European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Some say it s the end by David Briggs associated press p prophets of doom have a a never had it so Good. A speculation about the end of the world was expected to a heighten with the approach of the year 2000, the beginning of the third Mill mum when some believe begins the second a coming of Christ. But the outbreak of War in the biblical lands where Many christians believe the Battle of armageddon will take place has raised interest already to a fever pitch. Sales of books setting out scenarios for the final Battle of Good and evil have skyrocketed in recent weeks Quot turn on any television evangelists show and a map of the Middle East is a prominent part of. The  Quot these Are dark times a said Lou Aroma publisher of mass Market books for Bantam books. Quot the combination of War and economic instability has led Many people to think dark thoughts. They re looking to these books for  More than a million copies of armageddon Oil and the Middle East crisis have been published since december in 10 weeks estimated sales have doubled those of an earlier edition that had been in print 10 years. Its author says people have reason to fear the end Quot the actors Are getting in. Place for the final conflict Quot said John f Walvoord the 80-year-old Chancellor of Dallas theological Seminary. Meanwhile nostradamus a the 16th Century French seer reputed to have predicted the Rise and fall of Hitler and the assassination of John f. Kennedy a is enjoying a Renaissance. Some interpret his obscure poems As having foretold a massive War in the Middle East not All americans Are convinced the persian Gulf conflict is the War to end All wars foretold in the Bible Only 15 percent of the respondents to a Gallup poll late last month said the War is armageddon. Seventy four percent said the War is not armageddon while 11 percent were Uncertain. And some scoff at the prospects. A. Quot the year 2000 will come and go and the year 2001. I m not giving up my insurance Quot said James Randi author of the mask of nostradamus and a Man who has made a living debunking the supernatural but if the 60s were the age of aquarius where Promise was held out for a new world order filled with Harmony and understanding the�?T90s Are rapidly becoming the decade of the apocalypse. This most recent fascination with the end of time was inspired by the gathering of All the nations to War in the Middle a East and in particular by suggestions that Babylon has been resurgent in modern Day Iraq. A several of the prophetic books of the Bible a including Isaiah revelation and. Ezekiel to refer to the Rise and fall of Babylon. Some interpret these passages As apocalyptic accounts of the final Battle Between the lord and the enemies of Israel and the coming of the Savior to Rule Over the world. A a a a a a. Combine that with the approach of the third Mill mum and the United states May be in for a period where prophets of doom hold Sway like never before in the nation s history. A. Quot i think what we re seeing in the last decade of this Century will make the Millerine movement look like nothing Quot said James Tabor a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Quot the 1990s could end up to be the decade of apocalyptic ism. In one popular evangelical scenario an army from the North is going to attack Israel and re establish the babylonian Empire. After a new world dictator Breaks a treaty with Israel a world War entering on the israeli of theological site of ancient Megiddo a a former City in the Jezreel. Valley thought to be the biblical armageddon a will destroy up to three quarters of the world s population. According to this scenario Jesus will return and reign for 1,000 years Over a world where swords will be turned into Plo shares and the lion will Lay  the Lamb. Christians will have been spared much of the tribulation because god will carry them up to heaven in an event known As the rapture before the final conflict. Quot a Quot the rapture occurs first. It could occur today Quot Walvoord said. While few offer a specific timetable some interpreters Are already looking 1 Forward to their eternal Reward. Quot its time to rejoice for the christians. We re going Home Quot said the Rev. Charles Taylor Host of the syndicated television show today in Bible prophecy. Saddam has done Little to Dampen speculation Over armageddon. Babylon is not Only part of present Day Iraq geographically Saddam has sought to a exploit his nation s past glories and has spent millions and employed More than 1,000 workers to rebuild Babylon. _ he also has portrayed himself As the new Nebuchadnezzar the babylonian. Does today a War in the Middle East in the biblical lands where Many believe themean the end of the world is near books on the topic Are now in great demand. A reign by Good Luck Quot debunker of nostradamus such As Randi refer to the seer As the Jeane Dixon of his Day highly respected for no apparent reason. Randi said nostradamus Quot batting average was effectively Zero Quot in the 103 cases where the would be Prophet provided enough information with regard to a specific person place or time to judge the Success of a prediction. A Quot he did t even get Lucky Quot Randi said. But that has not kept Book buyers from emptying out stores of nostradamus or prevented a run on video stores of Orson Welles the Man who saw tomorrow. Quot people tend to gravitate toward any explanation whatsoever that tends to give meaning to this event Quot said or. Robert r Butterworth a los Angeles psychologist Quot uncertainty can sometimes be More painful than the most devastating . He set up a Quot nostradamus hot line for people to Call when an earthquake scare was created in California in 19$8 by the interpretation of an obscure reference to Quot a new City Quot in one poem he expats anxiety Levels to Rise again As believers Cope with visions of oncoming oblivion. Last time around people could hedge their bet by leaving the state on the Day the earthquake was predicted he said. A Quot the problem with this supposed War scenario is that there is no escape Quot. Most mainline biblical scholars give Little credence to speculation of armageddon they say it takes out of context biblical passages that were written in a specific culture and time. Period for different purposes but for others the renewed interest m arrange Don is not merely an exercise m passive speculation some Evange Fca a say Trie approaching judgment Day creates a new Uig Oncy to convert poop from other faiths to christianity a nostradamus a 16th Century Prophet is said to have predicted that the world will end in a nuclear Battle started by an islamic Leader. Warrior King who sacked  took the children of is Rae into Captivity for 50 years in the 6th Century . Little such Consolation is offered in the prophecies of nostradamus a an astrologer and physicist whose real name was Michel de Notredame he died in 1566 some nostradamus interpreters say the seer predicted the Earth will be engulfed in a nuclear third world War ignited by a Strong islamic Leader referred to cryptically As Mabus. Others see the end of the world in this passage Quot the year 1999, seven months from the sky will come a great King of terror to bring Back to life the great King .of.the.mongols. Before and after Mars to Page 14 a the stars and stripes Friday. F