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Vanished into Thin Air: The Hope of Every Believer
Author Hal Lindsey continues his discussion of the escatology surrounding the rapture prophecy that he started in his earlier book entitled, The Rapture. If you thought you knew all there was to know about the end times and the rapture, you were wrong! Mr. Lindsey gives exquisite detail on how to analyze today's world for yourself to see the prophesy coming alive, tossing out what is mere coincidence and reviewing what is true substance. This is a book for every Biblical scholar and for anyone who wants to research the idea of the rapture on his or her own.
- GenresChristianInspirational
396 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1999
About the author
Hal Lindsey
105 books60 followersHarold Lee Lindsey was an American evangelical writer and television host. He wrote a series of popular apocalyptic books – beginning with The Late Great Planet Earth (1970) – asserting that the Apocalypse or end time (including the rapture) was imminent because current events were fulfilling Bible prophecy. He was a Christian Zionist and dispensationalist.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 18, 2021
This book took awhile to get into. I enjoyed the character development which took a great deal of time. With that amount of time I was disappointed that the ending seemed rushed and slapped together.
September 9, 2024
AN UNACKNOWLEDGED REPRINTING OF A 1983 BOOK, WITH SOME ADDED MATERIAL
Harold Lee "Hal" Lindsey (born 1929) is a best-selling author, who is currently host of "The Hal Lindsey Report" TV program. (He formerly hosted International Intelligence Briefing on TBN, but the show was removed as being too "pro-Israel"/"anti-Arab"; he provides the financing for the Hal Lindsey Report himself.)
He already wrote an entire book about the Rapture in 1983 ['The Rapture]], and this book takes large portions word-by-word from that book; he wrote in the first chapter of this 1999 book, "Like birth pangs, each of the signs of the times is increasing in frequency. They are growing more intense. As I write these words, I am again staggered by the events I have been privileged to witness over my lifetime. And I am reminded of my own words from a talk show I did some months ago. The host, Warren Duffy, asked me how long until the Rapture. I told him then, 'It could come even sooner than I think.'" (Pg. 31-32)
He says, "I remain a committed pre-Tribulationist. The reason is simple. It answers all the hard questions. The rest don't... I decided to write this book because I see a growing confusion and anxiety developing throughout the body of Christ worldwide. This confusion and anxiety comes from an uncertainty about whether the true Church... will go through the Tribulation, or through the first half of the Tribulation, or will be taken out of the world by Jesus before the Tribulation begins... In all probability, most of the people reading this book will live to experience the answer." (Pg. 35-36; this is an example of the "borrowings" from his earlier book, by the way.]
He contends, "World War I seriously shook this view [Postmillennialism], and World War II all but wiped it out... the view is founded on a gross mishandling of the prophetic Scriptures. The allegorical method of interpretation is used throughout. The only way one can arrive at the Postmillennial view is by using an allegorical method of interpretation. This means that one assigns to words a meaning other than that normally understood and accepted at the time of writing." (Pg. 43-44)
He argues, "Reconstructionists believe the passages like this one [Lk 4:14-21] apply to the destruction of Jerusalem. But there is no way that this passage can be applied to the judgment against Israel in AD 70 without twisting it beyond recognition. Nor can this be applied to the Church without allegorizing the meaning of the words into nonsense. This is a classic case to demonstrate that two prophetic passages whose fulfillment may be separated by centuries may be separated only by a comma in the Scriptures." (Pg. 86) Later, he strongly rejects the Reconstructionist argument (Pg. 140-141; see his book, The Road to Holocaust, for his book-length critique.)
He says, "I am amazed that some of the older post-Tribulationists ... spend an inordinate amount of time and energy trying to prove the recent origins of the pre-Tribulation view. [George] Ladd devotes almost a third of his book [The Blessed Hope] to this point. Some [e.g., Incredible Cover Up] never tire of tracing the whole original concept of the pre-Tribulation Rapture back to 1830 and a young Scottish girl named Margaret Macdonald, to another Scotsman, Edward Irving, and an Englishman named John Darby... my main point here is that even if this could all be proven (and it can't be), so what?" (Pg. 108; this is another "borrowing" from the earlier book.)
About dispensationalism, he asserts, "Without an understanding and recognition of these various economies it is virtually impossible to interpret and harmonize the various stages of progressive revelation and the distinguishable responsibilities under which man had been tested before God... I believe it's impossible to understand the time of the Rapture without this understanding." (Pg. 176)
People who like Lindsey's writings---particularly those who haven't read the earlier book---will probably like this one, as well. Others may choose to "pass" on this one.
Harold Lee "Hal" Lindsey (born 1929) is a best-selling author, who is currently host of "The Hal Lindsey Report" TV program. (He formerly hosted International Intelligence Briefing on TBN, but the show was removed as being too "pro-Israel"/"anti-Arab"; he provides the financing for the Hal Lindsey Report himself.)
He already wrote an entire book about the Rapture in 1983 ['The Rapture]], and this book takes large portions word-by-word from that book; he wrote in the first chapter of this 1999 book, "Like birth pangs, each of the signs of the times is increasing in frequency. They are growing more intense. As I write these words, I am again staggered by the events I have been privileged to witness over my lifetime. And I am reminded of my own words from a talk show I did some months ago. The host, Warren Duffy, asked me how long until the Rapture. I told him then, 'It could come even sooner than I think.'" (Pg. 31-32)
He says, "I remain a committed pre-Tribulationist. The reason is simple. It answers all the hard questions. The rest don't... I decided to write this book because I see a growing confusion and anxiety developing throughout the body of Christ worldwide. This confusion and anxiety comes from an uncertainty about whether the true Church... will go through the Tribulation, or through the first half of the Tribulation, or will be taken out of the world by Jesus before the Tribulation begins... In all probability, most of the people reading this book will live to experience the answer." (Pg. 35-36; this is an example of the "borrowings" from his earlier book, by the way.]
