Investigating the mysteries of the Bible

Passengers aboard a Boeing 747 en route to Europe suddenly disappear. Nothing remains except their rumpled piles of clothes and their belongings. All over the world – in a flash – millions of others disappear. Terror and chaos break out worldwide as the cataclysm unfolds. For those who are left behind, the apocalypse has just begun.

That is the scenario in “Left Behind,” the first book in the wildly popular “Left Behind Series” of novels that have captured the imaginations of millions of readers who religiously follow the exploits of the Tribulation Force, the fictional group of new believers who come to salvation following the disappearance of millions of Christians around the globe.

Dr. Tim LaHaye, co-author of the best-selling “Left Behind” series, while continuing to work on the remaining four novels that will complete the series, is also entering a new education venture that will dramatically bring to light the actual forecasts and prophecies found in the Bible.

Dr. LaHaye has joined forces with me in establishing the Tim LaHaye School of Prophecy, an intensive one-year diploma program being offered through the Lynchburg, Va.-based Liberty University, of which I am the founder and chancellor. We have undertaken this effort with the idea that the school will educate the next generation of Bible prophecy authorities. Dr. LaHaye will serve as president of the school and will be involved in many lecture series in the program.

With the “Left Behind” novels stirring unparalleled interest in biblical prophecy, Dr. LaHaye and I believe the timing is right to initiate a school that will further delve into the mysteries of the Bible as they relate to the biblical foretelling of the second coming of Jesus Christ and the world happenings leading up to that event.

While many present-day movies and books suggest a cataclysmic demise of the earth, Dr. LaHaye says the Bible offers great hope to mankind.

“The good news,” he said, “is that this world will not end in chaos as the secularists predict. The Bible says Christ will come to solve the world’s problems by introducing the greatest period in world history, the millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ. And while we are not certain it will occur in our lifetime, we have more reason to believe it might than any generation in the history of the church.”

Fictionalized reality

The Wheaton, Ill.-based Tyndale House Publishers, which has published the “Left Behind” volumes, has sold more than 40 million copies of the eight adult “end-times” novels and related products. Another four adult titles are scheduled over the next four years – starting with book nine, “Desecration,” which will be released on October 30. The line also includes a series of childrens novels and dramatic audios.

While the “Left Behind” novels are imaginatively presented in a fictionalized format, there is nothing fictional about the imminent return of Christ. It is imperative that new prophecy students be trained so that future generations will continue to look daily for Christ’s return.

Liberty University began humbly with 154 pioneering students in 1971. Today, the university annually maintains more than 10,000 students – in resident and external programs – representing all 50 states and 74 nations. Dr. LaHaye and I believe Liberty is the perfect starting place for the School of Prophecy.

With the “Left Behind” series capturing the interests of millions of readers, Dr. LaHaye and I also believe this is the perfect time to launch this education venture that will train a new generation of Bible Prophecy specialists. The “Left Behind” books have whetted the appetites of millions of readers, but many of them are hungering to fully understand how the Bible relates to present-day and future events.

The Tim LaHaye School of Prophecy has recruited many of the world’s foremost theologians and prophecy authorities to serve as contributing professors and lecturers. They include: Dr. Edward Hindson (dean of the school); Dr. James Walvoord, chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary; Dr. Thomas Ice, executive director of the Pre-Trib Research Center; Dr. John Ankerberg, leading Christian apologist and founder of the Ankerberg Theological Research Institute; Dr. Harold Willmington, author of “Willmington’s Guide to the Bible” and a host of other important books; and Dr. Elmer Towns, author of more than 50 church-related books.

The School of Prophecy requires a one-year commitment to an exhaustive study of biblical prophecy on the campus of Liberty University. The program will examine: the Middle East conflict in prophecy, signs of the times relating to Christ’s looming return, the rise of cults and false prophets, the return of Christ and the rapture of the Church, the Tribulation Period, the rise of the Antichrist, the Battle of Armageddon, the rebuilding of the biblical Temple, the Global Economy and World Government, the mysteries of heaven, evangelical opportunities in the “last days” prior to Christ’s return and many other issues related to biblical prophecy.

Dr. LaHaye and I will welcome the first School of Prophecy class of students to Liberty University in January 2002. The School of Prophecy is presently taking applications for that initial class of students. Individuals interested in taking a one-year sabbatical to study under the tutelage of Dr. LaHaye and the renowned theologians associated with this venture, may visit the School of Prophecy Web site to learn more about the program. A listing of all courses (including course descriptions) is available at the site.

While the program carries a tuition price tag of $10,000 ($5,000 per semester), 500 scholarships worth $8,000 each have been made available. This means the first 500 students to enroll in the first class of the School of Prophecy will pay only $2,000 for the entire year of instruction (not including text books and some minor fees). Spousal scholarships are also available and explained on the Web site.

Dr. LaHaye and I are as excited about this program as anything we’ve ever done. We truly look forward to setting forth on this new adventure and look forward to a very rewarding first year at the Tim LaHaye School of Prophecy.