Weekly Prophecy Review

A banner week for date-setters...or a case for Millennium Fever

Members of God's Salvation church in Garland, Texas created quite a stir by announcing God would empty the heavens of the moon, the stars, and the sun on Monday night. Then, on Tuesday night He would make an appearance on Channel 18, a local religious station. The fact that these events did not occur has cast serious doubts on their third prophecy—that God will meet them at the home of the church's leader, Hon-Ming Chen, in Garland. That arrival is expected to occur at 10:00 A.M. on March 31st. According to the Dallas Morning News, about 150 members of this Taiwanese sect, whose beliefs combine Christianity and Buddhism, sold their possessions last year and moved to Garland, Texas in order to meet God in the front yard of Mr. Chen on March 31. Why Garland? Because it sounded like "God-land."

No doubt, this group could have saved considerable time and embarrassment by heeding the words of our Lord recorded in Luke: "And they will say to you, 'Look there! Look here!' Do not go away, and do not run after them. For just as the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day" (Luke 17:23-24).

Also this week, we learned (OK, it was from a grocery store tabloid) that "hundreds of the wisest prophets in history have said that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will occur before the year 2000 — and a great many sages have narrowed it down to a specific date: September 30, 1998!" This startling knowledge is courtesy of one Kirk Nelson, who, according to the Weekly World News, is "a Bible scholar, an astrologer and arguably America's leading expert on Edgar Cayce." According to the article, Mr. Nelson drew on such resources as the Hopi Indians, Nostradamus and a "complicated formula" which he has deciphered from among materials in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The problem, of course, is that he has ignored a primary resource from the Bible—namely, that Jesus, Himself, emphatically declared the day of His return could not be known. "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming" (Matthew 24:42).

Finally, we note that even cartoon characters are getting into the act. The Dogbert character of the comic strip, Dilbert, has recently declared himself to be a doomsday prophet and, as such, is telling everyone the world will end in year the 2000. He goes on to explain, "My compelling logic is that 2000 is a big round number."

News that is not prophecy, but will no doubt be interpreted as such, department

• Police recently arrested three 18-year-old hackers in central Israel. It seems the youths managed to penetrate the computer systems of both the American Department of Defense and the Pentagon. Their reason for doing so? To show how easy it is. No doubt, the American military establishment is resting easier just knowing these miscreants were forced to surrender their passports before the Israeli police set them free.

• It has been widely published that Iran has guaranteed to the U.S. that if and when Israel pulls out of Lebanon, Hizbullah, the Iranian-backed terrorist organization, will allow the Lebanese Army to take over the posts now occupied by the Israelis. Hizbullah will also reduce its military activities and take a greater part in the Lebanese political arena. What does Iran get in return? The U.S. has guaranteed that it will release the Iranian assets which were frozen during the Carter administration. This amounts to $42 Billion in cash and a like amount in property.

• A billionaire from Saudi Arabia, Walid bin Tallal, has purchased a 50% stake in Dominos Pizza operations in the Middle East. Tallal says he expects to open 150 new branches in 13 Arab countries during the next few years.

Issues that actually have something to do with Biblical Prophecy:

Jerusalem

Last week we looked at the issue of dividing up the land of Israel. As mentioned, the U.S. is pressuring Israel to cede another 13.1% of the "occupied territories," while Prime Minister Netanyahu is offering 9%. There is, however, one piece of real estate which Israelis say is not negotiable—Jerusalem.

The Book of Zechariah tells us that in the last days God will make Jerusalem "a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around" (12:2). He goes on to proclaim, "And it will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured" (12:3). One of the precursors of the last days is an escallating conflict over Jerusalem. Let's look at some of the key players who seem to be on a collision course over the "heavy stone" of Jerusalem:

• The Palestinians. They claim that at least part of Jerusalem is theirs. According to Yassar Arafat "We say that there can be no peace [speaking of the peace process] without Jerusalem."

• The Israelis. They view Jerusalem as their "eternal capital." Last year, Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed, "The battle for Jerusalem has begun. We are now in the thick of it, and I do not intend to lose."

• The Pope. The Pontiff has sought to persuade Netanyahu that Jerusalem should be an "internationalized" city to insure access to the holy places for all the great religions.

• The Arab world. The arabs have decided to unite to wage an all-out campaign for Jerusalem. A militant Egyptian group has called for a jihad (holy war) against both the U.S. and Israel in order to liberate the disputed city.

• The British government. Last year the British Foreign Office gave orders not to honor the tax exempt status of products made in Jerusalem, Judea or Samaria. This was in contradiction to an agreement made between Israel and the European Union (EU). The reason for this action: The British government does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem. Therefore, products produced there do not fall under the Israeli agreement with the EU.

• The United States Congress. The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 requires the U.S. embassy to be located in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999. (Our embassy is currently in Tel Aviv.) In June of last year the Congress passed a non-binding resolution which called on the President to "affirm publically as a matter of United States policy that Jerusalem must remain the undivided capital of the State of Israel." In addition, a foreign-aid bill was passed which contained the following provisions: (1) $100 million dollars was authorized for construction of a U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. (2) The U.S. consulate in Jerusalem was to be placed under the authority of the Ambassador to Israel. (3) Jerusalem was to be identified as the capital of Israel on all U.S. documents. (4) Upon request, Jerusalem, Israel was to be recorded on official documents such as birth certificates and passports for U.S. citizens born in the city. (At the time, children's passports listed a disembodied "Jerusalem" as the birthplace, with no country attached.)

• President Clinton. Our President vetoed the Congressional decision to authorize the funds for transferring the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

• The Ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk. Summer before last was a momentous time for Jerusalem. Elaborate festivities were held to commemorate the city's 3,000th anniversary. Unfortunately, Mr. Indyk was not able to represent the U.S. at this historic event because he was attending the opening of a new McDonalds in Tel Aviv.

Recent developments:

• The Fatah organization has decided to re-establish its "shock troops" which operated in east Jerusalem during the intifada (uprising). Their task will be to attack Israeli targets, enforce strike days on Palestinian businesses, and act against suspected collaborators with Israel who live in that part of the city.

• Pressure is mounting for Netanyahu to resume construction of apartments in the Har Homa section of Jerusalem (which, by the way, is on a deserted hill and displaces no Palestinians).

Till He returns...

Last Updated March 29, 1998 by Larry Simmons