Roots of Armageddonist Support for Israel

• "The return of the Jewish people to their homeland was prophesied in the Bible. Their return to the Land is of great importance to Christians as it heralds the Coming of the Lord"
  - Christian Friends of Israel
• "The founding of Israel as a nation in 1948 was ordained of God to provide a homeland for the Jewish people and to prepare for the future return of Jesus Christ."
  - Jerry Falwell, Armageddonist Televangelist
• "The United States must join Israel in a pre-emptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God's plan for both Israel and the West... a biblically prophesied end-time confrontation with Iran, which will lead to the Rapture, Tribulation, and Second Coming of Christ."
  - John Hagee, Armageddonist Televangelist
• "Persons of biblical faith are called to 'pray for the peace of Jerusalem' (Ps. 122). The ideology of Christian Zionism celebrates violence and the defeat of peacemaking efforts. It blesses neither Israelis nor Palestinians."
  - The Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism
• Pat Robertson published The End of the Age, a book he calls his first work of fiction — although he says it is "based solidly on the Bible." In the book, Robertson paints a bleak picture of the end times he says we are about to enter. He writes about a Christian militia-type group raised up to fight a tyrannical American government, and the dropping of a neutron bomb on Israel. Then, glory be to God, Jesus comes back with a company of angels and destroys the enemy, and the saved live happily ever after
  
  Based on this vision of current events, Robertson not only opposed Rabin's peace efforts, but claimed that God removed Rabin because he stood in the way of God's plan.

Reaction of Non-Armageddonists

• “God save us from these people... When you see what these people are encouraging Israel and the U.S. Administration to do that is, ignore the Palestinians, if not worse, if not kick them out, expand the settlements to the greatest extent possible, they are leading us into a scenario of out and out disaster.” - Yossi Alpher, who served 12 years in Israel’s intelligence agency, the Mossad. Later, he became Israel Director of the American Jewish Committee
• "Some Christians who I know very well, very devout people, believe a certain interpretation of Revelations, that in my opinion are quite weird, in that in the coming of Christ that the holy land has to be occupied by the Jews and not by anyone else and then in the end that all Jews will have to be killed or either converted to Christianity. This is a very seriously distorted interpretation of the Scriptures that I am very familiar with.
  -Jimmy Carter
• "...as a reflection of their End Times theology, the message of the Christian Right to U.S. policymakers is ‘don’t be involved in getting the parties to the negotiating table,’ then they certainly are... an impediment to the peace process, and that isn’t helpful."
  - Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Olmert warns against aparthied; calls for separate but equal

An Associated Press article quotes the Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert as saying that"the state of Israel is finished" if a Palestinian state is not created, saying the alternative was a South African-style apartheid struggle.

Isn't this like saying that the solution to South Africa's apartheid system was to create a separate state for the blacks?  A two state solution is like rearranging the furniture on the deck of the titanic.  It's the underlying principle that is the problem.  Why is a democracy where the rights of all are protected not the goal?

Glen Beck and John Hagee Discuss Iran and the Second Coming

Glen Beck, a radio personality who has a show on CNN by his name, exposes fundamentalist reading of history which drives his understanding of the world. This is part 1 of 6:

In this series of videos, Hagee prophecies that the end of the world will (they add the refrain "as we know it" to circumvent criticism) will be within 20 years; that he is looking for candidates who are pro-Israel; that we live in the end times. And at the end of all this, Glen tells him that he has been saying the same thing for a long time now.

Here's another video to be watched in the context of the above belief system:

Mixing prophecy and politics

I was surprised to see an article titled Mixing prophecy and politics on the Christian Science Monitor newspaper. Here is what the subtitle says:

Christian Zionists are growing in influence - even as they fight for policies their critics say work against peace in the Mideast. For these believers, it's all about fulfilling biblical prophecy.
- read the full article here

Desmond Tutu Discusses the Only Apartheid Regime in the Middle East

While saying the situation in Israel is similar to aparthied in many ways, Desmond Tutu called for a two state solution:

"We believe in a two-state solution of two sovereign, viable states, each with contiguous borders, guaranteed as secure by the international community. "

While well intentioned, Tutu's solution is in fact a half baked potato. If in fact there is a two state solution, what would happen to those Jews who want to live on the Palestinian side of the border? What about the Palestinians who now call Israel home? Are they supposed to reciprocate refugees? Clearly this is not tenable. Especially since both sides share the same cities as "home."

The obvious solution is to create a United States of Israel-Palestine. A two state solution just gives Armageddonists a target for destruction. A one state solution is civilized. A two state solution is a throw back to the dark ages.

The most powerful message Tutu had to deliver was to the Jewish conscience:

Be not opposed to the God whose Spirit, when it anoints you, makes you concerned for the poor. This is your calling. If you disobey that calling, if you do not heed it, then as sure as anything one day you will come a cropper. You will probably not succumb to an outside assault militarily. With the unquestioning support of the United States of America, you are probably impregnable. But you who are called are they who are called, asked to deal with the oppressed, the weak, the despised, compassionately, caringly, remembering what happened to you in Egypt and, much more recently, in Germany. Remember and act appropriately. If you reject your calling, you may survive for a long time, but you will find it is all corrosive inside, and one day, one day, you will implode.
[source]

Rapture Prank

This girl is scared out of her mind when she thinks she has just been left behind.

A person who believes there will be no peace till after the rapture is pessimistic about peace in the middle east. Such a person will dismiss Annapolis as a non-starter. Here's what CUFI's newsletter had to say about this confrence:

So the angel who spoke with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal. I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, and they helped—but with evil intent.” ‘Therefore thus says the LORD: “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the LORD of hosts, “And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’ “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The LORD will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem."'" Zechariah 1:14-17

As the Annapolis Summit begins let us remember what the Lord says of His beloved Jerusalem. Let us who love Zion and who have taken a stand with her in this day of trouble intercede on her behalf. May those who defend her be as bold as a lion for the Lord will sustain them and they will be exalted above all nations. May those leaders and nations who come against her with “evil intent” be brought to confusion and may they be mocked and humiliated before their peers.

Thank you for your faithful prayers for Israel, her people and especially the city of Jerusalem.

Did you catch that? Hagee calls this day of peace talks a day of trouble. If you follow his other lectures, his angle is straight from the pessimistic dispensationalist play-book. The Jews will be attacked by their neighbors. Just before things get too bad, Jesus comes back to Rapture Hagee and like minded believers. Then those left behind are to suffer; Israel's neighbors will be destroyed of course; along with two-thirds of Israel. The rest will convert to Christianity and only then will there be peace.

The other day, I overheard an Armageddonist discussing a Hamas spokesman's statement "We don't want to push Israel into the sea." Reflexively, this Armageddonist dismissed this as a joke. Might it have something to do with his skewed vision of prophesy which informs him to just wait for Armageddon so that a lasting peace can be achieved? Draw you own conclusions.

Rabbi in Mosque discussing Zionism

No, this isn't the beginning of a joke; it's a series of 6 videos on youtube. Here's part one:

The Fall of the House of Bush

A brand new book by Craig Unger, The Fall of the House of Bush, sheds light on how Rapturist ideology is influential in undermining the America's national security.

The most terrifying news to emerge from the book is Unger's contention that the Cheney gang will do whatever it takes to crown their triumph in Iraq with something even lovelier: an additional war with Iran. It's the latest reminder that neither the Democrats nor the Washington press corps has ever come close to fighting this fire with the flood that will be necessary to extinguish it. Remember: The most energetic part of this coalition is praying for the apocalypse. Will enough of us reality-based types ever come together to defeat them?
-source

Jewish Voices Struggle with Armageddonism's Rough Edges

This article about Christian Zionism is a window into how a Jewish conscience struggles with the ramifications of Armageddonism, and somehow casts a blind eye to its evils and concludes that this theology is harmless.

