Hal Lindsey’s Prophecies
A Study of The Late Great Planet Earth: Part 6 & Conclusion
By
David Mathews
109. "Now I am about to walk into the lion's den.
Perhaps it would be wise to follow Churchill's tactic when he said: 'You know I
always avoid prophesying beforehand, it is much better policy to prophesy after
the event has already taken place.' However, in this chapter I will make a
number of forecasts about the future which are based on careful study of the
prophetic truth and the writings of many scholars on the subject. I believe that
these forecasts are based upon sound deductions; however, please don't get the
idea that I think that I am infallibly right in the same way that Biblical
prophets speaking under the direct inspiration of God's spirit was. I believe
that God today gives us illumination to what has been written, but he doesn't
give us infallible revelation as He gave the authors of the Bible. Here, then,
are the things that I believe will happen and develop in the near future."
(p. 181).
Hal Lindsey here neglects the wise advice of Winston
Churchill to his own harm. He careful makes reference to his own fallibility
while at the same time claims that his predictions are based upon an
"illumination" from God which is not equivalent to the inspiration of
the prophets. Just how much weaker is his illumination will become known
through investigating each one of the following predictions within the context
of the book's time frame: 1970 through 1988. Increasing the time frame to
include present events or even future events will not preserve it from failure.
110. "With increasing frequency the leadership of
the denominations will be captured by those who completely reject the historic
truth of the Bible and deny doctrines which according to Christ Himself are
crucial to believe in order to be a Christian. In some of the largest
Protestant denominations this has already taken place. The few remaining
institutions which are not yet dominated by disbelievers will go downhill in
the same manner." (p. 182).
False. Evangelical and fundamentalist denominations
continue to adhere to the Bible and Jesus.
111. "There will be unprecedented mergers of
denominations into 'religious conglomerates.' This will occur for two reasons:
first, most denominations were formed because of deep convictions about certain
spiritual truths. As more of these truths are discarded as irrelevant because
of unbelief in Biblical authority, there will be no reason to be divided."
(p. 182).
Mergers did become prevalent during the 1980's -- mergers
of corporations, both friendly and hostile. Denominations have not merged and
there is no sign of religious mergers in the future.
112. "Young people will continue to accelerate their
exodus from the institutional churches. Several surveys taken by church leaders
indicate this." (p. 182).
A description of present events is not a prediction.
113. "There will be an ever-widening gap between the
true believers in Christ and those who masquerade as 'ministers of
righteousness.' I believe that open persecution will soon break out upon the
'real Christians,' and it will come from the powerful hierarchy of unbelieving
leaders within the denominations." (p. 183).
False.
114. "Because of the persecution of believers, there
will grow a true underground church of a believing remnant of people." (p.
184).
False.
115. "Look for vast and far-reaching movements
toward a one-world religious organization, spearheaded mostly by the
unbelieving leaders of the institutional churches; also look for this movement
to become more politically oriented than it is now." (p. 184).
False.
116. "Look for movements within Israel to make
Jerusalem the religious center of the world and to rebuild their ancient Temple
on its old site." (p. 184).
False. Jewish efforts towards these goals have come up empty.
117. "Keep your eyes on the Middle East. If this is
the time that we believe it is, this area will become a constant source of
tension for all the world. The fear of another World War will be almost
completely centered in the troubles of this area. It will become so severe that
only Christ or Antichrist can solve it. Of course the world will choose the
Antichrist." (p. 184).
False. Cold War tensions made the Middle East a center of
attention. The end of the Cold War, plus the beginning of serious negotiations
between the enemies, has reduced the Middle East's potential for beginning a
third world war. The world's attention is now centered on the Indian
subcontinent, where nuclear war is threatening.
118. "Israel will become fantastically wealthy and
influential in the future. Keep your eyes upon the development of riches in the
Dead Sea." (p. 184).
False.
