NOTES FROM THE DESK OF A MODERN CIRCUIT RIDER: TOQUEVILLE’S AMERICA VS. TRUMP’S AMERICA AND BEYOND

PART I: IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME

PART II: The Nature of the Coming Judgment

PART III: The Power of the Parousia

SCRIPTURE. “Be still before the Lord, all mankind; for He is roused (raised up) from His holy habitation [in response to His persecuted people].” – ZECHARIAH 2:13, AMP

QUOTATIONS

“Grass that is here today and gone tomorrow does not require much time to mature. A giant oak tree that lasts for generations requires much more time to – grow strong.” – HENRY BLACKABY, ‘Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, Workbook,’ 2007

“As I see it, only God can be all-powerful without danger, because His Wisdom and Justice are always equal to his Power. Thus, there is no authority on earth so inherently worthy of respect, or invested with a right so sacred, that I would want to let it act without oversight or rule without impediment.” – ALEXIS DE TOQUEVILLE, ‘Democracy in America,’ 1835, 1840, p. 290; edited

Selah. Selah.

  1. FIRST THOUGHTS

We live in a fast-paced world. And to be honest, it feels as if the pace is picking up considerable speed. Now that could be because of my age of 76; folks say as you get nearer to the end, one experiences that. As when you visit your childhood home or your first church and everything seems so still and small.

However, one can construct a reasonably firm case for a ‘Grand Acceleration,’ if you will, from the Words of just two Biblical figures, including the Messiah.

  • DANIEL 12:4. “But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book until the time of the end. [Then] many shall run to and fro and search anxiously [through the Book], and knowledge [of God’s purposes as revealed by His prophets] shall be increased and become great.” – AMPC
  • MATTHEW 24:8. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble].” – AMP
  • BIRTH PANGS. “Jesus likened the Last Days’ signs to ‘Birth Pangs’ (Matthew 24:8). The Greek word ‘Ódin’ [ὠδίν] often translated as ‘Sorrows’ in Matthew 24:8, literally means, birth pangs. In addition, the Apostle Paul reminded us that ‘The creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now’ (Romans 8:21-22). As the Time of Delivery draws near, birth pangs always ‘increase’ in both intensity and frequency. Therefore, the Creation itself would travail with increased frequency as the time of delivery draws near.” – JIM TETLOW, “The Quickening: Is Time Accelerating?” ‘101 Last Days Prophecies,’ March 3, 2016; edited

NEIL POSTMAN.  American author, educator, media theorist and cultural critic, Dr. Postman left an indelible imprint on me as a communication scholar. His landmark book, ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ (1985) accurately anticipated and described the massive impact that a Digital Information Age would have on the world.

Here is what he brilliantly predicted before there was a Digital Information Age. Quoted at length as usual, for maximum impact and grasp.

“We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn’t, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The roots of liberal democracy had held. Wherever else the terror had happened, we, at least, had not been visited by Orwellian nightmares.

But we had forgotten that alongside ORWELL’S dark vision, there was another – slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: ALDOUS HUXLEY’S Brave New World. Contrary to common belief even among educated, Huxley and Orwell

did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed Oppression. But in Huxley‘s vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to Love their Oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.

What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Selah.

IN SUM. Jesus, the Law, the Prophets and a few astute scholars accurately prophesied of a Time of Sorrows and Science that would produce an Information Glut that, ironically, would lead to more ignorance and confusion among us rather than less.

Welcome to the Age of Anti-Truth, beloved, with which we now engage with all our might, with His Truth – the only Antidote to such Times as these.

  1. IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME

There is, in the Economy of God, a keen and precise attention to ‘Time.’ We all have come to realize that the Lord of Time is not given to looseness with it. Ever. Thus is the Biblical phrase, “In the fullness of time,” designed to Index the Completion of a significant ‘Transition’ of some sort – from one Epoch to a New one, as example.

Blogger MICHAEL HAIGH introduces us to this powerful Principle in some thoughtful prose.

“The Clock ticks — Time goes by — try as you will, you cannot catch that second again. It is gone forever. This Moment is forever past. Man will not remember what was in that last second of time; yet, God remembers not only our particular time, but our frame. God opens a new page of time, in fact, the ‘Fullness of Time.’

