It is no surprise that fear has become a great tool for marketing ideology, products and services in the secular world in these last days, and as of penning down this article, Paroxysms of Nature have hit Haiti, Chile, Taiwan, Fierce Weather Storms in France, Mudslides in Uganda, and an earthquake in Turkey. Therefore it seems strategic for fear to be channeled into driving up sells...
From Insurance sellers, Global Climate Change Activists, World Population Control Activists, etc fear is sometimes used to promote and sell ideologies. Not that there are no legitimate concerns with some of the issues like climate change and buying insurance, but fear has become a technique employed at times by politicians and social activists from both the right and left to over dramatize the unknown future so as to sell.
When it comes to politics and social issues, fear of the unknown future seems to be the driving Force...fear of socialists, fear of minority ethnic groups, fear of differing Ideology, etc.
Take for instance the interesting trend among the Tea Bag Activists in the West, fear of “socialism and a government take over” has greatly been exaggerated to the extent that many Evangelical Christians have joined the Tea Bag movement and find themselves caught up singing along the tunes of Paranoia.
Yet even in cases were the object of the fear is legitimate, the fear of the 'I can do nothing about it' takes hold. For instance Globalization is a real force to reckon with and Global Economic Integration is some very serious issue that is and will affect the lifestyles of many in the West economically but also disrupt the conservative social structures of many in the developing world.
A good example is the export of jobs from the West to the developing nations thus granting some type of economic benefits at the expense of workers in the West; yet at the same time Western lifestyles and cultures are fast becoming standard in the developing world, Uganda is a very good case study with the 'coming out of the closet' for Gays and demanding of Gay Rights, the heavy influence of the MTV culture among African Young Populations. Therefore some in the West are caught up in the fear of losing their economic power, while the East is worried about losing her conservative culture to what they see as an influence of a liberal Hollywood and MTV.
Yet the same type of manipulated fear has captivated the Evangelical Christian Community especially when it comes to Bible Prophecy. Many Bible Prophecy books have been written and sold but with fear being the basis of such. Many Christian and TV Talk Show Hosts cleverly employ the fear of the unknown to sell and make money.
On a recent 'Praise The Lord Telethon' (Sunday, March 7, 2010) on TBN TV, Benny Hinn used the occasion to prophecy that a major disaster was going to happen in one of the major cities of the USA. He then claimed that those with “the anointing” would not be touched by earthquakes and Tsunamis. For sure the manipulation of fear, use of simple statistics, and psychological techniques by Benny Hinn to cast himself as a Prophet and whitewash his marriage debacles was on full display.
Benny Hinn's antics were easy to spot, that he was simply putting up a show. Though I am trying to find room to sympathize with him concerning his marriage debacle, it should have been better for him to take a break and spend time with his family, perhaps The Lord would heal the divisions. However, Benny Hinn finds ministry to be the most important thing in life and therefore not ashamed to engage in charlatan type of behavior on TBN TV, using fear manipulation to squeeze money out of undiscerning Christians.
However, the question then is, was Bible Prophecy written to exacerbate fear of the future? Many Bible Prophecy students and Teachers seem to like this kind of approach. The reasons for such an approach might be many but among them is that the Bible Prophecy Teachers gain control over the emotions and legitimate concerns of their followers. The Bible Prophecy teachers portray themselves as having all the answers about the future and “deeper understanding” about bible Prophecy.
I have always heard many Bible Prophecy teachers exhort themselves as having “the true revelation and understanding of Bible Prophecy”. Many claim that they have many years and experience of studying Bible Prophecy and as such they sell themselves as the expert in Bible Prophecy and gain a following among the ignorant Christians who seem to cast away any sense of basic inquiry, reasoning, and common sense.
As one continues to study Bible Prophecy, it becomes apparent that that fear was not and never the basis for Apocalyptic Scriptures in the New Testament. Rather Bible Prophesy was written so as to encourage Christians who were going through hard times and never as a means of escapism but rather how well to deal with the future realities of life.
John the Apostle writes about being a fellow among Christians who were going through tribulations. The Book of Revelation does not at anyone time announce an escape route for Christians from sufferings. As a matter of fact Christians are warned ahead of time that hard times will come and that they will have to endure and persevere. Christians are warned that they will even face death for the Faith but they are not to be afraid. Christians are warned about a Global Economic System that will require everyone to buy and sell with “that number”, and Christians are warned against receiving that 'Mark of the Beast'.
Luke 12:4-7 KJV And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. (5) But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (6) Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? (7) But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.The Book of Revelation does not state that Christians will be shielded from Earthquakes, Convulsions of Nature, economic distress, wars, and rumors of wars. However, Christians are called on to endure, persevere, and to stand steadfast in the Faith.
Revelation 2:10 KJV Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Therefore Bible Prophecy is not meant to cast fear but rather tell the Christian ahead of time the global catastrophes that will occur and how to endure and persevere during such times even to the point of death without denying the faith. In other words Bible Prophecy presents you with the realities of life to come and the Christian response that The Lord expects out of each one of us.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.The other fundamental point is that The Lord is not as much interested in hurting or causing pain for the sake of it, God is not Sadistic as some would rather portray Him in the Secular world but God in His Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence is allowing the disruptions of nature and convulsions of nature to drive a point home among Humans that God Was, God Is, and God Will Be and that He Reigns over the Affairs of Men.
1 John 4:18 KJV There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Revelation 1:17 KJV And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Luke 21:26 KJV Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.Therefore watch out for all the fear mongering especially by those who claim to be experts in Bible Prophecy, spuriously claiming to know the times and seasons as to when these events are supposed to occur, that the time is imminent. God does not follow our human made time tables and will never be locked in on our calender dates.
Revelation 14:7 KJV Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Revelation 15:4 KJV Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Date Settings, Timings and use of the term 'Imminent' sounds plausible and makes one look like a legit Bible Prophecy Expert but yet such terminology and Ideology has been the downfall of many and basis for the rise of many cult-like apocalyptic leaders.
The 'Imminent' Rapture' Teachers are raising their ugly head again, this time to make a kill for the money, expect new best seller books about the Rapture and End-Times in your WalMart Store soon. Brethren, watch out!
Kato Mivule
