Joel Rainey leads the Engagement Team for Evangelism and Missions at the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network. He is on the adjunct faculty of two seminaries,and the author of three books. He blogs at Themelios, where this was originally posted on Monday.
October 3, “Left Behind” will debut in theaters across America, and its release will prompt a fresh discussion among evangelicals about our view of the end times. Additionally, the movie will encourage general discussion about what happens after we die, who goes to heaven, and how they get there. These are very important subjects, and for that reason, I’m thankful followers of Jesus can use popular movies to talk to their non-Christian friends about the Gospel.
I just hope that’s what actually happens.
Full disclosure: The “Left Behind” movie is based on a particular view of the end times that I don’t personally share. I’m not a Dispensationalist, so while I believe the end of the age will include mass numbers of our Jewish friends coming to realize who their Messiah is, I don’t see a distinction in the text between Israel as a nation-state and the church. Consequently, I don’t believe in a pre-tribulational “rapture” of the church. So it would be easy for someone with my bias to simply dismiss films like this as a waste of time. But I know too many good and godly pastors whose eschatology matches that of the upcoming film–serious students of Scripture whose theology is far deeper than celluloid and who have a genuine heart for Jesus and the Gospel, and who will use films like this as opportunities to share their faith, and encourage others to do so.
Speculative theology isn’t wrong, so long as we realize and admit that it is speculative. But when it is used in the wrong way, the results can be detrimental to the Great Commission. For example, if I spend more time pontificating on who the “elect” are than I do calling them out of lostness and into the light of the Gospel, then I’ve allowed my speculation to devolve into outright disobedience.
This is a particularly dangerous prospect in our current world, where over the last year world events have been the catalyst for heightened discussions about the end of the age. When does the “rapture” take place? Who is “the beast” of Revelation 13? What is the nature of the millennium? All Scripture is inspired and profitable, which makes these questions valid and worth exploring. But when set against a 2000-year history that includes three different millennial views, four different interpretive approaches to Revelation, and at least two different perceptions of the prophetic significance of the nation of Israel, we should all hold our opinions loosely. Otherwise, we risk being driven by speculation rather than by Scripture. Deuteronomy 29:29 states that “the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever.” In short, explore the unclear, but not at the expense of disobeying the clear!
How should we strike that balance? I offer the following four principles.
1. Your Primary motivation should be making disciples. At the end of the day, if speculation about unclear doctrines is more important to you than making disciples of Jesus, you are in a very bad place. What good does it do to try and identify the antiChrist if you aren’t sharing the Gospel so people won’t follow him?
Where end times teaching is concerned, it is helpful to remember that these prophecies were originally given to a severely persecuted church as a tool of encouragement. When Paul writes to the Thessalonians, he speaks of the end when those who have passed away prior to the coming of Jesus will be called out of their graves, after which those in Christ who are still alive will join them in the air, being “caught up” (the phrase that translates the greek term from whence comes the Latin concept of the “rapture”) to meet the Lord Himself. He then concludes “therefore, comfort one another with these words.” I’ve quoted from that passage at innumerable gravesides for exactly that reason! Studying the Scriptures to discern whenthis event might take place (before or after the tribulation, for example) is to seek answers to a legitimate question. But ultimately, these words are given to suffering people for comfort, not speculation.
Eschatology, like any other Biblical subject, is given for the ultimate purpose of making followers of Jesus more like Jesus. And we don’t look very much like Jesus when we are drawing prophecy charts and fighting with each other.
2. You should have a Passion for all people to hear and respond to the Gospel. Since 1948, differences of opinion have existed between Bible-believing Christians as to whether the re-instatement of Israel is a prophetically significant event. I have many academic colleagues and fellow pastors who are convinced that this is the case. Count me among those who have our doubts about that assertion. But since 1830, dispensational and covenantal interpreters of Scripture have both faithfully proclaimed the Gospel and made disciples. The problems occur at the extremes of these views.
On the dispensational end of the spectrum, the problem is a kind of Zionism that presents a God who “plays favorites” where the Jews are concerned–to the extent that utter hatred is expressed toward any other Semitic peoples in the middle-east, including many of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Gaza, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey. On the Covenantal end, the problem is a move from seeing the promises of God in the Old Testament as fulfilled in both Jews and Gentiles, to a hermeneutic that sees Gentiles as fully replacing the Jews. The anti-Semitism that sometimes results from this view is quite frightening.
