I was unhappy with a lot of what I wrote here earlier -- up late, no sleep -- so I have deleted the original posting of this diary, and reposted this extensively revised version.
Last week when President Bush went to the Baltic States and Russia, and started fanning old flames and pissing off Putin with speeches in Latvia and Georgia, it got me thinking about his policies regarding Iraq, North Korea, the Kyoto Treaty and a multitude of other foreign policy gaffes that the Bush administration has made.
Then I started thinking about economic woes, social problems, health care, and more, and I realized there really hasn't been anything that Bush has touched that has escaped unscathed. I mean, everything he touches turns to shit. The guy is King Shit-Midas.
But could this all be on purpose? Could there be a grand unifying objective for all of Bush's blunders?
And then it hit me. Dubya claims to be a born-again Christian. Most of his moves have pandered to the religious right. And as a born-again christian myself -- though of a different flavor -- I knew what many fundamentalists are hoping for these days.
The Rapture.
I've spent the last four days researching the Christian Dominionists and Rapturists who want to take over the country and turn in into a church state. in doing so, I keep coming back to two main sources: the
The Yurica Report which shows the ever-increasing power of the Dominionists, and
the Rapture Index.
I said plenty about Dominionists and the Yurica Report in Yesterday's post and I'm not planning to rehash any of it. It's there, and it's clear to me that -- if you allow me a little wiggle room -- the Dominionists are trying to begin the process of creating a World Church -- as prophesied in Revelation 13:8 -- by creating a Dominion in which only the one true faith is allowed. They would then take over the rest of the world's religions through conquest. According to George Grant in The Changing of the Guard: Biblical Blueprints for Political Action...
Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ - to have dominion in the civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion that we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are afier. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after.
World conquest. That's what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel.
Published by Dominion Press of Fort Worth, Texas; copyright 1987. Grant is a former Executive Director of Coral Ridge Ministries (the group founded by Dominionist leader D. James Kennedy)
Bush and Rapture
But Bush doesn't follow the obvious Dominionist path with his policies. So what is he up to? My theory is he's trying to fulfill as many of the Rapture Index categories as he possibly can, in order to make the Rapture happen now.
So let's look at the indicators on The Rapture Index and compare it to Bush's record, shall we?
1. False Christs. Currently at 2.
Bush has received large donations from the Rev. Sun Myung Moon -- about as false a Christ as I can think of.
2. Occult Currently at 3.
Bush is a member of Yale's Skull & Bones fraternity. Enough said here.
3. Satanism Currently at 1.
Not much here, except for this bit of fluffery
4-10. Economic indicators Currently ranging from 2-5.
I don't think I have to tell you about how bad the economy is, do I?
11. Leadership Currently at 5.
As many of today's front page posts have shown, Tthe Government is strangled by the Bush Administration, with far too many moderates finding themselves too afraid to go against the Bush agenda for fear of reprisal.
12. Drug Abuse Currently at 2.
Originally I said this category was not affected by Bush, but an earlier comment pointed out that OTC drugs and prescribed anti-depressants, pain killers and other non-critical drugs are being pumped out in staggering numbers, and our country is rather rapidly drugging itself to death. Add to that the horrible mismanagement of Medicare, and the resultant growth in power by the drug companies, and I think that the Rapture Index got this one wrong -- it should be at 4 or perhaps even 5
13. Apostacy Currently at 5.
Does Bush Go to Church? (answer: no, but he's regularly counseled by leading Fundie preachers
14. Supernatural Currently at 1.
Not much here, I admit.
15. Moral Standards Currently at 3.
According to The Rapture Index, "the scourge of gay marriage upgraded this category," but "Gay marry supporters love every major political vote." Sounds like a push to me.
16. Anti-Christian Currently at 4.
Bush's policies in the Middle East have increased hostilities against Christian targets worldwide.
17. Crime Rate Currently at 1.
Here, Bush's policies have had a positive effect, since the Crime Rate is quite low right now.
18. Ecumenism Currently at 5.
The Rapture Index says the Pope's death will prove to be a benefit for those calling for a world religion.
19. Globalism Currently at 4.
Can anyone say megacorporations, outsourcing and NAFTA?
20. Tribulation Temple Currently at 2
Not much happening here, except for ranchers in Texas have succeeded in breeding a pure red heifer in Israel.
