Hal Lindsey’s Prophecies
A Study of The Late Great Planet Earth: Part 5
By
David Mathews
84. "Ezekial describes the same invasion as follows:
'Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog [the Russian leader], Thus
says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, you
will bestir yourself and come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the
north [Daniel's king of the North], you and many peoples with you [i.e., the
European iron curtain countries], all of them riding on horses, a great host, a
mighty army; you will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering
the land. In the latter days, I will bring you against my land . . .' (Ezekial
38:14-16)." (p. 157.)
Hal Lindsey has placed his interpretation within
Ezekial's prophecy. Problems with his interpretation abound: Israel is not
dwelling securely, Russia does not have a dominant military or control over the
North lands, and the Iron Curtain is now dismantled with the Eastern Bloc which
formerly was under the Soviet's oppressive control.
85. "As we saw in Chapters 5 and 6, this prediction
indicates that the Russian bloc will double-cross the Arabs, Egyptians, and
Africans, and for a short while conquer the Middle East. At this time, with the
main Russian force in Egypt, the commander will hear alarming news: 'But
rumours from the east [the Orient mobilizing] and from the north [the Western
Europeans mobilizing] shall alarm and hasten him. And he shall go forth with
great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many' (Daniel 11:44
Amplified)." (p. 158).
If conquering Israel was the goal of the Russians, a
conquest of Egypt is a futile and dangerous distraction. Russia would have to
fear Europe, although the mobilization would have preceded the conquest of
Israel. Eastern nations (China) would not have any compelling interest in
Israel to motivate them to attack the Russian army. If they wished to have an
impact upon the outcome of the war, they should invade Russia itself. That
would threaten Russia's people and government, and would avoid unnecessary
conflicts with the nations between China and Israel.
86. "As shown in Chart two, the Russian force will
retrace its steps from Egypt to consolidate for a counter-attack in Israel. The
Russians will be alarmed at the news of the Roman Dictator mobilizing forces
around the world to put down their breach of peace. Apparently it will surprise
the Russian leader who underestimated the revived Roman Empire's will to
fight." (p. 158).
A strategic retreat from Egypt is a wise move for the
Russians following the extraordinarily stupid act of invading Egypt and
betraying their allies. Now Russia must face the wrath of the Roman Dictator
and the wrath of the betrayed allies in Africa. Facing these two threats will
consume the Russian militaries worries, they would not need to trouble themselves
with the distant armies of China. If Russia does not plan for a response from
the dictator, that would serve as another sign of stupidity on their own part.
Russia should fear an attack on their army in Israel, and Russia would also
have to fear a direct attack on Russia itself. With the bulk of its military so
far from Russia's borders, Moscow would be vulnerable to attack and conquest.
Attack on Russia would serve a better purpose for the dictator than merely
attacking the Russian military in Israel. Not only would it make the war occur
on two fronts, it would also make the Russians move military resources from the
Middle East and therefore increase the relative power of the European forces
attacking Russian positions in Israel. If the Antichrist was as intelligent as
premillennialists expect, he will not allow the Chinese to attack Israel. He
will tell the Chinese to invade Russia and further weaken the ability of Russia
to counter all of its enemies.
Here is Chart two, which you may gather information from
if you wish:
87. "It is conjecture on this writer's part, but it
appears that the Oriental powers, headed by Red China, will be permitted to
mobilize its vast army by the Roman Dictator, thinking that they would be loyal
to him against Russia. However, the Orientals will eventually double-cross him,
and move a 200 million man army against the Antichrist..." (p. 158).
The Chinese will double-cross the Antichrist? What
possible threat could they pose to the Antichrist, whose power base is Europe,
by invading Israel. If the Dictator has armies in Israel (which is logical if
it seeks to reconquer the land from Russia) the Chinese are not needed. If
China sends a 200 million man army to Israel, it would be defenseless against
attack from the Antichrist or Asian armies allied with the Antichrist.
