THE LAST DAYS of RICK WARREN, TIM LaHAYE & HANK HANEGRAAFF The Prophetic Sequence – Part XXIII By Doug Krieger Astounding – don’t you think – to approach the conclusion of this 24-part series with a mystifying double entendre. Indeed, why settle for innuendo when we can have fun, serious fun, at that—but that’s not why all these guys are smiling is it? Initially, I had in mind the notion to summarize the entire 24-part series within the confines of this inflation; however, upon witnessing brother Tim LaHaye, with cohort Jerry Jenkins and Joel Rosenberg on the Glenn Beck Show (CNN), announcing: “Of course, the good news is – and there’s got to be some good news in this – is that Jesus Christ is going to come and rapture all of his believers out of this world before that (i.e., the Antichrist on the earth in physical form) takes place. That’s one of the reasons I believe that America is not mentioned in Bible prophecy” . . . and that Iraq is about to turn into the megalomaniacal capital of Babylon the Great as “foretold”somewhere in the Bible . . . and whereas, Hank Hanegraaff, the Bible Answer Man, has just released THE APOCALYPSE CODE – a blistering attack on the likes of Tim LaHaye and Hal Lindsey’s “historical-grammatical” interpretation of Bible prophecy (e.g., Israel’s rebirth, a literal Antichrist, end-time’s apostasy, the Tribulation, etc., are theologically bogus, perhaps heresy) while announcing that virtually all of the Revelation was fulfilled before it was ever written . . . and whereas, the Purpose-Driven Rick Warren finds Bible Prophecy disinteresting at best and a grandiose distraction at worst – a veritable waste of time and money (although one might argue that point with LaHaye) . . . hence, I’m purposefully driven (no pun intended) to hop into these apocalyptic extremities and provide you with yet a fourth smiling face . . . somehow keeping in mind and spirit that these are all dear brethren in Christ—so bear with our food fight if you must! Utterly amazing – Hanegraaff manages to completely elevate Christians as the Origen-allegorical-supersessionism-winner-take-all Church Triumphant, eliminating Israel’s witness now and forevermore – whereas, LaHaye does the opposite, at the Church’s most critical hour of witness, we’re raptured prior to the reign of Antichrist —leaving Israel to fend for herself while the two witnesses literally breath fire from their mouths . . . but Rick Warren does it best – both are irrelevant . . . it’s time to “cross over” or “transition” into the purpose driven world of CFR member Rick Warren and watch how peace between Moslems and Jews can be negotiated with the likes of President Bashar Assad of Syria (old news but frightening indeed—even Nancy Pelosi’s giving it a shot). So, if we must begin somewhere, let’s begin nowhere! IT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS Nowhere – because as America’s Pastor – at least pastor of America’s dialectic church – we are cordially admonished: “Today there’s a growing interest in the second coming of Christ and the end of the world. When will it happen? Just before Jesus ascended to heaven the disciples asked him the same question, and his response was quite revealing. “He said, ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ “When the disciples wanted to talk about prophecy, Jesus quickly switched the conversation to evangelism. He wanted them to concentrate on their mission to the world. He said in essence, ‘The details of my return are none of your business. What is your business is the mission I have given you. Focus on that!’ “Speculating on the exact timing of Christ’s return is futile, because Jesus said, ‘No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’ Since Jesus said he didn’t know the day or hour, why should you try to figure it out? What we do know for sure is this: Jesus will not return until everyone God wants to hear the Good News has heard it. Jesus said, ‘the Good News about God’s kingdom will be preached in all the world, to every nation. Then the end will come.’ If you want Jesus to come back sooner, focus on fulfilling your mission, not figuring out prophecy. “It is easy to get distracted and sidetracked from your mission because Satan would rather have you do anything besides sharing your faith. He will let you do all kinds of good things as long as you don’t take anyone to heaven with you. But the moment you become serious about your mission, expect the Devil to throw all kinds of diversions at you. When that happens, remember the words of Jesus: ‘Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.’” (The Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren, pp. 285-286) Hey, pretty heady stuff here – “Prophecy is a diversion of the Devil” – man, this site is in big trouble – and, so is the Bible itself which calculates upwards of two-thirds of its message as prophetic, let alone the whole Book must be considered as a Divine Witness to humanity—forth telling and foretelling. Worse yet, “I’m not fit for the Kingdom of God” – might as well “spew me out of His mouth!” Furthermore, Satan’s got me distracted – so, what work does God have planned FOR ME? Or, better put: How can I bring about the Second Coming of Christ? And, sounds like, if enough of us get on “the mission” it’ll happen posthaste! Then again, who knows – after all, it’s not our/MY business in any event—I just need to stay focused. Focused? What might that fixation entail? P.E.A.C.E. According to Rick Warren God’s timetable for history’s conclusion IS connected