The deadly violence percolating half a world away in Syria and the warnings of a possible U.S. attack have some people not only looking ahead to what might happen in the coming days — but also looking backward into ancient, apocalyptic prophecies in the pages of the Old Testament.
In recent weeks, some dire prophecies have turned up on websites, in book stores, as the subject of Bible studies and in sermons by some Christians and others who see a link between the old passages and modern-day events in Egypt, Libya and Syria.
"Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city, and will become a fallen ruin," reads Isaiah 17, a passage some Christians say they believe details a horrific event that leaves the city uninhabitable and leads to worldwide tribulation and the second coming of Christ.
Damascus is the Syrian capital and one of the world's oldest cities.
Another passage in Isaiah 19 deals with civil war in Egypt and the rise of a "fierce king."
Talk of those prophecies has intensified as President Barack Obama considers a U.S. military strike on Syria in response to what Washington says is evidence that the Syrian leadership used chemical weapons against its own people. In turn, Syria vows to retaliate against neighboring Israel if the U.S. strikes.
Christian bookstores such as Family Christian Ministries in West Melbourne report that book sales of prophecy-themed works by charismatic minister Perry Stone, Pastor John Hagee and novelists such as Joel Rosenberg have increased in recent weeks since tension in Syria and Egypt escalated.
"We sold a lot of Perry Stone books, and he's really good with the end times. A lot of our customers say their churches are doing something on prophecy," said Kaylee Snodgrass, assistant manager at Family Christian Ministries.
Of course this kind of thing ALWAYS takes place when a new war breaks out in the Middle East, however I imagine that it might become even MORE prevalent this time since 13 percent of Americans already believe that the President is the anti-Christ.
And at least one program has used a President Obama lookalike to portray Satan.
So ironic(?) these very knucklewits invariably worship(!) Ronald Wilson Reagan.
ReplyDeleteOh for fuck's sake!
ReplyDeleteWe can’t let anyone with that mindset gain power.
DeleteDarlene, I keep hoping they will self destruct soon.
DeleteMcCain will be leaving behind his BFF Lieberman?
ReplyDeleteHey Gryphen, do you know about this? Made me really happy to see.
ReplyDelete“The Not All Like That Christians Project”
Some Christians have a message for members of the LGBT community, but it’s not the one you might think. Instead of the ranting, railing, self-righteous hate that is so typical of right wing Christians, these Christians want people to know “We’re not all like that.” In fact, “The Not All Like That Christians Project” is the name of a new campaign, which launched during the first week of September, 2013.
Dan Savage, creator of the “It gets better” campaign, is inviting Christians from across the country who support LGBT rights to video-tape themselves sending the “We’re not all like that” message to members of the gay and lesbian community. Some of the videos are touching, some humurous, others apologetic.
Savage explains in his own video on NALT’s website that when he was travelling the country speaking to LGBT youth during the “It Gets Better” campaign, Christians were “forever coming up to me and saying we’re not all like that.” He says he heard it so often that he began to think of them as “NALT” or “not all like that” Christians. Savage says he wants Christians to not just tell him, but to tell the LGBT community, tell other Christians and other non-Christians. He says that Christians need to tell the Evangelical church leaders who claim to speak for all Christians, that in truth they do not.
All in all more than 40 videos have been uploaded by Christians who support the LGBT community, during the first week of the campaign. Videos have come from men and women from all around the country, with many more expected to participate once word about the campaign gets out. Here are some of the videos already on the NALT web-site.
http://notalllikethat.org/
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/09/08/christians-openly-supporting-lgbt-community-in-were-not-all-like-that-campaign-video/
still undecided about Syria? read this paper from Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Then contact congress
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mpac.org/assets/docs/publications/MPAC-Intervention-in-Syria-Position-Paper.pdf
Two alternative points of view:
DeleteOne on a good reason why there's a civil war in Syria (and the unrest throughout the Middle East?)...
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/09/08/2586811/arab-summer-drought/
...and speculation on the limited punitive missile engagement proposed by the Obama administration being another example of Obama three-dimensional chess being played on the world stage.
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/09/is-obama-in-process-of-landing.html#.Ui0p-gfa1HQ.twitter
Petraeus calls on Congress to back White House on Syria
ReplyDeleteRetired Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, former CIA director under President Barack Obama, called strongly Saturday for Congress to back the White House on Syria, declaring that military action against the regime is “necessary” to deter “Iran, North Korea and other would-be aggressors.”