88. "This Russian double-cross of the Arabs is
predicted by an astute observer of the Middle East situation today. It is
obvious that the Russians are playing games with the Arabs in order to
accomplish the old Russian dream of year-round seaports and oil supplies. The Arab
leaders think they can accept Russian loans and supplies without strings, but
there are steel cables of conditions attached behind every Russian ruble given
in aid and they are used eventually to pull a country behind the iron
curtain." (pp. 158, 160).
Russians have an agenda in their financial and military
aid of Middle Eastern nations. The United States also has an agenda. Now Russia
is not giving financial aid, it seeks financial aid. The strings are pulling
the opposite direction, and that is very good for the world.
89. "As the Russian commander confidently prepares
to meet the forces of the revived Roman Empire in Palestine, he seeks to
utterly destroy the Jewish people." (p. 160).
Despite the many premillennialists who declare their love
for Israel, their are anticipating a terrible future for that nation. A
defenseless Israel will suffer Russian conquest, the Russians will seek to
destroy and kill the conquered Israelis, then it must suffer from the
Antichrist's attempt to regain the land and China's invasion. Within the mix of
war, a nuclear exchange also occurs. Even if a few Jews survive the war, the
nation itself will no longer exist.
90. "The description of torrents of fire and
brimstone raining down upon the Red Army, coupled with an unprecedented shaking
of the land of Israel could well be describing the use of tactical nuclear
weapons against them by the Romans. It explicitly says that this force would
fall 'in the open field,' so apparently this position enables the use of
nuclear weapons." (p. 161).
Roman use of nuclear weapons will certainly cause the
Russians to retaliate using nuclear weapons. Use of nuclear weapons in Israel
will undoubtedly lead to worldwide nuclear war, which will bring an end to both
the Russian government and the Roman government.
91. "According to this, Russia as well as many
countries who thought they were secure under the Antichrist's protection, will
have fire fall upon them. Once again, this could be a direct judgment from God,
or God could allow the various countries to launch a nuclear exchange of
ballistic missiles against each other." (p. 161).
Limited nuclear war would lead directly to worldwide
nuclear war.
92. "The United States may be aligned with the
Western forces headed by the ten-nation Revived Roman Empire of Europe. It is
clear that the U.S. cannot be the leader of the West in the future. It is quite
possible that Ezekial was referring to the U.S. in part when he said: 'I will
send fire -- upon those who dwell securely in the coastlands. . . .'" (p.
161).
If the United States exists, no invasion of Israel would
occur. Several aircraft carriers off of Israel's coast would deter Russia from
making an invasion of Israel. American power exceeds the collected might of the
United Europe. Even with a charismatic leader, the revived Roman Empire will
envy America's military. If the United States, Europe and China were allies in
defense of Israel, Russia would have no reason to attempt to conquer that
nation.
Premillennialists "solve" the United States
problem by speculating that the United States will become less powerful or
suffer from catastrophe. These expectations have turned out quite the opposite:
The Soviet Union suffered from economic collapse, the Eastern Bloc became free,
and the Soviet Union itself was dismanted into independant republics with
different governments and goals. Russia itself is much weaker than before, and
it no longer has the ability or inclination to conquer the world militarily.
93. "With the United Arab and African armies
nuetralized by the Russian invasion, and the consequent complete annihilation
of the Russian forces and their homeland, we have only two great spheres of
power left to fight the final climatic battle of Armageddon: the combined forces
of the Western civilization united under the leadership of the Roman Dictator
and the vast hordes of the Orient probably united under the Red Chinese war
machine." (p. 162).
Russia would not nuetralize the Arab and African armies
by invading Egypt. These armies would probably have retreated and regrouped,
preparing to punish the Russians for their betrayal. Even a significantly
weaker Arab and African army would slow the Russians enough to weaken their
defense from the Dictator's army. Because the Arabs and Africans are so much
closer to Israel than Russia, they may even be able to resist a Russian
betrayal and prevent Russia from possessing both Egypt and Israel.
