The Monster Vs. The Beast By Doug Krieger

THE MONSTER vs. THE BEAST

By

Doug Krieger

Part VII

(“The Rise or Fall of American Empire”)



Amazing how everything begins to make sense. After Hillary Clinton was called a do-anything-to-win-the-election MONSTER by Barack Obama’s unpaid foreign policy adviser, Samantha Power—who’s also a Pulitzer-Prize winning professor at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University—the Clintonians demanded she be fired (so with “deep regret” she quit).

THE MONSTER VS. THE ANTICHRIST

Frankly, you think (or know) I’m loosing my mind—but, shortly after the “Monster” comment—I knew I had lost it when I heard McCain say it was getting “harder to do the Lord’s work in the city of Satan (Washington D.C. – 7 March 2008).” No, I’m not kidding you—he actually said it: Washington, D.C., is—from McCain’s lips to your ears—the CITY OF SATAN! Man, we’ve gone from God’s Redeemer Nation as that “City set on a Hill” to this! That didn’t stop McCain from joining the battle against the devil and his D.C. minions by lining up hell, fire and brimstone himself, the Rev. John Hagee, in assaulting the City beset by the Wicked One.

You see, McCain earnestly sought after mega-Church/pro-Israel televangelist John Hagee’s endorsement. When he finally got it he discovered that Hagee likes railing on Catholics for being apostate—close to being a monster—so McCain told folks he wouldn’t tolerate such “bigotry” – to wit:

“Catholic League President Bill Donohue released a statement Thursday entitled ‘McCain Embraces Bigot’ and accused Hagee of a decades long ‘unrelenting war against the Catholic Church.’”

Well, not to be outdone by the off-the-cuff remarks made to the Scottish media (viz. those of the mighty Prof. Power), McCain (Note: Conspiratorial minds know how to connect the dots to the Scottish “Mc”), while apparently visiting Atlanta, got super religious himself in appealing to a more evangelical crowd . . .

“McCain also invoked his faith at a campaign event Friday (7 March 2008) morning at the headquarters of Chick-fil-A Inc. in Atlanta. The company's founder, S. Truett Cathy, is a devout Baptist who closes his restaurants on Sunday so his employees can rest and honor God.

‘It’s harder and harder trying to do the Lord's work in the city of Satan,’ McCain said of Washington.”

(McCain Reject Anti-Catholic Views, Libby Quaid, AP Writer, Friday, March 7)

Naturally, McCain’s “slip of the tongue” did not stop the Democratic Underground from extrapolating this verbal morsel to its logical conclusion: “Just what did he mean by that snide infringement?”

“When your name, McCain, is Irish for ‘Son of Cain’ which means the son of Satan (Editor’s Note: “Son of Sam” as in Samantha Powers?) in the Bible which would be the Anti-Christ in the Book of Revelation; when the ‘Mark of Cain’ is used interchangeably with the ‘Mark of the Beast’ in Christian eschatology, one would wonder why this man who wants to be the most powerful man on earth would refer to our beloved Capitol as ‘the City of Satan.’” (Comments of David Zephyr, Democratic Underground)

Hence, the name of this article: THE MONSTER vs. THE BEAST!

Time to ask: Just where am I going with this parody of piques, and what on earth does it have to do with “The Rise or Fall of American Empire?” As you can see – and as our international readership ponders in puzzlement over the religio-politico discourse found only in Americana at her finest – all the squawk and talk about civility amongst our political refinery comes cheap and in clumps (which are easier to throw). Our ever-enlightening media is having a heyday in celebrating each and every gaff and insipid cultural nuanced slurred and slopped against intra-and-inter partisan combatants running towards the “City of Satan’s” most prized possession.

Here we go again – the guy tagged Mr. Hothead is now running against either a gal called a Monster or a guy whose middle name reminds you of Saddam’s last name: Hussein. Furthermore, where love and oneness in the “age of relativism” reigns supreme – the Catholics have finally been “out apostatized” by a fire-breathing evangelist they are loathe to brand as the False Prophet himself: John Hagee. All the more lay we claim to the old adage: What goes around comes around. It took us around 500 years for the Pope to commence “exoneration proceedings” on behalf of Martin Luther (“Pope Benedict XVI—of German ancestry—is to rehabilitate Martin Luther, arguing that he did not intend to split Christianity but only to purge the Church of corrupt practices.” – TimesOnline – 6 March 2008); and mere decades for the Catholic’s False Prophet in the form of John Hagee to equal the Second Beast of the Revelation!

It’s hard to conceive where all these threads ultimately lead—the Democratic Underground folks certainly cut to the chase—but just as oxymoronic are the religious jokes of one John McCain . . . then again, maybe he knows something we don’t; and, keeping Hagee under wraps prior to his (McCain’s) own unveiling won’t be easy, given the behind the scenes high profile visibility Hagee has with his 99,000,000+ homes he weekly enters!

Well, here’s one dynamic duo ready to blast the daylights out of Islamic Fundamentalism big time.

“At the recent annual CUFI (Christian United For Israel) summit in Washington, D.C., prominent politicians were present to pledge support for this growing movement, including Senators John McCain, Joseph Lieberman, House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, as well as former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Lieberman particularly sang Hagee's praise:

‘He is a Ish Elokim, a man of God, and those words really fit him...like Moses, he’s become a leader of a mighty multitude, even greater than the multitude that Moses led from Egypt to the promised land.’

“CUFI considers its defining issue to be the growing challenge of radical Islam, particularly as relates to the security of Israel and the United States. CUFI is increasingly concerned by Iran and its potential nuclear threats. Hagee often alludes to Nazi Germany in order to underline what he believes to be the gravity of the situation:

‘Ladies and gentlemen, we are reliving history. It is 1938 all over again,’ Hagee explains in a 2007 speech. ‘Iran is Germany. Ahmadinejad is Hitler. And Ahmadinejad, just like Hitler, is talking about killing the Jews.’” (Christian United for Israel (CUFI) – Bill Moyers Journal, Oct. 7, 2007)

Before I digress on brother Hagee’s peculiar relationship with McCain and the Jews/Israel, as well as tying all of this into the Rise or Fall – I find it fitting to conclude this segment with a final conspiratorial:

“What is wrong with this country? We have become a bunch of Jimmy Carters! How is it that we can’t see that the media has controlled this whole primary? With Rudy and Hillary as the clear winners there would not have been the excitement that is currently taking place. No news is bad business. The media brought the ‘slain two witnesses’ (Barack and John) back to life. Now it is almost as exciting as a Redskins vs. Cowboys game of the ‘70s. In turn - more papers sold, more television, and more ads and advertising. The media can thank the politicians while they’re laughing all the way to the bank!” (Hagee Endorses McCain - Posted by: fortyleven | February 27, 2008 10:00 PM – The Washington Post, THE TRAIL, the Daily Dairy of Campaign 2008)

. . . So concludes the tale of the Monster vs. the Beast.

FROM AMERICA’S WORST TO AMERICA’S BEST?