Now, this world is marked by sin, and the measure of sin brings forth a Savior. God does not declare His death, burial, and resurrection here, but His Birth. This, His Birth, brought forth the Fullness of Time. The Fullness of Time equates to the fullness of God’s mercy, the fullness of God’s truth, and the fullness of God’s love. The more we muse around the person of Christ, we grasp the fullness of His unsearchable riches …

God does not give the Fullness of Time at the End of man’s history, but in his ‘Fullness of Sin.’ God breaks Time, and inserts the fullness of His grace in the Fullness of Time.” – “The Fullness of Time,” ‘God’s Final Call,’ 2015; edited

DK’S TAKE. This Principle proposes that God does not extend Grace forever, beloved; He does not! I have proposed the Corollary that He contends with Man for 120 years, according to one interpretation of GENESIS  6:3:

“Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive and remain with man forever, because he is indeed flesh [sinful, corrupt—given over to sensual appetites]; nevertheless his days shall yet be a hundred and twenty years.’” – AMP

Now then: I found still another Branch to climb onto at the very top of The Circuit Ride for your consideration. At 4:30 in the morning, wondering if I could even make the tour, I heard that loud, insistent Declaration in that Voice that I have come to know:

“¡SE ACABÓ!” Translated unequivocally by several language sources as: “It’s over!”

Well then, if this was indeed Him, just what is it that He Declared an End to? There are at least THREE POSSIBLITIES.

  1. END OF THE AGE. This refers to the classic interpretation that God has called Mankind to the End of Grace. Obviously, this will have taken more than a mere 120 years, but rather BEGINS with the Spirit of Lawlessness proliferating the Nation and world, when a Great Falling Away from the Faith takes place. These Jesus called, “Birth Pangs,” or “the Beginning of Sorrows.” But only the Beginning, beloved, from which only ‘The Remnant’ shall be saved. – cf. Matthew 24:7-14
  • END OF THE CHURCH. That is to say, in its present state of Apostasy and Corruption. I believe it’s entirely possible that God is about to execute (play on words somewhat intended) His Judgments on His own houses, since it is consistent with 1 Peter 4:17: “For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God?” This means that many Lampstands are about to fall. – cf. Revelation 2:5
  • END OF AMERICA. Now this, beloved, is what I discerned on my Circuit Ride, most profoundly. Nearly every State I visited was most zealously, almost angrily, pleading for the Return of Donald Trump. Informal interviews, flags everywhere flying next to Trump 2020 signs, and one angry female farmer that fairly spat out: “He’s been good for us farmers! Biden is killing us!”

The Reason most often given – you can well guess it – “Well, I don’t like him so much, but support His ‘Pro-America’ policies.” Not Pro-Jesus Policies, mind you, but Pro-America, a subtle but seismic difference.

THE POINT. My deepening conviction is that ‘God is done waiting.’ In an admittedly personal take on this, I was reminded that major enterprises order their Budget Years from July 1 through June 30. Now with some confession of imitating ISAAC NEWTON for his fascination with Numbers and the Second Coming (he predicted 2060 as ‘The End’), here is what I came up with as an Hypothesis.

The Final Clock for America began at the Turn of the Century in the year, 1900. Second, since American organizations consider a formal budget year starting on July 1 and ending on June 30, we will have completed exactly 120 Years and 6 Months at the end of this month, 2021.

JUNE 30, 2021: 6 Months Grace beyond the 120 Years given for striving with America. Why? To give all Final Opportunity to Repent. And then: The Judgment.

  1. THE TEACHING

SCRIPTURE. “Be still before the Lord, all mankind; for He is roused (raised up) from His holy habitation [in response to His persecuted people].” – ZECHARIAH 2:13, AMP

It was on the morning of June 25, 2021, early on my first morning back from the first Circuit Ride here in Colorado Springs, that I heard Him whisper this passage to me. Just so you know.

CONTEXT. One Bible scholar gives us important historic background for a fuller appreciation of the towering importance of this series of Prophecies.

“‘The Prophecy of Zechariah is profoundly precious to the Christian because of its unique ‘Messianic emphasis’ and its panoramic unfolding of the events connected with the First and especially the Second Advent of Christ and the consequent Millennial Restoration of the nation Israel (cf. MERRILL F. UNGER, Commentary on the Old Testament, 1750)’ …

In Eight Visions, using highly symbolic language, he predicted the overthrow of the Gentile world powers; the Judgment of Apostate Jews because of their rejection of Christ; the cleansing, restoration and glory of the Remnant; and the Future prosperity of Jerusalem.” – WILLIAM MACDONALD, ‘Believer’s Bible Commentary,’ 1995, p. 1157; edited

THE DRILL DOWN. Now we turn to our predictable and necessary look at the one key term that defines the entire matter more than all the rest.

