NOTES ON THE PROMISE OF NEW STRENGTH IN THE LAST DAYS: REMNANT VS. REBELS IN AMERICA’S BONHOEFFER MOMENT (WITH VIDEO)

1. THEOLOGY

SCRIPTURE. “So then, BRACE UP and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees, and cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, STRAIGHT PATHS for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured.” – HEBREWS 12:12-13, AMP

KEY TERMS.

• “BRACE UP!” ‘Anorthoó’ [ἀνορθώσατε]: “To straighten up or make upright; to strengthen, establish, or rebuild.” NOTE: “Strong’s Greek 461 (ἀνορθόω, ‘anorthoō’) ‘denotes the act of straightening again, restoring to soundness, or rebuilding what has collapsed.’ The verb embraces every sphere of life that sin and brokenness have bent out of shape—bodies, spirits, communities, even covenant hopes—and announces that God has both the will and the power to set them upright.”

• “MAKE STRAIGHT!” ‘Orthos’ [ὀρθὰς]: “Rising to be honest, erect, in order to rightly divide [truth from falsehood].” NOTE: “This adjective conveys the idea of something set straight, aligned, or functioning as intended. ‘Physically it pictures what is erect rather than bent; ethically it evokes integrity, rectitude, and faithfulness to God’s revealed will.’ The imagery complements the biblical themes of righteousness, the straight way versus the crooked, and the call to restored wholeness in body and soul.”

QUOTATION. “‘God uses broken things.’ It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. ‘It is the Broken Alabaster Box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.’” ― VANCE HAVNER, Christian Reader, Vol. 32, no. 4, 1994; edited

COMMENTARIES. “A burden of affliction is apt to make the Christian’s hands hang down, and his knees grow feeble, to dispirit him and discourage him. ‘But against this he must strive!’ That he may better run his spiritual race and course. ‘Faith and Patience enable believers to follow Peace and Holiness, as a man follows his calling constantly, diligently, and with pleasure’ … But Peace and Holiness go together; there can be not right Peace without Holiness. Where persons fail of having the true Grace of God, Corruption will prevail and break forth; beware lest any unmortified lust in the heart, which seems to be dead, should spring up, to trouble and disturb the whole body.

‘Falling Away from Christ is the fruit of preferring the delights of the flesh to the blessing of God, and the Heavenly Inheritance, as Esau did.’ But sinners will not always have such mean thoughts of the Divine Blessing and Inheritance as they now have. ‘It agrees with the Profane Man’s Disposition, to desire the Blessing, yet to despise the Means whereby the blessing is to be gained.’ But God will neither sever the Means from the Blessing, nor join the blessing with the satisfying of man’s lusts. God’s Mercy and Blessing were never sought carefully and not obtained.” – MATTHEW HENRY, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

1. TEACHING

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall WEAR OUT [‘bela’ (יְבַלֵּ֑א): ‘exhaust by oppression causing failure’] the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” – DANIEL 7:25, KJV

THE LAST BATTLE. Perhaps my most apparent Struggle in these Last Days, beloved, is to combat the unprecedented WEARINESS that daily assaults my ability to fulfill God’s Call on my life. And I know without asking that this is likely your Struggle as well.

Thus do I turn to an excellent and sobering essay by an Author from an online journal by the name of, Essene Press (no connection with the “Essenes” mystery sect of the ancient world). The article is titled: “Wearing Out the Saints” (Jan. 28, 2025; edited). Here are their MAIN POINTS.

• OPEN. “Daniel Chapter 7 contains an incredible Vision of Beasts rising from the Sea, representing the Kingdoms of the World in the Last Days. ‘The Fourth terrible Beast corresponds with the ANTICHRIST, in the Book of Revelation, and his Kingdom.’ All that is some simple background to make sense of the prediction found in Verse 25, and from this Prediction, we gain insight into the Devil’s Strategy in general against God’s people.”

• OBJECTIVE. “Besides his Strategy to tempt disciples into sin, or threaten them to [compromise] their Faith in Christ, the Enemy also simply tries to ‘WEAR [DOWN] the saints of the Most High.’ The Prophet uses here an Aramaic word, בְּלָא (‘be’la’), which means: ‘To mentally AFFLICT CONSTANTLY, and so, to wear out.’”

• STRATEGY. “‘Throughout our lives, the Evil One seeks to turn us away from wholeheartedly trusting and following the Lord Jesus by simply [and relentlessly] WEARING US OUT.’ He brings the same old temptations day after day, and then accuses us for still being tempted by it! He stirs up little relational troubles and offenses during times that we hoped would be restful. He pours out gossip and slander in a drip, drip, drip fashion, like a kind of Chinese water torture, in order to keep us discouraged.”

• REPETITION. “All this is with the aim of wearing us out in order to have us turn back from following Christ. In short, to have us give up on a life of love for God and others. ‘REPETITIVENESS is extremely effective in breaking down people’s wills’—just remember when we were children, repeatedly asking our parents for something: “Please, please, please, please, please, please, please….” Now, perhaps your parents had an iron will, but many parents crack under the pressure, desiring for the pleading to stop, that they give the child what they are begging for.”

