Just in case you were planning to send official diplomatic correspondence to Iraq, you might want to be aware that they've changed the country’s official name. Nathan Brown, a Middle East expert at George Washington University, writes on Juan Cole’s blog:
The country's official name in 1920 was the "State of Iraq." Following the overthrow of the monarchy in 1958, the name was changed to the "Republic of Iraq" (or, more literally, the "Iraqi Republic.")
At some point last year, the older name--the "State of Iraq"--was restored. I do not know precisely who did this and why, but it seems to have been done by the CPA some time last year. CPA legal documents are now issued for the "State of Iraq." UN Security Council Resolution 1511 (passed last October) uses the restored term, and the transitional Administrative Law--signed in March 2004 but named (as far as I know) for the first time in November 2003--is formally the "Law of Administration of the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period." (However, some internal Iraqi documents still refer to it as a republic.)
I’m just glad they only went back to 1920. Imagine if they had gone back further into the country’s history and named the country Babylonia. Can you imagine what that would do to our pre-mill fundie brethren? They would be going nuts. Hal Lindsey would be able to sell another 28 million copies of the “The Late, Great Planet Earth."*
*Note: For those not familiar with the arcane of ‘70’s American Fundamentalism, you can use these links to learn more about the book and End Times speculation.
(Hat tip: Robert Tagorda)
Heh-heh. If we every have the pleasure of enjoying a cup of coffee or some other suitable beverage together, Mr. Carter, please remind me to tell you the anecdote about the unpublishable sermon on dispensationalism given by an absent-minded pastor friend of mine.
"Can you imagine what that would do to our pre-mill fundie brethren? They would be going nuts."
LOL
Gideon,
I'm tempted to make the trek to Canada just to hear that story. ; )
We could read about a tree falling in the Middle East and I'd hear an end-times pundit on the radio spelling out how that ties into Bible prophecy, name change to Babylon? Are you kidding? I'd have to cover my ears.
How about "Superior Arabia"?
*LOL* Oh my, that's really funny speculation!
I've been so far removed from that people with that sort of thinking--do you know whether they are drawing apocolyptic speculations with the current war?
Well for your sakes I guess you have to hope you are right and they are wrong. After all who would believe some hick with wild hair and bad outfits. On the other hand half the prophets in the Bible were hicks with wild hair and bad outfits.
Fun link, Joe. Loved the "candidates" list. Juan Carlos?
If only we could get the Muslims to laugh at THEIR "fundie brethren"!
TulipGirl: I've been so far removed from that people with that sort of thinking--do you know whether they are drawing apocolyptic speculations with the current war?
You know, that’s a good question. I used to be a dispensationalist myself (for the longest time I didn’t know there was anything else). I even remember Lindsey’s book being talked about in church when I was a boy. For some reason, a large percentage of pre-mill people find eschatology the most interesting part of theology. That’s why I don’t doubt that many of them are adding the latest war into their interpretations .
Sam: Well for your sakes I guess you have to hope you are right and they are wrong. After all who would believe some hick with wild hair and bad outfits. On the other hand half the prophets in the Bible were hicks with wild hair and bad outfits.
Hicks with wild hair and bad outfits? You just described my entire extended family (and about a third of my home state). I could be wrong about the speculators but I just think they add to much extra-biblical material when they make their predictions. There are also too many holes in the pre-mill theology (for example, a pre-trib rapture requires Jesus to make two “Second Comings”).
As for the OT prophets, they were exhorters of prophecy, not interpreters of it. That’s why I don’t think the comparison is fitting.
Bob: Fun link, Joe. Loved the "candidates" list. Juan Carlos?
Yeah, Juan Carlos was a new one on me too. My prediction is that a Muslim (other than Saddam) will finally make the list. Islamic leaders just haven’t gotten much respect as candidates for the Anti-Christ.
We weren't told of an end-time to keep it a surprise. All we know is that it is closer now than it ever was, and that fact will be more true tomorrow morning.
I was struck going down the links about how the popular Left Behind series' similarities to Salem Kirban's end-time novel 666. Struck, nothing -- my head exploded on that one.
I read 666 during my high school days. It is probably the worst fiction I have ever read, and I've read a lot. (Check out furry & anime fanzines for some examples of really bad writing.)
666 is literally the Christian Eye of Argon, it is that awful.
Naturally, it's still in print.