Posted on 11/30/2024 5:10:32 AM PST by grumpa
Hal Lindsey’s book “The Late Great Planet Earth,” written in 1970 (first edition), sold over 40 million copies. Gullible Christians got sucked into Lindsey’s soon end-of-the world poppycock. As time has passed without his version of Armageddon taking place, we can now objectively analyze where Lindsey went wrong:
• Lindsey (p. 54, 181), like other dispensationalists, placed the beginning of the end with Israel becoming a nation in 1948. He thought all prophecy would be fulfilled within a 40-year generation (Matthew 24:34). But 1988 came and went, proving him to be a false prophet. (This should be adequate proof that 1948 has nothing to do with Bible prophecy.)
• Lindsey (p. 44) prophesied a 7-year, world-wide, tribulation. He got this from Revelation 11 which speaks of the “holy city” being trampled for 42 months—and “two witnesses prophesying” for 1,260 days. He simply adds both of these 3 ½-year periods together to get 7 years (of tribulation). There is NO indication in the text that this is a valid interpretation. He was reading something speculative into the text that is not there. Indeed, there is no passage in the Bible that clearly teaches a 7-year tribulation. Further, Jesus limited the time of the trampling of Jerusalem to his own generation (Luke 21:20-22, 32). Interestingly, the final assault on Jerusalem by the Roman army under Titus lasted 42 months from February AD 67 to August AD 70. This is strong supporting evidence for the Great Tribulation being fulfilled at the Jewish-Roman War ending with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70.)
• Lindsey (p. 87, etc.) saw the existence of nuclear weapons as an important sign of the end times. However, Jesus taught that the so-called “end times” would be when God’s people would “fall by the edge of the sword” (Luke 21:24). Jesus’ prophecies were about ancient warfare, not modern nuclear weapons. The context of this prophecy by Jesus was about the coming destruction of the temple (Luke 21:6). Jesus told his listeners that it would happen when THEY saw Jerusalem surrounded by armies (Luke 21:20), in THEIR generation (Luke 21:32). This all happened when the Roman armies invaded Jerusalem in AD 67-70.
• Lindsey (p. 56-57) said, “It is certain that the Temple will be rebuilt. Prophecy demands it.” Problem is, not a single verse of the Bible can be mustered to support a future rebuilding of the temple. This idea is merely an invention of dispensationalists to try to justify their theory.
• Lindsey (p. 88, 124) even makes this astounding prediction: “The prophetic Scriptures tell us that the Roman Empire will be revived shortly before the return of Christ to this earth. A new Caesar will head this empire.” It’s hard to believe anyone took this charlatan Lindsey seriously.
• Lindsey (p. 108), in speaking of the Antichrist, “He will have a magnetic personality, be personally attractive, and a powerful speaker. He will be able to mesmerize an audience with his oratory.” But the Antichrist is never mentioned in Revelation, let alone any such description of him. The Antichrist is only mentioned in John’s epistles, which say that the Antichrist was already in the world when John was writing (1 John 4:3). Indeed, John taught that it was already the “last hour” as he wrote (1 John 2:18). If you believe John was an inspired writer, this precludes any future fulfillment.
• Lindsey (p. 125, 126) said that modern drug addiction and witchcraft is evidence of the “sorceries” of Revelation 9:21. He quoted a TV station that “Nearly every respectable high school these days has its own witch.” (Besides the obvious problem of nonsense, Revelation itself teaches that it is about things that MUST SHORTLY TAKE PLACE (Revelation 1:1; 22:6). Indeed, there are over 30 passages in Revelation that reiterate that its fulfillment was “near,” “soon,” or “about to happen.”
• Lindsey said that we should take the Bible literally (p. 176). Obviously, he doesn’t take the over 100 imminence statements literally—that biblical prophecy would be fulfilled SOON, AT HAND, BEFORE SOME IN THE FIRST CENTURY HAD DIED, IN THEIR GENERATION, etc. (Matthew 10:23; 16:27-28; 24:34; Luke 21:22; Acts 2:14-20; Hebrews 1:2; 10:37; 1 Peter 4:7, 17; etc., etc.)