• CLOSE. “‘All this being said, it is important that we first recognize this as a STRATEGY of the Evil One. Knowing this, we will be able to STAND Against this Scheme. We must – ‘REJECT the faux-authority of Repetition.’ A Lie repeated a thousand times over does not become a Truth.” A Temptation faced again and again over twenty years does not mean Failure. Continued Trouble and Opposition does not mean God is displeased with us. In short, rather than allowing ourselves to be worn down by the Enemy of our souls – ‘We must ENDURE with Christ!’ Endurance is not a fun thing, but the alternative is to give up. But we are not called to Endure alone, but exhorted to, in our troubles, ‘to look to the Lord to fill us with all that is needed to Endure in Him.’”

PERSEVERANCE. “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and LONGSUFFERING [‘makrothumia’ (μακροθυμίαν): ‘forebearance, patience, fortitude’] with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” – COLOSSIANS 1:9-12, NKJV

1. THE REMNANT

Some years back when I was penning an essay on The Remnant, I came across an excellent article by DR. JOSEPH MATTERA (D. Min., Baake U; Th.D., Antioch U), an internationally recognized Bible scholar and futurist (eschatologist).

But the first time I vetted him back then, I found he was an early supporter of the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump, so I refused to quote him. However – and it is a wonderful however – here is an Update I discovered on an AI Overview of his ministry (ret. Aug. 27, 2026; edited).

Evangelical leader Joseph Mattera has critiqued parts of the Christian Church for blind loyalty and false political claims tied to Donald Trump. Mattera noted that many conservative Christians supported Trump for his policies rather than his personality. But after the 2020 Election with false claims of a stolen election, he partnered with other leaders to launch the Prophetic Standards Statement.

‘This Document asked Christian teachers to accept accountability and admit mistakes instead of defending disproven claims.’ Mattera believes Christians have a duty to engage in government and advocate for Biblical Values. At the same time, he cautions believers against confusing earthly political power with the Eternal Kingdom of God.

So do I now joyfully present to you a Summary of his superb article, “9 Characteristics of the Modern-Day Remnant Church,” published in his online Blogon December 1, 2020. What follows are his MAIN IDEAS so pertinent to our struggle to “Keep on keepin’ on” in these long days of trial.

OPEN. “As the Persecution of the Bible Believing Church becomes more intense, there will be a greater manifestation of the “REMNANT CHURCH.” By Remnant, I am referring to the surviving vestige of the Body of Christ that remains true to Biblical Principles despite cultural opposition. There is always a Faithful Remnant left during Times of Apostasy and Persecution. The Prophet Elijah found that God, by His Grace, always preserves a Remnant that holds True to the Faith (1 Kings 19, Romans 11:2-5). 

“By Remnant Church, I am not merely referring to so-called ‘Cultural Warrior’ ‘churches that seem always to be battling for a cause. (This can be part of it, but the Gospel is much bigger than one social cause). I am also not referring to so-called Christian churches that do idiotic things, like burning the Qur’an. I am not referring to the intentionally hostile un-Christian behavior exhibited by so-called churches like the Westboro Baptist Church. (I cringe even calling this group of hate-mongers a church!). ‘I am referring to FAITH AND OBEDIENCE to the Word of God that is practiced by humble, people-loving, community-serving, compassionate members of churches who DO NOT COMPROMISE the Word of God.’”

CAVEAT. While the Principles enumerated by Dr. Mattera, he was in 2020 making the painful TRANSITION from the Old Evangelical View that the Unsaved were out worst enemy. He had not yet (but did later) come against the very worldly TRUMP CHURCH that truly is God’s Primary Arch Foe. Therefore, read the following list through that Renewed Lens.

“For what business is it of mine to judge OUTSIDERS (non-believers)? Do you not judge those who are WITHIN the church [to protect the church as the situation requires]? God alone sits in judgment on those who are outside [the faith]. Remove the wicked one from among you [expel him from your church].” – 1 CORINTHIANS 5:12-13, AMP

1. WORD. “It will become more entrenched in The Word the more the World opposes it. The more resistance it faces, the Remnant Church becomes more resolute in its Faith.

• VILIFICATION. “It will become vilified by society. The Remnant Church used to be merely unpopular in the past, but now it has gotten to the point where it is hated! 

• COUNTER-CULTURAL. “It will preach Counter-Cultural Biblical Messages. The Pastors in the Remnant Church will continue to preach the Gospel of Christ. The preaching of the Pure Gospel always has vast implications related to human sexuality, the sanctity of human life, and the definition of marriage and family. The Challenge would be for the Church to continuously apply the Gospel to cultural issues in a wise, winsome way

• DISCIPLES.  “It will produce the most Committed Christians while making Disciples. It is a known fact that liberal, progressive, compromising, and [political] churches are shrinking. When a church is on the tip of the spear regarding Biblical Truth, it has more of a propensity of producing True Disciples. DK: Studies show that today, tragically, there are apparently no more than 3% of such white evangelical churches in America, the vast majority having been seduced and coopted by Trump Christian Nationalism.

