But, I believe, the times are coming closer. Just look at the new reports each day. End times come from the violence and the loss of God. Satan has been at his best these past few years and it will only get worse. I, for one, know that Jesus is still waiting for His second coming. I’d rather be in Heaven.
Date: 11 Jul 2007
Time: 14:52:37
Comments:
Greetings.
Yes, Jesus is here, waiting in the wings, patiently, to get on stage so the whole world will understand him all the better. In John . . .said some good things, like, worshipping the father in knowledge and Spirit. Isn’t happening yet, but, . . . .getting there. There are four steps. The Dead, who can’t come up with any idea. The Asleep, who can’t tell what is real and what isn’t. The Awake, who, are going a direction but don’t know it yet. And then there is Jesus, and those whom he has taught already, so that they know who he is.
You might want to learn some things first, like numbers, and letters from Proto Hebrew, just to get ready and be on the same page he is. If you like you can challenge him on this, when he arrives. I know you will.
Oh, one thing he wants to say, that, if anyone is left behind, there will be a toll free 1-800 number that you can call, so you can be brought “up” with him. I am not, he is not kidding.
Date: 26 Sep 2007
Time: 13:05:37
Comments:
If Lahaye interprets the Revelation so literally, why is the “mark of the beast” 216 instead of 666? Or even 616?
Date: 11 Nov 2007
Time: 17:16:20
Comments:
I think that Tim LaHaye is full of crap!!!!!!
it is because of HIM that people will be deceived
when the antichrist does come..
the rapture does NOT exsist!!!! if it did it would be in the BIBLE! it says in the Bible that you donot want to be the first one taken. (the 2 tares)
and he also thinks that the BIBLE is not good enough apparently because he has writen his own version,,just remember who took you on the wrong path when saitn does appear here. TIM LAHAYE
and to all the SO CALLED preachers. you WILL get judged FIRST! remember that when you want to SELL YOUR OWN BOOKS IN CHURCH!!!
Date: 01 Feb 2009
Time: 14:55:30
Comments:
LUCIFER’S LEXICON by L. A. Rollins
LaHaye, Tim, n. A premillenial dipsensationalist who makes real profits by lying about false prophets.
Date: 12 Mar 2010
Time: 11:15:20
Your Comments:
Is Tim Lehaye going to make the last two Left Behind movies, Glorious Appearing and Kingdom Come or let CloudTen Pictures. I hope he is not going to leave it where it ended in Left Behind World At War. Julie
Date: 20 Sep 2010
Time: 00:49:02
Your Comments:
I have a question I have read the left behind books for adults and also 1-14 of the kids series. My question is what happens to the children that are born during the Tribulation? They can be no more than 6 years old if their parents make the choice for them to recieve the mark of the antichrist are they dammed or do they recieve the same forgivenness as Chow did?
Date: 09 Sep 2011
Time: 02:28:27
Your Comments:
THE ONLY MISTAKE MR. LA HAYE HAS MADE IS THAT ALL CHRISTIANS SHALL BE COUNTED AMONG THE RAPTURED AND JUST AS THE MOVIES AND BOOKS OF HIS “LEFT BEHIND” SERIES DEPICT CHAOS AT THE INSTANCE OF 1 BILLION CHRISTIANS VANISHING AT ONCE SO BE THE MINDS FOR ANY CHRISTIAN WHO DISPUTES THE PRETRIBULATION AS TRUTH. A BILLION VANISHING CHRISTIANS WOULD BE ENOUGH TO MAKE EVEN CHRISTIANITY’S WORSE NEMESIS “MOHAMMED ALLA AKBAH” ADMIT CHRIST IS LORD AND BESIDE THIS WOULD CAUSE A MOST CHAOTIC SITUATION AND GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CHAOS SATAN IS AND BESIDES MR. LA HAYE KNOWS THAT HE IS LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH ABOUT ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS BEING RAPTURED, HIS “LEFT BEHIND” SERIES MAKES HIM AND TBN MILLIONS BECAUSE IT IS SENSATIONALISM AND I’LL BET TIM HAS A YOUNG FINE WIFE TO KEEP HAPPY AS HIS MOTIVE WHICH MAKES HIM ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS WHO LOST THEIR FIRST LOVE, CHRIST.
