The Earth Charter’s Unholy Ark Of Hope

http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/2002/ark.html

“…volunteers began walking with the Ark of Hope from Vermont to New York City, where it will be given to the United Nations…. It contains a copy of the Earth Charter…..

“The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century. It is the product of a commission with representatives from every corner of the globe, including recognized world leaders such as Mikhail Gorbachev from Russia and … Steven C. Rockefeller….  The drafting effort involved more than 100,000 people in 51 countries.” Ark of Hope

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“We stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history,” begins the Earth Charter, “a time when humanity must choose its future.”

That may be true. But this global contract, which outlines the needs of the planet and the “responsibilities” of its human inhabitants, points to a mandatory “choice” that differs radically from the Christian position. “Fundamental changes,” it tells us, “are needed in our values, institutions, and ways of living.” The old ways are out. A new set of beliefs, values and behavior must unify “the one human family” and ensure lasting peace.

The Ark of Hope — built to carry the Earth Charter — fits this agenda well. In contrast to the original Ark of the Covenant which housed the Ten Commandments, today’s imitation mocks God’s truth and honors the world’s spiritual alternatives. Now on a pilgrimage to inspire reverence for the earth and support for global socialism, this profane replica brings new images and affirmations to the UN call for an earth-centered spirituality.[1]

At first glance, the new Ark looks just like the familiar depictions of the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant. A 49″ x 32″ x 32″ wooden chest with carrying rods on each side, it brings to mind the Israelites forty-year journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land. Back then, God was teaching His precious people to understand His holiness and their need for uncompromising purity before Him. Only the Levites could carry the Ark, and this select tribe could only lift the ark by the attached poles. Nothing profane or unholy could touch God’s sacred ark, for it signified His glorious presence among His people.[2]

Aside from their shape and name, the two arks have little in common. The website for the Ark of Hope tells us that “the  96″ carrying poles are unicorn horns which render evil ineffective.“[3] Apparently, the ark’s message is based, in part, on a Harry Potter-like faith in earthy magic and benevolent occultism.

The five painted panels of the Ark are decorated with “indigenous symbolism celebrating Earth and all her living elements.” Like the Native American medicine shield or the quartered circle of contemporary witchcraft, “each panel visualizes a season, a direction [north, east, south & west], one of the five elements, and a universal symbol.” The top panel celebrates the magical symbols of the world’s earth-centered religions.

It all makes sense! In a world that hates Biblical absolutes and loves its own illusions of unity and peace apart from God, symbolic art becomes a powerful tool for change. For “image and form have the power to transform consciousness,” explains Sally Linder who designed and painted the ark. “The artwork the students created, and the Ark itself, carry a powerful message of peace, goodwill, love of Earth, and healing.”[4]

With today’s emphasis on “honoring the past and imagining the future,”[5] many see nothing wrong with redesigning the “memories” of the past to reflect their vision of the future. Many environmental visionaries have called for “new stories”[6] that replace the old truths and redirect our values. The message in this new ark serves the purpose well. It puts new meaning into old memories and usurps the honor inherent in the original. But that’s part of the UN plan. There is little appreciation for God’s law and His treasured covenant (the binding agreement He made with His people long ago)[7] in our pluralistic, postmodern age.

To fill the vacuum, even staunch Communists such as Mikhail Gorbachev call for spiritual revival. They envision a union of religions, all molded and conformed to a global, earth-centered spirituality. The gods, spirits and pantheistic forces of indigenous religions fit right in. Long a promoter of the Earth Charter and its socialist regulations, the former Soviet ruler knows well that strategic visual images inspire the masses and speed transformation. [See The State of the World according to Gorbachev]

So does Maurice Strong, the powerful founder and leader of the Earth Council. Though usually hidden behind the scenes, Strong is no minor player in this global contest for the minds of the masses. He led the UN Environmental Programme, directed the 1972 and 1992 UN Conferences on the Environment and Development,[8] founded Planetary Citizens, directed the World Future Society and founded and co-chaired the World Economic Forum. He is a member of the Club of Rome, trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation and Aspen Institute, a member of the UN Commission on Global Governance, and Senior Advisor to the World Bank as well as to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan [See Towards A Rapid Reaction Capability for the UN].

