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Review Summary: Study Guide Mistake |
Date: 2008-09-20 |
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Details: Thought I was ordering the book, not the study guide.
The way it was listed it looked like the real book and not a small booklet.
Dead subject anyway. |
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Review Summary: Highly Recommended From Former Fundee |
Date: 2008-09-17 |
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Details: I was planning, somewhere in the back of my mind, on writing a review of Dr. Paul Thigpen's "The Rapture Trap" when I got around to it. Then I happened to read David Lesniak's one-star review along with the ridiculously childish commentary by "A Kid's Review" urging us to accept the rapture "because Jack Van Impe said so." Now, I must speak. I realize the purpose of this forum is to review the work in question, not comment on other reviews. But these two reviews are part of a larger problem as will be quickly evident. So, I will focus on the former and incorporate the later in my review.
First, and most importantly, I was particularly intrigued with Dr. Thigpen's work because he and I came from similar backgrounds. He's a former evangelical Protestant. So am I. He converted to the Roman Catholic faith. So did I. Therefore, I feel uniquely qualified to comment on "The Rapture Trap."
The book is extremely well written, well documented with footnotes and an excellent "For Further Reading" appendix. The book may be divided into three parts, (although Dr. Thigpen himself doesn't come right out and make such delineations). The first part of the book states the problem, i.e. the "rapture" belief itself followed by an in-depth examination of the theology behind not only Christ's second coming, but his first, from the Catholic perspective. In fact, this makes up the majority of the book. In beginning his work in this manner, Dr. Thigpen lays an important foundation for his discussion. A lesser author or apologist could've easily fallen into the trap of coming out like gang busters with both guns blazing away at his opponents' theology. Instead, he patiently develops his thesis by devoting the first five chapters to laying down indispensable groundwork for discussing the entire issue.
The second, and in my opinion the best, part of the book is chapter six, where he traces the origins of the "secret rapture" teaching. And no, it's not the Bible as Mr. Lesniak's review suggests. The simple truth of the matter is the "secret rapture teaching" didn't become solidified until the 1800s under John Nelson Darby founder of the Plymouth Bretheren. None of the Protestant reformers mentioned the "secret rapture teaching." Lesniak doesn't explain that. None of the early church fathers mention it. Lesniak doesn't mention that either. Lesniak also conveniently leaves out the fact that the belief isn't even widely held among all Protestants. It's almost exclusive to the Pentecostal, fundamentalist, evangelical branch of Protestantism, particularly those that hold dispensationalist views.
The third part consists of chapters eight and nine, the last two chapters of the book. Chapter eight informs the reader what the Catholic church does, and does not, teach about the "end times." The last chapter deals with the problem of "private revelation" of God's word, which has its origins in sola scriptura, and the inherent problems with both, as evidenced by Mr. Lesniak's review. Mr. Lesniak left his Catholic faith because he said he had questions after reading the Bible at the urging of a nun. If he had questions after reading the Bible, he could've asked a priest, a bishop, a cardinal, or a qualified Catholic youth counselor. He could've even asked to attend RCIA for a "refresher course" in his faith and studied the catechism or corresponded with Catholic apologists. Instead, he asks questions, doesn't get the right answers, then turns his back on his faith, then joins with countless others who've accepted what amounts to someone else's "private revelation" apart from the teaching authority of the church. In short, Mr. Lesniak became part of the problem that necessitates the work of people like Dr. Thigpen.
Two outstanding points made by Dr. Thigpen need referencing:
The first is a simple mathematical truth that as far as I can tell hasn't occurred to anyone else before. If the "secret rapture" teaching were true, that would mean Jesus comes back twice, not just once, as is the standard Christian belief. If Jesus comes to "snatch away the church" prior to the "tribulation period," then comes again in glory to reign at the end of the "tribulation," that's not one instance of his return, but two. Nowhere in the scriptures or in the sacred tradition (as opposed to the "traditions of men") does it mention that Jesus returns twice.
The second is the fact that the belief in the rapture is closely entwined with anti-Catholicism. Dr. Thigpen points out on page 19 those who believe in the "rapture" are quick to warn Catholics that unless we renounce our beliefs, we too, can be "left behind." Dr. Thigpen alludes to the fact that one of the authors of the "Left Behind" series, Dr. Timothy LaHaye, holds very anti-Catholic views (Dr. LaHaye graduated from Bob Jones University, an institution that doesn't hold charitable views toward Rome). But to Dr. Thigpen's credit, he simply points this out, doesn't dwell on it, and is in no way uncharitable toward Dr. LaHaye, other than to point out his beliefs are in error.
Dr. Thigpen graduated with a B.A. suma cum laude from Yale University where he began his studies in eschatology and went on to earn his M.A. and Ph.D. in historical theology. When a former evangelical Protestant with Dr. Thigpen's credentials writes a 261 page book that seriously calls into question the belief in the so-called "rapture," we should at least seriously examine his arguments. Instead, all Mr. Lesniak and "The Kid" do are fall back on personal conversion experiences, personal Bible interpretations and because a noted televangelist "says so."
