Will Catholics Be "Left Behind"? by Carl E. Olson
This powerful book is a thorough, Catholic critique of the popular Fundamentalist belief in the "Rapture" - the belief that Christians will be removed from earth prior to a time of Tribulation and the Second Coming. It examines the theological, historical, and Biblical basis for the "Rapture" by carefully examining "premillennial dispensationalism", the belief system in the Left Behind books and propagated by such Biblical prophecy writers as Tim LaHaye and Hal Lindsey.
Written for both the lay persion and the serious student, this book combines an engaging, popular approach with detailed footnotes and exhaustive research. Beginning with the big picture, it focuses first on key concepts such as eschatology, the Praousa, "end times", the Kingdom, and the Church. Olson then shows how Fundamentalist author and Left Behind creator LaHaye's many works on "Bible prophecy" are filled with attacks on Catholicism and numerous misconceptions.
He also presents a history of apocalyptic belief and theology, beginning with the Early Church and including the Montanists, St. Augustine, Joachim of Fiore, the Protestant Reformers, and the American Puritans. A strong, but fair, critique of a dangerous and popular belief, Will Catholics BE "Left Behind"? provides Catholics, Protestants, lay people, clergy, students, and scholars with important answers and information about the roots and meaning of the "Rapture".
