Rating: 
Summary: It's Easier to Destory Fiction than Create It
Review: Aristotle, in his book on dialetics, said "It's easier to destroy an argument than to build one" and that's exactly what happens in this book. Gary Demar does a good job of destroying the left behind theology but a rather poor job of reading into the scriptures. When he's finish, he creates his own End Times Fiction! His premise is that the references In Matthew 24 must be first century references. Therefore, A) either Jesus was lying or mistaken and His prophecies were not fulfilled; or B) Jesus was telling the truth and His prophecy did come true in the first century. He believes it's all or nothing. His argument is an attempt to answer questions that came from atheist like the late Betrand Russell who were stuck on the "this generation" points in Matthew 24. He did a splendid job and it was one of the best answers I've read. However, it doesn't follow that everything in Matthew 24 was fulfilled in 70 AD or that it had to be fulfilled. Besides, the critics will still probably not believe. " If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.. "
Gary even creates his own bit of End Time fiction when he says that the Titus Army is the Lords people in Daniel Chapter 9. "Jesus, as the Prince just mentioned, comes with His "people" (armies of Rome) to "destroy the city [of Jerusalem] and the sanctuary [temple] in A.D.70." The Bible says the Jews were the Lords people. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." The End of Revelation clearly states that it is for all those who hear it--not just 1st Century Christians. " 22:18 For I say to every man to whose ears have come the words of this prophet's book, If any man makes an addition to them, God will put on him the punishments which are in this book: 22:19 And if any man takes away from the words of this book, God will take away from him his part in the tree of life and the holy town, even the things which are in this book. " And Further More, if Gary Demar's argument was true, Virtually all the books in the New Testament would have to be scratched out--that is, if we take the meaning of them that they were only intended for 1st century Christians.. If none of these letters; if the statements Jesus made were only for his disciples and the audience at that time, then it justifies people like the Mormons and Catholics for creating additional books for their time. All the messages of the lord would be created and relative to the specific time of the audience. However, the bible says this is not the case. The Bible Says Peter: 1:25 But the word of the Lord is eternal 2Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Peter: 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Peter says Paul's writings are scripture. " 3:16 And as he said in all his letters, which had to do with these things; in which are some hard sayings, so that, like the rest of the holy Writings, they are twisted by those who are uncertain and without knowledge, to the destruction of their souls Therefore, Gary Demar does a good job of picking apart the left behind theology, but a rather poor job of reading into the scriptures to build up his own End Times Fiction. Fulfillment of a prophecy in the bible is often farther removed than when the hearers expect. This baby gets Left Behind if Israel ever rebuilds the Temple. -Cache
Rating:
Summary: It's Easier to Destory Fiction than Create It
Review: Aristotle, in his book on dialetics, said "It's easier to destroy an argument than to build one" and that's exactly what happens in this book. Gary Demar does a good job of destroying the left behind theology but a rather poor job of reading into the scriptures. When he's finish, he creates his own End Times Fiction! His premise is that the references In Matthew 24 must be first century references. Therefore, A) either Jesus was lying or mistaken and His prophecies were not fulfilled; or B) Jesus was telling the truth and His prophecy did come true in the first century. He believes it's all or nothing. His argument is an attempt to answer questions that came from atheist like the late Betrand Russell who were stuck on the "this generation" points in Matthew 24. He did a splendid job and it was one of the best answers I've read. However, it doesn't follow that everything in Matthew 24 was fulfilled in 70 AD or that it had to be fulfilled. Besides, the critics will still probably not believe. " If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.. "
