The report actually states that enemies could use millennialism to demoralize or terrorize joint forces and the American people, give strategic advantages to enemy adversaries, and disrupt coalitions, and advises that military planners should take action now to 'mitigate the effects.'
This report is a direct threat to all believers and could serve to pit the American military against a significant portion of the American civilian population. The report identifies the Bible as the source of pre-millennialism beliefs, and names Southern and Independent Baptists, and Pentecostals as the main adherents to this belief system. The report goes further to name some of the leaders, but first it names the "extraordinary" literal interpretation of the Bible, specifically the books of Daniel and Revelation, as the source of the problem: “Prominent pre-millennialist writers such as Hal Lindsey, John Walvoord, Tim LaHaye, J. Dwight Pentecost, John Hagee and others assert that their philosophy about the return of Christ has always been the doctrine of the historical church.” Page 13-14.
The report uses the term "the religious right" several times, making this a political document as well as a military one, going so far as to identify presidents who have/have not been supported by these dangerous Christians. Could naming specific names of 'dangerous' Christians, and identifying all pre-millennial believers as a problem, lead to military action against such believers? The report goes on to actually attribute specific beliefs to these Christians: "... the invasion of Iraq was for them a warm up act, predicted in the Book of Revelation…war with Islam in the Middle East is not something to be feared but welcomed – an essential conflagration on the road to redemption. (106)” Page 33 paragraph 1. These words are dangerous ones, and not reflective of the mainstream of pre-millennial thought by a long shot. I've never heard these views expressed.
It then goes on to say that presidents must send 'secret coded messages' to this group of believers in order to garner their support, the implication being that such support is needed in order to keep them from initiating some dangerous action. It seems that such far-fetched ideas and labels attached to a large section of the Christian population is inherently dangerous and lessens the objectivity, and therefore the credibility, of the American War College and what goes on there.
The report goes on in an attempt to tie George W. Bush to this dangerous Christian group, and then continues to build a case by referring to a video produced by Phillis Shafly, a Catholic, and certainly not a pre-millennialist! The author, a Major Brian L. Stuckert, U.S. Army, goes on to complain about the group's hostility to the U.N. as a tool of the Antichrist, and its hindrance in finding solutions for the Israel problem.
After a long geopolitical discourse, he then states that pre-millennialism can lead to emotional and mental problems: "...Pessimism and paranoia are two possible results of pre-millennial influence." If he's looking for pessimism and paranoia, he might find it by glancing in the mirror.
There is much more to the report, which can be found at: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA485511&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf .
Also, a much more comprehensive and excellent commentary may be found at: http://www.defendproclaimthefaith.org/StuckertReport.htm
Perhaps some good will come from the report, since it contains much Bible prophecy that we pray may have some positive impact on the spirits of those who read it. Some may even think on those things and find the Lord through the report. Stranger things have happened.
We will persevere in following the Lord's own example of waging the spiritual battle. That's the one that has already been won.
Royal Heir
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