Rapture Fever

INTRODUCTION
lb are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savou~ wherewith
shall it be saltid? it is thence fotih good for nothing, but to be cast
out, and to be trod&n underfoot of men (A4att. 5:13).
In 1970, Hal Lindsey and ghostwriter C. C. Carlson wrote a
book, The Late Great Planet Earth. It was eventually to sell over
35 million copies. It became the best-selling nonfiction book of
the 1970’s. Prior to the publication of this book, Lindsey had
been known, if at all, only as a successful southern California
college-age youth pastor in the UCLA area. After its publication,
he became the premier international spokesman for dispensationalism.
This placed dispensationalism in a dilemma. Its best-known
representative was not a theologian. He had to employ an
assistant to write his books.l The basis of his reputation was a
sensational paperback book that made a series of predictions
regarding the nation of Israel and the imminent return of
Christ in secret to pull Christians into heaven: the doctrine of
the pre-tribulation Rapture. The book dealt with contemporary
prophecy not permanent theology. It made Lindsey a fortune.
(If Lindsey is an honest man, C. C. Carlson made one, too.)
1. This is not inherently a bad idea. There is a division of labor in life (I Cor.
12). A lot of authors could dearly use an openly acknowledged ghost writer. But
employing one has never been regarded as academically acceptable.