The recent remake and release (on 6-6-06) of the 1976 horror movie, "The Omen," has generated considerable attention. As the reader may, or may not, be aware, the movie revolves around a toddler Antichrist born of satanic/human parentage whose presence is accompanied by strange and negative happenings.
We found the recent comments of John Moore, director of the current remake, more than a little interesting. When asked by a BBC (British Broadcasting Company) interviewer if he were not merely riding a current wave of popularity in terms of religiously oriented themes such as "The Passion of the Christ" and "The DaVinci Code," his reply was "No." Nor was he trying to make some sort of metaphoric statement, he continued - it is simply his conviction that the movie's theme reflects the world's present state.
On this subject, director Moore had earlier stated, "The true nature of evil is never more apparent. In just the past four years alone, the world has been hit with devastating events - political, natural and man-made." It was his following statement, however, that really gained our attention: "One can't help but notice a certain momentum."
At this point Mr. Moore's remarks are much in line with biblical prophecy. It is to our loss that we have sometimes failed to recognize Christ's Olivet Discourse as definitive, not only in terms of that which is to come (thus Paul's reiteration of Christ's basic outline in his Thessalonian treatises), but also in relation to order and sequence.
In his Prophetic Discourse, Jesus portrays a progressive development beginning with "early birth pangs" ("beginning of sorrows," KJV) and leading to a final state wherein human annihilation is averted only by divine intervention for "the elect's sake" (Matt. 24:8,22). Against this backdrop, Jesus offers this exhortation: "Most people's love will grow cold; but the one who endures to the end shall be delivered" (vv. 12,13). Simply stated, one will search the entire Discourse in vain for any escapist "Pre-tribulation Rapture."
Mr. Moore's comments as to "a certain momentum" brought to mind Jesus' further statement that at his coming world conditions will be the same "as it was in the days of Noah" and, again, "as it was in the days of Lot" (Luke 17:26-30). Little discernment is required to recognize the latter trend in terms of present burgeoning debauchery interests. Nor is it illogical to similarly anticipate a not far distant escalation of Noahic era pursuit in terms of spirit/human interaction as well (the "sons of God" of Genesis 6 referring to fallen angels or demons - within this context known as "incubi" and/or "succubi").
In so prophesying an end time pursuit of the demonic as expressed in the totally rebellious and deeply occultic - together with its consequent violence and abolute commitment to evil (Gen. 6:5), Christ grants important insight into the time of the end. (Indeed, apart from our Lord's prophecy concerning "the days of Lot," who might have anticipated the increasingly ubiquitous and militant promotion of moral perversion in our day?)
But again, "He that shall endure to the end shall be delivered."
Burl Ratzsch
