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Tim LaHaye

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File:040515 LeftBehind hu.hmedium.jpg
A panel from Tim LaHaye’s multi-million selling ‘’Left Behind’’ series, depicting the fate LaHaye anticipates for those who do not follow Jesus Christ.

Timothy F. LaHaye (b. 1926) is an American conservative fundamentalist Christian minister, author, and speaker. He is best-known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins. He has written over fifty books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Biography

1958, the LaHaye family moved to San Diego, California, where Tim became pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church serving for almost 25 years. In 1971 he founded the San Diego Christian College.

LaHaye received a B.A. from Bob Jones University in 1950. He also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary and a Doctor of Literature from Liberty University. He is married to activist and fellow author Beverly LaHaye; they have four children and nine grandchildren.

LaHaye cut his political teeth at Christian Voice in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1981 he helped found the secretive Council for National Policy (CNP), a conservative lobby group membership of which is only available by invitation (it should not be confused with the liberal Center for National Policy). In the 1980s, LaHaye also founded American Coalition for Traditional Values and Coalition for Religious Freedom.

In 2001 LaHaye co-hosted with Dave Breese in the prophecy television program The King Is Coming. His book The Rapture was released on June 6, 2006, in order to show a 6-6-6 connection.

In 2001 LaHaye gave $4.5 million to Jerry Falwell's Liberty University to build a new student center and School of Prophecy, which opened in January 2002, was named after LaHaye. He also serves as its president.

Controversy and criticism

LaHaye has been criticized for his apocalyptic beliefs, in which he asserts the end of the world is near. In 2004, Penn & Teller's TV show Bullshit! devoted an episode to the "end of the world" phenomenon, following centuries of incorrect prophecy. The show explained that Bible prophecy is nothing new, and that the vague descriptions in the book of Revelation can apply to almost any location at any time. The Left Behind series was featured, and Jerry B. Jenkins, LaHaye's co-author, was interviewed. Jenkins said "in my mind, in a way, we are sales people for the Gospel." He continued, "people say money is the root of all evil, and actually its the love of money that's the root of all evil. So there is nothing wrong with money if you use it right." The host, Penn Jillette, responded, "what's the story on money if you get it by creating an irrational fear in people?"

LaHaye has also been criticized by Christians as having "some real problems with his prophetical teachings in the Left Behind series." It is noted that "in books 8 & 9, LaHaye and Jenkins teach that [non-willing] recipients of the mark of the beast can still be saved." However, in The Mark, "the Chang scenario" is developed, whereby a character receives both the mark of the beast and the sealing of the Lord. In Desecration, his dual-marking was justified in the storyline." This has led some readers to wonder "how a Christian can have the mark of the beast and still be saved has been asked many times by perplexed readers on the Left Behind messageboard, and was answered on the FAQ page at LeftBehind.com."[1]

He has also been criticized for "pseudo-psychological" temperament theory and mixing in theology.[2] A common temperament theory is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).

Bibliography

Fiction

Books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins in the "End Times" Series and others:

Left Behind Series

  1. Apr. 1996, Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days (ISBN 0-8423-2912-9)
  2. Mar. 1997, Tribulation Force: The Continuing Drama of Those Left Behind (ISBN 0-8423-2921-8)
  3. Jun. 1998, Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist (ISBN 0-8423-2924-2)
  4. Feb. 1999, Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides (ISBN 0-8423-2925-0)
  5. Jan. 2000, Apollyon: The Destroyer Is Unleashed (ISBN 0-8423-2926-9)
  6. Nov. 2000, Assassins: Assignment: Jerusalem, Target: Antichrist (ISBN 0-8423-2927-7)
  7. Feb. 2001, The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession (ISBN 0-8423-2929-3)
  8. Aug. 2001, The Mark: The Beast Rules the World (ISBN 0-8423-3228-6)
  9. Jun. 2002, Desecration: Antichrist Takes the Throne (ISBN 0-8423-3229-4)
  10. Feb. 2003, The Remnant: On the Brink of Armageddon (ISBN 0-8423-3230-8)
  11. Nov. 2003, Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of the Ages (ISBN 0-8423-3236-7)
  12. Apr. 2004, Glorious Appearing: The End of Days (ISBN 0-8423-3237-5)

Left Behind Prequels

  1. March 2005, The Rising: Before They Were Left Behind (ISBN 0-8423-6056-5)
  2. November 2005, The Regime: Before They Were Left Behind (ISBN 1-4143-0576-1)
  3. June 6 2006, The Rapture

Babylon Rising series:

  1. October 2003, Babylon Rising (ISBN 0-553-80322-0)
  2. August 2004, The Secret on Ararat(ISBN 0-553-80323-9)
  3. September 2005, The Europa Conspiracy (ISBN 0-553-80324-7)
  4. August 29, 2006, The Edge of Darkness

He has also produced many "self-help" titles, some co-written with his wife, on topics such as sexuality, marriage, self-control, etc. His bibliography in this area far overshadows the Left Behind series in number.

Non-fiction

  • How to Study the Bible for Yourself (Harvest House, 1976)
  • Revelation: Illustrated and Made Plain revised (Zondervon, 1975 {first printing 1973})
  • No Fear of the Storm (Zondervan, 1977)
  • The Battle for the Mind (Fleming H. Revell, 1980)
  • The Act of Marriage revised (Zondervon, 1998 {first printing 1976})
  • Spirit-Controlled Temperament revised (Tyndale House Publishers 1993)
  • The Power of the Cross (ISBN 1-57673-212-6, Multnomah 1998)
  • The Merciful God of Prophecy(First Warner Books 2002)

Trivia

See also

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