I also found this other article on Christian Action for Israel website; again also speaking about Christian Zionism from a Jewish perspective. It would be interesting to read commentary on the topic from a Palestinian/Muslim perspective as well.

My own observation is that these Jewish voices are averting their eyes from a reality that the support they get from the Armageddonist ranks is ultimately bad for Israel not just on some philosophical grounds. But because it opposes any peace which does not march through the shadow of the valley of death - Armageddon.

David Brog, for instance, avoids talking about Armageddon by focusing on the narrow question of whether Rapture based theologians support Israel to convert them:

Evangelicals who support Israel most certainly do want to convert people. Evangelicals who don’t support Israel also want to convert people. The mission of sharing the ‘good news’ of Jesus Christ is central to being an evangelical. But it is important to note that this is not about converting just the Jews — Christians want to share their faith with Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and their Christian friends and neighbors who have yet to be born again. The important question is this: Is evangelical support for Israel merely a tool in the effort to convert the Jews? Is this merely some scheme to soften the Jews up so that they can better sell Jesus to them? And the answer to this question is absolutely not. If anything, the opposite it true.

Of course they don't want you to convert because if you convert now, then who will remain to fight and die in the battle of Armageddon?

The anytime rapture theologians have been saying for a long time now that they expect Armageddon to happen within their life time. They are tired of waiting and are not content to sit by and let prophesy fulfill itself.

Their game is now to play up fears and engage in pre-emptive strikes which will fulfill prophesy. After all, the Russian-Persian alliance that is supposed to attack Israel is taking too long to form. Fifty years is a long time.

So the game is now to raise phantoms such as "Iran wants to wipe out Jews" - a false allegation, even though it reverberates in the media. People hear what they want to hear. Cursory research indicates this statement is taken out of context and the intended message was to promote a true - one man one vote type democracy which would do away with the current system of occupier/occupied reality of Israel.

To conclude, Rapturists' goal is to put Jews in a state of panic and encourage them to view their neighbors as new Hitlers in the hope that they would lash out and begin the "inevitable" battle of Armageddon. They may be acting out of sincerity, but it is misdirected sincerity.

For Rapturists, the Middle East is not Foriegn; It's Personal

For 85% of the US electorate, the Middle East is a foreign issue, and therefore of secondary interest when they enter the polling booth. For 15% of the electorate, the Middle East is not just a domestic matter, it's a personal one: if the president fails to start a conflagration there, his core voters don't get to sit at the right hand of God. Bush, in other words, stands to lose fewer votes by encouraging Israeli aggression than he stands to lose by restraining it. He would be mad to listen to these people. He would also be mad not to.

-The Guardian Unlimited

It's the Rapture Stupid: Explaining the Robertson-Giuliani Alliance

According to Pat Robertson, the reason he supports pat has more to do with fighting Islamic extremism than any domestic policy.

We all know that when it comes to foreign policy, that Pat Robertson's only concern is to follow current events and point out where, how, and when end time prophesies are being fulfilled.

Clearly, Giuliani's view of Israel's future falls in line with that of Robertson. Which is why nothing else matters when it comes to whom Pat Robertson will support. In Robertson's view, peace is bad for Israel. The future is in the apocalypse. Any talk of peace by the surrounding countries is pure propaganda.

The only road-map to peace Robertson condones is one that passes through the Rapture and the Apocalypse. And so when Robertson talks about the Islamic Terrorist blood lust, his world-view is informed by a blood lust of his own. His own blood lust makes him blind to non-violent solutions to world problems. To Robertson, any calls for a the peaceful coexistence of Palestinians and Israelis is tantamount to treason against God.

And so Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani shows that nothing is as great a sin as betraying the path to peace through the Rapture. This issue is greater than abortion and gay marriage combined.

This rapturist theology is what binds Rudy and Pat. This is the theology Pat Robertson preaches day in and day out. Public officials cannot pronounce their allegiance to the rapture because America will vote it down at the polls. This allegiance is implied to the faithful when the candidate simply stands in friendship with the spokesmen for Armageddon.

Destruction of Iran is on "todo list" of Armageddon Hawks

Praise the lord! Now that prophesy regarding the destruction of Babylon is fulfilled; Next is the destruction of Persia.

The ratcheting up of rhetoric against Iran comes on the heals of high level officials in the US meeting with extremist religious leaders who promote World War III: Tim Lahaye, Pat Robertson et al.

The group which organized the meeting, "Council for National Policy" was founded by non other than the author of the Left Behind Series. It's not surprising for this rapture Guru to promote attacking Iran with the Rapture as THE exit strategy. This meeting was supposed to be a secret. The irony of it all; A government for the people and by the people, making decisions concerning national policy behind closed doors.

The news blackout wasn't absolute. Among the outlets which covered this story are the fake news show The Daily Show and The Salt Lake Tribune - the comments are worth a read.

The 2002 calendar year Form 990 return filed with the IRS lists the board of Directors as:

• Donald Paul Hodel President (former Secretary of Energy and former president of the Christian Coalition)
• Attorney General John Ashcroft (former member)
• Tommy Thompson, Health and Human Services Secretary (former member)
• Oliver North
• Tom DeLay
• Trent Lott
• Rev. Sun Myung Moon

Brainwashed by Armageddonists

After much analysis of the wasteland of "expert pundits." I find it necessary to also focus on a those who have been brainwashed by armageddonist propaganda. This would include people who do not believe in the rapture.

They make strange bedfellows with those who do hold on to this extremist belief system.

The reason being: Armageddonists are so good at marketing secular arguments for their religious beliefs.

The rapture as an exit strategy

This bumper sticker pretty much explains the exit strategy espoused by many around us. They have the courage to subject our sons to battle for this agenda. Yet are too cowardly to come right out and say it.

Muslims Spokesman Commenting on Current Affairs

Here is a commentary by Yasir Qadhi on current affairs:

In stark contrast to John Hagee's message of "them against us", and "they don't want to live, they want to die", listen to Yasir address the issue of terrorism.

If you listen closely, you will hear him pointing out that terrorism is the misdirected rage of a small group of Muslims to global political realities. I would argue that this political reality is the Agenda of armageddon based theology which seeks to hasten the second coming through the fulfillment of weird interpretations of bible prophesy.

Armageddonist propagandists have bloody hands when it comes to popularizing this global political reality which Qadhi alludes to. Proponents of Armageddonism, such as Hagee drape themselves in American and Israeli flags to cover up their barbaric goal of hastening Armageddon against Israel, destroying the middle east, and dismantling America's secular democracy so that the reign of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may replace it.

It may well be that America's perceived best friend may be its worst enemy.

Armageddonism's vicious in logic

"[The Pre-Trib Rapture] is built on a postulate, vicious in logic, violent in exegesis, contrary to experience, repudiated by the early Church, contradicted by the testimony of eighteen hundred years...and condemned by all the standard scholars of every age."
- Nathaniel West (1826-1906), The Apostle Paul and the "Any Moment" Theory, p. 30.

Dick Cheney Meets With Evangelical Group

What were they doing? My guess: Synchronizing watches for the big day of left behind-ness.

The Elephant in the Room Nobody Talks About

A November 2006 article in the National Catholic Reporter, titled Christian Zionists rally in San Antonio notes:

“The dangers of Christian Zionism haven’t been talked about,” said Art Preisinger, a retired Lutheran minister and history professor attending the celebration at Cornerstone Church.