Gary even creates his own bit of End Time fiction when he says that the Titus Army is the Lords people in Daniel Chapter 9. "Jesus, as the Prince just mentioned, comes with His "people" (armies of Rome) to "destroy the city [of Jerusalem] and the sanctuary [temple] in A.D.70." The Bible says the Jews were the Lords people. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." The End of Revelation clearly states that it is for all those who hear it--not just 1st Century Christians. " 22:18 For I say to every man to whose ears have come the words of this prophet's book, If any man makes an addition to them, God will put on him the punishments which are in this book: 22:19 And if any man takes away from the words of this book, God will take away from him his part in the tree of life and the holy town, even the things which are in this book. " And Further More, if Gary Demar's argument was true, Virtually all the books in the New Testament would have to be scratched out--that is, if we take the meaning of them that they were only intended for 1st century Christians.. If none of these letters; if the statements Jesus made were only for his disciples and the audience at that time, then it justifies people like the Mormons and Catholics for creating additional books for their time. All the messages of the lord would be created and relative to the specific time of the audience. However, the bible says this is not the case. The Bible Says Peter: 1:25 But the word of the Lord is eternal 2Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Peter: 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Peter says Paul's writings are scripture. " 3:16 And as he said in all his letters, which had to do with these things; in which are some hard sayings, so that, like the rest of the holy Writings, they are twisted by those who are uncertain and without knowledge, to the destruction of their souls Therefore, Gary Demar does a good job of picking apart the left behind theology, but a rather poor job of reading into the scriptures to build up his own End Times Fiction. Fulfillment of a prophecy in the bible is often farther removed than when the hearers expect. This baby gets Left Behind if Israel ever rebuilds the Temple. -Cache
Rating: 
Summary: Sandbag Job
Review: DeMar has a long history of fighting the pre-trib Rapture of the Church, but in truth he does not have much to stand on. For example in this little missive against LeHaye and Jenkins of "Left Behind" fame......he takes them to task for writing that the Magog battle in Ezk 38-39 was only that "battle"??? which took place in the Book of Esther, when the Jews were saved at Purim. He does what he does best and gets the focus on the weapons used in this battle, weapons which Ezkiel writing from the perspective of a man in 600 BC would have. (Your Bible probably says horses and arrows, but the original is probably closer to chariots and projectiles, not very far from armored vehicles and missiles, as a man of his ancient times would describe them.)
But what he does not tell his reader is the Paul Harvey "rest of the story." Purim took place in Persia (Iran today) but this battle of Magog is in Israel. In this battle the northern invader is destroyed by huge balls of hail with fire falling from the sky. Now where is this in the book of Esther? And there is also a massive earthquake, again not in Esther. Furthermore this battle must be in a time similar if not identical to our own, the Jews are now back in their land after being dispersed into the whole world. The Jews in Persia were there because Babylon had taken them there. Persia was not all the nations of the world. No only now are the Jews returned from such a dispersion. In Esther the name of God is not even mentioned, and yet after this war, having protected Isreal, the "apple of His eye' God says many will know His name! Gary's whole book is similar.
Rating:
Summary: Sandbag Job
Review: DeMar has a long history of fighting the pre-trib Rapture of the Church, but in truth he does not have much to stand on. For example in this little missive against LeHaye and Jenkins of "Left Behind" fame......he takes them to task for writing that the Magog battle in Ezk 38-39 was only that "battle"??? which took place in the Book of Esther, when the Jews were saved at Purim. He does what he does best and gets the focus on the weapons used in this battle, weapons which Ezkiel writing from the perspective of a man in 600 BC would have. (Your Bible probably says horses and arrows, but the original is probably closer to chariots and projectiles, not very far from armored vehicles and missiles, as a man of his ancient times would describe them.)
But what he does not tell his reader is the Paul Harvey "rest of the story." Purim took place in Persia (Iran today) but this battle of Magog is in Israel. In this battle the northern invader is destroyed by huge balls of hail with fire falling from the sky. Now where is this in the book of Esther? And there is also a massive earthquake, again not in Esther. Furthermore this battle must be in a time similar if not identical to our own, the Jews are now back in their land after being dispersed into the whole world. The Jews in Persia were there because Babylon had taken them there. Persia was not all the nations of the world. No only now are the Jews returned from such a dispersion. In Esther the name of God is not even mentioned, and yet after this war, having protected Isreal, the "apple of His eye' God says many will know His name! Gary's whole book is similar.
