Afraid You’ll be Left Behind? The Rapture Trap.

The National Review ^ | November 18, 2002 | Rod Dreher

[american colleen]

Afraid You’ll be Left Behind? The Rapture Trap.

In 1980, I was 13 years old, and someone had given me a copy of Hal Lindsey's mega-selling The Late Great Planet Earth to read. The Soviets were in Afghanistan, the American hostages were in Tehran, I had become fixated on the fear of nuclear war and — suddenly, thanks to Late Great, the chaos all made sense. There was no need to be afraid. This was all part of God's plan. Accept Jesus as your personal savior, and you wouldn't have to suffer through the worst of what was to come, for you would be spirited away in the Rapture. And if you didn't — well, too bad for you when the Antichrist comes knocking.

The premillenial Rapture is the belief, held by many Protestant Christians, that believers will, "in the twinkling of an eye," be taken body and soul into heaven to meet Jesus Christ — this, just as the world is on the brink of seven years of unprecedented suffering and strife, preceding the Second Coming and the end of history. If you think the end of the world is upon us, it's easy to see why believing you won't have to suffer the worst of it would be calming. On the other hand, you might exchange one set of fears for another. When I was in Late Great's grip, I would wake up every morning in a mild state of panic, wondering if the Rapture had happened while you were sleeping, and I'd been … left behind!

I don't believe in the premillenial Rapture anymore, but it's easy to see why so many people want to. For Christians and others whose religious beliefs predict an apocalyptic final act (even Islam and the New Age have their own versions), these days are unusually anxious. It isn't difficult to find in today's headlines — wars, rumors of wars, natural disasters, plagues, religious strife and technology run amok — evidence for the belief that history is quickening toward some sort of climax.

No wonder, then, that the same sensational theological teachings that excited believers in the 1970s and earlier are more popular than ever. The Left Behind fiction series, whose title refers to those who weren't raptured before the Apocalypse, may well be the best-selling Christian books of all time, not counting the Bible.

Given the amount of popular publicity given to the Rapture and its attendant doctrines, it may surprise (and disappoint) many Christians to learn that this set of beliefs, generally called "dispensationalism," is not explicitly taught by the Bible, nor has ever been widely held by Christians.

In fact, neither Roman Catholicism nor Eastern Orthodoxy, which together include most of the world's Christians who live now and who have ever lived, profess dispensationalist eschatology (which means the study of the End Times). The Rapture is also alien to the historical Protestant confessions (as this story from a Baptist newspaper makes clear). Martin Luther had never heard of such a thing, nor had John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, or any other Protestant divine until a pair of 19th-century British small-sect pastors developed the notion apparently independent of each other. One of the men, John Nelson Darby, traveled widely in North America between 1859 and 1874, where his dispensationalist teachings spread like wildfire. (For a more detailed explanation of this theology from a dispensationalist viewpoint, go here and here)

Given world events, particularly in the Middle East and Europe, the dispensationalist fire continues to roar among Christians, who understandably want to know if today's headlines can be explained and tomorrow's headlines can be predicted from ancient Scripture. Unfortunately, many Christians are under the impression that dispensationalist teaching — on Christianity's theological fringe, historically speaking — is the first and last word on the matter. Most Catholic priests, as well as their mainline Protestant counterparts, downplay or ignore their congregations' natural — and sociologically predictable — interest in the End Times, leaving lay believers open to instruction by those who, however misguided, take it seriously. That's why Paul Thigpen, a Yale-trained religious historian and Catholic convert, wrote The Rapture Trap.

"I began to see so many Catholics taken in by this Left Behind stuff, because they've had no religious instruction in eschatology," Thigpen tells NRO. "In so many parishes the homilies are like, 'Love your neighbor, be nice.' If priests never get around to talking about who Jesus is, there's no way they're ever going to get around to talking about the Second Coming."

Though he writes from a Catholic perspective, Thigpen, an ex-Pentecostal and former editor of Charisma magazine, takes care to demonstrate in the book how none of the leaders of the Reformation believed in the Rapture. He says the "historical myopia" of American culture leaves people vulnerable to those who can exploit ignorance of the past with convincing presentations of vivid theologies. Besides, America has always been fertile ground for apocalyptic religion.

