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I noticed in the section of past prophecies that have not been fulfilled, it is stated that Hal Lindsey predicted that in the 1980s, all of the major Christian denominations would reject the main tenets of the Bible. Actually, this has in fact occurred in that the leadership of the Presbyterian Church in the USA, the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ and others have rejected the Bible's assertions that Jesus was born of a virgin, died as a sacrifice for mankind's sin, was resurrected by God the Father and is alive eternally in Heaven. So, my view is that Lindsey's prophecy has been entirely fulfilled. It was over these issues and others that the Presbyterian Church in American (a smaller denomination) split from the main denomination about 12 years ago. Similarly, there are smaller groups within the United Methodist Church which advocate splitting from the large denomination for the aforesaid reasons and other similar reasons.
From the Book of Discipline, the official beliefs of the United Methodist Church:
Article II - Of the Word, or Son of God, Who Was Made Very Man
The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, very God and very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men.
But, I guess I can't count of fundamentalists to bother reading. It's so much easier to attack others for not sharing your POLITICAL beliefs.
The United Methodist Church is the second largest protestant denomination in the United States. I believe they are also among the 10 largest christian denominations world wide. http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#bodies http://www.adherents.com/adh_rb.html
Further, with respect to Lindsey's prophecy that the EU would unite, that there would be a joint miliary among member nations and that there would be one EU leader ~ this prophecy appears to be very close to being fulfilled. Certainly the advocates of a strong EU, of which there are many, hold this as a much-desired goal.
I agree that the tenor of this article is negative and the "NPOV protest" is probably appropriate. I am not a dispensationalist and don't agree with much of Hal Lindsey's end-times prophecy statements, but this article is not even handed. The article could be made acceptable with a little rework. However, I will wait a while for the opinion of others before I take a stab at it. Jim Ellis 03:25, Jun 6, 2005 (UTC)
I took a shot and fixing the NPOV problems and added more information. I added information (with reference) that TBN later recanted their contention that content had nothing to do with their preemption of Lindsey's program.
I removed "Virtually none of Lindsey's verifiable predictions have been confirmed by history" because it is drawing an arguable and sensitive conclusion. I'm not comfortable that the entire "Predictions" list is comprehensive or fair. In fact, it seems to be a collection of negative predictions. But there's certainly no need for an editorial conclusion at the end. --Ghartwig 08:36, 17 January 2007 (UTC)
I'm sorry to point this out, but. This media whore twisted scriptures and current events to make a book that would sell more copies. When proved wrong, he just changes it and ignores the truth. If there is a NPOV problem here it is that any honest assessment will have to paint him as a liar and a cheat.Russ The Rail Guy 13:17, 26 July 2013 (UTC)
Thanks to User:Ihcoyc for some additional info and for editing/deleting to maintain Neutral POV. Also thanks for fixin' my "it's". :-) Regards, Jim Ellis 14:00, Jun 10, 2005 (UTC)
I am amazed that such a public figure has no apparently identifiable Date of birth, that we do not have his parents names, the names of his (various) wives, etc.
I also wonder, why the bio detail (that he was a Korean war vet, that he decided to study theology after working as a Miss. Riverboat pilot etc...) was deleted. Is his work as a (somewhat failed) prophet, and a (very successful) author the ONLY point an ENCYCLOPAEDIA should have about this guy? I would think that standard Bio information would be important. But apprently, despite being a public figure for over 30 years, none of this information is available!?!? It feels "odd" I spent a few hours trying to find it. Does anyone else have reasonable sources? Rick Boatright 18:03, 10 Jun 2005 (UTC)
Here are some links and excerpts from internet sources. Have at it. Regards, Jim Ellis 19:50, Jun 10, 2005 (UTC)
"Born in Houston, Texas, in 1929, Harold L. Lindsey dropped out of the University of Houston to serve in the Korean War, then worked as a Mississippi River tugboat captain. When his first marriage broke up, he contemplated suicide, but instead found a Gideon New Testament and was converted. Lindsey became an avid reader of Scripture, particularly prophetic sections, which convinced him that the Bible was truly the Word of God.
"Though not a college graduate, he entered Dallas Theological Seminary in 1958 (with the help of "Colonel" Robert Thieme, pastor of Berachah Church in Houston, where Lindsey had attended), and graduated with a degree in theology. He also met his second wife, Jan, and they became missionaries for . . ." (incomplete article).
"As a seminary student, Hal worked with Campus Crusade for Christ and continued with them until 1969. Hal helped set up a special Bible School next to UCLA in 1969 named "The JC Light and Power Company", which produced many ministers and missionaries. This school continued until 1976. During this period, in 1969, Hal wrote his first book, "The Late Great Planet Earth". It was published in 54 languages and has sold an approximate 35 million copies."
