Rapture theory starts apocalyptic feud

Have you ever seen two better quotes?

(KRT) - What if the Rapture has already happened?

What if Revelation's prophecies have been fulfilled?

These questions are unthinkable for those Christians who believe that the end of the world is, well, still to come - and that it will unfold in accordance with apocalyptic interpretations of the Book of Revelation: the Rapture, the sudden snatching up of millions of the faithful into heaven, followed by the seven-year Tribulation, during which the world is ruled by the Antichrist, followed by the return of Jesus and his triumph in the battle of Armageddon.

That's more or less the story line hewed to in the phenomenally popular "Left Behind" series. Now, however, Tyndale House, the Christian publisher of "Left Behind," is planning a new fictional series with a very different view - one that posits that Revelation actually tells the story (in code) of the first-century persecution of Christians and of the fall of the Jewish Temple.

Tyndale officials say they're simply presenting different sides of an important theological issue.

But the Rev. Tim LaHaye, co-author of the "Left Behind" books, called the decision by his publisher "stunning and disappointing" and said he felt betrayed.

"They are going to take the money we made for them and promote this nonsense," he said.

<snip>

"I don't know what science fiction he is reading," said LaHaye. "We believe the Rapture is going to come, not his nonsense that Christ came back in 68 A.D."

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I'll bring popcorn! This should be good!

I suppose if you've become fairly accomplished at making stuff up, you qualify as an expert of sorts. Tim, for example, has a PhD. in Bullshitology.

"...Revelation actually tells the story (in code) of the first-century persecution of Christians and of the fall of the Jewish Temple."

New. Except that the Catholic Church has taught this for over 2000 years.

hmmmmmmm.

"They are going to take the money we made for them and promote this nonsense," he said (Tim LaHaye).

Well, it's supposed to be one.

Your visual pun was great, btw. That's why I felt the need to respond to it (albeit pointlessly).

They're both fiction series, right? "What if" books?

LaHaye may believe his fiction, but they're still both fiction.

The publisher isn't saying they believe either one.

I'm tempted to write a series in which it's the liberals that get lifted at the Rapture, with Jesus (like he does in the Bible) saying to the fundamentalists, "I was hungry and you did not feed me; I was naked and you did not clothe me . . ."

LaHaye may believe his fiction, but they're still both fiction.
That says it all. They beleive their own made-up stories.

that the Revelation to John WAS in fact an allegory (and a bit of a revenge fantasy) for the fall of the Temple and the persecution by Rome, masked as an Apocalypse, was a fairly common scholarly view.

IANA Bible scholar, of course, so if anyone wants to chime in and correct me on this, I'm all ears.

It was supposed to uplift the roman christians being percecuted at the time. The whole bible is just a guidebook on living. Taking anything in it literally is trouble. Even the Catholic Church says so.
Duckie

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"I don't know what science fiction he is reading," said LaHaye. "We believe the Rapture is going to come, not his nonsense that Christ came back in 68 A.D."


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Yo Fundies there are a whole lot of books out there ,not just one so put it back in the motel night stand you stole it from and join us sinners who think the world doesn't end till we pay off the loan on the lawn furniture.

Of course they want to believe the rapture is ahead. If you were living under tyrannical RW Fundie rule with a low wage job, poor educational prospects and nothing but NASCAR on television, an ascent into heaven would fit the bill quite nicely.

Beam me up Jesus...

Her sister had the first two of them books on tape and we listened to them on the way down and back.

Poorly written books....