  • HE IS ROUSED. The word used here is, in the Hebrew, ‘Ur’ [עוּר], translated in the following manner: “To awaken, stir; to become excited in anticipation of triumph; brings the sense that eyes are being opened to fully see; to move toward action; to lift up, to master; put to exertion that which has been relaxed or at peace.”

IN SUM. Thus, it is my firm conviction that: (I) God is rousing Himself toward the Commencement of His Final Judgments of His houses and their leaders, before He attends to the nations (cf. 1 Peter 4:17); (II) He also rises to supernaturally strengthen and honor His Remnant for the ordeals of the Hour that they must endure during the first Five Seal Judgments (Revelation 6:1-22); (III) All is in Preparation for the Return of Messiah, beginning with the Rapture of the True Church just before the Sixth Seal is opened (Revelation 6:12-17); (IV) Following the Rescue of believers, the Seven Year Tribulation commences in earnest, with the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments pouring forth in rough sequence as described in Revelation 8-9, 15-16.

Selah. Ponder the immensity of the Present Hour, beloved, and make ready.

  1. GOD’S CONTROVERSY WITH AMERICA

As I have argued, the Final Reckoning of America began six score of years ago – 120 in common vernacular. “And six months,” if my count be reasonably accurate. Among all our national sins of both Church and State, one in particular has proliferated over that Century, but acutely in the last four years.

The Prophet Ezekiel sharply captures God’s Ire at our Nation in this way.

PRIDE! “By your great wisdom and by your traffic you have increased your riches and power, and your heart is proud and lifted up because of your wealth; Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have imagined your mind as the mind of God [having thoughts and purposes suitable only to God Himself], Behold therefore, I am bringing strangers upon you, the most terrible of the nations, and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom [O Tyre], and they shall defile your splendor.” – EZEKIEL 28:5-7, AMPC

Significantly, this ancient passage is referred to by most scholars as a description of not only the wicked King of Tyre, ITHOBAAL, but long before him, the very Fall of Lucifer in time immemorial in Pre-History.

As theologian RON RHODES writes of it:

“Lucifer became so impressed with his own beauty, intelligence, power, and position that he began to desire for himself the honor and glory that belonged to God alone. This Pride represents the actual beginning of sin in the universe—preceding the Fall of the human Adam by an indeterminate time …

As a result of this heinous sin against God, Lucifer was banished from living in heaven (Isaiah 14:12). He became corrupt, and his name changed from Lucifer (‘morning star’) to Satan (‘adversary’). His power became completely perverted (Isaiah 14:12,16,17). And his destiny, following the Second Coming of Christ, is to be bound in a pit during the 1000-year Millennial Kingdom over which Christ will rule (Revelation 20:3), and eventually will be thrown into the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41).” – “How Did Lucifer Fall and Become Satan?” ‘Christiainity.com,’ October 22, 2007; edited

THE LINE OF ANTICHRIST. It chronologically and theologically follows that Satan ultimately begets King Ithobaal, who would beget Jezebel who married wicked King Ahab, “the son of Omri [who] did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him (1 Kings 16:30).

Thus is the partial line of ‘The spirit of antichrist’ now evident everywhere among us today (1 John 4:3). And then, finally, to the Satan-inspired Antichrist himself, the sworn, eternal enemy of Jesus (Revelation 6:1-2).

AMERICA THE BALEFUL. Significantly, by this reasoning and exegesis, it becomes tenable if not inevitable that America becomes the very Seat of Antichrist, or Political-Commercial Babylon (Revelation 18:1-20).

So, let’s take a closer look at our Desecration of God.

  • YOU HAVE INCREASED. From the Hebrew, ‘Rabah’ [רָבָה]: “To multiply; become much, many or great; numerous; to make large or do abundantly; to grow up or become greatly excelled; nourished with plenty of stores over a period of time; to advance in value, or in any quality good or bad; to become more bright or vivid; to swell or arise [conspicuously].”
  • YOUR HEART IS PROUD. Here the key term is ‘Gabahh’ [גָּבַהּ], meaning: “To exalt (oneself); associated with the locust; to soar; be lofty or haughty; to make higher, lift up; to raise up to a great height; to mount up; having inordinate self-esteem; possessing a high or unreasonable conceit of one’s own excellence, either of body or mind; arrogant; supercilious; presumptuous.”
  • BECAUSE OF YOUR WEALTH. We finish God’s Indictment of America with His use of the word, ‘Chayil’ [חַיִל]: “Strength, efficiency, wealth, army; also power, forces, great riches; many goods [and resources]; likened unto the entourage of Queen of Sheba and her flowing train; prosperity or external happiness; large possessions of money, goods or land; that abundance of worldly estate which exceeds the estate of the greater part of the community; affluence; opulence.”

