"A Christian Looks
At the Religious Right"
The Curse of Eschatology
I still recall being in history class in college and being assigned a term paper. Usually profs who assigned term papers found themselves with a shortage of students. Being too late to drop the class and keep enough credits to stay out of the draft I decided to stay. The class was small enough for all of us to personally hear about student projects. One of the students did research into the assassination of JFK. He came to the "scholarly" conclusion that John Kennedy actually was wounded living on life support in a Dallas hospital. Some end of times groups actually thought Kennedy was the evil person wounded in the head in the book of Revelation who would come back to life. Later on in Natchez, Mississippi I ran across a book adorning the front window of a Christian bookstore claiming that Henry Kissinger was actually the antichrist spoken of by the Apostle John.
History is riddled with peculiar futurists in the name of Biblical faith who concocted silly and embarrassing theories of how the world would end. Though most secular readers might sluff these writers off as humorous writers with vivid imaginations, the world has unfortunately suffered from the yarns these types have spun.
Marshall Applewhite is a recent case in point. Applewhite, the leader of the Heaven's Gate Cult launched his career claiming to be one of the two witnesses spoken of in the book of Revelation. TEXAS MONTHLY, in the spring of 1997 ran a story about a similar claim by a cult group in Abilene. The cover story in the magazine carries the report about a bizarre cult leader who has convinced his followers he is one of the witnesses spoken of in the apocalyptic literature. Many cult groups have a common link with end of times philosophies that preoccupy followers with crystal ball gazing.
David Koresh is another case in point. Koresh's concepts became dangerous to followers and ATF agents. The link with the Oklahoma City bombing of the Federal building is a startling reminder of how harmful some of these theories can become.
In Frederick Clarkson’s work ETERNAL HOSTILITY, the author connects the world of dangerous right wing groups with the world of eschatology. Clarkson makes a claim sociologists Sara Diamond had made earlier regarding the linking of premillennialism with postmillennialism through the Coalition on Revival. The COR sought to disarm the differences the eschatological systems had in order to unite them in a theocratic endeavor. The idea being to usher in the kingdom of God one had to take over worldly systems. Much of the idea about shelving the idea of separation of church and state as a menace to society comes from these groups. The anti separation groups share a common eschatological heritage. Some within these groups have dangerous ties to militia organizations.
Far right author Texe Marrs from Austin, Texas is another case in point. Among Texe's writings one finds the belief that Billy Graham is a new-ager and Hilary Clinton is in a secret organization which is going to overthrow the U.S. government. Marrs believes the Anti-defamation League orchestrated the assault of Koresh's Waco compound. His writings stem from his books regarding the rising antichrist and the one world empire predicted in the Bible. Texe's far out theories are bathed in his ministry to teach Christians about the end of times.
Robertson is no stranger to these circles. He, like many TV ministries, have gotten on the eschatogolical band wagon. His Pentecostal rival from San Antonio Texas, John Hagee, is filling the TV airwaves with futuristic predictions. Hagee announces to the TV audience you need to buy his book to find out about Hilary Clinton's affair with Vince Foster. Robertson's book, ONE WORLD ORDER, is a catch all for world conspiracy theories regarding a secret world order that controls the world. Some of Robertson's sources have been traced to anti-semitic viewpoints. A lot of his work is nothing more than John Birch Society collections about secret organizations that control the country. Jewish groups around the nation were more than alarmed at Robertson's accusations and rightly so. Deep in the confines of eschatologies are often rabid anti-Jewish sentiments. Recently the BAPTIST STANDARD in Texas brought to light the current attempt to find a secret decoding of the Old Testament. The code was supposedly broken and revealed reliable predictions about America. It has gained a following.
The most dangerous eschatological undertaking is known as the PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION. The work is actually a play but was passed off earlier this century as accurate history. The work has an underpinning of eschatology. It seeks to explain how history will conclude. The book claims that a secret order of Jews has actually controlled the world for the past two centuries. This group of Jewish investors and bankers are blamed for the fall of Russia to Communism, the depression and World War I. Hitler used the Protocols as hate literature to justify the Holocaust. It is a sad reminder of what crystal ball gazers are capable of. The world needs to be reminded of what Jesus told His followers whenever He was preparing to return to His Father. One of the last questions asked was about the end of times. Jesus told them it was not for them to know the times or the seasons. Acts 1;7. The world would be a lot safer place if more people heeded that advice.