Rapture Under Attack : Will Christians Escape The Tribulation?

Rating:
Summary: Rehash of standard pretrib arguments, nothing more.
Review: As an active member of a pretrib evangelical church, and also as a reasonably mature Christian and bible student, I have found myself struggling lately with the apparent conflict between what I hear from the pulpit concerning the timing of the rapture, and what I've seen in my own study of scripture. I think the bible is very plain that a rapture of the church will occur, but I think it's much less clear about when that will happen. On a purely personal level, my hope is that the pretrib position is the correct one, because I don't relish the thought of either myself or my family having to endure even a part of the tribulation.

I've been wrestling with various passages of scripture which seem to be inconsistent with the pretrib view. For example, in each of the three synoptic gospels, the latter verses of the Olivet Discourse (in my opinion) seems to tie the rapture directly to the physical return of our Lord in glory. Jesus himself also stated that the days of the tribulation are to be shortened "for the sake of the elect." In Daniel chapter 7, there are several references to "the saints of the most High" enduring the tribulation for 3 1/2 years. Even C. I. Scofield, in his marginal notes, interprets these verses to refer to the church. I think one may fairly infer from these passages that the church may, in fact, have to go through all or part of the tribulation. Still other passages, however, seem to clearly support the pretribulation rapture.

In short, I'm not really sure what to believe about when the rapture will occur, and I'm desperately looking for some useful insights. It was with this mindset that I picked up Tim LaHaye's book, hoping that he would provide some convincing answers to some of my concerns. I was deeply disappointed.

The first thing that struck me about the book was the condescending, dismissive, graceless and at times openly vitriolic tone that the author took toward persons espousing other views of end time events. I consider myself to be a person who is genuinely seeking the truth, with the realization that it may lie in one of these alternate interpretations. Thus, I felt personally slighted by Mr. LaHaye's bare insinuations that anyone who holds to those other views is deliberately trying to undermine the faith and hope of other Christians. This could not be further from the truth.

Nevertheless, I continued reading, searching for some spiritual meat that would also satisfy my probing intellect. I genuinely hoped to find interpretations of some of the aforementioned difficult passages which would persuasively reconcile them with the pretrib view. Instead, all I found was a superficial, skin-deep litany of the standard pretrib arguments, with no effort made at all to genuinely respond to competing interpretations.

This book leaves most if not all of my questions and concerns unanswered. Worse, I detected a decidedly unchristian attitude toward other believers who, no doubt, are equally sincere in their search for biblical truth. So, I will remain confused for now, and look for other books which do a better job of defending the pretrib view and dealing with some of these "problem" passages. I'm very glad I was able to borrow this book and didn't actually have to pay money for it.

Rating:
Summary: Condemns Valid Viewpoints
Review: Different escatological viewpoints should be approached with respect and humility, with an open mind and an understanding that the Bible is not clear on exactly which view is correct. Harsh condemnations based only on presuppositions (as Dr. LaHaye does in "Rapture Under Attack") are unreasonable and should be avoided, period.

Dr. LaHaye has no interest in that. He harshly criticizes anyone who dares to not hold to a preTrib rapture viewpoint. He calls other viewpoints "demonically inspired" at one point, which I find particularly angering and unreasonable.

It's okay to have a particular opinion regarding escatology, and even to thing that those who disagree with you are wrong, but it's not okay to publish such a damning condemnation of other viewpoints when the Bible isn't clear. Dr. LaHaye steps far over the line with this book by cruelly attacking viewpoints totally within the realm of orthodoxy.

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Summary: Literal Bible Inerperatation in the first century?
Review: I read this book out of curiosity, and I found that LaHaye's theory holds less water than a sieve. First of all, scriptually speaking, there is no conclusive evidence of Pre-Trib rapture. In fact, the "Little Apocolypse" in Matthew states that it will take place immediately after the tribulations! First Thessalonians proves the rapture, but not pre-trib. Also, if you go to second Thess., St. Paul clarifies his point about the end times, and he states that the rapture won't happen until the antichrist is revealed. Thus all of LaHaye's evidence rests upon Revelation, specifically 4:1. There is no hint of rapture in this verse either. Resting the whole theory upon the order of events in Revelation, when the gospels and Thessalonians clearly say otherwise, is not a good idea. Revelation is full of symbolism, and should not always be taken literally. Even if one were to take it literally, the first chapter would disprove LaHaye's theory. It says that these events are happening "soon." Two thousand years is not soon, in my opinion.

