For many American Christians, the presumptive next big event in redemptive history will be the Rapture. Many believers have been influenced by the fictional stories of the Left Behind novels and movies which depict military conflict in Israel, the Rapture in which all true believers are taken to Heaven, and the great tribulation in which those who are left behind must endure seven years of war and suffering.

In this episode of the podcast, we explore the key theological ideas of a theological system called Dispensationalism, which was the predominant default theology of American Christianity for most of the 20th Century.

We discuss key figures, like John Nelson Darby, James H. Brookes, D.L. Moody, C.I. Scofield, Lewis Sperry Chafer, John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, Hal Lindsey, and Tim LaHaye, and how a whole pop-dispensational media complex developed that undermined the scholastic movement of the Bible institutes and seminaries.

Daniel G. Hummel, Ph.D., (American History, University of Wisconsin-Madison) is the author of the new book, The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle Over the End Times Shaped a Nation (Eerdmans Press, 2023). 

Dan is the Director of The Lumen Center, located at University Square on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Lumin Center is a community of Christian scholars working at the intersection of Christianity and culture. He has held appointments at UW-Madison and Harvard University.

You can purchase this book from independent booksellers Byron and Beth Borger at Hearts & Minds Bookstore. Order online through their secure server or call 717-246-333. Mention that you heard about this book on the Reintegrate Podcast and get 20% off.

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Your hosts are Dr. Bob Robinson and David Loughney.

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Music provided by Brian Donahue.