Christian Living

POLITICS AS USUAL, NOT

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
09/30/20
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PROLOGUE

I woke up today troubled in my spirit by an all-important question, What has happened to America? It’s not politics as usual. Not the Republicans versus the Democrats. It’s Satan’s evil deception. Satan is now using politics in his last-ditch effort to destroy the world, and America in particular.

He knows his time is short, and that we are now living in the last days. If he can get the true leader of the world, America, to fall and be destroyed, by whatever means, he feels he’s won the war.

Yes, we are at war, a spiritual war of many battlefields. (Ephesians 6:12). One battle of these is the onset of socialism versus capitalism in our current political environment. Dr. Charles Ryrie puts it this way, “The believer’s enemies are the demonic host of Satan, always assembled for mortal combat.”

Thus, the next event on God’s prophetic calendar, of which Satan has no control, is the Rapture. Scripture speaks of this future time, known in Christian circles as the Rapture when God’s Son Jesus Christ will descend in the clouds and instantly call His people, living and dead, to be with Him forevermore.  Although not mentioned in the Scripture by name, the word Rapture by definition is understood as being caught up, or carried away.

I strongly feel this time is close is at hand. What a snatching away this will be! It will occur faster than one can blink an eye. (I Corinthians 15:52) And no one knows the timing of this event, not even the Son, but only our Father God. (Matthew 24:36) We do know, however, that no more prophecy needs to be fulfilled before this Rapture occurs. It could be anytime now. Even during this year’s national election season.

Though we are not told of the time or date, we are to watch the signs leading to the End Times. According to the Scripture’s end times prophecy this old world is definitely living in the very, very end, as we see civilization to be. (I Timothy 4:1-5) (II Timothy 3:1-9,13) (II Timothy 4:3-4) (II Peter 2:1-3) (II John 1:7) (II Peter 3:3-4) 

Here is a brief parable, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, of the Bible’s prophecy labeled The Rapture. Why is this event so important? It's the very next event of God’s prophecy time calendar! We may not even get a chance to vote our convictions.  I trust you will enjoy its writing. Please take a moment and click on the blue highlighted Scriptures as you move through the blog.

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this brief fiction parable entitled “Politics as Usual, Not!”

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (I Cor 15:57-58)

I was at a virtual standstill in gathering together my latest dissertation on “The Expectations of Prophecy.” My research was getting me nowhere. I had tried about every idea, including the presumptive head scratching, which didn’t seem to help either.

My only thought was to go back to the very beginning of Scripture. Maybe the Scripture footnotes will give me a lead into it all. But it didn’t. "I think I’ll just sleep on it,” was my conclusion. That’s when it all happened. I had a vision.

It was as if I was flying, as I passed over the landscape of houses and villages, then to a familiar scenery and a well-known street.

I found myself walking down Church Street which was aptly named for the many churches lining the street. It happened to be a nice fall day. The October blue sky was filled with puffy white clouds moving swiftly across the sky, pushed by a brisk breeze. In the distance ahead was a large church. I had passed this church many times, not giving it much thought. I wasn’t prepared to think about changing churches or denominations, I was well satisfied in my little friendly community church.   

For some unknown reason I was forcefully pulled to this church. Opening the front entrance door I found myself standing in the middle of a large brightly lit gold-trimmed church foyer.

Stretching across the church entrance was a one-word banner bearing the name “ICHABOD.’’   Being a Biblical scholar, I thought this entry welcome rather strange, since the Hebrew meaning of this name was ‘The glory has departed.' (I Samuel 4:21) As I pondered, I was again drawn into the church sanctuary.

“Hopefully the glory will still be observable here," I thought.

The main sanctuary was stunning, hard to imagine or describe. There were gold-inlayed walls, an ornately trimmed gold celling with low-hanging crystal chandeliers. The light glinted off several outstanding stained-glass murals. In the very front hung a large hand-painted Lord’s Supper canvas covering the entire upper front of the platform. The overelaborate brightly varnished pews seemed to set it all off.

The sanctuary was overflowing with people of all ages and dress. Some were attending to the order of praise and worship while others just sat uninterestedly in their pews. The pastor walked out onto the platform. He was all decked out in his usual priestly dress, as all stood in recognition of his presence.