Elesi Nagalu, 41, said that Israel “belongs to the Jewish people. They [Palestinians] might have property deeds, but property deeds don’t mean anything to me.”

This pretty much sums up the Support Israel to speed up the second coming movement John Hagee, Pat Robertson, and other alarmist and armageddonist sinister ministers are teaching their flock.

As of late, their latest project which I call make our weird interpretation of prophesy come true so we can tell our congregation we were right all along, involved picking a fight with Iran.

For several weeks before the vote in the senate, CUFI newsletters have been urging everyone on their mailing list to please call or write the white house urging that Iran should be designated as a terrorist nation.

And this week, they celebrated their victory. Apparently Armageddon hawks got enough senators to believe them to walk in line with their prophetic visions. Epso facto: Iran is on the way to being destroyed. Just as the preacher man predicted. Yaaaaaay.

Armageddon Satire

For a bit of light humor, you may want to read this satire about Armageddonists by Terry Jones. It begins with "Those of us who support Armageddon have naturally been greatly cheered by way the US president has embraced our cause."

However, what you will find is that comments on this article have managed to attract both supporters and detractors of this movement. Reading the comments is an educational experience.

Armageddonism and AIPAC

John Hagee's stated desire is to see Israel engage in an apocalyptic nuclear war with Iran. And before that, he was for war with Iraq for the same reasons. He is not a flip flopper. The logic to the madness is consistent.

AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby, applauds this. It appears that AIPAC members are promoted to positions of leadership due to their allegiance to this Armageddonist vision.

It is possible for individual members to dissent, as Abe Foxman once did. He quickly found himself isolated and ridiculed by the Armageddon crowd when he proclaimed that they essentially they pose the greatest existential threat to Israel.

He only redeemed himself after joining the ranks of the Armageddon crowd and singing the tune of lets attack Iran for the sake of peace.

What I am saying is that AIPAC members are victims of psychological manipulation by Armageddon hawks such as Hagee, Pat Robertson, and other talking heads who get goose-bumps just thinking of the coming of the glory of Armageddon.

Further reading:

• AIPAC Goes All the Way with Hagee

In other news, you will see Fox News pushing the ideas of these cult-like war fantasies to "NEWS" headlines:

• FOXNews.com - Christian Group Warns: Iran Wants to Hit Israel then U.S.

You might say, well I've read the entire news brief and it seems to be "Fair and Balanced." I say the headline could have read "Armageddonists Hastening the Second Coming."

September 15th

There is a Sept. 15 Protest in Washington DC. I have to comment on the reaction of Armageddonists to this event shortly. I will do the research so you don't have to.

ISRAELI JETS FIRED ON BY SYRIAN FORCES

ISRAELI JETS FIRED ON BY SYRIAN FORCES. One has to wonder at the extacy Armageddon hawks must feel at this news. Especially since the Iran nuclear threat appears to be a much repeated topic among this group, just as the WMD issue had been in the case of Iraq.

Hagee vs. Carter

The main force behind supporting Israel according to carter: "Well, there’s an inherent commitment in America, which I share as a Christian, of a deep commitment to make sure that Israel is safe and that Israel is free and that they can seek for peace. So there's a strong inclination for all of us to support Israel's continued existence in peace. And that is added onto by the very effective work of the American Israeli group called AIPAC"
-Carter

Note that AIPAC is just the icing on the cake. AIPAC's leverage comes from exploiting this vast reservoir of the need to see a resurrected Isreael which to many on the religious right and left consider to be the precursor to the second coming.

The fact is though that Carter is a conditional supporter of Israel. That is a giant blemish to Armageddon hawks such as Hagee. Which is why he calls Carter "Israel's Enemy in America."

Jimmy Carter failed to rise to the occasion and criticize Hagee on his theology of bloody destruction.

I'm not sure if this is Carter's way of giving the other cheak, but it seems like he isn't answering Hagee's accusation. I would advise Carter to read this article. Here's an extract:

This pressure for warlike behavior comes from two types of end-time Christians. The "dispensationalists" insist that true believers will be "raptured" into heaven just before a catastrophic war between "left behind" believers and the forces of the Antichrist. "Dominionist" end-timers presuppose that the United States, as a Christian nation, will act as a special representative of God in the final battles. The Dominionists forge on toward the construction, or "reconstruction," of an American theocracy to fulfill God's end-time plan. The two brands cross over and blend. Collectively, they call themselves Christian Zionists to affirm their support of Israel's control over the holy lands.

As war cries from Islamic terrorists and end-time Christians create a danger for ever-expanding religious battles in the Middle East, a small cadre of Christian Jewish and Muslim leaders has become alarmed.

Osama bin SHUT UP

It is amazing how bin Laden and/or fake Laden manages to pop up around election time to play the role of political pundit. I think the entire world pretty much needs to hear nothing from Osama and company.

I looked up Osama bin SHUT UP and found the article below of interest:

[Armageddonism?] Spying? Torture? Illegal airstrikes? SHUT UP and hate Bin Laden. This was the theme on prison planet.

Hagee Sells Iran Nuclear Threat to Fox News

Listen the Armageddon salesman do his thing.

Armageddonism, Daniel Pipes, and his "Analysis"

How does Armageddonism affect his analysis of middle east affairs?

There are one of three possibilities:

1. Either he ignores Armageddonism all-together because he does not know about them; which makes him a pawn in the hands of Armageddonists.
2. Or he knows of them and allows himself to be used by them; which means they turned him into a survivalist (with their constant talk of everyone is trying to exterminate Jews).
3. Or he knows of them and attempts to use them for his own ends; in which case it is a case of "the means justify the ends."

Reality is probably somewhere between options 2 and 3. He is likely both a survivalist and attempts to use Armageddonists for his own purposes. Either way, he becomes complicit in their war-mongering and agitation for Armageddon, though he does not himself believe in Armageddon.

Many are Ashamed of Hagee and CUFI

"I just don't like playing Christians/Jew vs the Arab world, it's racist and I'm ashamed that John Hagee would do this stuff" said a critic of HAGEE.

Watch the video to find out why

In the video Hagee attempts to brainwash his audience: "They want to die, they don't want to live... They want to die, the don't want to live."

It appears that for Hagee, if Armageddon comes tomorrow, that's one day too late.

Time and again, as I listen to Hagee, he reminds me of Jim Carry - the karate instruction as in this video:

He draws up a picture of Muslims who should behave according to the specific formula he imagines. Hagee is unable to imagine that a Muslim can be non-violent, just as Jim Carrey is unable to imagine an attacker who bends his elbows.

Armageddonists Believe Nuclear War is Pre-Ordained

Apparently, military psychologists have been thinking about the threat of Nuclear War provoked by Armageddonists.

Millions of Americans, primarily premillennialist fundamentalist Christians, believe that God has foreordained a global nuclear war as the precursor to the Second Coming of Christ.
- The Journal of Humanistic Psychology

Therefore, they recommend that psychologists "should be engaged in screening out personnel who are convinced that a nuclear attack against Russia would accord with God's will."

Should this policy not be extended to all personnel involved with middle east policy making? Consider the ramifications of Armageddonists empowered to either support peace in the middle east or war. Would they not opt for war every time because they believe that war is the precursor to the second coming?

13 year old pleads for her generation in front of UN

"Even when we have more than enough, we are afraid to share."

These are the little children we need to plan a safer tomorrow for. One where Armageddon is not instigated.

