Posted on 09/30/2014 11:41:47 AM PDT by NYer
Five Myths About the “Rapture” and the “Left Behind” Industry | Carl E. Olson | CWR
On the (short) history, (bad) theology, and (continuing) appeal of premillennial dispensationalism
This year has marked a sort of second coming of “the Rapture”. On June 29th, HBO launched a new series, "The Leftovers", based on the 2011 novel of the same title, written by Tom Perrotta, which follows the struggles of various characters living in the aftermath of the sudden disappearance of millions of people. “And then it happened,” states the novel's Prologue, “The biblical prophecy came true, or at least partly true. People disappeared, millions of them at the same time, all over the world.” The twist is that Perrotta apparently uses the Rapture as a plot device, but does not adhere to the dispensationalist belief system which features the Rapture (more on that below).
The recent movie, “The Remaining”, however, is completely dedicated to the “left behind” theology, as co-writer and director Casey La Scala explains:
And ever since I was a kid, I wondered what would happen if the Rapture were to happen and all of the sudden we were in seven years of hell. So, I went through Revelations and I got to the sixth trumpet, in which the Abyss is opened and the demons are released, and I said, ‘There it is!’ ... In the process of writing The Remaining, once I was sure the project would stand up to an evangelical base, I did a lot of work on making sure the rules of the Rapture were biblically accurate.
If La Scala really did refer to The Apocalypse as “Revelations”, then readers will be forgiven for questioning the depth of his research and knowledge of Scripture. Then again, being “biblically accurate” has never been a strong suit of the “left behind” theology (again, more on that below).
And then there is the new “Left Behind” movie, in theaters this coming Friday, starring Nicholas Cage (yes, he's still acting—or at least appearing in movies). The verbiage is boilerplate and sensational, a combination that has been an essential part of Rapture fiction since British author Sydney Watson published a trilogy of end times novels a hundred years ago—Scarlet and Purple (1913), The Mark of the Beast (1915), and In the Twinkling of an Eye (1916):
In the blink of an eye, the biblical Rapture strikes the world. Millions of people disappear without a trace. All that remains are their clothes and belongings, and in an instant, terror and chaos spread around the world.
With all of this eschatological excitement in the pop culture air, it's not surprising that I've received e-mails and questions about the newest round of Rapture roulette. The biggest question is simply, “Are the 'Left Behind' books and movies compatible with Catholicism?” Others follow. I addressed those and many, many other questions several years ago in my first book, Will Catholics Be Left Behind? A Catholic Critique of the Rapture and Today's Prophecy Preachers (Ignatius Press, 2003; e-book). I also write a number of articles about the “Left Behind” phenomenon, including pieces about the unoriginal nature of the Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins novels, a short history of the “left behind” theology, a comparison of dispensationalism and Catholicism, and a rather scathing review of the Glorious Appearing, the twelfth Left Behind novel.
With that in mind, I am reposting an article I wrote in late 2003 for Crisis magazine, which examines five of the central myths, or misunderstandings, about the Rapture and related matters. I've not updated it (for example, there are a total of sixteen Left Behind novels, and they have sold around 65 million copies in all), but the main points are still just as good today as they were then.
--------------------
Three years ago I mentioned to a Catholic friend that I was starting to work on a book critiquing the Left Behind novels and premillennial dispensationalism, the unique theological belief system presented, in fictional format, within those books. “Why?” she asked, obviously bewildered. “No one really takes that stuff seriously.”
That revealing remark merely reinforced my desire to write that book, Will Catholics Be “Left Behind”? (Ignatius, 2003). Other conversations brought home the same point. Far too many people, including a significant number of Catholics, do not recognize the attraction and power of this Fundamentalist phenomenon. Nor do they appear to appreciate how much curiosity exists about the “end times,” the book of Revelation, and the “pretribulation Rapture”—the belief that Christians will be taken up from earth prior to a time of tribulation and the Second Coming. In addition, I hoped to pen the sort of book I wish that I, as a Fundamentalist, could have read while studying and approaching, by fits and starts, the Catholic Church.
In the course of writing articles, giving talks, and writing the book, I have encountered a number of questions and comments—almost all from Catholics—that indicate how much confusion exists about matters of eschatology, not to mention ecclesiology, historical theology, and the interpretation of Scripture. The five myths I present here summarize many of those questions, and I seek to provide basic and clear answers for them.
“The Left Behind books represent a fringe belief system that very few people take seriously.”
Exactly how many copies of the Left Behind books must be sold before the theology they propagate can be taken seriously?
Continue reading at www.CatholicWorldReport.com.
