A growing number of fundamentalist preachers, theologians, and TV evangelists, though, applaud these developments. Escalating Middle East tensions have worked to give seeming credence to their startling predictions that Armageddon is soon to take place in that vicinity! And by sounding the alarm in books, lectures, and television productions, they have gathered a considerable following.

These commentators quarrel over the exact sequence of events. But a typical ‘Armageddon scenario’ goes like this: The starting of the ‘doomsday countdown,’ they say, was the establishment of the State of Israel. They therefore feel that the so-called rapture is imminent. According to them, soon true Christians will suddenly disappear from the earth​—being snatched up to heaven. During the ensuing seven years of “tribulation,” many evangelists even predict that the nation of Israel will be converted to Christianity. Most of the human race, though, will supposedly be brought under the spell of a charismatic dictator (the “Antichrist”) who will lead a ten-nation coalition. Even Israel, they believe, will align itself with him. But a confederacy of Arab nations and others, led by Russia, will make a surprise invasion of Israel. God will miraculously halt this invasion, say these fundamentalists. Soon to follow, however, will be another attack from the “Antichrist,” triggering all-out war in the Middle East​—Armageddon.

“THE center of the entire prophetic forecast,” claims author Hal Lindsey, “is the State of Israel.” (The 1980’s: Countdown to Armageddon) Critical to the fundamentalists’ ‘Armageddon scenario,’ therefore, is their belief that God has special dealings with Israel. God, they believe, will intervene when her enemies seek to destroy her.

The Bible, however, indicates that the Jewish nation lost God’s favor and protection when they rejected his Son, Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:13, 14, 19) Jesus himself plainly told them: “The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.”​—Matthew 21:43.

Rejected Entirely?

Theologians John F. and John E. Walvoord (previously quoted) nevertheless counter by saying: “The Apostle Paul clearly indicated that the Old Testament promises for Israel were still to be fulfilled. Paul wrote, ‘I ask then, Did God reject his people? By no means!’ (Rom. 11:1; NIV.)”

Some, however, anticipate a dramatic change of heart on the part of all natural Jews. “The great tribulation, which will follow the rapture of the Church,” claims one fundamentalist writer, “will be the means of Israel’s conversion [to Christianity].”

What, though, about the land on which the State of Israel is situated? Does God have some sort of special interest in it? Many, such as Protestant theologian William Hurst, think so. Said Hurst: “No parcel of land on the face of the earth has been more sought after or more constantly in the attention of the society of nations than has the land of the Jew.” Quoting Genesis 13:14, 15, he reminds us that God promised that he would give this land to Abraham’s seed “for ever.”​—King James Version.

Ezekiel’s prophecy shows that Armageddon is precipitated by the attack of a multinational army upon “Israel.” The attackers are led by ‘Gog of Magog,’ whose forces swoop down from “the remotest parts of the north.” Who is this “Gog”? Fundamentalist theologian Hal Lindsey confidently declares (as do others): “There is only one nation to the ‘uttermost north’ of Israel​—the U.S.S.R.” He likewise theorizes that those making up Gog’s “military force” (called Meshech, Tubal, Persia, Ethiopia, Put, Gomer, and Togarmah in the Bible) will be Soviet allies, primarily Arab nations.​—Ezekiel 38:1-9, 15.

The nations listed as Gog’s confederates, though, were not especially prominent on the world scene in Ezekiel’s day. The prophecy’s fulfillment was thus to take place in “the final part of the years,” when ancient Israel’s traditional enemies had passed off the earthly scene. (Ezekiel 38:8) Therefore, Gog’s obscure and remote “land of Magog” would not picture the prominent and far from remote Soviet Union.