He contends, "World War I seriously shook this view [Postmillennialism], and World War II all but wiped it out... the view is founded on a gross mishandling of the prophetic Scriptures. The allegorical method of interpretation is used throughout. The only way one can arrive at the Postmillennial view is by using an allegorical method of interpretation. This means that one assigns to words a meaning other than that normally understood and accepted at the time of writing." (Pg. 43-44)
He argues, "Reconstructionists believe the passages like this one [Lk 4:14-21] apply to the destruction of Jerusalem. But there is no way that this passage can be applied to the judgment against Israel in AD 70 without twisting it beyond recognition. Nor can this be applied to the Church without allegorizing the meaning of the words into nonsense. This is a classic case to demonstrate that two prophetic passages whose fulfillment may be separated by centuries may be separated only by a comma in the Scriptures." (Pg. 86) Later, he strongly rejects the Reconstructionist argument (Pg. 140-141; see his book, The Road to Holocaust, for his book-length critique.)
He says, "I am amazed that some of the older post-Tribulationists ... spend an inordinate amount of time and energy trying to prove the recent origins of the pre-Tribulation view. [George] Ladd devotes almost a third of his book [The Blessed Hope] to this point. Some [e.g., Incredible Cover Up] never tire of tracing the whole original concept of the pre-Tribulation Rapture back to 1830 and a young Scottish girl named Margaret Macdonald, to another Scotsman, Edward Irving, and an Englishman named John Darby... my main point here is that even if this could all be proven (and it can't be), so what?" (Pg. 108; this is another "borrowing" from the earlier book.)
About dispensationalism, he asserts, "Without an understanding and recognition of these various economies it is virtually impossible to interpret and harmonize the various stages of progressive revelation and the distinguishable responsibilities under which man had been tested before God... I believe it's impossible to understand the time of the Rapture without this understanding." (Pg. 176)
People who like Lindsey's writings---particularly those who haven't read the earlier book---will probably like this one, as well. Others may choose to "pass" on this one.
April 28, 2019
I rated this a “5-star” because it was an easy to read and to understand the subject of the Rapture and the Tribulation period of earth’s future history. The author supported his position with biblical content while showing other viewpoints on the subjects. I believe in a “Pre-Tribulation” rapture of the Church.
October 18, 2019
The rapture is a subject that disagree on. He make a solid defense on the rapture.
August 8, 2008
I really enjoyed reading the first half of this book. Lindsey has a true knack for teaching that is both engaging and authoritative. Unfortunately, I personally lost steam mid-way and felt that I had learned what I need to learn, so I didn't continue with the book. This is actually a trend in my life. Once I lose interest with something, I often abandon it and move on. So my abandonment isn't necessarily a reflection on Lindsey or his writing style.
This book is a solid review of why every believer should be looking for the rapture to occur at any time. For that reason, it ignited a real zeal in me that I haven't felt in a long time. Lindsey is convinced that we are in the same dispensation as the disciples, The Church Under Grace, and that nothing needs to occur before the rapture occurs. It's just a matter of when the Lord chooses to snatch all believers from the earth. Then the tribulation will occur, followed by the return of Christ, and the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth, followed by a new heaven and a new earth.
I especially enjoyed learning why others believe the way they do, and feel much more prepared to debate the subject, should it ever arise in conversation. Also, I respect Lindsey for his attitude toward others who disagree with his stance. His tone is very respectful, even reverent, of his opposition. As to why there are so many opposing opinions on this subject, he believes Augustine dealt the doctrine of prophecy the most devastating blow of anyone in history. He plunged the study of prophecy into darkness (the Dark Ages) for almost 1400 years by systematically teaching that prophecy could not be interpreted literally. On page 110, he reminds us of Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 12:9) when he was told that the words "were sealed up until the time of the end".
I highly recommend this book for anyone who isn't really clear about what they believe concerning the rapture. It will solidify your faith and provide facts for your opinions.
This book is a solid review of why every believer should be looking for the rapture to occur at any time. For that reason, it ignited a real zeal in me that I haven't felt in a long time. Lindsey is convinced that we are in the same dispensation as the disciples, The Church Under Grace, and that nothing needs to occur before the rapture occurs. It's just a matter of when the Lord chooses to snatch all believers from the earth. Then the tribulation will occur, followed by the return of Christ, and the Millennial Reign of Christ on earth, followed by a new heaven and a new earth.
I especially enjoyed learning why others believe the way they do, and feel much more prepared to debate the subject, should it ever arise in conversation. Also, I respect Lindsey for his attitude toward others who disagree with his stance. His tone is very respectful, even reverent, of his opposition. As to why there are so many opposing opinions on this subject, he believes Augustine dealt the doctrine of prophecy the most devastating blow of anyone in history. He plunged the study of prophecy into darkness (the Dark Ages) for almost 1400 years by systematically teaching that prophecy could not be interpreted literally. On page 110, he reminds us of Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 12:9) when he was told that the words "were sealed up until the time of the end".
I highly recommend this book for anyone who isn't really clear about what they believe concerning the rapture. It will solidify your faith and provide facts for your opinions.
May 15, 2012
Rapture! Don't blink it could be the next time you do!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews