To any preachers on here, if any are. Please see details.?

Question

What do you think of Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins and their Left Behind series? I found hope that after the Rapture, that if I accepted God, I would not be condemned to Hell if I became a believer, even though I know I may not make it to the Glorious Appearing of God. Though I now believe in God, I do not feel saved.
Are they giving false hope that there is still hope after the Rapture? I know this is a fictional series, but it scared me, but also gave me hope.

Answer 1

I'm not a preacher, but I did an in depth study of the series with my pastor. There are a lot of things I don't agree with in the books. I believe God is loving, that he is pained by our suffering. So why would he take away the people who have the knowledge and experience to "tend" to the "lost souls"? I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and as a Christian, if there are people on Earth who need to be lead to Him, I want to be here to guide them. I don't want to be in Heaven. I want to be here doing His work. It just doesn't make sense to me that if a non christian was having open heart surgery and the surgeon was christian, that the patient would automatically be condemned to hell because of God. Sure there are some good parts, but overall it would confuse me if I wasn't already sure of my faith. I don't believe that the rapture will occur this way. Did you know that the word rapture isn't even used in the Bible? It's more of an idea that has been cultivated in today's culture. For centuries prophets of God have been warning of an ending, so there's no way to know if it will happen during our lifetime. God doesn't want us to worry, He will take care of us. Trust in Him.

Answer 2

In matt 24 or 25, it shares a parable of the maid servant ( i think theyre called) missing the call of the groom to be a bride. This is a metaphore of the rapture. The oil that was used is a metaphore for the Holy Spirit. I hope i dont confusse you but without the oly Spirit drawing us we can get save. We cant get saved any time we feel like it. There is also a verse in 2 Thessalonians ( ni forget the chapter and verse, i think its chap. 4) that says if you rejected salvation before the rapture, He will cause you to believe a lie during the tribulation period so you cant get saved. those who hasnt been told and dont know the gift of Christ will have a chance. But i dont believe i according to scripture, you can be saved during the tribulation if you rejected salvation before the rapture. Its a false hope that they believe in and there will be people getting saved but once again not if you rejected it before the rapture.

Answer 3

I have not seen the Left Behind series because the concept of the Rapture I believe is a human concept that has developed in the past 100 years or so. Don't forget that Satan used scripture when he tempted Jesus. Christians tend to forget this and think they can have their own valid interpretation of scripture. Fact is there cannot be millions or billions of interpretations of scripture! There can only be one!

Answer 4

First of all, I am not a preacher. But I have gone through the same thing that you are feeling. I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 7 years old, but I never felt truely "saved" like some Christians say they do. And it bothered me so much that I felt that if I didn't pray over and over again to God for salvation than I wasn't saved and going to heaven. But than I read these 2 bible verses and it changed the way I felt. "If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord than you will be saved." Romans 10:9
"Unless a person is born again (new, from above) he can not enter the kingdom of God." John 3:3
See, if you have repented of your sin and believe with all of your heart that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, than you are born again, you are made new, you are a new creation. you do not have to accept those lies that you hear in your head that are saying that you are not saved! You are! Jesus declared it!
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
Please remember that there is always hope in God. Pray that God will change you, that He will help you feel like a new creation. Also remember that even though we may feel scared about the world ending and of death (I used to be afraid of dying) our lives are in his hands and we have nothing to be afraid of.
"Have no fear for I am with you. Be not afraid for I am your God. I will strengthen you and give you help and uphold you with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Answer 5

Their concept of rapture is fictional. At the end, everyone, living and dead, Christian and non-Christian will be judged. The "second chance" of pop-religion is false.

1Th 4:16 The Lord himself will come down from heaven. We will hear a loud command. We will hear the voice of the leader of the angels. We will hear a blast from God’s trumpet. Many who believe in Christ will have died already. They will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them. We will be taken up in the clouds. We will meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with him forever.

18 So cheer each other up with these words of comfort.
5:1 Brothers and sisters, we don’t have to write to you about times and dates. 2 You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 People will be saying that everything is peaceful and safe. Then suddenly they will be destroyed. It will happen like birth pains coming on a pregnant woman. None of the people will escape.

Suddenly they will be destroyed...None of the people will escape. It will be known by all, not a secretive happening as portrayed in pop-religion.

Heb 9:27 People have to die once. After that, God will judge them. 28 In the same way, Christ was offered up once. He took away the sins of many people. He will also come a second time. At that time he will not suffer for sin. Instead, he will come to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

2Co 5:10 We must all stand in front of Christ to be judged. Each one of us will be judged for the good things and the bad things we do while we are in our bodies. Then each of us will receive what we are supposed to get.

