While most of the world and some people in the United
States, are engrossed in the impeachment hearings, the
administration of Donald J. Trump has been busy slipping
a few things by, hoping no one will notice.
Number one is Trump's demand for a five-fold increase
in South Korea's payments for the U. S. military presence
in their country, along with the rumor that Trump is
considering withdrawing thousands of troops from South
Korea. This is causing turmoil between South Korea and
Japan and their intelligence sharing pact, which is due to
expire at the beginning of next year. And that is drawing
North Korea and China closer together.
And number two is Secretary Mike Pompeo's announcement
that the United States will no longer consider the Israeli
settlements in occupied territories as being illegal. That has
been the policy of the United States for years and was
reaffirmed by President Reagan.
The United Nations Security Council has decried the Trump
administration for the move, and has said it's position on
settlements is unchanged, they are a violation of international
law. It has called the settlement activity "a flagrant violation
under international law, and it will undermine the prospect
of establishing a Palestinian state".
The British ambassador to the U. N. declared that Britain's
position remains unchanged, she said the Trump administration's
move "presents an obstacle to peace in the region and threatens
the two-state solution". Even Russia has called on Israel to end
settlement activity stating "the new United States position will
exasperate the already tense situation". And the European
Union has also called on Israel to end all settlement activity.
So what has made the Trump administration such an outlier
in the rest of the world? What has caused the Trump
administration to move the United States embassy from
Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that now has the embassy
under high alert and it is issuing advisories to U.S. citizens
in or traveling to Jerusalem or the West Bank or Gaza to
be vigilant and to increase security awareness? Let me
speculate, Donald Trump will do anything to secure his
reelection in 2020.
Trump's greatest voting block is the Protestant Fundamentalist
Movement, and they have had a Pro-Israeli American policy
since 1948. Their influence is apparent in Trump's choice of
judicial nominees, his attempts to eviscerate the ACA, which
they feel is the devil's work, his attempted banning of Muslims,
and his building the Mexican wall, but the greatest of these is
his undying support of Israel. Why is it so important to these
fundamentalists? For that we have to look at their belief in
the literal translation of the bible.
The fundamentalists believe Jesus will come back after the
Great Tribulation, when the true believers will rise up from
the dead and, with the righteous on earth, will be lifted into
heaven, in other words, those who are believers when this
occurs will never die. This know as the Rapture. But prior
to that will be the Great Tribulation when there will be great
suffering and death. The fundamentalists also believe the
bible when it says that Jesus will return when 2/3 of the Jews
in Israel will be dead and 84 months have passed. Thus, Jesus
will transfer the Great Tribulation onto the Jews instead of
the Christians. So America must support Israel until after the
Rapture, so the Great Tribulation will transfer to the Jews.
The unofficial doctrine says, Kings X warns against evangelism
of Israel so god may preserve them for the sake of the destruction
of modern Israel in the Great Tribulation. Thus, ensuring that
Christians alone will get out of this life alive. Though no
evangelical leader will state this as truth, it is widely believed.
Support of Israel is dependent on these four things:
* Israel must be defended at all costs by America
* If Israel is militarily removed from history prior to
the Rapture, then Christian's imminent escape from
death would have to be abandoned
* That would cause the Rapture to be indefinitely
delayed
* Fundamentalists believe in the doctrine of an
imminent Rapture
Trump's support of Israel is proof that the Rapture is coming
in this lifetime. God is working through Donald Trump, and
even though he is flawed, they believe he is the one who will
precipitate the 'second coming'. So they will support him
without question as their pastors have dictated from the pulpit.
This kind of belief is hard to dislodge, as it defies reason, but
then most articles of faith do. So what is the answer? Those
of us of another persuasion must work to counter their votes
with votes of our own. There is a good possibility that Trump
will be impeached and just as good a possibility that the
Senate will not convict him. When this happens, it will be
further proof to the fundamentalists that he is god's chosen
one. As dangerous as this is to our country, it will be
disastrous to the countries in the Middle East. The riots
in Lebanon and Iran have already destabilized the area,
and Trump's interference will only make matters worse.
I'm just sayin'.
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