The bottom line is this: Both Testaments clearly state that God is not finished with ethnic Israel, and that there is coming a day when great numbers of them will recognize their true Messiah. I long for that day. But the same Bible that makes these promises to the sons and daughters of Isaac also clearly reveals a God who loves the sons of Ishmael (see Genesis 16!). I am for all groups finding Jesus.
3. You must maintain a conviction that all must respond to the Gospel. Here is where I”m going to speak candidly for a bit. If you listen to John Hagee, stop! There is only one label that can be given to a man who has publicly said that sharing the Gospel with our Jewish friends is a waste of time and has intimated that they do not need the Gospel to be saved–and that label is “false prophet.” And false-prophecy is always and exactly the result of allowing speculative teaching to overtake the clear teaching of Scripture.
I can work with any follower of Jesus who differs with me on the prophetic significance of Israel as a nation-state. But I can’t work with you if you talk more about Israel than you do Jesus. Neither ethnicity, or nationality gets you into heaven. Getting there takes bowing before the reality of a bloody cross and an empty tomb! Christians have disagreed for centuries about less perspicuous prophetic texts, but Acts 4:12 has never been in dispute!
4. You must remember that its all about Jesus. Personally, I am wary of any Bible teacher from any school of thought who is not actively sharing his faith with others. I’ve known men who spent inordinate amounts of time seeking to “fit” Communism within some prophetic scheme, but who have never crossed an ocean to actually engage someone of that mindset with the Gospel. I know men who say similar things about Islam, but have spent very little time actually getting to know Muslims. In the end, all my prophetic speculation does nothing to get those people any closer to Jesus, and the last time I read Matthew 28, this was my primary mandate. So as I explore Biblical prophecy, I need to do so with the realization that all those world events we speculate on have Jesus at the center. If you don’t get to the Gospel, your speculation isn’t just useless. Its sinful.
I don’t know exactly how history will end. But I do know the One who wrote out history before it began. I may be wrong about the rapture. Perhaps we will miss the tribulation, or maybe we will go through it. I don’t know. But I do know that no matter who is right, Jesus gives us the joy to be content regardless of our circumstances. I have no idea who the antiChrist is. But I know who Christ is! So sure, let’s have some serious conversations about unclear texts, but let’s be sure we don’t do it at the expense of our clear mission.
I was curious when the beating of this drum would start. The article seems to be pretty on target IMHO. I’ll go see the movie,…mainly for special effects and to see what does not line up with scripture. I’m sure the same old fear techniques will be put to dramatic fiction. But, at least the drama will have some well known faces. Even though there seems to be some discontent over the book of the Revelation, this witnessing of John to what he saw is not that difficult to understand really. I have found, being raised in the church from… Read more »
“” I’m sure the same old fear techniques will be put to dramatic fiction.”” This statement is stuck inside of your post and may not be a main thrust of what you are saying–or maybe it is. It appears from reading this that you believe that “fear” is a bad thing in regard to eternal matters. I would agree that no believer has anything to fear, but what about non-believers? It seems to me that if the movie does nothing but get people who have no fear of hell to have some fear of hell, then God can use that… Read more »
Jack, I think that is a fair statement. Maybe in a bit more context, what I am meaning by the statement is that John has given his fellow believers a non-fearful look, a blessing,… as to Christ reigning now and as He returns for the bride, and with the bride. That is the context of John’s depiction of what Christ is revealing to him…a clarion call to return to their first love. One other book that was penned by John describes a prelude to what is viewed in Christ’s final Revelation to John as well…. “By this, love is perfected… Read more »
Chris, I think I understand what you are saying, though I don’t know if I can say I agree entirely. If fear is not a motivating factor in the gospel presentation then why the graphic descriptions of hell (more than one) by the Lord, Himself? Also, if love (not Law, as in wrath and judgment) is not a primary motivating factor (school teacher) then what is the meaning of Paul’s pronouncement in Romans 3:19 and other places. I don’t think one can completely comprehend God’s love and mercy until they first comprehend what an affront sin is to a Holy… Read more »
Jack, great question, “If fear is not a motivating factor in the gospel presentation then why the graphic descriptions of hell (more than one) by the Lord, Himself?” I would answer it this way…. We should tell the entire story. Please don’t take what I am trying to say here in the wrong way…We are certainly being rescued from sin that separates us from God, and there are consequences in that separation that must be spoken of..… . Jesus spoke in stark realities, and as those that proclaim the gospel, we must do the same. As Paul would say at… Read more »
Chris, we are on the same page. I do think that a believer would get nothing but hope and encouragement from reading the Book of Revelation. A non-believer would also get a promised blessing: perhaps it would scare the hell out of them! So, the Word is two-edged. In fact, it is double-edged in each reference until the unleashing of God’s final judgments. Then, it has one single edge of judgment. So, I see what you are saying. I do believe that even though fear may be a motivation, it certainly is not the only motivation. For fear could drive… Read more »
I agree Jack, good stuff! The two edge sword describes it well.