to the completion of our commission. Hence, the WHATEVER IT TAKES to bring on the Second Coming of Christ was launched—a.k.a., THE GLOBAL P.E.A.C.E. plan before an enthusiastic audience of 30,000+ at Anaheim Stadium on Sunday, April 17, 2005. Rick kicked off the global festivities by announcing what he always wanted to do in the stadium of the angels . . . impersonate Jimi Hendrix’s hit song, Purple Haze! So, as the church band celebrated the psychedelic lyrics of the drop dead on drugs Hendrix’s melody, and America’s Pastor doing his rendition, the audience broke out in laughter—somehow, it all began to make sense! Purple haze all in my brain Lately things just don’t seem the same Actin’ funny, but I don’t know why ‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky. Purple haze all around Don’t know if I’m comin’ up or down Am I happy or in misery? Whatever it is that girl put a spell on me Purple haze all in my eyes Don’t know if it’s day or night You got me blowin’, blowin’ my mind Is it tomorrow, or just the end of time? Well, Rick, guess what? It is the END OF TIME! Your NEW world spiritual awakening for the 21st Century—the “Global Movement, a New Reformation” of DEEDS, not DOCTRINE (as in the first Reformation around Luther’s time)—is in a direct collision course with the end of the world as we know it (another catchy tune). What a legacy—it just keeps comin’ at you – “The Philosophy of Achievement” by Napoleon Hill; the “Possibility Thinking” of Norman Vincent Peale and “Self-Esteem” devotee Robert Schuller; the positive bag-it and brag-it rhetoric of Kenneth Hagin/Kenneth Copeland; the “seeker sensitive” Bill Hybels; the “Apostles and Prophets Movement” of C. Peter Wagner – and now (and this partial list of affirmations scarcely scratches the surface) behold, THE MAN OF PEACE, who, as Napoleon Hill (only in America) asserts: “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” What’s this thing about all these acronyms? Something about Southern California and Disneyland? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E – that’s got to be it! Hanegraaff’s entire read is based on L.I.G.H.T.S. and L.E.G.A.C.Y. Well, he sprouted from Southern California; near the Wonderful World of Disney . . . so let us review: (Note: Sing last line s-l-o-w-l-y for emphasis) But there’s more – and somewhat apropos for the occasion, wouldn’t you know it . . . Now, let’s get serious here – P.E.A.C.E. A little intro would be helpful Rick: “The bottom line is that we intend to reinvent mission strategy in the 21st century. As I stated, this will be a new Reformation. The First Reformation returned us to the message of the original church. It was a reformation of doctrine – what the church BELIEVES. This Second Reformation will return us to the mission of the original church. It will be a reformation of PURPOSE – what the church DOES in the world.” “Our goal will be to enlist one billion foot soldiers for the Kingdom of God, who will permanently change the face of international missions to take on these five ‘global giants’ for which the church can become the ultimate distribution and change agent to overcome Spiritual emptiness, Self-serving Leadership, Poverty, disease and ignorance (or illiteracy)” (http://www.letusreason.org/Popteac26.htm) Arising from the purple haze of Anaheim Stadium were the Five Pillars of Warren: How to bring on the Second Coming of Christ—which avoids landing upon the ashes of Armageddon (that happened back in 70 A.D. according to astute Biblicists on Bible Prophecy like Hanegraaff) but safely upon the peaceful Garden of Eden or “Paradise Restored”—all prefaced by: “If Jesus Christ does not come back in a thousand years from today there will be no organizations or government… there will be a Church.” (Note: Once you figure out what America’s Pastor meant by that statement, let me know - enquiring minds and all . . . .) (P.S. – The lighting at Saddleback was designed by aDisneyland engineer.) (1) P = Plant churches (Whoops – time to accommodate again) . . . PARTNER with other entities . . . as in: “We’ll work with everyone who wants to help . . . I’ll (Warren) work with an atheist who wants to stop AIDS.” Yep, plant churches – point of fact: “You’ve heard me (Warren) say many times that the greatest thing you can do with your life is tell somebody about Jesus and invite them to come to know Him . . . And I’ve always said that was the greatest thing you could do with your life. I was wrong. There is one thing you can do greater than share Jesus Christ with somebody, and it is help start a church.” (A Global Peace Plan, Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason Ministries, 2006). Let the unmitigated absurdity of the remark stand condemned as is! “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . but we preach Christ crucified . . . the wisdom of God and the power of God” (Gal. 6:14; I Cor. 1:23-24). Sorry, we don’t preach the Church—neither does the Church save us . . . let the Reformers of the Second Reformation reflect upon their heritage: “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). (2) E = Equip servant leaders . . . as in Purpose Driven Life . . . which, once and for all, puts you into “mission mindset” juxtaposed over and against the insidious negativity of Last Days Judgment baloney that straightjackets the saints and makes you unfit for the Kingdom of God . . . but this leads us to . . . (3) A = Assist the poor . . . and isn’t it about time for our 400,000 church-pastor network in 162 