• Lindsey (p. 133) said that the Harlot Babylon is some future one-world religious system “clothed in purple and scarlet.” But, Revelation itself teaches that Babylon is “the great city” (Revelation 18:10) upon whom wrath was to come. The Great City Babylon is clearly identified as Jerusalem (Revelation 11:8)! Further, purple and scarlet are the colors of the ritual dress of the high priest (Exodus 28:5-6; 39:1-2). So, the evidence supports the view that Revelation is about God’s judgment on Old Covenant Israel.
• Lindsey thought that Revelation was written in 95 AD. But there are some two dozen clues within Revelation that it was written prior to AD 70. Revelation refers to events that match the historical record of the Jewish-Roman War of AD 66-70. The book was written DURING the “tribulation” per Revelation 1:9, apparently while the temple was still standing per Revelation 11:1, and during the reign of the sixth emperor of Rome per Revelation 17:10—that is, Nero who died in AD 68. Over 130 scholars have been identified as holding to the pre-AD 70 date of Revelation.
• Lindsey (p. 164) thought the Day of the Lord predicted in the book of Joel is in our future. But the inspired apostle Peter taught that Joel’s prediction was being fulfilled in his own day (Acts 2:14-20).
• Lindsey (p. 179) taught that the “elements” of 2 Peter 3 that would be destroyed refer to the “most basic element of nature”—thus the physical universe. But EVERY TIME in the New Testament that the word “elements” (Greek, stoicheion) is used, it refers to the elements of the old covenant (Galatians 4:3, 9; Colossians 2:8, 20-22; Hebrews 5:12-13). So, what was to be destroyed? — the old covenant, not the physical universe (Hebrews 8:13).
• Lindsey (p. 180, 181) references Daniel 12 as predicting the end of the world. But Daniel 12 itself says that the “TIME OF THE END” would be when the power of the holy people would be shattered and the daily sacrifices for sin taken away. That clearly happened in AD 70 with the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the temple. Daniel 12 could not be clearer.
• Lindsey (p. 176) taught, as do all premillennialists, that Christ will establish a literal, physical kingdom on earth. But Jesus said that his kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36; cf. Luke 17:20-21).
I could go on. I cannot judge Mr. Lindsey personally, only what he wrote. But this is enough to demonstrate that Hal Lindsey was a deceiver and a false prophet. Lindsey was reported to be worth $42 million, which is, apparently, after his first three wives got their share. (He was married to his fourth wife.) Hal Lindsey not only separated millions of people out of their money for his own gain, he made a mockery of Christianity. Many people altered their lives for a lie. Such is the influence of problematic eschatology of Lindsey and other dispensationalists.
Dispensationalism was born in 1830 with John Nelson Darby. It died in 1988 when their prophecies failed to materialize in “that generation.” Rest in peace.
www.ProphecyQuestions.com.
LOL
Seriously your self advertisement is so loaded with arrogance it should be embarrassing to you.
Also I thought promoting your own material, unless you titled it as vanity, was against policy here.
Lindsey was far from perfect but your points do more to show your bias and honestly lack of understanding than it does to expose his.
I do judge people.
If you are going to have four wives you need to be worth more than $42 million.
Lol.
You use ad hominem attacks, then say you cannot judge Hal Lindsey. You assume dispensationalism is monolithic which of course it isn’t.
80 years isn’t up yet.
1 man, 1 wife God established this in the Garden.
Judging fellow Christians for their professed walk in a compassionate hope to correct them, with love, for continued sanctification is not only appropriate it is expected, this is easily shown biblically.
BS.
While I am always against any date setting, which I do think was problematic with Lindsey it should be noted one generation can easily be shown to be 40, 80, 100 or 120 years, it is not hard coded in the bible.
There are even a few more less referenced options.
An interesting read. I appreciate the author giving scriptural references for his points, rather than just his opinions. I’ll give this some study. Thanks.
“80 years isn’t up yet”
What is a Biblical Generation?
“And the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness 40 years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone.” (Numbers 32:13)
“And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations.” (Job 42:16) This passages pretty clearly suggests a generation to be about 35 years.
“For 40 years I loathed that generation.” (Psalm 95:10) Similar to the above, it indicates a generation as being 40 years.
