Pat Robertson, Ariel Sharon and The Second Coming of Christ

Pat+ RobertsonWhen the news of the world is bleakest one can always count on Pat Robertson to lighten the burden though his unique brand of political analysis. In his most recent effort, Robertson declared that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's recent stroke was caused by God's punishing him for ordering Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. Robertson believes, as do perhaps 20-25 milion other Protestant fundamentalists who embrace what is called Christian Zionism, that the Second Coming of Christ  will usher in a Kingdom under the sovereignty of Jesus and the permanent defeat of Satan. This longed-for event however will only occur after, among other preconditions, the establishment of a nation-state of Israel whose borders will conform to those of historical Palestine.

Leaving Gaza then was a step backward and will postpone the Second Coming. That's too bad if one is a devout Christian, but should Jews and other non-Christians be unhappy about this as well?  Not unless they wish to convert en masse to Christianity. Robertson and his fellow Millennialists believe that after the Second Coming those who don't convert forthwith will be consigned to Hell. Could it be that Sharon's Gaza withdrawal was cleverly designed to forestall not simply one but two dire prophecies? The first---Israel's being seriously weakened in years to come by continuing its pointless attempt to maintain direct control over a vast oppressed Palestinian population residing in Gaza---has received all the attention. But the second--- to prevent Jews from having to choose between their religious identity and the fires of Hell--- is one that analysts perhaps should also consider when assessing Sharon's motives. Of course, Sharon did not really take this into account even if Robertson did.  It should be noted that even in belatedly apologizing for his comments after Sharon was felled by a stroke Robertson indicated that his concern was for the well-being of the nation of Israel. One can assume this meant he was worried that it remain geographically intact. He did not express concern for those who reside there, Jews or Palestinians.

If Pat Robertson still wants the Second Coming to occur, perhaps he should try to broker a better deal between God and the next Israeli government, one which gives Jews more of an incentive to get with the program. If he were a true Christian, however, his concerns would be for a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians which was in the interests of both peoples regardless of whether Israeli territory had to be reconfigured.

Comments

[Paul M. Kingery, PhD, MPH]

Dear Milton,

Thank you for your thoughts. I look forward to following your interesting blog. I’ve been writing about Ariel Sharon in relation to the Christian future. He may be more important a player than many realize. Are you interested in topics about the apocalypse, end times, the end of the world, eschatology, last days, the horsemen of the apocalypse, the beast, prophesy, prophesies, revelation, 666, bible prophesy, prophets, Canaan, Canaan's land, Land of Canaan, or the Christian future? If so you may enjoy reading " Land of Canaan." This is a free online book. The Link is http://landofcanaan.info/book.php
Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Paul M. Kingery, PhD, MPH

[differentdrummer]

I did look at your book, but being a non-believer I can't say I agreed with the analysis beyond sharing your view that the Israeli-Palestinian situation is a sad one.

It doesn't look as if Sharon will ever be in a postion to have much of an influence on Israeli policy.

Moreover,as I suggested half-seriously, I can't imagine why any Israeli leader would be motivated to fulfill a bibical prophecy that will end up putting Jews in a position of renouncing their religion or being damned.

As far as the theology goes one either believes in it or doesn't. I happen to think gods were "created" by people rather than the other way around. But even if I did accept the existence of an omniscient and omnipotent Creator I am sympathetic to a point of view expressed in an unusual film, The Rapture, in which the main character, having made horrifying sacrifices to be with God, finally gets the opportunity and decides to take a pass. She comes to believe she can't love God who,if all-powerful,must bear responsible for what she sees as pointless suffering on earth. God's need to test faith, prove a point or even just allow misery to persist has, in her view, no justification.