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Very shortly after Buck gave a generic answer to what was really a spiritual
question, (see the article: "Buck's
"Relying on God for an Answer" Resulted in Him NOT Confessing Christ
Before Men")
he was confronted with an incredible temptation by Carpathia: "Trust me!
Stay with me! Join me! You can fulfill all your dreams!"
"I can offer you a position, a publication, a staff, a headquarters, and
even a retreat, that will allow you to do all you have ever wanted to do and
even live in Chicago."-end quote Tribulation Force page 132)"
Before we study Buck's response, let me interject that this temptation reminds
me of the one Christ was presented with in the wilderness by Satan himself.
"The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him
all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him,
(Jesus) All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship
me."-Matthew 4:8,9
It makes sense that Carpathia's offer to Buck would be reminiscent of the
devil's offer to Jesus, considering Carpathia's fictional identity being that of
Antichrist.
Did Jesus reason with the devil and ask to hear in more explicit detail the
specifics of his offer? We know the answer to that. Jesus said, "Get thee
hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him
only shalt thou serve."- Matthew 4:10
What was Buck's response to Carpathia's enticing offer? "This I've got to
hear," he said. Tribulation Force page 132
God's word says that God will not "suffer you to be tempted above that ye
are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be
able to bear it."
Buck wasn't looking for an escape, but for an opening, and he got it.
After hearing more of Carpathia's bargainings and pleas, Buck said, "I
can't imagine being involved in such a venture."
Now, we see something seemingly positive unfolding in Buck's conscience. But
wait...this statement was not made because Buck knew it would be sin to work for
the Antichrist, thus furthering his agenda, but because "there's no
credibility in such a venture! "It would not be taken seriously!" and
because he would not be able to do the job with proper journalism ethics.
Carpathia insists that Buck think about it, and that he will not take no for an
answer, and that he wants Buck to run Global Community Publishing... and that he
is going to get Buck for an employee, guaranteeing him complete freedom.
I suppose the highest level Satanist in the world will allow Buck to work for
him while Buck seeks first the kingdom of God? Not in real life or in
fiction, as you know if you've read the Left Behind series.
Whew! Isn't this just how the devil operates in real life?
Buck was declining for the wrong reasons, and (in real life) any believer
dialoging, bargaining and considering Satan's offers is already flinging his
armor off and getting ready to be defeated by his prowling and
"seeking-whom-he-may-devour" foe.
Buck decided to cover the singing of the treaty, which, even though he was
leaning toward not working for Carpathia, would put him shoulder-to-shoulder
with temptation again.
Although Buck should have gone to the word of
God first with much fasting and prayer, he did go to seek his pastor's
advice. He did not keep in mind that God's word has far more authority than
man's opinions. Once his pastor told him he should consider this offer, he
should have run to the word of God and stayed there until he had the mind of
Christ on the matter. The reader is following Buck in his dilemma, and he
is certainly not learning from the narrative what Buck SHOULD have done.
Next we'll look at how this sin of serving in the Antichrist's employ was made
into looking like it was a directive from God for a holy purpose. See the
article: Sinning
is Presented as an Opportunity to Serve God!
return to: Exposing False
Doctrines in the Left Behind Series
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