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.
Wrong is subjective because “evidence” is subjective. The message you are delivering is that there is no sense in believing in God because he ain’t comin’ back. It is a message not of hope, but of hopelessness. Evidence is always subjective ... or do you believe Trump is guilty just because he was charged with crimes. Believing in the return of God requires faith. Maybe you should develop a little faith yourself before you go trying to tear down others faith. You dont need to worry a hair on your head about my salvation ... its between me and God.
Joshua 24:15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
That is why doctrine and tradition matter.
regarding tradition, Jesus didn’t think too highly of untested tradition:
(Mark 7:8) For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”
(Mark 7:9) Then He said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.
(Mark 7:13) And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”
Note Jesus did not say all traditions are bad, just to test them.
Personally, I find the old doctrines well tested.
Wrong is subjective because “evidence” is subjective. The message you are delivering is that there is no sense in believing in God because he ain’t comin’ back.
My sister is in to this nonsense and she’s mentally ill. Because of her I’ve been exposed to many of these people and many of them do the talk but they don’t understand what Christianity is all about. They have been led down a foolish road and It’s hard for me to even consider them Christians. It’s like the Mormons and their magic underwear. Sorry I don’t mean hate I just think they are seriously misguided.
My beef with dispensationalism is that it all seems like such a distraction. Let’s stipulate that dispensationalism is correct (although hard to do since there are different versions). The next question is, “Now what?” The answer is still to grow in one’s own sanctification. So what difference does it make?
My issue is that Jesus says no one knows when and the exact how. NOW THAT IS DAMAGING TO THE KINGDOM FOCUSING ON THAT.
Put 100 dispensationalist is the room and you have 100 different ideas. Jesus didn’t want us focusing on unknowable details
Can we agree that repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near is the main message?
Are you preaching that?
i defend my belief from your attacks
why should i go to your link why dont you post your doctrines here instead of your attack threads
?
did humblegunner chase you off for blog pimping ? ( cant believe im defending that, but maybe they were in the right doing that /-)
do you make financial profit from your links ?... .. so,,, im beginning to understand you don't ascribe to any denomination,, , .. .. so have you just started your own cult ?
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YESHUA is referring to the Talmud, and the oral law, I think, it had already been partly developed.
YESHUA is referring to the Talmud, and the oral law, I think, it had already been partly developed.
Unfortunately, Darby’s theories are hardly dead, and large portions of them are still being taught in many (most?) Christian churches in the US.
Only trust the WORD.
Have you ever read the Talmud? I’ve always thought it odd that Catholics were forced to remove the term “perfidious Jews” from one of their prayers yet nobody says anything about the hateful things in the Talmud.
Well if that is even remotely accurate (which it is not) as things are getting so bad now I think within 5 years this old world will be iffy to even survive for long..
Yes, I know all the dicusting thing it says. Trust only the Word.
You say I cannot explain. But oh I can. I have articles on each of your gotcha statements. They can be found here:
Second Coming: https://prophecyquestions.com/category/second-coming/
New Heaven and New Earth: https://prophecyquestions.com/10-clues-to-understanding-the-new-heaven-and-new-earth/
The Great judgment: https://prophecyquestions.com/days-of-vengeance/
Satan and his legions of demons are working night and day grabbing souls and spreading false teaching and promoting false prophets. The old saying the Devil takes care of his own is a true statement...signs and wonders.
All I read was hate and lies in your Op post, you take extreme liberties expousing much stronger views to a writer in order to create your spiteful diatribe.
One simple example is locking a generation into 40 years, biblically a generation can range from 30 years for those born to a category of the people of the time, meaning a generation can be hundreds of years, like a period of kings during a dynasty in Israel.
Such bad faith arguments only serve to show your desire to deceive God
s people, I pray you find love and truth, not this hateful rhetoric.
Christ will return, we can all debate wether being called up to him is pre, mid or post, none of that is doctrinal, but his return sure is and it will happen!
NOBODY but a few crackpots try to predict the day or hour, which Jesus said nobody can know.
HOWEVER, when the disciples asked Him what to watch for for signs of the end, He gave them that information. All of Matthew 24 addresses that. He told us to watch for the seasons for what it is near, BUT the EXACT day and hour is unknown.
There is nothing wrong with looking at the world stage these days and seeing areas where prophecy is likely or has been fulfilled.
Being ready for the rapture does not lull people into carelessness or apathy any more than being aware that today could be your last day on earth anyways.
If you are going to be ready for the rapture, you are going to also be ready for death because you don’t know which will come first.
Sheesh, the false accusations and portrayals about those who believe in the rapture is astounding. It’s all done not to present a case from Scripture for not believing in a pre-trib rapture. it’s mostly personal attacks trying to discredit the argument by discrediting the people who believe it. Personal attacks of a person is hardly a winning debate strategy.
This guy sounds angry.
Hal Lindsey, pfft.
CC
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