"Hal Lindsey, formerly a tugboat captain in New Orleans, attended the Dallas Theological Seminary, the heart of American Dispensationalist apocalyptic inquiry, where he studied with John F. Walvoord, author of the 1974 best-seller Armageddon, Oil, and the Middle East Crisis. After touring extensively with the Campus Crusade for Christ, an evangelic ministry, Lindsey established Christian Associates, a prophetic ministry based in California. Deriving his authority from apocalyptic scripture alone, he has spoken on an impending third world war (as Armageddon) to U.S. military intelligence committees, the American Air War College (an Air Force strategic training center), the U.S. State Department, and the Pentagon itself."
"Hal Lindsey was “born again” in 1955, when he was reading a Gideon's Bible while serving as a tugboat captain on the Mississippi River. He dove into the Word, earnestly studying the Bible, with guidance from Rev. Robert Thieme, from 1955 to 1960."
I don't believe that Lindsey is, or claims to be, a Christian minister. In the late 60s he was a member of the "Plymouth Brethren," a Christian group which does not recognize the legitimacy of an ordained ministry. Unless someone points to a reference describing him as a minister, he should be removed from that list. atterlep 69.211.5.157 12:53, 21 February 2006 (UTC)
His web site says : In 1994, Hal was awarded a doctor's degree from the California School of Theology.
Anyone know what degree granting institution this really refers to before I add it to the BIO section? Rick Boatright 01:36, 11 Jun 2005 (UTC)
Hal Lindsey is Making Predictions–Again By Gary DeMar
Hal Lindsey is once again making predictions about the end times using Israel as the prophetic time piece. In his latest article on the subject, he claims that the reestablishment of the Sanhedrin is prophetically significant. Here’s how he explains it: “These religious authorities [in Israel] believe it was necessary to re-establish the Sanhedrin because only this properly ordained body of sages can authenticate a Messiah when he comes. There is a growing expectation of the long-awaited Messiah to appear among devout Jews. The rebirth of the Jewish state and recapture of Jerusalem has increasingly influenced this conviction.”1 So Jesus was not the Messiah, and the NT is a fraud. That’s the logic of Lindsey’s position since the Sanhedrin did not authenticate Jesus as the Messiah. If the Sanhedrin of the first century was wrong, as the NT says it was, what makes Lindsey think that the Sanhedrin of the twenty-first century is going to be right?
Operating from a false premise, Lindsey then makes this observation: “The religious sages began to consider the rebuilding of the Temple and reinstitution of ancient animal sacrifices as prescribed in the Law of Moses.” So what? What verse in the NT mentions anything about rebuilding the temple and reinstituting animal sacrifices? There aren’t any. Not a single verse in the NT even intimates that the temple needs to be rebuilt. The NT doesn’t give any prophetic significance to the temple and the sacrificial system. Jesus does predict the temple’s destruction (Matt. 24:1–34), but nothing is ever said about it being rebuilt. Jesus Himself is the true temple (John 2:19–21) as are believers by redemptive extension (Eph. 2:19–22). The NT couldn’t be any more clear on these points. For those of you who doubt me on this because you’ve heard that the OT predicts that the temple will be rebuilt, let me point out that the temple where Jesus was presented in accordance with the law (Luke 2:21–3, the temple He cleansed (Matt. 21:12–17), and the temple He predicted would be destroyed within a generation (Matt. 24:1–34) is the temple the OT predicted would be rebuilt.
Lindsey believes that these events are “extremely important to students of Bible prophecy.” He believes “that we are very near the final climactic events that end with the Second Coming of Christ.” We’ve heard this before. Let me take you back to 1970 and the book that made Lindsey a prophecy star, The Late Great Planet Earth: “The most important sign in Matthew has to be the restoration of the Jews to the land in the rebirth of Israel. Even the figure of speech ‘fig tree’ has been a historic symbol of national Israel. When the Jewish people, after nearly 2,000 years of exile, under relentless persecution, became a nation again on 14 May 1948 the ‘fig tree’ put forth its first leaves. Jesus said that this would indicate that He was ‘at the door,’ ready to return. Then He said, ‘Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place’ (Matthew 24:34, NASB). What generation? Obviously, in context, the generation that would see the signs—chief among them the rebirth of Israel. A generation in the Bible is something like forty years. If this is a correct deduction, then within forty years or so of 1948, all these things could take place. Many scholars who have studied Bible prophecy all their lives believe that this is so.”2
You do the math: 1948 + 40 = 1988. Seventeen years have passed, and Hal Lindsey is still considered a “prophecy expert.” In an interview that appeared in the April 15, 1977 issue of Christianity Today, Ward Gasque asked Lindsey about his infamous “generation” quotation:
“But what if you’re wrong?” Lindsey replied: “Well, there’s just a split second’s difference between a hero and a bum. I didn’t ask to be a hero, but I guess I have become one in the Christian community. So I accept it. But if I’m wrong about this, I guess I’ll become a bum.”3
This was Lindsey’s assessment of himself. He set the standard for his own work. The 1980s came and went without his end-time scenario coming to pass. This should have made him a “bum” and led to the end of his prophecy career. It didn’t happen. So why is his latest claim that “we are very near the final climactic events that end with the Second Coming of Christ” taken seriously by anyone?
