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Often times when I hear a "prophet" give another prophecy,
or as is more often the case their own interpretation of a passage
from scripture, I cringe with suspicion and fear. Not that I'm afraid
of their interpretation. Most of the times they are way off (does
anyone remember "88 reasons why Jesus will return in 1988"?)
and according to Old Testament law should be stoned. But regardless
my apprehension is not from fear of what's to come but from what
they are doing to believers.
Sensationalism sales. Just read a newspaper or magazine. They
advertise the wild and crazy stuff. The article on the economy in
China (by far more important then the latest sex scandal) is buried
on page 19 below the fold. Stuff of depth or complexity - even dare
say more import - is often lost or low on priorities and it is this
that bugs me.
I enjoy the game of Risk. In fact I am fairly good at it. If you
were so foolish as to challenge me I would have to sit down and
tutor you in the art of getting one's clock cleaned (yours, not
mine). Anyway, but first we would have to decide upon the rules
before I could proceed to the assimilation of all your countries.
Such a victory; however, would not be as sweet if I, while you were
getting tissues to dry your tears, cheated and added some extra
armies to Iceland, or removed a few key cavalry soldiers from Siam.
Why? Well, the exquisiteness of my strategy hinges on my keeping
with the rules that have been set down. If I don't keep to the rules
of the game then my strategy is no better than a three day old glass
of diluted pop and carries about as much spark.
And now watch as I apply this seemingly useless anecdote to the
much more useless (did I say that out loud on paper?) topic of end-time
prophecy. The Bible takes great pains in setting up the rules or
principles by which man is to live and by which mankind is to be
redeemed by Christ. Christ by the way is no cheater. He gave His
life on the cross for us because those were the rules. Could He
have broken or suspended the rules? Yes and No. He is all powerful,
but denying His own nature (honesty) is not His nature (like a man
eating his own mouth - he won't be able to complete the task). Check
out C.S. Lewis's article "The
Poison of Subjectivism" on this for more brain spinning
fun.
So why is it that when it comes to the "End Times" Christians
suspend the principles of forgiveness, love and redemption for the
strategy or plot? While "the ends justifying the means"
is a very neat sounding lie, it is still a lie. God's whole universe
is set up by the means or rules. You must follow the rules to obtain
the appropriate end.
How have Christians sought to cheat? The most blatant example
is the Third Temple that is to be built in Jerusalem. Now I am no
Bible scholar but prophets, theologians and teachers (both Jewish
and Christian) by the hundreds say that there will be a Third Temple
built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. According to their interpretation
of scriptures the Messiah (Jesus) can not come (return) until the
Temple is rebuilt. Only one problem; the site is currently occupied
by the Dome of the Rock (a Muslim Mosque). While some diplomats
argue that both holy buildings could co-exist such idolatry would
not be accepted by either side. So now the plotters take over. They
suggest such things as blowing up the Dome of the Rock (people have
actually tried to do exactly this), or destroying it in some dastardly
way. Some even (and I suspect this is why some Christians support
Israel) call for the removal of all the Muslims and then the destruction
of the Mosque (not a principled ploy but at least more practical).
It is sad that I must say this, but unless I do some will assume
many different things being that their first reaction is a knee-jerk.
I strongly support Israel. To change a famous quote from Winston
Churchill "Israel is the worst form of government in
the Middle East, except for all of the rest." Israel
is a miracle wrought by God and I know in His time and in His ways
the Messiah will come (return) and bring peace to our earth.
And since the rules are that the Messiah is for ALL of creation
that means His redemptive work is for Jews, Greeks, Gentiles and
yes, even Arabs. So it doesn't make sense to desire and wish for
the death of thousands, if not millions of Muslims, so that the
Prince of Peace can return. That is cheating, illogical and I think
would make Jesus sad.
Now I'm not saying that Armaggedon is an urban prophecy legend,
or that there won't be a tribulation (it does seem a really good
possibility), I'm just saying let's not cross our fingers and HOPE
for it. We should be praying for God's will to be done. And from
the rulebook I read that includes peace, hope, love, redemption
and reconciliation. This is the goal I'm playing / praying for.
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