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Applauding Armageddon?

Mart De Haan Posted by Mart De Haan
April 7th, 2008
13 Comments » 

For almost 20 years I have been traveling to the Land of the Bible with our Day of Discovery television team. One of our goals has been to use the historical and geographical backdrop of Israel to talk about the real people, places, and events of the Bible . Another purpose has been to call attention to what the Bible says about the future of this land– in relation to Jesus’ promised return (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:1-11).

During the last two decades, my confidence has only deepened that Jerusalem is ground zero not only for the most important events in the history of the world, but also for the future.

But something else has been happening that I find very troubling. During the years that we have been visiting and working in Israel, we have seen a growing trend among fellow evangelicals that I believe has crossed the line between anticipating Armageddon and actually applauding it. Solidarity between many evangelicals and Israel has been at the expense of Palestinians and the Arab world even though the present Israeli government is largely secular and even atheistic. The result is that a watching world has suspected that many followers of Christ feel so validated by what is happening that we are willing to encourage Israel into a conflict that will trigger the Bible’s end time scenario.

Trying to figure out how and when God is going to fulfill prophecy could be a great distraction if it causes us to give misleading signals to both Jewish and Palestinian communities. Prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel didn’t close their eyes to the wrongs of Israel any more than they did to the wrongs of their enemies. Neither can we afford to forget the counselors of ancient Israel who gave false assurances to their leaders with disastrous consequences.

More importantly, as followers of Christ we have been called to rise above nationalistic alignments and possible prophetic scenarios for which we have no time table.

If we really believe Christ died for the world, then we believe he died as much for the sins of Palestinians, and Arabs as he did for the sins of his own countrymen and us.

I believe with all of my heart that followers of Christ need to reach out to all people with the most important news the world has ever heard. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of his coming, died for our sins, rose from the dead to prove it, and now offers forgiveness and peace with God to those of any nation who are willing to confess and trust him.

Yes, Jesus promised to return. But we don’t know when. It could be in our life time, or 500 years from now. We’ve been called to be peacemakers, not warmongers, to work hard for the good of all, and to recognize that, like every other nation, or individual, Israel’s hope has to be in a spiritual change of heart and in a real turning to her God (Zechariah 12-13; 1Thess 4:9-18).

That’s where I am. Please let me know if you think I’m missing something.


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13 Comments »

Filed in prophecy

13 Responses to “Applauding Armageddon?”

  1. Yemmy says:
    April 8, 2008 at 2:22 am

    Dear Sir, I am in support of your comment. It seems the recent donation made to Israel did not have a good purpose for ‘the better of humanity’. More likely to trigger to coming of WWIII. There are many children suffering from War/casualties in many region recently, if those effort has been directed at saving our future generation, surely more souls will reach out for Christ. For those of our Christian Fellowship Leaders, please don’t try to misuse the power God has given to you for the purpose of opression to enlarge or enforce our belief to non-believers. Remember the essence of Bible, ‘Love your neighbours as you love yourself’. You won’t receive retaliation if you use His teaching. I am sure the Prophecies can be delayed if we are using our free will in the positive way as God’s teach us.

  2. Thomas Brown says:
    April 8, 2008 at 5:16 am

    Mart,
    I don’t see you missing anything. I do see how some can feel that Israel needs to strike back at it’s attackers. I feel that way most times. I love the Jewish people, and I feel they have been through enough. David wanted to know how long the wicked would continue in there ways. We know their end. But our flesh wants to see revenge now. As for when Christ will return, I think 500 yrs. is stretching it a bit. We do have a guide in which to know when our redemption draws near. I know you have read these signs, so I won’t post them here. Don’t get me wrong, I want to see all people saved. I have family members that are not saved. I know that God will save every person that is willing. He is all knowing. It’s a good thing we are not. There is alot of money being made from these times we are in-Books,DVD’s and so on. Just one more sign of the times. It really burns me to see people using our Lord and His Word to gain wealth, some at the expense the unsaved and Bible Illiterate. Pray for His Coming
    In Christ,
    Thomas Brown

  3. Mart De Haan says:
    April 8, 2008 at 6:14 am

    I agree that 500 years is a stretch. I did it to make a point– since people from the days of Jesus have expected him to return in their lifetime. Seems to me that we need to plan for the future, encourage our children to get an education, make provision for retirement, while not ignoring Jesus’ warning to be ready because he will come at a time we don’t expect (Matt 24:44).