Rating: 
Summary: End Times Reality!!!
Review: Finally there are books being written that tells us "End Times Reality." In this one Gary Demar does one excellent job in disseminating the facts about end times prophecy. He explains(and we must ALL understand) that the 'Left Behind' series is just fiction, plain and simple. Many have grown accustomed to this series and the followed up movies believing them to be biblical doctrine. Well Mr. Demar will open up anyone's eyes who are willing to see the truth. A must read for even those of the Futurist, Left Behind viewpoint. I suggest also that one read 'Shattering the Left BeHind Delusion' by John Noe. In these books you will see the whole-sale deception being cast upon the believing and unbelieving public.
Rating:
Summary: Deeply flawed, indefensible theology
Review: Gary De Mar takes Tim LaHaye to task for spreading a questionable theology - Pre-Tribulational Dispensationalist Pre-Millennialism - that amounts to little more than fearmongering. Many Christians will agree with DeMar that the obsession many have with the timing of the "Rapture" and the precise sequence of end-times events is unBiblical, divisive, and destructive. I applaud DeMar for attempting to steer the church away from this. Unfortunately, DeMar proposes his own interpretation of the End Times - Post-Millennialism. According to DeMar, Paul's "Man of Lawlessness" was the leader of the Masada Rebels in Judea in 70 A.D., and Revelation's "The Beast" was the Roman Emperor Nero. All the talk about "the anti-christ" and "the last days" in the New Testament refers only to events that occurred in the first century A.D. DeMar - a staunch Calvinist - believes that the future destiny of the Church is to eventually take over the world, politically as well as spiritually, and usher in a reign of peace and prosperity before Christ returns to rule the near-perfect planet that we've redeemed. I respect many of the intellectual contributions Reformed thinkers have made to Evangelicalism; but on this score, the Reformed tradition (represented by theologians like R.C. Sproul and D. James Kennedy) is simply wrong, just like they're wrong about infant baptism. DeMar's interpretation of passages relating to the Anti-Christ is untenable, because both St. Paul and St. John describe the "man of lawlessness" and the "Beast" as reigning immediately prior to Christ's return. It is Christ's return - not Roman legions or the Praetorian Guard - that destroys this shadowy figure. The passages in question leave no room for another interpretation. I think many Evangelicals would suspect DeMar of engaging in theological liberalism, and to some degree, they're right. DeMar is attempting to make the Bible say the precise opposite of what it plainly states. I don't know what the millennium is, or when it will take place relative to Christ's return, but the Bible does tell me that a) Christianity is the "narrow gate" through which most people will choose not to go, meaning that the world will never be truly "Christianized," and b) a powerful figure inspired by Satan will oppose Christ at his second coming. Either Pre-Millennialism or Amillennialism is able to take the Bible at its word and believe these evident truths; Post-Millennialism has to explain these verses away, usually to justify a dubious political agenda that calls for Christians to impose Biblical morality via the force of law upon unbelievers. DeMar infers that Premillennialists are silly radicals. But Post-Millennialism has a much darker history. The Puritans, for instance, were intent on creating God's society on Earth, and today their name is rightly cursed (despite D. James Kennedy's objections) for burning witches, killing Baptists and Quakers, etc. The Shakers and Mormons were both Post-Millennial sects that twisted the gospel beyond recognition. The 1800s brought numerous Utopian dreamers, mainly Post-Millennialists, who created nothing but chaos to America's spiritual life. Today, Post-Millennialism is championed mostly by Christian "Reconstructionists" like Gary North and R. John Rushdooney, who want to replace the Constitution with Levitical law. Some dis-illusioned Rapture believers may find DeMar's apparent optimism about the future a refreshing change, but they should know that Reformed eschatology is responsible for much more suffering, since it inspires naive idealists with Utopian dreams. I also take DeMar - ...- to task for blithely assuming that their position is intellectually superior to others, and that just because John Calvin and some 19th century Protestants endorsed it, it's the "historic" position of the Church! Post-Millennialism was unknown for the more than 1,500 years in church history. Its first big champions were the Unitarians, who bought into the optimistic spirit of the 1800's that produced utopian sects like the Mormons and the Shakers. Amillennialism has been the position of most Christians throughout history. C.S. Lewis believed in a personal Anti-Christ and a Last Battle (for which he named a book!). A non-dispensationalist, non-"PreTrib" form of premillennialism was held by most early church fathers. I will gladly stand with Ignatius, Iraenous, Luther, C.S. Lewis, and the vast majority of Christian thinkers and faithful throughout the entire history of the Church against the novel interpretations of a few snooty Calvinists with a political agenda. Calvinists are welcome to believe in Post-Millennialism, but they have no right to think that mainstream Evangelicals are soft in the head for not believing in a doctrine that twists Scripture.
