"A religious academic says the Exclusive Brethren's $1 million election campaign for a National-led government was more about bringing on Armageddon than New Zealand's wellbeing.

The comments, from Victoria University senior lecturer Dr Marion Maddox, come amid ongoing revelations about the secretive sect's involvement in the last election. The Brethren collected a $1.2m war-chest and prepared brochures supporting National leader Don Brash during the campaign. After legal advice, the brochures were changed to attack Labour and the Greens, and cost less than $1m…

…Brethren businessmen met MPs from most political parties before the election, taking a document titled "Suggested Initiatives for Prosperity in New Zealand" which called for a boost in defence spending and support for the "war on terror", among other things.”

The Exclusive Brethren are a subgroup of the Plymouth Brethren, founded on the teachings of the Rev’d John Darby.

Although it’s a small religious sect, it’s doctrine of “premillenial dispensationalism” has been spread widely through other denominations.

Even more significantly, its influence over geopolitical developments and Anglo-American foreign policy has been tremendous and the consequences disastrous.

 http://gaelicstarover.blogspot.com/2006/10/otisolatry-down-under.html