I’m not waiting for the Antichrist. I’m waiting for Jesus Christ. And that is due, in part, to the ministry of Hal Lindsey. His books and television program carefully outlined Dispensational Theology, also called left behind theology—named after the famous book series.

As a young adult, I found life confusing until someone handed me a copy of The Late Great Planet Earth.  After reading it in a day, followed by a trip to Israel, I could press on in life and enter the ministry. I would go on to devour dozens of books and follow solid Bible teachers who promoted eschatology or Bible prophecy.

Time Magazine called Hal Lindsey the Jeremiah of our time. His classic book sold 35 million copies, but other books and TV productions influenced millions more. I believe his two greatest contributions were his teaching that:

• Israel is the key to our past, present, and future. Most churches today marginalize this, focusing on church growth or are steeped in other theologies such as Amillennialism. Only Dispensationalism explains what the Bible teaches: The King is coming again, and Israel is the key to understanding this.
• As believers, we should be awaiting Jesus Christ, not the Antichrist. Millions are caught up in strange rapture-timing theologies that offer no blessed hope, which is taught in the Bible (Titus 2:13)! Jesus is coming at any minute. Only Dispensationalism explains the imminency of the Lord’s return with Israel as the centerpiece!

I brought Hal to the Twin Cities in 2004 and 2005. He told me at that time that it was his goal in the 1960s to write a book on the end times that was easy to understand. When his book appeared in 1970, the only books available were written by theologians and for theologians!

They were terrific, but the man on the street was lost.

Dwight Pentecost’s Things to Come was a classic back then, but it was 500 pages and way too scholarly. Without a seminary degree, readers were lost and frustrated.

Once Hal opened the door for end-time discussion, two dozen writers followed him, including Chuck Missler, Tim LaHaye, Dave Hunt, Ron Rhodes, and many more. Publishers were eager to help readers understand how the last days played out. And how many of you were impacted by the Left Behind book series I referenced written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins?

These topics have been discussed now for 23 years on Understanding the Times Radio. I am so thankful for the scholars who went before me, helping us non-scholars to understand these key theological issues and make sense of what is often senseless! The rise of lawlessness, the rush to globalism, the decline of character as outlined in II Timothy, and so much more as the birth pangs have exploded in recent years.

There is a run-up to the Tribulation, and we are in it, but who knew before we learned from such incredible men? There is prophetic stage-setting, which is so prominent here at the end of the Church Age!

Pastors, please, with whatever time we have left before a trumpet sounds, teach your congregation these truths. The urgency of the hour demands it.

Find this outstanding summary of the life and effectiveness of Hal Lindsey here. Read testimonies from Ron Rhodes, Tom Hughes, David Jeremiah, Jonathan Brentner, and more.

https://harbingersdaily.com/forever-changed-hal-lindseys-eternal-impact-on-generations-of-trusted-ministries/

Hal Lindsey was a flawed human being like all of us, and I could slip in details, particularly of the eccentric man I featured twenty years ago here in the Twin Cities. I’d rather not. I just want to say thank you to him for opening my eyes.

I had no idea I was here on assignment to also help others in this last days’ countdown to the rapture of believers! And to help get many into the ark of salvation because, when all is said and done, Jesus really is coming!

Perhaps today. Thank you, Hal, for encouraging me to prepare so many for this journey!

www.olivetreeviews.org

Here we go again—reviewing a year as it is tied to the prophetic theme in the Bible. How do we limit the items to ten? What stories can be left out? Here are ten that I feel are essential:

1)  Cheering for the Antichrist: When Kamala Harris told a supporter who shouted “Jesus is Lord” that they should maybe go to another rally, I was reminded that much of the world is not cheering for Jesus. As a matter of fact, they are cheering for the Antichrist. They can’t wait. Those who uttered the statement were cursed and mocked, but make no mistake — it was God who was being condemned by the crowd.

2)  Announcing the Antichrist: The soon arrival of the Antichrist was pre-announced—at the Summer Olympics. He even rode on his predicted white horse. How do I know? Because of the debauchery of the entire event. God, Jesus, and Christians were denigrated. Jesus was portrayed by an obese homosexual at the Last Supper. Around the world, Christians rightfully changed the channel! But, the globalists were bold to stage this event.

3)  The globalists’ heads are spinning. They took giant leaps forward with their September Pact for the Future but were dealt a setback with the election of Donald Trump. Yuval Noah Harari called Trump’s victory a “death blow” to the new global order. He warned that Trump’s nationalism poses an existential threat to globalism. Their heads are spinning and exploding! Which is it? Nothing can stop the sprint towards Revelation 13.

4)  Americans said enough is enough! Americans watched grandmothers be threatened and jailed. They watched a death cult perform at the Democrat National Convention last summer. They learned that kids they care about might have body parts cut off. And they said enough and turned the political landscape red in 2024. Proper warnings have been given about human political saviors, but who can blame the people? Enough!

5)  America was spared the assassination of a presidential candidate by less than a centimeter. But hateful Leftists won’t politely fade away or go quietly into the night. Many saw the jaw-dropping event on live TV last July. It gave a whole new meaning to the predicted perilous times. God’s Hand of protection was the biggest takeaway.

6) Twice we watched Israel attacked with a massive Iranian bombardment. And twice, we watched the miracle of the Iron Dome, David’s sling, and Arrow systems knock almost every projectile out of the sky! Truly, He who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalms 121:4). Seeing is believing.

7) It has become cool, fashionable, and even acceptable to hate the Jews–worldwide. But a war on Jews is a war on civilization. First, they come for Saturday people, then Sunday people—and then, for anyone standing in their way. But who could have imagined such a global outpouring of hatred toward a people who have only been a blessing to the world?

8)  The remnant got smaller. Those who truly understand the times, those who are longing for His appearing, and those who discern the times are shrinking in number. Despite the myriad of signs that tell us that the start of the Tribulation period is long overdue, few people are paying attention. Fewer yet are the churches that are awaiting His return. The silence is deafening.

9)  The world has sympathy for the devil. Hamas is cheered and celebrated. Do you remember the hostages? What hostages? The world’s concern is for the rag-tag bunch of tunnel occupiers who have lost their humanity. They are the new barbarians, but the world has made them the new folk heroes.

10) Creation keeps groaning—more than ever. Romans 8:22 suggests that this will happen with more intensity as we get nearer to Christ’s return. We must be at the door based on images from America’s southeast. Helene and Milton aren’t your relatives, but they have carved an imprint on everyone’s mind. And such events have intensified all around the world.

Of course, I’ve left off a boatload of stories that are remarkable and just plain stunning. But clearly, we are in amazing times. Record-breaking times. Times where we have to see it to believe it! We’re not in Kansas anymore. That’s because we’re in the end times. The last days. Minutes or seconds before Christ’s glorious return.

And what did you think the last days would look like?

www.olivetreeviews.org