SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:
(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
| If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary likely using a mix of KJV and NIV. |
(1998), NR [13-NR*] -- ...no sex, vulgarity , foul language, murder...
John Hagee Ministries presents a Cloud Ten Pictures production:
Producer(s): John Hagee, Peter Lalonde, Paul Lalonde
Director(s): Andre Van Heerdon
Written by/Screenplay: John Hagee, Peter Lalonde, Paul Lalonde
Cinematography/Camera: George Jiri Tirl, S.A.S.C
Orchestral Score: Gary Kortinoff
Film Editing: Steve Hutchings
Production Design: Ron A. W. Lee
"The finest, most accurate and compelling telling I have ever seen of the Tribulation period and what they who wait too long to make the Decision are to expect." I have placed that in quotes to let everyone know they may quote me on that. Freely. I stand by it and will defend it. Pastor John Hagee is the dynamic presence with flawless oratory giving the power this docudrama needs to wake people up to what is coming in His name by His Word for they who refuse to accept that Jesus IS Lord. God has given Jesus all power to judge. And that He will. Without batting an eye. That is the finality and the urgency Pastor Hagee conveys. This film will probably be watched more times after the Rapture than now.
The story opens with police officers Watson and McNeely ending their shift in the police station locker room, talking about an upcoming wedding of a fellow officer. Watson anticipates a good time by all with lots of eating and drinking, but how the drinking won't matter much to McNeely and his wife since ... Suddenly, McNeely is nowhere to be found. The only trace of him is his uniform and utility belt in a neat pile on the floor in front of his locker. With a sense of urgency, Watson starts asking others in the station if they had seen McNeely. None saw him leave the locker room with only one exit. Watson inspects every room, every hallway and every place a human could fit. With escalating urgency and helplessness, Watson becomes bewildered at the disappearance of his friend who could not have disappeared into thin air -- could he? |
After failing to locate McNeely, officer Watson finds everyone swamped with phone calls about mysterious disappearances. The entire police staff are trying to answer questions and concerns which, for now, seem to have no answers. People are insisting on filing missing persons reports and are consoled little when they find out a missing person report cannot be filed until 24 hours after the person is discovered missing. Mrs. Barry (Sharon Brown) bolts into the station frantic with worry about her husband and daughter who, while shopping, simply --- vanished. Amidst hundreds of phone calls to the police, Lt. Scott (Bill Lake) tries to make sense of the chaos. A World News Network global coverage of the "greatest disaster or possibly attack in human history." Scenes of civil unrest, disturbances and mayhem fill the screen. Images of lost and torn people flash on the screen as they frantically seek either their missing lived ones or an explanation. But no one can explain why millions of people all over the globe vanished at 4:59 Eastern time. |
During scenes of civil disorder, disaster and brutality, Pastor Hagee begins the explanation of what has happened. He has prepared this film specifically for those who are left behind. Dr. Hagee's wisdom and sensitivity are outstanding in anticipating all the feelings and terrors that are likely to happen after the Rapture. The film displays mass chaos and disorder as cars without drivers become missiles, as planes without pilots become bombs, as trains become railway ruin, as populations battle themselves and as people are arrested for their faith; as life as we know it ceases to exist.
Behavior the filmmakers include to portray the prophesy of the Bible includes widespread looting and rioting before the antiChrist gains worldwide power. I prepared a white paper for the nuclear power industry summarizing file reports on actual large-scale disasters. The white paper was to summarize research on the general reaction of people to large-scale disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and flooding. The research revealed that people generally do not react with panic, wild fight, looting and rioting, but rather assume a camaraderie posture. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but the general finding was that people do not react to disaster with madness and selfishness. BUT, the research was of pre-Tribulation times. What a testimony to our Father that His presence indeed calms us with deliberate and rational thought even in times of disaster whether we know it or not or whether we believe it or not; that His release of the world during the Tribulation will change the face of man's behavior. |
Vanished: In the Twinkling of an Eye earned a CAP final score equivalent to the scores earned by secular PG-13 movies. It is indeed a PG-13 equivalent movie because the film contains material not suitable for children under an age you decide not because of sex, vulgarity and foul language but because the topics and subjects are confusing and not likely fathomable by children under 13. Typically, the ability of even a 16 year old to completely separate fantasy from reality or to fully anticipate the consequences of his/her actions are not yet done cooking [Hebr. 5:13 - 14, Prov. 29:15]. Such maturity typically plateaus in the early 20s. While this film contains NO sex, NO vulgarity, and NO foul language, it is not likely entertainment for children under 13 because of not only the violence but the presence of smooth talk and fine sounding arguments against our Father, the Son and the Gospel [Rom. 16:17 - 18, Col. 2:4, Hebr. 13:9]: smooth talk and fine sounding arguments to create contrast with the Truth necessary to build the urgency of the reality of what is to come but can mislead the unArmed.
While there is no sex, vulgarity , foul language, murder, arrogance against parents and other fair authority, etc. -- the trademarks of the secular entertainment industry -- there are examples of serious violence in actual file footage used in the film to depict life during the Tribulation [Prov. 3:31-32]. And as part of the contrast, there is also much speaking of mockery of our Lord which may implant an impediment to the Spiritual growth of those unable to fathom the depth and scope of the issue at hand. You would be wise to use this film for its intended purposes; a witnessing tool and an evangelism tool.
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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)
If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page.
Hebr. 5:13 -14 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Prov. 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Rom. 16:17-18 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
Col. 2:4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
Prov. 3:31-32 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
Hebr. 13:9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace [by God's Word and love], not by ceremonial foods [e.g., entertainment ignominy], which are of no value to those who eat them.
***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***
Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences to younger and younger audiences every year when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it].
Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1 Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men* crept in unawares [secretly slipped in among us], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [whose condemnation was written about long ago], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a license for immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female]
Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto [or for] one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto [or for] me.
Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. [Offend: skandalizo {skan-dal-id'-zo} - scandalize; to entice to sin; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away. I suspect "offend" includes sexually abusing the little ones. "Little ones": mikros - little;, small of age; younger which can include at-home teens].
Ps. 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me [let no sin rule over me].
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ["Evil" includes all things that are sinful.]
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As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie.
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FINDINGS / SCORING:
(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)
Wanton Violence/Crime (W):
anxiety/extreme fear from massive disappearances
scenes of chaos and terror with massive destruction
plane and choppers crashing
scenes of massive fire
multiple scenes of civil unrest, chaos, violence with injury, brutality
looting
threat of death if won't worship antiChrist
dead body
rioting
Impudence/Hate (I):
persecution based on Christian faith & only because of Christian faith
hatred
Sex/Homosexuality (S):
none noted
Drugs/Alcohol (D):
talk of "plenty of drinking" with a sense of looking forward to it
Offense to God (O):
talk of the Rapture as the next step in the social evolution process
"We *are* gods."
convincing lies by the antiChrist
a modern man claiming to be God repeatedly, saying once "I am the god of your fathers. I am that I am."
sacrilegious comments about the Bible and Jesus
Rabbi denying Jesus is the Messiah
much smooth talk and fine sounding arguments mocking the Scriptures, God, Jesus, His Will
talk of hatred f Jesus
a single use of God's name in vain
Murder/Suicide (M):
none noted
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