Maurice Strong has been working closely with Steven C. Rockefeller, professor emeritus of religion at Middlebury College.[9] Rockefeller has chaired the Earth Charter Drafting Committee since 1995 and has, apparently, linked a part of the Rockefeller fortune to the promotion of the Earth Charter’s Initiative. If the Charter wins the consent of “the people,” it would only be a matter of time before its rules would replace the rights granted by the U.S. Constitution. American sovereignty and our treasured liberty would fast fade. It’s happening already. [See Trading U.S. Rights for UN Rules]

Few globalists have advanced the Earth Charter and its message more zealously than Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary-General of the UN. He led the design team for UNESCO’s Global Education Project and helped pave the way for “lifelong learning” — a cradle-to-grave education system that has already been implemented in the United States through Clinton’s Goals 2000 and the Bush administration’s “Leave No Child Behind.”

Muller’s World Core Curriculum, used as a pattern for learning in nations around the world, matches the spiritual message of the Ark of Hope. Inspired by occultist Alice Bailey’s spirit guide, it calls for schooling in planetary citizenship long before a child learns his or her national or local identity.[10]

I first heard Muller promote the Earth Charter on June, 21, 1995 at a UN celebration at the University of California at Berkeley. In his keynote message he described three stages in the history of the United Nations:

1. “The first period took up human rights. … The UN Charter was for humans, and no one thought of the earth.”

2. “By 1980, suddenly climatologists warned us that climate might go berserk. The atmosphere was getting warmer and warmer because of CO2.”

3. “This is the third period. Now Earth is number 1. Humanity is number 2. … Now, we must deal with rights of the planet…. There will be an Earth Charter – I got a letter a few weeks ago from the International Council on Human Duties. It asked how we could have human rights but not human duties and responsibilities. I suggested we put this need as an item on the floor of the UN Assembly. We need a universal declaration of ethics and a universal declarations of duties and responsibilities.”

“We need a world court with an ethic to condemn this kind of action,” Muller continued, referring to American lifestyles. “We need ethics for…” — here he listed what he considered the most glaring planetary evils: large families, over-consumption,  garbage, business, religious differences….

He admitted that the charter must be flexible, one that can be defined or interpreted according to the world’s changing needs and perceptions: “We need ethics in time,” he said. “What is right today may not be right tomorrow.”

Muller suggested that “each nation establish commissions on ethics to control every aspect of ethics.” It would include a Commission on Spirituality (“I told the Dalai Lama to do it”) and a Commission on Communication (“I told Ted Turner” to do it). “The next millennium must heal what is wrong!”

When Muller finished and invited the audience to ask questions, a man asked, “In a pluralistic world, would a centralized institution tend to become insensitive to ideas other than its own? If the UN becomes involved in spirituality, could it cause church-state violations?”

Though the man sounded thoughtful and justifiably concerned, his questions triggered strange and hostile reactions. An angry woman in the audience shouted: “In Oklahoma we saw the result of men who hate our central government.” She stormed out.

Then Muller’s showed his irrational intolerance and deep resentment toward U.S. freedom and sovereignty: “The US behaves like the first 13 states behaved in the days of Washington. Diversity is beautiful, but these differences cannot condone saying as the US says, ‘I’m right and all others are wrong! … To h___ with it!”

Enraged, he turned away from the platform and refused to answer any more questions. Could such arrogance be the norm among the champions of the Earth Charter? Will the oppressive spirits of the new world order lead to a unity based on absolute compliance to totalitarian standards?

Throughout the Bible, God warns us that man’s timeless pursuit of pagan gods and demonic spirits will bring disaster:

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget… Otherwise… your heart will become proud…. You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’…  If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods…you will surely be destroyed.” (Deuteronomy 8:10-20)

Does that “good land” sound like America today? This warning was given to ancient Israel, but God tells us in Corinthians 10 that these principles hold true for us today. From a Biblical perspective, the pagan Ark of Hope represents idolatry as well as outright mockery and blasphemy (a politically incorrect word that few dare use today).

God tells us that in the “last days” Christians will suffer terrible persecution under a global government that hates our God. Some kind of ‘abomination of desolation… in the Holy Place,’ will demonstrate Satan’s ultimate blasphemy against the holy King of the universe.

Re-inventing the Old Testament’s most sacred treasure and presenting it to the world as a pagan icon comes close to the kind of abomination one might expect. In the wake of Middle-Eastern conflicts, the counterfeit ark with its global green covenant might even find its way into an international temple in a UN-controlled Jerusalem dedicated to spiritual unity and pagan peace.

But that’s just speculation. Even if it would happen, the masses would hardly blink. They have learned to tolerate the rising tide of profanity and may never notice how values have turned upside-down. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil….”

The fact is that our mighty “God will not be mocked.” (Gal 6:7) We don’t know how He will work out the details of His final plan, but those who trust Him can count on His promises. When the King of the universe tells us, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” we can reply with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb 13:5)