Posted on 06/05/2002 11:51:09 AM PDT by sheltonmac
Any time there is a flurry of activity in the Middle East you can count on evangelical Christians to put on a good show. They run around proclaiming an "End of the World Is Near" gospel in hopes of scaring people into the Kingdom of God.
I refer to such Christians as "they" because I happen to be one of those evangelical Christians who believe that God is no longer dealing with national Israel and that His chosen people are those who comprise the church—essentially, all who believe in Christ. This may seem like a radical concept to those who look upon writers of doomsday fiction as prophetic geniuses, but that's what happens when people are drawn away from that boring, dust-covered, leaherbound Bible on the coffee table by novels with flashy covers and catchy titles.
When it comes to end times "prophecy," premillennialists seem to have a monopoly on the market. Hal Lindsey burst upon the scene in the 1970's with The Late Great Planet Earth. It became an international best-seller. In like fashion, the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins has proven to be one of the most lucrative enterprises in the history of Christendom. Sure, these books are by no means examples of literary greatness, but the authors more than make up for that with pure, unadulterated prophetic sensationalism.
The success of apocalyptic authors like Lindsey, LaHaye and Jenkins stems from their ability to exploit the prevailing eschatological school of thought among evangelical Christians, that being dispensational premillennialism. (Thank you, John Nelson Darby!) When it comes to the end times, most premillennialists believe that all Christians will be "raptured," that is, taken up out of the world by Jesus Christ at his almost second coming. Those left behind will have to face the Great Tribulation, a seven-year period of unparalleled chaos which will also herald the rule of the Anti-Christ. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will return—his actual second coming—to set up his earthly kingdom and reign on the throne of David for a thousand years. After that millennial time of peace, God will do away with evil once and for all at the Great White Throne Judgment. (How there can be a thousand years of peace with evil present I cannot say. I suppose it's one of those things that just works it self out in the premillennialist model.)
With all the hype surrounding the end times, it is certainly understandable that theological misconceptions will filter down into our political ideology. This is not a new phenomenon. In fact, ever since the arrival of dispensational premillennialism on this continent in the 19th century our national political position has shifted to accomodate this line of thinking, thanks to the efforts of evangelical Christians.
Evangelical Christian influence has been around since the founding of this nation, and the beliefs of evangelicals have spilled over into politics. Ordinarily there would be nothing wrong with this, but flawed theology has since given way to a flawed foreign policy, and U.S. interests have become inextricably tied to the interests of modern Israel.
Strong political support for a Jewish nation began in the early 1900s. During World War I, Arthur James Balfour penned the Balfour Declaration which set the stage for British support of a Jewish homeland:
His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.Since dispensational premillennialism had already established itself as a part of the evangelical mainstream, it was only a matter of time before U.S. politicians who had been born and raised in that evangelical tradition began to let their theology affect their political ideology. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson signaled his approval of the Balfour Declaration when he said, "The allied nations with the fullest concurrence of our government and people are agreed that in Palestine shall be laid the foundations of a Jewish Commonwealth."
American politicians have continued to voice their strong support for Israel, though little has been mentioned as to why Israel is such an important ally. But that really isn't the issue I want to explore. What seems to be driving the U.S.-Israel relationship, as far as evangelical Christians are concerned, is the popular belief that the nation of Israel still plays an important role in prophecy, and those not wanting to be caught facing the business end of God's wrathful sword come Judgment Day are pushing for more U.S. involvement in the Middle East. About the only reasons we hear are that we have a "moral obligation" to stand behind Israel or that it's simply "the right thing to do."
Dispensational premillennialists typically quote the Book of Psalms when speaking of our "obligation" to support Israel. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you'" (Ps. 122:6). This passage has been accepted by many Christians as a universal command by which all believers are bound to pray for the physical city of Jerusalem, lest they fall out of favor with God. Of course, that isn't the case.