All this said, with unapologetic Indignation on my part, we now turn to some last thoughts on one of America’s historic Sacred Cows, that I may have to disembowel just a tad before we finish. Fair warning.

  • LAST THOUGHTS: AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM

If ever there were an American Narrative second to none, it would clearly be this one. In fairness, I will propose that in its Original Iteration, it was vastly  more defensible than its Later forms under Donald Trump.

ORIGIN. America’s first embrace of this Idea was largely and objectively congruent with a Scriptural View of the reason for American Uniqueness. Here is one definition that captures it rather nicely.

“The theory that the United States is inherently different from other nations. This stems from its emergence from the American Revolution, becoming what the political scientist SEYMOUR MARTIN LIPSET called the first New Nation,  and developing a uniquely American Ideology, ‘Americanism.’ This Ideology is based on liberty, equality before the law, individual responsibility, republicanism, representative democracy, and laissez-faire economics. This Ideology itself is often referred to as ‘American Exceptionalism.’ Under this other definition, America is seen as being Superior to other nations or having a Unique Mission to transform the world [by its goodness],” – ‘Wikipedia,’ May 9, 2021; edited

TRANSFORMATION. I borrow here from a sharp-edged iconoclast who pretty much expresses my current angst over ‘What America has become,’ as over against what we once were. JOHN KNOX (I know) writes this with an acerbic, well-honed edge.

“‘We are a government of laws and not of men,’ wrote JOHN ADAMS in the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780. But no President has challenged this notion at the federal level so fiercely as candidate, President-elect, and now President Trump. Just ask former FBI director James Comey, who was asked by Trump for personal loyalty rather than loyalty to the U.S. Constitution, and paid for his refusal with his job. Trump has successfully tapped into the impatience and discontent of a frustrated electorate to promise ‘a focus on self, on wealth, on America first.’ It is hardly a coincidence that the symbol of the financial world of Trump is, indeed, a golden bull-calf, following Exodus 32 to the letter …

This should not cause us to stammer in disbelief, however. This story is as old as, well, Moses. People of faith should realize that American Exceptionalism, as interpreted to mean that the USA is exempt from failure, is just another form of Hubris; even the Founding Fathers’ wisdom and our system of checks and balances could not protect us indefinitely. It is not ironic but perhaps inevitable that the assault on our system and on bedrock values would be head-on, applied directly to the Fountainhead of our Republic: White Christianity. The temptation to rebel blindly, to look out for Number One while voting for number two, is not subtle. None of us is immune.” – “The Orange Calf,” June 4, 2017; edited

TRUE EXCEPTIONALISM. Here we have a noted scholar’s avoidance of the misattributed “America is great” quotation to a much more accurate statement of why ALEXIS DE TOQUEVILLE thought the American Republic to be so, well, ‘Exceptional.’

“Modern democratic freedom, Tocqueville argues, developed as a result of Christianity’s influence on European civilization, and more particularly as a result of Puritanism’s influence on American civilization. This link is not accidental: Political Freedom requires an unshakeable Moral Foundation that only [true] Religion can supply. Moreover, Religion is necessary not only to democracy’s emergence, but also to its preservation. Democracy fosters intellectual and moral habits that can be deadly to freedom: the tyranny of the majority, individualism, materialism, and democratic despotism. American Christianity acts as a Corrective to these perilous democratic tendencies.

Accordingly, Tocqueville concludes, the preservation of America’s Traditional Religion is one of the most important tasks of democratic statesmanship. Indeed, he goes so far as to say that religion ‘should be considered the first’ of America’s ‘political institutions’ and even that it is necessary for Americans to ‘maintain Christianity … at all cost.’” – CARSON HOLLOWAY, Visiting Fellow in American Political Thought, “Toqueville on Christianity and American Democracy,” ‘The Heritage Foundation,’ March 7, 2016; edited

THE GREAT DEFILEMENT. One of the words used in the passage from Ezekiel 28 is “Defile,” is translated from the Hebrew, ‘Chalal’ [חָלַל] as: “Pierce; to bore [into or through]; pollute or profane; to violate or dishonor; prostitute; do violence to the Law of God.”

