I love what you said there so I thought I'd post it again!
It is my firm belief that how you interpret the end times is in no way essential to salvation. I am a premillennialist like LaHaye, however it is not a required for salvation belief at all. Certainly it is not worth fighting over. The one thing we all know for sure is that NO ONE knows the time, place, or exactly how Revelation will play out.
I like the Left Behind books but a person can be a wonderful Christian and disagree with LaHaye's take on the end times. Even he would say so.
Essential beliefs are: Who God is--Creator, Holy, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent....who man is--a sinner....who Christ is--God's Son, Redeemer, Savior, Holy....what faith means--not of ourselves, it is a free gift from God, not of works...
I hate it when people drag theology into politics. Makes me wish for more "separation of church and state."