21. Anti-Semitism Currently at 4
It's on the rise. And while Bush signed a global Anti-Semitism law, he "will treat the law's requirements more like strong advice and guiding principles because of the separation of powers," Which means he gets to do nothing. Like usual.
22. Israel Currently at 3
A shaky peace is currently in effect, thanks to urgings from the State Department and members of Bush's administration.
23. Gog (Russia) Currently at 5+1
This is what prompted this entire series of diaries, thanks to an interesting post and discussion in Armando's diary on Saturday.
24. Persian (Iran) Currently at 4
They're still a member of the Axis of Evil -- at least until June...
25. The False Prophet Currently at 4
Bush approves of the new Pope
26. Nuclear Nations Currently at 5
Let's see... North Korea and Iran... Who's next?
27. Global Turmoil Currently at 4
As I said in my intro, Bush has been stirring up hornets' nests recently.
28. Arms Proliferation Currently at 5
This story is old, but still relevant. And things are just getting worse.
29. Liberalism Currently at 1
One place where we get to play a part.
30. The Peace Process Currently at 3
See my entry for Israel.
31. Kings of the East (China) Currently at 4
Bush seems to favor a strong China
32. Mark of the Beast Currently at 4
Funniest line in the Rapture Index" "Wal-mart is falling behind in its plan to bar code all products with radio tags."
33. Beast Government Currently at 3
Bush had an interesting day with Leaders of the EU in February.
34. The Antichrist Currently at 3
There are those who say that he is the anti-Christ incarnate.
35. Date Settings Currently at 1
Frankly, I have no idea what they're talking about here. Anyone know?
36. Volcanoes Currently at 4
Bush isn't responsible, but Mt. St. Helens was acting up not too long ago.
37. Earthquakes and 45. Floods Both currently at 5
Can anyone say Tsunami? My reason for saying Bush is responsible is because of his pathetic response in the critical 72 hours immediately following the catastrophe. This is, in my mind, the single-most evil thing done under Bush's watch.
38. Wild Weather Currently at 3
Bush rejected the Kyoto protocols Enough said here.
39. Civil Rights Currently at 3
"There ought to be limits to freedom"
40. Famine Currently at 3
Bush says to cut food stamps
41. Drought and 43. Climate Currently at 2 and 5, respectively
Worst president ever in terms of environmental issues.
42. Plagues Currently at 4
the AIDS crisis is not going away, and Bush is doing virtually nothing about it.
44. Food Supply Currently at 3
Bush spanks farmers
In Conclusion
Out of 45, Bush has a negative or worse record regarding all but 6 categories. I'd say he's had a directly negative effect, causing one full point shift in at least 15 of the categories, and perhaps a two point shift in the following: Unemployment, Gog, Persia, Nuclear Nations, Earthquakes, Floods, Plagues and Climate.
Now, I readily admit that I'm born-again, but I'm a liberal non-fundamentalist Christian who belongs to an Episcopal church.
I believe that I have a place in heaven when I die as long as I hold Christ in my heart, and try to do acts of kindness, compassion and love, by living as Christ-like a life as I can.
The Christ I believe in is the love thy enemy, feed the hungry, shelter the poor, heal the sick, pass the peace Jesus who gave us the Beatitudes.
That being said, I would not be overly surprised if the prophecies in Revelation were to come true, though I am of the mindset that John's final book was simply an allegorical account of the geopolitical world of the 1st Century.
So do I think that Bush will succeed in bringing on the Rapture? Absolutely not. God works on man's timetable. If God decides he wants to call us up and have it out with the Devil, he'll do it on his terms, not on Dubya's.
However, is Bush actually trying to trigger the rapture? Without a doubt. Does Dubya think he can make it happen? You bet he does. He believes that he is chosen by God, thanks to pre-millenialist preachers like Pat Robertson and D. James Kennedy who have Bush's ear. And that my friends, is what makes him so dangerous. He believes that he's shielded by God. The mandate he talked about after the 2004 was not from the People. No, it was a mandate from God that makes him do the things he does.
Oh, sure, he talks the traditional political talk, with Rove very carefully having him speak in the bumbling, everyman voice that makes people want to invite him over for steak on the grill and a big ol' glass of sweet Iced Tea.
But don't let that crooning devil fool you. He believes that he's got the sword and shield of God at his side, and that it doesn't matter what happens here on earth, since in his mind, the Rapture's a comin'. God's a comin' I tell you my brothers and sisters, and after the call, those who aren't saved will be left behind to face the Great Tribulation and die in the fires of hell.