May 30, 2005
Why Boycotts Don't Work
The American Family Association has decided to end its boycott of the Walt
Disney Co. The group launched its boycott nine years ago in response to
Disney's extension of benefits to partners of gay employees, promotion of
gay days at its theme parks, and violent and sex-filled content of movies
made by its Miramax unit.
"There are so many other issues we need to move on to and deal with that are
taking our time and energy," president Tim Wildmon wrote in a letter to AFA
members. "If you're going to call for a boycott of a company - if something
has become that serious - you need to have all your resources behind it."
The boycott had nearly zero impact on Disney. The company has reported
higher earnings, citing increased attendance at its theme parks and strong
performance from its film studio and ABC television network. During the past
nine years, Disney's stock has moved up 30 percent.
The disastrous results of its boycott of Disney has not caused the AFA to
change tactics. It is now threatening a new boycott of Kraft Foods products and Harris Bank if Disney does not change its plans for
supporting an Olympics-style athletic contest for homosexuals called "The
Gay Games." Kraft Foods has given $25,000 to the effort and Harris Bank has donated
$50,000 to sponsor the event.
It has become an exercise in futility for Christian groups to use
boycotts as a means of forcing companies to bend on moral issues. The main
problem is that believers are so unorganized, they often lack the ability to have an influence.
It's not that we don't have the numbers. In America, there are 80 million
evangelical Christians. Disunity would have to be the reason 4 million
homosexuals are able to win the battles on many gay issues.
If 40 percent of the U.S. population were to unite in opposing
immorality, no company in America would dare cross us. We live in a world
in which CEOs get fired because their
firms miss earnings goals by a few pennies.
Instead of calling for boycotts, Christian organizations like the AFA need
to educate the public about morality and how it will affect our nation. If
people were taught the moral principles found in the Bible, there would be no
need for muscle-flexing tactics. Faced with an economic backlash from an
enlightened moral majority, corporate America would automatically act on
the people's wishes.
The failure to take action now makes it all the more difficult to win the
war against the forces that seek to corrupt our nation. In many areas, sin
has become such a way of life that it would take a nationwide revival to turn the
tide.
France Rejects EU Constitution
French voters turned down the proposed EU constitution in Sunday's
referendum. The poll results show the "No" side at 55 percent, which was in
line with most surveys published in the run-up to the vote.
The defeat could deal a critical blow to the EU constitution, which EU
leaders have been working on since the start of 2002. The constitution cannot
come into force unless it is ratified by all 25 EU members. So far, only
nine countries have ratified the document.
Many political analysts are surprised that the constitution ran into trouble
in France, a generally more liberal nation. The key groups who helped to
defeat the treaty included Communists, various left-wing groups, dissident
socialists and far-right parties.
The public appears to have been swayed by fears that the accord would harm
the country's welfare system, give new powers to Brussels, and shift jobs to
low-cost economies of eastern Europe.
The French vote is clearly a disaster for Europe, but I doubt it will be one
for Bible prophecy. In an earlier update, I cited two key problems with
the EU as it currently relates to the end times.
Daniel the prophet predicted that a kingdom of 10 members would be the base
for the political strength. of the Antichrist. The EU, which currently has 25 members, has
been planning on adding more. Because Daniel said the second stage
of the Roman Empire was to be the weakest of all the empires he saw in his
visions, we should expect to see an organization plagued by problems.
Because change is prophecy's greatest friend, results of the no vote in
France need to be very closely watched. What looks like a calamity may end
up being the signal for the beast to make his move.
"For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give
their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled"
(Rev. 17:17).
-- Todd
“Revelations”~The Omen
Great speculation has reared its head about the “end of days.” The speculation seems to have leapt forward with the death of Pope John Paul II and the installation of Pope Benedict XVI.
We’ve all heard and read about the prophecies of Malachi, a sage of ancient times who predicted the popes that would reign from his time to the end of the world. Some accounts of the foretellings that were issued forth in antiquity indicate the next-to-last pope before the end will be named “Benedict.”