Inasmuch as the Left Behind books are fiction intended to follow basic pre-trib eschatology, I don’t expect to be able to discern much of the Bible beyond what the books give. I might have to skim back through the books to see where this remake follows them. I’m mostly curious to see how it portrays Christian faith. The previous movies with Kirk Cameron were pretty predictable. He’s a solid Christian brother as far as I can tell and I knew if he was involved it would be pretty favorable. Nic Cage acting and Vic Armstrong directing… who knows what it’s… Read more »
This article resonates with me. A few things: I’m not a dispensationalist either, and I’ve been critical of dispensationalism in the past, but I think to be fair, pre-mil dispensationaism and what I call “left-behind theology” are not necessarily the same thing. I’m with you on speculative theology. We have a gentleman in our bible study who usually doesn’t say anything unless it is negative about the president, or is a proclamation of the certainty of left-behind theology. It is never “this might be the case”, it is always: “this is the way it is going to happen”. I think… Read more »
Thanks for your comment Bill. Before this post first appeared at my own website, I sent it to Dave Miller here at SBC Voices, because he is a friend AND a dispensationalist, and I wanted to ensure that my brothers and sisters who hold that view would believe I represented them fairly. Predictably, Dave responded saying “I have no problem with what you have written here, except that you are wrong.” 🙂 I’ll let Dave speak for himself, but you are correct that Tim LaHaye hath little to do with John Wolvaard or Craig Blaissing, and I know this is… Read more »
I’ve been saying that for years.
I was raised up in the context of Dispensationalism. I guess that view is OK but I don’t think we should accept it as a default view. Were Christians “in the dark” prior to John Darby? If people come from a background where their seminary profs and pastors were trained at Dallas Seminary or Talbot then they might only have heard a subset of the various interpretative views regarding to eschatology. As time passes I have dialed back my adherence to dispensationalism, and the attendant understanding of some specific understanding of the rapture. Instead I hold more to a Bill… Read more »
Remember 666 by Salem Kirban?
It was like reading Left Behind without the agony of plowing through a bazillion books.
Anyone remember the original – “Thief in the Night.”
Dave
Yes, i do
Curious. Miller insists that the only apt label for John Hagee is “false prophet” due to a statement he made about orthodox judaism?
Does that mean his prophesying of the death and resurrection of Christ and salvation in Christ are also “false”?
Does this mean that Hagee is among the unredeemed.
What exactly does this pronouncement entail?
“Miller” didn’t write any of this. I posted it. Joel Rainey (as it clearly says) wrote the piece.
Actually, Joel knew that I was a pre-tribber and asked me to review it before he published it. I asked his permission to post it here. I intend to write a response from the other side of the track, maybe next week.
You know, Scott, there is no fruit of the Spirit called snarky and belligerent. No need for you to be either.
Okay, forget the “snarkiness” and try to answer the simple question.
What in your estimation is the temporal/eternal state of John Hagee as a false prophet before God?
I’m curious.
You seem to be persistent in demanding I defend a statement I didn’t make.
I know almost nothing about Hagee. I’ve heard that his views of Israel border on the heretical. I’ve not researched it.
So, Scott, I think I will pass on your demands
Scott, I’m not defending “Miller” here. He’s already answered for himself. I’d just like to know which part of Hagee’s teachings you find to be biblical and truthful. Would it be the part where he get’s to redefine terms and state that people are redeemed by following a faith devoid of the crucified and risen Jesus?