AIPAC and CUFI; What unites them?

I often wondered how it is possible for AIPAC (a Jewish organization) to be in league with CUFI (an Armageddonist organization).

This is a good topic for a PHD dissertation or for a couple of books.

Your initial reaction would likely be "It's terrorism stupid." But that's hard to buy, especially given the fact that Armageddonists have been talking about restoring Jews to Israel (as a practical matter rather than wishful thinking) before Jews dreamt of doing so. Plus if you look at a book such as "The Zionism of God" by Claude Duvernoy, there are passages claiming that Jews were persecuted across Europe because God wanted them to relocate to Israel. And that if they were not persecuted, they would get too comfortable in their new Babylons. And then he adds an ominous note: "as is the case in America". As if he another round of persecutions in America is needed to motivate Jews to move out of America and settle in Israel. (so that they will throw a bigger welcome party for the Second Coming?)

So why is AIPAC joining hands with CUFI? That's the million dollar question. Here's an attempt to explain the linkage:

At present, Jewish Zionists believe they are using the gullible Christian Zionist. While the Christian Zionist believes he is using the Jew as a tool for fulfilling prophesy; ever instilling in him the threat of annihilation and subjecting him to psychological operations to make him spurn any peace deal with Palestinians. Ever pushing him to attack the enemies whose destruction should (according to their extremist interpretations) usher in the return of the Lord and Savior to rule over the earth for a thousand years.

Other articles worth a look:

• CUFI: Loving Israel to Death

Rapture: The End Times Error that Leaves the Bible Behind

This book by David B. Currie demonstrates that alternate readings of prophesy are available and that God's plan for the future of the world doesn't have to be as filled with darkness and disaster as Hagee, Pat Robertson, and Fox News would have us believe.

CUFI in Damage Control Mode

CNN's recent "God's Christian Warriors" put CUFI in damage control mode. They felt that CUFI's message was put across well, except they didn't like being featured in the same venue as "God's Muslim Warriors." CUFI's response in the words of David Brog:

Judaism and Christianity have utterly rejected terror as a tactic. As a result, deaths from terrorism in the name of these two great faiths remain as rare as fatalities on roller coaster rides-- too numerous, but hardly a threat to civilization as we know it.

The contrast with Islamic terror could not be more stark. To cite just one statistic, in the month of July an average of over 110 Iraqis were killed each day in suicide bombings and other acts of Islamic terror. Thus Islamic terror claims more victims in one country in one day than Jewish and Christian terror have claimed worldwide in the course of the past 15 years.

What CUFI doesn't want you to know is that its members were the most pro-war group and played a pivotal role in manipulating politicians into starting the war on Iraq and are currently doing their best to fulfill their interpretation of prophesy which demands that Iran must also be destroyed.

In this sense, CUFI not only promotes a certain perverted world-view, but plays a pivotal role in making it come true. And certainly CUFI's conscience is not bothered by the likelihood of the carnage its brand of "God sponsored" war mongering has caused and will continue to cause if left unchecked.

Seeing world-events through Armageddon Tinted Glasses

Here's what John Van Impe, whose website describes him as "the man known as the 'Walking Bible' and one of the world's foremost prophetic scholars," just look at the supposedly inspired armageddon tinted world-view he promotes to his audience:

Armageddon coalition forming

---

Syria, Iran and Turkey - three nations depicted in the Bible as forming an endtimes coalition against Israel - have put differences aside to establish themselves as a major regional power center, according to Intelligence Digest.

The prestigious journal warns that if Syria's President Hafez Assad can manage to bring Iraq into this coalition - with or without Saddam Hussein - western influence in the region will be thoroughly undermined. (Ezekiel 38:5)

If this doesn't get you trigger happy to get Armageddon started already, get a load of the answer to this question and answer by Van Imp:

Q: all your studies of the Bible is there any mention of where the United States will be before and after the Rapture? I have head a few pastors say there is no mention of it and some say we won’t be around.
- Kim Peterson

a: The United States will very definitely be around; you can find that in Jeremiah chapters 50 & 51 and Revelation chapter 18.

But, remember when Russia makes that move there are some nations that object and that’s Ezekiel 38:13 “Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof…” Look up Sheba in your dictionaries – its Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and they are going to go along with the American nations because Tarshsih there is Great Briton. The symbol for America is the great eagle, but the symbol for Britain in the great lion – and there is Tarshish with all her young lions – the English speaking nations of the world which of course takes in America, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, etc. So yes they will be here.

But there will be mass confusion in America because when the Rapture takes place this is the greatest Christian nation on the earth right now and when the Rapture happens there will be millions taken and there will be mass confusion here in this country.

Terror In Jesus’ Name

This important expose was written by Yoginder Sikand, a journalist from India. He has a Master’s Degree in sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, and a Ph.D in history from the University of London. He concludes:

Christian Zionism is hardly unique in its use of religion for such blatantly political ends, but given the immense clout enjoyed by its advocates today, especially in America, it is a much more menacing threat to world peace than is sometimes imagined and cannot be simply dismissed as the ravings of lunatics on the fringe.
- Terror In Jesus’ Name

Who would you want to stand with at Armageddon?

One need only look at the way Jesse Helms described Bolton, "the kind of man with whom I would want to stand at Armageddon, or what the Bible describes as the final battle between good andevil", to see that Bolton was being sold by the religious connotations of the act. Bolton was a political way of saying "Screw the U.N., we stand with the Christians".

References

• Biblical Prophecy and Christian Zionism, by GARY LEUPP
• The Ugly Un-American: End Times and American Foreign Policy
• Bolton: ‘This is Put Up or Shut Up Time For Iran,’ Unilateral Military Action Is ‘On The Table’
• John Bolton: the Undiplomatic Diplomat, By GARY LEUPP

CNN's God Warrior Specials

CNN has a special report out called "God's Warriors" - which seeks to chronicle religious extremism among adherents to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

While well intentioned, it is unfortunate that Christine Amanpoure even bothers to highlight the abortion clinic violence as a form of Christian extremism. This sounds like the answer presidential candidates would give when asked what is your worst shortcoming.

Armageddonists would stand up and say that their worst shortfall is "we love babies so much, that some in our ranks get out of control and attack clinics that do abortion." At the same time they advocate the destruction whole societies including babies in order to hasten the second coming of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It must be too hot of a topic to highlight the intense desire to destroy Iran among Armageddonists based on false secular pretenses just as they got us into the Iraq debacle under false pretences.

In order to do the subject any justice, Christine should have included in her report people with the following opinion:

God has decreed that this present evil age shall pass away in a flame of fire, death, and judgment. No amount of peace talks, goodwill conferences, or think tanks will be able to change that. -Dennis Pollock, Nuclear Weapons in the End Times

Friends Of Israel and AIPAC Envision "Israel's Final Holocaust" and "Jew Toast"

I found this article by Bruce Wilson with the above title which began with the following words:

In previous installments of an ongoing series, I've examined the beliefs of Pastor John Hagee, founder of "Christians United For Israel", an ostensibly pro-Israel lobby whose members seek to trigger a Mideast conflict they hope will spiral into a devastating world war that will cause Global mass death and the death of 2/3 of Jews in Israel.
-read more...