While it may be good and practical to pray for the peace of modern Jerusalem, we should really be praying for peace all across the world—the peace that can only come about through the Good News of Jesus Christ. So, in a spiritual sense, Psalm 122 does apply to Christians today. We should pray for the peace of the spiritual Jerusalem, the church (Heb. 12:22), for the well-being of our brothers and sisters in Christ and the furtherance of the Gospel.
Many Christians, however, are too wrapped up in their flawed eschatology to realize that their first responsibility is to the church, the body of Christ, and not to a nation of unbelievers. As a result, eyes glance up in anticipation at the eastern sky every time Israel is mentioned in the media, and the practice of interpreting Scripture through newspaper headlines becomes commonplace.
It is interesting to see the ensuing pandemonium among evangelical Christians brought about by rumors of war in the Middle East. Believers ignore sound biblical instruction and start buying up extra copies of Left Behind to use as witnessing tools for reaching their non-believing friends. Christian columnists all across America crank out editorial pieces on the Jews' divine claim to the Holy Land and the importance of remaining steadfast in our nation's support of Israel. Jack Van Impe goes on television with an air of righteous vindication and says, "See? My latest reinterpretation of my previous reinterpretation of Revelation was correct! The time of Christ's coming in the clouds is fast approaching!"
Who can blame these Christians for becoming so enraptured (no pun intended) with the idea of being whisked away in the blink of an eye while the world is left to fester for seven years in its own evil juices? It is comforting for people to believe that they will escape tribulation when the end comes.
But ask anyone who holds to the premillennialist view what Christ had in mind when he proclaimed, "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place" (Matt. 24:34). Ask them what the apostle Paul meant when he said, "For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham" (Rom. 9:6b-7a). Ask them why God felt it was necessary to establish a New Covenant (Heb. 8) if the Old Covenant is yet to be fulfilled. Chances are the answers you receive will be less than satisfactory.
The truth is that the covenant God had with Israel finds its fulfillment in Christ. "And if you are Christ's," Paul reminds us, "then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:29). Advocating an "End of the World Is Near" gospel that appeals to gullible Christians and poll-driven politicians cannot be edifying for the body of Christ. If anything, it detracts from the work the Son of God already accomplished through his death and resurrection.
I certainly do not hold myself up as a theologian or biblical scholar, but it doesn't take one to see that the premillennialist paradigm is rather precarious. When a fundamental part of our foreign policy is based on a shaky biblical exegesis and championed by the very people who should know better, it gives one reason to question the immediate future of our nation.
At least we can rest in the fact that God is ultimately in control. His true chosen people, those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, will not be forsaken, and the glory of the Almighty will shine forth for all the world to see.
Last sentence first, you are right, you are expressing weak human logic, not what the Word of God says. Following your logic, God set man up as the fall guy, then committed the first capital punishment on the earth, since He is all knowing.
There are a number of times in the Bible God changes things, especially His operating instructions to man. In the dietary commands alone, which are simple to track, which do we follow? Do we only eat salads and vegetables, or the meat of any animal we can catch, or only selected meats that are clean, or all things as long as we receive them with thanksgiving. All are Scriptural. God changes His instructions and in order to be in His will, man needs to follow the instructions God has in operation at that time.
What you're doing is confusing the immutable nature and character of God with His ability to change whatever and whenever He wants. He is sovereign which gives Him the privilege to change things. However, He always was, is and will be God. He will fulfill each and every promise He makes and has made. He will live up to His covenants with Israel because He is the one who made the covenants and they are irrevocable. But to say God has never changed anything is to be blind to what's in His Book.
QUITE SO.
I feed them verses according to their appetite. . . though many times in class I quote verses without them realizing it. I figure the Word still doesn't return to Him void.
You can be sure an abundance of adequate, fitting etc. clear verses are shared in appropriate ways at appropriate times. I'm a reformed "flood em with verses" fellow at 55 years of age. I like the one you quoted and certainly include those points redundantly at fitting times.
Thanks for caring enough to bother replying.
But the puzzles and mysteries become great in number and exceedingly absurd if one tries to wrap one's mind around your position and a long list of Scriptures.
When in the last 2,000 years has the Temple been rebuilt?
When has The AntiChrist appeared and set his image up in the rebuilt Temple?