Listening to Talk Radio, as I am wont to do each day while returning from my ever-decreasing dollar-declining job, to the likes of Michael Savage (now suing the Council on American-Islamic Relations for remarks made against him) – can’t imagine why CAIR’s upset with Michael . . .

“Right now, even people sitting on the fence would like George Bush to drop a nuclear weapon on an Arab country. They don’t even care which one it would be. I can guarantee you -- I don't need to go to Mr. Schmuck [pollster John] Zogby and ask him his opinion. I don't need anyone’s opinion. I’ll give you my opinion, because I got a better stethoscope than those fools. It’s one man’s opinion based upon my own analysis. The most -- I tell you right now -- the largest percentage of Americans would like to see a nuclear weapon dropped on a major Arab capital. They don’t even care which one. They’d like an indiscriminate use of a nuclear weapon. They want this over with. One thing people cannot live with, which is an undefined, limitless conflict, which is what we have now. They can’t take it. They want this war over with, and they want it ended like the war against Japan. They’d like Big Boy dropped on one of the little cities over there. They don’t care where. They don’t care any more. The American people have had it up to here with this garbage.

“In fact, Christianity has been one of the great salvations on planet Earth. It’s what’s necessary in the Middle East. Others have written about it, I think these people need to be forcibly converted to Christianity but I’ll get here a little later, I’ll move up to that. It’s the only thing that can probably turn them into human beings.” (Savage: Arabs are ‘non-humans’ and ‘racist, fascist bigots’, Media Matters, May 14, 2004)

. . . I also hear “the Savage” blasting George Bush as the “worst President-ever” when it comes to Israel (7 March 2008) – and, Savage is disgusted with Evangelical Christians who give this same Bush a pass when it comes to his two-state solution, “. . . just because he backs their conservative social agenda.”

Ah – the vicissitudes of religio-politico expediency! The art of compromise has come a long ways these days—imagery and myth seem to blend where Realpolitic ebbs and flows . . .

Alas! How are we to discern the Savage remark that the worst President for Israel abides the White House, while the best possibly awaits in these political climes? Seems that American Presidents tend toward the economic center when it comes to resolving earth’s proverbial quagmire—the Middle East.

We add up the dollar total of the promises made by the candidates and discover that the “rich get richer” with the Republicans, and the Democrats are about taxing you to death! Friend, quite frankly, the Apostle Paul comes to mind at this juncture:

“Let God be true but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

Or, if you prefer, the Psalmist:

“I said in my haste, ‘All men are liars’” (Psalm 116:11).

Fortunately, politics is dirty business; yet, unfortunately, most of us have forgotten that. Lest you dash your hopes against the brick wall of political capability and civil responsibility too frequently – rebounding from one attempt after another, as the vast majority of American worldlings are obliged to do each quadrennial in blessed anticipation that ours is the nobler attempt to purge the system of its criminalities and inequities for the common good – rest assured of one thing: The more things change, the more they remain the same—notwithstanding (i.e., regardless) “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)

That said . . . those of us whose “citizenship is from above” do well to come to grips with the eloquent, though prolonged, expressions (paragraphed for your benefit) of another Lutheran, Joseph Seiss, who in the mid-1800s, sought to reform the ascending American mindset to view this aforesaid, transitory prattling from the divine perspective—especially, if perchance you persist in viewing America as that “Shining city set on a hill, which cannot be hid”. . . . Full of her manifest destiny wherein all the nations are obliged to view and replicate her virtues . . . .

“Not yet has the sovereignty of this world become the Lord’s (Ref. Revelation 11:15: ‘The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’). All earthly governments, principalities, and powers, from the beginning until now, are uniformly represented in the Scriptures as wild beasts, having no lawful owner, and full of destructive savageness and offensive uncleanness. A lion with eagle’s wings, a bear crunching bones and flesh, a four-winged and four-headed leopard, a nondescript with many horns, dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly, having great iron teeth to devour and break in pieces; these are the prophetic symbols of the greatest and most lauded of them. (Cf. Rev. 13:1-2; Daniel 7:2, 7; Rev. 12:3, 9; Dan. 7:8; 11:36; Rev. 17:3; 13:4, 12)

“Even the premiership of Daniel himself in one of them does not alter its general character. It is but folly and fanaticism for men to talk of Christian states and governments in this world. Christian and good men may be concerned in their administration, and Christian ideas may sometimes temper their enactments, but earthly states and governments themselves are not Christian, and in the nature of things cannot be. They are all the products of devastated nature’s wilds, and full of savage nature’s passions and ungodliness. Fix it as we may, such is the result. The best-planned institutions and the wisest laws are ever disappointing their framers. The very law which God Himself promulged from Sinai’s thunder-shaken heights was ‘weak through the flesh,’ and did not serve to keep the Jewish commonwealth from like apostasy to that of other nationalities. To this hour there is nothing so great a desideratum among men as good and just government, nor another department in which the native evilness and God-antagonizing passions of men are so potent and defiant.

“True, the kingdom is by right the Lord’s. All authority and power originates with Him and belongs to Him. Government is His own ordinance. But since the apostasy of the race to Satan’s standard, usurpation, falsehood, and other powers than the rightful sovereign of men and nations, have held and directed the sway in this world. Many revolutions have been wrought, and men have labored, and sacrificed, and bled, and died to achieve them, believing that now they would secure the precious boon for which the race has signed and cried for ages; but it was only the turning of the sick man on his bed, who keeps his pain however he may change his place.

“In our day especially people are looking and laboring for a grand jubilee of nations, shaped to popular rule, and compacted by common laws, interests, and creed, in which enlightened ideas shall be the king, and all the world be one (Editor’s Note: Seiss published his commentary in 1869-1881 in three volumes, but several American libraries give the year of publication as 1865 – all the more astounding since it is penned at the close of the American Civil War); but the result will be only a more horrible beast than any that preceded it, a leopard with bear’s feet and a lion’s mouth, full of heads and horns and names of blasphemy; the very embodiment of hell, whose infamies so outrage High Heaven as to bring the great day of God Almighty upon the world. No, no; your revolutions, and reforms, and progress of liberal ideas, and overturning of old creeds, and grand conventionalities in revision of the Decalogue, and internationalities for the redemption of the world without Christ, and glorious philosophies ruling out a personal God and exalting self and passion in His place, and all your glittering ideals to which to reconstruct society and relocate the highest interests of man, much as they may promise, and successfully as they may draw the heart and energy of the world after them, are but the nurslings of Satan’s bosom in which this world lies, and the inspirations of his foul breath.

“Dream, and prate, and preach, and glory as men may, the devil is de facto the god and king of this world. His mantle may be often changed, and every day may exhibit a new garb, but the presiding genius within is still and always the devil, with all his pride, and malice, and spoliating falsities. And so it will go on, ‘wicked men and seducers waxing worse and worse,’ till the last trumpet sounds.

