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Where Hal Lindsey and Dispensationalism Went Wrong
Prophecy Questions Blog ^ | February 1, 2024 | Charles Meek

Posted on 03/13/2024 5:15:29 PM PDT by grumpa

Hal Lindsey’s book “The Late Great Planet Earth,” written in 1970, sold over 28 million copies. Gullible Christians got sucked into Lindsey’s soon end-of-the world poppycock. As time has passed without his version of Armageddon taking place, we can now objectively analyze where Lindsey went wrong:

• Lindsey (p. 54, 181), like other dispensationalists, placed the beginning of the end with Israel becoming a nation in 1948. He thought all prophecy would be fulfilled within a 40-year generation (Matthew 24:34). But 1988 came and went, proving him to be a false prophet. (This should be adequate proof that 1948 has nothing to do with Bible prophecy.)

• Lindsey (p. 44) prophesied a 7-year, world-wide, tribulation. He got this from Revelation 11 which speaks of the “holy city” being trampled for 42 months—and “two witnesses prophesying” for 1,260 days. He simply adds both of these 3 ½-year periods together to get 7 years (of tribulation). There is NO indication in the text that this is a valid interpretation. He was reading something speculative into the text that is not there. Indeed, there is no passage in the Bible that clearly teaches a 7-year tribulation. Further, Jesus limited the time of the trampling of Jerusalem to his own generation (Luke 21:20-22, 32). Interestingly, the final assault on Jerusalem by the Roman army under Titus lasted 42 months from February AD 67 to August AD 70. This is strong supporting evidence for the Great Tribulation being fulfilled at the Jewish-Roman War ending with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70.)

• Lindsey (p. 87, etc.) saw the existence of nuclear weapons as an important sign of the end times. However, Jesus taught that the so-called “end times” would be when God’s people would “fall by the edge of the sword” (Luke 21:24). Jesus’ prophecies were about ancient warfare, not modern nuclear weapons. The context of this prophecy by Jesus was about the coming destruction of the temple (Luke 21:6). Jesus told his listeners that it would happen when THEY saw Jerusalem surrounded by armies (Luke 21:20), in THEIR generation (Luke 21:32). This all happened when the Roman armies invaded Jerusalem in AD 67-70.

• Lindsey (p. 56-57) said, “It is certain that the Temple will be rebuilt. Prophecy demands it.” Problem is, not a single verse of the Bible can be mustered to support a future rebuilding of the temple. This idea is merely an invention of dispensationalists to try to justify their theory.

• Lindsey (p. 88, 124) even makes this astounding prediction: “The prophetic Scriptures tell us that the Roman Empire will be revived shortly before the return of Christ to this earth. A new Caesar will head this empire.” It’s hard to believe anyone took this charlatan Lindsey seriously.

• Lindsey (p. 108), in speaking of the Antichrist, “He will have a magnetic personality, be personally attractive, and a powerful speaker. He will be able to mesmerize an audience with his oratory.” But the Antichrist is never mentioned in Revelation, let alone any such description of him. The Antichrist is only mentioned in John’s epistles, which say that the Antichrist was already in the world when John was writing (1 John 4:3). Indeed, John taught that it was already the “last hour” as he wrote (1 John 2:18). If you believe John was an inspired writer, this precludes any future fulfillment.

• Lindsey (p. 125, 126) said that modern drug addiction and witchcraft is evidence of the “sorceries” of Revelation 9:21. He quoted a TV station that “Nearly every respectable high school these days has its own witch.” (Besides the obvious problem of nonsense, Revelation itself teaches that it is about things that MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE (Revelation 1:1; 22:6). Indeed, there are over 30 passages in Revelation that reiterate that its fulfillment was “near,” “soon,” or “about to happen.”

• Lindsey said that we should take the Bible literally (p. 176). Obviously, he doesn’t take the over 100 imminence statements literally—that biblical prophecy would be fulfilled SOON, AT HAND, BEFORE SOME IN THE FIRST CENTURY HAD DIED, IN THEIR GENERATION, etc. (Matthew 10:23; 16:27-28; 24:34; Luke 21:22; Acts 2:14-20; Hebrews 1:2; 10:37; 1 Peter 4:7, 17; etc., etc.)

• Lindsey (p. 133) said that the Harlot Babylon is some future one-world religious system “clothed in purple and scarlet.” But, Revelation itself teaches that Babylon is “the great city” (Revelation 18:10) upon whom wrath was to come. The Great City Babylon is clearly identified as Jerusalem (Revelation 11:8)! Further, purple and scarlet are the colors of the ritual dress of the high priest (Exodus 28:5-6; 39:1-2). So, the evidence supports the view that Revelation is about God’s judgment on Old Covenant Israel.

