I became a Christian after reading Hal Lindsey’s book, “The 1980’s, countdown to Armageddon”. I also became a strong pre-tribulationist and joined my local Assembly of God Church, where I attended for 18 years. In that time I played in the orchestra for 17 years and drove the “church bus” to pick up kids pretty much every weekend for 10 years.
Eventually, however, as I read more and more prophesy, I started questioning what I believed from the beginning. At the beginning I believed with no scriptural background, but simply because someone that seemed to know what he was talking about said.
Hal Lindsey did go a long way in popularizing the idea of the Pretribulational Rapture with the general public and that did contribute to a lot of people becoming Christians as a result of it, and their further study in the Bible and hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, unto salvation.
I recall Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries saying that, too (check out the MP3 archive of radio programs). And I've heard quite a few others say that.
But also keep in mind that apart from Hal Lindsey, this is something that is supported by countless other scholars and seminary professors, teachers and everyday Bible-teaching pastors in the pulpit. This does have widespread support.
Of course, there are the detractors, who don't even believe in the rapture in the first place. We see them on the "open threads" where they hammer incessantly against it. If one wants a discussion with the naysayers, all they have to do is open up a thread about the rapture, and they will show up and whack you around... LOL...
But, I do understand that you're not one of those and that you're coming at it from another position within the "rapture ranks" and that's what we can discuss here.
I just wanted you to know that this idea of the Pretribulational Rapture doesn't rise, stand or fall on Hal Lindsey. It stands on the Bible and countless other pastors, preachers, teachers and/or scholars who have studied the Bible and the history of the church, over the decades -- even going back into its history back in the beginning centuries. It's there, too.
However, feel free to discuss the ideas presented and we'll see how the discussion goes.
Thanks for contributing.
FWIW, most of them are from churches that emerged during the Reformation. It's often thought that the Reformation churches made a clean break from the Roman church, but they took a lot with them and their eschatological views are just one example.
My experience has been when discussing eschatology with the Reformed is if you can get them to recognize God is not done with the Jews, but has a plan for them after He is done with the Gentiles most will reconsider their thinking.
>>I just wanted you to know that this idea of the Pretribulational Rapture doesn’t rise, stand or fall on Hal Lindsey.<<
I apologize for giving that impression. I really didn’t equate him with it at all.
I am aware that a lot of bible scholars fall on every side of this issue. That is why I decided to read their arguments and make up my own mind. I’ve argued this issue with people for decades (from both sides) and when I found that site to which I linked I found that it would save a LOT of time to just link to his site and I don’t have to do a lot of retyping, mainly because he so closely aligns with my perspective.
On a side note, I discovered he lives within 10 miles of me. I meant to try to meet up with him but never did. I should try again.