Should a nuclear exchange happen, all spheres of power
would no longer exist. China and her armies would no longer exist to threaten
the Antichrist and his armies.
94. "The Chinese, as previously discussed, will be
the most logical leader of this great army. They will use the chaos created by
this great conflict in the Middle East to march against the Roman Dictator in a
challenge for world control.
As the incredible Oriental army of 200 million soldiers marches to the eastern
banks of the Euphrates, the Roman dictator will begin to prepare his armies to
meet them for the showdown in the Middle East. The apostle John predicts the
supernatural power that the Antichrist and the False Prophet will use to gather
all remaining nations together to confront the Oriental armies." (pp.
162-163).
Following a nuclear war, the Chinese and European nations
would need to concentrate upon rebuilding their own nations rather than an
ultimate battle in the Middle East. Troops could not safely travel in the
nuclear wastelands, and they could find themselves under a nuclear attack long
before they reached their destination.
95. "They will persuade the nations of the whole
world (i.e. not aligned with China) that they should send armies to the land of
Palestine to destroy the last great warlike force on earth. They will probably
promise an age of everlasting peace after the troublesome communist forces of
the Orient are destroyed." (p. 163).
Warlike people cannot promise everlasting peace,
especially after unleashing a nuclear holocaust upon the world. China's
communism is not a sufficient motive for organizing a worldwide army because
China's communism has a much greater impact upon its own peoples than it has on
the other nations of the world.
96. "Today this valley's entrance has the port of
Haifa at its western end. This is one of the most accessible areas in Palestine
for amphibious landing of troops. It also affords a great area for troop
assembly, equipment, and organization. Some troops will doubtlessly be
airlifted in as well, and this large valley is suited for that, too." (p.
164).
Hal Lindsey is here speaking about the valley of Megiddo,
the scene of the climatic Armageddon battle. Forgotten is that the Dictator
must have already assembled troops in Israel to defeat the Russian military and
recapture the land. Once the land is taken back from the Russians, the
Antichrist would have no reason to concentrate his forces in the valley of
Megiddo. Protection of Israel would require defensive lines placed at a
strategic distance from Israel. To give the Chinese complete freedom to
maneuver around the valley of Megiddo is folly.
97. "It is extremely important to note the accuracy
of Bible prophecy in relation to this last conflict. In this days of H-bombs
and super weapons, it seems incredible that there could be another great land
war fought by basically conventional means, yet the Chinese believe that with a
vastly superior numerical force, they can absorb devestating losses and still
win a war. They also believe that all war is still determined on the ground by
land forces.
Another interesting fact is that a force of 200 million soldiers could not be
transported by China and its forseeable allies by air or sea. They do not
possess the industry to produce a transportation system for such an army. This
necessitates the movement of troops across the land as is indicated in
Revelation 16:12.
India has revealed recently an important development. It is reported that
12,000 Chinese soldiers are at work inside Pakistan-held Kashmir on the road
that would give Chinese troops in Tibet a shortcut to the subcontinent. India
calls the Chinese road-building activities a 'threat to peace in Asia.' It was
said that 'a flurry of road-building throughout the Himalayas is taking on
increasingly strategic importance.'
When this road is completed, it will make possible the rapid movement of
millions of Chinese troops into the Middle East." (p. 165).
China could not assemble a 200 million man army, could
not equip a 200 million man army, could not feed a 200 million man army, nor
could it transport an army of that size to the Middle East and use it
effectively in an aggressive war. China's road building activities in Kashmir
were and are a threat to peace in Asia. The war that was threatening was
between China and India. These two neighbors are not friends, and they have
fought in the recent past. China could not transport twenty percent of its
population to the Middle East without making itself completely defenseless
against an attack by India. A 200 million man Chinese army would take a
tremendous amount of time to walk the distance from China to the Middle East,
and they would travel in terrain which is very dangerous for ground troops in a
time of airplanes, missiles and nuclear weapons. China would not risk its own
existence for the sake of conquering a small sliver of land in the Middle East.