FIRST OF ALL IT IS YOU NAY SAYERS THAT IS CALLING GOD A LIAR FOR IT IS HE WHO CLAIMS TO BE ALL MERCIFUL AND IF HE ALLOWS HIS FAITHFUL TO BE PRESENT WHEN HE PERMITS SATAN TO REEK HAVOC UPON THE EARTH, THEN WHO WOULD BE THE RECIPIENTS OF HIS MERCY?
DIDN’T JESUS MAKE THE PROPHECY ABOUT THE JEWS BEING SCATTERED TO OTHER NATIONS BUT WOULD RETURN AGAIN AS A NATION? SALVATION CAME FIRST TO THE JEW THEN THE GENTILE, THE JEW REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST. DOES GOD LEAVE ANYTHING UNDONE? NO, THEREFORE, WHEN AGAINST ALL ODDS THE JEWS RETURN TO THEIR LAND AND BECAME A SOVEREIGN NATION AGAIN THIS SIGNALED THE END TIMES FOR GOD IS FINISHING WHAT HE STARTED WHEN HE SENT THEM THE MESSIAH THAT THEY REJECTED.
THOSE WHO DISPUTE THE PRETRIBULATION NOTION BECOME DETOURED FROM THE TRUTH THAT THE RAPTURE IS REPRESENTED IN REVELATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE LEANING ON THEIR OWN UNDERSTANDING AND I WILL TAKE THE TIME TO ENLIGHTEN THOSE WHO CARE TO READ IT BUT SO FAR NONE OF MY LABORS THAT PROVE THIS HAS EVER BEEN POSTED ON THIS PRETERIST WEBSITE.
THE RAPTURE IS REPRESENTED IN REV.3:10-13 AND USING ONLY SCRIPTURE AND THE KEY WORDS OF THESE 3 VERSES I WILL GIVE CLARITY TO THE BLIND.THE OUTLINE OF THE FIRST 6 CHAPTERS IS IN 1;19,”WRITE THE THINGS THOU HAS SEEN…” WHAT JOHN SAW IS CONTAINED IN 1:4-18. “…AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE..” THIS MEANS THE LETTERS TO THE 7 CHURCHES WHICH IS THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH AGE. “…AND THE THINGS WHICH HAS BE HEREAFTER.” HEREAFTER MEANS AFTER THE CHURCH AGE.
USING A STUDY OF THE KEY WORDS OPENS THE DOOR TO THE PATH THAT IS NOT HIDDEN BUT RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES.
IT IS COMMONLY AGREED AMONG CHRISTIANS THAT AS PART OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER EVERYONE MUST TAKE A MARK ON THE FOREHEAD OR THE HAND AND THOSE WHO DO NOT WILL BE UNABLE TO BUY OR SELL:
V10 “….THOU HAS KEPT THE (WORD) OF MY(PATIENCE)..” USED HERE (WORD)COMES FROM THE GREEK MEANING “THOSE WHO PRACTICE THE GOSPEL”. THE WORD (PATIENCE) COMES FROM A GREEK WORD MEANING HAVING THE QUALITY NOT TO GIVE IN TO CIRCUMSTANCES OR SUCCUMB TO TRIAL. “…KEEP THEE FROM THE HOUR OF (TEMPTATION) WHICH SHALL (COME)..” TEMPTATION COMES FROM THE GREEK THAT REFERS TO 2 TYPES OF TEMPTATION, GOD’S WHICH IS FOR PROVING BUT NEVER FOR THE PURPOSE OF CAUSING FAILURE AND SATAN’S TEMPTING IS EXPRESSLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CAUSING ONE TO FAIL. THE “HOUR OF TEMPTATION” IS SATAN’S FOR THOSE WHO TAKE THE MARK STAND UNAPPROVED BY GOD AND UNWORTHY OF HIS MERCY. THE WORD COME IS TAKEN FROM A WORD WHICH DENOTES MOVEMENT FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER AS SATAN STANDS BEFORE GOD AT THIS MOMENT AS OUR ACCUSER HE IS LET LOOSE BY GOD AND ALLOWED TO COME TO EARTH TO CAUSE MAYHEM FOR 7 YEARS
THUS HE MOVES FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER AS THIS WORD DENOTES.”…(TO TRY) THEM THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH.” TO TRY COMES FROM A GREEK WORD THAT INVOLVES ENTANGLING A PERSON IN SIN OR DISCOVERING WHAT GOOD OR EVIL, WEAKNESS OR STRENGTH IS IN THAT PERSON.
