[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>

[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).