Answers to the above hate attack on Hal Linsey
To answer your question of the Rebuilt temple & the New Testament, Both Revelation & Daniel states that the Anti-Christ will stop the sacrifice in the temple after 3 1/2 years. there must be a temple & a sacrificial system in place if he is to stop it. although I don't agree with everything Lindsey says, he is at least 99.9 % right in applying scripture to today's news. He was right about the EU & thanks to the New Socialist Usurper-and-Chief Obama, he will be right about the end of America.--75.36.66.166 (talk) 01:21, 23 January 2009 (UTC)
To answer your lame attempt to disprove what he said by taking him out of context & adding in your own lies about the "1948 + 40 = 1988" A generation in the Old Testament was 40 years but in the New Testament it is 70 years. Tthe Greek word used here can also mean that at least one person who was born in 1948 would still be alive when the end comes. Hal Lindsey has never set dates for the 2nd coming because he like all real Christians know the that the Bible says NO MAN CAN KNOW THE DAY OR HOUR the best we can do is know the season which began in 1948. If you spent more time in the Bible & less time trying to trash others, you might know that. I think your whole section should be deleted because it is nothing by lies & Anti-Christian hate but true to wikipedia, they will delete my section & keep yours because they like you also hate Christians!!!!!!!!!!--75.36.66.166 (talk) 16:04, 23 January 2009 (UTC)
And yet not one editor rebuked Gary DeMar's for his attack post of lies, they just rebuke the one setting the record straight. your response proves my point! The only way to prove me wrong is to start printing unbiased things about Christianity - but we both know that will never happen!--75.36.66.166 (talk) 18:32, 23 January 2009 (UTC)
Why wasn't the original crap deleted? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.183.43.25 (talk) 02:56, 19 April 2014 (UTC)
I'm not a fan of Lindsey or the fundamentalist crowd, but this article has quite bad NPOV problems in the Reputation section (specfically the bits referring to Zion Oil) and is in desperate need of a cleanup to provide good, encyclopedic prose rather than a collection of various quotes. If we're going to be critical of Lindsey, let's do it in a way that provides some credibility, people. --khaosworks (talk • contribs) 01:58, 10 October 2005 (UTC)
Well done, Eaglizard. Thanks for your efforts here. Jim Ellis 15:57, 13 October 2005 (UTC)
The following statement leading off the "Biblical Interpretations" section strikes me as odd: "The core of Lindsey's teachings is the belief that Jesus Christ is presented in the four gospels of the New Testament as the divine Son of God and the Jewish Messiah." Within the overall context that Lindsey is regarded as non-mainstream or speculative in his Christian beliefs, someone who didn't know better would think that the belief that Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God and the Messiah is also an extremist or non-mainstream view within Christianity, when in fact it is wholly orthodox. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.46.200.230 (talk) 19:29, 7 November 2012 (UTC)
Is Wikipedia a register of mentally ill people? If no, why does this militant lunatic getting such a long article? He actively seeks WW3 via encouraging to rebuild the Zionist temple by destroying the currently standing Muslim Rock Dome. Are western fanatics more acceptable than eastern ones? 195.70.32.136
Under the heading prophecies the article states: "The fact that there were seven countries in the Common Market related them to a beast with seven heads mentioned in Revelation."
In fact there were six signatories to the Treaty of Rome (signed 1957, entry into force 01 jan 1958). This is a fairly significant factual error and should be corrected - I have little interest in prophecies of this sort and hesitate to simply delete existing text since I would not know how to correct it. If the author can fit the six founding members of the European Communities (Belgium, France, Germany (West),Italy, Luxemburg and the Netherlands) into some plausible numerological or apocalyptic framework fine - but let's get the facts right!Wildbe 12:11, 20 March 2006 (UTC)
I'm new at this so I may be posting in the wrong area (my apologies if so) but why is his entire speaking schedule for 2 years (at this point both past and future) included? Doesn't the man have a website and people paid to promote this for him? Does he have to use a free public information service to get an audience? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Spaghettimachete1 (talk • contribs) 01:08, 23 October 2010 (UTC)
I deleted the statement saying that Hal Lindsey believes a generation is 40 years. Nowhere does he indicate this and, based on his Bible-based prophecy "interpretation", it seems likely that he uses that Bible's definition of the length of life. F22 Raptor 20:26, 12 July 2006 (UTC)
I reverted the edits made by 24.182.2.181 (talk · contribs) for various POV and accuracy reasons. Let's go through them one by one.