•  POWER. “It will experience a greater Presence and Power of God than the Non-Remnant Church. The First Century Church was a hated minority, but the Book of Acts illustrates God’s great power and presence that accompanied its ministry (Acts 3-5). I have found that the more difficult it is to confess the Truth of the Gospel, the more God shows off His stuff. Where Sin abounds, Grace does more abound (Romans 5:20)!”

• VISIBILITY. “It will become more Visible and Distinct as the culture becomes more Decadent. I believe that in most organizations (Secular or Religious), about 25% of its members are the most committed to its Vision and Mission. They are the ones willing to Endure the most pain for the organization’s Cause. This also means that ‘Most’ of the people in an entity easily detach themselves when the going gets tough [Matthew 24:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3]. The harder it becomes for the Church to Practice Biblical Christianity, the Remnant Church will become more evident [yet increasingly smaller!].”

• HOLINESS. “It will be more Excluded and Separated from Mainstream Secular [and] Evangelical Churches and Denominations. The more un-cool it becomes to be a Biblical Remnant Church, the more the so-called ‘Cool’ (Compromising) churches will distance themselves from the Un-cool, Remnant Church … These Compromising Pastors and Churches will continue to do their best to distance themselves from Remnant Pastors and their Churches publicly. ‘This happened in Nazi Germany when the Nationalistic Churches Separated from the Confessing Churches to avoid persecution and death.’”

• IMPACT.  “The Remnant Church will change the World. Sometimes God allows difficult circumstances to weed out the Un-committed followers from committed followers. An example of this is seen in the story of Gideon’s army in Judges 7. When we observe the Old Testament during the Days of Elijah and the Early Century Church, and the Confessing Remnant Church in Nazi Germany, we can accurately conclude that the Remnant Church has what it takes to change the world … ‘The Compromising Church will enjoy its temporary popularity in the present time, but those who are wise and turn many to righteousness will shine as the stars forever and ever’ (Daniel 12:3).”

• PERSEVERANCE. “‘The Remnant Church will Endure while the Compromising Church will fade away [and end up in The Flame]. God promises in Malachi 3:16-18 that He has written a BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE [only] for those who Speak of Him and Fear His Name. The Reward for them is that He will Spare them as a man spares his son.’ The implications of this are vast. While the spiritual Children of the Compromising Church will probably become Agnostic, the Children of the Remnant will carry the Torch of Christ to the next generation. ‘THEY WILL INCREASE IN STRENGTH’ and do more wondrous works (John 14:12). The Remnant Church goes from Strength to Strength and Faith to Faith, while the ‘Compromising Church goes from Strength to Weakness, from Faith to Apostasy, and eventually into Oblivion’ (Romans 1:17).’”

1. LAST THOUGHTS: THE RESISTANCE

Since the Present Hour in America is nearly identical to the conditions found in pre-World War II Germany, I believe with all my heart that the True Church, God’s Last Days Remnant is called to nothing less than a BONHOEFFER MOMENT.

“‘A Bonhoeffer Moment is a time when a Leader must make a Decision to do something different that will cause him or her to be Transformed.’ A Leader is faced with a Bonhoeffer Moment when doing the Right Thing is a hard thing, a disturbing thing, and a threatening thing.” – BILL HULL, The Bonhoeffer Project, Nov. 14, 2018; edited

Beloved, there is not a question in this old man’s mind and heart that AMERICA’S BONHOEFFER MOMENT began nearly ten years ago with the Election of Donald Trump to the Presidency, who took office on January 20, 2017.

Since that Fateful Day, between 80-90% of the White Evangelical Church in our Nation has stood firmly in the President’s Corner, despite an ocean of evidence of his corruption, his sexual perversions, and his love for violent retribution.

Therefore, in these waning hours of the End of the Church Age, we have an historic and existential CHOICE to make. While there is still a little time.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” – JOSHUA 24:15, KJV

THE CALL. “Biblical Resistance is the active or passive opposition to forces, spiritual powers, moral pressures, or authorities that go against GOD’S WILL.” – AI Overview, Aug. 28, 2026; edited

• SPIRITUAL RESISTANCE. “‘Believers are commanded to STAND FIRM against spiritual evil and temptation.’ Ephesians 6:11 tells Christians to put on the ‘Armor of God’ to withstand the Devil’s schemes. James 4:7 adds that submitting to God and resisting the Devil causes him to flee.”

• MORAL RESISTANCE. “Christians are called to ‘Reject Worldly Values and Pressures’ that contradict Divine Commands. Romans 12:2 warns believers not to conform to the Patterns of this World, but to be Transformed through a renewed mind.”

• CIVIL RESISTANCE. “‘Scripture dictates that human laws or state demands must be challenged or resisted only when they directly contradict God’s requirements’ (as seen in Acts 5:29, where the Apostles state they must obey God rather than men).

THE COST. “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘NOW is the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night. 

And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them [in the presence of God]. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you in great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time [remaining]!” – REVELATION 12:10-12, AMP

What say you, Christian? What say you, Church? And what say you, O Pastor and Priest?Shall you now Retract and Bow to the Only True King above all others?

I pray so, sir. It is nearly Nightfall. No more time to spare. Selah.

MEDIA

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/5y37wA5Yp_U