Monday, January 29, 2007

The Armageddon Triangle

Ever heard of the Bermuda Triangle? It’s an area of ocean near the island of Bermuda where many ships and aircraft are believed to have mysteriously disappeared.

What could be more amazing? How about the ”Armageddon Triangle?” What’s that? Well if you’ve got a minute, I’ll tell you.

The Armageddon Triangle is what I call the convergence of End Times beliefs from the three monotheistic religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

A recent survey of average Americans shows that 42% believe that we are living in what the Bible calls the “Last Days.” And it’s not just Evangelical Christians. One in three Jews also believe we are living in the Last Days.

Due to the best-selling “Left Behind” books, many Americans are aware that Evangelical Christians believe in the “Second Coming” or return of Jesus Christ. They also believe that it is “imminent”—that it could happen at any time.

What many don’t know is that Islam and Judaism share similar expectations.

The Muslim President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is not a lunatic, as some believe. He is a dedicated Shiite who believes in the soon return of a Messiah-like figure, the Twelfth Imam or Mahdi, a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed. (Jesus Christ is expected to return at the same time, working by his side.) Shiite Muslims of this persuasion believe that the Imam’s return will coincide with an apocalyptic battle between the forces of good and evil (an “Armageddon,” if you please). Ahmadinejad appears to see his role as a “John the Baptist” type, preparing the way for the Muslim “Messiah.”

(If you would like documentation for this, see Joel C. Rosenberg’s book, Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings In the Middle East Will Change Your Future,” Tyndale, 2006. You might also want to read the last two paragraphs of Ahmadinejad’s September 2006 speech to the U.N. where he prays for the return of his “Messiah.” See below.)

While thinking all this over near the end of 2006, I received an email promoting books by Rabbis in Israel. Their topic? –Whether the Jewish Messiah is about to come and if we are seeing a present-day fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Those prophecies refer to a treaty between Russia and Iran. Such a treaty has not existed in 2500 years—until now.

My first response was “Wow! I had no idea that these three religions shared similar, Messianic/”End Times” expectations!” (Even more interesting is that Israel apparently had a similar Messianic expectation just before Jesus Christ was born!)

Regardless of what you believe about the Bible and its prophecies, just a brief review of these facts should be interesting, if not disconcerting.

There are many differences between the three major monotheistic religions. But all three seem to agree on this: Jesus Christ was a teacher or prophet and that he (or a messianic figure like him) is about to come soon—in one way or another.

All of this, plus the daily events in the Middle East, is enough to make a thoughtful person wonder if something important (of Biblical proportions?) is starting to unfold on the world stage.

Do you want to see what Jesus said about all this? Now might be a good time to pick up a Bible and read the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 24.

Jesus said he is coming back. –It may be sooner than you think!

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[Following is the last four paragraphs from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech September 16, 2006 before the United Nations General Assembly in New York.]

The Almighty and Merciful God, who is the Creator of the Universe, is also its Lord and Ruler. Justice is His command. He commands His creatures to support one another in Good, virtue and piety, and not in decadence and corruption.

He commands His creatures to enjoin one another to righteousness and virtue and not to sin and transgression. All Divine prophets from the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) to the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), to the Prophet Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), to the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), have all called humanity to monotheism, justice, brotherhood, love and compassion. Is it not possible to build a better world based on monotheism, justice, love and respect for the rights of human beings, and thereby transform animosities into friendship?

I emphatically declare that today's world, more than ever before, longs for just and righteous people with love for all humanity; and above all longs for the perfect righteous human being and the real savior who has been promised to all peoples and who will establish justice, peace and brotherhood on the planet.

Oh, Almighty God, all men and women are Your creatures and You have ordained their guidance and salvation. Bestow upon humanity that thirsts for justice, the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers and among those who strive for his return and his cause.

Lake Side Church of the Brethren

http://www.lakesidecob.org/

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