“Failure of Congress to approve the president’s request would have serious ramifications not just in the Mideast but around the world,”
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/petraeus-calls-on-congress-to-back-white-house-on-syria-96413.html#.UiuY7vHIcm4.twitter
If Petraeus is for it that is all the more reason to hope it fails.
DeleteWho has dibs on the house by the dead lake? I don't want it, mind you, but I'm sure someone wants to live in a fishbowl with a blown over fence, tv studio and a slab.
ReplyDeleteI love the "left behind" idjits, I have one request. Can their guns get raptured too?
On her radio show, Dr. Laura said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Schlesinger, written by a US man, and posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as quite informative:
ReplyDeleteDear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan,
James M. Kauffman,
Ed.D. Professor Emeritus,
Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia
P.S. (It would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian.)
Wow, I was just checking these sites out too today. Yes, I do believe these bible prophesies. Even if a was a skeptic, I'd still find these things quite fascinating. There are a lot of these that have come to pass. I suppose a skeptic will say, "these were bound to happen anyway".
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 17 specifically referred to those nations (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and their alliances) of the OT and today are (coincidentally?) a possible threat to Israel and the world. We know that it's a pressure cooker over there and one aggressive act could spark the whole region into all-out war. It's happened before, it will happen no doubt again. This is the world we live in.
Been there done that with reading all those escatoly books. I am appalled at people thinking that President Obama is the anti-Christ. Those who study prophetic scripture only, without the loving-kindness of Christ, get it all wrong. They don't just try to decipher it for these times, but they sometimes get pro-active and think they can manipulate the political players into creating the end result. It's as they say, creating a self-fulfilled prophecy. Instead of just accepting God's timetable and plan, they rebel and take matters into their own hands and falsely accuse leaders of being "Beelzebub".
Here we have some factions of the 'church' behaving exactly like Israel's temple priests did when Jesus Christ lived. They were angry he turned out not to be a Messiah of their choosing. They wanted him to lead them to their Kingdom on earth. He said his kingdom was NOT of this earth. We see the exact same pattern with these christians today. They'll deny the real Jesus because he denies them the chance to rule by constraint. They want the power and the glory and want to control men in this life.
My very personal belief is that these types are apostates, not true christians, That photo from the "Bible" series? Their satan character is a total likeness to President Obama. I can't prophecy, but if I were to take a stand on what I read and understand of the bible, God would vindicate President Obama before any of these fakes.
The Rapture Ready Armageddon Now crowd truly believes that they can 'force' the second coming of Jesus by creating the circumstances for God to send Jesus back NOW.
DeleteOf course, most did not (do not) read the red words of Jesus in the New Testament.
It seems that many pseudo-christiany dominionist theocrats are more comfortable with God in their own image (God controlled by humans) rather than all people (humans) made in the image of God of all creation.
dowl
I keep thinking of a line from a favorite new song by awolnation: "Never let your fear decide your fate." Fear is a poison of the mind and people who fearmonger have a lot to answer for. Rapture, indeed! Watch as a lot of foolishness ensues from the gullible chicken littles out there.
ReplyDeleteM from MD
I just want to know if we can shoot the ones left behind wondering why they weren't ruptured. Personally I am getting quite tired of them all.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to be lemmings. The right person will take them off a cliff. It seems they are ready, it could be any day now.
DeleteOne way or another they must go.
You would think that the Rapture believers would be having good-byes for the Jewish friends they love so much. If I were sure of going away like that I would give away all my things. Has that started to happen yet?
ReplyDeleteI've known of serious end of world people that quit jobs, gave things away and did things that people who believe what they say would do.
See, this kind of stuff nakes me think humans are no more no less than some higher beings cheas game. They give us a pretend script, the bible, and then sit back and watch if we can make the game compkete as they wanr. There are the equivakent of Vegas odds in another galaxy , on tge outcome. I am convinced. And ir is happening in a time frame like a superbowl game in another dimension. Perhaps we even signed up to play this game and when we die, we get points or oyr own planet or something.
ReplyDeleteIm 3:50 . Sorry for typos. Small phone, big fingers, spell check off
ReplyDelete