countries, along with 23 million copies of my book, to get with the mission . . . after all “Today, most local churches are sidelined and uninvolved when it comes to missions . . . These giant problems (i.e., the “five biggies” – Spiritual Lostness, Lack of Godly Leaders, Poverty, Disease, and Lack of Education) are so big that neither the government, nor all the NGOs (non-government organizations) can tackle them. There is only one group large enough to tackle these global issues – the Christian church in all its local expressions around the world . . . These problems, and the answers, are not new . . . But THE WAY WE INTEND to tackle them using the small groups of local churches in large numbers is revolutionary.” Again, Oppenheimer drops a bomb on Warren’s revelatory genius: “What does Warren think we have been doing? Many have already been doing this for some time. There have been many organizations and churches, missions abroad who are actively involved in this for years. This is not something new; this is something churches have been doing all over the world. Although his proposal seems to take this into a worldwide scale that certainly is unprecedented, it also has him as the head of it. The church is not the answer—Jesus Christ is. Good works will not save souls, the gospel will.” (Ibid., A Global Peace Plan) 
(5) E = Educate the next generation . . . by walking hand in hand with UNESCO, and if a little evangelism takes place along the way – so be it! Yes, “WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE COULD MOBILIZE CHURCHES TO ADDRESS THOSE FIVE GLOBAL GIANTS?”
So . . . how does Rick’s P.E.A.C.E. get mobilized or “What you’re doing is speaking so loud I can’t hear what you’re saying!”
DIVERTED BY THE DEVIL or THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT?
Preterism is an archaic form of amillennialism which has taken on new life as the “peace and justice” folks at Fuller Seminary continue to ramp up their incursions into culture and society. C. Peter Wagner, Rick Warren, John Wimber and a goodly number of cultural revolutionaries have decided that the bestWeltanschauung is to man the bilge pumps on the Titanic and affirm its salvage from above, not below. Indifference to the plight of humanity is the purview of heavenly minded Dispensationalists whose gloom and doom message of final apostasy, Antichrist-Beast, Babylon the Great, False Prophet, a racist-Israeli State full of Jews and final Armageddon just don’t sell well with the masses; therefore, it’s high time to reconnoiter . . . assess the damage this theological enemy has done to the Church and move out with a “can do” attitude – after all, “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
Postmillenarianism is another washed out form of utopian, Church-triumphant, Augustinian-Origen-style masterpiece of eschatological bankruptcy. One would have concluded – at least someone with a minimal amount of brain power – that the Social Gospel crowd which evolved during the ashes of World Wars I and II, having lived through the scourges of man’s inhumanity to man (notwithstanding all the falderal of man’s basic, innate goodness rhetoric to the contrary) should have ended utopian pursuits long ago . . . instead, as we persist on the verge of Armageddon, worse now than ever before, the social reconstructionists launch yet another foray to spare the human race. Ashes inspired, not thwarted the likes of John Foster Dulles and the irrepressible longing for humankind to surmount its dark side—overcome the selfishness of nation states and eventually go global for the common good. Alas! Socialism lives to enjoy another day in the sun.
Now, I don’t want to loose you here – grief, you just might get caught up in the absurd notion that heaven on earth is just around the corner if you’d just get off your duff and join the happy chorus: Hey! there, Hi! there, Ho! There!
No, I have no intention of apologizing for my sarcasm. It’s the only thing refreshing going on in this diatribe of nonsense spewing forth from non-prophet potentates convinced—just as the post-millenarians were after World War I (then came Hitler, the Depression, Communism and the Cold War, and now Radical Islam) that PEACE IN OUR TIME could be had on the cheap by just going over and talking with Hitler—WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
P.E.A.C.E. IN OUR TIME?
Denials, charges and counter charges abound – but whatever happened when Rick decided to play globetrotter peacenik with the likes of Syrian President Bashar Assad sure looked strange – for a variety of plausible reasons—reasons which are all the more disturbing when after Rick’s visit, November 16, 2006, Pierre Gemayel, the Christian Lebanese Minister of Industry and the son of former President Amin Gemayel, was assassinated (November 21, 2006) and then the Syrian propaganda machinery cranked up to herald its benevolent tolerance between Moslems and its Christian minorities—minorities under the heel of Islamic “dhimmi.”
Here’s what WND had to say, coupled with the remarks of the ever-in-your-face-the-Syrian-government-are-terrorists personality of Brigitte Gabriel whose family and Christian Lebanese suffered years under Syrian oppression:
So why did Warren go and why is Joe Farah sideways (Joe has a Lebanese background and wrote seven articles in WNDdenouncing Warren’s trip) – we’ll let Paul Proctor’s December 4, 2006 article on What Rick Warren Wants expose this Chamberlain-style effort in diplomacy as he quotes Joe Farah’s outrage in News With Views.
