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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, NOVEMBER 4, 1983
Thomas Dine, executive director of the American-Israel Public
Affairs Committee, confirmed on Friday that Reagan had called him
Oct. 18 to thank him for help in striking a war powers compromise
with Congress over the Marine peacekeeping mission.
Reagan,
according to Dine, noted that the night before he had talked to
the parents of a Marine killed in Beirut, then went on to say:
"You know, I turn back to your ancient prophets in the Old Testa
ment and the signs foretelling Armageddon, and I find myself won
dering if--if we're the generation that is gofng to see that come
about.
� �- -�- -�-
"I don't know if you've noted any of those prophecies lately,
but, believe me, they certainly describe the times we're going
through."
Actually, it is in Revelation, the last book of the New Testament
of the Bible, in which Armageddon is prophesied as the site of
the final, destructive battle between good and evil, to occur on
Judgment Day.
The White House press office had no comment when asked about the
conversation, which originally was reported by Wolf Blitzer in
the JERUSALEM POST. Blitzer said, "Someone gave me a transcript
which I believed to be authentic." Dine confirmed its authenti
city on Friday.
Recently, during the midst of the twin crises in Lebanon and Grenada, yet
another incident occurred in which a half-crazed, potentially dangerous
individual tried to approach the President, this time on a golf course in
Georgia. More personal dangers lie ahead. In a few days, Mr. Reagan is
scheduled to visit several countries in Asia, including South Korea. A few
days ago, sources in North Korea made crude threats that the President's
life may be in danger if he goes to Seoul. The North Koreans, it must be
remembered, were behind the brutal ambush murder of 17 South Korean
officials in Rangoon, Burma, including four cabinet ministers and the
nation's top economic adviser, whom I met in Seoul in 1977.
It might be good to reflect on these ever present dangers and apply
I Timothy 2:1-2 on Mr. Reagan's behalf.
--Gene H. Hogberg, News Bureau