  4. Gale L. Jarvis says:
    April 8, 2008 at 6:46 am

    I do agree with your thoughts, and those of each one concerning using prophecy to help promote death, or our causes, or any thing evil.
    Not trying to change the subject, but at this time in my life i believe Armageddon will not take place until after the 1000 year reign of Christ.
    I believe to many people especially Christians believe the United States will be the savior of Israel, at this time i believe our country has fallen into the trap of every country throughout history, we believe we are it, no one can go against us, and we are nearing the end of our power over the world, because of our pride.

  5. eltonteng says:
    April 8, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    I don’t believe you’re missing anything by proclaiming we don’t know when Armageddon would occur. The human acts to encourage what we think may be Armageddon are just way off base.
    However, I would say that designating the sense that Israel’s right to protect its sovereignty as “warmongering” is missing the mark on a different level. We need to decide whether Israel should give in to the demand of its neighbors, which is the destruction of the current Israel state. I’m sure we all would love to see the Jews get along with Arabs and share the land. But when your neighborhood bully says give me all you have or else, you need to pick up and move, or fight the bully.

  6. Mart De Haan says:
    April 8, 2008 at 5:45 pm

    eltonteng, I agree with you that Israel has a responsibility to its citizens to defend it’s national security and borders. My concern is with regard to followers of Christ who show concern only for Jewish or Arab communities rather than for both.

  7. eltonteng says:
    April 8, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    Mart

    That is great and I wholeheartedly agree with you. You may want to amend your initial blog to clarify that you’re promoting concern for all parties involved.

    p.s. Elton is fine.

  8. Jenny says:
    April 8, 2008 at 10:19 pm

    As followers of Christ, we must show concern for all communities. This reminds me of a passage in the Bible:” Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) I admit that sometimes it’s difficult to reach out to people/communities around us. It’s not easy to relate to pre-believers yet not compromising God’s Truth. It requires me to come out of my comfort zone and not be selfish and prideful. Often, I ask the Lord to continually fill me with His love and compassion for people. And also, for guidance to see things from His perspective.

  9. Junebug says:
    April 10, 2008 at 8:28 am

    …Remember one thing, Isreal (although not perfect) is simply just trying to survive…. There are actual peoples and countries that want to totally eliminate Isreal and its people from the face of the earth. Knowing that, they have no choice but to try and protect their lives.

  10. Ronnie Blanchette says:
    April 10, 2008 at 8:14 pm

    Your way off. Of course they are not believers, they are Jews and many socialist, and ultra Orthodox who hate Christian evangelist in Israel. But they have done more than any nation including the U.S. under horrible circumstances to bring peace to the land. The world ignores the arrogance of the majority in the middle east who will not recognize Israel at all, a perquisite to any land being used for Palestinian statehood, not to mention the administered attacks on civilians for the specific purpose of killing and maiming Israelis into a suicidal reposition of forces to pre 1967 lines. What other nation would feel secure with a nine mile wide boarder to the sea, and rockets continually falling on its children? The Ottaman Empire was removed for Israel’s return there will be no other return or diaspora, look at the frailness of all the so-called nations still clinging to the land promised Abraham, it is Israel’s hour, Israel’s land. Colonial rule by European proxy will not stand. Iraq? Labanon? Syria? all history as they are known to us today. Palestinians belong with Jordan or in local autonomy within Greater Israel. Jesus will decide but that’s what I think is going on.

  11. Mart De Haan says:
    April 10, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    Thanks, Ronnie, for expressing a very different view.

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