So, here we stand as a generation, with many signals pointing, in our view, directly at the end of the age. Added to this, now, is the next-to-the-last pope–if we are to believe the ancient, extra-biblical sages and their predictions for the consummation of human history.
Right on schedule, in lockstep with the Catholic version of the wrap-up of history, comes forth the latest Catholic version of the omen that the end is near. As a matter of fact, “Revelations” is from the same Hollywood guys that gave us “The Omen,” movies I, II, and III.
When I agreed to interview with Radar Magazine about the “Revelations” TV mini-series, I had little knowledge about its being scheduled, much less about the programs’ story line. I did have some idea, from the title, and from their wanting me to do the interview, that it involved end-time Bible prophecy.
The editor who contacted me was a very cordial gentleman, and quite professional in presenting the proposed interview. I enjoyed our time together in the process.
The result of our hour-and-a-half interview about the series and about things to come can be seen at Radar Online.
I spent a number of hours preceding the interview listening to the programs. My son, Terry Jr., sat in on the viewing to help with any visual aspects that might be necessary to get the gist of the programs. His presence and his volunteered time were much appreciated but, as it turned out, unnecessary. The essence of the story was quite clear. I had no trouble–even being a blind guy—figuring out that this one, like the films “The Omen,” “Damien–Omen II,” and “The Final Conflict-Omen III,” was so far afield from what God’s Word prophesies as to make this mini-series unrecognizable as dealing with biblically forecast things to come.
I said above that the gist of the programs was clear. By this, I by no means meant to imply that the story line was easy to follow. The several elements of the plot were so convoluted that following the movement was itself akin to a mini-Tribulation. I.e., it was a bit cerebrally torturous to try to comprehend.
Let’s see…
The astrophysicist suffered having his young daughter kidnapped because the diabolists needed a virginal sacrifice to Satan so the Antichrist could be born–the end-product of a beast of some sort raping a Romanian woman. A virgin girl has her baby stolen from her, and the child –a male infant (Jesus Christ returned?) is found on a piece of flotsam following the sinking of a ship.
A Satanist, cult-like criminal (the false prophet?) endowed with ominous, supernatural powers is in prison, claiming to have kidnapped the girl for sacrifice, and then, a teen-age boy for a virginal blood-sacrifice to Satan…
A Catholic nun and the astrophysicist come together in a somewhat adversarial effort to find out what’s going on, the nun vowing –after much doubt of her faith— to save the reborn Christ-child and to stop the Antichrist from bringing on Armageddon and the end of days…
On second thought, I guess I didn’t get even the gist of the mini-series!
Perhaps my lack of understanding –my lack of interest in ”Revelations” as a TV program--is that I was, while watching/listening, trying to relate it to what I know to be the truth about what is coming upon the world, according to God’s Word. That quest, let me assure you, is not possible. There is no relationship.
Even more puzzling than the story line and plot of “Revelations” is that NBC –or any network—would want to throw so much money into a mini-series that involves Bible prophecy about end-of-the-world things from a Catholic perspective. The fact is, the Catholic Church views the Book of Revelation as symbolic, allegorical, or as something that has already occurred.
The Catholic view does, in some way it never clearly delineates, put forth that Christ will someday put an end to the current world-system. But, that church in no way deals –in a literal sense—with the things in Revelation or any of the other prophetic books of the Bible.
Like I said in the interview –most of which was cut by the Radar Magazine editors—if NBC, or a film company, or anyone else –perhaps Mel Gibson—wants an exciting story-line that will enthrall masses of viewers, then consult those of us who can give you the most staggering end-time story imaginable. It is a true story, although not quite yet come to pass. It is from the mind of God himself, who knows the end from the beginning!
The “Revelation” is the unveiling of Jesus Christ in all His power, majesty, and glory!
You want to WOW the TV viewers and theatergoers? Let us portray for your audiences the truth about the return of Jesus Christ to this self-destructing planet. He will not come the next time as a helpless baby who needs a nun to rescue Him. He will not be found precariously perched upon some piece of ocean flotsam following a kidnapping and a shipwreck. He is coming the next time with the armies of Heaven, as the King of kings and Lord of lords!
--Terry
