Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition

 
 

 

 
This story isn't new, but it may be new to some of you. I wish I didn't have to report on it but since ABC News has, the Washington Times, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and more, I am going to let you in on what is no longer a secret. Come October, most everyone will hear of it, so prophecy lovers, be prepared.
Tyndale House, the publisher of the Left Behind books (and three of my books) has sold the rights to the Left Behind series to a video game company who has turned it into a violent video game: Left Behind: Eternal Forces. The storyline takes place in New York City after the Rapture when friends and family members of those taken in the Rapture apparently come to faith and do battle against the Antichrist. The creators of the game hope that their target, teens, "will consider their own spirituality" as they play it. So far, so good, or at least, not so bad, but from here it takes a monumental slide down a slippery slope.
They then take high-powered weaponry in their battle with Antichrist. Battlefield generals and their virtual armies decide where to place units and when to order attacks or retreats. The left behind new believers unleash the usual arsenal of guns, tanks, and helicopters. Soldiers lose some of their spirituality every time they kill someone from Antichrist's side but they are then bolstered with prayer to make sure they then don't become vulnerable to Antichrist's forces.
Critics are rightfully outraged. One says, "You can be the Christian blowing away the infidels and if that doesn't hit your hot button, you can be the Antichrist blowing away Christians."
When all is said and done, what do we have? A smoking New York, a world teeming with unbelievers waiting to be either converted or massacred by what amounts to Christian Taliban--all in the name of a bloodthirsty God. Yet the makers of the game, with Tyndale's blessing and huge profits, say it embodies Christian values. It can be an evangelistic tool. It will reach kids when nothing else might. Yet the violence is compared to the king of video violence, Grand Theft Auto. But with video game profits soaring to $10 billion a year, it would appear greed is really at the heart of the issue as prophesied in II Timothy 3 when that becomes the main focus of an end-time society.
To learn more, visit my Prophecy Watch category here http://www.olivetreeviews.org/topics/prophecy.shtml You can scroll down on the game page I've provided and watch the two minute ABC News feature on it. Below that also on my Prophecy Watch page is the Washington Times article of June 7.
What's wrong with this picture? Everything. It has warped the theology of Dispensationalism but those who hold to this theology as I do will be accused of some form of support for Left Behind: Eternal Forces. In reality we would like the game to be thrown into eternal fire. Liberal theologians, Preterists, Amillenialists, Dominionists, Kingdom Now, and other backers of false theology will have a field day with this one. Gary DeMar's "Dispensationalist Kook" Web site will light up like a Christmas tree and the Bible Answerman will have fuel for ten years. . . unless you speak out and defend the faith (Jude).
Additionally, it will plant more violence in the minds of kids and cause them to think again about their beliefs. They may conclude that it is really cool to run around with machine guns, behave with abysmal violence themselves, and still be a part of "God's forces." Remember the Columbine killers were hooked on violent video games. More confusion will reign in the world of eschatology, already a battlefield. Some might conclude you can maim and murder in the Name of God right now.
The story isn't over. Who's going to market this? The producers plan to distribute it to one million churches across America. The final product is due out in October, so you can bet it will be under Christmas trees this year. The Prince of Peace will be lowered to that of a divine military leader coaxing on the "eternal forces." Many of the churches getting the game already believe in a skewed form of eschatology. They will be invigorated.
Contending for the faith is getting to be a full time job. My radio program last weekend was on that issue and is now posted here http://www.olivetreeviews.org/radio/mp3/ Deception is running amok as predicted for that last generation. The greatest weapon we have is not the machine gun but the Word of God. Spread the good news while there is yet time and counter the rampant false gospels being promoted!
Awaiting His return, Jan Markell
You may pass on these items or have people sign up on our Website, www.olivetreeviews.org. We update "Current Headlines" twice a day and you can access our radio programming from the last two years on "Radio Archives." Also see the Website for other options to catch the program, "Understanding the Times," live and tape-delayed. Report e-mail address changes reporting old and new.

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