Posted on 09/30/2014 11:41:47 AM PDT by NYer
Five Myths About the “Rapture” and the “Left Behind” Industry | Carl E. Olson | CWR
On the (short) history, (bad) theology, and (continuing) appeal of premillennial dispensationalism
This year has marked a sort of second coming of “the Rapture”. On June 29th, HBO launched a new series, "The Leftovers", based on the 2011 novel of the same title, written by Tom Perrotta, which follows the struggles of various characters living in the aftermath of the sudden disappearance of millions of people. “And then it happened,” states the novel's Prologue, “The biblical prophecy came true, or at least partly true. People disappeared, millions of them at the same time, all over the world.” The twist is that Perrotta apparently uses the Rapture as a plot device, but does not adhere to the dispensationalist belief system which features the Rapture (more on that below).
The recent movie, “The Remaining”, however, is completely dedicated to the “left behind” theology, as co-writer and director Casey La Scala explains:
And ever since I was a kid, I wondered what would happen if the Rapture were to happen and all of the sudden we were in seven years of hell. So, I went through Revelations and I got to the sixth trumpet, in which the Abyss is opened and the demons are released, and I said, ‘There it is!’ ... In the process of writing The Remaining, once I was sure the project would stand up to an evangelical base, I did a lot of work on making sure the rules of the Rapture were biblically accurate.
If La Scala really did refer to The Apocalypse as “Revelations”, then readers will be forgiven for questioning the depth of his research and knowledge of Scripture. Then again, being “biblically accurate” has never been a strong suit of the “left behind” theology (again, more on that below).
And then there is the new “Left Behind” movie, in theaters this coming Friday, starring Nicholas Cage (yes, he's still acting—or at least appearing in movies). The verbiage is boilerplate and sensational, a combination that has been an essential part of Rapture fiction since British author Sydney Watson published a trilogy of end times novels a hundred years ago—Scarlet and Purple (1913), The Mark of the Beast (1915), and In the Twinkling of an Eye (1916):
In the blink of an eye, the biblical Rapture strikes the world. Millions of people disappear without a trace. All that remains are their clothes and belongings, and in an instant, terror and chaos spread around the world.
With all of this eschatological excitement in the pop culture air, it's not surprising that I've received e-mails and questions about the newest round of Rapture roulette. The biggest question is simply, “Are the 'Left Behind' books and movies compatible with Catholicism?” Others follow. I addressed those and many, many other questions several years ago in my first book, Will Catholics Be Left Behind? A Catholic Critique of the Rapture and Today's Prophecy Preachers (Ignatius Press, 2003; e-book). I also write a number of articles about the “Left Behind” phenomenon, including pieces about the unoriginal nature of the Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins novels, a short history of the “left behind” theology, a comparison of dispensationalism and Catholicism, and a rather scathing review of the Glorious Appearing, the twelfth Left Behind novel.
With that in mind, I am reposting an article I wrote in late 2003 for Crisis magazine, which examines five of the central myths, or misunderstandings, about the Rapture and related matters. I've not updated it (for example, there are a total of sixteen Left Behind novels, and they have sold around 65 million copies in all), but the main points are still just as good today as they were then.
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Three years ago I mentioned to a Catholic friend that I was starting to work on a book critiquing the Left Behind novels and premillennial dispensationalism, the unique theological belief system presented, in fictional format, within those books. “Why?” she asked, obviously bewildered. “No one really takes that stuff seriously.”
That revealing remark merely reinforced my desire to write that book, Will Catholics Be “Left Behind”? (Ignatius, 2003). Other conversations brought home the same point. Far too many people, including a significant number of Catholics, do not recognize the attraction and power of this Fundamentalist phenomenon. Nor do they appear to appreciate how much curiosity exists about the “end times,” the book of Revelation, and the “pretribulation Rapture”—the belief that Christians will be taken up from earth prior to a time of tribulation and the Second Coming. In addition, I hoped to pen the sort of book I wish that I, as a Fundamentalist, could have read while studying and approaching, by fits and starts, the Catholic Church.
In the course of writing articles, giving talks, and writing the book, I have encountered a number of questions and comments—almost all from Catholics—that indicate how much confusion exists about matters of eschatology, not to mention ecclesiology, historical theology, and the interpretation of Scripture. The five myths I present here summarize many of those questions, and I seek to provide basic and clear answers for them.
