My insights on this topic came from reading a [free] Chapter in Georgo Soros book ("The Bubble of American Supremacy: Correcting the Misuse of American Power") and after listening to a presentation he made on CSPAN.

From a "Frontpage" interview with Soros:
One of the "important considerations" in our decision to invade Iraq, Soros contends, much like the rest of the Arab world, was Israel. "A large number of religious fanatics in the United States believe that the rebirth of Israel presages the apocalypse and the second coming of the messiah," he writes. "Since the apocalypse involves the destruction of Israel, Israel might be better off without friends like this. [But] President Bush"felt obliged to pay attention to his constituency. Establishing a strong military presence in Iraq would help to transform the political complexion of the entire region. This would reassure Israel and weaken the Palestinian extremists."
The "Frontpage" interview is here
http://www.frontpagemag.com/articles/readarticle.asp?ID=15737&p=1

George is a rags to riches story. Por man to billionaire. Work ethic and prescience (the ability to see the future - or make good judgements on what the future may look like) are the attributes that got him to this point in his life. So, what he says, may have some useful weightings.

Rock On
Terry


>We can't let our doubts interfere with the chance for peace. It neds to stop soon. It's not just Muslims that are angry at Israel - there are "second coming" evengelical christians praying for the fall of Israel to hasten the return of the "lord". There's a bunch of people baiting the fall of Israel.
>>
>SNIP
>Terry,
>
>I'm not at all well versed on the subject (the Rapture) but that is not my reading of the situation.
>I see it rather as follows:
>The Evangelicals have decided that they cannot trust their God to take care of things so that the Rapture can occur at it's 'scheduled' time so they have taken it upon themselves to protect Isreal at any cost. They profess a love for Israel while their motive is really only to assure their existence so that the Rapture can proceed as "prescribed".
>
>These are the self-same Evangelicals who decry abortion because it is "killing" yet NEED to be sure to have Jews around to be annihilated as the price of entry to the Rapture.
>
>This Rapture thingy is obviously far far more powerful than any drug known to man.
>
>I **think** I have the kernal of the issue correct, in which case I can only conclude that this is a brand of "Christianity" that is about as confused as the radical Muslims