Robertson's predictions for 2007

Pat Robertson reveals God's predictions for 2007

Televangelist sincerely believes God speaks to him, his former ghost-writer says

by JewsOnFirst, January 7, 2007

As he has in the past, God confided his predictions of major upcoming events to televangelist Pat Robertson. Robertson generously relayed the alerts to his "700 Club" viewers -- and thus to the rest of the world.

Most notably, there would be an attack by "evil ones" featuring "mass killing," Robertson said. “I'm not saying necessarily nuclear, the Lord didn't say nuclear.” But, he added, “It'll be mass killing, possibly millions of people, major cities."

Predictably, Robertson's revelations were met with ridicule. News reports reminded of his recent embarassing pronouncements: attributing Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke and subsequent coma to Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip; advocating that the Bush administration assassinate Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez.

Given the media's scorn, we wondered what benefit Robertson gets from divulging God's confidences. It couldn't be helping the Christian Coalition he founded, the launch vehicle for the Christian right's electoral power. That organization is faltering toward oblivion.

Rev. Mel White cautions against laughing off Robertson
We turned to Rev. Mel White, the co-founder of Soulforce, an organization committed to ending religiously based bigotry against gays and lesbians. White ghost-wrote Robertson's biography America's Dates with Destiny for the televangelist's 1988 presidential campaign.

White is also the author of a new book, Religion Gone Bad: The Hidden Dangers of The Christian Right. We will post our recorded conversation with him next week.

White cautioned against laughing at Robertson. He said it is important to understand that Robertson "really believes that God does speak to him in a unique way. There is nothing more terrifying than that. When we listen to him, we say 'outlandish.' But when we laugh him off we underestimate the power of this fellow." We must, said White, "come to terms with his sincerity."

It's also good for business, isn't it? we asked White. He answered that "prophecy helps [Robertson] stay on the air. There are double motives there: he believes it and at the same time he knows it works. These people understand demographics better than any one else in the world."

The media may ridicule Robertson, but, noted White, he "speaks to millions of true believers."

Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network is his means of communication. We looked at CBN's financial statement, proudly displayed on its website. It posted "ministry support and revenues" of $437.4 million for its 2006 fiscal year, up from 2005.

Robertson's Christian Coalition might be staggering, but the reach of his flourishing broadcast operation is global.

U.S. Christian broadcaster predicts terrorist attack

By Andy Sullivan, Reuters, San Diego Union-Tribune, January 3, 2007

WASHINGTON – Conservative Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson says God told him a terrorist attack will result in “mass killing” in the United States in the second half of 2007. “I'm not saying necessarily nuclear, the Lord didn't say nuclear,” Robertson said Tuesday on his television show “The 700 Club.” “It'll be mass killing, possibly millions of people, major cities.

“The evil people will come after this country and there's a possibility, not a possibility, a definite certainty, that chaos is going to rule,” he added. Continue.

Robertson predicts 'mass killing' by terrorists in U.S. this year

By Hannah Elliott, Associated Baptist Press, January 3, 2007

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (ABP) -- In the latest of a long-but-unsuccessful line of predictions and prophecies, Pat Robertson said Jan. 2 the United States will face a massive terrorist attack in late 2007.

The 76-year-old religious broadcaster uttered his prediction during the Jan. 2 broadcast of The 700 Club, his news-and-commentary show on the Christian Broadcasting Network. Robertson said that, during a recent time of prayer, God revealed to him an attack on the United States would result in "mass killing," according to news reports.

"I'm not necessarily saying it's going to be nuclear," Robertson said. "The Lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe it will be something like that." An Associated Press story quoted Robertson as saying major cities will be affected by the attack, which he said will happen after September.

Several Baptist theologians and ethicists condemned the televangelist's latest remarks. Continue.

Pat Robertson Predicts 'Mass Killing'

Associated Press, BeliefNet, January 3, 2006

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Jan. 3 - In what has become an annual tradition of prognostications, religious broadcaster Pat Robertson said Tuesday God has told him that a terrorist attack on the United States would result in "mass killing" late in 2007. Continue.

Robertson dubiously claimed "relatively good track record" on predictions

Media Matters for America, January 4, 2007

In his widely reported comments from the January 2 edition of the Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club, during which he predicted that there would be "very serious terrorist attacks" and "mass killing" in the United States in the "second half" of 2007, host Pat Robertson boasted that he had "a relatively good track record" on earlier predictions. But a review of Robertson's 2006 New Year's predictions undermines that claim. Click to continue and view the video of Robertson predicting.

Satire by Andy Borowitz: God Denies Talking to Pat

By Andy Borowitz, Truthdig, January 5, 2007

Just days after the Rev. Pat Robertson claimed on his “700 Club” program that God had warned him of “mass killings” that would occur in the United States late in 2007, God held a rare press conference today to deny having spoken to the controversial televangelist.

For the usually publicity-shy King of the Universe, the press conference at the Chicago Airport Marriott signaled a sharp break with tradition.

Appearing before the press in his trademark flowing robes and white beard, and carrying what appeared to be a lightning bolt, God said he had decided to convene the extraordinary press briefing because “I had to set the record straight about this.” Continue.

Many evangelicals cringe at doomsayer's prophecies

Pat Robertson draws viewers, but pastors say his remarks make Christians look bad

by Matthai Chakko Kuruvila, San Francisco Chronicle, January 7, 2007

Pat Robertson may be the founder of the once-powerful Christian Coalition. He may attract nearly a million viewers a day to his "700 Club" television show. But when he claims to make divine prophecies -- as he did, again, last week -- many evangelicals say he undermines the credibility of their beliefs. Continue.

Robertson's television operation takes in almost half a billion dollars

Christian Broadcasting Network Financial Statement

According to a financial statement published on its website, for its most recent fiscal year the Christian Broadcasting Network has "ministry support and revenues" of $437.4 million. Click here.