The Isaraeli – Palestinian issue is of special interest to the Christian right. Many have wondered why most of them, virulent anti-Semites at heart, are so pro Israel in their public policy pronouncements. The evangelicals’ love for a greater Israel has nothing to do with any affinity for "Israeli Jews". In reality, the unlikely alliance is a bit like fattening a lamb for slaughter. Among other things, the support of the Christian right for Israel hinges on some of their most fondly held Biblical beliefs and hopes in preparation for the second coming of Christ and the subsequent Rapture, which will be the special privilege of sincere Christians. To ensure this favorable outcome, they believe that:
1. The entire state of Israel and the West Bank and Gaza, need to be under Jewish control and populated by Jews. That’s why they are against a Palestinian state and for vigorous growth of Israeli settlements.
2. Building the Third Jewish Temple is a precursor to Christ’s coming back to earth to defeat the Anti Christ and the ensuing "rapture".
3.The Dome of the Rock (the third holiest site of Islam) sits on a site which is the rightful location for the Jewish Temple- so the mosque must be destroyed.
4.When the rapture happens, "good" Jews will see the light and be "saved" by accepting Jesus as their long awaited Messiah – the remaining evil rejectionists will suffer unspeakable grief and destruction.
There is a revealing book by Israeli author
Gershom Gorenberg explaining this twisted logic behind the self serving, unholy alliance between the Christian right and the Israeli ultra right wing.
Pat Robertson, the loquacious evangelist, who hears from God on a regular basis on subjects as diverse as
hurricanes, teaching of
Intelligent Design and
Hugo Chavez, has weighed in on the latest development on the Israeli political front. He claims that the severe stroke suffered by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (previously a darling of the right) is the evidence of God’s wrath for daring to "divide God’s land" by returning Gaza to the Palestinians. ( By the way, when Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated, I heard a similar explanation from a woman evangelist in the US, whose name eludes me).
Television evangelist Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s stroke was divine retribution for the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, which Robertson opposed.
"He was dividing God’s land, and I would say, ‘Woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the [European Union], the United Nations or the United States of America,’" Robertson told viewers of his long-running television show, "The 700 Club."
"God says, ‘This land belongs to me, and you’d better leave it alone,’" he said.
Accidental Blogger 
6 responses to “Pat Robertson Hears from God … Again!”
Is that his crucified Redeemer? Or is that God the Creator who created the whole world? Because in the first case, Robertson’s God is dead, and in the second, He created the whole world so it’s all His, not just a little blighted patch of land in the Middle East. Mr Robertson, I need your wisdom! Televangelise me! Tell me what land belongs to God and what land belongs to… um… Lucifer? Who does not-God’s land belong to?
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Pat Roberston would be a bizarrely funny crackpot if he, through his followers, did not wield as much power as he does.
Sharon is over 80 years old. The end has to come some time. Too bad Roberston sees the hand of god in Sharon’s stroke. How will Robertson feel when he himself is called to his maker? Hope he comes to see it as punishment for a life lived in vain!
Although I am not too well-versed in Israeli politics in general and Sharon’s career in particular, I feel that Sharon’s withdrawal from Gaza was a courageous move. I wish somebody would tell Robertson that god managed to delay Sharon’s demise as a reward and also just so that an ideological successor might have time to emerge.
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PIAW:
You are exactly right. I could tolerate these religious nuts, if it was only their comedic genius we had to contend with. But the scary influence they have on the average person and our craven politicians, is indeed no laughing matter.
I am no fan of Sharon, but I too thought that whether because of security calculations or mellowing in old age, his withdrawal from Gaza was a laudable move. I don’t know if Ayatollah Pat contemplates his own death – he is too busy issuing fatwas and wishing for the destruction of his enemies.
Joe:
The real estate holdings of Lucifer would include:
All of non-Christian world (therefore most of Asia), the Blue states in the US and Dover, Pennsylvania.
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I would feel so much better if fundamentalists were not always cheering on a god who looks a lot like a chest-thumping, club-swinging alpha male primate. Or am I projecting again?
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What flabbergasts me is that people actually send money to this man – lots of money. And they believe that Robertson is communicating with G-d. Apparently there is a sucker born every minute.
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My inaugural address at the Great White Throne Judgment of the Dead, after I have raptured out billions!
At: http://www.angelfire.com/crazy/spaceman/
Your jaw will drop!
eschatology,End Times,second coming,rapture,secret rapture,Second Resurrection,Great White Throne Judgment of the Dead,
End of Days,Day of the Lord,Endtime,Judgment Day
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