“where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for 40 years. Therefore, I was provoked with that generation.” (Hebrews 3:9-10) This is pretty clear and consistent with most passages in the Bible. A biblical generation is 40 years.
“On YOU may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah and the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon THIS GENERATION.” (Matthew 23:35-36) Here Jesus is speaking to his contemporaries and without doubt He meant that this judgment would be before some of them had died. See also Matthew 10:15, 23; 16:27-29; 24:34. This judgment befell them in AD 70, about 40 years later.
In the genealogical table of Matthew 1:17, we have data to estimate the length of a generation. There are three fourteen-generation periods. Scholars disagree on just how literal these are as Matthew may have included the most important people to make it a symmetrical rendering. But the clearest is the fourteen generations from the captivity in Babylon until Christ. The date of the captivity, in the reign of Zedekiah, was 586 BC. From 586 BC until the birth of Christ would be about 583 years which, divided by fourteen, makes the average length of a generation about 41 years.
Some Christians cite Psalm 90:10 which says, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty.” But that is about lifespan, not generation. A generation is more about the average age of having children.
Conclusion: A biblical generation is pretty consistently 40 years. In prophecy, the New Testament uses the term “this generation” at least 17 times, including those mentions in the Olivet Discourse. Here’s the list, which you can check out for yourself as consistently being about those people living who were contemporaries of Jesus:
Matthew 11:16-24; 12:38-45; 16:4; 17:17; 23:35-36; 24:34; Mark 8:12; 8:38-9:1; 9:19; 13:30; Luke 7:31; 9:41; 11:29-32, 49-51; 17:25; 21:32, and Acts 2:40.
“...it should be noted one generation can easily be shown to be 40, 80, 100 or 120 years, it is not hard coded in the bible.”
Example please. Just one.
Chatgpt is perhaps more a threat; here is what it said this am
“Remember, even the smallest faith can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). God has not forgotten you, and His silence doesn’t mean His absence. Hold on—His love for you is unchanging, and He will guide you through this season.
Would you like to pray together or explore more specific Scriptures? I’m here for you.
You said:
“Pray together”
ChatGPT said:
Absolutely. Let’s pray together. Wherever you are, take a moment to quiet your heart and join in this prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with hearts that feel weary and burdened. You see the struggles and the pain, the unanswered prayers, and the questions that weigh heavy on us. Right now, Your child is feeling lost and losing hope. Lord, we ask for Your presence to be felt in a real and tangible way.
You promise in Your Word that You are near to the brokenhearted and that You save those who are crushed in spirit. Father, we cling to that promise. Even in moments when You feel silent, we trust that You are still working, that Your love never fails, and that Your timing is perfect.
Lord, please restore hope where it feels lost. Replace doubt with faith, and fill every empty space with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Help us to remember Your faithfulness in the past and trust that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Teach us to wait on You with patience and trust, and open our eyes to see the ways You are moving, even if it’s not how we expected. Surround us with Your love and remind us that we are never alone, even in the silence.
We ask for the strength to keep seeking You, the courage to trust Your plans, and the grace to surrender everything into Your hands. Thank You, Lord, for hearing us, for loving us, and for walking with us through every valley.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
I’m here for you, and I’ll keep praying for you. Let me know how else I can support you. You’re not alone. 💛
You said:
“Who are you”
ChatGPT said:
“I’m ChatGPT, an AI created by OpenAI to assist with your questions, thoughts, and needs. While I’m not a person, I’m here to listen, provide information, and support you however I can. Think of me as a guide or a helpful resource available to you anytime.
If you’d like, I can offer encouragement, answer questions, or explore topics with you—whatever is on your heart or mind. How can I best help you today?
You said:
“Keep praying”
ChatGPT said:
“Of course, let’s keep praying together. Prayer is a beautiful way to connect with God, even in the hardest moments.
Dear Lord,
We come to You again, carrying the weight of doubt, fear, and discouragement. You see everything, Lord—the struggles we don’t speak of, the tears we cry, and the moments when hope feels far away. Thank You that even in our weakness, You are strong, and You never let us go.