It is safe to conclude that the Chinese will not assemble any army for
aggressive warfare in the Middle East, much less a two hundred million man army
for any cause.
98. "The conflict will not be limited to the Middle
East. The apostle John warns that when these two great forces meet in battle
the greatest shock wave to ever hit the earth will occur. Whether by natural
force or an earthquake or by some super weapon isn't clear. John says that all
the cities of the nations will be destroyed (Revelation 16:19).
Imagine, cities like London, Paris, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago --
obliberated! John says that the Eastern force alone will wipe out a third of
the earth's population (Revelation 9:15-18).
He also predicts that entire islands and mountains would be blown off the map.
It seems to indicate and all-out attack of ballistic missiles upon the great
metropolitan areas of the world.
Prophecy indicates that U.S. Representative John Rhodes was right when he said
concerning the danger of Red China and nuclear weapons. '. . .anyone who
expects restraint from Red China ignores and imperils future generations of
Americans.'" (p. 166).
Devestation of the order described by Hal Lindsey here
does not correspond to a nuclear war. Destruction of islands and mountains are
not created by nuclear weapons. The only possible force that could bring about
this destruction is an asteroid or comet colliding with the earth. Such an
event would immediately end any warfare occurring on the earth. Mankind would
pause to contemplate the damage and recover whatever remains of modern
civilization. The damage alone would probably obliberate the armies of China
and the Dictator. Nothing would remain for these armies to fight over.
Fears of Chinese use of nuclear weapons, as voiced by
John Rhodes, have not materialized. History indicates that the United States is
the only nation to engage in nuclear war. Since that time, no nation has used
nuclear weapons. One reason is that the use of a nuclear weapon will automatically
promote a minor conflict to worldwide importance and worldwide interference.
The United Nations and other superpowers would have to bring that conflict to
immediate end, because the danger from escalation threatens the existence of
nations not directly involved in the conflict.
99. "As Armageddon begins with the invasion of
Israel by the Arabs and the Russian confederacy, and their consequent swift
destruction, the greatest period of Jewish conversion to their true Messiah
will begin. Ezekial predicts that the destruction of the great Russian invading
force will have a supernatural element to it which will cause great numbers of
Jews to see the hand of the Lord in it. Through the miraculous sign of the
destruction of this enemy who sought to destroy all Jews they come to see the
name of their true God and Messiah, Jesus Christ." (p. 167). If a
supernatural event removes the Russian and Arab invasion force, much of the
previous scenarios concerning events following the invasion are incorrect. If
God destroys the Russians, the Antichrist does not need to become involved, and
the Chinese would wisely avoid the Middle East. The destruction and murderous
rampage of the Russians would not leave many Jews left for conversion. Jews who
were convinced by the sign would not become converted to Christianity because
they are not familiar with the New Testament and no one remains to teach them.
100. "Zechariah predicts that one-third of the Jews
alive during this period will be converted to Christ and miraculously
preserved." (p. 167).
Preservation following the end of the war is of little
benefit. What of all Jews lost during the war? Nor can the conclusion of the
war be sufficient reason for a significant number of the Jews to convert to
Christianity. Who is going to convert them? No Christians remain to teach them.
Will they convert themselves?
101. "Perhaps the 'sign of the Son of Man' will be a
gigantic celestial image of Jesus flashed upon the heavens for all to see. This
would explain how all men suddenly recognize who He is and see the scars from
His piercing at the cross." (p. 173).
A gigantic celestial image of Jesus ... just like what
Oral Roberts saw?
102. "According to Zechariah, 'All nations will be
gathered against Jerusalem to battle.' The Jews who live in the area will be on
the verge of annihilation when God gives them supernatural strength to fight.
Then the Lord will go forth to fight for them and save them." (p. 174).
Complicating matters further is the attempt to fit
Zechariah's prophecy into the End Time. By this time, the Russian, Arab and
African nations will have no part in the fighting. The Antichrist's forces will
not represent the whole world. The Chinese will be fighting the Antichrist's
armies in a battle which will not directly relate to Jerusalem. The Jews are
the victims of location, not a direct participant in the battle.
