Posted on 08/04/2002 8:00:41 AM PDT by Commie Basher
I agree with you that the Left Behind series is not based in pure biblical truth but seems to be a mish-mash of bible prophesy and Tim LeHaye's imagination. Interesting but flawed and misleading if anyone accepts it as anything more than pure fiction.
The lead article criticizing the series seems to be another mismash of mistaken fears about Christianity and Christians in general, posing as some sort of literary/social comment. About as useful as the books it complains about.
As a Christian, I don't need to read fiction based on what other Christians' imaagine about The Last Days or anything else. I have God's Word, the Bible. While I respect Tim LaHaye, the Bible is good enough for me.
Historical - 20,000 Assyrian tablets, native stone inscriptions and cylinders.
Biblical - Hosea 1:10,11.
Though I have to say, I'm glad they dissavow it. They are ignorant on much else, it should be no suprise they are ignorant about this, too.
Are you a member? 
Or, heaven forbid, had it so that unpopular movies that followed that theme get the annual Oscar. But to even think that shows that I'm just a paranoid right-wing nut case. LOL
A worth repeating bump. The NT, by the way, has dire warnings for those who presume to judge the ultimate resting place of others.
Jesus is God, but it's not for us to determine who is going to Hell and who is not. Somthing to ponder Matt 25 34-40.
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, (31) inherit the kingdom prepared for you (32) from the foundation of the world.
35 'For (33) I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; (34) I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 (35) naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you (36) visited Me; (37) I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 "(38) The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, (39) to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
Actually - it's not prophecy - it's one interpretation of prophetic writings from the Bible. Big difference.
But hey, folks, American Christians are oppressing Jews!
I've read the Old Testament -- the part that Jews believe in -- many times, and I'm still looking for the passage that says ingratitude is a virtue.
That the so-called 'rapture' will occur without the presence of Jesus returned and that life on earth will go on in a semi-usual manner but with all the tribulation and second-chances. This is simply not scriptual.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NIV)
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 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. 5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
I really don't have time to debate these books nor do I need to. Although they are interesting, they seem to use the Second Coming as a vehicle for a story that may be well-intended but is not scriptual. As I stated earlier, I'll stick with the Bible.
Don't be surprised by it. It is a standard substitute for "dialogue" by some who post here. For more examples, check this thread for selected reponses to my posts.
It's gotta be in there someplace, as often as it pops up in history. ---ggg---.
In other words, are they only backing Israel because they believe it fulfills bible prophecy? What if Israel got destroyed again? Would their fervor towards the remaining Jews grow cooler?
7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back...
This is The Holy Spirit, who is embodied in the souls of US, THE CHURCH...
... will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
THAT is the Rapture!...
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed,...
This references the AntiChrist, spoken of in great detail in Revelation...
whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming
THIS is the 2nd Coming. Let's review...
First the Rapture of the Church, THEN the Antichrist during the seven years of the Tribulation, THEN the 2nd Coming, which will destroy the antichrsit.
Isn't this pretty much what the "Left Behind" series portrays? Of course they take some artistic liscence, (because no one knows the hour-by-hour outline of every thing that will happen) but isn't that essentially what the L.B. series portrays?
The Left Behind series is getting tens and tens of MILLIONS of souls to think about End Times, (which will lead many of them to the Bible and many eventually to the Lord) who would otherwise be curled up with some kinda meaningless Steven King escapism. That's not a good thing?
I don't think they are. I think there's a lot of Christian support going to Israel, given that its opponents continue to purposefully target innocent men, women and children for extermination.
Let me ask you to go over the little Bible mini-study in post # 116, and specifically tell me where you disagree.
I think you have two concepts, A) Salvation... and B) the End-times... mixed-up together.
They are two different concepts.
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