“But then shall come another order; not developed from below, but enforced with sudden and resistless power from above. How, we will see when we come to consider the details of ensuing chapters. Meanwhile, however, the fact itself is sure to the exultant voices in heaven. God is king, and the sovereignty hath He given to His Son, Jesus Christ. And having given the world six thousand years in which to choose and settle upon its proper allegiance, and finding after all only an intenser and more malignant apostasy, He causes the final trump to sound, breaks in with His Almightiness, and enforces His rightful dominion. A kingdom comes which breaks in pieces, and consumes all other kingdoms, and stands forever. Laws are given to be changed no more. And the true Anointed reigns on earth in an empire of sinless, deathless life and peace, to the ages of the ages. The government is changed.” (Joseph Augustus Seiss, 1823-1904, The Apocalypse, An Exposition of the Book of Revelation, Kregel, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI, p. 274.)

AMERICA'S PATRIOTIC PREACHER: JOHN HAGEE

With Seiss’s revelatory backdrop—a veritable cacophony of prophetic utterance—we now hustle back to America’s panoply of prophetic preachers. This time we settle upon Senator Lieberman’s Ish Elokim (a Man of God) – John Hagee – and then, for good measure, the strategic writings of Hal Lindsey’s primary eschatologist, Jack Kinsella of Omega Letter fame, along with his leave-you-hanging-in-the-air “Is America in Bible Prophecy?” pronouncements (that way, you’ll know I’ve not lost my mind after all).

First of all, John Hagee is perhaps the most dynamic preacher in America today – his 18,000+ Cornerstone Congregation in San Antonio, TX – his relentless support for the nation of Israel through all forms of communication and financial largess—highlighted by his “Night to Honor Israel” and his Christians United For Israel with its Christian lobbying effort prepared to equal AIPAC’s clout on the Hill – makes Hagee one of the most formidable figures on America’s religious landscape; as well as a political force with whom the likes of McCain and others must reckon.

Hagee’s lighting rod crescendos elicit more applause per sermon from congregants than most preachers get in a decade—and a whole lot louder! His sanctuary resembles the feverish atmosphere of pep rallies set to gradually raise you from your seat in superlative ovation – all punch lines work – and, without hesitation, and on cue, the masses acclaim his vindications with enthusiasm and rancorous celebration.   T. D. Jakes, Charles Stanley, Jack Hayford, Jimmy DeYoung, Rick Warren, Robert Schuller, Chuck Smith, Oral Roberts in his heyday, Billy Sunday or even Billy Graham – none of them hold a candle to the divine vibrations exuding from the larynx of this majestic orator of the Faith! No wonder the Catholics are disturbed by his endorsement of McCain – no wonder Bill Moyers and the entire left wing of the political spectrum quiver and rage against Hagee and his machine!

Among the dead and the living - Dobson, Falwell (when alive), Pat Robertson, James D. Kennedy (when alive), Chuck Colson, Bill Hybels, John MacArthur, Haddon Robinson, John Stott, Chuck Swindoll, Tony Campolo, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Harold Ockenga, Luis Palau, and many more – have their inspirational utterance and brilliance – but aside from the likes of a W. A. Criswell, Charles Finney, A. W. Tozer, Donald Grey Barnhouse, J. Vernon McGee, Charles H. Spurgeon, Andrew Murray, D. L. Moody, John and Charles Wesley or George Whitefield or the venerable Bishop Fulton J. Sheen of the Catholics – no preacher has ascended the pulpit with such oratorical girth and splendid intonation as this charismatic one-time Assembly of God bulldog preacher, turned independent charismatic.

Now, wholly located on the political radar of most Americana—and soon to jolt the world—this portly prince of preachers may ascend the pulpit most inconspicuously; however, once the match strikes the abrasion, the flames of homiletically orchestrated genius akin to the verbiages of Churchill and the fervor of Hitler transfix the international audience now held spellbound by diction, dictum and delivery. You come in a skeptic; you leave a believer. It’s a combination of hypnotic syncopation and brilliant bombast – one imagines he cannot possibly read his entire script from the platform of his tiny glass pulpit – yet it would be impossible to elicit such crafted profundities from a singular platform apparently designed to conceal what lies within this man’s mind – don’t be fooled – the openness of the pulpit is but a prop, hardly needed, given the arsenal of eloquent thunderings rolling into American ears, as well as the English-speaking world, let alone through gifted translators throughout the planet awaiting his every word.

If ever there were a patriotic populist preacher – if ever a proponent of muscular Christianity – that person is John Hagee. This writing cannot come close to his candid expressions couched in credible Biblical text, enshrouded in homespun Texas-style metaphor and frank-speak. By now you get the drift—but you simply cannot appreciate the expanse of this discourse until you experience what I call the VOICE OF THE AMERICAN PATRIOTIC PREACHERS. No one comes close – and you should be aware of that. If you thought captivation by an ideal, by a political dream or candidate, teacher, athlete, business leader, philosopher or entertainer can surpass this masterful performance and zenith of organizational ability, then friend, you need to visit Texas—because whatever they’re eating down there is causing no small stir.

Now, John H. and John Mc. appear to have made common cause – to wit, if Tim Russert would question Barack Obama regarding Louis Farrakhan’s endorsement of his candidacy; even so, would it not be fair for Mr. Russert to extend the inquiry of the same to John McCain in reference to Rev. Hagee’s endorsement . . . so goes the thinking among some:

“Mr. McCain, who has been on a steady search for support among conservative and evangelical leaders who have long distrusted him, said he was ‘very honored’ by Mr. Hagee's endorsement. Asked about Mr. Hagee’s extensive writings on Armageddon and about what one questioner said was Mr. Hagee's belief that the anti-Christ will be the head of the European Union, Mr. McCain responded that ‘all I can tell you is that I am very proud to have Pastor John Hagee’s support.’” (Jane Hamsher, If Obama Must Reject Farrakhan, McCain Must Explain Hagee, Alternet, Feb., 2008)

HAGEE, THE JEWS AND THE MESSIAH

John Hagee’s fervency in blessing Israel has from time to time – especially during the past couple of months – provoked a great deal of consternation because of his expressions and apparent disregard of orthodox theology regarding Jesus’ first coming as the Messiah to BOTH Jew and Gentile. Confronted by scores of evangelical brethren to clarify his position on such an essential doctrine of the faith has not been a simplistic matter for the preacher—causing numerous groups, including Jewish believers in Jesus as Messiah, to either question or even call Hagee a blatant heretic!

