Strange times

Dear Editor,

I wanted to comment on the tense situation in the Middle East. As a nation we have experienced one war after another in that part of the world; negotiations take place, peace treaties are signed and within days death and destruction return. However, this time things feel strangely different. There’s a sense of finality; of events gearing up and winding down at the same time.

A month ago I wrote concerning a prophecy in the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. It describes a war in the Middle East which eventually leads to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In the eighth chapter you have a confrontation between Persia (Iran) and a superpower coming from the west and slamming into the rogue nation with “furious power!” (EPIC FURY!) The superpower wins the war, but it’s a “hollow” victory and shortly after the clash, it begins melting down. With America severely over extended in so many areas, is this ancient prophecy speaking to us today?!

In the fourth chapter of Daniel, it’s different circumstances, but the same result. The king of Babylon has a disturbing dream which only Daniel can interpret. In the dream the king sees a “great tree” which is recognized by the “whole world.” The tree provides sanctuary for the “birds of the air,” and food and shelter for the “beasts of the field.” As the king watches, a “holy one” from heaven says, “Cut down the tree … and scatter its fruit!” Daniel reluctantly tells the king that he is the “great tree.” Because of his pride and failure to acknowledge God for his power and position he will end up half crazed and in dire poverty for seven years.

Several verses in this book state that its prophecies are to be fully understood shortly before the “end of the age.” With that in mind, it’s clear that there is only one superpower on the planet that has provided food and sanctuary for so many. Through foreign aid and trade, we have helped to sustain much of the world. In our finest moments we have toppled evil dictators and been the first to assist in times of international emergencies.

However, we have turned away from God and it’s not only our leaders that have fallen victim to pride, but the whole nation. And because of that, a spiritual darkness has claimed much of our culture. If indeed the book of Daniel is speaking to us today, then let us heed the warnings and seek the one who saves!

John Peterson,

Chandlers Valley

Troubling history

Dear Editor,

Genocide. The systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Was the holocaust the only one?

In school we heard of the Dutch East India Co. The 1600s. The Netherlands. A peaceful, benign country. They traded in spices. Nutmeg.

And they committed genocide. Because they wanted a monopoly.

The people of the Banda Islands knew how to harvest nutmeg from the Myrista fragrans tree. The Banda Islands were the only source of nutmeg. The natives could have taken this knowledge to other islands. Created competition. So they were eliminated. Killed. All of them. And replaced with slave labor. It was the first known case of corporate genocide.

The purveyors of this genocide were Christians.

Despite the smattering of deniers, the holocaust of Jews really happened. By Germany. But it was not their first rodeo in the genocide department.

Between 1906 and 1908 German commander Luther von Trotha ordered the extermination of all indigenous Herero and Narna people of Southwest Africa (today Namibia) for resisting colonial rule.

They were exiled to the desert to starve. If they did not leave they were executed. Skulls and body parts were shipped to Germany to be studied to determine why blacks were “inferior.”

The Lutheran church had missionaries dispersed in the area. They felt the genocide was justified.

The Old Testament of the Bible and the Torah have several examples of genocide. Ordered by God. Joshua 6 – the total destruction of Jericho. Numbers 21 and Deuteronomy 20 – the Israelites were commanded to destroy the Canaanites completely, man, woman, and child. Eliminate the bloodline. 1 Samuel 15 – destroy the Amalekites completely. Eliminate the bloodline. And Numbers 31 – kill all male and non-virgin Midianites.

Now we have Israel. Zionism. Greater Israel. Destroying Gaza.

Do not equate all Jewish people as Zionists. Most Zionists are Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jews and Christian Zionists.

Ashkenazi Jews suffered the Holocaust. They know genocide.

Are they committing genocide in Gaza? Are they justifying genocide with words of the Torah?

Shouldn’t we take another look at these holy books and put them in context of the thousands of years that have passed since they were written?

Shouldn’t religion be a means of creating peace, not war?

Wouldn’t it help if we all respected each other, quit trying to force each other’s religions down each other’s throats, and learned to get along?

James Spangler, OD,

Warren