I am having a splendid email conversation with a Christian leader who does not share my view of Bible prophecy. I have taken issue with his harsh rhetoric about Bible prophecy students and teachers, and pro Israel Christians—or, to be more precise—Christian Zionists.

He feels our insistence that the Bible speaks of a society that is spiraling downward into immorality is a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. That is, if one believes the world is getting worse, one tends to pull back from helping others, taking care of the environment, etc.

It’s an interesting theory, but it doesn’t square with reality.

I’ve never known a Bible prophecy teacher who was anything but engaged in helping the plight of his fellow man. I do not litter, my family recycles, and we support animal shelters.

Most of the Bible-believing Christians I know give of their surplus to those in need, and they do it enthusiastically.

My late friend and mentor, David Allen Lewis, was both a pioneer in bringing Israelis and Palestinians together and robustly engaged in feeding the hungry. David, I love you and miss you.

So the charge of the fellow on the other side of the keyboard is bogus. He’s a smart guy and I suspect deep down he knows this, but in opposing a “future” view of Bible prophecy, he must set up his opponents as straw men. Or scarecrows.

As I often say, what you read in the Bible is what you see in the real world: Israel reborn; a global economy; a growing global religion; intensifying hostility of Jews and the state of Israel; false teachers in the Church. The list goes on.

Prophecy is so valid and so based in reality one wonders—truly—how anyone could reject it.

I hold out hope for my e-pal.