Rating:
Summary: Top Ten Reasons Why You Need Ends Times Fiction
Review: Gary DeMar accomplishes much in 215 quick pages. He biblically demonstrates that the fundamental doctrines which make up the skeleton of the "Left Behind" series are not taught in Scripture. Here are 10 things every reader can profit from reading End Times Fiction: 1)The dispensational "literal" hermeneutic is not the way language is used in Scripture; and is not consistently applied by dispensationalists. 2) The pretribulational rapture is not taught any place in the Bible - yet, it is an essential aspect of the "Left Behind" series. 3) The future 7-year tribulation of "Left Behind" is also not taught in Scripture. The tribulation is shown to have happened in the 1st century, and present in the New Testament writings. 4) Matthew 24:1-34 is shown to be describing events that were totally fulfilled in 30-70 A.D., and not partly in the past and partly in the yet future. 5) Demar expertly demonstrates that the keys to unlocking New Testament judgement texts are: a) Knowing the language of Old Testament judgment texts. b) Looking at the timing markers in the text. c) By utilizing both (a) and (b), we are to interpret Scripture by using Scripture. 6) Babylon in Revelation is not referring to a future revived Babylon, but was a symbol of apostate Jerusalem. 7) Antichrist is not what the "Left Behind" depicts, but it is shown that the spirit of antichrist was alive and operating in the 1st century. 8) The popular notion of what the mark on the forehead and hand means is clearly explained; showing that a proper understanding of how to identify and understand symbols is a necessary prerequisite. 9) The prophetic significance of there being a first century apostasy is shown to be key in not futurizing the passages that warn of apostasy. 10) Lastly, DeMar shows why this is an important issue, and not just something to put aside as interesting debate. If your only understanding of eschatology ("Last Days") has come from the "Left Behind" series, I urge you to read End Times Fiction - and compare and contrast it with what you read in your Bible.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, Somebody who actually reads Scripture
Review: Gary Demar does it again. His writing is phenomenal and in the line of the great Reconstructionist writers, he continues to call a spade a spade, that is, he has once again proclaimed to the world that this end times madness is nothing more than pop-theology. Jenkins and LaHaye should both read this book, though they have been at odds with Demar, North, Gentry, Chilton, Bahnsen, and the other Postmils for years. It would be even nicer if LaHaye would publish an academically honest response to Demar, North, Gentry, Chilton, Bahnsen, et al. A response of any kind would be an improvement at least. The problem is that they can't respond to the claims of the postmils because the Scripture is opposed to LaHaye's heretical view. But as North reminds us in his writings, "You can't replace something with nothing." Morever, you can't answer something with nothing, and that is what LaHaye has been doing for years, responding to North et al with books that do not even mention North or post-millennialism, or anything more than a paragraph. For example, in LaHaye's book REVELATION UNVEILED, he dedicates one short paragraph to the Postmillennial view, dismissing it because "nobody believes in it" and "it just doesn't ..." well, LaHaye trails off really, and intellectually he does a disservice to himself, but to his reader, it doesn't matter, because they have been brainwashed by the modern evangellyfish pastors of their dispensensational churches. Even if they bothered to respond to Chilton's Paradise Restored, they would do so only because Chilton has passed on and wouldn't be able to respond. Somebody will respond though, Gary North has been waiting for years for somebody to challenge the postmillennial view in writing. But I digress. I highly recommend End Times Fiction to anybody who is sick of theology-light and pop-dispensationalism. Serious Christians should read more books by Gary Demar, Gary North, David Chiltion, Greg Bahnsen, Ken Gentry, RJ Rushdoony, et al.