Previous installments in an ongoing series, by several authors, on John Hagee and Christian Zionism:

AIPAC Event Helps Mainstream Allegations Of "Satanic Liberal Jewish Conspiracy"

Donohue Softpeddles Hagee's Catholic Bashing

"Be Jewish In Five Easy Days", The Twelve Tribes Of Hagee

Holocaust For Zion : CUFI's Christian Zionism Made Simple

GOP House Minority Whip Roy Blunt To Help Nuclear War Advocate

What Secret "Other Matters" Did McCain Discuss With "Apocalypse Now" Hagee ?

recent stories from other authors:

Max Blumenthal : AIPAC Cheers an Anti-Semitic Holocaust Revisionist (and Abe Foxman Approves)

Sarah Posner: The Goy Who Cried Wolf: The Israel lobby gives America's leading Christian right warmonger a warm welcome

Armageddonism's Effect on Mass Media

The Iranian response to the wild myth that Ahmadinejad said he wants to wipe Israel off the map have been ignored by the media.

Here's why I think that happened:

• The belief system of Armageddonists is vindicated only if Israel has an enemy bent on destroying it.
• The media wants to give people what they want to hear and therefore ignores what challenges popular opinion because it will be perceived as propaganda.

Ask not why they hate us; Ask why we hate them

If everyone were to focus on the log in their own eye, there would be no need to reach out to "help" remove the splinter from our neighbor's eye.

discuss.

What if we poke their eye attempting to remove the splinter? What if they poke our eye?

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

discuss.

CUFI hosts a who's who banquet of Armageddonists

John Hagee, founder of Christians United for [Armageddon in] Israel (CUFI), an astounding group of heads of state, senators, and other leaders gather to pay homage to the theological cancer eating away at America's civilized foundations.

Watch The Unauthorized Christians United for Israel Tour by Max Blumenthal.

So who is tossing their weight behind the destructive Armageddonist theology?

Senator John McCain, Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Newt Gingrich, Ambassador Dore Gold, Senator Joe Lieberman
- [McCain Openly Courts Hagee]

Netanyahu's Pack of Wolves Example

As I sat there listening to Netanyahu speaking on the same platform as John Hagee, the Armageddonist extremist, I began reflecting on Netanyahu's pack of wolves example. It goes something like this:

Palestinians are like a pack of wolves chasing a pick up truck with sheep on it. Everytime Israel makes a concession, it's like the shepherd throwing a sheep to the wolves. As soon as they eat it up , they start chasing the truck again. What the shepherd needs to do is take that shot gun and get rid of the wolves.

From the context you can read all sorts of things including the following:

• The Palestinians are the pack of wolves: there is nothing you can do to satisfy them except kill them.
• The sheep represent Israel: The innocent party in need of protection.
• The driver is Israel's shepherd: A role proudly adopted by Armageddonists.

Someone needs to tell the sheep that the shepherd one day plans to slaughter them. More precisely, as a Jewish man, Netanyahu must be aware of John Hagee's belief that the destruction of Jewish society is part of what must happen when Jesus returns. To the Palestinians, this is a clear signal that at least some segment of Israeli society sees the desire of Palestinians to have their own state as an insatiable appetite for territory. What can be done about this? If Palestinians request half the Gaza strip to ease these concerns, even that would be considered as just the first bite out of Isreal; to be followed by endless bites. This view is also held by Armageddonists. For this reason, the only way forward for Palestinians is to demand equality under the existing Israeli state, rather than reaching for an independent state which is held before them like mirage of water in front of a thirsty desert traveler.

Palestinian Christian Resonse to Armageddonism

I found this article to be of interest. Here's an excerpt:

Describing the Evangelical Zionist's immoral and heretical interpretation of biblical prophetic and apocalyptic texts, Rev. Michael Prior concludes that the god of such revelation is a "militaristic and xenophobic genocidist..."

Apocalyptic Genocide is exactly what John Nelson Darby had in mind when he began preaching in the 1800s that Jews should be restored to Jerusalem. At that time, he was rebuffed by Jewish leaders since they lead prosperous lives in Europe. But after the mayhem and panic caused by the the Nazi crimes, Jews were more willing to take up the offer and join hands with Armageddonists to embark on the Zionist experiment.

At present, Jewish Zionists believe they are using the gullible Christian Zionist. While the Christian Zionist believes he is using the Jew as a tool for fulfilling prophesy; ever instilling in him the threat of annihilation and subjecting him to psychological operations to make him spurn any peace deal with Palestinians. Ever pushing him to attack the enemies whose destruction should (according to their extremist interpretations) usher in the return of the Lord and Savior to rule over the earth for a thousand years.

This is why Ronald Reagan said, "We may be the generation that sees Armageddon"

This is why the little boy in the Jesus Camp documentary says, "I believe my generation is key to Jesus coming back"

Armageddonists - similar to Hitler's 3rd Reich

Christian Zionists (Armageddonists), despite all their professed love for Israel, share a central theme in common with Hitler's 3rd Reich: that a point in time exists when the role of Jews in History will end.

Because Nazi Germany believed that point had passed, they attempted to wipe out Jews through genocide; Armageddonists, on the other hand, disagree only about when the role of Jews in history will end. Not if, but when it will happen. They believe that there is one more mission for Jews: to fight the battle of Armageddon in order to fulfill their extremist interpretation of prophesy which once fulfilled leads to the return of Jesus Christ.

The role of Palesinians and Arabs in the region is to be destroyed completely in the battle of Armageddon so that God's glory may be known. At this point also, the role of Jews in history ends and they must accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or die. This is why Armageddonists write books such as "Countdown Jerusalem." The countdown to the end of the role of Jews in History.

If they were to whisper advice into Hitler's ear, it would be "Not yet, now is not the time."

Therefore, it is time for everyone living in Israel to talk about living together in a United State of Israel-Palestine, rather than playing along with the Armageddonist game of let's talk peace and do war till Jesus Christ comes back to sort out the situation.

Famous Armageddonist: Lord Balfour & Woodrow Wilson

“After the Reformation, there was a small group of Christians who began to read the Bible much more literally. They were opposed to making it abstract. So when they read the word Israel, this meant a real biological people, the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If Israel means the Jews, the Bible is a Zionist document because the Bible says the Jews will inherit the land of Israel.

Accordingto Brog, the rejection of replacement theology meant that in order for a Christian to do God’s will on earth, he must bless the Jewish people.

“Now, what was always a minority group in Europe, became a majority group in America. The dominant strain of Christianity in America today is still evangelical,” emphasized Brog.

Evangelusm’s historical impact

In his book, Brog writes of three world leaders who, because of their belief in the Jewish biblical right to the land of Israel, expedited the establishment of the State of Israel: Lord Balfour, Woodrow Wilson, and Harry Truman. While a big supporter of Israel, it is unclear if Truman was an evangelical (of the Armageddonist brand).

Source: A blessing or a curse? American evangelists explained. A conversation with David Brog, a Rabbi who is executive director of Christians United For Israel, an evangelical Christian lobby group lead by popular Pastor John Hagee, demystifies intentions, beliefs of 'Zionist Christians' and their support for Israel David Brog

Book About Christian Zionism

I was looking at the comments on the book, "Christian Zionism: Road-Map to Armageddon?, wherein a reviewer writes:

"In fact, as Sizer (the author) shows, the existence of the state of Israel today would be unthinkable without the inspiration and support of Christian Zionists in Britain and America."

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 4 (The Political Implications of Christian Zionism):

1. The Chosen People: Supporting Israeli Colonialism
2. Restorationism: Facilitating Aliyah from Russia and Eastern Europe
3. Eretz Israel: Sustaining the West Bank Settlements
4. Jerusalem: Lobbying for International Recognition
5. The Temple: Identifying with Religious Zionism
6. The Future: Opposing Peace and Hastening Armageddon
7. The Political Implications of Christian Zionism: Conclusions

You can find a full listing of chapters here.

