Have A Nice Domesday by Nicholas Guyatt

This is a lot of fun. I remember reading Hal Lindsay’s ‘Late Great Planet Earth’ in the 1970’s at school all about how the Soviets were going to attack Israel, bring about Armageddon and so the end of the world. It didn’t make me a Christian, but left a lingering sense there was something special about Israel and that its creation in 1948 was the fulfilment of Biblical prophecy. But when I did become a Christian and started to meet zealous Zionists I must confess to it all leaving me a little uneasy. Their maps about the end times all seemed like a rather uninspiring geography lesson, detached from the true spirit of Christianity. Then about ten years ago I read Colin Chapman’s ‘Whose Promised Land’ that theologically takes apart Christian Zionism, and more recently Stephen Sizer (see below). So I was definitely up for this delightful book which chronicles the author’s visits to hard line Christian Zionists in America, supposedly yearning for the end of the world – which they are very much enjoying. He doesn’t get to meet all the big names, but doesn’t do badly. He gets a few moments with Tim LaHaye, author of the ‘Left Behind’ series, even less time with John Hagee, the fiery Zionist from San Antonio and none at all with Lindsey. But he gets to talk with plenty of their friends and supporters. And he does get quality time with the failed journalist/political consultant, but new rising Zionist star, Joel Rosenberg. What is most endearing about this book is the tone. The whole business makes me angry. Ignoring Jesus’ blunt statement that no one knows when the end will be, these people twist Scriptures and make money out of gullible and superstitious Christians. End times are certainly big business in the States, and the winners all end up playing golf in Palm Springs. They are also draining millions of dollars away from genuine Christian mission to the absurd business of helping Jews get to Israel. It’s a tawdry nonsense, and I suspect it is also shot through with racism. Unable anymore to practise it in America, these Christians now funnel these dark emotions on to the ‘baddies’ in their end time prophesies – twenty years ago the Soviets, now the Iranians. In fact their whole theology is racist as, contrary to Scripture, they claim the Jews…just by birth…are still the people of God. So I get upset. The wonderful thing about this book is the calm, understated, humorous way Guyatt takes us through this oddity that these Americans who so clearly have a good life, are desperate to have a domesday. He never gets up on to the soap box and starts ranting, but just lets the players state their case. And when it gets into print, it looks pretty silly, but, and here the author challenges my judgemental attitude, he also lets us see most of them as people as well as zealots for their cause, and not just people, but fellow Christians.