When and where has Christ bodily appeared and set up His 1,000 years of perfect peace?
When has 1/3 of the seas; 1/3 of the rivers; 1/3 of the human population of the world become as blood or died?
When has the Mark of The Beast been implemented world wide by a world wide government in ancient times?
When, in ancient times, has knowledge increased and been dispersed so extensively?
When, in ancient times, have so many run so rapidly to and fro upon the earth--particularly in vehicles with lights?
When have there been so many "signs in the heavens--manmade and otherwise--in ancient times?
When has man, in ancient times, set his nest among the stars, so to speak, in any literal sense?
When, other than the potential threat at Babel, has man, in ancient times, come so close to discovering "the secret of life?"
When, in ancient times, has God made Jerusalem such a burden for the whole world?
When, in ancient times, has the Russian peoples and any "King of the East" colluded against Israel?
As to armies of horses. . . as I recall, the Scriptures about those have to do with Russia. Regardless, many have boggled skeptically at Biblical predictions before. Didn't slow God down one microsecond. He STILL did what he said He would. And He still will. . . regardless of whether it matches your theology or mine.
Thanks for joining the fray. It can get a bit isolated at times.
. . . not flexing anything? . . . not "reason"-ing anything?
I beg to differ--you are loading "it" in It is finished above up with all kinds of stuff not the least bit implied in the context.
His legally reclaiming of the earth back that Adam lost to satan was certainly finished at that moment.
If EVERYTHING else was finished that you're implying, insisting on, then all of reality must have really been deluded in some vast HOLODECK experience the last 2,000 years because my reality and my reading of Scripture are exceedingly different. . . so different I sometimes wonder if we're talking about the same Book.
He is well able and FREE--being THE BOSS and all--to call them back to the land at one point in time and to Himself at a different point in time--and to fullfill in microsteps dozens's of prophecies in between.
http://www.geocities.com/ezion_geber/messianic.html#17
He seems to manage being radical and balanced all at the same time. I still don't quite know what to make of him. Have written him asking him if he knows of any DNA analysis trying to sort out the 12 tribes issue.
That doesn't in any way toss aside the genetic ones. And it certainly doesn't toss aside the 144,000 Biblically mentioned end time missionaries yet to arise out of the 12 tribes currently not yet sorted out.
If they sober some pleasure seeking, self-centered folk up enough to consider more fundamental issues of life, they will have served another wonderful purpose.
I don't particularly feel thrilled about LaHaye's books. I haven't read them. But I might give them to someone I thought would be tweaked enough to check the realities involved out.
Given that God has used a donkey, using a bunch of well intentioned prophecy books would be easy for Him.
THE FOLLOWING URL is a Bible Gateway searched URL on this generation--the first section of retrieved verses.
Enjoy.
You're right. I was talking about the Bible, while you're talking about the Hal Lindsay-Tim Lahay type fantasy literature.
By the way, if the old covenant were still operative (see Hebrews and Col 2:14 to see that it is not), then Hal Lindsay would have to be stoned as a false prophet (according to Deut 18:22) for his writing of "The Late, Great Planet Earth". (He has changed dates in subsequent revisions of the book as his prophecies failed to unfold in order to protect himself and sell more books.).
No rubber Bible or mental gymnastics necessary.
But there ARE OTHER explanations which still do not support Replacement theology. No, I won't list them. They don't interest me as I don't think they are the case.
So nice of you to have figured out all the unstated things and have all mapped out God's course of actions in such matters. I'm sure He appreciates not having to bother now.
Wow, you must be smarter than satan. But if satan is only as smart as you, I guess God's mysteries about such are cracked and He's up a creek without a paddle. His whole plan is now busted.
On the other hand, perhaps God has things well in hand . . . unfolding them according to His timing, His plan of Salvation's intro to the Israeli's likely to receive it . . . in the sequence of events of His choosing and design . . . fitting all the recently and yet to be fulfilled Biblical Prophecies precisely--even those we can understand only in hindsight.
Replacement theology mental gymnastics does that.
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