An exhaustive Catholic critique of premillennial dispensationalism, the "pretrib rapture," the Left Behind phenomenon, and Fundamentalist eschatology, written by a former Fundamentalist/dispensationalist. Examines the historical, biblical, and theological roots of the "left behind" theology and the belief in a rapture event separate from the Second Coming. Also contains chapters on the Book of Revelation, the millennial kingdom, and Catholic eschatology.
Will Catholics Be Left Behind (Modern Apologetics Library)
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Millions of Americans believe the Lord will snatch them up any day now, leaving the rest of us to the horrors of a seven-year tribulation. The hitch is that the 'Rapture' has no pedigree. As Carl Olson shows, no Catholic or Protestant believed in it prior to the nineteenth century. It is an authentic Fundamentalist 'invention'."
—Karl Keating, Author, Catholicism and Fundamentalism
—Karl Keating, Author, Catholicism and Fundamentalism
"In this extraordinary book, Carl Olson uses a surgeon's scalpel to cut through the mass of confusion that dominates contemporary reflection on the Last Things. Achieving far more than a refutation of millennialist errors and other disordered apocalyptic theories, he illumines the Church's majestic vision of time and eternity and demonstrates that Jesus Christ is the Lord of History and its end."
—Michael O'Brien, Author, Father Elijah
"End times fervor continues to ignite Christians in the twenty-first century. Prophecy preachers and Rapture proponents abound. Where did these new ideas come from? How did they become so popular? Are Catholics being left behind or are they actually way ahead? Olson sorts out the complicated, researches the history and presents it clearly and simply. He has done us all a great service, not Catholics only, but all Christians."
—Steve Ray, Author, Upon This Rock
"What a wonderful book on millennial movements. Olson's book will help people think carefully through the decisions to take part in millennial movements rather than allow emotional appeals to determine their decisions. As an extra benefit, Olson's research highlights important and frequently little know data about millennial thoughts."
—Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.
From the Publisher
A powerful and timely book, Will Catholics Be "Left Behind"? was authored by a former Fundamentalist and is a thorough critique of the popular Fundamentalist notion of the "Rapture"—the belief that Christians will be removed from earth prior to a time of Tribulation and the Second Coming. It examines the theological, historical, and Biblical basis for "premillennial dispensationalism", the belief system based around the Rapture, and popularized in the best-selling Left Behind books and taught by "Bible prophecy" writers Tim LaHaye, Hal Lindsey, Jack Van Impe, and many others.
Written for both the lay person and the serious student, this book combines an engaging, popular approach with detailed footnotes and exhaustive research. Beginning with the big picture, it focuses first on key concepts such as eschatology, the Parousia, and the relationship between the Kingdom and the Church. It then examines the Book of Revelation, providing insights into the nature and purpose of that difficult, final book of the Bible. Another chapter looks at the concept of the "millennium" and how it has been understood by various Christians over the centuries. Olson then shows how Left Behind creator LaHaye’s many works of "Bible prophecy" are filled with attacks on Catholicism, and often rely on sensationalism, shaky scholarship, and subjective interpretations of Scripture
Olson, a former dispensationalist who now edits Envoy magazine, also presents a history of apocalyptic belief and theology, beginning with the Early Church Fathers and including the Montanists, St. Augustine, Joachim of Fiore, the Protestant Reformers, and the American Puritans. He shows how John Nelson Darby, an ex-Anglican priest, developed the premillennial dispensationalist system, which hinges on the Rapture, in the 1830s and how Darby relied upon faulty assumptions about Jesus Christ, the Church, and the Bible.
The second part of the book, "A Catholic Critique of Dispensationalism," focuses on three important topics: the relationship between Israel, the Church, and the Kingdom; the interpretation of Scripture; and the nature of the Rapture event. Filled with a wealth of information drawn from both Protestant and Catholic sources, this section provides a complete rebuttal to the premillennial dispensationalist system and the "left behind" theology. The book concludes with a reflection on the Catholic understanding of the end times, salvation history, and the final judgement. Glossaries of key persons and terms are also included.
A strong, but fair, critique of a dangerous and popular belief, Will Catholics Be "Left Behind"? provides Catholics and Protestants, lay people and clergy, and students and scholars with important answers and information about the roots and meaning of the "Rapture".
