Left Behind???

This afternoon I was on my way home from afternoon church services when I heard a very interesting discussion on NPR. It was an interview with one of the authors of the “Left Behind” book series. It was either Tim LaHayne or Jerry B. Jenkins but I’m not sure which…

What was interesting is their concept of why they wrote the book. They state that their series is based on the book of Revelations in the Bible. And throughout the interview, the author made it clear that they felt the events they were writing about were the actual events that would take place one day (However a comment was also made that talked about writing ‘good fiction’). They made one particularly interesting comment; that when most readers read the book of Revelations, it is hard to interpret. Therefore, according to the authors, there could be hundreds of interpretations. But for some reason, they believe that their interpretation is correct…and that by reading their book, one could more easily understand the ‘allegory’ written in Revelations. The interviewer stated that several Theologians have refuted their writings as misinterpreted. The author then responded that either the theologians that did this had either not read their series, or had not read the Bible. I do not claim to be a Theologian but I do disagree with some of their interpretations (I sort of figured out some of them based on the interview), and no I haven’t read the series.

All of that isn’t even what I wanted to write about. There was one thing in particular that the author said that just really applied to my life. He was talking about how some people say to him that they don’t believe in everything they have written because they don’t believe a good God would send anyone to Hell. His reply in my opinion was outstanding. He said that God has given man the chance to obey him and that he wants everyone to go to heaven. God doesn’t “send” anyone to Hell…some just choose not to believe and therefore choose for themselves to go to Hell. Sometimes, because of my beliefs, people feel that I (and those who have the same beliefs as me) look down in condescension on them and think that we are better than them because we feel that we will go to Heaven and they will not. The author also tackled this issue and it could not be truer, at least from my perspective and from my experiences. We do not look down on you because we think we are going to Heaven, we FEAR for you. It is our desire, just as it is God’s that you go to Heaven. It is not condescension that we feel towards the lost; it is a desire to help so that our own fear can be quenched. I hope I haven’t offended anyone with these comments because that is the last thing I want to do. And it is not my goal to judge anyone; that is up to God. I would much rather try to reason with you based on the scriptures found in the Bible and discuss the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ….so that you and I can have the ‘peace that surpasses all understanding’ (Phil. 4:7).

So whereas I do not agree with all the interpretations from the book of Revelations that the writers of the “Left Behind” series have made, I do agree with some of the points that are made. I want to share the GOOD news with everyone and let everyone know that there is a way through Jesus the Christ to not be the one “Left Behind.”

P.S.
For more info please leave comments.
Also, see: Acts 2:37-38, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 22:16
And lots more. These are just some ‘to the point’ passages that you might be interested in.