Rapture Fever

When “Babylon” Fell, So Did Dispensationalism 189
Communist secret police. But it was not just the legacy of Karl
Marx that was flattened beneath the image; it was also the
legacy of Hal Lindsey. Thud! The difference is, Rev. Lindsey is
still alive and well on planet earth.
Rev. Lindsey’s book royalties are about to drop. Ra@n-e~ever
has subsided. (Side note: his humanistic publisher, Bantam
Books, is located at 666 Fifth Avenue, New York City. Odd.)
Maybe he bought enough California real estate to sustain him
in his “golden years,” for he is not going to be raptured out of
the “golden state.” That “imminent” event has been put on
indefinite hold. (Actually, it always was on indefinite hold [Acts
1:7].)
Failed Prophecies
What’s a failed prophet to do? What would you do? Since
1855, dispensationalism’s supposed experts in “fulfilled prophecy
in our day” have told millions of their followers (i.e., victims)
that the Rapture was just around the corner because Russia
(“Magog”) will soon invade Israel. Then came the establishment
of the nation of Israel on May 14, 1948. The generation of the
fig tree had begun! Only 40 more years until the Millennium!
Only 33 more years until the absolutely Secret Rapture! 1981 is
coming! Get ready! Get Set! . . .
No go; 1981 came and went. Nothing happened. The next
major date was May 14, 1988, the 40th anniversary of the establishment
of the State of Israel – the “generation of the fig treefl
1948-1988. May 14 came and went. Nothing happened. No
Rapture. Again.
“No, no,” said Edgar C. Whisenant in July, 1988, “it’s going
to be this September” September came and went. Nothing
happened. “No, no,” said Mr. Whisenant, “I forgot about the
extra year in zero A.D. It’s going to be in September, 1989.”
September, 1989, came and went. Nothing happened. In November,
the Berlin Wall came down. A big problem was brew-