“Let’s be clear about what Rick Warren did and why he is being criticized.
“It’s not because he met with Syrian President Bashar Assad. In fact, I would encourage any Christian leader who can get in Assad’s face to do so. He needs to be called to account for keeping Christians in Syria in a state of ‘dhimmi’ status. He needs to be called to account for murdering Christian political leaders like Pierre Gemayel. He needs to be called to account for his continued repression of his own people as well as those of Lebanon. He needs to be called to account for his support for the terrorist organization Hezbollah. He needs to be called to account for allowing his country to play host to more terrorist organizations than any other country in the world.
“So, I did not criticize him for meeting with Assad. I criticized him for playing footsie with the dictator, for giving him cover to continue his atrocities against believers and non-believers alike, for lying to the world about the state of the church in Syria and for not even mentioning Assad’s bellicose threats to the very existence of the state of Israel.”
Paul Proctor . . .
C.F.R.
You thought CFR meant: CHRISTIANS FOR RICK – to the contrary, it stands for COUNCIL on FOREIGN RELATIONS. A muckiety-muck organization which dwells heavily on the radar of virtually every conspiratorialists this side of the abyss. To a very real degree I’d have to agree—these folks are big time “at it” when it comes to global peace initiatives and one world government stuff; and, when one of their own like Rick Warren mounts the latest P.E.A.C.E. offensive . . . man, what can you say or what did you say?
Yes, Rick’s a card-carrying member of the elites and proud of it.
Kjos conspiratorializes . . . .
“Why would the globalist Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) invite a Christian Pastor to join its semi-secret, anti-Christian organization?
“How might Rick Warren benefit the elite Oxford Analytica, which works with globalist power brokers such as J.P. Morgan, the Aspen Institute, and the World Bank?
“What could drive Pastor Warren to lie and deny his taped dialogue with a Syrian Muslin leader?” (Ibid.)
“Rich Warren seems more than happy to be the Pied Piper that ushers churches into the organizational web envisioned by the CFR – the guiding political force behind the visible global management system.”
You don’t want to get close to Kjos rapier – especially if you’re Rick Warren . . .
“Like the CFR and the media it controls, Rick Warren has mastered the dialectic skill of speaking out of both sides of his mouth. He knows how to cloak worldly ambitions in words that resemble Biblical humility. He hides his emphasis on social collectivism behind Biblical words that promise oneness in Christ. And he promotes the Communitarian agenda while acknowledging the Kingdom of God.” (Ibid.)
CFR and the Social Gospel
What goes around, comes around. Even so, when Rick Warren responded to a recent radio interview posted at www.familylife.com in the context of “Seeing the AIDS Crisis through God’s Eyes” and how the “Social Gospel” and its excesses might enter into the equation of Rick’s current Global Peace initiative – well, the exchange was telling:
“Bob (the radio interviewer): Let me ask all three of you – there are some who would look at this emphasis and say, ‘You know, 50, 60 years ago, the church got distracted with what became known as the ‘social gospel,’ and forgot evangelism, forgot the spiritual needs of people.’ Are we in danger of doing that again?”
For definitions, Wikipedia says that the Social Gospel is the following:
“The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Social Gospel principles continue to inspire newer movements such as Christians Against Poverty. The movement applies Christian principles to social problems, especially poverty, inequality, liquor, crime, racial tensions, slums, bad hygiene, poor schools, and the danger of war. Theologically, the Social Gospel leaders were overwhelmingly post-millennialist. That is they believed the Second Coming could not happen until humankind rid itself of social evils by human effort. For the most part, they rejected pre-millennialist theology (which was predominant in the Southern United States), according to which the Second Coming of Christ was imminent, and Christians should devote their energies to preparing for it rather than addressing the issue of social evils. Social Gospel leaders were predominantly liberal politically and theologically.”
Hummmm…can’t have the Second Coming until humankind rids itself of social evils by human effort? Right – the Second Coming can’t happen until we get with the mission!
Frankly, the old Social Gospel folks had been so desensitized to preaching the gospel of the grace of God because so-called higher criticism had eclipsed the core of the Biblical message—instead the uncompromised Gospel message was transformed into the gradiose idea of the universal brotherhood of all mankind. Thus, human activity gradually replaced the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
Warren’s new reformation – second reformation – proffers a new-and-improved social gospel – but it sure bears the markings of the old Social Gospel . . . even the CFR connection is there!
“At the Indianapolis quadrennial in 1932 the Federal Council of Churches (forebare of the National Council of Churches) presented its revised version of the Social Creed of 1908. The new Creed outlined the Council’s program for transforming American society into a Christian collectivism. By applying the principles of socialism, as expounded by Walter Rauschenbusch, the Kingdom of God on earth would be set up according to the ecumenical ideal. A unified Church would represent collectivist Protestantism modeled on a pattern of the medieval guild system” (Building the Kingdom of God on Earth, Dr. Martin Erdmann, Wipf Stock, 2005, p. 306-308).
A final analysis by The Discernment Group in Crossroad peels back the façade of Warren’s new ecumenism:
“Spearheading this effort (back in 1932) was CFR leader John Foster Dulles, who ‘predicted that the social structure of a just world society would be modeled on the prototypes of totalitarian countries like Soviet Russia and Nazi German” (Ibid., p. 88).
“Similarly, the Global P.E.A.C.E. Plan is being accomplished via the small group (‘collective’) which facilitates the ‘social’ nature of the Social Gospel. Ecumenism and unity, according to this ideal, due to the urgency of the hour and the crises in the world (i.e., the rise of Islamic Radicalism, etc.) must unite. What Rick Warren refers to as the ‘Second Reformation’ is not a new idea. According to Dr. Erdmann, in 1935 the Christian Century published two articles calling for a ‘comprehensive restructuring of Protestantism.’ In one article, E. Stanley Jones ‘called upon the creedal churches . . . to surrender the heritage of the Reformation. Loyalty to biblical theology was to bow to loyalty to unity for the sake of unity’ (Ibid., pp. 147-48). Jones’ plan was particularly relevant because it kept intact denominational structures while at the same time forging a new consensus.
“The old worn-out Social Gospel is being refitted and retooled for this generation. The CFR evidently learned some lessons from the past. There is a kindness of heart that drives Christians to do social deeds of charity. But this ‘passion’ for ‘compassion’ can be harnessed and directed. The new Social Gospel will encounter less resistance if there is a veneer of ‘biblical’ and ‘gospel’ pasted on top the new world order agenda” (Ibid., Crossroad).
Alas! As the purple haze dissipates, the silhouette of one, Hank Hanegraaff, mounts the podium . . .
Hank Hanegraaff’s latest barnburner, The Apocalypse Code (a name takeoff on Hal Lindsey’s Apocalypse Code by placing the definite article in front of Apocalypse Code . . . whatever happened to copywrites?) is a masterpiece of repackaged Amillenarian-Postmillenarian-Preterist wordsmith gymnastics which repeatedly strikes at Futurist Premillenarians—especially denouncing Israel’s racist apartheid policies and divine claims to Palestine – and those, especially Tim LaHaye, Hal Lindsey, John Hagee and other “Christian Zionists” of fomenting an eschatology of death, leading America and the world into Armageddon! Alas! Hanegraaff links Charles Darwin and Darby (J. N. Darby)—evolution and dispensationalism—as two great early 1800’s deceptions – evolution leading to Hitlerian eugenics and “Darby’s subjective spin on Scripture leads inexorably toward a nightmarish ending” (i.e., Armageddon and 2/3rds of Jews perishing in the Tribulation yet future) (pp. 40-48). Hanegraaff opines: “One can only pray for the courage to stand in the face of vilification (from the dispensationalists) and to do all that is permissible to see that this pseudoeschatology—like the pseudoscience of eugenics—will one day fade into the shadowy recesses of history” (p. 69).
The feud between Hanegraaff and LaHaye has been out there since LaHaye went sideways when Tyndale House (publishers of the Left Behind Series) decided to publish Hanegraaff’s fictional-Preterist-everything-ends-in-70 AD book: The Last Disciple. Naturally, it had to do with money—LaHaye couldn’t believe that after his series had made Tyndale House so much MONEY that they would have the audacity to make money with his money for Hanegraaff; man, the very idea!
Ironically, Hanegraaff accuses pre-tribulationist/Premillenarians of deep-seated anti-Semitism in that their quest for Israel’s rebirth-ingathering must one day fulfill prophecy which demands that 2/3rds of Zion’s population (i.e., Jews) will be slaughtered by the pre-trib/premil Antichrist . . . all the while the Church has been raptured in the Great Escape prior to the End of Days Seventieth Week (Seven-Year Period) known as the Tribulation Period (the last 3 ½ days of the Week known as the Great Tribulation) prior to the reign of the Antichrist-Beast. Ironic because the same eschatology embraced by Hanegraaff was the same Catholic-Protestant eschatology left over from Origen’s hyper-allegorical hermeneutic and Augustine’s Amillenarian justification for Rome’s Empire (i.e. “just wars”) and the Church’s ultimate amalgamation with political power. These theologies/eschatologies had disenfranchised the Jew from any Biblical relevance while superimposing the Church Triumphant as the ongoing expression of God’s grace—if this wasn’t the theological seedbed for the Hitlerian nightmare that gripped Europe, then nothing was! Hank’s European roots are showing.