BBC vs. Aljazeera: Coverage of Armageddon

Search for 'Armageddon' on BBC and the search produced no hits (as of 6/4/2007). Looks like a well respected news organization is envolved in self sensorship. However, the same word on Aljazeera gave the following results:

Was the Iraq war religiously motivated? Although several reasons have been given for the US invasion and occupation of Iraq, debate still rages over whether ideological or religious concerns were the real motives.

Evangelist warns Bush over Jerusalem American television evangelist Pat Robertson has warned President George Bush that he will risk losing Christian support if he stops backing Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem.

Against Israel against God The alliance between US Christian Zionists, Israel and its US supporters has had very negative consequences for the Palestinians.

Comedy Break

"The Landlord", watch it if you need to relax.

Restorationism

Not just another ism; it's the why of what has been happening. Here are a couple of references to get you caught up on this phenomenon:

• Definition on Wikipedia
• What Oren’s account of Restorationism tells us is that the American attachment to Israel is more embedded in our DNA then we realize

Attitude of Jews Oblivious to Armageddonism

I found this article to be profound in its insight into the reality of relations between Israelis and Palestinians living in the camps. Note that this speech comes to you from Tel Aviv.

The fact that there are Jews who have the freedom to say these things while the same views cannot be articulated by mainstream presidential candidates in the USA is testament to the influence of Armageddonist clout here.

All is not lost yet. You can make a difference. You can help to be part of the new generation of hope which has the audacity to talk-back to the doom-and-gloomers.

Barack Obama Bitten by Armageddon Bug?

It seams that for all his good intentions, Barak Obama is suffering from the effects of the Armageddon bug. While trying to reach-out for the Evengelical vote, he was poisoned by their world view and is now grapling to make sense of the world as seen through their point of view.

Here's how you know Obama has bought into the Armageddonist Hype: when instead of tempering the call to violence coming from the Pat Robertsons and Hagees of the world he joins the choir and sings along. Here are a few google hits from today when searching Obama Iraq:

• Obama would consider missile strikes on Iran Chicago Tribune ... US Senate candidate Barack Obama suggested Friday that the United States one day might have to launch surgical missile strikes into Iran and Pakistan to ...www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0409250111sep25,1,4555304.story - Similar pages
• Democrats and Iran: Look Who Supports Bush's Next War - by Joshua ... Recently, the Democratic Party's rising "progressive" star Barack Obama said he would favor "surgical" missile strikes against Iran. ...www.antiwar.com/frank/?articleid=4521 - 41k - May 29, 2007 - Cached - Similar pages
• Democratic keynote speaker Barack Obama calls for missile strikes ... Obama told the Tribune, “[T]he big question is going to be, if Iran is resistant to these pressures, including economic sanctions, which I hope will be ...www.wsws.org/articles/2004/oct2004/obam-o01.shtml - 15k - Cached - Similar pages

Hagee & Fox News on an Anti-American Rampage

John Hagee had the audacity to propose a war scenario which is in-line with his Armageddonist Ideology. And what's wrong with FOX NEWS that they let this happen?

Has FOX News exposed itself as the quintissential anti-American news show? Isn't John Hagee really saying "Death to America" by advocating policies which in his belief system should destroy the world in the process of bringing back Jesus.

Armageddonist in Secular Clothing

What if a congressman or representative were to come out and say, "I only care about national security. And all my decisions are based solely on secular considerations; my religious views have nothing to do with policy making decisions."

Is this person really secular? Or an Armageddonist in secular clothing?

To answer this question you need to address not only how to neutralize national security threats, but also how this threat came to be.

If you think of the national security threat as a flooded swamp. Solving the threat means clearing the swamp. It doesn't make sense to just pump out the water. You need to cut off the various streams which replenish the swamp. If you don't do this, you will end up having to clear the swamp endlessly. Just when you think you are done, here it fills up again.

It is madness to keep doing the same thing, yet expect different results.

This is the example of the policy maker who asserts his/her desire to eliminate national security threats, yet fails to cut off the sources whose sole intent is to exacerbate the threats.

What if a small group of evil people wanting to destroy the middle-east for the purpose of fulfilling Bible-Prophesy in hopes of bringing back Jesus Christ were instrumental in maintaining the blockade over Iraq which resulted in the deaths of something like a million people.

Suppose that the Iraqis did not like that and that certain individuals who sympathized with them were to inflict violent acts toward our country because of it.

There should be no doubt that we must defend ourselves from the threats coming at us. Equaly, we must not give a free pass to those who hide behind a moral agenda in order to direct our foreign policy in ways which seek to fulfill their odd interpretations of prophesy. To them, Armageddon is a mission to be accomplished; not merely prophesy to be observed.

Of course Armageddonists are free to believe as they want. However, it is shameful that secular people tolerate people with such frames of mind to control foreign policy. Suppose that the so called secular leaders knew about these people's goals and desires; yet neither criticized them nor tried to warn of the danger they pose.

Does that not mean that the so called secular leaders are more unpatriotic that the religious zealots who hope to bring about Armageddon; simply because they provide the cover under which Armageddonists will destroy our society from within?

Think about it.

Christopher Hitchens

I started reading up on Hitchens after viewing his commentary on the legacy of Jerry Falwell. Somehow he manages to both hate Falwell and support the Iraq war. Any ideas why? From watching the video below, you make your own conclusion:

My conclusions from watching this video:

• Hitchen's world-view although purportedly secular, picks up where Armageddonists leave off especialy about the motives of Israel's neighbors.
• Adopts the "Conflict of Civilizations" world-view, which itself is a darling book of the Armageddonists. Example "The fascist side of Islam wants to export the fight o where we are so they could win it." He does not consider the ramifications of the Armageddonist agitation as the source of the problem, rather the reaction to it is what he considers the source of the Islamic threat.
• Supports a two state solutions; ie separate but equal rather than a one shared state for all.

Jerry Falwell: Dark Legacy

Some people in their rush to scrub clean Falwell's legacy ignore the fact that when all is said and done, Falwell advocated a speedy destruction of the world due to his staunch support for Armageddon. Very disappointing.

Here is Christopher Hitchin's summary of Falwell's legacy:

If only Barack Obama would stand up to this menacing Armageddonism so many evangelicals rally around instead of trying to "reach out" to them. Unless of course by reaching out he means to correct their tendency to support the road to Armageddon. I think this may be the direction he should take, but somehow I imagine it is too hot of a topic to touch even for Obama. To his credit he does mention that Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson are negative influences on the evangelicals:

"...if we don't reach out to evangelical Christians and other religious Americans and tell them what we stand for, Jerry Falwell's and Pat Robertson's will continue to hold sway." [source]

However he does not, and I believe no politician is able to directly criticize the addiction to Armageddon which these bible thumpers spew from their pulpits.

Winograd Report, Jewish Zionism, & Armageddonism

The Winograd Reort exposes a stark difference between the Jewish Zionist vision for Israel and the "Christian Zionist" (Armageddonist) vision for Israel.

The Jewish desire is summed up by the Winograd report which notes "Foreign Ministry not sufficiently included during war in Lebanon." This shows that Israelis would very much like to settle differences without having to unleash the arsenal of weapons Armageddonists have so generously put into their hands.

