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 Al Aksa Mosque and The Dome of the Rock (A Muslim Holy Site). While some diplomats argue that all three 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 these buildings (people have actually tried to do exactly this), or destroying them 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 Mosques (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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