For the life of me, I find it unbelievable the naiveté of Hank’s radio audience not to conclude that he always was, is and persists to be the Preterist-Amillenarian he has always professed to be—notwithstanding his aversion for being stigmatized with labels! What grates people like Hanegraaff and fellow Preterist Gary DeMar is to lump all “anti-Premillenarians” into one camp—which Dr. Larry Spargimino does in The Anti-Prophets – the Challenge of Preterism:
“Preterism, covenant theology, postmillennialism, Kingdom-Now theology, dominion theology, the Christian Reconstruction movement, and Theonomyare all related concepts." (p. 30).
DeMar gets sideways about Spargimino’s wide brush strokes—as if these RELATED CONCEPTS were not somehow interconnected.
The CONCEPT to which Dr. Spargimino alludes reflects upon those aforementioned eschatologies which eliminate a literal 1,000-year millennium on the earth and ipso facto Israel’s theological relevance therewith. Likewise – the language used by DeMar suggests that someone who is a Premillenarian (affirms a literal 1,000-year millennium on the earth) can also be a Preterist? Come to Wyoming where you’ll see Jackalopes abound!
“Prior to Hanegraaff becoming a leading figure in the Christian countercult movement, he was closely affiliated with the ministry of D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Presbyterian church in Florida.” (Wikipedia). There never was a more blatant replacement preacher-activist-amillenarian than the likes of Calvinist D. James Kennedy. Further links and awareness of Hanegraaff’s fraternization with the Christian Right (i.e., the “politicized Catholic-evangelical wing of the Church”) can be had within the confines of this paragraph hereunder from Wikipedia:
“Kennedy is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America, having transferred his membership there in the late 1970s from the Presbyterian Church in the United States.
He is considered a conservative evangelical minister who is often involved in political activities within the Christian right;TheocracyWatch identifies Kennedy as one of the leaders of the Dominionism movement. [1] He has written and coauthored several political works such as What if America Were a Christian Nation Again? and The Rewriting of America's History, arguing that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. Critics contend that he is excessively conservative on certain politically charged topics such as abortion and homosexuality. Kennedy runs The D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship, an evangelical ministry on Capitol Hill. The Center awards a "Distinguished Christian Statesman Award" annually to high profile Christian political leaders. Past recipients include Tom DeLay, Sam Brownback and John Ashcroft.”
Not always, but most certainly in this case, one is known by the company they keep and appreciate—and Hanegraaff is obviously involved with virtually all prominent ANTI-MILLENARIANS, to wit: R. C. Sproul, Gary DeMar, Kenneth Gentry Jr., David Chilton, Timothy Weber, N. T. Wright, Gary Burge, Stephen Sizer, Colin Chapman, Keith Mathison, Gretchen Passantino, Gordon Fee, Richard Bauckham, et al (Acknowledgments, xiii, The Apocalypse Code, Hank Hanegraaff, 2007, Thomas Nelson).
FROM FICTION TO FACTIOUS
Hanegraaff’s Last Disciple (LD) was fiction – in counter distinction to the LaHaye’s fictional Left Behind Series – and, in that context it was a congenial, albeit, superficial distinction—all differences aside. Dr. Norman Geisler’s criticisms or response to the defense of Hank Hanegraaff’s LD by Steve Gregg went something like this after acknowledging that LD was “an alternative to the Left Behind view of Tim LaHaye” (LD, p. 393) and that it (and Hanegraaff) are not committed to “any particular model of eschatology” (LD, p. 393).
Geisler . . .
“It (LD) is that, but it is also much more. It is in fact a strong rejection of the futurist view of the Tribulation as well as premillennialism. And like the preterist view, LD holds that the texts in the Mt. Olivet Discourse (Mt. 24-25) and in the Book of Revelation refer to Nero and the 1st century and not to any future seven year period dominated by the Antichrist and preceding the literal Second Coming of Christ to earth to reign. In short, LD is a critique of the basic futurist view held by Dallas Seminary, Grace Seminary, the Master's Seminary, Southern Evangelical Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, Philadelphia Biblical University, most Bible Colleges in the country, and numerous Christian leaders who support the ministry of CRI. These include Dr. Wayne House, Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. J. P. Moreland, Dr. Barry Leventhal, Dr. Thomas Howe, and many of the faculty of the above institutions.
“This statement can easily be misinterpreted.
Everyone has an eschatology, formal or informal, including the authors of LD.
