Illinois Bishops' Statement on "Left Behind" Books and Videos

Zenit News Agency ^ | June 24, 2003

[NYer]

[NYer]

Since 1995, the series by Mr. Tim LaHaye and Mr. Jerry B. Jenkins has been a tool for active promotion of a fundamentalist theology of the end times in conflict with Catholic teachings. More than that, the series has been a vehicle for anti-Catholic sentiments by the way Catholics are characterized and treated in the plot line.

For an excellent commentary on this, visit Patrick Madrid's blog ...

CHICK OUT JACK'S TRACTS

[ACAC]

I expect to see this kind of attack from the Hollywood left, not a church.

[RobbyS]

Oh, we have always gotten it from both sides.

[Dajjal]

Some Jack Chick comics detourned at Victor Lams' blog. LOL!!!

http://www.victorlams.com/etc/2002_08_01_etcarchive.html#80507253

http://www.victorlams.com/etc/2002_08_01_etcarchive.html#80523514

http://www.victorlams.com/etc/2002_08_01_etcarchive.html#80601185

[LiteKeeper]

Once again, the Roman Church demonstrates how they are more interested in "Tradition" than Scripture. What is interesting is that they claim to be certain about as-yet-unfulfilled prophecy. Heard a "pre-Trib rapture" pastor (which is my position, as well) say that if he is wrong, there are still more events to come. If the non-rapture types are wrong, they will be wrong forever.

Is the rapture before or after the seve-year tribulation?

Will there be an opportunity for salvation after the rapture?

[drstevej]

If you want to read a less sensational more biblically focused treatment may I suggest, J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology (Zondervan, 1965).

Dr. Pentecost taught at Dallas Seminary for decades and his book was a primary text at the seminary. He deals with the biblical passages and avoids the "this is that" hype.

Left Behind is popular, yet a mere caricature of the doctrinal position of dispensationalism. Any analysis of this eschatology ought to critique the writings of theologians holding the view, not novelists doing a mass-market popularization.

[Patrick Madrid]

Once again, LiteKeeper gets it wrong.

"I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you" (1 Cor. 11:2).

[LiteKeeper]

Once again, LiteKeeper gets it wrong.

Which part do you consider wrong...and what is your evidence?

[Patrick Madrid]

"Once again, the Roman Church demonstrates how they [sic] are more interested in 'Tradition' than Scripture."

That's the part where you were wrong, and I quoted a biblical passage that would point you to that conclusion. What a pity you have embraced Protestantism's unbiblical tradition of men (cf. Matt. 15) -- sola scriptura -- that seeks to subvert the totaloty of God's Word by a futile appeal to the Bible alone.

Once again, Protestantism demonstrates how its adherents are more interested in a tradition of men than in the entire Word of God (cf. 2 Thess. 2:15).

[Patrick Madrid]

"totalaty" [sic] should have been "totality."

[.45MAN]

(((((PING)))))

[dansangel]

Thank you.

[Patrick Madrid]

Don't be left behind! Order Envoy Magazine editor Carl Olson's new book, Will Catholic Be "Left Behind"? A Catholic Critique of the Rapture and Today's Prophecy Preachers (Ignatius Press, 2003.

It is the most thorough and detailed Catholic examination of the "Rapture" and premillennial dispensationalism (the best-selling Left Behind theology) ever written.

Written for both the lay person and the serious student, this book combines an engaging, popular approach with detailed footnotes and exhaustive research. Beginning with the big picture, it focuses first on key concepts such as eschatology, the Parousia, and the relationship between the Kingdom and the Church. It then examines the Book of Revelation, providing insights into the nature and purpose of that difficult, final book of the Bible.

Another chapter looks at the concept of the millennium and how it has been understood by various Christians over the centuries. Olson then shows how Left Behind creator LaHaye's many works on Bible prophecy are filled with attacks on Catholicism, and often rely on sensationalism, shaky scholarship, and subjective interpretations of Scripture.

Olson, a former dispensationalist, also presents a history of apocalyptic belief and theology, beginning with the Early Church Fathers and including the Montanists, St. Augustine, Joachim of Fiore, the Protestant Reformers, and the American Puritans. He shows how John Nelson Darby, an ex-Anglican priest, developed the premillennial dispensationalist system, which hinges on the Rapture, in the 1830s and how Darby relied upon faulty assumptions about Jesus Christ, the Church, and the Bible.

The second part of the book, A Catholic Critique of Dispensationalism, focuses on three important topics: the relationship between Israel, the Church, and the Kingdom; the interpretation of Scripture; and the nature of the Rapture event. Filled with a wealth of information drawn from both Protestant and Catholic sources, this section provides a complete rebuttal to the premillennial dispensationalist system and the left behind theology. The book concludes with a reflection on the Catholic understanding of the end times, salvation history, and the final judgement. Glossaries of key persons and terms are also included.

"In this extraordinary book, Carl Olson uses a surgeon's scalpel to cut through the mass of confusion that dominates contemporary reflection on the Last Things. Achieving far more than a refutation of millennialist errors and other disordered apocalyptic theories, he illumines the Church's majestic vision of time and eternity and demonstrates that Jesus Christ is the Lord of History and its end."

-Michael O'Brien, Author, Father Elijah

http://www.surprisedbytruth.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=81>

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

For a better debate. Give us the verses that you claim support the rapture (I know at least one is from Thessalonians). Then, let us have a normal debate, look at them, look at them in context (since context is very very important). What do you say? God Bless

[drstevej]

Have you read Pentecost's work? Or Walvood, or Ryrie? Just curious.

Patrick, I have read a half dozen of these type books (as per the description you provide) and find that most are ad hominem attacks and lack serious exegetical analysis.

Many of them cite fringe and light weight dispensationalists whose arguments are easy to pick apart. They never wrestle with the able proponents of the theological views.

I don't debate eschatology on FR as a matter of personal choice, but the demonization of dispensationalism is as unfortunate as some of the shallow demonization of Catholics by the Jack Chick crowd, IMO.

FYI: I did my doctoral work at Westminster Theological Seminary (a covenant theology bastion).

The faculty there respected dispensationalists who made a biblical case for their views. Examples:

[1] A friend of mine did his master's thesis defending the distinction between Israel and the Church (a primary issue separating dispensational and covenant theology -- dispensational and Catholic theology as well). He received an A+ on the thesis. I have a copy and he deserved the grade.

[2] My candidacy exams included a one hour essay on Jesus' teaching on the kingdom. I argued that while there is a present mystery sense of the kingdom in Jesus' teaching, His focus was on a future literal kindgom in fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. Dr. Gaffin, who graded the paper, wrote, "while I disagree with your conclusions I am fully satisfied with your ability to defend your position" (which was a classical dispensationalist position).

[LiteKeeper]

I am at work and do not have time right now to participate. I am not backing out, but I owe my boss a day's worth of work for a day's wage. Sorry

[Gurn]

Take with a grain of salt any statement from the Catholic heirarchy regarding scripture. And frankly, quoting a pre-Holocaust pope shouldn't earn them any mileage, either.

I wonder if the priesthood's nailing of little boys is a sign of the end times...

[fidelis]

For a devastating, biblical critique of pre-tribulation/pre-millenial/dispensationalist theology--by a Evangelical Protestant-- pick up End Times Fiction by Gary Demars, with a foreword by R.C. Sproul. It pretty much rips LaHaye, Hal Lindsay, et al, to shreds.