Political Crossfire Forums

[sLiPpY]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14083809/site/newsweek/

By Brian Braiker
Newsweek
Updated: 10:37 p.m. ET July 28, 2006

July 28, 2006 - When Tim LaHaye talks, the faithful listen—by the millions. The conservative Protestant minister is the coauthor of the wildly popular apocalyptic “Left Behind” novels. The controversial books, which have sold more than 60 million copies, depict the biblical end of the world: the Christian eschatology of the upheaval that precedes the second coming of Jesus Christ, known also as “end times.” LaHaye recently spoke with NEWSWEEK’s Brian Braiker about why he believes the events currently unfolding in the Middle East reflect biblical prophesy.



I'm just curious how many individuals on PC, would agree with Tim LaHaye?

He believes that Israel should always be supported by good Christians everywhere. That the Bible should be interpreted literally whenever possible, and uhh...it's a four page interview.

Enjoy.

[SouthernBelle82]

I'm a Christian and I do not support Israel (and I do not support Hezbollah either). And these are NOT the "end times." At my church now in the college Bible class we are studying this term Revelation and it's quite interesting. The whole book is nothing but symbolism and made up of events that have happened, are happening and will happen. Trying to use Revelation to predict the future is as much ridiculous as people trying to use Nostradomus to predict the future. Revelation is very very vague and people have been doing this for years and years. But hey it's a great marketing tool for people to use. And this guy is going to talk to us about the Bible? From people I know of who have read the "Left Behind" books it's not very Biblically based. I point to this in the Bible:

1 Thessalonians 5

1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

[sLiPpY]

SouthernBelle82 wrote: I'm a Christian and I do not support Israel (and I do not support Hezbollah either). And these are NOT the "end times." At my church now in the college Bible class we are studying this term Revelation and it's quite interesting. The whole book is nothing but symbolism and made up of events that have happened, are happening and will happen. Trying to use Revelation to predict the future is as much ridiculous as people trying to use Nostradomus to predict the future. Revelation is very very vague and people have been doing this for years and years. But hey it's a great marketing tool for people to use. And this guy is going to talk to us about the Bible? From people I know of who have read the "Left Behind" books it's not very Biblically based. I point to this in the Bible:

1 Thessalonians 5

1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

For your class, is the instructor refering to the Book of Daniel as an example of earlier apocalyptic literature?

I think it's terrific you're taking the class. I had one for New Testiment last spring, and it drove all of the rapture believers nuts, in that I would bring up some of the topics of discussion to help myself retain the material for test...in the PC Christianity forum.

[Lumina]

Jesus said nobody, not even He, knows when the "end times" are. So keep your butt working in the vineyard and your lamp lit and etc., and then "Don't worry...be happy." Nobody knows when end-times are.

[sLiPpY]

Lumina wrote: Jesus said nobody, not even He, knows when the "end times" are. So keep your butt working in the vineyard and your lamp lit and etc., and then "Don't worry...be happy." Nobody knows when end-times are.

I can say with certainty, that the "end times" are not now.

There's a condition that has yet to be met. It's a physical structure that doesn't exist, but must exist to meet the prerequisites.

[The Impeacher]

It actual makes more sense to realize that the End Times are always just around the corner.... and always will be.

bleat bleat

[Nico]

moved

[John]

Lumina wrote: Jesus said nobody, not even He, knows when the "end times" are. So keep your butt working in the vineyard and your lamp lit and etc., and then "Don't worry...be happy." Nobody knows when end-times are.


Matthew 24
42 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

43 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

44 "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

45 "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?

46 "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

47 "Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

48 "But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,'

49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards;

50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,

51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

[Alizard]

Lumina wrote: Jesus said nobody, not even He, knows when the "end times" are. So keep your butt working in the vineyard and your lamp lit and etc., and then "Don't worry...be happy." Nobody knows when end-times are.

Yet, Christ said the events that would happen at the end times and they are happening now. I believe Christ meant nobody knows exactly when God will choose to step in and stop the process of the earth, and that will be the day Christ returns.

I think this war is the start of what is described as Armageddon.

AS to writing off the book of Revelation as meaningless symbolism..... that is Christianity Lite, the new non-threatening version where you get to ignore everything scary.

The visions in daniel and Revelation are symbolic because they were shown to people with the understanding of a child. It does not mean that the symbolic message will not come to pass.

[toddytodd]

Quote: ...Israel should always be supported by good Christians everywhere. Israel should only be supported if they are doing the right thing, as should any country. To suggest Israel always does the right thing is incorrect.
As to the book of Rev., it's funny how people can say 'Rev. is what is to come' and others can point to history and say 'Rev is a book of history showing what happened'.
Some people think it's funny how a book like this got placed into the Bible to begin with, as they see it as written by an author that was on something, or perhaps had mental problems. Perhaps it was allowed in to frighten people who read it. Or perhaps it was put in 'for kicks'.

Is Rev symbolic? Most definitely so. Does it point to the future of things to come? I personally doubt it, but don't know for sure. To place a definite on such an abstract thing takes a measure of faith that is almost unknown.

[mojo]

I prefer to call them the beginning times.

[cap'n queasy]

Quote: 1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

What does that sentence mean to you?

[cap'n queasy]

Quote: AS to writing off the book of Revelation as meaningless symbolism..... that is Christianity Lite, the new non-threatening version where you get to ignore everything scary.

More like Christianity Laodicean.

Quote: Rev 3:14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

15 `I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 `So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 `Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 `Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 `Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 `He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' "

[cap'n queasy]

politicalmojo wrote: I prefer to call them the beginning times.

I like that. :-D

[Carlin]

I think everything is going to be fine.

[John]

Carlin wrote: I think everything is going to be fine.

Everything is going to be fine....


But that doesn't mean you're going to be fine.

[sparsely]

John wrote: Everything is going to be fine....

But that doesn't mean you're going to be fine.

We already are. ;-)

[cap'n queasy]

I'm not seeing that.

[sparsely]

don't look now, but there's a speck in your eye. :-P

[Carlin]

John wrote: Carlin wrote: I think everything is going to be fine.

Everything is going to be fine....


But that doesn't mean you're going to be fine.

And a good morning to you too, Mr. Sunshine!