The gloriously triumphant return of Jesus is because He kills all of His enemies. That is victory and the only way to the true peace on earth prophesied at His birth.
That indeed is a good reference.
But better make sure you’re wearing clean underwear in case the Rapture happens!
Personally do not know anyone who has done a serious word study on the subject and still believes in it. Reading what others say it means as opposed to writing every relevant passage out and dissecting it yourself because you want to know how wonderful God is makes a big difference. I did and I don’t believe in the rapture as defined by the salesmen.
An employee and his boss are walking down the street and see Jesus. The employee says “Hey, it’s Jesus! Jesus, may I ask one thing?”
Jesus says, “Of course, my son. What do you wish?”
The employee says “This world means nothing to me. I wish to be in Paradise today!”
Jesus says “I shall grant you this, faithful one.” And the employee vanishes.
“And what would you ask for, my child? Name anything you like” Jesus says to the boss.
The boss replies, “I want him back at his desk after lunch!”
Yes, that’s what I was replying to and you gave no Biblical reference that actually says “the church” is what is being spoken about in 2 Thes, unless I have missed it.
No I first stated I am a non-denominational post-tribulationist. I can worship in pretty much any Church that believes Jesus is the Son of God, died for our sin, and rose from the dead. Pretty simple. The rest of theology is like going to a family reunion with people who are on the family tree going back 2000 years.
” I did and I don’t believe in the rapture as defined by the salesmen.”
Agreed.
I don’t dismiss anybody’s opinion and don’t wish to fight over it, but...
I find strange that people think we have to be physically swept away somewhere to be safe. It kinda seems faithless to me.
Easter is candy.
Christ IS the Passover Lamb. If you have Him, you can be in the midst of death and destruction (as with the first Passover) and be quite unharmed.
He’ll be great, if they do the movie right.
I think the Holy Spirit restrains NON-believers. They will no longer hear both voices, the one shown on old cartoons on the left, a devil, and one on the right, an angel. They will only hear Satan. Not unlike zombies in “I am Legend.”
I wish that were true. My ex was a born again Catholic but went to a Christian junior college and got way-laid by existentialism. Majored in philosophy at Wheaton but we had zero spiritual life. Could have been sooo different. He called me a Christian Taliban and lives in New England.
There are 3 things (if you can bring more ideas to the table, I'm all ears!) that could be considered to be "holding back" the anti-christ from being revealed. Those are considered to be governments, the church, and the Holy Spirit - since this is going to be AFTER the 10 kingdoms of "Revised Rome" have been put back together (indicating heavy reliance on government), and the fact that the Holy Spirit will NOT be removed, that leaves the church. I'll admit it is arrived at after deduction, but again, if you can give me another "force" that would be able to hold back the anti-christ, I'm always happy to study more!
Her comment that ‘no one takes that stuff seriously’ speaks to the people in her personal circle; her priest, her family, her friends, and her fellow parishioners.
I was raised Catholic and although I credit and thank the church with establishing my wonderful relationship with Jesus, we did not discuss scripture and I never heard of the rapture. I was a “cafeteria Catholic” from age 10 when I decided I would talk directly to Jesus about my sins every day and stopped going to confession. Made no sense to put the priest between me and Jesus. Jesus healed me and talked to me during those sessions. The Priest, not so much. Also, I loved to pray so calling it penance made no sense to me. With Jesus, He’d expect and teach me about repentance and atonement. Like when I took my sister’s pack of gum, He wanted me to put three packs of gum in her drawer to make things even and to heal her hurt I caused. Baby sitting money came in handy. : )
I remember the “great” Rapture movement back in the early/mid 60s. In my small town I saw cars with the bumper sticker “In case of Rapture, this car will be unmanned.” I didn’t understand what it meant. then I heard an explanation and I thought, “an interesting view of God and how He works” and never much thought about it after that.
I still don’t worry about “the Rapture” or particularly “when” it will happen because I think I need to be ready for my soul to go to heaven “right now” not after a time of preparation once I “see the signs.”
I have never read any of the “left behind books” back then in the early & mid-70s I found the Mack Bolan novels much more interesting, especially when on a long night shift on Charge of Quarters when I was in the Army.
I think that God is probably listening in when a Catholic confesses his sins to his priest. And is it harder to admit sins to another than just to admit them to Jesus and His Father alone? BTW, I’m not Catholic. And I believe that Paul mentioned something about Believers confessing their sins in public before communion.
Is this another anti-Catholic thread?!
Oh, wait...
I still do.
I don't know what I would gain if I expected to be Raptured, or if I thought this event would occur and miss me.
I wondered about that. I’m very surprised Cage chose to do the role. But who knows. maybe God will use this to draw Cage to Him.
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.