Thanks brother Andy. Very good article. However, I would like to express something I noticed from this article. Something like i shared on another thread that was not framed the best by me. I see that you regularly post here in our forum. I don't want to overcrowd the forum with any one particular theme. But seeing as you do post quite a bit, and this article content genuinely is perhaps a better context by which to help provide reasonable value and consideration I attempted not too successfully elsewhere, I hope it be a permissible consideration here. In the other version of this, Pastor Adrian noted something profound that I was not considering. So I'd also like to use this opportunity to express an observation also in respect to what Pastor Adrian had noted. That every age gets eschatology off. And that is good consideration for our times we are experiencing today as well. I wanted to mention that, because it does cause sober considerate pause in how i might look at and express the following. So as I write this post I am reflecting quite a bit myself in how to be less 1 dimensional in doing so. I appreciate the opportunity here to engage. Thanks
WHY THIS ARTICLE IS A GREAT SOCIAL ARTIFICAT
What is encouraging to me from reading this article is that first and foremost that "it is." That it is something we can say currently. Although we don't know exactly what tomorrow may bring, the contemporary condition this article speaks from does exist. And this is not something we have taken into consideration all that much lately in the watcher world. That being, that we do see things seemingly shifting from insane NWO progressing to a slowed effect of calm more so now. This is worth taking notice because of the years of watcher perspective for the most highlighting how dark and insane everything is getting. And although that was indeed the case, that focus tended to take precedence over any other consideration or focus. For years, it would seem.
THE HONEST JOURNALIST APPROACH TO WATCHER THEMES
Among all the watcher voices I would frequent (of which i would say are somewhat limited in my scope because we only have so much time in a day, and there are quite a wide variety of voices out there), I'd have to say what generally impressed me the most was Tom Hughes. Primarily because he took on the role more so of a journalist of sorts. Interviewing different perspectives, yet also having his own convictions. In addition to that, was the pleasant journey i noticed Tom taking. There were times where he would honestly admit some things seem alternative to the generally accepted watcher perspectives available. And noticing this, for me, was priceless. Because with his journal style engagement with the watcher world, he has been pretty transparent in his evaluating the situation in flux. Which, in a world that tended to be a world of promotion of our convictions, Tom, in contrast, seemed to be as interested in the "conversation" in the watcher world. Like seeing the differing nuances as much as mainlining a particular view. Which i found incredibly refreshing.
ONE ESCHATOLOGICAL SIESMIC SHIFT IN MY LITTLE WORLD
I come from a background of some fairly strong dogmatics. Where towing the party line was somewhat pressured and compelled, as it were. Although a few years back (in 2022) I was pleasantly surprised to see John Macarthur (the godfather of cessationism) admit we were in the end times "proper." This would be a huge step for him. As he is known for staying as far away from controversial eschatalogical positions. To such an extent, many found his Q & A answer to a question about the mark of the beast far too "casual." In that Macarthur affirmed the mark of the beast period as just like a way in which financials would operate at that time in the future. Like, we had social security implemented, then credit cards, then digital currency etc. Almost like it was just another mode of how society in any given age uses currency This shocked a lot of people because John landed that plane on, "Yes, i do think you can take the mark of the beast and repent." Which i state here not to detour the focus here, but merely to provide as a symptom of John wanting to stay as far away from sensationalism as possible (being often viewed as the grandfatherly voice of common sense). Standing so far away from wild end times theories that he practically domesticated the mark the beast...lol. As an example, merely. So for him to say, "Yes it is end times proper," is a pretty significant seismic shift for him in general.
THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Now i don't follow Macarthur, as I am no longer reformed. But his ministry (and those surrounding him) had a huge place in my life for so very many years. So to witness his shift on end times, to me, meant that even the rocks are crying out. But then about a year later, there was another sermon that came from him. One I admired on one level, but was now troubled in my soul on another level. John Mac stated that "The Senate won't save us." And something to the effect that "Folks, America is done." Now being fair to Macarthur's position, he did make an excellent connection between the progression of apostasy in Romans 1 with that of a nation like America. And America's literal downward spiral clearly seen by all. This is where i was fond of his consideration. Seeing that same sex marriages, transgenderism, child mutilation, and overall massive corruption in government in America would reasonably lead us to consider that America did seem to be fitting itself for judgement and destruction. What i liked about this view is it did not come from the more common watcher view of America not appearing to be in scripture and therefor must fall. But rather, he linked America's debauchery with Romans 1. Seems quite a bit more biblical and sound (as sound thinking is what he is praised for by many denominations). What did not seem to be sound though was that a cessationist was now prophesying that America is done. And that we are not coming back from this.