Does Hagee believe, affirm, embrace and proclaim today’s Jesus, enthroned in the heavens, as both Lord and Messiah (Grk. Christ) to the Jew first, and also to the Greek? I’ve read his book, IN DEFENSE OF ISRAEL, and I can assure you he does NOT proclaim such orthodoxy in his text regarding the Messiahship of Jesus.   I was so taken aback by his text that I joined my signature to scores of believers as concerned as I that brother Hagee had “crossed the line” and had denied his Lord’s Person and Work as Messiah. Here is my reply at length:

“After reading brother Hagee’s book, In Defense of Israel, his alleged clarification, his protagonists, supporters and, finally, the voices of theological clarity who in love have charged brother Hagee to reconsider his position that Jesus did not come the first time as the Messiah to both ‘Jews and Greeks’ - to Israel and to Gentiles, I, and The Tribulation Network who have written extensively on this topic, find brother Hagee’s theology reprehensible, unnecessary, confusing and ultimately disingenuous toward Jews and an inflammatory catalyst for Covenantalists, Amillenarians, Preterists and, in sum, Replacement theologies/eschatologies who themselves, assert the full mantel of the New Israel of God and the utter disinheritance of National Israel.

“I had the distinct privilege of meeting brother Hagee in the 1980s. I found him to be genuine in his convictions towards Israel and his commitment to ‘Biblical Zionism’ was commendable; however, by befriending His brethren, according to the flesh, in this way, by denying that Jesus did not acclaim His Messiahship at His first coming, is simply outside the bounds of Christian orthodoxy and should be rejected by all branches of Christendom–Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox.

“We appeal in this public way for brother Hagee to reconsider his position, to refute it, and to acclaim that Jesus is the Messiah, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek! Prophetically, brother Hagee, has crossed the line and has unwittingly embraced a twisted heresy that has profound consequences to both Jew and Christian–and it is not inconsequential to discern that what he asserts is ‘another gospel’ - if he persists in this tragic misinterpretation of Scripture–both Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.

“‘Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city (i.e., seventy weeks for the Jewish people–the people of Daniel and the city bespeaks of Jerusalem) . . . from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until MESSIAH THE PRINCE, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks . . . and after sixty-two weeks MESSIAH SHALL BE CUT OFF, but not for himself’ (Daniel 9:24-26 - portions).

“The prophetic point observed here is the presentation to the Jewish people - to the holy city - that MESSIAH THE PRINCE - or UNTIL MESSIAH THE PRINCE - is in view. We affirm, as many theologians and believers in the Messiah Jesus attest, that this bespeaks of the TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF JESUS AS MESSIAH, THE PRINCE into Jerusalem in 33 A.D. (Palm Sunday) and that four days after this PRESENTATION OF JESUS AS MESSIAH TO ISRAEL - He, as MESSIAH, was CUT OFF or crucified.

“Yes, all this as MESSIAH to you and your people, the Jews. As one of the larger prophetic websites in the world, which proclaims the unsearchable riches of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus - to Gentiles and to Jews - let it be known, we are Christian Zionists without the denial of our Lord Jesus as Messiah Who lives today and will return to claim the throne of David, but Who now is seated in the Heavens!

“Brother Hagee - embrace the words and spirit of the Apostle Paul - for without these Spirit-filled Apostles, nigh all Jews, the Gentiles would not have been made partakers of the commonwealth of Israel - even so, it is they who brought us to the One True God . . . this is Paul’s defense in the presence of King Agrippa and the Roman proconsul, Festus–the same Festus who acclaimed Paul mad (Acts 25) and the same King Agrippa who said: ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian” - and not just King Agrippa–‘I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains’ (Acts. 26:29) . . .

“‘Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come–‘that the Messiah (Christ) would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim LIGHT TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE and TO THE GENTILES!’ (Acts 26:22-23).

“The presentation of Jesus as MESSIAH - as a LIGHT TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE and TO THE GENTILES is unequivocal, unalterable, unmitigated, unrestrained, and uncompromised - to hold any other view which demeans, deprecates and dilutes the person of the Christ, the Messiah, as a professed Christian is indefensible - all the double speak on earth or heaven will not placate nor justify the blatant heresy which denies Jesus as the present Messiah to every single Jew upon this planet–to do so is the most outrageous and insidious form of Anti-Semitism - it ghettoizes the gospel of the grace of God and is a reproach to the full embodiment of both Testaments.

“We cannot, nor will we allow the rank theological antagonists who assail the seed of Abraham who have regathered in biblical fulfillment to their ancient homeland as naught but an expression of dispensational excess, and worse, a hideous expression of racism, apartheid and Western expansionism. They who will attempt to use brother Hagee’s excesses as cover to denounce Israel and to make occasion to discredit millions of believers in Messiah Jesus, do so at their own spiritual peril - it was this same supersessionism which gave birth to Crusades, ghettos, inquisitions, pogroms, and ultimately, the Holocaust and now, the spectrum of Jihad designed to ‘wipe Israel off the map.’

“Therefore, we charge the Body of Christ to rise up in defense of the pure Word of God and to stand for the Scripture of Truth - for only in so doing will Israel be prepared by the Almighty for her greatest hour and reception of her Deliverer!”

John Hagee’s clarifications MAY go some distance to restore his evangelical credibility – however, unless and until I can clearly evaluate his position on such an obvious and cardinal doctrine of the faith, I abide skeptical and dismayed that “one of our own” has taken the wrong path and has done so deliberately and purposefully. If it is his desire to republish his text, especially Chapter 10 of his book, and to bring clarity to his disparaging remarks concerning Jesus as the Messiah of Israel (and I forthrightly speak of Jewish people here), then all believers, especially Jewish believers in Jesus as Messiah, will look forward to such a publication. But, if as some suggest, Hagee simply wants to hype another book for gain, then God have mercy upon his soul!

Do I appear that clueless? Certainly I consider myself someone who very clearly knows what most non-believing Jews perceive about Jesus of Nazareth – that Jesus either never existed or far worse that which does not need to be rehearsed in print! That does not alter this ministry’s affirmation regarding His promises to National Israel (i.e., the Jewish people or the State of Israel) one iota nor does it suggest that we Gentiles who have come to faith in Jesus as Messiah are not committed to sharing the whole counsel of God with our Jewish friends and acquaintances—to do otherwise is Anti-Semitism of the worst order!

Antichrist will, at the commencement of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (as presented by the Prophet Daniel, who was himself, a Jew), present himself as the Great Deliverer of Israel who comes to establish peace and security for Israel’s majority, “the many.” One ponders the unbelievable conditions which must persist in order for this to happen . . . but this age is beset with ripened environments where politics and religion collide in growing confirmation that what was once thought utterly improbable, finds itself strangely within the realm of the tangible – especially as the world’s most potent power persists in orchestrating the parameters of the so-called two-state solution peace process and garners the nations of the world under its leadership to resolve the irresolvable.

THE EURO-CENTRIC PROPHETS OF ANTICHRIST – CONTINUED

Once again we encounter—which we already have in the person of John Hagee—those Premillenarians (mostly they who abide in the heavens when the Church and Israel languish and triumph within the crucible of the Seventieth Week of Daniel) who embrace the Euro-Centric Antichrist. Most of these beloved brethren are domiciled in America; although, at one time I tried to stigmatize the late Herb Peters as a Brit – I humbly apologized tongue and cheek and told the Brits that, although they apparently originated the craze, the lion’s cubs have vastly improved upon their original thesis! Notwithstanding a rather paltry mia colpa (or mia copa) on my part; this only led me to greater discoveries on what appears to be an endless reservoir of prophetically-inclined brethren who must be utterly perplexed at the majesty of Annapolis and of America’s persistent and potent interference in all things Middle Eastern, and, in particular, her overwhelming intrigue, fantasy, socio-economic, religious and especially political interest in all things Israeli, Palestinian, Islamic (Sunni and Shia).