• Lindsey thought that Revelation was written in 95 AD. But there are some two dozen clues within Revelation that it was written prior to AD 70. Revelation refers to events that match the historical record of the Jewish-Roman War of AD 66-70. The book was written DURING the “tribulation” per Revelation 1:9, apparently while the temple was still standing per Revelation 11:1, and during the reign of the sixth emperor of Rome per Revelation 17:10—that is, Nero who died in AD 68. Over 130 scholars have been identified as holding to the pre-AD 70 date of Revelation.

• Lindsey (p. 164) thought the Day of the Lord predicted in the book of Joel is in our future. But the inspired apostle Peter taught that Joel’s prediction was being fulfilled in his own day (Acts 2:14-20).

• Lindsey (p. 179) taught that the “elements” of 2 Peter 3 that would be destroyed refer to the “most basic element of nature”—thus the physical universe. But EVERY TIME in the New Testament that the word “elements” (Greek, stoicheion) is used, it refers to the elements of the old covenant (Galatians 4:3, 9; Colossians 2:8, 20-22; Hebrews 5:12-13). So, what was to be destroyed? — the old covenant, not the physical universe (Hebrews 8:13).

• Lindsey (p. 180, 181) references Daniel 12 as predicting the end of the world. But Daniel 12 itself says that the “TIME OF THE END” would be when the power of the holy people would be shattered and the daily sacrifices for sin taken away. That clearly happened in AD 70 with the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the temple. Daniel 12 could not be clearer.

• Lindsey (p. 176) taught, as do all premillennialists, that Christ will establish a literal, physical kingdom on earth. But Jesus said that his kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36).

I could go on. But this is enough to demonstrate that Hal Lindsey is a deceiver and a false prophet. Lindsey is reported to be worth $42 million, which is, apparently, after his first three wives got their share. (He is married to his fourth wife.) Hal Lindsey has not only bilked millions of people out of their money, he has made a mockery of Christianity.

Dispensationalism was born in 1830 with John Nelson Darby. It died in 1988 when their prophecies failed to materialize in “that generation.” Rest in peace.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: eschatology; hal; lindsey; went; wrong
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To: grumpa

You’ve got some issues grumpa!! Stop bashing and start preaching the Gospel. MAny on that list will be rejoicing around the Throne of God!!!!


41 posted on 03/13/2024 6:49:24 PM PDT by pollywog (" O thou who changest not....ABIDE with me")
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To: grumpa

He made a butt load off the Y2K fake hysteria as well


42 posted on 03/13/2024 6:53:13 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: grumpa

Dispensationalism is not wrong. Hal Lindsey and others prostituted it to make money.


43 posted on 03/13/2024 6:55:30 PM PDT by JoeRender
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To: dpetty121263

That’s why there was about 2,000 demon possessed swine with 6,000 demons, a Legion..

Swine are unclean animals not to be eaten or touched, according to the Old Testament.

What the world has experienced in this ‘Church Age’ is doctrines of demons, fully leavened false doctrines.

Not 1,500. Then a clean 500.

Nope. Fully leavened fully corrupted unclean swine doctrines..

About 2,000 years of it.

Mother and daughters
Catholic and Protestants

The whole lump
All of it..


44 posted on 03/13/2024 7:15:45 PM PDT by delchiante
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To: metmom

Nicely summarized.


45 posted on 03/13/2024 7:18:43 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: grumpa
Lindsey (p. 54, 181), like other dispensationalists, placed the beginning of the end with Israel becoming a nation in 1948. He thought all prophecy would be fulfilled within a 40-year generation (Matthew 24:34). But 1988 came and went, proving him to be a false prophet. (This should be adequate proof that 1948 has nothing to do with Bible prophecy.)

Prior to 1948 the majority of people dismissed the concept of Israel reforming as a country. Boy did that ever change some minds when it did happen.

46 posted on 03/13/2024 7:20:39 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: grumpa
Lindsey (p. 56-57) said, “It is certain that the Temple will be rebuilt. Prophecy demands it.” Problem is, not a single verse of the Bible can be mustered to support a future rebuilding of the temple. This idea is merely an invention of dispensationalists to try to justify their theory.

The Bible mentions that some end-times events will occur in a temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15). Second Thessalonians 2:4, speaking of the Antichrist, tells us, "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God." Before the end times can occur, a temple must be present for these events to occur in.

