There is a unique, strange tendency of American right wing, fundamentalist Christians to cast around looking for evidence that they will be witness to the apocalypse. The popular hymn may state that “they will know we are Christians by our love,” but when it comes to right-wing fundamentalists, a better bet to know them is by their apocalyptic revenge fantasies.
While most of us would be alarmed if we thought we were facing down the apocalypse and a worldwide war that will kill millions, people like Michelle Bachmann can't wait: “Rather than seeing this as a negative, we need to rejoice, Maranatha Come Lord Jesus, His day is at hand.”
3 out of 4 evangelicals believe Christ will return soon. This is, of course, mostly wishful thinking—they believe they’re seeing the end of the world because they want to see the end of the world. Why would anyone want that, when the Bible they believe in predicts it will be mass murder, hellfire, and every grotesque thing imaginable?
(The fact that none of these beliefs are based on an accurate interpretation of the Bible they so readily thump seems to escape them).
1.They don’t think they’ll be around for the worst of it. Modern American fundamentalist Christians believe in something that has never before been part of Christian tradition: the Rapture. The idea is that the true believers will be whisked away into heaven before the ugly parts of the end times begin. The idea was invented in the 19th century but has caught like wildfire in 20th Century fundamentalism and amped up in the 21st Century through fantasy films like Left Behind.
2.The end of the world would mean they get to have the last word. History will tell us that end time predictions increase when people are being persecuted or feel persecuted. While conservative Christians are most definitely not being persecuted, watching their privileged position in society justifiably decline as the equality and liberty promised in the Constitution is more fully enfranchised often makes them feel persecuted (and they whine about it to no end).
3.It provides a distraction from and an excuse to avoid the real problems in the world. The appeal of apocalypse fantasies as a genre is mainly that they help believers avoid the fear of death. However, belief that the end times are near is used by conservatives all the time to direct their followers politically. The prediction that the apocalypse is near has been used to defend all manner of terrible policies; everything from indifference to environmental concerns to opposition to health insurance to preferred right-wing policies in the Middle East.
4.They want to see the non-believers punished and themselves instated as the rightful rulers of all mankind. The real message for those they regard as unsaved is to thumb their nose and do a little victory dance. That’s why, after any great tragedy, there is a rush of eager-beaver charlatans willing to say this is what people have coming for being sinners (as though we all aren't sinners?!?!?)
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