Our previous discussions on this topic simply cannot be exhausted—I’m sure our military audience finds these apocalyptic analyses fascinating in light of the preposterous notion that America’s military and economic prowess is either constricting or is about to suffer some Premillenarian’s fertile imagination enabling Europe to exceed her much-vaunted predilection as the Ten-Nation-Western-European Coalition designed for Antichrist’s base of operation. Hence, obscure figures (to most Americans who find it difficult to locate Iraq on a map, but at least 70% could locate China) like Javier Solana, Juan Carlos Bourbon, Prince Charles, etc., are not on most radars of well-informed Americans (and I’m not talking about the 6% of young Americans who can’t locate AMERICA nor the vast majority of whom cannot locate the UK on a map!).

The Bible presents a latter-day constellation of WESTERN nations which will arise giving preeminent authority to the obvious leadership of Gentile World Powers. It is within that nation and within her leadership that Antichrist shall manifest his credentials. Therefore, seeing that the United States of America is far and away the most significant global bastion of military, political, cultural, educational and religious power ever to countenance the planet—with her resources and presence outstripping all the nations of the earth combined (along with her ego)—there must be (in the minds of these resourceful pro-American, Premillenarian, evangelicals) a way to dispense with America’s presence during the earth’s final bout between good and evil.

HAL LINDSEY’S LATEST PROGNOSTICATIONS

In Hal Lindsey’s Watchman on the Wall, 2007 Report – Events in the Middle East and Israel – delivered at Desert Springs, California on Dec. 31, 2007, he lists five primary foci of prophetic significance which would take place in the Latter Days, as well as four major political configurations surrounding Israel:

a.       Center:       A reborn nation of Israel – God’s time clock

b.       South:         The Kings of the South – Moslems (Lindsey uses Dan. 11:40-45)

c.       West:          A Revived Roman Empire or United States of Europe –– THE WEST – (Daniel & Revelation)

d.       North:         The King of the North – Ezekiel and the “extreme north” – Moscow – RUSSIA

e.       East:           The Kings of the East – 200 million force seen in Revelation 9:16 (China, most certainly)

Lindsey’s annual “State of the Prophetic World” speech presents America in moral decline; PM Olmert of Israel as her worst and weakest leader (perhaps “ever”); Russia soon leading a constellation of Islamic nations against Israel; oil—discovered in “Asher’s heel” (near Haifa) will be “the biggest oil reserve in the world” wherein this “spoil” will be one of the main reasons for the aforementioned invasion of Israel. . . Lindsey continues:

“Israel must reach a time of great weakness – wherein they will have to have an ‘outside protector’ – it is a suicide two-state solution (look at Gaza) – now it’s being given away by George W. Bush – a man I once admired but he is sadly misguided and allowing Saudi pressure to push Israel into a suicidal path. It’s ludicrous—the two-state solution. Israel is being pushed into a situation in which they are in grave peril. If Israel gives them a state, then they are going to get into a position in which they are going to have to have this protector soon. Dan. 9 tells us that THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME of the people who destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D. – the prince that will come out of those people will sign a pact with Israel to guarantee their security – that is the Antichrist.

“One big problem – YOU AND I HAVE TO BE GONE BEFORE HE (i.e., the Antichrist) APPEARS – II THESS. 2 – Not a problem for me but them – I will leave him all my debts. Israel will survive but they are in the gravest danger since they were reborn.”

Lindsey utterly implicates the United States of America and her current leader, bringing us to the very brink of the manifestation of the Antichrist who will enforce a peace treaty upon Israel and the nations of the world, and then does the traditional EVANGELICAL COP-OUT!

Yes, there is one big problem – which has nothing to do neither with a secret rapture nor with bequeathing your personal debts to the Antichrist! That is not the Blessed Hope – this is the Blasted Cop-out! One is left dumbfounded with such spurious conjecture. You wonder why the Church in America is so ill-prepared, so caught up in its materialism and its unforgiving debt. Think no further . . . but there’s more . . .

JACK KINSELLA – COMMENTATOR FOR HAL LINDSEY

One of the more prolific writers on Bible prophecy—especially on news analysis in light of Bible Prophecy—is Hal Lindsey’s intelligence expert, who, I would assume, from time to time debriefs Lindsey on the big picture, as well as shares his briefings through his “Omega Letter” – a sort of “Christian Intelligence News Digest.”

Before joining Hal Lindsey Ministries in 1994, Jack was the former head writer for the television program: This Week in Bible Prophecy—he’s the author of dozens of video documentaries. In any event, this ex-marine, ex-agnostic, turned apologist, is hot on the trail that, like his protégé, Hal Lindsey, America does not exist in Bible prophecy—but comes real close.

I’m not blaming Kinsella through guilt by association – but one of his intelligence spotters (he has sundry authors who provide “insights” from time to time) is somewhat telling on America’s scriptural absence from the geopolitical equation of the Last Days.

In How The West Was Lost – The Christian’s Role in the Declining Superpower (Witnessing Tools??) – by Ed Mlynar, a number of salient “schools of thought” on America in Bible prophecy are presented (First, however, Ed clears up any notion that America is found anywhere in Bible prophecy – such a concept is non sequitur in Ed’s voluminous repertoire of findings.):

“Exactly where is America in the prophecies concerning the tribulation? The political spheres of influence are clearly defined in the Book of Revelation; however, America is not mentioned. There are three schools of thought for those keeping an eye on world events and how they relate to prophecy.

”The first school of thought is that the United States in mentioned either directly or indirectly in the Book of Revelation. It takes a little mental gymnastics or the following of the Jewish people throughout history to make this work. I will not go into every single theory, for there are too many, that tries to prove that America can be found in end-times prophecy. People try in vain to find this country because it is difficult, nearly impossible, to explain how a major superpower can simply not be mentioned. (My Emphasis)

“The second school of thought is that the rapture of the church will cause so many people to be removed from the United States that the country will simply collapse. Millions of people vanishing would absolutely devastate the economy and render this country useless.

“If everything else is coming together naturally, then why would the lack of America during the tribulation be caused by a direct and extremely visible act of God (i.e., the Rapture)?” (Ibid.)

All this, of course, is so vaguely familiar – so in earnest I read on . . .

“The third school of thought is that the United States is either destroyed or at minimum marginalized and is subservient to a ruling world power. It is this school of thought that is difficult for Americans to accept, even though it’s occurring before their eyes.

