Posted on 08/02/2006 5:37:46 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Ah, the perils of prognosticating Judgment Day. Frankly, Mr. LaHaye needs to pick up a history book if he thinks that today's events are somehow worse than, say, World War II and the following Stalinist regime in the USSR. The amount of carnage in the first half of the 20th century dwarfs anything we're seeing today.
Christ specifically warned that we're not entitled to know when He's going to return. Mr. LaHaye is selling books, and it's in his best interest to titillate the public with fantastic predictions. Our futures are better served looking both ways before crossing the street, than reading tea leaves of "the end times". We just don't know.
Bingo!
Maybe not.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Maybe.
Maybe not...
I'm leery of multimillionaire booksellers holding forth on Christian eschatology. I seem to remember guys like Hal Lindsey cashing in back in the Seventies, and I don't remember them fondly.
I can only speak for me, but I try to stay in the day and live my life knowing Christ comes when He comes, at any time, when He chooses. This business of dating dates and naming names smacks of fortunetelling and chicanery.
Exactly, he should have lived in Europe from 1939 - 1945, or in Japan in 1945. That would have seem like the "end times".
You guys are missing one key thing. The return of the nation of Israel to the Middle East. Now, I'm keeping my mind open, and not dwelling on it too much, because we need to be about the Lord's work until the last moment, however, we are also instructed to watch for these things to happen. We cannot know the hour or the day, be we may know the season.
Having said that, I don't honestly know, and that's ok.
susie
Agreed, but the "End Times" aren't catagorized merely by the amount of carnage involved. Other things are happening as well that were not happening then.
We just don't know.
I can't agree more with this statement. We should live like He's coming this afternoon, and be alert. However, we should also live like we have time to get the word out and love our neighbors.
As I've always said about his subject--Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
It's remarkable how someone that turned out to be a complete and utter failure like Lindey can still have a public career.
There will always be a few million Christians he can gull with his updated Scofieldian shtick.
The author is a fiction writer that profits from feeding the fears of his readers. Why should I listen to him? I have no fear, I am saved and impatiently await my Lord's return. To put it bluntly...I'm tired and want to go Home.
I believe this is true in many ways...the time of the thief's visit is indeed, not known, yet a household's behavior may either encourage or discourage a thief's visit, hastening or delaying the moment of truth. Likewise,when it does come, some people and their households are far better prepared for the thief's arrival than others.
With regard to the apocalypse, I think we would all do well to heed the admonition of CS Lewis in Mere Christianity, where he writes, "When the author walks onto the stage, the show is over."
Ask Lindsey's defenders on FR. And all the FReepers who still listen to Gary North, even after 12/31/99.
Is this the "End Times?"
No. Things aren't bad enough. Not by far.
I don't understand the obsession with prophecy. Daniel was allowed to give us markers, "signs" if you will, to let us see the road ahead. We already know its there but even if we try to peer down that road the markers are still in fog. We won't see them until we're upon them.
Prophecy has a way of taking care of itself,no matter how hard man tries to further its intent.
I saw a show on the History Channel featuring people who think we're in the End Times. It was fascinating. The the thing that sticks out in my mind is that they were talking about the antichrist and how when the Antichrist comes he will be wildly popular, like a ROCK STAR (that's what they said.). They said, slowly, but surely, he'll take over the world, running the one-world government. The only thing I could think of was Bill Clinton. He fits the description to a tee.
You’d better pray to the Lord when you see those flying saucers
It may be the coming of the Judgment Day.
It’s a sign there’s no doubt of the trouble that’s about,
So I say my friends you’d better start to pray.
They’re a terrifying sight as they fly on day and night.
It’s a warning that we’d better mend our ways.
You’d better pray to the Lord when you see those flying saucers,
It may be the coming of the Judgment Day.
Many people think the saucers might be someone’s foolish dream,
Or maybe they were sent down here from Mars.
If you’ll just stop and think you’d realize just what it means,
They’re more than atom bombs or falling stars.
And though the war may be through there’s unrest and trouble brewin’,
And those flying saucers may be just a sign
That if peace doesn’t come it will be the end of some,
So repent today, you’re running out of time.
When you see a saucer fly like a comet through the sky,
You should realize the price you’ll have to pay.
You’d better pray to the Lord when you see those flying saucers,
It may be the coming of the Judgment Day.
"Those Flying Saucers"
The Buchanan Brothers
Victor Records, 1947
Actually the End Times according to the Bible are all the days remaining after Christ acsended into heaven in anticipation to His Second Coming. So we are in the end times and approaching The Last Days which would be the Trib period(When he who is the Beast is revealed). The End Times are described as a period where violence, every sort of vice, disease, and disasters increases. This eventually leads to...The End. We are now in the preparational stages and I've noticed that many here seem to be mocking, but consider this...The Bible mentions that during the Tribulation period(which is yet to come) the Beast(Antichrist) will cause everyone to receive his mark and those who refuse will be killed. Now I remember 30+ years ago that there were people laughing at the idea of someone being able to mark you and trace your every move. We have that technology today.
The existence of Israel, in and of itself, is not an imminent sign. There's nothing to contradict the notion that perhaps the Jews will be scattered and re-gathered two or three more times over the next 1000 years before the full number of Gentiles "enter in". I understand it's important to be prepared - but that goes for every single day - and this is why God withholds the timing of His return from us. If I'm hit by a train, that's the end of my world, whether or not Damascus is turned into a smoking crater in the next five years. While LaHaye can work people up into a lather in anticipation of "the rapture", what are his fans REALLY doing to spread the Gospel?
Someone else on this thread said they're "tired and want to go home" -- I can't agree with that sentiment more heartily! But like Paul working out his salvation in fear and trembling, we don't get a free pass to sit on the couch and wait for Jesus to ring the doorbell. Resigning ourselves to some king of imminent demise of the world sounds like an easy way to just hang onto the ball and run out the clock.
More accurately the "Left Behind" books are selling a fantasy - it's essentially Christian porn.
People just love the idea of instantly vanishing, and of imagining the looks on the faces of some of their neighbors with nicer houses and cars, who they may not like, but who aren't religious, when that happens.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.