Haven’t read or considered Hagee’s pronouncements for several years but that’s not the point that drives my question.
I’ve heard him preach Christ and Christ crucified, resurrected and coming again. I’ve heard him preach Christ singularly as God’s offer of salvation to mankind.
These specific matters can in no way be construed as “false prophecies.”
There’s a “false prophet” referred to almost every other article by most who post here and I’m just wondering what the commonly accepted criteria for “false prophet” is with some of you guys.
No malice here…genuinely curious.
He has evidently made statements indicating that Jets do not need to come to Christ for salvation since they are already God’s people. Can’t reference that. But that is the rap. Maybe someone else has a link.
The NY Jets? Or military Jets?
Autocorrect causes as many problems as it solves.
A quick search reveals the term “false prophet” in 4 articles (including this one) in the last year. Dave: How many articles posted in the last year?
Facts are our friends.
That still averages once a quarter there Bill Mac.
In this case, facts are the very things that prompt my question.
Yes, well, once a quarter and “almost every other article” are quite different. And what is the context of those posts? Would you like the term “false teacher” better? Relegating an entire people group, millions of people, to whom the Gospel does not apply is a pretty serious false teaching, not quite in the same category as whether women can be deacons or whether paedobaptists can be served communion.
Scott, whether Hagee is technical deemed to be a “false prophet” is really beside the point. John Hagee makes no bones about Jesus not being the Messiah to the Jews, which makes him not a very good prophet, ….not simply just hanging out with false teachers. Hagee likes the attention he gets from the “Word of Faith” movement and knows how to make money out of that bucket of teaching. John will most likely love the “Left Behind” movie (he’s on the plane in the film that is soon to hit theaters) !…. It fits squarely into his theory and… Read more »
Based on no more than you’ve presented as what “Hagee said” (i.e. no context etc), I’d say I’d have to agree.
Jesus, by conviction, by confession and by dogma is not the messiah of Orthodox Judaism. Has to do with the issues of rejection.
As to the personnel motives of Hagee (i.e. “he likes attention…”). He’s obviously not the only preacher around these days with that problem.
However, a wise person once said to me “The only way you can judge another person’s motives is by your own stinking heart and motives”.
One of the greatest statements I’ve ever heard.
I’m well aware of my own stinking heart and motives, but to say that discernment is to be ignored simply because of my own humanity/sinfulness is also error. That’s like saying “no truth can be known absolutely.” My response would be, “are you absolutely sure about that?”
Disparaging Hagee (or any other proclaiming/professing Christian) as “false prophets” would be exhibiting what kind of “discernment” exactly?
And how does public discussion of his perceived motives contribute to this “discernment”?
Hagee wrote…..in his book Should Christians Support Israel….
“The [Jewish] people wanted Him to be their Messiah, but He absolutely refused,” …. “The Jews were not rejecting Jesus as Messiah, it was Jesus who was refusing to be the Messiah to the Jews!” (p,67-68, 69,72)
Hagee’s bizarre and non-biblical view of the Jews, is diametrically opposed to the book of Romans. Jesus’ disciples were Jews, the first churches were full of Jews, and the missionaries were Jews.
So he’s lost right?
Scott, I would not go as far as you have in judging Hagee. He espouses to loving the Lord. I have no reason to judge the man’s heart, and never will. I can judge the accuracy of his teaching though, and will expose that as much as I possibly can, as well as the types of people he endorses, who are certainly indicative of bizarre theological gymnastics, if not outright heresy. (Copeland, et.al)
Scott, you see… Hagee has made the statement that Christ has refused to be the messiah of the Jews, not me. Maybe you should ask him if the Jews can be saved by the Messiah. Evidently, according to Hagee, Jesus said is was Jesus refusing them…. if Jesus is not the Messiah of the Jews, they are without hope. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith… Read more »
Chris, you’ve misread me. I have not judged Hagee to be lost. I don’t think he is. I’m assuming from the comments about him in this article that there are those who consider him a “false prophet”. In my mind, you can’t be half-right and half-false when it comes to imparted righteousness and justification. If one claims another to be a “false prophet” it implies that everything coming out of his mouth is error and that one is to be avoided like the plague. Haven’t seen to many “false prophets” who preached faith in Christ crucified alone as man’s only… Read more »
I would say that if you think Jews are saved by keeping the Law rather than faith in Christ, if you think Jesus is not the messiah of the Jews, then more than your eschatology is in error.
