‘Til Kingdom Come

14 Sep

Description: In a forest clearing outside of Binghamtown, Kentucky, a man in a backward pointing baseball cap unloads practice targets from his pickup truck and hangs them off trees. He then fires rounds using a semi automatic weapon. This is our introduction to Associate Pastor William Boyd Bingham IV, who in contrast to these images is a reflective soft spoken man, the third generation of preachers to serve in the Binghamtown Baptist Church. His is an Evangelical congregation in Middlesboro county, one of the most deprived in the nation yet a major contributor to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. This organisation, founded by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and now headed by his daughter Yael, is now the largest welfare charity in Israel with a budget of $118m in 2018. In addition to helping the needy, it encourages Jewish immigration into Israel and rallies Churches abroad to support the country. American Evangelists now rival Jewish organisations like AIPAC in their fundraising for Israel.

The Evangelists believe in the Rupture prophecy that foretells the return of the Jews to Israel will be followed by a period of violent tribulations and will culminate with Armageddon, a terrible final war that will herald the return of Christ. And what of the Jews? Most will perish. Those that survive will convert to Christianity. For some of these believers, any provocation that generates backlash and increases suffering and the cycle of bloodshed is a positive outcome: the promised ‘tribulations.’ The protests following the move of the American Embassy to Jerusalem led to 58 deaths and thousands injured. Recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and cutting UNWRA funding for Palestinian welfare are all part of the plan. With two key members of Trump’s cabinet evangelical: Pence and Pompeo, this agenda is being vigorously advanced.

Bingham leads a group of evangelist pilgrims to Israel. They visit and volunteer at an IFCJ food distribution centre. He takes time, alone and away from his group, to politely listen to a Palestinian Catholic cleric complain about the negative influence of evangelists on the prospects for peaceful co-existence between Arabs and Jews. He claims to be unconvinced, but is he secretly rooting for more confrontation and bloodshed? The Ecksteins go on fundraising trips to the United States. Yael visits the Binghamtown church and later pledges $5m of her charity’s money at an IDF fundraiser. Lastly, we witness the efforts of Israeli settlers who are now engaging directly with evangelist US congressmen to advance their cause.

Merits: On WMIK, a radio station owned by the Binghamtown Baptist Church, a presenter seems elated by reports of bombings in Israel, some next to children. This gives her hope that redemption is closer. Zinshtein allows her protagonists to do the talking although she relies on Israeli television presenters to explain the Rupture prophecy for the benefit of Israeli audiences. The few questions we hear her pose are respectful yet pointed. The sequences with the younger Bingham pastor driving through Middlesboro county, cleaning his gun and bathing in the dead sea are haunting, beautifully shot by cinematographer Abraham Troen. The explosive blend of fanaticism, hypocrisy and cynicism exposed here is mind-boggling. Maya Zinshtein garnered many awards for her superb 2016 documentary Forever Pure. This film will surely earn her more.

Rating: Suitable for all audiences.

Programming considerations: May be an excellent companion to Kings of Capitol Hill. Will be controversial in some markets.

RELIGIONSETTLERSEVANGELICAL MOVEMENT

David Shem-Tov

‘Til Kingdom Come

Listening In

With Slight Steps