Left Behind......sheesh!

[Murf]

I'm sorry -- I do see this as a big issue -- not so much for its "end times" importance --

While I agree with your sentiment, I have yet to find a loving way to broach the subject with anyone who isn't already seeking Truth. I have several discussions with folks who disagree with me, but are open to alternatives. But most folks who bring up the subject around me aren't looking for alternative eschatological views. They are basing their stress & life decisions on the events on the evening news. I feel compeled to help them by showing them there are other options if they wish to look for them. Many could give them more peace, but what usually ends up happening is they add me to their churches pray list. So all i've done is add to their stress.

So for now I just smile and nod a lot and ask God for guideance. So far the only openings are with my Morom relatives and my Budist friends.
tim

[Paidion]

Well, I was once a dispensationalist; I had all the charts to explain every end-time event in the "proper" order.

Reading early Christian literature opened my eyes, and I changed to the historic pre-millenial view. I still hold that view, and think the preterist view (especially the full preterist view) is even more ridiculous than the dispensational view with its two second comings of Christ, one before the tribulation and another after it. However, I'm not going to argue about it.

Like TK and Steve Gregg, I don't place a great deal of importance on eschatology, even though I have my thoughts about it just like everyone else.

As for the left-behind series, I got a chance to read some of the books while my wife and I were visiting a friend of hers in Texas. I really enjoyed the stories, and I can tell you why. I am a fan of good science fiction.

[darinhouston]

As for the left-behind series, I got a chance to read some of the books while my wife and I were visiting a friend of hers in Texas. I really enjoyed the stories, and I can tell you why. I am a fan of good science fiction.

I'm a fan of good science fiction, too , but I couldn't make it past the 5th or 6th book because I grew tired of the pedantic prose, and the constant re-summarization of earlier books (and this is when I was pretty much a default dispy). Basically, it just wasn't a very good read. I loved the first one -- but the thing I liked most about it was the way it portrayed the inner thought life of a believer in a fair way, and the zeal for Christ and His plans one can have -- not many books do that. But, that's about the only thing good I can say about the series apart from the fact that it did seem to lead some to Christ.

[Suzana]

I've had mum and dad visit recently from interstate, and had contemplated discussing this topic (they have the standard dispensational understanding so prevalent today). However, I have heard dad comment a few times lately about the millennium, how wonderful it will be etc, and how much he was really looking forward to it - even more than 'heaven' as such.

So I changed my mind about introducing the subject; I just don't have the heart to disillusion him, so to speak - although I'm sure that whatever the reality turns out to be, it will be more spectacular than we can imagine.
I just don't see the need to try and change his viewpoint at this stage but if the subject came up for discussion naturally, I might say something (in as diplomatic a way as possible of course).

[psychohmike]

I've had mum and dad visit recently from interstate, and had contemplated discussing this topic (they have the standard dispensational understanding so prevalent today). However, I have heard dad comment a few times lately about the millennium, how wonderful it will be etc, and how much he was really looking forward to it - even more than 'heaven' as such.

So I changed my mind about introducing the subject; I just don't have the heart to disillusion him, so to speak - although I'm sure that whatever the reality turns out to be, it will be more spectacular than we can imagine.
I just don't see the need to try and change his viewpoint at this stage but if the subject came up for discussion naturally, I might say something (in as diplomatic a way as possible of course).

Amen sister. Some battle's aren't worth fighting. Always put out the feelers...But first and foremost consider the fallout. No matter how badly I want to, there are some people that I just love nonetheless.

We'll all be preterist's eventually...8)

[darinhouston]

One thing I might try -- I see all these LB books on folks' shelves right along with their Grisham, etc., and I think I'll start casually commmenting thusly...

"Wow, I see you made it through all the LB series... I couldn't quite make it through them -- do you really believe it will turn out that way? They say something like "of course, don't you?" "No, not really -- were you aware that approach was introduced only in the 1830s and that no one in the church believed it until then?"

It will either die in "oh well -- I guess I just have a different view of it all" or they'll say "tell me more..."

....Yeah -- yeah -- but one can dream, can't one?

Probably not a bad approach with a similar likely response from folks reading Dan Brown's novels. "Pretty good book -- do you really believe all that stuff he wrote?"

[TK]

the next thing you'll hear, darin, is "you mean you believe that Christians will BE HERE for the tribulation?"

of course then you have to explain "what tribulation?" and boy does that open a can of worms.

TK

[AaronBDisney]

There are still a few things that I find to be weak about the position,

Just curious what those are, in your opinion.

I guess my wording was a little off. I didn't necessarily mean the system is weak. But understanding scripture in this way takes some time. There are things that seem hard to transfer from the literal meaning to the spiritual....such as the lion and the lamb being led by a child. And the child will die 100 years old. You know, some of the OT Prophecy is a little difficult to discern at the moment. That was all I meant. Sorry - bad wording on my part.

[darinhouston]

the next thing you'll hear, darin, is "you mean you believe that Christians will BE HERE for the tribulation?"

of course then you have to explain "what tribulation?" and boy does that open a can of worms.

TK

yeah, I know -- not very likely it can come out well, but we Christians ought to be able to discuss things we disagree on agreeably, and it's a shame that we often can not.

[TK]

well- i think some people are genuinely scared. they dont WANT to have to live through the Great Tribulation, if there really is such a thing. who would?

i am not sure that there wont be some kind of great tribulation that will precede the 2nd coming of Christ; i have just resigned myself that if i'm alive when it happens then I'll be living through it (obviously!) so i better be ready.

TK