Scott, you said: ~~:If one claims another to be a “false prophet” it implies that everything coming out of his mouth is error and that one is to be avoided like the plague.”~~ This isn’t true. A false prophet mixes truth and error. If everything out of his mouth was error, the church would never sit under him, not even the weeds among the wheat. That does not mean that Hagee is a false prophet because many things he says are wrong. No one but the Lord has doctrine 100% right. But to be off so far in some ways… Read more »
This isn’t true. A false prophet mixes truth and error.
I agree Mike. A false prophet mixes enough truth to get someone relaxed enough with the teaching to not check the rest of what he or she teaches with scripture. They then begin to believe and implement everything he or she says without question, not checking it with scripture. Look how Satan got Eve to take that first bite. Look at cults.
meant to write “technically”….. and wanting to add about Hagee. It is not that he is deemed among the lost. I have no reason to think that Hagee doesn’t love Jesus. He is just not a good teacher of the scriptures, and people should be helped to understand how he misuses the scriptures to advance his viewpoints.
WAT? You mean it isn’t enough to SAY you love Jesus but you also have to obey him (including dividing the Word truthfully), too? HERESY!!! You’re just being divisive. Surely there is room under the big tent for everyone who SAY they believe in Jesus? Oh yeah…except for this tiny little verse:
“You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe–and they shudder. ” James 2:19 (Hard Core Southern Baptist)
Is that the HCSB version 🙂
Holman Christian Standard Bible==Hard-Core Southern Baptist, yes. I think Doug Hibbard introduced me to the alternative expansion of HCSB. Or one of the other SBCV wags.
“HCSB = Hard Core Southern Baptist”
I have used that term since the HCSB first came out…don’t know if you got it from me or not…but I have used it here several times.
I have heard others use it too – after I started saying it of course. 🙂
I am sure I am the one who coined it. 😉
verse has nothing in its original import to do with 20th century Christian theology and its nuances…but nice try.
Wow. Really? No import for 20th century theology? You’ve got to be kidding me.
I’m a little late to the party, but yeah Scott Shaver,”No import for 20th century theology? ”
Can you explain?
No problem, the verse quoted by Pugh in its original context distinguished between proper belief in God (i.e. via faith in and commitment to the person and work of Jesus Christ) as opposed to the other world religions of the period. Context, context, context. In it’s original context, the centuries of theological malaise (Calvinism and various other “isms”) weren’t yet blips on the radar screen of history. My concern about the ongoing demise of Southern Baptists has to do with the propensity of it’s current leadership tier to continue down the pathway of galloping theological creedalism. They continually work to… Read more »
I’m sorry, twas Greg Harvey who interjected the verse “demons also believe”.
So Scott, is that verse in James applicable in modern days in your view? Is not the verse applicable to say, a conversation with someone about genuine faith? Adrian Rogers used it this way: “A CLOSER LOOK AT “BELEIVE” The word believe doesn’t mean just an intellectual assent. It’s NOT saying, “Yes, I believe that’s probably the case.” At that level, all of us “believe” many things. James tells us that even the devil and his fallen angels “believe and tremble.” But to believe in the Biblical sense goes far deeper. When the Bible says “Believe on the Lord Jesus… Read more »
Scott, I realize it wasn’t you who interjected the James verse into the conversation. Rather it was you who said “verse has nothing in its original import to do with 20th century Christian theology and its nuances…but nice try.”
And this, “I wouldn’t expect you to appreciate this Les as your background is obviously not baptist.”
I do appreciate the discussion for sure as I actually do have a Southern Baptist background, having grown up in and saved when connected with a SB church and having graduated from a Baptist seminary.
The demons believe that God is One and Holy and Righteous and tremble because the promise to them is something anyone who truly believes would tremble at if the doom promised to demons was theirs.
We believe and obey because the promise to us is so wonderful that we are filled with gratitude. Thus we obey while rejoicing while they tremble in fear.
Our belief is in a trust due to His wonderful promises, while their belief is in a fear due to their pronounced condemnation.
mike