LABOTOMIZING HISTORY FROM GLOBALISM
So what was of concern for me is the level of certainty Macarthur had regarding America. I don't say that out of my not wanting to see America in the wrong, or about to be dismantled by God. For if that is how things go, then that is how things go. I would be far more interested in tracking with what God "is" doing than what i would wish it otherwise to be. And then just deal with over time (the time we have left here). What John also did not seem to be aware of is the massive saturating effect globalism has had upon America over the last several decades. From what i can tell, much of what brought America to this point is not just debauchery resulting from too free a spirit in mankind, but incremental changes globalism had been performing on America. From repopulating the social dynamic with immigrants who had no experiential history of America (making the transition away from the constitution far more easier a job), to the Marxist ideology to have more than two sexes (which dumbed down a culture and would make new laws and rules globalist prefer for us to consider -- like gaining followers on Instagram after globalist ideology that makes people more malleable to radically different positions...positions that massage into the psyche attitudes that become, for the globalist agenda, a people to be easily led). Macarthur has no standing on this. As he would purely only see things from a biblical view completely detached from politics and providence occurring in our era. To me, globalism is the "practical" vehicle that brought America to her knees. A calculated political science to make America last -- because with the constitution having world power would severely limit globalism from theirs. And globalism wants a small cluster of countries (probably the 10 nation confederacy) to rule the world. And not America. For having too much power is politically incorrect in the globalist perspective. Yet, Macarthur would refuse to consider globalism because his main approach, to him, is bible, bible, bible. Which on its face seems noble. But not at the extent of divorcing surrounding realities as if they don't factor in at all. The difference between God judging America and reasons we are where we are could be summated as: Since we were gullible enough to fall for it, we should be under the judgement of God for it. But is that how God might be seeing it? And is that where we should land the plane?
THE SOUNDESS OF HOLDING FAST AND THE POTENTIAL UNSOUNDESS OF HOLDING -- TOO FAST
So i guess we could argue if America should be judged. Amen. In many ways i would agree we should. But now, instead of that, we have articles like the one posted here. Which implies that maybe God might not be so hot as to judge America at this time perhaps. The overall prevailing end time perspective in America has been that the NWO order increases as America decreases. And that seems to have been the mainstay mantra or consideration. To such an extent, it seems to still have a deep and lasting residual effect even when we come to a point that might not just suggest otherwise, but incredibly otherwise. And when we see that the natural reaction is often: "Yes. God is giving us a reprieve, but we know the 10 nation confederacy won't stay dormant. So lets be reminded where all this is headed." We see something lovely. We see our holding to our understanding of prophecy more than what might have otherwise thrown a monkey wrench into it. Which is a good thing. Even a great thing. We should not sell out what we know to be biblical with shifting winds of change politically. Amen. But what is a good thing, from just a general observation, can perhaps become an ideology of sorts. What i mean by that is that being guarded is respectable. And foolish if we throw caution to the wind. Amen. But the question that comes to my mind several times over the past few years has been: "Is holding perspectives of known eschatology the best go to if it runs the risk of omitting potential helpful eschatological elements along the way?"
POTENTIALLY COMPETING ESCHATOLOGICAL ELEMENTS
Sure we should stick with what is obvious about eschatology and the things that are clear about a coming tribulation. And sure it is good spiritual etiquette to warn against too much appreciation of government or a leader. Amen. These are great reasonable warnings. However, and this is where it may seem to be a bit radical, and if so, i guess that is ok to have concern of this. Amen. But I don't necessarily see eschatology as something to have too much need to overly protect. Yes, where sound biblical theology is challenged to the degree it is included within eschatology, I would agree we should well keep a watch over it as much as we might watch in general. In no sense would I advocate letting sound biblical eschatology to be tossed by any wind of apparent providential change. But since eschatology is what does happen, and will happen, it will become self evident. And those that won't believe will remain unconvinced. But for those of us who do believe, I would see a similarity in the approach this article takes with the kind of thing that troubled me about Macarthur's approach. Where he would see perhaps too much of Romans 1 in the mix to be able to consider that maybe America is not over folks. And again, this is not coming from the place of me hoping America will be ok. I was super ready to be raptured in 2017. Now 7 years later, it seems somewhat rather overdue...lol. So I just want to clarify that this concern of sorts is not coming from holding onto America with a clenched fist. I would just think it to be of healthy import to consider equally not holding sober tenants of eschatology with too tight a grip either. Not in the sense of letting prophecy declared go to the wayside. But rather perhaps not holding too tightly to a perspective where that which seems to somewhat compete with it might hold as much weight (or perhaps even greater weight) than what we might hold to in such a way that might overlap and even somewhat quell other competing eschatological elements.
