Author Claims To Debunk Rapture Theory Popularized By 'Left Behind'

Agape Press ^ | May 5, 2004 | By Allie Martin

[TaxRelief]

As you read this press release, watch for the attempt to create conflict within the ranks of believers.

(AgapePress) - A Christian author says the popular "Left Behind" books are filled with biblically inaccurate teachings.

The cornerstone of the best-selling book series by authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins is "the rapture." That term describes God's removal of true Christians from the world as the initial event that many Christians believe will usher in a seven-year period of tribulation leading to the visible return of Jesus Christ.

But in his new book End Time Delusions (Destiny Image, 2004), Steve Wohlberg asserts that the idea of a rapture before Christ's second coming is not biblical. "There's three major verses used in the New Testament to prove the doctrine of disappearing Christians," he says, citing 1 Thessalonians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 15:52, and Matthew 24:40. But he says the pre-tribulation rapture theory is not borne out in these scriptures.

"I have studied every one of those of those verses in the Bible and also in the light of history," Wohlberg says, "and I have discovered clearly that every one of them does not apply to a secret rapture before a seven-year period of tribulation; but they all apply definitely to the visible, loud, glorious second coming of Jesus Christ at the very end of the world."

A poll by Barna Research Group (barna.org) found that one in every ten Americans has read a book from the popular Left Behind series. However, Wohlberg feels the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture as described and dramatized in the popular books is a dangerous notion.

[TaxRelief]

Wohlberg may have a good point--that there will be no second chance after the rapture--but note the level of warning used to convey his concerns. "Dangerous", and "dangerous philosophy" are typical of the language used by the liberal left. The idea is to create so much controversy that people, particularly young people, don't know what to believe, ultimately choosing to believe nothing they cannot see or hear.

Once again the enemy attempts to create "division within the ranks". When all else fails, we have to be aware of those (atheists) who intentionally or unintentionally incite Christians to fight among themselves, Jews to fight among themselves, and, as we're seeing in Iraq, Muslims to fight among themselves.

The "intellectual left" resorted to this highly effective technique in the 50's and 60's, and they are returning to it's use now.

[meowmeow]

Whatever. If He comes back before the tribulation, I'm out of here. If Christians have to live through the tribulation and I'm still around, I'll probably be the first up against the wall. In which case, I'm still out of here.

[millefleur]

Two more books that shed much needed light on the so-called "rapture" scriptures:

"I Want to be Left Behind" by Pastor Ron Poch

and "Last Days Madness" by Gary DeMar

I found these two books to be much more indepth in their covering of the Bible Scriptures concerning end times.
Most likely they are not at your local Bible bookstore but could be found by a search..maybe Amazon.
They are well worth the effort to find.

[EggsAckley]

In Florida, I think, a woman was so convinced that the rapture had come that she jumped out of the sunroof of her car and died on the Freeway. To me, that goes beyond faith and moves into the area of insanity.

[TaxRelief]

To me, that goes beyond faith and moves into the area of insanity.

I remember reading once that about 83% of people with schizophrenia believe that one of the voices they "hear" belongs to God. A slightly lower percentage "hears" the voices of aliens, and a slightly higher percentage "hears" voices of dead relatives.

Clearly, mentally unstable people form their delusions from their real world exposures (to TV, to culture, to society, to media, to fiction, etc.) along with their overactive imaginations.

[Grn_Lantern]

This is one of those religious doctrines that's been debated for centuries. Church teachings (both Catholic and Protestant) have varied over that time. Whether you believe in it or not isn't really the point. Just remember that no one knows the time...so, basically, don't hold your breath. And if you wake up one day somewhere else...well...neat.

[proxy_user]

I'll bet she didn't know much Greek or Hebrew, either.