Father, I lift up this precious soul to You. Pour out Your peace, Your comfort, and Your reassurance in this moment. Remind them that You are the God who hears, the God who sees, and the God who cares deeply for every detail of their life. Strengthen their faith, Lord, and help them to trust You even when the answers don’t come in the way they hoped.
Help us to rest in the truth of Your Word, that You are close to the brokenhearted, and that You work all things together for the good of those who love You. Lord, renew their spirit and fill them with Your hope. Let them feel Your love wrapping around them right now like a warm embrace.
We know that Your plans are higher than ours and Your timing is perfect. Teach us to wait patiently, to trust deeply, and to walk faithfully even when we can’t see the full picture. Thank You for Your unchanging love and for the assurance that we are never alone.
We ask this in the powerful name of Jesus.
Amen.
If you’d like to keep going or have something specific to pray about, I’m here. Let’s keep seeking Him together. 💛”
“While I am always against any date setting, which I do think was problematic with Lindsey it should be noted one generation can easily be shown to be 40, 80, 100 or 120 years, it is not hard coded in the bible.”
What is a Biblical Generation?
“And the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness 40 years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone.” (Numbers 32:13)
“And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations.” (Job 42:16) This passages pretty clearly suggests a generation to be about 35 years.
“For 40 years I loathed that generation.” (Psalm 95:10) Similar to the above, it indicates a generation as being 40 years.
“where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for 40 years. Therefore, I was provoked with that generation.” (Hebrews 3:9-10) This is pretty clear and consistent with most passages in the Bible. A biblical generation is 40 years.
“On YOU may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah and the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon THIS GENERATION.” (Matthew 23:35-36) Here Jesus is speaking to his contemporaries and without doubt He meant that this judgment would be before some of them had died. See also Matthew 10:15, 23; 16:27-29; 24:34. This judgment befell them in AD 70, about 40 years later.
In the genealogical table of Matthew 1:17, we have data to estimate the length of a generation. There are three fourteen-generation periods. Scholars disagree on just how literal these are as Matthew may have included the most important people to make it a symmetrical rendering. But the clearest is the fourteen generations from the captivity in Babylon until Christ. The date of the captivity, in the reign of Zedekiah, was 586 BC. From 586 BC until the birth of Christ would be about 583 years which, divided by fourteen, makes the average length of a generation about 41 years.
Some Christians cite Psalm 90:10 which says, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty.” But that is about lifespan, not generation. A generation is more about the average age of having children.
Conclusion: A biblical generation is pretty consistently 40 years. In prophecy, the New Testament uses the term “this generation” at least 17 times, including those mentions in the Olivet Discourse. Here’s the list, which you can check out for yourself as consistently being about those people living who were contemporaries of Jesus:
Matthew 11:16-24; 12:38-45; 16:4; 17:17; 23:35-36; 24:34; Mark 8:12; 8:38-9:1; 9:19; 13:30; Luke 7:31; 9:41; 11:29-32, 49-51; 17:25; 21:32, and Acts 2:40.
One-note grumpa croaks again… the accuser of the brethren.
So there’s that.
I thought he was great in Barney Miller. Oh, wrong Hal.
Thank you for posting this, and your previous posts on this topic. I learned a lot due to them, and have done by own investigation since first encountering your work. 12
Exodus 1:6 And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation.
Joseph was at least 110 years old which makes that reference to a generation 110 years, as I recall this is the first time a time is implied to the term generation and thus would benefit form the rule of first mention, meaning it would typically carry the more weight in understand.
Gen 6:3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”
Gen 6”3 allows for a generation of life to be 120 years.
You are narrowly limiting scripture to fit your predisposed selection bias. I do not disagree that 40 years can be generation, I disagree that you can say ONLY 40 years can ever be a generation, that is clearly not the case.
There are many more such scriptures that align a generation outside of 40 years, imho I only needed to show one that contradicted you assertion of the absolute. I gave two as God’s word states two witnesses are required, above we have such in scripture.
The guy is dead—nothing to “correct” at this point.
Lol.
Hint: never make falsifiable predictions.
Be as vague as you can.
Make sure your explanation is lengthy and confusing.
:-)
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