A TROJAN NOTION
I apologize how long this post is. I don't really know how to make this observation helpful in short order. So please do consider the length of this post to be a good faith effort to demonstrate a value offer. I'd like to affirm again, that I believe it is healthy to warn against placing too much stock in what a government or leaders could or might do today, if it takes our focus away from how close the tribulation likely is. Amen. I 100% agree with that concern. And i 100% agree that it should be stated. And stated often. However, I would see something else that could be eschatologically beneficial to consider, also. I agree with Macarthur that the Senate would not reverse apostasy proper. Macarthur made that statement during the mid term elections. So it was fitting. But along with it something else was trojan horsed into it. "Folks, America is over. It's not coming back." That! A statement like that becomes a trojan horse in being a prophecy of its own. That America is over. If we were not living in the times we are, perhaps that might be a reasonable conclusion. But, if for reason of us being so close to the tribulation is exactly the reason America is not over, then we have punched our own selves in the face, kind of. Because what is true is that America is not done if God is using it for eschatology proper purposes. I believe there will likely be more conversations about this soon forth coming. It would seem inevitable. So perhaps this post of mine here is not all that necessary. However, along the way, I am hopeful to be a part of that early transition. Because it would very much seem to be a big enough paradigm shift underfoot to realize the potential of conversational shifts. And that shift is leaning heavily away from America tanking in prophesy (an often presumed given). Or that America will be judged by God this side of the tribulation. These kinds of perspectives have seem to risen to the level of super affirmed prophecy certain. To the extent where even a cessationist prophesies it. To me, that is a social artifact of our day using a celebrity pastor to place an exclamation point on it. That unfortunately elements of what will be true about the tribulation have been downloaded in many a hearts in the watcher world. Where it might not just be a commentary in contrast to a generic watcher world perspective, but a testament to the probably that that is the exact opposite of prophecy. For if God actually uses America prophetically, it would have been competing with themes often considered a given in the watching world of evangelicals. I know not all evangelicals held that view. But in general, it was the predominant one. And perhaps what we are experiencing is God gently weaning us off that and/or others related.
THE GRAMMAR OF FOCUS
In the midst of that, the thing aside from perhaps America not being done, is something similar. That instead of shifting a focus on what world rule the antichrist will bring, it is totally possible that God would use America and Trump in a very powerful transformational way. And if that is what God is doing, it should, in my humble estimation, not be unnecessarily crowded out by not focusing on it at all but instead default to: Remember the coming tribulation. I believe what seems to have occurred over the years is a genuine sense of evangelicalism wanting to affirm what seemed to be happening was actually happening. And in that sense, the worse things got, the better we felt we might be able to affirm the end is near. And i believe that is awesome to see the church so very wide awake. For we know much of the church is not even aware of eschatology. So it is understandable that we have in a way had a season to stand ground on what we are witnessing is very likely end times. For to the degree we are spiritually open to what God is doing, it would seem wise and interested in what we understand the Father is doing. That is awesome. Where i would find reason to write a post like this trying to diligently and carefully consider some things too would be this i suppose: If God is using America and Trump in end times, Himself, it would not perhaps be the best approach, I believe, to necessarily downplay that. And divert focus to the coming of antichrist.
