Armageddon Policy Wonks
By RHSproductions on Feb 23, 2010 in Esoteric, Politics
I find cold comfort that people who believe in the biblical prophecies of Armageddon and the Second Coming should be guiding foreign and domestic policies. Armageddon and the Antichrist are not only firmly predicted as inevitable in the belief system, but are yearned for as part of God’s master plan, followed up by a personal appearance from Jesus. What Christian in their right mind wouldn’t joyfully anticipate an opportunity to see their Lord without having to die first?
Even Hillary Clinton “has been an active participant in conservative Bible study and prayer circles that are part of a secretive Capitol Hill group known as the Fellowship.”( http://motherjones.com/politics/2007/09/hillarys-prayer-hillary-clintons-religion-and-politics ).
Pat Robertson routinely declares that God talks to him, disclosing specific “prophecies” and time-lines which turn out to be false. He has spouted bigotry cloaked in religious morality, while being perceived as a respected elder of the Christian community.
Robertson, along with Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell, have had immense influence on politics and politicians for decades. Political conservatism has become increasingly synonymous with conservative evangelical Christianity. Presidents have sought their council. They help shape the views of their followers, and politicians seek fundamentalist Christians as a potent voting block.
It is only logical that individuals want people who agree with them in public office, so candidates that are born again Christians like George W. Bush benefit from this identity by garnering the votes.
Beneath the surface of the news, the policy debates and the campaign promises is a quiet, secret battle. Not all of its participants are even aware of it. This battle is a power struggle between people who welcome the “End Times” with little incentive to try and avoid Doomsday, and those who are desperately trying to save the world believing it can be a better place for everyone.
I see no consolation between these diverse world-views. Worse, how can we hope for peace in the Middle East when the region plays such a key role in Biblical doomsday prophecy, and so many of our leaders adhere to these beliefs? Can anyone with such an apparent conflict of interest really seek resolution to Middle East disputes with authentic determination?
George W. Bush is a born again Christian, and this is was supposed to be a good thing? I’m supposed to feel O.K. about that? Maybe Apocalypse Theory is the real reason for the war in Iraq. Certainly none of the reasons we were given have panned out. Now Obama is in office, and he claims to be a Christian. We have seen that Rev. Jeremiah Wright spouts some pretty apocalyptic rhetoric too.
Certainly, many devout Christians are thinking, well-read individuals. I welcome your input here. Can you dispel my concerns that powerful Evangelicals, their followers, and corresponding representatives want the world to end, the sooner the better?
Can anyone help my out on this?
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PRETRIB RAPTURE POLITICS
Many are still unaware of the eccentric, 180-year-old British theory underlying the politics of American evangelicals and Christian Zionists.
Journalist and historian Dave MacPherson has spent more than 40 years focusing on the origin and spread of what is known as the apocalyptic “pretribulation rapture” – the inspiration behind Hal Lindsey’s bestsellers of the 1970s and Tim LaHaye’s today.
Although promoters of this endtime evacuation from earth constantly repeat their slogan that “it’s imminent and always has been” (which critics view more as a sales pitch than a scriptural statement), it was unknown in all official theology and organized religion before 1830.
And MacPherson’s research also reveals how hostile the pretrib rapture view has been to other faiths:
It is anti-Islam. TV preacher John Hagee has been advocating “a pre-emptive military strike against Iran.” (Google “Roots of Warlike Christian Zionism.”)
It is anti-Jewish. MacPherson’s book “The Rapture Plot” (see Armageddon Books etc.) exposes hypocritical anti-Jewishness in even the theory’s foundation.
It is anti-Catholic. Lindsey and C. I. Scofield are two of many leaders who claim that the final Antichrist will be a Roman Catholic. (Google “Pretrib Hypocrisy.”)
It is anti-Protestant. For this reason no major Protestant denomination has ever adopted this escapist view.
It even has some anti-evangelical aspects. The first publication promoting this novel endtime view spoke degradingly of “the name by which the mixed multitude of modern Moabites love to be distinguished, – the Evangelical World.” (MacPherson’s “Plot,” p. 85)
Despite the above, MacPherson proves that the “glue” that holds constantly in-fighting evangelicals together long enough to be victorious voting blocs in elections is the same “fly away” view. He notes that Jerry Falwell, when giving political speeches just before an election, would unfailingly state: “We believe in the pretribulational rapture!”
In addition to “The Rapture Plot,” MacPherson’s many internet articles include “Famous Rapture Watchers,” “Pretrib Rapture Diehards,” “Edward Irving is Unnerving,” “America’s Pretrib Rapture Traffickers,” “Thomas Ice (Bloopers),” “Pretrib Rapture Secrecy” and “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty” (massive plagiarism, phony doctorates, changing of early “rapture” documents in order to falsely credit John Darby with this view, etc.!).
Because of his devastating discoveries, MacPherson is now No. 1 on the “hate” list of pretrib rapture leaders!
There’s no question that the leading promoters of this bizarre 19th century end-of-the-world doctrine are solidly pro-Israel and necessarily anti-Palestinian. In light of recently uncovered facts about this fringe-British-invented belief which has always been riddled with dishonesty, many are wondering why it should ever have any influence on Middle East affairs.
This Johnny-come-lately view raises millions of dollars for political agendas. Only when scholars of all faiths begin to look deeply at it and widely air its “dirty linen” will it cease to be a power. It is the one theological view no one needs!
With apologies to Winston Churchill – never has so much deception been foisted on so many by so few!
[Also Google "David Letterman's Hate, Etc." and "Obama Supports Public Depravity."]
Art | Mar 22, 2010 | Reply