Citing an imminent end of times, former presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann rounded out a recent tour of Israel by urging Jews to convert to Christianity.
Mrs. Bachmann, a former congresswoman from Minnesota who campaigned for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, made the remarks last week on a radio program hosted by Tony Perkins, the founder of Family Research Council, a conservative Christian group.
“This week really was about biblical prophecy in many ways,” Mrs. Bachmann, an evangelical Christian, said of her trip. “And we’re seeing as events are speeding up, events are speeding up so quickly right now, and we see how relevant the Bible is, and we’re reading our newspaper, at the same time we’re learning about these biblical events, and it’s literally day by day by day, we’re seeing the fulfillment of Scripture right in front of our eyes, even while we’re on the ground.
“We recognize the shortness of the hour,” she said, “and that’s why we as a remnant want to be faithful in these days and do what it is that the Holy Spirit is speaking to each one of us, to be faithful in the Kingdom and to help bring in as many as we can — even among the Jews — share Jesus Christ with everyone that we possibly can because, again, he’s coming soon.”
Mrs. Bachmann’s remarks were first spotted by Right Wing Watch, an organization founded by the People for the American Way, a church-state separation advocacy group, and quickly drew the attention of Jewish leaders in the United States.
“A statement like Ms. Bachmann’s should serve to remind Jews that missionizing is, unfortunately, alive and well, and that we must always be on the lookout for it,” Rabbi Avi Shafran, a spokesman for Agudath Israel of America, told The Jerusalem Post. “It also should be a reminder of the importance of Jewish education, since the surest defense against missionizing is authentic Jewish knowledge.”
The former presidential contender had been in Israel participating in an event organized by the Family Research Council advertised as “a unique, one-of-a kind tour where you will not only explore the land of the Bible and the roots of our Christian faith, but you will hear directly from some of Israel’s political and religious leaders.” Her mother and about 120 others embarked on the trip, she posted on Instagram.
Last month, Mrs. Bachmann suggested on Twitter that damage caused by Hurricane Joaquin was a result of the U.S. policy with respect to Israel. Earlier this year, she said the world risked economic and natural disasters if the Obama administration continued to “turn our back on Israel.”
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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