That's not good enough!
As a former evangelical/fundamentalist Protestant, I've read many books by Catholic apologists. I've read the Amazon reviews and commentaries on those reviews. I've noticed that the negative reviews written by anti-Catholic fundamentalists on works by Catholic apologists tend to follow a pattern. They're usually A) short, B) use the same catch-words and phrases ("apostasy," "blasphemy," "read the Bible.." etc.) and C) fail to address the salient points raised by the Catholic authors. Mr. Lesniak's review fails to address a single relevant point raised by Dr. Thigpen (save for the one respecting the origins of the rapture teaching, which I've already refuted). Instead, he lists five scriptures which he purports "proves" the rapture. Four of the scriptures he cites has nothing to do with anything even remotely resembling the rapture teaching. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 is the one some Protestants have used to supposedly "prove" the rapture but this is but one interpretation, one which is not shared by Catholic and mainline Protestant Christians. Don't take my word for it. Read them for yourself. How Mr. Lesniak gets the "rapture" out of Isaiah 26: 19-21, for example, is beyond me.
I cannot recommend Dr. Thigpen's book more highly.
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Review Summary: This is it! |
Date: 2007-10-22 |
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Details: A good explanation of dispensationalism and the end times. A must read for anyone interested in this topic. |
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Review Summary: Not the easiest read, but worth the effort |
Date: 2007-06-20 |
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Details: The only star missing here is because of one of the book's strengths, and that is due to its thorough historical and Scriptural exegesis - which makes it a little verbose and tough to digest at times.
Not that it's a bad thing - the concepts discussed are highly complex, from eschatological expectations throughout history to symbolism in 1st Century literature, both of which are deeply germane to the topic and support the differences in understanding that arise among 21st century readers from 1st century communications.
This is an effective and thorough undertaking of Rapture, one of the many "Traditions" adhered to by evangelicals. |
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Review Summary: Breaking the Trap |
Date: 2006-07-01 |
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Details: The Left Behind phenomenon has finally awoken many churches how poorly they have been explaining their beliefs on the end times. A welcome change has been the large number of books appearing recently from the Catholic, Orthodox, and Reformational traditions to combat this deficiency. Paul Thigpen adds his contribution to this growing counter to the errors of dispensationalism with The Rapture Trap - a book warning Catholics of the dangers of the theological errors and anti-Catholic polemic at the root of the movement.
Thingpen addresses his book to Catholics. He is a staunch believer in the claims of the Catholic Church and makes no pretense of partiality. Although he would no doubt approve of Protestants reading his book and coming to see his view as correct, there is little in the way of an olive branch provided. The book ends up having two major themes - the errors of rapture theology and the necessity of the role of the Roman magaisterium in maintaining correct beliefs - and on the book should be judged on these two points.
After an initial discussion of the Left Behind premise, Thigpen moves to examining the purpose of the first and second comings of Christ and the age of the Church between them. Unlike many "prophecy experts" who try to correlate end times prophecies to current events, Thigpen seeks to first understand the overall economy of salvation before approaching the specific events. The role of the Sacraments in the eschatological vision - overlooked in much of Protestantism - is explained from the Catholic perspective. Only after formulating a framework for understanding the overall message does he them turn to particular passages. Here he does not give an extended exegesis but a general understanding of how the passages relate to endtimes events and how the dispensational view falls far short in this regard.
Thigpen then turns to an overview of the development of eschatology within the Church. In this brief synopsis, he quotes from various Church Fathers and demonstrates the late development of the rapture doctrine. He then goes on to expose the anti-Catholic nature of the Rapture and argues for the importance of the Roman Magisterium in preserving true doctrine. This is followed by a sequence of events that is consistent with official Catholic teaching on the end times.
Thigpen closes with a discussion on the thorny issue of private revelation. Focusing on a number of noted private revelations, he argues that Catholics must - as in all matters - follow the lead of the Magiserium in judging the faithfulness of these revelations to Catholic teaching. Here, as throughout the book, the Tradition of the Catholic Church is taken as the sure guide to correct Biblical interpretation.
While assuning Catholic teaching is correct should hardly be surprising in a book written by a Catholic for other Catholics, there is a sense of Roman triumphalism that is the only unsatisfying aspect of the book. Thigpen ignores the fact that most non-Catholic views of eschatology throughout history are not that different than the views held by Catholics. The major figures of the Reformation were largely amillennialist as are the Orthodox Churches. The dispensational view is a byproduct of how Christianity developed in America and cannot be generalized to Protestantism elsewhere. Furthermore, Catholics have been as prone to strange endtimes delusions as anyone else - as the apocalyptic tone of many Marian apparitions can attest.
Aside from the sometimes overdone Catholic cheerleading, Thigpen presents a strong case against the Rapture. For faithful Catholics reading the book, he will likely succeed in exposing the weaknesses of dispensational eschatology and give a solid understanding of the Catholic view. For this and not the sometimes caustic approach to other Christian traditions, The Rapture Trap is recommended.
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out of 34 Reviews