The question is whether or not it is Bible-based, fits all the data consistently, and corresponds to the facts. Further, everyone is committed to their view in varying degrees. The authors of The Last Disciple claim to be ‘deeply committed to a proper method of biblical interpretation’ (p. 303). But methodology determines theology. Indeed, they speak of ‘remarkable evidence’ for their view and of ‘no biblical warrant’ for the opposing view. They speak also of their interpretation of certain disputed terms which allegedly ‘demonstrate conclusively’ that their view is right. Clearly, they are committed to the view which opposes the standard futurist interpretation to which a great number of evangelical scholars, including myself, are firmly committed. (Note: Multiple references are used in this article but omitted here for brevity.) (Dr. Norman L. Geisler, A Friendly Response to Hank Hanegraaff’s Book, The Last Disciple)
I can assure you – now that Hanegraaff has taken off the gloves – Dr. Geisler will reassess his defense of futurism in much more strident tones – just in case Southern Evangelical Seminary and other theologians (not just Tom Ice and Tim LaHaye) are not clear where this is going, they better get real serious, real soon and pick up the gauntlet or be swept under the Preterist avalanche of caustic criticism, to wit . . . THE CHARGE OF HERESY awaits Geisler et al:
LaHAYE DISCREDITS THE RESURRECTION AND DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
“Not only are great and glorious passages believed throughout church history to refer directly to the blessed hope of resurrection arrogated for the dispensational pretribulational rapture theory first popularized in the nineteenth century by a priest named John Nelson Darby, but by logical extension the uniqueness and significance of Christ’s resurrection are undermined” (pp. xviii, xix, The Apocalypse Code, etc.)
“While LaHaye’s interpretation of Revelation is no doubt driven by a desire to be biblical, it nonetheless erodes epistemic warrant for the resurrection (viz. LaHaye’s interpretation that the “wound” of the Antichrist results in the incarnation of Satan and resurrection of Antichrist as the Beast in Revelation 13) and ULTIMATELY THE DEITY OF OUR LORD (is eroded)” (p. xix).
LaHAYE IS A RACIST
“LaHaye holds to the theory that Jews must initially be regathered in unbelief solely on the basis of race. Such unbiblical notions put Christian Zionists in the untenable position of condoning the displacement of Palestinian Christians from their homeland in order to facilitate an occupation based on unbelief and racial affiliation . . . Christians must be equipped to communicate that Christianity knows nothing of dividing people on the basis of race.” (p. xxiii)
LaHAYE IS LIGHTING THE FUSE FOR ARMAGEDDON
“According to LaHaye, ‘there is no other single factor (i.e., rebuilding the Jewish temple on site of the Dome of the Rock) so likely to unite the Arabs in starting a holy war as the destruction of the Dome of the Rock’ (Mosque) – such inflammatory rhetoric raises a host of troubling questions . . . Is there truly a need to rebuild a temple and inflame the fires of Armageddon in the twenty-first century in light of our Messiah’s first-century reminder that the time had come when true worshipers would no longer worship on a mountain in Samaria or in a temple in Jerusalem?” (p. xxvii)
LaHAYE DENIES THE ATONEMENT, RESURRECTION, AND DEITY OF CHRIST
“Even more troubling is the fact that LaHaye’s literalism forces him to conclude that such temple sacrifices (prior to and during the literal Millennial Kingdom on earth at a rebuilt Jewish Temple) are not merely memorial but absolutely necessary for the atonement of sins such as ceremonial uncleanness . . . Not only does LaHaye’s interpretation of Revelation 13 militate against the uniqueness of Christ’s resurrection, but drawn to its logical conclusion, it erodes epistemic warrant for the resurrection and ultimately the deity of our Lord. Likewise, if temple sacrifices in the Millennium are efficacious for ceremonial uncleanness, Christ’s atonement on the cross was not sufficient for all sin.” (pp. 19-20).
LaHAYE IS BLASPHEMOUS
“There is no biblical basis for believing in a second chance for salvation after the second coming of Christ . . . LaHaye presents a fictitious interpretation in which people are saved after both the secret and second comings of Christ. The implications of his theology are as bizarre as they areBLASPHEMOUS. If Christ and the Church are married between the secret and second comings, ‘the bride of Christ’ must continue to ‘grow to include other redeemed people in the days of the kingdom.’ If, on the other hand, God has both a bride (Church) and a wife (Israel), those who are saved after the second coming must be added to ‘the wife of God’ rather than ‘the bride of Christ.’ Both scenarios are unthinkable . . . it is blasphemous to hold that the one whom God revealed in three persons has both a bride and a wife.” (pp. 63-64)
“The idea that Jews in the twenty-first century will endure a holocaust for the first-century sins of their fathers and the ideology that Jews have a divine right to the land based on race are decidedly unbiblical . . . At the end of the day, our heavenly father is not pro-Jew—he is pro-justice; he is not pro-Palestinian, he is pro-peace . . . Ephesians 6:12 is nothing less than a gospel of peace that works inexorably toward justice and equity. Only a gospel of peace and justice through faith in Jesus Christ is potent enough to break the stranglehold of anti-Semitism and racism fueled in part by bad theology (Note: Make no doubt about it, Hanegraaff is referring to the “bad theology” embraced by Tim LaHaye and John Hagee) (p. 181).