“America has already been destroyed. It is only a matter of time before the effects are felt by every man, woman, and child living in this country. One characteristic of an American is their ability to deny the simplest of truths. That seems to be the state in which this country is in.” (Ibid.)

Mlynar then elaborates on America’s apparent and immediate collapse – moral calamities, economic demise (falling dollar), an over-extended military and the like – all to say that we’re already out of the ballgame (We just like to keep acting like were in the game.). Ed’s final rap in the midst of America’s titanic moral-spiritual, economic and political-military collapse is to get Christians focused on their heavenly citizenship – one wonders if that means to keep your head in the clouds to avoid geopolitical realities or what? I’m a bit ambivalent at a secret rapturists advocating indifference to America’s alleged plight; although, the message resonates in so far as keeping our eyes on the prize:

“When Christians deny what is happening to America they demonstrate that they have placed their faith in the comfort and security of what was once a great nation. Conversely, when a Christian becomes obsessed with the problems of American society, they, too, demonstrate that they have placed their faith not in God and His divine plan, but in the government of the United States.

“Does this mean that American Christians should simply give up and watch this country fall apart? Absolutely not. It means that Christians should be temperate. We should see the events taking place, not be deceived by denying what we see, and keep our focus on His work.”

I like that – a sort of “temperate catastrophic collapse of the City Set on a Hill” – which can only get worse!

Now – let’s get back to Jack’s intelligence digest . . .

“This is no longer politics. It is an issue of national survival. Where is America in Bible prophecy? How is it that the Bible can accurately forecast the emergence of the four spheres of world power in the last days, precisely as they have emerged IN THIS GENERATION, while omitting mention of the greatest global super-power the world has ever known?

“There are but two possible answers. The first, and most hopeful, is that the Rapture of the Church will so decimate and demoralize the nation that it will cease to play any meaningful role on the international stage during the Tribulation Period.

“The second is that Congress will keep fiddling until Washington burns.

I wish I could say which comes first.” (The Omega Letter, Burnin’ Down the House)

There’s that “rapture thing” again – along with Washington’s political burn out (the latter I agree with). Frankly, Jack’s writing is delightful—at times he comes right up to the brink of discovery, then decides this tributary ain’t worth it and is NOT the source of the Nile after all!

“Opinions are one step away from being criminalized now — and in some cases, are already grounds for arrest and prosecution.

“America is at a crossroads. It is but one more attack away from adopting one of two courses. Either Vichy America or Occupied America.

“It depends on whether America chooses the preferred course of the ‘peaceniks’ or the ‘neo-cons’. Sadly, I can only conclude that neither choice bodes well for America’s future.

“(This helps to explain my ongoing insomnia).

“But it does suggest an answer to the question, “Where is America in Bible prophecy?”

(Frankly, I would prefer to leave that question unanswered. I would sleep better at night if I did.)

“Sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss.” (Omega Letter, Vichy America)

In vain does Kinsella slumber while either Vichy America or Occupied America encroaches upon her relief! At least Jack is consistently ambiguous in his refusal to define America’s role in the Latter Days. After blasting away at Hillary and Obama and their most fascinating run for the roses, he muses:

“That leaves us with two questions to ponder. The first is, ‘which of these is NOT a major plank in the Campaign 2008 platform?’

“The second is, ‘Where is America in Bible Prophecy?’

“I don’t like either of the answers I came up with. What about you?” (Omega Letter, The Third Deadly Sin)

There’s a kind of biting sarcasm in Jack’s perennial inquiry on America’s prophetic role . . . but with his ever-increasing intelligence-gathering network going into overdrive, surely he’s noticed the 800 lb. gorilla on the bed? But the same tune on Lindsey’s four-fold powers persists—there is no so-called FIFTH POWER in any of the Lindsey-Kinsella matrix:

“That we are living in the last days is beyond doubt. We continue to (have) Bible prophecies for the Tribulation Period cast shadows into the Church Age, and those shadows are growing longer as the Church Age winds to a close.

“The Bible offers no role for any nation remotely resembling the United States during the Tribulation Period.

“Daniel and the Book of Revelation divide the world into four spheres of power; revived Rome, the Kings of the South, the Kings of the East and the Gog-Magog confederacy, all of whom join in a conflict against a literal state of Israel.

“But there is no fifth, overarching, virtually all-powerful United States of America.

“Paul describes American society in the last days, in the context of perilous times to come, but the Bible is silent on American military power or its application during the Tribulation Period.

“Paul appears to provide the answer to the question, ‘Where is America in Bible prophecy?’ in his letter to the Church at Thessalonica.” (Omega Letter, My Country ‘Tis of Me/Jack Kinsella)

Kinsella finds America “caught up” in the clouds – so, after all, America is mentioned in Bible prophecy . . . take your pick: The clouds or the clowns!

“‘For this we say unto you BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

“After the Rapture, all that will be left is the ‘my-country-tis-of-me’ crowd -- the Michael Moores, (the) Tim Robbins, Seymour Hersches and Jimmy Carters – ‘patriots’ of the last days.

“Where is America during the Tribulation?

“Busy sending congratulatory telegrams to Europe’s new leader for finally negotiating a seven-year peace deal between Israel and her enemies and proclaiming:

“‘Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’ (Revelation 13:4)” (Ibid.)

Ah! Do you see it? Don’t think you did. Kinsella now admits that it is AMERICA – at least on the prophetic periphery – congratulating some guy over in Western Europe as the Antichrist cutting peace deals with Israel; but, who cares, all the brethren are long gone with Michael Moore and Jimmy Carter continuing their documentaries and good deeds like Habitat for Humanity and the like.

KINSELLA’S WEU vs. NATO AND THE EU

After Kinsella’s brilliant analysis of Western European hegemony – military, economic and cultural – he weaves an insurmountable argument based on Biblical texts which support his future Euro-Centric Antichrist:

“The fact that the WEU (10 nations) is taking steps to strengthen its existence and power within the framework of the greater EU, instead of allowing itself to be absorbed, is of great significance when trying to understand the whole ‘ten toes’ of Daniel’s prophecy.

“Simply put, the greater EU, now consisting of 28 member states (2004), needs the WEU to ensure its security.

“And, since the ten core nations of the WEU are simultaneously the most powerful states in Old Europe, the EU is really an extension of the WEU -- and not the other way around.

“The European Union is the administrative and economic arm, but the WEU is the hand that holds the hammer.” (Omega Letter, In The Days of These Kings)

Kinsella then synthesizes the “clay and iron” of Daniel’s ten-toed image, in this manner:

“Iron mixed with clay is partly strong and partly weak. So is the revived Roman Empire partly strong, and partly weak.

“Without the strength of the member states of the WEU, the greater EU would soon collapse. Without the economic power, infrastructure and participation of the greater EU, the WEU would be just another military alliance.

“Donald Rumsfeld divided Europe into two categories; ‘Old Europe’ and ‘New Europe’. So did the prophet Daniel.”(Ibid.)