(The following is the User:Bee Cliff River Slob contribution to Hal Lindsey with Promoting Zion Oil & Gas. Inc.):
Promoting Zion Oil & Gas. Inc. (section edited)
On April 1, 2004, Lindsey used his WorldNetDaily column to promote the sale of shares of Zion Oil and Gas, Inc.[1], and cited Biblical prophecy as a basis for suggesting that there was oil reserves to be found within Israel.[2]
Lindsey failed to mention within the WorldNetDaily article that one of the directors of Zion Oil was Ralph DeVore, a cousin of Lindsey who works as director within the Hal Lindsey Ministries[3]. The Dallas Business Journal reported at the time of Zion Oil & Gas initial public offering (IPO) on July 15, 2003, that DeVore owned an 18.1% shareholder interest in “...very risky” stock offering.[4] DeVore has since resigned as a director from Zion Oil.[5]
References
2. ^ “Israel, nation of miracles.” Hal Lindsey . WorldNetDaily. April 1, 2004
3. ^ Zion Oil and Gas, Inc. Form FWP. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. February 8, 2006.
4. ^ Hal Lindsey Website Ministries. IRS Form 990 "Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax." 2005.
5. ^ “Zion Oil & Gas plans IPO.” William Hoffman. Dallas Business Journal. July 16, 2003.
6. ^ Zion Oil & Gas, Inc., Form 8-Z. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.January 5, 2005
(the references were correctly linked at the article page, although that may not show up here at the discussion page.).Bee Cliff River Slob 05:31, 23 September 2007 (UTC)
I don't see the reason for this disagreement. It seems sourced. Basejumper2 07:47, 25 October 2007 (UTC)
References
Some of the things in the biography section seem more suited for a section on his views. They aren't reallly biographical. Basejumper2 04:45, 24 October 2007 (UTC)
Also, I think we need some sourcing in the predictions section. It could be a BLP violation (and I understand we are stretching things here, which is why I said could be) to say that he made innacurate predictions without sourcing the predictions. Thanks. Basejumper2 07:45, 25 October 2007 (UTC)
I am no fan of Hal Lindsey. The man terrified my grandmother. That being said, I do not think that ad hominem attacks are appropriate. For example, it is mentioned that he has had four wives. How is this germane? The wives are not named, and no citation is given. The real reason is to make him look like a chump. Conservative Christians do not approve of multiple wives, and I am sure the writer was aware of that.
Back to a neutral perspectives boys and girls. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.76.54.227 (talk) 05:46, 11 November 2011 (UTC)
I think bringing up the four wives is appropriate (if true) in a biographical article. After all, the article is about the man as well as his beliefs and teachings. But I agree that if you're going to bring up his wives, you should name them and provide the dates and circumstances of the divorces and/or deaths. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.46.200.230 (talk) 19:21, 7 November 2012 (UTC)
This man has been proved incorrect time and time again. (the USSR is gone) Is Wikipedia going to be a place that any one who gets a book published, no mater how wrong it is can have a bio? Russ The Rail Guy 13:32, 26 July 2013 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Railguyruss (talk • contribs)
For the editor who removed the external link to the Rapture Ready cult's web site, I restored the link sice it appears to be valid. Damotclese (talk) 16:07, 9 December 2014 (UTC)
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The automated link checker is correct, it was a dead link and the Wayback Machine is still valid. Damotclese (talk) 15:54, 17 October 2015 (UTC)
An editor suggests that there are excessive external links. I do not agree, there are something like 6 or 7 external links pointing to right wing Christian extremist web sites which appear to be legitimate coverage of the extant cult leader, and 7 are not too much. Damotclese (talk) 21:02, 17 October 2015 (UTC)
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...and television host. Was added to the text. He is not a television host. The fraud claims he's on television however he sells DVDs to cult followers, he is not on television, that's a Christanic Republican lie. Damotclese (talk) 17:41, 15 January 2018 (UTC)
According to the Christanic mythologies and those that came before them, "Armageddon" already happened, the myth is about Roman occupational rulers who "got theirs finally" -- the Christanic myths are so-called "resentment myths" which were stories about how the oppressive Roman tyrants would get their come-uppence. Needless to say, Armageddon already came for the Romans according to actual history, not Mithratic, Hebrewic, or Christanic mythology. Damotclese (talk) 16:17, 29 January 2018 (UTC)