"In the early days, the Puritans thought the Kingdom of God would start in North America, in their colony," Thigpen says. "We have several large denominations in America, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, who owe their existence to millennial fervor."

Eschatalogically-focused expressions of faith have swelled in popularity during times of social distress and dislocation, such as after the Civil War, and during the period of rapid industrialization and immigration. There was another great surge of it following World War II, says Thigpen, and again in the 1970s, as a reaction to countercultural upheaval. The dispensationalist apologetic The Late Great Planet Earth was the best-selling nonfiction book of the decade, and though he has never apologized for his erroneous predictions in that book, author Hal Lindsey continues to be considered by many an authority on Biblical prophecy. Being a dispensationalist evangelist means never having to say you're sorry.

Why should any of this matter? As I wrote this past summer, apocalyptic beliefs dictate the behavior of many true believers. American dispensationalists were early non-Jewish supporters of Zionism, believing that the ingathering of diaspora Jews to their Biblical homeland was a necessary precursor for the return of Christ. Though many Evangelicals and other Christians support Israel today for other reasons, no small number of them do so because their end-times belief mandates it. Thigpen is not so much worried that Rapture-expecting Christians will blow up Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock to hasten Armageddon as he is concerned about the spiritual harm that may result from acceptance of dispensationalist beliefs.

"When times look tough and threatening, perhaps people find a comfort in believing in the Rapture, that God will help them escape events before they become too bad," Thigpen says. "Ideas have consequences. One, the Rapture doctrine ignores the redemptive power of suffering, which is a powerful Christian theme. Two, the Bible also shows that God chastises His people as well as their enemies; believers share in suffering as well. Three, if people wrongly believe Christians won't be around for the persecution that Scripture tells us will precede the Second Coming, they won't prepare themselves spiritually or otherwise."

Just because Catholicism doesn't teach the Rapture or focus on end-times prophecy doesn't mean the Catholic world has escaped popular apocalypticism. The particularly Catholic version comes as a mania for apocalypse-centered apparitions and private revelations claimed by contemporary visionaries. The Rapture Trap writes of the spiritual danger of uncritically accepting such claims, and offers discernment guidelines drawn from Catholicism's conservative tradition.

"What we're dealing with are people who are scared and confused by what's going on in the world today, and who aren't getting the information they need to separate what's real from what's vain and even harmful speculation," Thigpen says. "As Christians, we believe Jesus is coming back, and we have to be ready for that to happen at any moment. But this game of 'plug the headline into the Scripture verse,' or into the latest message from a supposed apparition, is a losing proposition."

[malakhi]

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You're one of the few Catholics one here that I respect, you will talk about what you believe with someone not Catholic, watch out that could put you in a bad light with other catholics on here.

Back to work, see ya. :)

BigMack

[Codie]

If you post thoughtful reasoned replies why should you worry about being banned?

[american colleen]

Yikes! That isn't you is it? ;-)

[Pyro7480]

That's why Paul Thigpen, a Yale-trained religious historian and Catholic convert, wrote The Rapture Trap.

Mr. Thigpen also compiled a beautiful collection of prayers and related religious passages titled "Jesus, We Adore You: Prayers Before the Blessed Sacrament." They have a copy in the eucharistic adoration chapel in my home parish, and I've read from it numerous times. It's an awesome collection, and Mr. Thigpen actually authored some of the prayers in the collection, most of which are really good.

[malakhi]

Yikes! That isn't you is it? ;-)

Nah, just thought I'd post something other than the typical young, slim Elvis picture. ;o)

BTW, the rumors of Elvis's Jewish background are apparently untrue.

[american colleen]

Well... thanks, I think. However, I think you are wrong, although not for respecting me of course ;-), but because everyone on the religious forum on FR discusses their faith with others who don't agree with them, same faith or different. Otherwise, what's the point?

You think the Catholics on FR would look at me in a bad light because I discuss my faith and belief in Catholicism with others? You bin reading way, way too much Loraine Boettner!

[american colleen]

BTW, the rumors of Elvis's Jewish background are apparently untrue.

Whew. I was sweating that one out. He looks like a nice Baptist boy and his mama said so, anyway.