Good grief – using Rumsfeld’s “Old Europe” (which, in the main, happens to be most of the WEU states) vs. the “New Europe” (which happens to be mega-states like Rumania, Poland, the Czech Republic and, especially, Slovakia) – is a most bizarre metaphor. After all, aren’t the “clay states” the weaker and the “iron states” the stronger? Now, I want you to look long and hard at Kinsella’s MISINFORMATION and BOGUS intelligence. No, I’m not sorry – this is pure claptrap and Kinsella knows it! At a certain point in this pleasant discourse, I simply lose it!

“The WEU is, as of 2004, a ten-nation core of powerful European states in charge of maintaining Europe's military security. It (the WEU) controls NATO, the world's most powerful military alliance and it insists on retaining a separate identity to keep its voice from being diluted by that of the greater EU.

“Often at odds with its own members (as in the Iraq War), it remains, nonetheless, the heart and soul of greater Europe. And it is committed to replacing the United States as the world's only superpower.” (Ibid.)

This balderdash incriminates any sense of intelligence gathering that Kinsella could ever amass. No, the WEU does not control NATO—AMERICA DOES! To erroneously postulate the WEU’s designs on military superiority over the USA is preposterous, absurd and blindly misconstrues the geopolitical reality of what the WEU is really designed to do and be—nothing more than a dispirited bunch of has-beens with little or no moral compass, wholly given over to kissing up to America’s dominance in all things economic and military; plain and simple (no offense intended). Old but enlightening geopolitical news as follows (notwithstanding the UFO exotica embedded in the otherwise obvious geopolitical reality):

“The rejection by voters in France and the Netherlands of the proposed European Union Constitution on May 29 and June 1, 2005, respectively, carries much exopolitical significance. The defeat means that a ‘United States of Europe’ as a strategic counterweight to the United States is unlikely to emerge in the near future (see http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/world/3207796). The result is that the European Union will continue to remain a common market with great economic integration and a single currency, but with minimal political cohesion, and even less military integration. The outcome is that NATO will continue as the preeminent military institution and Europe, and the United States will continue to dominate NATO as it has since its formation in 1949. The Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, for example, is an American and it was this issue of who would occupy the highest office in NATO that led to France under General de Gaulle removing itself from the integrated command structure of NATO in 1967 in protest at continued American dominance. The overall result is that the U.S. will continue to dominate European military affairs especially with the integration of former East European states that are strong allies of the U.S. as witnessed in their strong support of the Bush administration's preemptive military action against Iraq.” (Exopolitical Implications of French/Dutch rejection of the European Union Constitution, Exopolitical Comment #33)

To belabor this subject – viz., America total dominance of the WEU nation states – is ludicrous and would only confirm my own intellectual insecurities are in league with Kinsella’s. When Kinsella does a somewhat lively and patriotic analysis of Islamic terrorism juxtaposed to America’s war on terror, he then beclouds his entire argument in his signature sarcasm:

“It is time to revisit that seminal question that so troubles American Christians in their study of Bible prophecy.

“Where IS America in Bible prophecy? We have now before us the clues necessary to unravel this Biblical puzzler, assuming anyone has the courage to announce the obvious conclusion out loud and in public. The answer is as obvious as it is terrifying.

“Before we figured out who our enemy was, we had already lost the war.” (Omega Letter, The One Hundred Percent Reality – August 13, 2006)

Pray tell, what be these clues? Am I missing something here? Something about a lost war . . .

JESUSLAND IS AMERICA, ACCORDING TO JACK KINSELLA

I’m spending an inordinate amount of time on Kinsella’s impact on Bible prophecy because his influence, and that of Hal Lindsey’s, is so entrenched in the American evangelical mind set – it desperately needs to be dislodged and succumb to its own intellectual and Biblical bankruptcy. For those of you who derive a mean-spirited streak going on here – I resemble that remark! I’m upset – not at these beloved brethren and their love for the Lord – but the harebrain notions which divorce Biblical truth from reality . . . making us both the laughingstock among the Gentiles, as well as convincing the Jews that we are uber-nuts.

After blaming every moral turpitude upon the American Left and her “Blue State” discoveries, according to Kinsella, in II Timothy 3:1-5, he somehow is able to take heart in America’s “Red States” wherein most evangelicals abide, preparing for immediate rapture!

“For months, we’ve discussed the possible reasons why America makes no appearance in Bible prophecy. I have been adamant that there is no reference in Scripture for the last days that indicates an American presence in prophecy.

“Election 2004 taught me I was wrong. I believe I may have found America in Scripture, after all. Bear with me.

“‘The Apostle Paul writes; ‘This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.’ (II Timothy 3:1-5)

“Paul is writing to the believing Church in the final hours of the Church Age. Election 2004 was so lopsided that the Red States constituted, in the eyes of the global majority, a new America called ‘Jesusland’.”

(The Omega Letter Intelligence Digest – Vol: 38 Issue: 9 - Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - Special Report: America in Prophecy by Jack Kinsella)

Having, at last, found America in Bible Prophecy, he and Hal Lindsey (who together spend countless hours pouring over international intelligence reports and the like—according to Jack) raps up his prophetic breakthrough as follows:

“For years, I argued against an ethno-centric reading of Bible prophecy -- viewing Bible prophecy from an American point of view when Scripture is written to the whole Church -- but Election 2004 changed my way of thinking.

“For the most part, the tactics of the Left -- and the morals of their candidates-- during Election 2004 dovetailed with Paul's description as ‘lovers of their own selves’ -- their willingness to slander our nation
and our troops while encouraging the terrorists hoping to defeat a divided America, if it helped them win the election, is one example.

“America is also the world’s only majority-Christian nation. America is not mentioned in Bible prophecy during the Tribulation Period. Neither is the Church. I believe we have found where America appears in prophecy. Or, more to the point, where she DISAPPEARS.

“‘For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)”

Yes, these are my beloved brothers and sisters – it’s like having the village idiot pronouncing prophetic platitudes off in the corner at the King’s Banquet. Wonder why self-proclaimed liberals like Michael Moore just love these guys? Can’t image why they don’t – they’re so endearing to them – why, one would have to demand Michael Moore, Alec Baldwin and Sean Penn rediscover their American roots and head on back to Flint, Michigan where it all began. They’ll probably have to after Kinsella’s Rapture!

JACK KELLEY – FOR A FINAL RAPTURE READY RAP

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a final Rapture Ready Rap by the summations of Jack Kelley on this America in Bible Prophecy thing.

“The US government has just imposed even more stringent economic sanctions against Iran, a move that Iranian officials say is tantamount to a declaration of war, and obligates them to respond. Will they cripple us militarily through a series of attacks against our forces in the Middle East? Or will they break our national will with devastating terrorist attacks here at home? Or beat us financially, by destroying our currency? (Editor’s Note: Before we Americans do it ourselves?)   We're clearly vulnerable on all these fronts.

“Or will the King of the Universe decide that America's 15 minutes of fame is up and suddenly strip our country of its Christian component (RAPTURE?) leaving countless military and civilian leadership and support positions vacant, rendering the country confused and leaderless?

