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Review Summary: Pros and cons of both the book and its content. Also, a suggestion. |
Date: 2009-01-01 |
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Details: I have long had a few beefs with Left Behind theology, as much as I appreciate the evangelistic impetus it has created (not to mention the resurgence of Kirk Cameron).
First, I do not find a pre-trib rapture view likely biblical at all, and this book does a good job of pointing out how very new (and weak) this theological vision is.
Second, I am not a fan of codifying and reducing all end time prophecy either (a) at the loss of further layers of meaning, (b) at the loss of immediate and historical context where those may exist, (c) to the encouragement of unhealthy social/political conduct varying between reading all of news through this lens, particularly as dictated by a very narrow camp, to the potential loss of critical thought, ceasing to care actively for the earth and justice, being *blindly* supportive of everything the Israeli government might do (and I DO, DO, DO support Israel), becoming isolationist to the point of no longer taking real responsibility for our engagement of culture, etc. or (d)to have prideful or a-little-too-neat surety of precisely how things will play out. Since these are some of the opening and conluding points the author makes in this book, I laud him on that. At the same time, I feel like he suggests all dispensationalists do this (and while he does intimate at times that there is some variety in the dispensational camp, considering all of his criticism I feel he does it an injustice by not spelling some of this variety out) and, moreover, that all classical dispensationalists fall prey to these issues even to the point of not seeing further layers (not, in my experience, true among many of the more thoughtful). So his argument or insinuation that dispensationalism overall sucks creativity out of our approach to the end times and the glory of God stands uncomfortably on one leg, imo.
More about the book:
I appreciate some windows it gives me on other camps' thoughts on Revelation. I'd just begun looking into these myself after having mostly just read Revelation on my own. I'd never sat under any teaching on it, just chewed the scroll, mostly for spiritual applications, revelation of Christ's glory, and some cautious but compelling futurist thoughts. I'd also read what I now know to call preterist commentary. However, in this book, I do not find the layout of camps particularly clear or sufficiently thorough (I know this is not the place for "thorough," but I find the offering far too slim). There are some great isolated points to mull (quotes of past theologians that bring unique cultural perspective), but he would have done well to have some clear breakdowns of camps, etc. if only in the form of a chart. I think a novice reader wouldn't even know where to begin looking once they've put down this book.
I take major issue with the replacement theology emphasis of the book. He never uses the terminology, but it is the point of his chapter on Israel. At the same time, his explanation of the way the Church fulfills prophecy is rich on many points. I just find it terrible that Israel is written out. I do not believe it is either/or but both and.
We can all look at apocalyptic movements in history that have been "off" and shake our heads. It is easy from this vantage point. And I believe that as a result our pride may actually keep us from considering a soon-coming end-time scenario even when we should. Of course we will not know the date and the hour. That much is clear from scripture. We may, however, know times and seasons and know these more maturely as they near(Jeremiah 23:20; Daniel 12:4,9) if only in part. Likewise fear may keep us from taking such scenarios seriously--fear of falling into personal error, fear of trials to befall man and the earth, etc. In reality, past apocalyptic movements have largely been a very small pocket of the population and very brief. In contrast, a huge portion of Christians (and non-Christians!) in the earth today believe, at least vaguely, that Revelation is upon us, and they have far more scriptural evidence to point to than any other age. This is worth considering. If we are willing to look at some of the things the dispensational camp is saying and to at least incorporate their possibilities beside our historical, symbolic, and spiritual reads of the book, we may find some soberly compelling points.