119. "The United States will not hold its present
position of leadership in the western world; financially, the future leader
will be Western Europe. Internal political chaos caused by student rebellions
and Communist subversion will begin to erode the economy of our nation. Lack of
moral principle by citizens and leaders will so weaken law and order that a
state of anarchy will finally result. The military capability of the United
States, though it is at present the most powerful in the world, has already
been neutralized because no one has the courage to use it decisively. When the
economy collapses, so will the military." (p. 184).
True, but only if you substitute "Soviet Union"
for the United States.
120. "As the United States loses power, Western
Europe will be forced to unite and become the standard-bearer of the western
world. Look for the emergence of a 'United States of Europe' composed of ten
inner member nations. The Common Market is laying the groundwork for this
political confederacy which will become the mightiest coalition on earth. It
will stop the Communist take-over of the world and will for a short while
control both Russia and Red China through the personal genius of the Antichrist
who will become ruler of the European confederacy." (p. 185).
False.
121. "Look for the Papacy to become even more
involved in world politics, especially in proposals for bringing world peace
and world-wide economic prosperity." (p. 185).
The Papacy is political, and has been for a long time.
122. "Look for a growing desire around the world for
a man who can govern the entire world." (p. 185).
False.
123. "Look for some limited use of modern nuclear
weapons somewhere in the world that will so terrify people of the horrors of
war that when the Antichrist comes they will immediately respond to his
ingenious proposal for bringing world peace and security from war. This limited
use could occur between Russia and China, or upon the continental United
States." (p. 185).
False.
124. "Look for the present sociological problems
such as crime, riots, lack of employment, poverty, illiteracy, mental illness,
illegitimacy, etc., to increase as the population explosion begins to multiply
geometrically in the late 70's." (p. 185).
False.
125. "Look for the beginning of the widest spread
famines in the history of the world." (p. 185).
False.
126. "Look for drug addiction to further permeate
the U.S. and other free-world countries. Drug addicts will run for high
political office and win through support of the young adults." (p. 185).
False, with the possible exception of Marion Barry.
127. "Look for drugs and forms of religion to be
merged together. There will be a general increase of belief in extrasensory
phenomena, which will not be related to the true God, but to Satan." (p.
185).
False.
128. "Astrology, witchcraft, and oriental religions
will become predominant in the western world." (p. 186).
False.
Conclusion
Hal Lindsey has claimed to special understanding of
prophecy, the Scriptures, the present times and the future. Because of this
special understanding, he has written a book giving a specific, detailed account
of future events, the people and nations involved in those events, and their
outcomes.
The book was written within the context of the Cold War,
with the Soviet Union and Communist nations providing the unstable element
which would lead to global warfare. Fulfillment of the scenarios was predicted
to occur before the year 1988, based upon calculations of the rebirth of Israel
and the length of a generation.
The future of the United States is dismal: Economic
collapse, weakened military, removal from dominance of the world, rioting and
social unrest. Europe is predicted to replace the United States as the
economic, political and military leader of the West. The Common Market would
provide the nucleus for a much powerful Europe that would attain Roman Empire
status. Worldwide control would eventually be given to the Antichrist, who
would for a time dominate the world and control Russia and China along with all
other nations of the world.
A climatic contest for control over the Middle East
between Russia and her allies and the Antichrist will bring about a dramatic
end of the world following an invasion of the Middle East by a Chinese army of
200 million soldiers. Jesus Himself will bring an end to this final battle,
punishing the sinful world and establishing a physical kingdom based in
Jerusalem and lasting for a thousand years.
The events that Hal Lindsey anticipated never materialized. The modern political, military and economic situation completely contradicts his expectations. The 128 predictions documented above give ample evidence of the failure of Hal Lindsey's predictions both in the general outline and in the specific details. For that reason, Hal Lindsey must suffer rejection as a prophet, according to the command of God: "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him" (Deuteronomy 18:22).
as of 12-2007