Desire to know the future easily fulfilled, evangelist says

People in America have an insatiable appetite for knowing more about the future, but often they don't want to hear specific details as they are laid out in the Bible, said an evangelist visiting Cape Girardeau on Monday.

Dr. Gary Frazier of Dallas, Texas, spoke during the second night of the Hope for America crusade at the Show Me Center.

The event continues today at 7 p.m., with a special recognition planned for area veterans.

Frazier said the events of the world are foretelling the coming of Christ. People are seeing these events as they happen, just as the Bible said, and that causes them confusion. "Because we are Christians and we see things racing forward, we want to take everybody with us," Frazier said.

He spoke for nearly an hour about "what's behind after 'Left Behind,'" a message based on the popular fiction series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.

Frazier served as a contributor to LaHaye's prophecy study Bible and as an adjunct professor at the Tim LaHaye School of Prophecy at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. The university was founded by Jerry Falwell.

The "Left Behind" book series is based on the events outlined in the last book of the Bible, Revelation, and deals with the end times and the return of Christ.

Frazier said that many of the day's events are written about in the Bible. Using two video clips from the "Left Behind" movie, Frazier illustrated the points in his message.

"No other book series has captured the hearts and minds of people" like "Left Behind," he said. "If God says that's what's going to happen, then how close are we?"

Difficult to understand

The world listens when the religious community talks about the rapture and end times and the return of Christ, but those things are all confusing and they scoff, Frazier said.

"But we are a generation that has seen God gather the Jewish people back on their land, and the Bible says there is going to be a generation that does not experience death."

Frazier believes that the end is coming. Based on Scripture, he said the rapture will be selective, silent and sudden. It is not something a person can prepare for.

But even during the tribulation period -- seven years after Jesus returns for his church -- people will come to know Christ.

"The world doesn't want to hear about these things but the truth is we have a command from God to tell the truth about what the future holds."

That's why the Hope for America crusades are so important, organizers say. The speakers are coming to the area to tell others the truth and the gospel message.

"God has given us a wake-up call," said the Rev. Donny Ford during a prayer. "Our prayer is that we will be obedient and take a stand for what is right."

The crusade drew slightly more people Monday than on its opening night Sunday, when estimates ranged from 350 to 800.

Six months ago, the crusade averaged attendance of nearly 2,000 each evening of the week.

Speakers for the remainder of the week include Vietnam veteran Tim Lee tonight; David Ring, an evangelist with cerebral palsy on Wednesday, John Ed Mathison, a United Methodist minister on Thursday, and youth speaker Ken Freeman on Friday.

Doors at the Show Me Center open at 6 p.m. and the service begins at 7 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126