On the other hand, if you look at what Armageddonist preachers and cheerleaders on the Right Wing are saying, the only problem with the destruction of Lebanon is that it does not go far enough. See this fox news video for how the Armageddonists think:

Armageddonists forgiven because of... Jesus

Unpatriotic to the Core: John Hagee's Politics

In 1998, the official American policy in the middle-east was land for peace. When John Hagee was asked how he felt about his vision for Israel (ie: no land for peace; rather Israelis and Palestinians should annihilate each other in the battle of Armageddon as prophesied so that the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may return) differing from U.S. policy, Hagee replied: "I am a Bible scholar and a theologian and from my perspective, the law of God transcends the law of the United States government and the United States State Department. The United States wants Israel to surrender territory for Palestinian promises of peace."

Now how patriotic does that sound?

Why six imams were pulled from US Airways

The reason six Muslim leaders were pulled from US Airways has to do with suspicions which are mainly fanned not by events at the airport or inside the plane, but rather by rhetoric coming from Armageddonists like televangelist John Hagee, slick Pat Robertson, the esteemed Rep. Virgil Goode, and dittohead Rush Limbaugh.

The chief players however are televangelists who claim to teach people the truth and feed their flock utterly hateful information bordering on the call to genocide on Rawandan radio before the genocide there.

It is highly likely that passengers who believe their Armageddonist teachers' lessons about Muslims will lie in order to thwart the "mandate" of Muslims, which the Armageddonists propound is the destruction of the non-Muslim.

There are many things which passnegers claim they heard from the Imams which are completely out of character for the Imams to say, and the Imams totally reject those allegations as in this article.

Unconscious Agents of Armageddonism

There are points of convergence and divergence between any two points of view. This applies to Zionism as well. There is the Jewish Zionist block on one hand and the Christian Zionist block. They agree on the present but disagree on the future.

They each want to see a strong Israel, but for different reasons. For Jewish Zionists, it's all about survival, while Christian Zionists are in it for the Second Coming. For them, a strong Israel is but a stepping stone to Armageddon; which is why "Armageddonist" is a more fitting name for people who hold such an ideology than "Christian Zionist".

The question which poses itself is: which one is using which? Is Jewish Zionism stronger than Christian Zionism so that it can steer it? or is it the other way around and Jewish Zionism is stronger so that it controls Christian Zionism?

From my research, I have concluded that Christian Zionism sawed the seeds of Jewish Zionism and nurtured it till it became a reality. So if this analysis is correct, then Jewish Zionists are acting unwittingly in the service of Christian Zionists.

Palestinians too, by supporting the notion of a separate but equal entity for themselves are aiding the Armageddonist plot. The more conflict Armageddoinsts see, the greater their satisfaction at the unfolding events and the higher their hope for a quick rapture (after a satisfying bout of Armageddon - aka battle for Jerusalem).

By being opposed to supporting a unification plan within Israel, Palestinians are doing themselves a disservice, and their people a disservice since they cannot hope to provide the most basic function of governments: that of providing security for their subjects. In light of this fact, by insisting on getting independence, they get sovereignty over nothing.

Armageddonists are busy lobbying to make sure that there is no such thing as a viable peace plan. As a Rabbi once said, "They are not interested in bringing the two parties to the negotiating table" (or something along those lines), which means they are more interested to see these two sides fight it outside, somewhere around the the area east, west, north, and south of the valley of Armageddon.

Therefore, anyone who contributes to the fulfillment of the Armageddonist goal of further mayhem stands accused of aiding this heresy, either intentionally or accidentally. Either way, the result is disastrous.

Overcoming Zionism: A book Armageddonists dare not touch

This is a book which Armageddonists would never in a million years endorse because they are not interested in peace, reconciliation, or progress. Rather, they are entirely motivated by their desire to see the world end as soon as possible in a war which should wipe out large parts of the Jewish and Arab worlds followed by the second coming of the "Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," as they say.

Joel Kovel, being a conscious Jew - one who knows the desires of Armageddonists and how they set up Israel to be their Jesus bait - in writing this book which in essence short circuits all the investment of armament and ill-will Armageddonists have spent so far by promoting a paradigm shift from an Armageddon based peace plan to a democratic and unity peace plan. It is indeed a bold thing to say, there are not two sides to this conflict, only one.

Joel Kovel argues that the inner contradictions of Zionism have led Israel to a 'state-sponsored racism' fully as incorrigible as that of apartheid South Africa and deserving of the same resolution. Only a path toward a single-state secular democracy can provide the justice essential to healing the wounds of the Middle East [more...].

Times's Baghdad bureau chief pessimistic about Iraq plan

The Times's Baghdad bureau chief, John F. Burns, appeared on The Charlie Rose Show to discuss the situation in Iraq.

The Maliki Government is unable to rise above the urge for revenge. - John F. Burns

Bush, God, and the Media

While Christian conservatives and hard-line neo-conservatives may see the developments after Sept. 11, 2001 in a positive light (after all, one might say that God and the United States have been given a larger piece of the planet with which to work), all Americans should be leery of any government that merges religiosity into political ends.[full article]

Armageddonists Discussing Islam

It's so lovely to see Armageddonists discussing Islam in such a way as to justify their intended goal of destroying the middle-east in order to bring about the second coming of Jesus Christ.

There will be 1000s of arguments to justify why we must (MUST MUST MUST) destroy Muslims. That is the reason they make these arguments (under the guise of standing up for our values).

One only look at the last 50 years. The absence of actual invasions of Europian countries by Muslims is the reason why they resort to trying to pull arguments from any period in time, pulling out the worst anicdotal evidence, shouting the world is about to crack unless we realize what a danger Muslims are to us.

After watching this clip, the point you should walk away with is that you have to make the connection between their motivation for seeking to prime their audience for war with Muslims and their sick belief in the inevitability of the battle of Armageddon and the tribulations which must afflict the world as part of the series of events leading up to the return of Jesus Christ.

Israel, Islam and Armageddon According to Armageddonists

Armageddonists are all around us

Seemingly normal people who believe in the Armageddon - AKA the destruction of Babylon (Iraq), Persia (Iran), Lebanon, Syria, Kush (Somalia or Sudan, Pat Robertson isn't sure).

The American Muslim

This site has a series of responses to the Armageddonists' accusations against Muslims and Islam.

Fascist leader Hagee depicts Muslims as rabid killers & Jews as Christ killers

John Hagee, the megachurch pastor who is the current face of Christian Zionism in the United States, depicted Jews as Christ killers in a recent interview. Hagee also stated that Muslims have a "mandate" to kill Christians and Jews and that God caused Hurricane Katrina to destroy New Orleans to prevent a scheduled gay parade. [more]

Preaching to the quire

Armageddonists expressing the reasons why Muslims must be destroyed. Very interesting hate filled speaches. It would be nice to see a segment by segment response video posted by a Muslim scholar of note.

Armageddonism & the Justification of Spilling Muslim Blood

Armageddonists draw up arguments in such a way as to make the slaughter of millions of Muslims be an act of self-defence.

It's not unusual for a people who have confused the finite with the infinite - when they equate the created Jesus with the uncreated God; It is not unusual for such a people to blur the line between a possibility which has come to be and a possibility which has not come to be.

It isn't enough for them to misinterpret their own scriptures, but they also delve pretending to understand Muslim scripture, and under the guise of scholarship spread within their ranks the most dishonest interpretation of texts and are content to preach "the barbarians are at the gates and we must kill them or they will kill us" (Rev. John Hagee).

Olberman Mentions "Irrational Right"

In this video, Kieth Olberman mentions the Armageddonists whom he calls the "Irrational Right" as responsible for current Iraq Policy.

Connecting the Dots: Armageddonism and Policy

While researching Armageddon on google, I came across: BUSH WATCH...EVANGELIST BUSH

. It lists many of the reasons why the sway of Armageddonist evangelicals is bad for peace and democracy in America and specifically for Israel and Palestine.