... Once, not once for Christians and again later for non-Christians.

2Pe 3:7 By God’s word the heavens and earth of today are being reserved for fire. They are being kept for the day when God will judge. Then ungodly people will be destroyed. 8 Dear friends, here is one thing you must not forget. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years. And a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow to keep his promise. He is not slow in the way some people understand it. He is patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. Instead, he wants all people to turn away from their sins. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar. Fire will destroy everything in them. God will judge the earth and everything in it.

...The heavens will disappear with a roar. Fire will destroy everything in them. THIS EARTH will no longer exist. NO ONE will be here.

Answer 6

I'm a preacher. I logged onto a website and got ordained. There wasn't much to it. They didn't even care that I'm an atheist.

The Left Behind series is a great marketing ploy. They realized they had a huge market if they could create a novel based on the Christian superstition. And they've milked it for all it's worth.

It's just too bad that such nonsense will spur on even more Christian intolerance and hate.

Answer 7

yes it is real- rapture is real and the torment that we would face if left here on earth after the rapture is real. then you would have to face being forced to accept the mark of the beast- if you refusde to accept the mark- they will torture you and make life hard for you until you recieve it- then if you dont they will behead you and you would become a martyyr- why not acept jesus now? it would make life alot easier and you wouldnt live in fear...

Answer 8

I am not a preacher in any organized religion but you are believing out of fear. You have been indoctrinated because you are afraid of burning in Hell. Hell is not in the bible I would suggest you study and learn to think for yourself. God has no intention of burning his creation for eternity that sort of belief does not come from a merciful and just creator.

Answer 9

I think they are preaching and teaching a dangerous lie.

“Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, ‘Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?’ He said unto them, ‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him, ‘Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.’’” (Matthew 13:24 – 29 KJV)

Now that is an interesting story, and it can be a little confusing; fortunately, because the disciples found this story a little confusing they also and asked Jesus to explain if further. Because our God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), Jesus explained what this parable meant.

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, ‘Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.’ He answered and said unto them, ‘He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.’” (Matthew 13:36 – 42 KJV)

A closer study of this parable would seem to completely disprove the theory of a secret rapture of the church. Let’s take a look at what Jesus had to say about the time of the end through this parable. There are two groups on the earth represented by the wheat (the good or the church) and the tares (the evil). The workers of the field (probably representing angels) are troubled by the tares that the evil one (the devil) has planted. They ask the farmer (Jesus) if they should gather the weeds now and purify the field (the world). The farmer (Jesus) said that it should not happen that way because some of the wheat may come up with the tares. He then declares, “Let both grow together until the harvest (the end of the world): and in the time of harvest (the end of the world) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” I find it hard to be a proponent of a secret rapture for the church when Jesus said that both the good and the evil will grow together until the harvest (the end of the world). How can the church be raptured, leaving the evil on the earth, when Jesus said they will be together until the very end?

There is another issue raised by this parable. Many well intentioned Christians use the story in Matthew 24:40 & 41 and Luke 17:34 – 36 as key proof of a secret rapture for the church, but if we examine this story about the end times with the earlier story Jesus told about the end times in Matthew 13, we get a completely different picture from what most Christians interpret this story to mean. Let’s look at what Jesus said in these verses.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:40 – 42 KJV)

“I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17:34 – 36 KJV)

Now I do not think that I am wrong in thinking that most Christians interpret these stories to mean that the man taken from the field, the woman that is taken while grinding, and the man taken in his sleep are the ones that belong to the group that is the church and are ruptured. This does not seem to be a plausible explanation however. Jesus gives an order for things to happen back in Matthew 13. “Gather ye together first the tares (the evil), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat (the good or the church) into my barn.” Jesus clearly says that the evil will be gathered first. If we take this understanding and apply it to Matthew 24 and Luke 17, we get a very different understanding. The ones that are taken are not in the group we want to be in. The ones who are taken are the tares (the evil) that are being gathered to be burned, but the ones that are left are the wheat (the good) that are saved.

There is another metaphor that many well intentioned Christians use to support a secret rapture for the church; I feel that this too is an invalid interpretation of a story.

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:43 & 44 KJV)

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:39 & 40 KJV)

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10 KJV)

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15 KJV)

Here again, most Christians would attempt to say that this metaphor of a thief in the night is depicting a secret rapture for the church. I believe that most Christians have misinterpreted this too. First, Jesus explains what this metaphor means. He says that the meaning is not that the second coming is a secret but we do not know when it will occur. If we knew what day the Lord was to come, we would get ready the day before it, but since we do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), we must be ever ready! Just examine what Peter had to say of this metaphor in 2 Peter 3:10; he says that when the Lord comes as a thief,” the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therine shall be burned up.” Now I am not sure how all that could be kept a secret from anyone or how people would be able to live on the earth when it has passed away, burned up, and all the elements in it have melted.

