Robertson says 'day of judgment' due soon for United States

Church & State, Mar 2002

The United States will soon experience a "day of judgment" from God so severe that the country won't come through it intact, TV preacher Pat Robertson has warned.

Speaking on his "700 Club" program Jan. 2, Robertson said he had spent time in prayer and asked God for information about what the year holds. The news was not good.

Robertson said God is angry because the nation hasn't truly repented since Sept. 11. He said, "Here's a few other things that the Lord said .... and this is the first person, 'I will punish men and women for' - get these things - `idolatry, sorcery, immorality, murder, violence, blasphemy and indifference to me. What is coming will be too horrible for you to contemplate. Know that the Day of Judgment is very near and warn the people to be ready.'"

Robertson said San Francisco and Detroit could be "a target of these people," adding that the attacks would probably come "through ship." He also said, "America will survive what is coming, but it won't survive in its present form. The proud will be humbled and then the time will come that they will turn to the Lord.... And, there's one last thing that the Lord led me to in Isaiah....`Destruction is certain for those who say evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.' Those who say evil is good and good is evil, and that's what's happening in this country. Certain perversions, sexual perversions, for an example, are being touted as a privileged activity, and those who oppose it are being called evil."

Despite all of the chaos, Robertson said, President George W. Bush will survive because, "The Lord told me he's going to put his mantle over George Bush to protect him. He said, `He talks to me, and I will lead him.' This is a man who prays and God's going to put his mantle on him. We're going to see - we thank God for a good leader in this nation, and God's going to bless him."

Robertson apparently rings in every new year by having a personal conversation with God. Unfortunately, the information he gets is often wrong. On Jan. 1, 1980, for example, Robertson gathered together the employees at his Christian Broadcasting Network to warn them that God had told him that the Soviet Union would invade several Middle Eastern nations, seize their oil reserves and cause the economies of Europe and the United States to collapse. This situation, Robertson said, would lead to the rise of the Antichrist. This scenario was supposed to occur by 1982 at the latest.

In other news about Robertson:

* Robertson's plans to open an oil refinery in California have collapsed. Last month The New York Times reported that Robertson has shut down Cenco, a firm he launched in 1998 with the aim of reopening a shuttered oil refinery in Santa Fe Springs, near Los Angeles.

Local residents vehemently opposed the plan, calling the refinery an environmental and health hazard. They filed suit and won an injunction from a state court, blocking the plant's reopening.

Robertson, who spent $75 million to buy and restore the refinery, decided to pull out rather than continue fighting. He plans to sell the remaining structures, equipment and land. The site will eventually become an industrial park, although analysts say Robertson won't come close to recovering his initial investment.

Robertson's problems may not be over, however. The Times reported that the deal has sparked a wealth of lawsuits. The contractors who drew up plans to update the plant are suing for $2 million for unpaid services. Former Cenco lawyers are also suing Robertson, saying they have not been paid. State officials are also in court, claiming the site is harboring hazardous waste.

This has not been a particularly good season for Robertson-related business deals. On Nov. 16, Robertson announced that a for-profit website he founded, www.Christianity.com, would shut down.

* Off to the races: Recent events do contain one bright spot for Robertson -- his racing horses are doing well. Washington City Paper reported in January that Robertson recently plunked down $520,000 for a Kentucky-bred colt he named "Mr. Pat." That horse is in training for future races, but a second Robertson-owned horse, "Tappat," has already won more than $235,000.

Ironically, the Christian Coalition, the Religious Right organization Robertson founded, has always crusaded against legalized gambling.