Two days after his 95th birthday, on Monday, November 25, the Lord called Harold Lee Lindsey home. The prolific author and beloved “grandfather” of the modern Bible Prophecy movement leaves a loving family and a gargantuan fan base—although he would encourage us by pointing to Jesus Christ rather than himself.
Born in Houston, Texas, weeks after the Stock Market Crash of 1929, Lindsey earned a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, and later worked with Campus Crusade for Christ in Southern California for about a decade before authoring one of the biggest-selling books of the 20th century, The Late Great Planet Earth. Written in the immediate aftermath of the Six Day War, the book electrified the country and led to many people studying eschatology. It has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 50 languages.
No one could have anticipated such a sales tsunami, but the landmark title set the stage for increased evangelism and millions of people eagerly awaiting the Rapture. Lindsey went on to host the International Intelligence Briefing and the Hal Lindsey Report for years.
After decades of pushback from mostly mainline Bible scholars, Dispensationalism made a roaring comeback in the United States, propelled most by Lindsey’s influence. Scores of testimonies buttress the view that Hal Lindsey’s emphasis on evangelism and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the real point of studying prophecy.
Lindsey’s influence also extended to a flood of Christian tour groups to Israel. Interest in the Jewish state, in the light of prophecy fulfilled as the Jewish state began to repopulate the ancient homeland, swelled to unprecedented levels. As he wrote:
“The State of Israel may seem normal. But it’s not. It is no more normal than the restoration of a withered hand or the parting of a vast sea. Israel is not normal. Israel is a miracle!”
“Prophecy authenticates the message,” he liked to say.
Lindsey gave his personal testimony at a prophecy conference in 2013. He said that after a riverboat accident, he picked up a Bible and began to read. The book of Acts particularly caught his attention and he yearned for fellowship with believers. He was invited to a gathering at Rice University in the 1950s.
“There are turning points in every life and you are blessed if you don’t miss them,” he said.
After the Rice event—which, incredibly, dealt with Bible prophecy—Lindsey went back home and began studying his “copious” notes, along with his Bible.
“I stayed up all night. Being a draftsman, I drew a map and looked at the power blocs [in the international community]. I became consumed studying prophecy.” He said that after work each day, he’d go home and study the Bible for up to eight hours. His eyes were then opened to the great battle between good and evil. Lindsey saw that Marxism was becoming popular at Berkeley by 1960, when he started with Campus Crusade for Christ. His passion for the remainder of his life was evangelizing the lost.
This week, he heard the sublime words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
See you soon, brother!
Terry James Prophecy Line 
Amen and Amen…to that Sweet and most Glorious Day! Thank you, Brother James.
Thank you for the wonderful words you spoke about my mentor Hal Lindsey. I’m sitting here sobbing in a state of shock. This man was solely responsible for introducing me to Bible Prophecy. I’ll be forever grateful to him. He also planted the seeds of Judaism in me. Because of him, I fell in love with the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Without the understanding and revelation of Bible Prophecy, I probably never would have given my life to The Lord Jesus. I was hoping Hal would get to respond to the great shout….” Come up Hither ”! That man deserved to be taken in the Rapture. I’m sure the Angels ” Roared ” with shouts of ” Welcome Home Hal ”. Heaven is probably still celebrating as we speak. Terry my friend, God bless you for sending this email. In His Name… Richard
Wow. I had no idea. I so appreciated his ministry, in many ways a pioneer in bringing biblical prophecy back into the church. I’m gonna miss him
Didn’t realize Hal Lindsey was that old. He kept right on writing on Harbinger Daily quite often. “The Late, Great Planet Earth” was the book which really got me into eschatology back in the 1970’s and I’ve been interested it ever since. It was a real eye-opener for me, especially effective because there weren’t any Rapture Ready, Prophecy Line, or similar places for information in those days – all of which are blessings. No internet or P.C.s, either.
I imagine he’ll be at the Bema and we can watch Jesus tell him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
I expect a lot of people will be there because of his witness.
Between high school and college I attended a Campus Crusade For Christ conference at Arrowhead Springs, CA. Hal Lindsay was the speaker. He stood up in front of several hundred college students and proclaimed, “I believe you are the generation that will not experience physical death,” referring to the rapture. It sent “spiritual goosebumps” up my back. I can still hear those words today. It started me on my journey of following prophecy. After that I started going to a church pastored by Tim LaHaye in San Diego. So I got a double blessing. I am now 75 and seeing all the prophecies converging for the first time in history.
What a Good, Good Father we have! Thank You Abba Father for enriching our days with our Faithful and courageous brother Hal~Maranatha~
The world is at a loss in that we no longer will hear words of wisdom, comfort, and encouragement from a very gifted preacher. He will be greatly missed. Oh but the glory he now sees in his Savior! Can’t wait to join him! Well done faithful servant…you have finished well.
It’s because of Hal Lindsay that I learned Jesus was coming back; and that I had to be born again. I am so indebted to him and of course to the Holy Spirit. I am still excited about the rapture and finally meeting Jesus! Thank you, Hal! See you soon!
Hal Lindsey, Grant Jeffrey, and Dr. Jack Van Impe were the great pioneers of Bible Prophecy! They are surely missed!
grant jeffrey wrote a lot of good books they did prophecy conferences in toronto canada together all three brothers are in heaven they what us to continue to teach prophecy on earth
Amen!
We take it for granted that we’ll be here tomorrow! Goodbye my friend ,hope to see you on the other side.
I am one of so many that had my eyes and heart opened while reading Late Great Planet Earth.
And none too soon! It was 50 years ago that his book made me realize the Bible is true, which
meant there IS a God, which meant I needed his forgiveness. Thank you, Hal Lindsey.
Hal definitely deserves a well done and faithful servant from Jesus, our Lord!
I cannot wait for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!
God bless his family until we meet in the air!
Being a faithful servant creates a domino effect that you don’t know the extent of. I was influenced by him indirectly from younger teachers who followed in his footsteps.
His book was important to many of us and his continued ministry blessed many more. Always looked forward to reading his articles on Harbinger’s Daily. I am very thankful for his ministry.
Im so sorry to hear of Hal Lindsey.He was a Great Man of God. Purely after His Father’s Heart.My grandfather would say to me when he was still alive Angie, sit down and listen to Hal Lindsey.Grandpa Lietz and I would watch Hal on his T.V. in his Highrise apartment in Benson,MN.My Grandpa Lietz would say to me,Angie, He speaks on what is to happen hear on earth. At the time Hal was talking about Revelations. Love this Man of the Lord. He has brought many souls to the Lord! May you Hal Lindsey rest in the Lord’s Peace. Well done Good and Faithful Servant of the Lord. May the Lord’s Glory Be shown through his testimony of Faithfullness to God.
My husband and I both came to the Lord through his book, There’s A New World Coming after my husband’s co-workers shared the gospel with him and suggested he read the book. I then read it and also came to Christ. My husband later met him when we worked at Campus Crusade for Christ. We have followed his teaching ever since then. I too look forward to meeting him one day in person in heaven. He truly was a faithful servant of the Lord.