“The Left Behind books represent a fringe belief system that very few people take seriously.”
Exactly how many copies of the Left Behind books must be sold before the theology they propagate can be taken seriously?
Continue reading at www.CatholicWorldReport.com.
It is much easier to think that godly people will be jettisoned out when things get bad.
That being said, my first 18 years as a Christian were at an AG church that preached a pre-trib rapture (like the left behind books). I believed it for a couple of years until I started studying it. I then became what was then called “mid-tribulationist”. It’s now called “post trib, pre wrath”.
That is, satan and his minion wreak havoc against the church (the mark of the beast stuff, etc.) for 3.5 years. After this comes the wrath of God. In the middle is Revelation 7 which includes the sealing of the 144,000 and the number too great to count that is at the throne and who washed their robes in the blood of the lamb during the great tribulation.
Is it the rapture? Or are they those that are killed? I dunno. The symbolism of all the prophesy is thick enough to ensure nobody will predict it. It is sort of one of those “you’ll know it when you see it” sort of things, IMO.
But the left behind stuff is based on very bad teaching. I refuse to read the books or see the movies.
I used to think a movie was going to be good if he was in it. But something happened a few years ago...
“This writer uses the extraneous “s” as an opportunity to slam dispensationalism in general. Lame!”
No, they used it to (quite rightly) cast doubt on one author’s scholarly credentials.
I am a non-denominational post-tribulationist. Was Catholic until age 6. Then was saved by grace through faith in an independent Baptist Church. Went to a Calvinist junior college. Continued in the Baptist tradition until moving to Springfield, MO and learned about the Assemblies of God. I think I have a pretty well-rounded view of the church and I love the Old Testament especially Leviticus.
It has nothing to do with think Scripture isn't authoritative, but everything to do with thinking Scripture doesn't teach that stuff.
Oh boy, now you’ve done it...
Yes, that is what the Book says, nobody doubts that. However, that passage you try to use as a proof actually refutes any pre-tribulation rapture as it clearly refers to the 2nd Coming of Christ, which happens at the end of the tribulation.
My use of the term was in no way meant to be “pejorative”. I would consider myself to be fundamentalist in belief according to your definition. Perhaps I should have called them “devout” instead. The two ladies and I remain friends to this day and laugh about the “incident”.
Lol. I’m not interested in bashing anyone for their beliefs. I support one’s rights to whatever beliefs they hold. The issue at hand is what the Bible says, however, not what I say or believe.
“Anti-Christ will not be revealed until the church has been removed and is no longer stopping the evil.”
Can you cite anything from the Bible that says that?
So there are 2 1/2 Comings?
The Catholic Church believes in the same thing, it’s a debate over the name and the timing.
So, I’d think a little less derision would be appropriate among fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Wouldn’t you agree?
Like Walmarts
Pray for pre millennial-ism live strong enough in Christ for post.
No, not really. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8:
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And 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:
In this case, "letteth" is referring to a hinderance (Isaiah 43:13, Romans 1:3) - there are few things that are currently 'hindering' the anti-Christ to be revealed, including government, the Church and the Holy Spirit. Given that this all occurs AFTER "Revised Rome" has been formed, government would not then 'hinder' the coming of the anti-Christ. The Holy Spirit will not abandon the earth, and will be with folks during the tribulation (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:17-21; Zech. 12:10; Rev. 7:9-17). The only thing holding back the anti-Christ is the Church, which will be taken up to meet the Lord in the air (notice He is not actually returning to earth at this time). This clears the way for the anti-christ to be revealed and the days of the tribulation to begin.
I did not think that the Leftovers was “religious” at all. But rather it dealt with a random disappearance of 2% of the population.
I watched the first half of the first show. So I admit at the start that I could be wrong.
I’ve watched a few episodes. It struck me as an attempt to give the point of view of non-Christians in a hostile manner. Religious “nuts” freaking out about it were being depicted as the bad guys.
Ping for later...
For later.
Revelation 7:4 is talking about the 144,000 out of the tribes of Isreal. Unless you are a genetic descendent of one of the 12 that group will not include you.
That view fails to take into account passages like this:
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
So an awful lot of Christians will be martyred during the Great Tribulation, the time of the beast and his mark. So what’s the point of pulling ANY of them out? Those martyrs will obviously be in harm’s way.
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