This thread has gone to hell in a handbasket. Oh well. I thought Mr. Dreher's piece was thought provoking and well written and cited genuine links to dispensationalism from dispensationalist sites. I didn't realize the subject was so fraught with emotion for some.

[american colleen]

Thanks, Pyro. I put the book in my handy-dandy Amazon basket. I recently read "Shaken by Scandals" which he wrote. It was excellent.

[RnMomof7]

Yes I pushed the abuse botton on Poly..He was posting a year old personal freep mail as if it was recent one that .He had previously posted that mail in his attempt to get the writer banned. Sometimes if too much daylight is shone folks want to pull the shades

I received mail from people that thought it was a new mail, so it seemed the deception was intentional

I rarely push abuse and when I do I own up to it..the only reason you know I hit abuse is because I told ya patent..I could have been a sneak and sent out freepmails condeming him and telling other people to go after him and get him banned..I did not do that .

I am very straight up patent ..If I push abuse I tell (so far that has been I think 4 times in 4 years or so..and every time I said on the thread that it was I that pushed it.)

It really does not matter much if you believe me or not. I have a judge that is perfect in all His ways..

I do not like deception, I do not like a pack mentality that runs off people that you do not agree with ..I do not like trying to get people banned because your pride was wounded.

Often when people that I have had strong disagreements with on the threads say they are leaving I write to encourage them to stay.I am not into Kabals

[RnMomof7]

It was a good post Colleen..there is a bit of a doctrinal difference between the Catholic view and the Postmil and Amil protestants..but we do agree when Christ comes it will be in judgement

[theAmbassador]

John 5:28 is just the medication you need for your rapture fever. When you read what it says honestly, then you will abandon your quirky readings of scripture. Besides, if you will plainly read what Rev 20 is literally saying, then you will realize your interpretations of scripture can't possibly be correct.

Apart from all that, who would want to live in this millennial kingdom that you guys talk about anyway? There will be hyprocritical sin everywhere to go with a God whom you must still see through a glass darkly. Therefore, as the Psalter says:

"Because Thy statues are despised, with overwhelming grief I weep!"

[patent]

Yes I pushed the abuse botton on Poly..He was posting a year old personal freep mail as if it was recent one that .He had previously posted that mail in his attempt to get the writer banned.

LOL. Are you claiming that you have no problem with posting a personal freeper mail, only with posting one that is a year old as if it was a recent one?

Sometimes if too much daylight is shone folks want to pull the shades

Pulling the shades is exactly what you did in getting that freeper mail deleted so that it wasn’t there for all to read.

patent  +AMDG

[Codie]

I wish you two would both shut-up and continue your dispute privately.

[patent]

I wish you two would both shut-up and continue your dispute privately.

Not going to happen. To many people abuse freepermail to say things they wouldn’t say publicly, and the whole point of this is to demonstrate to the world the fraud behind their actions. She says one thing publicly, and another privately. Just like she said one thing on the thread we’ve been referring to, and now claims another. I am not going to go private with someone like that, as she will scream if her words are ever held against her.

patent  +AMDG

[Siobhan]

Now that is my kind of nun!

[LiteKeeper]

Isn't interesting that not once does the author of this article, nor do you, deal with any of the scriptures that those of us who believe in the Rapture quote.

There are a lot of things that I have questions about, but when I read them in the Scriptures, written by the Creator God of the universe, I tend to believe them (it's called "faith") and look for substantiation later.

[LiteKeeper]

"trap" - which is what?

Proof that Lindsey is wrong?

[RnMomof7]

Pulling the shades is exactly what you did in getting that freeper mail deleted so that it wasn’t there for all to read.

It was never intended for "all to read" that is why it was sent in private freep mail .If the author intended a general post he would have made it...that is why it is called private mail

I am sure you must have read it at least one of the other times Dr Pureheart posted it ..he was determined to post it till he got the result he wanted..just like running off a new RC freeper cause she would not toe the line..

That is a Kabal Patent..Codie is correct ..if you wish to discuss this further we can do it in PRIVATE

[LiteKeeper]

NB: Paul was the author of 1 Thessalonians, from whic this doctrine is derived. Check it out.