I like Ridley Scott as a director and wanted to see his treatment of the historical crusades in his latest movie, "The Kingdom of Heaven ", starring Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson. I knew there was a chance this movie could be a disappointment like to other recent historical dramas, "Troy" and "Alexander". But I took the chance and am glad I did.

The subject of the crusades is huge. They (there were more than one) lasted for two centuries and held a cast of characters that no one movie could ever develop. In typical Hollywood fashion, events are condensed, characters are out of their historical context and story lines are created to keep a modern audience interested. But the main characters of the movie are based on historical truth. There was a French lord named Godfrey though he did not have an illigitimate son named Balian. Balian is based on a real knight who did help defend Jerusalem against Saladin. Balian parlayed with the Muslim Caliph and surrendered Jerusalem on terms that allowed the inhabitants to walk out with their lives. The last king of Jerusalem was indeed a leper. Several historical scenes are portrayed in the movie that are based on actual events that tell part of the remarkable story of this period. I came home afterward and read through a detailed history, The Crusades , by Harold Lamb. Perhaps that is the real benefit of seeing a historical movie. You are motivated to read a bit of the real story to fill in gaps of knowledge.

The movie shows the futile carnage of war over the most important city on earth. Jerusalem is the home of three major world religions and is a center of controversy in the struggle of the Israelis and Palistinians. I refer you to an excellent article on the city done by one of our writers, John Schroeder, for a past issue of The Good News . It will take you through the history of the city from the point of view of Bible prophecy and show you how the city will play an important role in the future.

In the movie, Balian stands in the midst the rubble of the city to announce he has surrendered it to Saladin. "If this is the kingdom of heaven" he says, "then let God do with it as He will". Man has made quite a mess of the city over the centuries. One day God will indeed do with the city as He wills, and it will become the center of the Kingdom of God on the earth. God speed that day.