Answer 10

First, yes, I am a minister. Now, to answer your question, Premillennialists, like the authors of the “Left Behind” series, tend to let their imaginations run when looking at symbolic language in books like Revelation, Ezekiel, and Daniel. The more difficult passages of Scripture are to be read and understood in the light of clear passages of Scripture. Please note the following things taught clearly in Scripture:

1. When the Bible uses the terms “last times” and even “the last hour,” it is referring to the entire period from Jesus’ ascension until judgment day (Acts 2:16-17, 1 John 2:18).

2. The signs of the last times (e.g. Matthew 24:1-35, Mark 13:1-27, Luke 21:5-27) are not meant to pinpoint when our Savior is going to return, but to remind us that he will return. We are always to be prepared for his return because he will come when we do not expect him (Matthew 24:36-51). Trusting in Jesus as our Savior makes us prepared to meet him whenever he returns.

3. Jesus’ kingdom is not an earthly, political kingdom, but his gracious rule in our hearts through the gospel (John 18:36, Romans 14:17, Colossians 1:13-14, Luke 17:20-21).

4. Jesus will not come again twice but only once (Hebrews 9:28). The so-called “rapture” of believers will take place on the last day or judgment day, not a long time before it (compare 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 with John 11:24, John 5:28-29 and John 6:39).

5. The “thousand year reign” in Revelation 20 is the reign of the martyrs in heaven until judgment day (Revelation 20:4-6). The NIV translation in verse 6, “They came to life” is better translated “they lived.” Those who die in Christ will live and reign with him in heaven (John 11:25-26). The second death (eternal death) has no power over them.

To better understand the message of Revelation you might want to look at a good commentary on this difficult book. I would suggest Revelation by Pastor Wayne Mueller (a commentary in the Peoples Bible series) or Revelation: The Distant Triumph Song by Dr. Siegbert Becker. Both of these volumes are available from Northwestern Publishing House, [phone] or www.nph.net

We believe that the great tributation has happened, is happening, and will continue to happen in especially severe form just before Christ's return. If you trace the word "tribulation" through Scripture with a concordance, you will see that tribulation in almost every case is not what unbelievers suffer after Christians are removed from the world. It is what the church suffers because of the opposition of the world throughout the time of the New Testament with an intense period at the end. "We must through much tribuation enter the kingdom of God." The New Testament does not prepare believers to be raptured away from the world before tribulation comes, but to endure tribulation until gathered by Christ.

These issues of the last things are discussed in many questions that are achieved in our web site (http://www.wels.net) under the topic of the last things or end times/prophecies. Here are two samples:

1. Scripture does not teach a special period of seven years of tribulation at the end of time. It teaches that the whole New Testament era will be a time of tribulation for the church with a intense period of tribulation at the end. The three and one half years described repeatedly in Revelation (time, times, and half a time, forty-two months) is a figurative expression for the whole New Testament era. This is especially apparent in Revelation 12, where the three and one half years begins with Christ's ascension and ends with his return.
2. The word "rapture" means, "seized and taken up." It refers to the words "caught up" in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. "According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

Those who use the word "rapture" to refer this event usually teach that believers will be carried away from the world before the great tribulation comes on the earth in the last days... Then after this tribulation, Christ will come to the earth to begin his millennial kingdom which will last 1000 years. At the end of the millennium, Christ will come again. Scripture, however, teaches only one return of Christ not three. The gathering together of believers to meet Christ takes place on the day of the last judgment. It is not a separate event. Here, Paul says that the first event that has to take place on the last day is that the dead believers must rise, so that they and the believers who are still alive when Christ comes, can all be gathered to meet Christ together as he comes to judge all people. This will be similar to the joyful crowds on Palm Sunday that ran out to meet Jesus. The unbelievers are not gathered to meet Christ. They want to hide from his judgment. They will not be able to do this, however, since all people will have to appear before his judgment. Unbelievers too will be gathered to judgment, but not as part of the happy welcoming crowd.

In the Scriptural text, "the dead in Christ shall rise first", does not refer to a resurrection of believers which precedes a second resurrection for unbelievers a thousand years later. "First" is contrasted with what occurs in the next sentence. The dead in Christ will rise first, so that after that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them to meet Christ.

Another fallacy in the view that separates the rapture from judgment day is that Scripture prepares us to endure the great tribulation of the last times, not to escape it.

I hope this helps and Gods richest blessing upon you with your search for understanding!