Are These the End Times? (Newsweek Interviews Tim LaHaye)

Newsweek ^ | August 2, 2006 | Brian Braker

[rightwingintelligentsia]

When Tim LaHaye talks, the faithful listen—by the millions. The conservative Protestant minister is the coauthor of the wildly popular apocalyptic “Left Behind” novels. The controversial books, which have sold more than 60 million copies, depict the biblical end of the world: the Christian eschatology of the upheaval that precedes the second coming of Jesus Christ, known also as “end times.” LaHaye recently spoke with NEWSWEEK’s Brian Braiker about why he believes the events currently unfolding in the Middle East reflect biblical prophesy.

[JamesP81]

The generation of 1949 shall not die..

I'm not convinced that's what that particular prophecy is saying. See my previous post.

[Rutles4Ever]

You reject the concept of the rapture because the word is not in the Bible.

No. I reject it because it's theologically bankrupt. The fact that it's not in the Bible is only dressing-on-the-side to this Doomsday salad.

The Trinity is in the Bible, but the word isn't.

I said the trinity is present in the Bible, but it was never defined as three-person/one God (substance) until later on at Nicaea in 325. It was generally accepted, but hotly debated since Scripture doesn't speak of the triune nature, just the persons.

[Rutles4Ever]

Should I be flattered?

You're, like, gonna automatically be canonized upon death (or rapture, whichever comes first).

[firebrand]

Thank you, EBH. I have been trying to find this in the movie listings. Good luck!

[JamesP81]

but hotly debated since Scripture doesn't speak of the triune nature, just the persons.

I don't agree at all. The two things that come to mind is when the Pharisees asked Christ if he was the Son of God, and he answered them saying, "I am." Christ also stated that He and His Father were one. There's also Genesis, where the Scriptures show God as saying let us create man in our image. There is much in the Bible to suggest a triune God.

[wideawake]

Just done wasting my time with a Pharisee.

Let's get this straight -

I am:

(1) A Pharisee
(2) A legalist
(3) A hyper-Calvinist
(4) A dog to whom holy things are not to be given
(5) A swine before whom pearls should not be cast
(6) Haughty.

I am willing to stipulate to all of the above, if it will make you feel better.

Now that we've established that I am the worst person who ever lived and who will ever live, please explain to me the utility of endless speculation about the endtimes in the face of the Scriptural fact that (1) Christ instructed the faithful that they cannot know the day or the hour of the end and that (20 the end can cause them no lasting concern as long as they live their lives in a godly way.

Feel free to personally insult me as much as you like in subsequent posts, I see you guys really enjoy it and I don't want to begrudge you your fun - but please sneak an argument into the responses as well.

Just a request.

[Marcaurelio]

"The Olivet discourse was directed to a specific group of hearers. Those who heard and heeded headed for the hills in 70 AD, escaping with their lives, alone. They are the "we" who Jesus addressed, not us."

Exactly! As was the "love thy neighbor" not meant to love everyone, but only to love YOUR people. In Jesus times He meant the Jews to love the Jews.

[statered]

OK I see where you are coming from now. I will bite my tongue. I am more focused on Christ's church - those who have accepted his saving grace, extended to them by no doing of their own - than in arguing what constitutes the cannon and how it should be interpreted.

Seems to me you may be practicing the same fundamental thing you criticize Lahaye of except you are doing it from a different philosophical position.

[Rutles4Ever]

In an earlier post wideawake defamed Schofield and deliberately misconstrued some comments I had made in a most alicious manner. But I find this typical from many Calvinists(/) who post on FreeRepublic.

I agree whole-heartedly - like Schofield needs any help being defamed! (I did manage to pick up an economy-size drum of his powershake mix over at Costco, however.)

[ShadowAce]

As was the "love thy neighbor" not meant to love everyone, but only to love YOUR people. In Jesus times He meant the Jews to love the Jews.

Does that mean the parable of the Good Samaritan was just a joke?

[HeadOn]

"I don't believe he has gotten people more interested in their faith at all."

That's OK if you don't think so, but don't condemn me for thinking differently. Some on this thread are assuming that Mr. LeHaye is greedy, and only in it for the money. I sense a little covetousness and resentment there...

In any event, I agree with you (really with Jesus) about no one knowing when, and I also agree that we shouldn't be obsessed with the end. BUT - Jesus himself emphasized that even if we don't know when, we need to be watching - not just ready, but WATCHING. So anything less than obsession and date-setting I can't see as being bad. LeHaye has NOT set a date, that I know of.

[Jesus speaking in Mark chapter 13]
32 But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 [For the Son of man is] as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

[wideawake]

In Jesus times He meant the Jews to love the Jews.

If that were truly His intent, it was not expressed specifically in that discourse and that discourse was addressed to a multitude in Jerusalem - a city where many Gentiles lived.

[Aquinasfan]

I do know I can rest easy knowing that that He has everything under control. :)

That's for sure.

[Warren_Piece]

...(20 the end can cause them no lasting concern as long as they live their lives in a godly way...

Are you saying that living a godly life is the path to salvation? I though good works was an effect, not a cause.

[wideawake]

Exactly - watch. Don't sit around guessing and speculating - you're not going to figure it out ahead of time, you're going to have to pay attention.

[Rutles4Ever]

False prophets have nothing to do with canon law. They're a promised obstacle to the Christianity (both Catholics and Protestants - we have our own share of false prophets who call themselves Catholic!)

I'm not sitting here making money and deciding who's saved and who isn't. It's not my competence, nor is it the competence of a hack novelist. But as the DaVince Code so aptly demonstrated, it's easy to take a little truth, mix it with fanciful fiction, and call it "gospel".

Pretty soon, we're drinking Kool Aid and waiting for comet Hale-Bopp to rapture us to the stars...

[HeadOn]

Agreed.

[Gamecock]

Ask Lindsey's defenders on FR. And all the FReepers who still listen to Gary North, even after 12/31/99.

On Free Republic?

I'm shocked!

[wideawake]

Are you saying that living a godly life is the path to salvation?

Salvation is a free gift of Jesus Christ to the persons whom He chooses to save.

The people to whom He has given the grace of understanding have a obligation to Him to live in a godly way.

They do this not because they thereby merit salvation but they do it out of love and gratitude for His self-sacrifice.

[Marcaurelio]

"Does that mean the parable of the Good Samaritan was just a joke?"

I've heard of this parable but can't remember the story. Hence, I do not know whether it was a joke. I don't understand what this has to do with what I wrote.