AN INTERVIEW BY NEWSWEEK with Tim LaHay from the “Left-Behind” series about the crisis in the middle east and why he believes Christ will return in our lifetime.
If you don’t feel like reading the Newsweek article, or even if you do; I thought I’d quote some of the statements by LaHay and add my own commentary:
“…no generation has had so many signs of the times as our generation. We have more reason to believe that Christ could come in our lifetime than any generation before us.”
Absolutly. There has never been such a universal interest in Eschatology as there is now, save the first church generation. We are living in the most unique generation ever.
” We believe that the Bible should be understood literally whenever possible. The next big event is the second coming of Christ. That’s preceded by a number of signs … For example, the Bible predicts when the antichrist comes and sits at his kingdom after the Rapture, he’s going to have one world economy and one world government and one world religion. “
We believe that the Bible should be understood literally whenever possible also. But why then do you say the next event is the 2nd coming and that the Antichrist will rise after the rapture? 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 reads: “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him … let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed.” For a literal translation of that verse it sounds like the rapture is post Antichrist kingdom. (You can read more of my thoughts on pre-trib here.)
“If you don’t have a strong belief system, you’re willing to compromise your beliefs with other religions.”
Very well put. Romans 1:21-24 comes to mind. We need the wisdom and the leadership of God to help us work out our salvation so we can endure through the great trouble and receive a reward for our labors on earth.
Tim has more comments about the salvation of Israel, the Church’s stance towards Jews as a whole and as a geopolitical entity as well as who the 144,000 are and what their role is in the great tribulation, and they are very interesting. Not interesting in the fact that they are new ideas but interesting in that it provokes me to go deeper in the word that I would live a life that prophesies the truth of the 2nd coming. I think Tim is on the right path but his chart is off.
Angela said:
I’m confused about how they get the secret rapture out of the Bible. What happened to “every eye shall see Him”? If it is just from Rev 7 where it says that they have come out of a “great tribulation”, can’t that be standing up for their faith?
Posted on July 29, 2006 at 10:46 pm
Anonymous said:
Do you really believe that while you (and most other Christians) sit back and ignore (or contribute to) all of the godless things going on in the world–e.g. war between people and nations, environmental degredation, hatred of those unlike them (homosexuals, those of other religions, etc), rising poverty, reliance on foreign oil– that God is feeling proud of you, and Christ is going to embrace you and say \”Well done my child\”–meanwhile leaving all of the peace loving liberals behind? Such deranged thinking! I hope Christians will one day get out of their \”I can\’t wait until Christ comes\” rut, and start a revolution of change, honoring to a truly Christian message, and being a true light to the world.
Posted on July 30, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Angela said:
I wouldn’t place all Christians into one category. It is the same as putting all English-speaking people into one. Not all of us support war nor the misuse of the environment and so forth. I for one do not hate homesexuals as a person; I just disagree with the lifestyle they live. There are many Christians throughout the world living in “poverty” to help others out of it. Granted, there are many who are “Christians” for position but not all of us are. Please, don’t make such generalizations of us and we won’t do that of you.
Posted on July 30, 2006 at 5:49 pm
Shawn said:
Anonymous - It is unfair to generalize most other Christians to say that we are contributing to godless things; you personally don’t know anything about me, and to say that all the liberals love peace. As Angela says that there are many who call themselves Christians but are not giving their lives to the ‘Christian message and being a true light to the world.’ My guess is that many of those people will not recieve a ‘well done my child’ response, in all honesty they may not even be saved. The Bible is clear that to claim salvation we are to walk as Christ walked. It is not: “Well, one time I repented so I’m good to go.” We have to work out our salvation with fear and trembeling. I would love to see all those that call themselves Christians to really start being a true light to the world. In fact, that is exactly why I do what I do as a full-time missionary.
Posted on July 30, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Sage said:
to Anonymous:
“leaving all of the peace loving liberals behind?”
- Yes, let us have all the peace loving liberals meet Christ on hallowed ground. Tell Him you are better than non-liberals. Stand before Jesus and speak with pride that you support abortion… that God Himself would approve. Yes, tell Jesus how convenient it is for the majority of women who use it to rid themselves of the consequences of their actions. How do you suppose He will react? Is this where He says “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
“No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” -John 3:3
Tell me, what do you know of being “born again”? Do you know what it is? Or do you think everyone who calls themself a Christian is “born again”? (Read Angela and Shawn’s entry again.)
Don’t look for Christians to resolve every conflict in this world. You’re living in a pipe-dream if you think liberals can fix the world. God has His reasons why He allows what goes on. The bottomline: This story had a beginning and its end was written long ago.
Jesus said: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)
Is that your choice? To hate the Messiah, the Son of God? Was He speaking of you 2000 years ago? Is that your prideful legacy you wish to keep?
Posted on July 31, 2006 at 4:27 am
marie said:
I TO have wondered about the verse in the Bible where it says that when Jesus comes back that every eye shall behold him ,I dont think the rapture will be a secret ,but that it will be a surprise to those who do not know God.but for those who are saved and are looking for his appearing it will be no secret. and also I believe that only those blood bought,Spirit filled who are saved during the church age ,will go in the rapture ,for they are the bride of Christ.the old testament people who were before the grace dispensation, and the unsaved ones vrom the grace dispensation will not rise until the judgement .I would like your comments on these things ,,,thanks
Posted on June 18, 2007 at 3:53 pm