Rating:
Summary: Gary Demar not only makes sense, he makes biblical sense!!!!
Review: Gary Demar not only makes sense, he makes biblical sense! Clear concise and easy to read, this book helps explain alot of problems within the futurist view point. It is very useful to use as an introduction to someone who has never heard the preterist (past) interpretation. I've already bought 3 copies just ot give away to friends. I am so thankful for Gary Demar and his ministry at American Vision and that he has taken up the task of writing this new book, End Times Fiction. I think this book will prove to be a valuable tool in the life of the Christian in defending the truthfullness and integrity of Scripture by exposing those who refuse to believe because of the wrong thinking that Jesus Christ was not correct in His predictions concerning His coming in Matthew 24:1 through at least 34. If Jesus is wrong about His coming according to Matthew 24 and the other synoptics, then it cast Him in a shadow of doubt and of being untrustworthy, and gives Him a lack of credibility. This is one of the reasons for Bertrand Russell's rejection of Christianity in his book "Why I am not a Christian". Gary has done a masterful job in comparing Scripture with Scripture and shows why and where the futurist falls short. There is much that needs to be studied concerning this subject, but Gary's writing is an intelligent, easy to read book that outlines several of the problems that lie within the futurist view, (those that say that these prophecies are still yet future. As an intro to the preterist view I know of none better. However, I urge you to continue to study others who hold to this view and others who don't all in the microscope and light of Scripture. One of the biggest problems for LaHaye is his spiritualizing of the time text. LaHaye takes great pride in saying he interprets the bible literally. He does so, except during the time text indicators. When dealing with the time text, he spiritualizes them. If he would interpret the time text indicators LITERALLY then he would have to come to the conclusion that many of the prophecies have already taken place in the first century. He refuses to take the time text indicators literally and so must push those events into the future. Near does not mean near, at hand does not mean at hand, shortly does not mean shortly, quickly does not mean quickly, right at the door does not mean right at the door, soon does not mean soon, and so on. I believe that Gary Demar is right when he says that a faulty conclusion comes from a faulty premise. I believe that Tim LaHaye has those faulty premises because of his faulty presuppositions concerning eschatology. I hope everyone reads this book. I know I have said this a few times already, but this book is a clear introduction to the basic thought of the preterist view. I too was once on the futurist side, but after reading and studying for myself I cannot see AT ALL the futurist side of these passages discussed in End Times Fiction. In fact I had always been confused until I heard some other view points concerning this subject. I must mention this before I conclude, I am not a full preterist and do look for the Glorious return of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ in the second coming, the consummation of His kingdom. Thank you Gary for a valuable tool for introducing to the lay person a better underatanding of the preterist view point.
Rating:
Summary: Shows LaHaye's interpretation for what it is...FICTION!!!
Review: I bought this book because of the title. Gary DeMar shows the absurdity and inconsistencies of the futuristic view. This book is an easy and understandable read without being watered down. I held to the futurist view for over 20 years without even researching eschatology for myself. I just took professors and pastors at their word. This book changed my view. I'm not saying that I'm a preterist because I have only begun my studies but I am definitely not a "rapture hoping" futurist any longer.
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