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Good morning, all. I have been silent these last few days; pondering some things. Praying and mulling disturbing alignments of current trends and ancient Prophetic utterances. I would not hide them from you, my FRiends, so I will lay them out for your examination and consideration. Not given to self-aggrandizement, I refrain from posting this as a standalone vanity, but choose to keep it among a smaller, more select circle of minds.

Now, then. Portend.

If you have not read this bit from Dan Simmons about The Time Traveller, you absolutely need to pause, here, and do it now. Endure its length and, though some may find the interspersion of foul language a distraction, persevere with this anyway, as the overall point is far too important to be missed over some fictional character's "colorful metaphors".

My reaction to it runs like a take-off on a scene from "The Incredibles" where Mr. Incredible is getting bested by a purpose-built "Omnidroid". You who've seen the movie will recognize this:

He's BIGGER!
He's BADDER!
Oh NO! The resurgent King of Persia is TOO MUCH for lukewarm 21st century Christianity!!

All of Islam prays toward Mecca five times a day; toward the Ka'ba (the cube); a shrine that, legend holds, was built by Abraham and Ishmael. As the legend goes, the Divine Peace (al-sakinah) descended in the form of a wind which brought a cloud in the shape of a dragon that revealed the exact site to Abraham and Ishmael [emphasis mine]. Juxtapose that scene with these words of Jesus, "I saw Satan fall, like lightning, from heaven", and references to Satan masquerading "as an angel of light." Not good.

Atop all of this fervent prayer, which has been uninterrupted for 1400 years, some Islamic sects have added festivals where they cut themselves; shedding their blood on behalf of "Allah"; even the blood of their infant sons; as they cut their scalps with knives! Now, with their numbers reaching into the billions worldwide, these observances are unleashing a terrible spiritual power, which we have now seen manifest in heightening degrees of violence perpetrated by followers of this "Allah" throughout the world.

I interject here that I am very well aware of the Biblically founded invincibility of true Christianity; to wit, that "the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it". But that doesn't mean that the forces of Hell will not make an all-out attempt. Nor does it mean that the Church will not be set back on its heels, suffer defeat in many battles, or even be brought to the brink of oblivion.

I dare say that the average Muslim is more committed and fervent in his prayer life than the average Christian; that the average Muslim knows his Q'ran better than the average Christian knows his Bible; that the average Muslim is far more willing to die for his faith than is the average Christian, and that, unless that condition is reversed, and Christendom wakes up and gets its mojo on, the people of Earth have little hope for more than dhimmitude. In the months to come, Mr. Simmons' fictional piece may take on all too much resemblance to the truly prophetic.

For the first time, perhaps, since the days of Charles Martel, all of the civilized world -- from the most fervent student of Christ to the most cynical atheist -- must face the prospect of choosing sides in a landscape that threatens to become dramatically polarized; more so, even, than the American political scene. President Bush said, "You're either for us, or you're for the terrorists." He could not have been more prescient, though, as we shall see, he could have been more precise.

In the days that will come, you will either choose Christ, or you will choose Allah; you will be aligned with Christendom, or you will be aligned with Islam. This spiritual "Battle of Tours II" will, as did the first one, decide the fate of all Christendom and western -- and westernized -- civilization. There will be no middle ground; no noble neutrality. Not even in Switzerland. Whoever Christendom does not succeed in bringing to Christ will be drawn to Allah. Ancient battle lines will be drawn and the final score of all human history will be decided.

We found out on the morning of September 11th, 2001 just how fast our comfortable little worlds could be unhinged, and with what fury an old enemy was perpared to strike. Now, the future comes swiftly; borne upon the wings of a foul wind. Therefore, I say to you, "Choose ye, O Man, THIS day Whom ye shall serve. Tomorrow may be far too late. Choose. Make your peace and take your place among the ranks. Arm yourself and prepare for action in the most tumultuous, divisive and decisive conflict man will ever know."

I agree wholeheartedly. Islam is as close to devil-worship as a people can get. The idea that women are barely recognized, except to provide more sons, and the fact that the Q'ran is drummed into those sons when they are old enough to read is proof alone that "something is wrong with this picture."

http://www.opinions3.com/ The photo here says it all.

We must all stand together in this country in order to overcome the insidiousness of Islam. I for one, continue to pray for the strength and wisdom of President Bush and his advisors, and that his enemies will be confounded in their designs and desires. ALL his enemies.

Sounds like a return to Norse Heathenry is in order. The Northmen put the fear of Odin into the Muslim world. Not just as traders, but as implaccable warriors. They'd wet their camels just seeing our square sailed ships on the horizon.

Pacifism will get us all killed. There is such a thing as being "too civilized".

the overall point is far too important to be missed over some fictional character's "colorful metaphors"

Colorful metaphors? That's a good *#*?@** euphemism!!

As the legend goes, the Divine Peace (al-sakinah)...

Arabic for shekhina, correct?

...descended in the form of a wind which brought a cloud in the shape of a dragon that revealed the exact site to Abraham and Ishmael [emphasis mine].

Okay, a dragon. Continue...

Juxtapose that scene with these words of Jesus, "I saw Satan fall, like lightning, from heaven", and references to Satan masquerading "as an angel of light." Not good/

The dragon in the first example may not be the same as the second. The Biblical reference to the dragon is a symbol of Satan. Why would Islamic legend--remember, Muhammad and his early followers were familiar with some elements of Scripture--say that the Kab'a descended under the auspices of Shaytan? Even if the legend is early, and if the proto-Muslims did not understand the dragon to represent Satan, it is still a far stretch to rely on a legend which may or may not have become contaminated between 600 A.D. and present day. One must be very careful so as to avoid taking two symbols from different periods and different cultures and then necessarily interpolating a literal correspondence between them. Some of the End Times hysteria, heresy, and false prophecy does just that.

I dare say that the average Muslim is more committed and fervent in his prayer life than the average Christian; that the average Muslim knows his Q'ran better than the average Christian knows his Bible; that the average Muslim is far more willing to die for his faith than is the average Christian, and that, unless that condition is reversed, and Christendom wakes up and gets its mojo on, the people of Earth have little hope for more than dhimmitude.

What you have said is true, but the purpose of the Great Commission is not to fight against earthly powers and authorities. Christendom can only get its mojo on by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The same holds true for revivals and reformations. Islam has flourished because in Islamic societies, one can promote Islam all they want. The same principle should apply in Christian societies, but the United States is only by past culture and heritage a Christian nation. We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings; many Muslims, not just terrorists, could care less if you were incinerated in a truck bomb attack.

P.S. Let's keep this thing going. Something intersting may pop up on the Undead Thread after all! ;)