Another thing. LaHaye's history is very skewed. He says that Christians interperated the Bible literally until the fourth century. Newsflash! The full Bible was not even in existance until the late, late 300s. The Council of Hippo decided which books were inspired. There were gospels and epistles floating around, but the actual canon as we know it didn't exist. Even his book contradicts himself. He says that Revalation was not written until 90 AD, yet he goes on to say that the era in which the Bible was taken the most literally was the first century. Revalation wasn't written until 10 years before it closed, according to an earlier chapter.

One more thing he fails to point out. Bibles were not in circulation until the Reformation because the printing press was not invented yet! The monks would copy them by hand in the monastaries before that. Bibles were rare and took a long time to reproduce That is why most people did not own one.

The last objection I will put out for now has to do with the early Christians. In his book, LaHaye says that the early Christians thought that they were in the tribulations during the great persecutions of their time. If this is so, they obviously didn't believe in pre-trib rapture. LaHaye claims that they were wrong in judgement and teaching. Right, we're supposed to believe that the Christians who had their religion from the direct successors of the apostles were wrong, but Tim LaHaye is right. Hmmm.

Only in America would we believe such a theory. The persecuted in China would laugh in our face at the very thought of being taken out of the world before the suffering begins.

Veni Sancte Spritius!

Rating:
Summary: Stop the schisms!
Review: Lahaye's book gives an excellent representation of a horribly unbiblical eschatological view. I have to give it 5 stars simply because I recommend it to show how utterly childish and unprofessional the dispensationalist viewpoint of eschatology is. His book is full of assumptions (the worst one is dispensationalist) and parts where Lahaye brings emotion into the argument instead of good exegesis. These tactics are dishonest, childish, and unprofessional. He repeatedly claims that dispensationalists, premillennialists, and pretribulationists interpret the bible literally and that amillennialists, postmillennialists, and any nonpretribulationists interpret the bible liberally and symbolically. He assumes a faulty inpretation of Daniel's 70 weeks and never argues his premillennialism or futurism (i dont recall him ever even mentioning preterism). He states dogmatically that the great tribulation could not have happened already, without considering the opposition or the time frame references. He even goes as far as to quote Matthew 16:27, but leaves verse 28 out. Again, horrible exegesis and arguments, but I recommend reading it. It will really allow you to come to grips with the pitiful arguments of the supposed "prophecy experts" that spit out dribble onto pages, selling it as the truth.

Rating:
Summary: great representation of a horrible exegesis
Review: Lahaye's book gives an excellent representation of a horribly unbiblical eschatological view. I have to give it 5 stars simply because I recommend it to show how utterly childish and unprofessional the dispensationalist viewpoint of eschatology is. His book is full of assumptions (the worst one is dispensationalist) and parts where Lahaye brings emotion into the argument instead of good exegesis. These tactics are dishonest, childish, and unprofessional. He repeatedly claims that dispensationalists, premillennialists, and pretribulationists interpret the bible literally and that amillennialists, postmillennialists, and any nonpretribulationists interpret the bible liberally and symbolically. He assumes a faulty inpretation of Daniel's 70 weeks and never argues his premillennialism or futurism (i dont recall him ever even mentioning preterism). He states dogmatically that the great tribulation could not have happened already, without considering the opposition or the time frame references. He even goes as far as to quote Matthew 16:27, but leaves verse 28 out. Again, horrible exegesis and arguments, but I recommend reading it. It will really allow you to come to grips with the pitiful arguments of the supposed "prophecy experts" that spit out dribble onto pages, selling it as the truth.

Rating:
Summary: Stop the schisms!
Review: There is one thing, and one thing only, that results from teaching your own pet theory of Christ's return is the only correct one - division.

Churches (usually rural, unsophistocated congregations with little theological expertise or personal maturity) rip apart as factions put books like this on par with Scripture. Ministries sever apart as individuals refuse to deal with godly men any longer simply because they don't agree with their end-times doctrine. Relationships end. People are hurt.

Why? Why on earth do Christians feel the need to fight about this stuff? Nobody really knows how the world will end. I'm a post-tribulational Amillennialist. I highly doubt the PreTrib position because 2 Thes. 2:3 says the Anti-Christ comes first, period. I also highly doubt the post-millennial position of Calvinists because of the exact same verse (no matter how you slice it, a supernatural opponent of Christ is actively reigning at the time Jesus returns for the Final Battle - Utopian hopes are deluded, and the fact that America, which is spiritually exhausted and possibly doomed, was founded in large part by post-millennial utopians sadly underscores this point). But am I willing to separate from people in my church if they don't agree with me? NO! "In the essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, but in all things love." I have news for Tim LaHaye and the legions who follow him - your beliefs are not "essentials!" Get over it, and stop trying to destroy and divide church after church!