There is still the “small” problem of the Islamic Dome of the Rock being on the site where the Jewish temple is supposed to be. Muslims believe this is the place from which Mohammed ascended into heaven, making it the third most sacred of Muslim shrines. For the Jews to take over this place and build a temple upon it would be unthinkable in today’s political climate. But during the tribulation, the building of the Temple will come about, protected by the Antichrist (Daniel 9:24-27).

https://www.gotquestions.org/end-times-temple.html

47 posted on 03/13/2024 7:22:38 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: grumpa
Lindsey (p. 108), in speaking of the Antichrist, “He will have a magnetic personality, be personally attractive, and a powerful speaker. He will be able to mesmerize an audience with his oratory.” But the Antichrist is never mentioned in Revelation, let alone any such description of him. The Antichrist is only mentioned in John’s epistles, which say that the Antichrist was already in the world when John was writing (1 John 4:3). Indeed, John taught that it was already the “last hour” as he wrote (1 John 2:18). If you believe John was an inspired writer, this precludes any future fulfillment.

*****

John uses the phrase "last hour" in several places in his Gospel....and those would be pointing to a future event.

48 posted on 03/13/2024 7:27:43 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: grumpa
Billy Graham: Even this venerable preacher began telling us in the 1930’s to expect the soon return of Christ.

IIRC the New Testament advocates this position.

49 posted on 03/13/2024 7:36:53 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: delchiante

Well in the last days mankind will see these demons in real time and will have the powers to take human life I rather suspect they will come into this dimension we live from another, perhaps Hell is in another dimension.


50 posted on 03/13/2024 7:44:27 PM PDT by dpetty121263
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To: grumpa

Hal lindsey made a lot of money preaching dispensationalism.

That’s the same method used by Darby, Miller, the Seventh day Adventist, the jehovah’s witnesses etc to gain adherents: by preaching the end of the world is nigh.


51 posted on 03/13/2024 10:27:37 PM PDT by Cronos (I identify as an ambulance, my pronounces are wee/woo)
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To: TexasKamaAina; grumpa
The next question is, “Now what?” The answer is still to grow in one’s own sanctification.

From watching all those YouTube clips, I just assumed that the answer was to buy those 55-gallon drums of dehydrated waffles and hashbrowns that Jim Bakker and his ilk hawk.

Am I missing something here?

Regards,

52 posted on 03/14/2024 12:49:20 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: grumpa

No matter what YOU think of Hal, I gave my sister one of his books and after reading it she got saved. That was years ago and she remains faithful to this day, so God used Hal in ways you cannot know.


53 posted on 03/14/2024 3:15:45 AM PDT by BamaBelle
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To: dpetty121263

I never thought of things in terms of dimensional..

Did you see that somewhere or is it something you thought of?
I haven’t seen that discussed before.

Interesting concept you bring up.


54 posted on 03/14/2024 6:21:29 AM PDT by delchiante
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To: delchiante

The late Thomas Horn spoke of dimensions.

Aliens/demons are interdimentional. So are angels. Aka the spirit world.


55 posted on 03/14/2024 6:27:55 AM PDT by waterhill (Take your ivermectin, kill zee bugs)
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To: alexander_busek

I’d trust Baker as far as I could throw the Rocky Mountains. How that shister is back on tv is beyond me.


56 posted on 03/14/2024 6:39:00 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: waterhill

Thanks.

Wonder if it ever brought to his mind a 4th dimension and the 4th Commandment to Remember the Sabbath.

That’s where my elementary school mind just went..


57 posted on 03/14/2024 6:58:55 AM PDT by delchiante
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To: PeterPrinciple

My problem is with any Christian that chooses to call those who believe Jesus may return in their lifetime as members of a cult.

Luke 21:28
And when these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.


58 posted on 03/14/2024 8:15:12 AM PDT by RainMan ((Democrats ... making war against America since April 12, 1861))
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To: delchiante

I been reading and studying it a while now, reading different Prophecy experts. In the last days Demons will be seen just like you and I and I contend they can travel between dimensions at will. They will have the power to take human life, but I think that will only happen in the last 36 months of the Tribulation as most who are living then are doomed anyway but there will be some Christians living but they will be hunted down and killed in horrible fashion by the AC.


59 posted on 03/14/2024 11:18:38 AM PDT by dpetty121263
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To: RainMan

My problem is with any Christian that chooses to call those who believe Jesus may return in their lifetime as members of a cult.

Luke 21:28
And when these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.


Now balance that with the rest of God’s Word. Not just one verse.

You test with God’s word, not your personal offense.

Why is it so important to you that Jesus returns in your lifetime? Why is it so important that you be “right” in that? When Jesus clearly says you won’t know the time, just be ready.

Are you ready? How do you know?


60 posted on 03/14/2024 12:25:56 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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