Without using a Bible as reference, he began his sermon, or should I say talk, taking his subject from a familiar child’s nursery rhyme book with simple traditional songs and poems for children. Nonetheless, he wasn’t able to finish his talk, as he was suddenly interrupted. 

At the sound of a loud trumpet blast, the sanctuary demeanor instantly changed. In the blinking of an eye (I Corinthians 15:52), those attendees who had been praising and worshiping were missing from the pews. They were gone without a trace, much to the astonishment of the remaining attendees, as well as the pastor. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

What happened next was equally astonishing. There came a great earthquake shaking the entire church sanctuary and causing the floor to split wide open down the middle aisle. Those attendees who apparently had not been interested in the church service, were suddenly thrown into total chaos and they began to look around. There was no one to comfort these hysterical church attendees, as the pastor was stuck under the church rubble.  

Total hysteria was everywhere outside the church. Planes were crashing, trains were colliding, wrecked cars were piling up, and people were jumping out of buildings. There was fighting in the streets everywhere, with no police or emergency personnel in sight at all. Not a radio or television was broadcasting, as all forms of communication, including the cell towers and electricity, were totally out. All I could hear was a cacophony of screaming, crying and shouted profanity among the masses.      

While this chaos was happening, my vison was suddenly over as promptly as it started.  Everything had changed. The church was gone, the chaotic scene was gone, and I was back home.

There I was lying in bed surrounded by a sea of wet sweat-soaked bedsheets.  Lying on my bedside table was my Bible, mysteriously opened to a certain well-marked Scripture passage.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:8-9)

What did I do next? You got it. All’s well that ends well. With the conclusion of my most astonishing vision ever, America was back to normal. No disappearing Christians, no chaotic happenings. It was business as usual.   

What an introduction to my pending college dissertation!  And yes, I was promptly promoted. Amen!   

EPILOGUE

The following excerpt is taken from the article entitled “The Dogma of the anti-Christian Bigots," Sept 30, 2020 by Jerry Newcomb.

“Should being an active Christian bar you from public service? Yes, say many pundits today. It would seem that the left wants to impose a religious test to bar anyone who truly believes in Jesus from serving in government.

The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg left a vacancy on the Supreme Court. In the days following her death, all of the candidates on President Trump's shortlist to replace her were dedicated Christians, and the left once again bared their anti-Christian bigotry.

The Constitution says there can be no religious test applied to those seeking office at the federal level (Article VI, clause 3).

A famous incident in 2017 involved California Sen. Dianne Feinstein scorning Catholic Amy Coney Barrett (who is now Trump's nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy), at a Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, for being too religious. The senator said, "I think whatever a religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different. And I think in your case, professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you, and that's of concern."

Washington Post writer Ron Charles recently criticized Judge Barrett because of her belief that a "legal career is but a means to an end … and that end is building the Kingdom of God."

When George W. Bush, an outspoken Christian, was president, one of his biggest antagonists (at least behind the scenes) was George Soros. The billionaire venture-capitalist is committed to a secular vision for America. Soros has paid out billions of dollars to try and impose his godless vision on America. With Bush 43 in mind, Soros said, "The separation of church and state, the bedrock of our democracy, is clearly undermined by having a born-again president."

These are amazing statements. Why not just hang out a sign on Constitution Avenue: "Government Service Openings: Christians Need Not Apply"?

One man had the impertinence to hold a different opinion than these. He said, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege of interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

Oh, my goodness. Who was this backwoods rube? Didn't he know anything about the Constitution and about our nation's sacred institutions—er, make that "secular institutions"? That quotation was from Founding Father John Jay, one of the three authors of the Federalist Papers, perhaps the finest political science writings in American history. John Jay was appointed by President Washington to serve as the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court.”

So, do you believe in the Scripture prophecy of the Rapture?  What do you suppose would happen if the Rapture were to occur right now, as you have finished reading this blog? Would you be at home with the Lord? Would your family be there also?

Or would you be caught up in the worst calamity known to man, which is known as the Great Tribulation, a seven-year period of total Hell on Earth. And unless the days be shortening, no man will live. (Matthew 24:22)   The Scripture puts it this way. (Revelation 6:15-16) “Amen!

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