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.

[Luke21]

Well, I'll say this. The current thread has many, but not all of you fighting, fussing and trying to be right. Which is just a wonderful way for Christians to disagree, and prophecy is one place that followers of Christ REALLY disagree.

When I was first called to the ministry, I had to compare my study with every pastor I met, and was quite contentious about it. I argued and tried to show off endlessly. One day a pastor told me, "If you're ever going to truly be of service to the Lord, you've got to quit this arguing." I took it to heart.

What was I arguing about? The Rapture, of course. So today, I try to find common ground with Christians, though I still feel the same way about it. Those of you that want to be haughty, insulting, or offensive, go to town. I have my study. You have yours, so I assume. It certainly won't be solved today. But Christians insulting other Christians in the name of theological knowledge and superiority is a repulsive thing.

As for Mr. Lahaye, I read the first three in the "Left Behind" series and found them drawn out and tedious, and quite inferior to other similar Apocalyptic works, particularly, Clyde Emmett Douglas' 1974 fiction entitled, "When All Hell Breaks Loose," and the Paul Maier works, "The Third Millenium" and "The Fourth Millenium." Douglas' book takes in one volume what LaHaye and Jenkins dragged out seemingly forever. It also lists Scriptural references at the bottom of each page.

I used to dash out and buy every LaHaye book. I particularly enjoy his studies on human temperament. But one day I got the Christian booksellers' ad and shelled out fifteen bucks for a new LaHaye prophecy title. I started reading it and realized it was a bit too familiar. He had re-packaged a book written five years earlier under a new title. I've never bought anything from him since.

[tang-soo]

Thank you so much for that post.

[Brucifer]

I don't care if he does have a bullet for that gun... I'm still not going to church. I'll be sleeping it off in the cell next to Otis if you need me.

[tang-soo]

Yeah. I Thessalonians 5:16-17 is theologically bankrupt and it;s not in the Bible, either.

Close but no cigar. That passage is from chapter 4. Point well taken though (grin).

[tang-soo]

Additionally, the Left Behind series specifically excludes Catholics from this so-called rapture. Sure - love thy neighbor, and all that good Gospel stuff.

Not true. There is a passage in Left Behind when a catholic person refers to his family members (who were also catholic) as having disappeared. The point is they were taken with The Church because of their faith in Him.

[tang-soo]

There is no reference to a specific Anti-Christ 'who will want to be worshiped as God'.

From my tagline ...

24) "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

25) "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

26) After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

27) He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. Daniel 9:24-27 NIV (AKA Daniel's Prophecy of The Seventy Weeks).

It is believed by many that this "abomination that causes desolation" is the antichrist enforcing himself to be worshipped by the world.

[tang-soo]

Yep, and in the prophecies of Jeremiah he issued a bill of divorce against them, too.

You seem to have ignored the part of the OT that follows Jeremiah that reveals God's Plan of Restoration for Israel.

[tang-soo]

PRAISE GOD!

You quite literally took the words out of my mouth. Thanks.

[period end of story]

FACTS?

Sorry, i don't believe in 'crackpot'(no offense intended) conspiracy talk.

Biblical prophecy is certainly interesting, and i have heard (and read) much about the end times, coming from a devout mennonite family.

But, i have a bit of the doubting Thomas in me; i come by it honestly since my father was the blacksheep amidst his many siblings.

[kittymyrib]

"You recently donated a whole lot of money for a hockey rink at Liberty University. If these are the end times, why make an investment like that?"

When asked what he would do if he knew Jesus was returning tomorrow, Luther replied, "I'd go out and plant a tree." In other words, he would do what he had planned to do today. There have always been evil times in the world's history because of evil people. Our duty is to live as followers of Jesus so that we are ready no matter when He returns.

[Quix]

Had to study the puppet masters' own documents 1965-1969 on my librarian job. I'd guesstimate that 85%+ of what they listed as goals then have already been achieved or mostly achieved.

I consider such facts. I've watched those facts unfold over the 40 years since.

[Skooz]

Close but no cigar. That passage is from chapter 4.

I plead fat fingers.

[Aquinasfan]

Besides, God said, "I make all things new," not "I make all new things." I believe you can logically conclude from Scripture that God's intent is to purify and sanctify His creation, not utterly destroy it.

Thanks! Good point.

[Aquinasfan]

But while TA makes excellent arguments for the existence and immovability of God, the God of the OT, imo, is not the same as the God of TA. They may both be referring to the same and one God (they must as there is only one), but the descriptions or argument of its existence differ. One, TA, makes a good argument for its existence, while the OT does not, imo.

That's understandable. The God of the OT certainly seems to be different from the God of the NT (and Thomas Aquinas). In fact, Marcionism was one of the earliest heresies in the Church.

Is there any part of the OT in particular that you find objectionable, or is it the "wrath of God" kind of thing? I can't find much on Google regarding the topic, except this book.

[period end of story]

I'm not saying some conspiracies don't exist, or don't have some truth to them; but i guess i don't have the patience for that kind of thing.

Actually, conspiracy theory is kind of depressing to me.

If what you're saying is true (i read some of your earlier posts), everything seems kind of pointless, and most of us are just going through the motions in a giant rotisserie-like machine like a bunch of zombies.

[Quix]

If what you're saying is true (i read some of your earlier posts), everything seems kind of pointless, and most of us are just going through the motions in a giant rotisserie-like machine like a bunch of zombies.
= = = =

Been a lot of truth to that for a long time. I think the "election" of the Klintoons was a vivid case in point.

Nevertheless, regardless of how long it take sfor the conclusion of this gigantic object lesson to all creation . . . we each have our parts to play for which we will be held accountable by Almighty God. Let us be found

REDEEMING THE TIME for Him and His Kingdom--Loving Him wholly and others as ourselves; doing unto others . . .

Nothing else makes sense at this stage of things.

YES, the world is essentially in an early Hitler-leading-Germany stage of affairs. The AC hasn't overtly come to power yet. But he's around and pulling plenty of strings. And the puppet masters supporting him are growing in arrogance, brashness etc. by the day.

We must redeem the time and teach all we love to walk close to God. Nothing else is worth the bother. Only what's done for Christ will last. Eternal matters must increasingly take priority for all with a shred of wisdom.

imho.

[Quix]

Your comments are persistent treasures to me.

[Quix]

There will be massive amounts of looks like that . . . but with an added deeeeeeep bewildered sadness and sense of hopelessness added for those who know not walking intimately with Christ and His Spirit in fellowship with The Father.

[Quix]

Not sure which words but thanks for your kind comment.

[period end of story]

I have uncles who are ministers ( actually all my uncles and aunts consider themselves as ministers of God) so i understand the religious aspect.( maybe not in the same context as you )

It's interesting; but the conspiracy angle is just not my bag.