V.11 “BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY….THAT NO MAN TAKE THY (CROWN”. IT IS THE APOSTLE PAUL WHO EQUATES THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY AS A RACE TO THE FINISH, FINISH BEING HEAVEN AND THIS PARTICULAR CROWN IS NOT THE GREEK WORD FOR THE CROWN OF A RULER BUT THE CROWN A WINNER,FOR THOSE RAPTURED THEY HAVE WON THEIR RACE.
V.12 “….A (PILLAR) IN THE (TEMPLE) OF MY GOD..” THE PILLAR ARE THE RAPTURED SAINTS AND THE TEMPLE IS CHRIST. WANT PROOF? HOW IS A PILLAR IN A BUILDING BEST OPTIMIZED? STANDING ON A FOUNDATION AND CHRIST IS THE CENTER AND FOUNDATION OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. THE WORD TEMPLE IS ONE OF THE WORDS USED IN REFERENCE TO CHRIST BECAUSE A TEMPLE IS THE CENTER OF AND SACRED ENCLOSURE. IF THAT IS NOT CONVINCING ENOUGH GO TO 1 KINGS 7:21 “…HE SET UP THE RIGHT PILLAR AND CALLED THE NAME THEREOF JACHIN AND HE SET UP THE LEFT PILLAR AND CALLED THE NAME THEREOF BOAZ.” JACHIN AND BOAZ ARE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS AS THOSE PILLARS IN V.12 ARE THE RAPTURED NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS.
REV.3:20 ARE THE MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANS WHO ARE AMONG THE “LEFT BEHIND” FOR CHRIST IS KNOCKING ON A CHURCH DOOR AND ONLY CHRISTIANS WORSHIP IN CHURCHES AND WHO KNOCKS ON A DOOR FROM THE INSIDE? NO ONE AND CHRIST IS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THIS CHURCH DOOR KNOCKING STILL SHOWING MERCY TO THESE LEFT BEHIND CHRISTIANS TO OPEN THE DOOR OF THEIR HEARTS AND LET HIM IN.
REVELATIONS 4:1 IS A SCENE IN HEAVEN. IS THIS COINCIDENCE THAT AFTER THE CHURCH HAS DEPARTED THE NEXT SCENE IS HEAVEN OR IS THIS DEMONSTRATING COORDINATION IN PROOF OF THAT CHAPTER 4 IS A SUBSEQUENT EVENT AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHURCH?
IF THE CHURCH HAS NOT BEEN RAPTURED THEN WHY IS THE WORD “CHURCH” ITSELF ABSENT AFTER CHAPTER 3 AND DOESN’T APPEAR AGAIN UNTIL THE LAST CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE 22:16 WHICH IS ALSO A SCENE IN HEAVEN?
NOAH’S ARK AND LOTT AT SODOM WERE SHADOW TYPES OF THE RAPTURE AND EACH FOLLOW THE SAME COURSE OF ACTION, FIRST GOD WARNS, THEN REMOVES HIS FAITHFUL AND THEN LETS GO HIS WRATH OF DESTRUCTION BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A SMALL REMNANT THAT ESCAPES JUST AS NOAH AND 7 OTHERS AND LOTT AND HIS DAUGHTERS, ALL CHRISTIANS SHALL NOT BE RAPTURED. IT IS THE SAME TODAY AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH AND GOD IS STILL IN THE WARNING PHASE.
ANY CHRISTIAN SEEKING THE TRUTH BUT DENIED THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT, YOUR PRIDE THAT WON’T LET YOU ADMIT YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT OR LETTING THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE?
I PRESENTED MY PROOF TO COLONEL SPEED WILSON’S $10000 CHALLENGE TO PRESENT SCRIPTURE THAT SUPPORTS THE RAPTURE AND HE SEEMS TO REFUSE TO POST IT ON HIS WEBSITE. THE COLONEL WAS A MARINE PILOT WHO NEVER FACED OUR ENEMIES, I WAS A MARINE ON THE GROUND WHO DID NOW IT APPEARS THAT HE IS AFRAID TO FACE THE TRUTH THAT THE VERSES HE USED TO SUPPORT HIS DISPROOF OF THE RAPTURE PROVED TO BE ALL IN VAIN.
PRETERIST WHY WON’T SHOW SOME INTEGRITY AND PROVE ME WRONG OR ADMIT THAT IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO BRINGS REMEMBRANCE OF ALL THINGS ABOUT CHRIST AND NOT THEOLOGY?
DONALDLEFLORE1@AOL.COM