Is Hal Lindsey's proof for a pretrib rapture "100 proof" - that is, 100 percent Biblical?
In "The Late Great Planet Earth" (p. 143) Lindsey gives his "chief reason" for pretrib: "If the Rapture took place at the same time as the second coming, there would be no mortals left who would be believers; therefore, there would be no one to go into the Kingdom and repopulate the earth."
We don't know if Lindsey's amnesia is voluntary or involuntary, but earlier (p. 54), while focusing on chapters 12 through 14 of Zechariah, Lindsey sees "a remnant of Jews in Jerusalem" who are mortals who will become believing mortals at the second coming and then become repopulating mortals!
During the same discussion of Zechariah 12-14 Lindsey overlooks some of the final verses in Zechariah 14. They reveal that some of the tribulation survivors "of all the nations which came against Jerusalem" will refuse to go there "to worship the King, the Lord of hosts." Here's what will happen to those "heathen" rebels: "upon them shall be no rain."
So the facts about the repopulating mortals, in unbelieving as well as believing ranks, cancel out Lindsey's "chief reason" for opposing a joint rapture/second coming - the ONLY rapture view to be found in official theology books and organized churches prior to 1830!
Although Hal Lindsey claims that his "Late Great" didn't set a date for Christ's return, many of his followers - including copycats Bill Maupin ("1981") and Edgar Whisenant ("1988") - did view Lindsey as a date-setter, and his later book "The 1980s: Countdown to Armageddon" (the sort of title that date-setters and their ga-ga groupies love) became another fizzle - unless we're still living in the 1980s!
In Old Testament days false prophets were stoned to death. Today they're just stoned!
(For in-depth analyses of the almost-late and not-so-great Hal Lindsey, see my books including "The Rapture Plot" and "The Three R's: Rapture, Revisionism, Robbery - Pretribulation Rapturism from 1830 to Hal Lindsey."
In "The Late Great Planet Earth" (p. 143) Lindsey gives his "chief reason" for pretrib: "If the Rapture took place at the same time as the second coming, there would be no mortals left who would be believers; therefore, there would be no one to go into the Kingdom and repopulate the earth."
We don't know if Lindsey's amnesia is voluntary or involuntary, but earlier (p. 54), while focusing on chapters 12 through 14 of Zechariah, Lindsey sees "a remnant of Jews in Jerusalem" who are mortals who will become believing mortals at the second coming and then become repopulating mortals!
During the same discussion of Zechariah 12-14 Lindsey overlooks some of the final verses in Zechariah 14. They reveal that some of the tribulation survivors "of all the nations which came against Jerusalem" will refuse to go there "to worship the King, the Lord of hosts." Here's what will happen to those "heathen" rebels: "upon them shall be no rain."
So the facts about the repopulating mortals, in unbelieving as well as believing ranks, cancel out Lindsey's "chief reason" for opposing a joint rapture/second coming - the ONLY rapture view to be found in official theology books and organized churches prior to 1830!
Although Hal Lindsey claims that his "Late Great" didn't set a date for Christ's return, many of his followers - including copycats Bill Maupin ("1981") and Edgar Whisenant ("1988") - did view Lindsey as a date-setter, and his later book "The 1980s: Countdown to Armageddon" (the sort of title that date-setters and their ga-ga groupies love) became another fizzle - unless we're still living in the 1980s!
In Old Testament days false prophets were stoned to death. Today they're just stoned!
(For in-depth analyses of the almost-late and not-so-great Hal Lindsey, see my books including "The Rapture Plot" and "The Three R's: Rapture, Revisionism, Robbery - Pretribulation Rapturism from 1830 to Hal Lindsey."
Regarding MacPherson's comment about the "false prophets" in OT times that were to be stoned to death for leading Israel astray.
ReplyDeletePre-trib teachers may not call themselves prophets (and I am sure the great many don't!), but when a teacher/preacher stands on a pulpit and says words such as "the rapture could happen today...", or "the rapture WILL take place BEFORE Antichrist comes", is he not prophesying lies in God's name? Is then he not but a "false prophet", have I got this right?
Now, I certainly don't advocate that we go around flinging stones at such people, far from it!!! But certainly they should be exposed for preaching/teaching lies that are NOT taught in God's word.
God bless.
I agree with you Colin... they are false prophets!!!
ReplyDeleteGod bless
A hearty Amen to both Colin and Treena!
ReplyDelete