“One of these options will likely take place soon, since America plays no obvious role in End Times prophecy. Even those who see us there, see us as Mystery Babylon, destroyed in a single day, in one hour. We are not specifically listed among either the participants or the observers in Ezekiel's battle. Our presence cannot be detected among the forces of the Kings of the North or the South, nor do we appear with the Kings of the East. And there is no King of the West. It's truly remarkable that a nation having enjoyed the power, the prosperity, and the influence of the US is primarily distinguished at the End of the Age by its absence.” (Jack Kelley, America, the Future will not be like the Past – Rapture Ready)

Alas! We’re still NOT in the big picture? Well, perhaps a final Rapture Readyite or two will rescue us from our vacuous presence in Bible prophecy as that final end-time’s Beast Nation ready and willing to perform her horrid deeds. From some guy by the name of Mike Steffen and another by the name of GOLIATH (who’s apparently prepared to take the house down with him, especially if he’s raptured just before he brings her down) come these comforting words to those “left behind” after the Rapture:

“Clearly America is going the way of Sodom and Gomorrah. And…2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

“Just as Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed after Lot and his family was removed, I think the reason we see so little of America in prophecy for the trib, America may be nuked after the rapture.”

–mikesteffen, Rapture Ready

“As a proud American as long as I walk this earth I will love and defend our country no matter what but I have to be honest after the rapture I really don’t care what happens to Her because what happens after the rapture is the justified judgment of God this nation then deserves. I do pray and hope it will be found desolate after the rapture (Editor’s Note: Meaning, we’ll all get raptured and to hell with the rest of the world.).”–Goliath, Rapture Ready

I think it would be appropriate that we sing one chorus of “God Bless America” at this juncture.

IN CONCLUSION

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have just witnessed a plethora of American leadership unparalleled in the annals of intelligence gathering – as well as their followers in hot pursuit of their prophetic import! How these guys make millions off this stuff is beyond me; but, for every would-be prophetic prognosticator out there bearing the message of the pre-tribulational rapture, there are tons more who can’t wait to hear the next chapter in the thrilling drama where there’s but one problem: Antichrist is destined to pay my debts!

Hey, you folks in Singapore have got to know that the level of this discourse going on over here is just as crazy on the political front as it is on the religious front, and why? . . . Because both are so intrinsically linked to one another. So, you’re wondering why and how on earth, the world’s most formidable power can have so many crazies per cubic centimeter, aren’t you? Well, from time to time we have our sane moments – but at least every four years we hit the nut circuit big time. We’re back and apparently not leaving until November, 2008, or longer, if we can find a way to prolong the agony or extend it altogether through some form of Marshal Law (a prospect that somehow has evaded us up to this point).

There is an underlying seriousness about all this parody. Dealing with our own monsters and beasts, apostates and satanic municipalities, will be a reoccurring theme until that day. Hence, the words of rebuke, comfort and sanity are needed in the face of deepening despair and irretrievable political ineptitude compounded by supercilious, inane religious posturing and nutty prophetic projections. How these jaundiced views regarding the future of our land, and of the world’s destiny, can be redeemed evades me . . . I repine to Pennsylvania where Hillary and Obama are about to “have it out” and the finalities of Joseph Seiss whose ministerial whereabouts were in the Keystone State:

“Note how dark is the outlook of the Church of Jesus with respect to this world! We wonder betimes at the smallness of its success, and the hard struggle it ever has for its existence. But why should we wonder? Think of the might of the Devil and his angels, of their malignity against it (Revelation 12:12-17), and how deeply the whole world is in their possession. By reason of the depravity that is upon our race, every human being born is brought forth under Satan’s dominion. We scarcely succeed in winning and training some to truth and holiness, till death comes and takes them away, leaving the same work to be gone over again and again continually, with the same result awaiting it every time.

“And while faithful ones are laboring, multitudes of their fellow-professors are a mere incubus on their exertions, hindering by their indifference and inconsistencies (Editor’s Note: Or, incompetence!), whilst the great world continually opposes, and a universal depravity, inflamed of hell, perpetually fights against the calls and claims of heaven. Ever dreaming of victory to bring us the reign of righteousness and rest, we still find ourselves at the bottom of the hill, toiling to reach the unreachable summit. And how can we expect to ever it be otherwise as long as this present order of things lasts, seeing that Satan continues with ever-deepening malice and activity to the very end of the world, and that the last days are the wickedest and the worst!

All that we can do is to work on, like Paul, if that by any means we may ‘save some.’” (Joseph Augustus Seiss, The Apocalypse, 1865, p. 319)

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”


13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. – Revelation 12:12-17



THE MONSTROUS POSTSCRIPT: AMERICA IS BABYLON THE GREAT

Lest I be accused of similar and reprehensible ambiguity by my eschatological brethren who have left us adrift in a Euro-Centric sea of confusion and deliberate, I am afraid, deflection of our true identity in the eyes of the Almighty – I now forthrightly, and without hesitation, nor insipid dilution of the most biblical and geopolitical obvious, declare, as Brother Martin – once the clarity of the Harlot in his day crystallized in his theology as the Babylonian Captivity of the Church – do summarily, without equivocation nor reservation, accuse the supreme perpetrator of all that is evil and unrighteous, full of avarice and unmitigated greed and gall, the dishonored entitlement of the latter day’s King of Tyre-King of Babylon (her wealth and leadership) the ignoble designation of Babylon the Great: The United States of America.

The Roman Catholic Church – as much as some of our well-meaning Reformist evangelicals would decry our compromise – is NOT the sum and substance of the Mother of Harlots (for this Woman’s apostasies and deceits were birthed at the Tower of Babel) – she is NOT the seat of Antichrist nor is her system the personification of the Antichrist. She, like the present endorsements sought after by today’s American politicos, knows her powers of persuasion and exoneration – her abilities to provide moral covering for them who seek her canopy of favor enshrouding their dastardly deeds – but to single her out for such defamation of spiritual character is altogether wrong and morally myopic to the extreme. The martyrs of Jesus are abundantly found within her Roman walls to this day, and to shamefully declare otherwise is a mockery to our Lord and to history’s record! Indeed, she, as her offspring, have, in the name of God, committed horrendous and unconscionable acts against the true Church of the Living God . . . but she does not singularly share alone this quest for temporal power, no matter how justified it may be or seem to her critics. No, that distinguishing ignominy is borne by all those whose trust in the confidence of this earthly ball – to all who shall pick up the sword and justify the crusader’s cause.

No – no ambiguity here – Babylon the Great is the perfection of putrid fomentation wherein all the abominations of the earth meet their most lurid viscosity! He – yes, the Wicked One himself – has chosen her to be his end-times commercial empire where corporate greed, personal shame, glaring hypocrisies, military conquest – in sum, where all the birds of the air find their nests! Too long – way too long – have these “Ships of Tarshish” (Ezekiel 38:13) concealed their whereabouts. These be the s