PRETRIB RAPTURE POLITICS

Many are still unaware of the eccentric, 180-year-old British theory underlying the politics of American evangelicals and Christian Zionists.
Journalist and historian Dave MacPherson has spent more than 40 years focusing on the origin and spread of what is known as the apocalyptic “pretribulation rapture” – the inspiration behind Hal Lindsey’s bestsellers of the 1970s and Tim LaHaye’s today.
Although promoters of this endtime evacuation from earth constantly repeat their slogan that “it’s imminent and always has been” (which critics view more as a sales pitch than a scriptural statement), it was unknown in all official theology and organized religion before 1830.
And MacPherson’s research also reveals how hostile the pretrib rapture view has been to other faiths:
It is anti-Islam. TV preacher John Hagee has been advocating “a pre-emptive military strike against Iran.” (Google “Roots of Warlike Christian Zionism.”)
It is anti-Jewish. MacPherson’s book “The Rapture Plot” (see Armageddon Books etc.) exposes hypocritical anti-Jewishness in even the theory’s foundation.
It is anti-Catholic. Lindsey and C. I. Scofield are two of many leaders who claim that the final Antichrist will be a Roman Catholic. (Google “Pretrib Hypocrisy.”)
It is anti-Protestant. For this reason no major Protestant denomination has ever adopted this escapist view.
It even has some anti-evangelical aspects. The first publication promoting this novel endtime view spoke degradingly of “the name by which the mixed multitude of modern Moabites love to be distinguished, – the Evangelical World.” (MacPherson’s “Plot,” p. 85)
Despite the above, MacPherson proves that the “glue” that holds constantly in-fighting evangelicals together long enough to be victorious voting blocs in elections is the same “fly away” view. He notes that Jerry Falwell, when giving political speeches just before an election, would unfailingly state: “We believe in the pretribulational rapture!”
In addition to “The Rapture Plot,” MacPherson’s many internet articles include “Famous Rapture Watchers,” “Pretrib Rapture Diehards,” “Edward Irving is Unnerving,” “America’s Pretrib Rapture Traffickers,” “Thomas Ice (Bloopers),” “Pretrib Rapture Secrecy” and “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty” (massive plagiarism, phony doctorates, changing of early “rapture” documents in order to falsely credit John Darby with this view, etc.!).
Because of his devastating discoveries, MacPherson is now No. 1 on the “hate” list of pretrib rapture leaders!
There’s no question that the leading promoters of this bizarre 19th century end-of-the-world doctrine are solidly pro-Israel and necessarily anti-Palestinian. In light of recently uncovered facts about this fringe-British-invented belief which has always been riddled with dishonesty, many are wondering why it should ever have any influence on Middle East affairs.
This Johnny-come-lately view raises millions of dollars for political agendas. Only when scholars of all faiths begin to look deeply at it and widely air its “dirty linen” will it cease to be a power. It is the one theological view no one needs!
With apologies to Winston Churchill – never has so much deception been foisted on so many by so few!

[Also Google "David Letterman's Hate, Etc."]

By

Moshe Sheskin

A cartoon appeared some time ago in the International Herald Tribune showing George Bush lying on a couch at his psychiatrist’s office with his back to the good doctor. The psychiatrist is hurling darts at a Bush dartboard, and Bush saying, “You know doctor, sometimes I have the feeling that nobody in the world likes us”.

Instead of George Bush we now have Barack Obama, on the same couch and that’s where the similarity ends. . Today, with Barack Obama as President, whose popularity is on the same level as that of Jack the Ripper America is still ‘unloved’, the victim of it’s own arrogance, it’s ‘better than thou’ attitude and the mistaken idea that the whole world is their playground and every other nation on earth is a ‘Banana Republic’. It is no wonder that when traveling overseas from Canada, one is advised to pin a Canadian flag on one’s clothing so as to indicate that you are a Canadian and not an American.

To be fair with Obama, he isn’t responsible for the American superiority complex, it has plagued past administrations but never has American esteem sunk as low as when Obama bowed before the Saudi king, tried to appease the Muslim world with his grandiose Cairo visit which caused more distrust, alienated Europeans and generally showed that he wasn’t capable of placing the United States of America in the forefront of world affairs.

Israel has absorbed the brunt of Obama’s anger by not succumbing to American demands that would virtually dismember Israel. Israel, the only democratic nation in the Middle East and one of America’s staunchest allies has had to bear the insults of an inept administration. One can ask why has American policy changed so drastically toward Israel with Obama’s ascension to the Presidency? Why has he chosen advisors with known communist and leftist affiliations to advise him on matters crucial, not only to Israel but to United States generally. So here is what Obama has said in referring to Israel.

Speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, he would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear arms, and that Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of Israel.

“Let me be clear, Israel’s security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable. The Palestinians need a state that is contiguous and cohesive and that allows them to prosper. But any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel’s identity as a Jewish state, with secure, recognized and defensible borders. Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.”

It is well known that the American efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear arms have been a dismal failure. But whether Israel lives or dies does not only depend on Iran but on the support of the United States, which has been backsliding from the beginning of Obama’s administration.

The announcement of 1600 homes to be erected in East Jerusalem is a decoy. The outcry by Vice-President Biden and Foreign Secretary Clinton is shameful and uncalled for. It once more proves to the world that what Obama says and what he does has no relevance.

There is no such animal as ‘land for peace’, not even ‘peace for peace’, as far as the Palestinians are concerned. There strings are being pulled by the Saudis and Iran. The Saudis in turn have a very good friend in the White House whose chain they can yank at will.

Israel has a problem with the Palestinians, one that may or may not be able to be worked out between them. Palestinian demands have been one sided and Israel concessions haven’t moved them one iota.

No matter what happens, it’s time for Israel to assert its independence and Obama to get off Israel’s back and let history take its course.