ANTICHRIST & THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH
Now that the audience is gathering wood for burning the aforementioned heretics, it might be of some interest to know what Preterists like Hanegraaff believe. For sure, this tome is NOT a systematic, biblical disclosure and rebuttal of Preterism . . . but it does alert our little audience how bombastic the ANTI-MILLENARIANS have become toward the growing heresy espoused by their American Premillenarian brethren—someday, perhaps sooner than later—some of these RESISTERS or LEADERS FROM HELL (as the amiable-approachable benevolent Rick Warren designates) may have to be REMOVED or DIE if the Church is to complete her mission! (There are enough links in this article to keep you investigating these outrageous statements for some time to come!)
Hanegraaff affirms that virtually the entire book of Revelation, aside from the Second Coming of Christ and the final resurrection of the just and unjust (which makes him a “partial Preterist”), was fulfilled by 70 AD. He also believes that the Antichrist was Nero Caesar (which from Latin to Hebrew adds up to 666) (pp. 8, 109, 114-115, 144, 147-149, 242, 255, 256) and the Great Whore of Revelation 17 was ancient Israel (p. 234-235).
“‘Intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries,’ they (the Jews) fail to recognize the Messiah in their midst. Tragically, Israel, called to be a light to those in darkness, aligns herself with Caesar in piercing Christ and persecuting Christians. The golden cup in her hand is filled with ‘the blood of prophets and of the saints and of all who have been killed on the earth’ (Rev. 18:24). Shrouded in mystery, she was glorious—like ‘the most beautiful of jewels’ (Ezekiel 16:7). Unveiled as apostate Israel, SHE IS GROSTESQUE.” (p. 123) (Note: Man, that John the Beloved did NOT like the Jews!)
AND WHAT OF TIM LaHAYE?
You know, I’ve said a lot of things about Tim LaHaye that are not theologically complimentary—especially about his excessive “literalisms” (as in literal fire coming out of the mouths of the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11)—and of his penchant for bailing out (as do most Dispensationalists) prior to (the Pre-Trib Rapture) the Church’s most glorious witness against the Great City Babylon throughout the Seventieth Week of Daniel—the FINAL VICTORY THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY; and where the Gentiles are by the multitudes reaped into the Kingdom of His dear Son; and where Israel testifies to the faithfulness of His Eternal Word to these same Gentile World Powers—but, you know, he’s got the right biblical notion when it comes to the manifestation of the Kingdom yet to come on this planet . . . but watching what he is doing (just like Gary DeMar is watching) and what he’s saying . . . . Hummm . . .
Listen, I’m deeply disappointed in LaHaye leading us into the Public Square, as Preterist Gary DeMar insightfully and gleefully observes the incongruity of LaHaye’s actions as voiced by Fred Clarkson, author of Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy:
“If you’re trying to build a political movement, but your theology is that whatever you do, things are going to deteriorate, well, it doesn’t compute.”
Many of Gary DeMar’s criticisms are well taken—especially on Premillenarians galvanized to take the reigns of political control in America - listen as he spearsLarry Spargimino in Will the Real Anti-Prophets Stand Up:
“A group of pastors of huge ‘super churches’ decided that the time had come to organize to promote morality in American life. With the help of conservative political organizers Richard Viguerie and Ed McAteer, they put together a nonpartisan political organization that they called Moral Majority. Its head was to be Jerry Falwell, with other board members James Kennedy (Presbyterian from Florida), Dr. Greg Dixon (independent Baptist from Indianapolis), Tim LaHaye (conservative ideologue from California), and Dr. Charles Stanley (Southern Baptist from Atlanta).[9]
“Not one of these men is a preterist! In fact, Falwell, Stanley, and LaHaye (and Dr. Dixon) share the same dispensational, end-time philosophy.”
Notwithstanding, LaHaye’s been excoriated enough by the likes of Hanegraaff, DeMar and a multitude of others (notwithstanding LaHaye’s private eschatologist defenses by Tom Ice)—folks, there’s precious little wiggle room left around here. Hanegraaff is not playing games—we’re talkin’ hardball. He is determined to halt “the evangelical death march toward the endgame of Armageddon” (p. 48). But, in the short run – I wonder – don’t all these smiling faces want to bring the Church smack dab into the political arena, change the social structures of America through political power and the persuasions of man found at the ballot box? Sure sounds that way . . . Rick, Tim and Hank – as “bizarre and blasphemous” as this sounds – what all of you are about to do is fulfill biblical prophecy at a more accelerated level than you could have ever imagined . . . and in so far as the POSITIVE LITE MESSAGE of the Apostle Paul at the conclusion of his ministry, we find these incredibly affirmative, upbeat pronouncements regarding THE LAST DAYS – from awful conditions and deception to the Living Word of God:
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
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