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
77 of 81 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Final Word On The Last Days...,
By Johnny Tomorrow "brineyman" (Ash heap of history) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Will Catholics Be Left Behind? (Modern Apologetics Library) (Paperback)
This is a prodigious work, both in scale and scholarship. Olson patiently ushers the reader through the intellectual funhouse of dispensationalism, tracing the claims of historicity whose tendrils snake all the way back to the Early Church Fathers. He is able to patiently unravel the Gordian tangle that is "the Rapture" - with premillennialists vying with chiliasts, amillennialists, postribulationalists and pretribulationalists - until, thanks to the author's water-clear prose and relentless logic, you actually are able to come to an understanding of this complex and, often, exasperating view. And it's *very* important that you do. Belief in "the Rapture" is a tremendous influence in America - witness the whopping sales total of more than 43 million books in the 'Left Behind' series. So it is no surprise when Olson assiduously traces the intellectual, theological - and even literary - inheritance of co-author Tim LaHaye, explaining how and why the 'Left Behind' series is a dangerous stealth attack on Catholic belief. But we also see extended treatments of the positions of others besides LaHaye - I'm talking about popular and prominent Protestant thinkers like Hal Lindsay, Jack Van Impe, Dave Hunt, Charles Ryrie, Cyrus Scofield and the father of "the Rapture," John Nelson Darby, complete with extended quotes as they explain their points in their own voices. That is a vital point, by the way. Olson is not duking it out with straw men here. He states his opponents' positions straightforwardly, and in detail. Nor is he the least bit condescending. He is honest and respectful - and the fact that he spent his early years in these fundamentalist Protestant circles no doubt helps. Best of all, Olson gives us the benefit of an overview of Catholic thought on the end times, with liberal contributions from such eminences grises as Karl Adam, Jean Danielou, Louis Bouyer and Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. One can only hope that Olson's citations will result in greater readership for these giants of Catholic orthodoxy, and for the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well. For the Catholic position on the end times can be a source of great unity and peace for the faithful, in contrast with the Us vs. Them desperation that "the Rapture" tends to encourage. In all, this is a wonderful, very readable treatment of a complex and hitherto largely unexamined (from the Catholic point of view anyway) topic. And Mr. Olson is a very welcome addition to the pantheon of intellectually rigorous, scripture-steeped and historically minded converts to the Catholic faith who are today sharing their wonder at the glories of the Church. I believe we are in the midst of the greatest blossoming of Catholic scholarship and thought ever to take place in America. And Olson's book deserves a spot on Catholic bookshelves, side-by-side with those of George Weigel, Scott Hahn, Stephen Ray, Marcus Grodi, Dave Armstrong, Thomas Howard, Mark Shea and so many others. If you're looking for the last word on the last days, buy this book. You will *not* be disappointed.
54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I was left reassured...,
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This review is from: Will Catholics Be Left Behind? (Modern Apologetics Library) (Paperback)
With so many people around me reading the "Left Behind" series, I wanted to find out what the Catholic understanding of the "Rapture" is. This book delivers in spades... Mr. Olson begins with describing what the "Rapture" is as it is presented in the "Left Behind" books. Then he elaborates on the different kinds of dispensationalists, pre, post and a millennialism, as well as the differences between pre, post, and mid tribulationist. He goes on to explore each of these and their logical (or illogical) conclusions. He traces the history of each train of thought and presents the historical Catholic position and response to these ideas, even outlining how a Catholic could be said to agree with different parts of each of the positions simultaneously yet not agreeing with any one position as it is understood by the predominately "fundamentalist" preachers who espouse them. What I like about this book is the clarity in which he describes the Catholic understanding of eschatology and where that understanding comes from. Unfortunately I believe very few "joe-six-pack in the pew" Catholics understand the differences and for that reason I believe anyone (non-Catholics included) who has read the "Left Behind" series would benefit greatly from this well researched, even handed approach to other points of view.
31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beware False Prophets,
By Eutychus D. (North Branford, CT United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Will Catholics Be Left Behind? (Modern Apologetics Library) (Paperback)
I've no interest whatsoever in reading the preposterous "Left Behind" books, but I must confess that I got swept up in the "Late, Great Planet Earth" fervor many years ago. Plus I spent untold hours listening to evangelical radio when that was my prime source of Christian formation -- and it was brimming with dispensationalists and various other apocalyptic, self-anointed "prophets" whose Scripture-quoting screeds succeeded, at least, in putting the fear of God into me. Having long since reverted to the Catholic faith of my childhood, I'm confident that the Catholic Church is the lone voice of wisdom, sanity -- and truth -- on the subject of eschatology. Exhibit A: Carl E. Olson's "Will Catholics Be Left Behind?", which I've just finished reading. The lasting impression I'll remember from this book's packed pages is the juxtaposition of the biblical literalists' slick, innovative, off-the-top-of-the-head interpretations with the ancient, richly seasoned approach of the Catholic Church. Deftly drawing from the Church's rich theological patrimony, Olson systematically exposes the outlandishness of the thinking of the literalists, such as LaHaye and Lindsey, who scrupulously memorize Scripture while assiduously ignoring 2,000 years of Scripture scholarship. It's a bit like examining the overheated rantings of a half-cocked teenager who only read the Cliff's notes through the eyes of the teen's patient, but spry, great-grandfather -- who co-authored the book in question. "Will Catholics Be Left Behind"? is a must-read for Catholics growing deeper in their faith -- and an indispensable resource for those who've fallen prey to the silly, but seductive (and dangerous) sales pitches of the popular eschatologists of our day.
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