Posted on 03/17/2008 7:50:57 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
WAREHAM, MA -- “Left Behind denies what Bible-readers have believed for centuries," says David A. Reed, author of LEFT BEHIND Answered Verse by Verse. "I'm just giving the preachers of the Reformation an opportunity to reply."
Reed's new book features Martin Luther and John Calvin on the cover, along with illustrious preachers Jonathan Edwards, William Tyndale, John Wesley, John Wycliffe and Charles Haddon Spurgeon – all pointing fingers of condemnation at Tim LaHaye's blockbuster novel Left Behind. "The founders of the Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Congregationalist traditions all testify against the teachings of LaHaye's novels," Reed explained.
A 'second chance' for unbelievers and half-hearted churchgoers at Christ's return – that's the main sticking point in Left Behind that Reed attacks. "Such a 'second chance' is found neither in the Bible, nor in the historical teachings of the church," he said. "Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish virgins shows those not ready at Christ's return face judgment, not a second chance."
Reed has authored more than a dozen controversial books, including two others in the verse-by-verse style that has become his signature: Mormons Answered Verse by Verse and the popular Jehovah's Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse (Baker Book House). He served for a decade as a contributing editor of Dr. Walter Martin's Christian Research Journal, and has been interviewed countless times on radio and television, besides speaking to church groups from Japan to England.
"Tim LaHaye claims his novels are not just fiction, but rather a portrayal of things that will really happen some day," according to Reed. "And his fans view it that way, too, almost as if Left Behind were an extension of the Gospel." LEFT BEHIND Answered Verse by Verse examines the Bible passages LaHaye quotes, and pits LaHaye's interpretations against the commentaries of Luther, Calvin and other more traditional teachers. "The Left Behind novels have taught millions of readers to believe in a coming seven-year Tribulation ruled over by an Antichrist, but the great teachers from Wycliffe in the 1300's to Spurgeon in the 1800's saw no such thing in the Bible," Reed declared. "They saw the Tribulation as a past event, while looking forward to Christ's return to judge the world."
Now here’s a book i’ve GOT to get. Thanks Alex.
Yes, we do. See I Thessalonians 4:15-following, and I Corininthians 15:51 and following..
Typically
Now, that’s irony.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I have never read any of the Left Behind books
I read The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey many years ago and I felt that nobody could improve on that book...
I enjoyed Walter Martin’s Bible Answerman show. This guy might be as interesting. If he was arguing against the rapture I could see it, but to argue against the tribulation, or pretty much the book of Revelation itself, that’s got to be an impossible case to make. The rebirth of Israel in 1948 opened up a lot of peoples eyes where prophetic scripture was concerned. All the theologians mentioned above were from well before that and were trying to plug scripture in to the world they knew. If the state of Israel were in their time, their writings would have been quite different.
We had a Bible Class in High School. Public school.
A creditted even.
I remember the movie of the Rapture it was set in the “Mod” late 1960’s. Good Movie.
I grew up in an SBC and I understood they believed in the rapture.
The author is reading a different Bible than the one I am reading and teaching from. It clearly discusses tribulation saints...and what about the ministry of the 144,000 during the tribulation, leading many to Christ? Sorry, this article just doesn't hold water.
If you mean the aberration known as the pre-trib rapture, the consistent ones, following in the footsteps of the Reformers and men like Spurgeon, do not.
What about it? The Bible says nothing about 144,000 Jewish evangelists during any future "great tribulation". You might want to go back and read it again.
1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; 7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. (Rev. 7)That's the only mention of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, and not one word about their "ministry" of leading folks to Christ during the alleged future tribulation.1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Rev. 14)
Yes we do. But not all of us believe in a pretrib rapture. Some do. Some believe in a midtrib rapture. Others are posttribbers. I am a pretrib rapture person.
I felt the same way, acted consistently with that conviction, and lost a crucial five year chunk of my vocational life. I spent the next three decades playing catch-up with the moving window of opportunity. Bad theology is a harsh taskmaster. Lindsey, at last report on marriage #4, apparently recycles his books and wives as each is overtaken by time.
Yet none of the "prophecy" teachers foresaw the collapse of Soviet communism. In a pathetic display of craven debauchery, they frantically scamper around, like vermin when the lights come on, desperately seeking another antichrist candidate to cower before.
Folks, suppose God so arranged history as to discredit Islam. Will we be ready to take advantage of our opportunities to preach Christ to disillusioned Muslims? In 1945 Douglas MacArthur begged America to send 10,000 missionaries. We sent them engineers -- and today, as a result of our missing a key moment in that culture's history, Japan is one of the most high-tech secular nations on earth. We did better in the aftermath of the day the Wall came down -- our church immediately began planting churches in Poland and Ukraine.
Folks, learning Turkish, or Arabic, or Farsi, is a long-lead-time endeavor. However, students from various Muslim nations are studying at our universities today, curious about Christianity, and wanting to make American friends. They are especially eager to tutor us in their mother languages. Show a respected interest in them, their culture, their traditions, and their language, and you can end up with a friend for life. And a stake in future global revival.
The ones I grew up with and often attended church with did, but there was considerable variation about it with some believing it came at any time, others mid-tribulation, and still others thought it happened at the end with Christ’s return. I don’t know if there is an official position, and it may have changed since then.
With all respect (i.e., just asking a question, not trying to be disrespectful), do you see the LaHaye phenomenon and the theology it espouses as an outgrowth of the teachings of Darby (i.e., dispensationalism)?
***With all respect (i.e., just asking a question, not trying to be disrespectful), do you see the LaHaye phenomenon and the theology it espouses as an outgrowth of the teachings of Darby (i.e., dispensationalism)?***
I would say it is the same stream of thought.
Of course, along with Scofield.
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