Dear Brethren:
Bernard Lewis, Professor Emeritus at Princeton, is perhaps America’s most respected expert on Islam and the Middle East.
Lewis published a piece in the Wall Street Journal on August 8. Its title: “August 22.” You are probably asking, “What about August 22 is so significant the Journal would devote a huge amount of space to this topic?”
To answer this question (and since we cannot link to the Journal), we are presenting relevant excerpts. Since I am not a believer in religious “dates,” I am inclined to dismiss this type of thinking. However, I have read some of Prof. Lewis’ other writings and am persuaded that his eminence is well deserved. He is well balanced, thoughtful and has a realistic understanding of militant, extremist Islam.
So, draw your own conclusions from the excerpts below.
Please join me in prayer:
• America deserves Your Judgments, yet we cry out for Mercy. Confound all evil plans of Iran by Your Mighty Power. In the Name of Jesus, AMEN (2 Chr 20:1-26; Is 60:2-3; Acts 2:16-19a; 4:24-33).
Harry Valentine, CHPA Founder/Publisher
- “It seems increasingly likely that the Iranians either have or very soon will have nuclear weapons at their disposal…The language used by Iranian President Ahmadinejad would seem to indicate the reality and indeed the imminence of this threat…
- “There is a radical difference between the Islamic Republic of Iran and other governments with nuclear weapons. This difference is expressed in what can only be described as the apocalyptic worldview of Iran’s present rulers…
- “Even in the past it was clear that terrorists claiming to act in the name of Islam had no compunction in slaughtering large numbers of fellow Muslims…
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- “The phrase ‘Allah will know his own’ is usually used to explain such apparently callous unconcern; it means that while infidel, i.e., non-Muslim, victims will go to a well-deserved punishment in hell, Muslims will be sent straight to heaven. According to this view, the bombers are in fact doing their Muslim victims a favor by giving them a quick pass to heaven and its delights…
- “In Islam, as in Judaism and Christianity, there are certain beliefs concerning the cosmic struggle at the end of time…Mr. Ahmadinejad and his followers clearly believe that this time is now and that the terminal struggle has already begun and is indeed well advanced. It may even have a date, indicated by several references by the Iranian president to giving his final answer to the U.S. about nuclear development by Aug. 22…
- “What is the significance of Aug. 22? …
- “This might well be deemed an appropriate date for the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary of the world. It is far from certain that Mr. Ahmadinejad plans any such cataclysmic events precisely for Aug. 22. But t would be wise to bear the possibility in mind…” (Bernard Lewis, WSJ, August 8, 2006).