Now please listen ever so carefully.

When the ‘Christian Coalition’ of Trump supporters, Evangelicals and pastors, Republicans, QAnon conspiracy advocates, White Nationalist militia groups such as Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and Sons of Liberty, and even some members of the military and police, with “Jesus” banners flying everywhere, ‘Breached’ the Capitol building, leading to injuries to 138 police officers (Capitol and Metropolitan), with 15 hospitalized and five fatalities and $30 million in damages to government property:

‘American Christianity crossed as Inviolate Line!’

TO BREACH. “1. The act of breaking; or state of being broken; a rupture; a break; a gap; the space between the severed parts of a solid body parted by violence; as a breach in a garment, or in a wall. 2. The violation of a law; the violation or non-fulfillment of a contract; the non-performance of a moral duty; non-performance of duty being a breach of obligation, as well as a positive transgression or violation.” – NOAH WEBSTER, ‘American Dictionary of the English Language,’ 1828

Two Christian writers dared to lift their voices about this surrounded by an ocean of Church Silence interrupted only by half-hearted, staccato, temporary outcries. This State of Church Indifference remains to this very day, Wednesday June 30, 2021.

“The startling events in Washington on Wednesday (Jan. 6) were shocking to watch, not only for the scenes of unlawful rioters in the U.S. Capitol, but also for the sight of people waving flags and crosses in the name of Jesus and President Donald Trump. It was another brazen step for some who have harmfully traded in steadfast Christian ideals for a false white Christian Nationalism. As evangelicals, we must recognize, confess, and lament our role in allowing Christian nationalism to fuel these kinds of actions … Regardless of our politics or who holds political office, let us not forget, as the Gospel of John teaches, that our ultimate hope rests in God’s Kingdom and is misplaced if given to Caesar.” – JAMIE ATEN & KENT ANNAN, “Christian Evangelicals Must Denounce the Christian Nationalism in Capitol Riots,” ‘Religious News Service,’ January 7, 2021; edited

AMERICA 2021. Welcome to Donald Trump’s America, as we say a final farewell to the America of Alexis de Toqueville. I fear she is gone forever, dear friends, without speedy, passionate, and massive Repentance, starting with the Christian Church.

For I tell you true: God is about to unleash His Fury at America, starting with His houses of what I shall call, ‘Defiled Worship.’

I daresay, beloved, this as distinct possibility, as our King fairly shouts:

“Take the noise of your songs away from Me [they are an irritation]! I shall not even listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice run down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream [flowing abundantly].” – AMOS 5:23-24, AMP

Selah. Selah.

DK’S BOTTOM LINE. So, let’s sum up, beloved, in light of what has been presented so far. One, God is Furious at America and especially His Church leaders for their catastrophic moral collapse. Second, I believe that the Word I received on June 10, ‘¡Se acabó!’ [It’s over!”] was in line with the Scriptures reviewed here and for the past several months. Three, therefore, Judgment is now ‘inevitable,’ and can no longer be thwarted or reversed.

It cannot. It will delay any longer. Or, as I sensed it the morning of Friday June 25, when I was impressed with the passage from Zechariah: “It’s Time has come.”

In this regard I just heard one teacher this very (Sunday) morning in a church I can still attend – Rocky Mountain Calvary Church of Colorado Springs – say this straight and true: “The Birth Pangs we are experiencing, as you ladies all know, once initiated, cannot be turned back. They must progress until the Birth is completed.” – PASTOR ERIC CARTIER, June 27, 2021; paraphrased

CODA. Therefore, beloved of God, I believe us to be in the First Throes of God’s Final Judgments upon the American Church, the Nation at large, and then the Nations more generally – in that order, if I read the Book as true.

Paul’s Letter to Philippi speaks as sharply to our requirement for ‘Solemn Preparation for Judgment,’ as any I have ever read that directly pertain to Today’s American Apostasy.

“Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).” – PHILIPPIANS 2:12, AMPC

“Shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ.”

Are you listening, Church? Are you hearing and heeding this, Pastors, calling your congregations to Contrition and Repentance for our collective, historic Sedition of God’s Law and Desecration of His sacred name?

I pray so, I pray so, but fear The Hour may already have passed for it. In any event, there is no longer one second to waste. Not even one.

Ever your servant, DK

PAP

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