Not that we should not keep things like the antichrist and the reemergence of the NWO at the forefronts of our minds. But just that maybe God does use governments and leaders for grand purposes today. And if that is what God is doing today, I believe it deserves consideration perhaps even more so than an antichrist to come. Because if we miss the thing God is doing today in order to focus on the antichrist to come, it just humbly would seem to me to somewhat be symptomatic of securing an eschatological perspective with our views and using those views to downplay what eschatology might actually be doing. And if that is what is occurring, i am sure it is meant in good faith. I've just noticed a tendency over the course of many years with things like that though. So i thought this hopefully to be a reasonable place of note to bring this sort of thing up. For how strange does this sound: "I believe God may be affirming it is end times by granting super status to America, and helping the world see an importance God might place upon the constitution. And providing Trump an avenue to grant massive peace and safety to Israel." For to say that would seem not proper because some are worshiping Trump. And some are making false prophecy about Trump. I am just saying though that if God is doing that (and i guess we will just have to see, amen), then it really doesn't matter what those who are worshipping Trump and making false prophecies are thinking. Because at the end of the day, what matters the most is what God is actually doing. And just like I don't believe it is in our best spiritual interest to let false prophesies intimidate the body of Christ from considering what God might actually be doing, it would be, for me, an equal concern to not potentially downplay the moment God has placed us in what He is doing (if He is doing that) with "don't look at that but instead look at the coming judgement." Stated this way, it just seems somewhat unnecessary. For as we are strengthened in Him we know there will be a 7 year tribulation. And we know there will be an antichrist. So if God empowers America and the constitution, it would almost seem that to remain orthodox, we must not come to understand this. But just remain with a focus to the tribulation era.
REMAINING IN HIS ROMANS 11 KINDNESS
I mean on one level i guess i can understand a tendency to do that. The events unfolding are rather fresh. But I guess i am just hopeful of being a part of a conversation that with equal amazement over prophecy being fulfilled...that we might permit our perspectives to consider the great potential goodness God Himself might like to end the age of grace with. For if that is what He is doing, then it would be most blessed in our hearts to resonate with that. If that is what He is doing. I guess I would just say in that that I believe we can. As I've been considering what is unfolding for 7 years now. In the end i might be greatly mistaken. But my point is not if i am wrong or right. I am just saying this because for 7 years i have been considering what seems to be unfolding, while not during any piece of that time ever downplayed the 7 year tribulation nor the coming antichrist. I guess i am just testifying that to see in great wonder and expectation what incredible things God might be doing in the close of the age of grace, does not distract from the deep concerns and reality of the coming tribulation and antichrist. If there might be that concern, I'm just saying in no ways has it affected me this way in the slightest. And alternatively, actually has a much more profound effect on what is on the horizon. I don't believe it is antithetical to the concerns of the tribulation and antichrist to see that although God won't use the Senate to reverse apostasy, He may well use government to shake down the NWO. And grant America a pruned governance by which the healthy blood flow of honest economics be a thing. Something we just don't hear in eschatological circles outside of those with a much different eschatology altogether. So yeah, just saying, I don't think the views of amillennialism or postmillennialism can hold a candle to God ending the age of grace as He sees fit to. And then the judgement. But sometimes i guess it can feel like we might be holding on to the hat of the tribulation and 10 nation confederacy, and the antichrist in the strong winds of adverse eschatological views those who hold them might blow against sound orthodoxy. But i don't think we need to hold on to that hat. Because what is is. And what will be will be. To such an extent that likely to the extent we the church see Israel's peace and safety...what that obviously then would mean. No hat holding required. If that makes sense? Well i'm trying
The point just being, though i understand why we have our eschatological emphasis on the tribulation for the sake of the lost regardless how good it might get down here in the interim, it probably fares well to take God up on His choice of how He defines the end of the age of grace. And be open to it with open arms...should the modern day trajectory lead us in that direction. And in that we can feel great about a stronger America. We can feel great about a Trump empowered. Because if true, God would be using government (the thing that is not) to become (in His timing) the thing that is against and amidst the incredibe irony potentially surrounding it. In that way its not trusting God vs government. Or trusting God instead of Trump. Rather it might be trusting God as He uses them to prove His goodness. Perhaps anathema to say. But maybe too in the irony of Christ dying for blaspheme? And by that i do not mean there is to equate government or a man in relation to Christ. but just that as ironic as Christ being put to death for blaspheme is (that would not be wrong if it were some charlatan posing as a Christ) so too it might seem ironic that to trust the plan of God revealed in a government and modern day man be possibly ironically the same, in a way...if God is in it...4is all. If that makes sense. To trust that God might want to display Himself in the good as well as the harsh to come. Well in any case just something i wanted to share with a bit more clarity. I hope it has been. Whether it should be considered, i guess we weil see. Thanks for taking the time to read. Blessings.
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