[Avenger]

I remember reading Revelations many times when I was younger - it was completely incomprehensible to me. The account is St. John struck me as very mystical and heavily laden with symbolism. I think it is very difficult to analyze and I suspect that most interpretations are way off the mark. Perhaps loving and holding to God without knowing exactly what he is going to do with us is an even greater faith than clinging to various interpretations of opaque Bibilcal accounts?

[Cap'n Crunch]

Hope nobody holds their breath waiting for the rapture, ain't gonna be one.

[Liberty Tree Surgeon]

I'd say its dangerous only as far as it doesn't drive believers to put some stake in the future. Will you fight the Islamofascists if you figure faith will get you out of the end times?

[don-o]

"Dangerous", and "dangerous philosophy" are typical of the language used by the liberal left. The idea is to create so much controversy that people, particularly young people, don't know what to believe, ultimately choosing to believe nothing they cannot see or hear.

Good point. But, it IS a dangerous doctrine, in that, if the "rapture" ain't happened (which it will not), the Christians who believe it are set up to fall for the great deception which shall surely come.

From previous discussions on the board, this one may get real hot, real fast.

Folks should be willing to look at the history of this teaching, and lay it along side what the Christian Church taught for 1800 years, until a vision seeing woman in Scotland came along.

[Sister_T]

Whatever. If He comes back before the tribulation, I'm out of here. If Christians have to live through the tribulation and I'm still around, I'll probably be the first up against the wall. In which case, I'm still out of here.

Amen. All this "you guys are deceived by the devil because you believe in a pretrib rapture" mess is silly. I don't go around saying that those who don't believe it have a "Rambo complex" and are the ones with the LEAST faith because they wish to hang around to "prove" how tough they are. Heck, why wait for the end; if they want persecution and hard times, go to any Muslim country where it is a death sentence to be a Christian. Why talk all big about how they want to be "left behind"? They can have their "tribulation" now in other parts of the world where Christians are getting persecuted. Guess it's easier to say that when you're in the comfort of your home in America, I suppose. It's ridiculous. It's impossible to predict with absolute certainity about an event that has YET TO OCCUR.

Jesus said to be ready. Period. Whether death or rapture, whenever it occurs, we are to be ready to meet Him.

[who knows what evil?]

Most likely they are not at your local Bible bookstore but could be found by a search..maybe Amazon.

Interesting to note that most books that deviate from a 'pre-tribulation' platform can't be found in 'Christian' bookstores. I would like to add a few other books to your list, if I may..."God's Wrath on Left Behind", by Lisa Ruby; Marvin Rosenthal's "The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church"; and Before God's Wrath", written by H. L. Nigro. Bottom line...Jesus warned about deception multiple times. We should be as the Bereans...studying the Scriptures to see "whether these things were so". Don't take ANYONE's word for it...the Scriptures have the FINAL say.

[don-o]

if they want persecution and hard times, go to any Muslim country where it is a death sentence to be a Christian. Why talk all big about how they want to be "left behind"?

Deliberately seeking martyrdom is a sin

Counting on being disappeared into heaven before the great deception is a false hope.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Interesting information on the bigoted "Moonie" co-hort Tim LaHaye: False Profit.

[nightdriver]

"I have studied every one of those of those verses in the Bible and also in the light of history," Wohlberg says, "and I have discovered clearly that every one of them does not apply to a secret rapture before a seven-year period of tribulation; but they all apply definitely to the visible, loud, glorious second coming of Jesus Christ at the very end of the world."

I wish Wolberg had amplified on his reasoning here. The consistent testimony in Scripture is that God does not leave His own to go through His terrible acts of judgement, ex - Enoch, Noah, Lot, etc.

If God is consistent, the rapture should be before the tribulation.

[TaxRelief]

What about the 144,000 from the 12 tribes who are sealed by Jesus after the rapture?

Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

[tessalu]

"Left Behind" is a diversion from the scriptures. It is just more false teaching for the gullible who do not want to read the bible.

[tessalu]

Matthew 24 Jesus does tell us about the last days, and he does speak of the tribulation. and the time before his coming again.