ZIONISM - THE REAL ENEMY OF JEWS

Alan Hart, author of "ZIONISM: THE REAL ENEMY OF THE JEWS", talks about the Armageddon based Christian support for Israel and notes that they are "classic Jew haters" who only support Israel for the purpose of bringing about Armageddon. However he claims that Jews are using Armageddonists to further their goals.

The problem with this analysis is it's like blaming the roosters for getting into a cock-fight. Niether the Jews nor the Palestinians set up the fight. Britain, after WWII was tremendously thirsty for peace. Armageddonism (premillinialism) was popular among the Empire's elite because it was a road-map to bringing back Jesus. And today, if you tune into the popular preachers, Armageddon based prophesy is what they preach.

If anything, Armageddonists used the Jews to further their ends. So Jews are twice victims: They were victimized by Hitler and by the Armageddonists who see them as a tool to bring about the Armageddon.

What's the solution then? It is to break the link. Just as Baath party members were banned from participating in the government; Armageddonists should be distanced from the levers of power; otherwise, they will wreck any democracy they touch.

Who is John Nelson Darby?

	John Nelson Darby

British minister John Nelson Darby begins preaching in America. He would create an ingenious theology known as premillennial dispensationalism, which remains the dominant eschatological system in Christianity today. "Dispensationalism" refers to Darby's belief that human history can be divided into a series of epochs, or dispensations, in which God has dealt with humanity in different ways. Darby teaches that biblical prophecy refers to the past and future periods, but is silent on the present "Church Age," which began with Christ's crucifixion. By asserting that God's prophetic clock had temporarily stopped ticking, this "Great Parenthesis" ingeniously preserves prophecy while avoiding the risks of date-setting.

One of the most enduring elements of Darby's system is the Rapture, in which true believers in Christ would travel instantly to heaven, where they would watch the terrible seven-year Tribulation unfold on earth, killing all but a righteous few. His emphasis on the Jews' return to Palestine and his strong reliance on scripture over church authority have also won favor with fundamentalists. [source]

The Link: John Nelson Darby and Winston Churchill

I researched whether John Darby ever met Winston Churchill. Apparently not. It seems though that at least one student of Darby ministered to Churchill. John Nelson Darby died about 1880. Winston Churchill was born in 1874, which meant he was too young to have learned from Darby directly. Here's the evidence tying Churchill to Darby's associate- Robert Chapman (1803-1902 Churchill was 28 in 1902). Consider the following two points:

• John Nelson Darby said of Robert Chapman: "He lives what I teach."¹
• As a young man, Winston Churchill was taken to visit him¹

----------------------
References

1. Robert Chapman's Biography
2. Google search for further research ("winston churchill" "Nelson darby")

Winston Chuchill's Armageddonism

I always thought of Winston Churchill as a man of peace. When I read his visions of war in the middle east, I found myself having to read and re-read his words to make sure I didn't misread it. It leaves no doubt in my mind of the influence of Armageddonism on Churchill's mindset. What did Winston Churchill say that raises this irksome cloud over his head? Robert Fisk, a british journalist, delved into history and here's what he found reading Winston Churchill:

I’m going to read you a very brief paragraph by Winston Churchill, not about the Battle of Britain. It is Churchill prophesying the future from 1937, eleven years before the Nakba. This is Winston Churchill writing in a totally forgotten essay.

He reflected upon the future and wrote of the impossibility of a partitioned Palestine. And he talked of how, I quote -- this is Winston Churchill in 1937 --“The wealthy, crowded, progressive Jewish state” -- see, it doesn’t exist yet, but he’s already getting it right --“lies in the plains and on the sea coast of Palestine. Around it, in the hills and the uplands, stretching far and wide into the illimitable deserts, the warlike Arabs of Syria of Transjordania, of Arabia, backed by the armed forces of Iraq, offer the ceaseless menace of war. To maintain itself,” -- 1937, remember, -- “To maintain itself, the Jewish state will have to be armed to the teeth and must bring in every able-bodied man to strengthen its army. But how long will this process be allowed to continue by the great Arab populations in Iraq and Palestine? Can it be expected that the Arabs would stand by impassively and watch the building up, with Jewish world capital and resources, of a Jewish army, equipped with the most deadly weapons of war until it was strong enough not to be afraid of them? And if ever the Jewish army reached that point, who can be sure,” Churchill asked, “that, cramped within their narrow limits, they would not plunge out into the new undeveloped lands that lay around them?”

“Ouch,” I said when I read that. 1937.

-Robert Fisk [Sources: Pacific Views, Democracy Now]

The question that must be answered now is: what ideology did Churchill subscribe to which made him such a supporter of conflict? The bitter answer is that he was most likely influenced by the teachings of John Nelson Darby - the father of modern day premillenial dispensationalism (AKA Armageddonism).

Armageddonism, Big Money, and Policy Formulation

When analyzing middle east events and ideas, some notable scholars such as Noam Chomsky place a great emphasis on Oil as the driving engine. Their theme follows the logic of:

• We are interested in the middle-east because of energy concerns.
• Politicians are corrupted by oil money.

This however is only a partial answer since it does not address the question of why it is that Armageddonist preachers who don't see a penny from oil still support the policies pushed by those who stand to profit from oil. This is where it helps to look at the links between Armageddonism, Money, and Policy Formulation. The Tom Delay scandal as an example of how things work: If you've followed the delay scandal... the politicians were using the religious leadership to influence the public into supporting a position which the politicians were getting big bucks for in return.

In the Delay scandal, the entities behind the big bucks were Indian Casinos. In the Middle East, those entities are big oil companies with the largest profit margin in the history of the world.

In the Delay scandal, religious leaders told their congregants to oppose casinos from being built as a moral obligation. While in the middle east, religious leaders beat the war drums claiming Armageddon is a birth-pang which will result in peace for the world through the second coming of Jesus Christ.

GodAssault: Armageddonism's Ultimate Aim

An up and coming journalist to watch out for is Lisa Lambert, who wrote a piece entitled GodAssault: Morality as the Ultimate Game which appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle's Insight section. In it, she mentions the following about that the Armageddonists' end-game being a blood-bath:

If you read the Book of Revelation as the physical, material truth, then you come to see God's game as one played in a swirling, planet-devouring vortex of blood and violence.

and before this she writes that the same people who believed in such things were also responsible for electing the delivering the presidency to Bush:

As it happened, those "nuts" won the election for the president. Ill-prepared newscasters promptly relabeled them "moral voters," showing how little they understood about the new religion practiced in Calvary Chapel.

And she argues that these people are only interested in Bush because he was a candidates "who laced his speeches with secret signals to fellow worshipers and considered praying his most important action before starting an unjust war." As a group, the one word which accurately describes their belief system is Armageddonism. Their ultimate hope is for Armageddon to happen within their life-time.

NY Times Reporter Equates Armageddonism w/Anti-semitism

New York Times reporter Chris Hedges equates the arguments of Armageddonists with Hitler's anti-semitism:

"They don't commit crimes; they have things inherently built into their character. I mean, it's very much like anti-Semitism. And the only way to get rid of it is to eradicate it, because to be a Jew, to be a Serb, to be a Muslim is to have these qualities that destroy our civilization, and we must, therefore, destroy them." [continue reading this article...]

Take this analysis, and listen to John Hagee, pastor of a San Antonio Mega-church, as he tells his audience "either we kill them (Muslims) or they kill us." The violence he beckons his followers to is chilling. The fact that other leaders don't denounce his statements is the real danger.