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July 28, 2006

The Armageddon Script

Armageddon – it seems it's on everyone's minds these days. But what exactly are evangelical Christians expecting, and why should you care? Norio Hayakawa takes a look today at the "Strange End-Times Beliefs Of Some 'Evangelical' Christians." He says this group of Christians has a "huge" influence on the Bush Administration, and that these "Christian Zionists" "not only support Israel in its totality, but also even seem to welcome an all-out War in the Middle East to 'hasten' (or 'accelerate') the climate for the realization of 'end-time' events long prophesied."

Fundamentalist Christians (such as Baptists, especially the Southern Baptists, Pentecostals, such as the Assemblies of God, Foursquare Churches, Full Gospel Churches, and all other denominations of the so-called "born-again", "Evangelical" beliefs), believed that the generation that would witness the re-establishment of Israel would also be the generation that would witness the Second Coming of Jesus and the consequent establishment of His Millenial Reign on earth from Israel.

The re-establishment of the State of Israel occurred in 1948. But it was not until 1957 that Israel actually occupied Jerusalem for the first time in more than 2000 years. Thus, these Christians believe the return of Christ will happen very soon. In fact, with a biblical generation equaling 40 years, many expect Jesus will return next year. Of course, if you consider that some also believe the present calendar system is off by five years, then we are actually looking for his return by 2012. (Interestingly, that is the year the Mayan calendar ends.)

Randi Rhodes has this week been voicing an interesting theory that the Neocons are following the biblical prophecies on purpose. That would mean that the prophecies are, at least to some degree, self-fulfilling – certainly something that is worth considering. If biblical prophecy is the script behind current events, it would be wise for us to know what evangelical "Christian Zionists" expect will happen next.

First will be a huge war between Israel and the Islamic world, led by Russia. Israel will win, but it will take seven years to bury all the dead.

Next will come the antichrist who will manage to orchestrate a peace treaty. Some believe this person will be viewed by Islam as the "Hidden Imam" returned. Soon after, just prior, or at the same time as the appearance of the antichrist, all the Christians will be suddenly raptured (instantly transformed into heavenly bodies and taken out of this world), leaving the rest of us sinners behind. The antichrist will, they say, come up with a reasonable explanation for their sudden disappearance.

At first the antichrist, based in Europe, will bring peace to the world, but that peace will not last long (some say after about 3 1/2 years things will begin to go wrong). Some think UFOs, either real or man-made, will appear and cause such chaos that the world will finally agree that a unified, one-world government is necessary. Some fundamentalist Christians do not believe in the rapture. Instead, they believe Christians, who will refuse to take the "mark of the beast" and submit to the antichrist, will be systematically hunted down and exterminated for their faith during the last half of the rule of the antichrist.

After the antichrist has ruled for a 7-year "tribulation period" the great "Battle of Armageddon" will occur. This will be because China will decide to challenge the antichrist, will cross the Euphrates with an enormous army, and move to the valley of Meggido for a great battle. During the final phases of this war, Jesus will return and destroy the earthly forces (in some accounts he will destroy all non-Christians) and rule the world for 1000 years.

After 1000 years, a rebel force will pose one final challenge to the kingdom of Jesus and at that point all evil will be forever destroyed, the earth will be restored to its original beauty, and we will all live happily ever after.

Posted by Becky at July 28, 2006 10:58 AM