One of the interpretations I have just begun to look at lately is that espoused by the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (see talks/notes from an end-times conference here:http://38.100.176.140/vod/pl/otarch.html. I particularly appreciate Stuart Greaves' talk on Justice from December 31). They believe Christians will see the tribulation, but they are pre-millenial dispensationalists. They are more literal (and anti-symbolic save where the text specifies symbolism) in their end-time scenarios than I currently believe we are necessarily assured of, but at the very least they do not fall prey to point "C" above. They are zealous in their beliefs but also welcome their students to study it for themselves and challenge them. Anyhow, I don't know if I will ever swallow all they say (I believe in considering genre when looking at interpretation, I find the argument for "plain reading" to be an inconsistent one when you look at things like plucking out our eyes, etc., I see layers in all of scripture and don't want to negate those in any degree, and I see evidence of both symbolic and literal use of numbers throughout scripture), but I agree (and pretty much have for a long while) with the general scenario that we will be entering tribulation and that these things will come to pass (even if not precisely in the details or order promulgated by any one camp's interpretation). Their call to prayer, personal holiness, generosity with finances, proclamation of Jesus, and acts of justice (with a steadfast eye on Jesus) is certainly a sound one even if you were to fault them on other points. As you might expect by their "plain read" hermeneutics, they are somewhat more critical of the emerging church movement than many readers of this book would be, and so I forewarn you on that. (Fuller disclosure: with my limited exposure to the emerging community and writings, I agree with some but certainly not all of their criticisms.) |
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Review Summary: I AM NO LONGER BEFUDDLED! |
Date: 2008-11-12 |
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Details: Gordon Isaac's book Left Behind or Left Befuddled delivers a cogent affront against the faulty hermeneutic of the Left Behind stance, reminding readers that Dispensationalism, from which stems the secret rapture doctrine, is not rooted in the historical and apostolic faith--Dispensationalism is a 19th century concoction! Isaac's monograph is not only salient critique, it is also a corrective. As an historian and theologian the author traces both the major historical events which have lead to the said hermeneutical misperception, and the major biblical texts which are said to support and substantiate the doctrine of the "secret rapture" and the "end-times calendar." The result of these moves are reconstructing an accurate vantage of God's plan and purpose for the Christian community and indeed the world; rather than waiting to fly away (rapture), the Christians are to engage in the work of the Kingdom of God, what aspects are in the here-and-now. Gordon Isaac does an effective job in recapturing the Christian imagination by bringing readers back to a Christocentric worldview with accurate historical interpretation and biblical theology as reliable modus. |
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Review Summary: Excellent Analysis |
Date: 2008-11-09 |
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Details: The book "Left Behind or Left Befuddled" by Dr. Gordon Isaac provides and unique and thorough analysis of the eschatological viewpoints made popular in the "Left Behind" Series. The analysis is one I found to be very thorough and well laid out. It is also worth noting that the book was written in such a style that made for a very easy read. I wholeheartedly recommend this book, giving it 5 stars! |
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Review Summary: Excellent advice and information! |
Date: 2008-09-30 |
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Details: Gordon Isaac provides his readers with thoughtful insight and information concerning the eschatology that is behind Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins 12-volume book series. He shows why it is subtly dangerous without sounding alarmist. He avoids the condemnation that many critics of the Left Behind series have engaged in: he criticizes without the hostility. He provides alternative approaches to Bible passages like Jesus's Olivet Discourse (Matt.24, Mark 13, Luke 21) and the book of Revelation that are just as orthodox--that is, one can embrace them and still be a Christian.
This book is very enlighting!
B. A. Rainey
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Review Summary: Complete and Concise Critique of Left Behind Series |
Date: 2008-09-17 |
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Details: When one searches for "rapture," "apocalypse," or "end times" on this or other book sites, one is inundated with flashy and ominous titles and pictures of camels and helicopters. The hysteria and drama surrounding "charting" the Bible's prophetic passages and determining their modern meaning is apparent when one just glances at the search results. The frustrating part is the sheer volume of Dispensational work out there compared to the relatively limited work on other viewpoints, especially considering the fact that Dispensational theology is not in line with the historic interpretation, let alone conversation, of the church; a point Dr. Gordon Isaac points out in his well researched and written; Left Behind or Left Befuddled: The Subtle Dangers of Popularizing the End Times.
Dr. Isaac's obsession with history is apparent as he leads the reader through the development of Dispensational thought (chs. 1-2), focusing attention on the doctrines that set it (far) apart from orthodoxy such as the Secret Rapture of the Church (ch. 3) and the identity of Israel vs. the Church (ch. 4). He then guides the reader through implications, both negative and positive, of Dispensational and other forms of eschatological and apocalyptic thought (ch. 5). His final chapter encourages the reader to allow the Book of Revelation to capture her spiritual imagination for the purpose of instilling greater hope of final rest and redemption with Christ (ch. 6).
An important theme emerges in the book "...The Left Behind series, for all its talk about the literal interpretation of Scripture, is really not about the text at all. Certain Scripture passages become talking points for what really drives the system - the apocalyptic mindset... The millennial mindset becomes a platform from which everything else draws its meaning." (109-110) Dr. Isaac carefully and concisely dissects the commonly used "talking points" of Scripture to show that millennial hysteria does not emerge out of the text, but is applied to it.
Dr. Gordon Isaac has provided a well rounded critique of the Left Behind system of thought, which clearly seeks not to harm or insult LaHaye or others of that camp, but rather Dr. Isaac's intent is to release people from the yoke of confusing and pointless end-time speculation, freeing them to live in and for Christ right now.
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out of 7 Reviews