103. "It was reported to me that an oil company
doing seismic studies of this area in quest of oil discovered a gigantic fault
running east and west precisely through the center of the Mount of Olives. The
fault is so severe that it could split at any time. It is awaiting 'the foot.'
Zechariah predicts a strange thing with regard to the ensuing split in the
earth. The believing Jewish remnant will rush into the crack instead of doing
the natural thing of running from it. They will know this prophecy and realize
that this great cavern has opened up for the Lord to protect them from the
terrible devestation that He is about to pour out upon the godless armies all
around. It will be used as a type of bomb shelter." (pp. 174-175).
Hal Lindsey should not believe everything that is told to
him. Even if a fault line was present on the Mount of Olives, and an earthquake
occurred, it would not open sufficiently to accommodate a significant number of
Jews. Should the earthquake be powerful enough to open it up to that extent,
the Jews will have to rescue themselves from the rubble of Jerusalem before
they could reach the mount. Using an active fault line for a bomb shelter does
not make any sense because the earthquake itself is a more immediate threat
than the bombs.
104. "A frightening picture, isn't it? Has it
occurred to you that this is exactly what happens to those who are in a
thermonuclear blast? It appear that this will be the case at the return of
Christ." (p. 175).
Hal Lindsey is speculating about Zechariah 14:12, which
he speaks about in the paragraph preceding. Noteworthy indeed is the source of
the devestation in Zechariah 14:12, "The nature of the forces which the
Lord will unleash on that day against the armies gathered in the Middle East
...." If God is the source of the punishment, and the punishment takes
the form of a nuclear blast, it would follow that God is launching a nuclear
attack on the armies in the Middle East. That is absurd, and worthy of
immediate rejection.
105. "To us the biggest issue is over the question,
'Does God keep His promises?' For God unconditionally promised Abraham's
descendants a literal world-wide kingdom over which they would rule through
their Messiah who would reign upon king David's throne." (p. 176).
If God promised a perpetual physical kingdom to the
Israelites, then that promise has failed without any potential of recovery. If
the kingdom may be limited both in time and in extent, then the promise was
fulfilled under the Mosaic covenant in the kingdom given to Saul, David and
David's descendants. There is a kingdom which the Messiah was given, but it is
located in a great place and built upon better promises.
106. "The word translated 'elements' is stoicheiov,
which means the most basic element of nature. Today we know the atom is the
smallest building block of nature." (p. 179).
The atom is not the smallest particle of nature. Atoms
are composed of Protons, Nuetrons and Electrons, each of which is composed of
smaller particles.
107. "In other words, God revealed to Daniel that
his prophecies would not be clearly understood until the end times,
i.e., the times when the events predicted would begin to take shape. The key
that would begin to unlock the prophetic book would be the current events that
would begin to fit into the predicted pattern." (p. 181).
Hal Lindsey is here attempting to explain why his
interpretation of prophecy is accurate in contrast to the failures of others.
God has unlocked the prophecies in modern times because modern events are
fitting the pattern set forth in the prophecies. Contrary to these claims,
modern events have followed a vastly different path than Hal Lindsey anticipated,
and that must mean either that we are not in the end times or that
premillennialism is flawed.
108. "Christians after the early second century
spent little time really defining prophetic truth until the middle of the
nineteenth century. Then there seems to have been a great revival of interest
in the prophetic themes of the Bible. Today, Christians who have diligently
studied prophecy, trusting the Spirit of God for illumination, have a greater
insight into its meaning than ever before. The prophetic word definitely has
been 'unsealed' in our generation as God predicted that it would be." (p.
181).
Whether nor not prophecy was neglected during those
centuries, renewed interest today is not sufficient reason to accept without
reservation the predictions of modern day prophets. Claims a greater insight do
not match the reality of failed predictions and scenarios.
as of 12-2007