I Want to Be Left Behind

I have a lot of respect for the amount of study, research, and effort I have seen as my father put this book together. I have my personal autographed copy, and have read some here and there. Some of you may not appreciate this book, as it may come across as being more high level reading. But for those of you that are scholars, pastors, or laymen wanting an in-depth view of the end times, this is an excellent book. You will find very good charts, Biblical references, and even if you may have to read something twice, you will have a better understanding. If you would like to see more of my father's (Ted Noel) work, please visit http://www.bibleonly.org I'm sure that you will find something there that will interest you.

Ted Noel, an advocate of the "Historicism" approach to interpreting Biblical apocalyptic prophecy, has compiled a volume worthy of the attention of anyone immersed in the study of the Bible's "end-times" messages. This book's motivation appears to be written primarily as a response to the "Futurism" approach to apocalyptic prophecy demonstrated by the popular "Left Behind" series. However, Noel also provides a cogent presentation of certain principles of Historicism as well. Noel begins by discussing the important principle of "interpreting Scripture based on Scripture," which is highly important if one wants to get a grasp on the apocalyptic imagery as detailed in the book of Revelation, as well as throughout the Bible. Next, an intriguing chapter is included discussing the true identity of "Israel" throughout the Bible and how this need not necessarily apply in all cases to ethnic Jews. A discussion of Daniel's 70 weeks follows where the author provides a very powerful argument for the completion of the 70th week in A.D. 34 while debunking the alleged "7 year tribulation" widely attached to Daniel's 70th week by Futurists. I personally felt that this chapter was the strongest point of the book. Chapter 4 is entitled "Tribulation..." in which discussions of the 7 seals of Revelation, the church's tribulation throughout Christian history, and, of course, an excursis on Futurists' viewpoints on this issue are included. Chapter 5 is entitled "Great Tribulation" in which exegeses of the 7 trumpets of Revelation are provided. Noel then continues his discussion in a chapter entitled "...AND Wrath" in which he includes a discussion on the 7 bowls of Revelation. Next, a chapter is devoted in response to the Futurist idea that the Rapture is meant to be an event viewed only by believers where also the reader is provided with Scriptural evidence that the Rapture will be a one-time global cataclysmic event seen by all mankind. A detailed discussion of the 1,000 years of Revelation 20 comes next in sequence followed by a detailed discussion on the "New Jerusalem" described in Scripture and the eschatological fulfillment of the Feast of Booths, the final Jewish Fall festival on the calendar. Finally, the tenth and final chapter describes the danger inherent in the Futurists' assertions that the church will escape the tribulation to come.Overall, Noel provides powerful arguments against common Futurist assertions in regards to apocalyptic prophecy while establishing a Scriptural basis for certain principles of Historicism. Students of Historicism may recognize a few differences in Noel's approach and the traditional Historicist approach, such as his treatment of the 7 trumpets. However, the author's presentations of these issues are worthy of consideration as well. The use of numerous cross-references among the different books of the Bible, particularly when interpreting apocalyptic and/or symbolic imagery, makes Noel's approach very enlighteni

Ted Noel's detailed and scholastic painting of the thread connecting the Prophesies of Daniel, the Hebrew Culture of the Old Testament, and the consistent definition of Scripture compels one to take a critical look at contemporary 19th and 20th century Bibical theory concerning the detail of "End Times" prophecy. Noel's scholarly insight appears to straighten the time line and brings a sense of logic and consistancy to "Theological Discussion".

Ted Noel's book "I Want to be Left Behind" was so clear that it Helped me understand the Bible better. God has given this soundness of mind but to few: but to Ted he as given him the mind to help people understand the Bible. Willingness to be taught what we do not know is the sure pledge of growth buth in knowledge and wisdom

Ted Noel's "I Want to Be Left Behind" (not to be confused with a much shorter book with the same title that came out just before this one)is astonishing, eyeopening, a must read for anyone eagerly awaiting the return of Christ. I've read dozens of books about the end-times, Daniel, and Revelation, both popular and scholarly, and the major commentaries on those books take up about five feet of space on my shelves. Ted Noel's "I Want to Be Left Behind" is the VERY BEST and SOUNDEST FAITHFUL SCRIPTURAL STUDY of these topics for intelligent non-scholarly readers and pastors that I have ever read. When you read this you may be shocked at first, but then you will be amazed by how many questions are answered, how much of what you once thought certain is now questionable, how much of what once seemed confusing is now clear. Your faith in the God of Scripture will be strengthened, and your confidence in Christ's soon return will be confirmed.If you've read Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins' "Left Behind" series, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It puts their work in a new perspective. It isn't a novel. It's very well written, but it's not a pot-boiler. It's for intelligent readers, pastors, people who search the prophecies and really want to know what they mean. You'll have to read carefully, and you'll want to stop to look up Bible texts here and there and prove things for yourself. The charts dealing with prophetic times, especially the chart comparing the seals, trumpets, and plagues, are excellent.Most "Left Behind" readers don't know it, but very few of the real expert Evangelical commentators on Revelation still support the "Left Behind" scenario, even though lots of pastors do. (For example, see the recent major commentaries by Grant Osborne, Greg Beale, Simon Kistemaker, and Ranko Stefanovic). The "Left Behind" scenario's stronghold has long been Dallas Theological Seminary, where John Walvoord used to be President. However, a younger generation of scholars there rejects Walvoord's approach.A lot of people read prophecy books because they really want to KNOW what is going to happen in the future. They want to know EXACTLY what is going to happen. However, correctly interpreting the Scriptures depends on knowing the rules. A lot of the "Left Behind" type of scenario breaks those rules, twisting verses, using verses out of context, failing to consider how a phrase or word is used elsewhere in Scripture. Far too often, wild speculative ideas get started by one person, passed around to a bunch of pastors, shared with millions by way of sermons in churches and on television, and then are assumed to be proven and true. Meanwhile, conservative scholars roll their eyes. A multitude of misinformed people saying the same thing, learned third hand from someone who had a "flash of inspiration," does not make an interpretation true. What good is it to KNOW what's going to happen step by step during the tribulation if what you KNOW is wrong?Read this sound