Rating:
Summary: Insipid, ...and Weak
Review: This book is about what one should expect from a 2nd rate novelist. Clearly the man is not a scholar. He cannot back his theories with the Bible (save a small handful of verses out of context which he over-works) so he appeals to the emotions. It is interesting that he admits that his beliefs are so recent. Only in the past 150+ years have Christians become so Biblically illiterate as to believe such fantasy exposition.
Given the zillions he continues to make exploiting the Church (coming soon:Left Behind--THE BREAKFAST CEREAL!!)one might expect a cogent defense of his views. If so, one is to be sorely disappointed. This book packs the punch of an Archie comic book with the depth of a peanutshell. LaHaye says he read 10,000 pages and studied in the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS! What impressive credentials.
Finally, at the back of this book, he lists two essential keys for understanding scripture: Interpreting prophecy 'literally' and making a distinction between Israel and the Church. And on both points he is sorely mistaken. The Bible clearly teaches that the church is heir to the promises as the new Israel, and the old testament is chock full of case studies which 5 minutes of review will show are SYMBOLIC.
The best part of this book is that the author felt compelled to write it. He is getting desperate as he sees the grip dispensationalism has had on the church is weakining.

Rating:
Summary: Rapture Could Use a Better Defense
Review: This is a great book! I enjoyed how it helped me feel better about being a pre-trib believer. Especially since I know several people who don't believe this way. Tim LaHaye who has taken part in the GREAT Left Behind Books (and also the first is a movie too!) is a wonderful writer. I fully recommend this book to anyone who wants to either be more confident with what they believe (pre-trib), those who arent decided, those who dont believe but want information or just a great read! So its not just for the pre-trib belivers, but anyone who wants information on the rapture. The blessed hope! The thing we look for each day (I hope) or pray for. Well worth your time and money! :)

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Summary: A Good Defense Against Opponents of Pre-Trib Rapture
Review: This paperback has been reformated under;
The Rapture: Who Will Face the Tribulation (Tim Lahaye Prophecy Library)

This is a good primer on the Pretribulationist position. But since I am of this view point...it is like singing to the choir for me.
The gem hidden for Pretribulationist in this book is the section "No Fear of Misguided Attacks" and covers...
* The Pre-wrath Myth (Dealing with VanKampen and Rosenthal)
* McPherson's Vendetta (Dealing with his hatred of the Pre-trib doctrine)
* The Most Absurd Charge of All (Dealing with Robert L. Price attacks calling belief in the Pre-Trib Rapture "cultish")
* A Case Against Slander (Dealing with attacks against Dr. Ironside's)
*Target Number One (Attacks against J.N. Darby)
*Why Do They Do That (Deals with possible reasons opponent attack the Pre-Trib Rapture)
The opponents say frequently that the pretribulation rapture did not start until 1830 from J.N. Darby, of whom was influenced by Irving and the vision of Margaret Mc Donald.
I would start with the chapter Target Number One. The truth is that Darby in his own words said he started his dispensational view (that lead to forming pretribulation rapture doctrine) in 1827 when he was recovering from a broken leg while riding his horse.
From that time he left the Church of England and joined with the Plymouth Brethern. But Darby made enemies because of his forceful personality. In 1844 he and B.W. Newton had bitter strife over the issue concerning the status of the church during the Great Tribulation. Eventually Newton was excommunicated for heresy for his faulty view of the person of Christ.
In 1855, Newton and his brother in law S. P. Tregelles attacked pretributionism as from "Judizers" and in 1865 changed it to a spirit utterance in Mr. Irving's Church.
It is from this poisoned well that McPherson drew to attack pretribulationism. In turn other opponents like Vankampen and Rosenthal quote from McPherson slanted research without question as being true.
These chapters will answer these charges and show them as biased and lacking credibility. From these chapters you can do your own research and come to your own conclusions.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book about God's truth!
Review: Tim Lahaye's book is thoroughly based on scripture. He takes a literal interpretation of God's word on end time events. There are many dissenting views as opposed to the pre-trib rapture view, but they are not biblically sound. The scriptures back up and support a pre-trib view. If you have your bible, read it for yourself! So many times in his book, Lahaye shows that the church will be saved from the wrath to come. The believers in Christ will be raptured and taken out of this world, and he backs this all up with scripture. If you want to know and understand the book of Revelation to a greater degree, and you want to know what will happen when Jesus comes for his bride(the church), then this is the book for you. Tim Lahaye helps to explain God's near-future plan!