A Political Paradigm Shift
I wrote a letter to the membership body who had gathered together in Kennewick, WA in June, 2009, warning them about the changes occurring in the world and how our posture in the midst of the changes should be. The following is a quote from that letter:
The Changing World
“Major events and inventions affect change among nations and the environment. Because of the mode of transportation and communication the world before Christ took some time for major changes to take effect. The amount of time it took for the world to change began to increase after the ascension of Christ, but as time passed, with improved transportation, communications and other factors, change has gradually accelerated until at the present time, dramatic change throughout the world can come almost overnight. With the increase of knowledge, the world changes as fast as the weather and about as unpredictable.
Since the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the early 1900's, major changes have happened throughout the world. With the development of the automobile, the airplane, the computer, the high-tech weapons of war, etc., how we live today does not even resemble how our parents lived. The world with all of its technical improvements and superabundance of conveniences has not made our future or lives more secure. Rather, our lives are invaded by negative changes and fear beyond comprehension. Greed for power and wealth have eroded God’s principles of godly character. “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love (has) decreased.”
With the increase of the price of oil in 2008, a major shift of wealth among nations painfully occurred, and it became a major player in the worldwide economic collapse. Coupled with that, flawed banking practices, especially in the USA, sent the business world into a tailspin.
As 2009 unfolds, it is unbelievable what is happening. It is beyond the past generation’s imagination, and certainly mine. Evil, disease, and war are ominous clouds overshadowing the entire planet. You as a believer in Jesus, are not survivors, but supernatural activators!”
A Political Paradigm shift
“For the form of this world is passing away.” (1 Cor. 7:31)
The image of this verse is from a shifting scene of a drama play on a stage. What caused Paul to make such a staggering statement? The context of this scripture is instructing believers on how they should prepare for a sudden negative turn of events in the Roman government. Surely, God had given Paul insight in what was about to happen, and he was preparing the church to meet that challenge.
The Corinthian letter was written around 54 AD. What was happening in the political world of Rome?
The Roman emperor, “Claudius”, who had married his third wife, Messalina, plots against him with one of her lovers. Claudius executes them in 48 AD and marries his niece, Agrippina. This is forbidden in Roman law, so he changes the law. (Does that sound familiar?)
The niece, like everyone else in the family, had a scheme. Her son by a previous marriage is just three years older than Britannicus, the son of Claudius’ previous wife. She persuades Claudius to adopt this boy as his heir afterwhich she poisons the old man, according to Roman gossip with toadstools. In 54 AD her 16-year-old son is proclaimed by the praetorian guard as the emperor of Rome. His name was Nero!
How do you prepare a church body for this kind of political paradigm shift? From the emperor Claudius to the emperor Nero can be compared to moving from planet earth to planet mars–from paradise to hell.
Within a year Nero murders his 12-year-old stepbrother Britannicus and three years later falls passionately in love with a married woman, Poppaca, the wife of Otho. Agrippina criticizes her son’s affair and is murdered in 59 AD. Nero divorces his wife Octavia on a false charge of committing adultery, and then has her killed. He then marries Poppaea in 62 AD.
Many believe that Nero started the great fire that burned Rome in 62 AD so as to give himself the grandiose pleasure of rebuilding the city. It was reported that while Rome was in flames, he went up to the tower of Macaenas, played upon his harp, sang the song of the burning of Troy, and openly declared that he wished the ruin of all things before his death. To save himself from the anger of the people, he blamed the Christians for setting fire to the city.
He redefined cruelty by how he persecuted the Christians. He had some sewed up in skins of wild beasts, and then allowed dogs to bite and tear them until they died; and others dressed in shirts made stiff with wax, fixed to crosses, and set on fire in his gardens, in order to illuminate them. Nero initiated this type of persecution throughout the empire. Both Peter and Paul were martyred during this period.
By revelation Paul saw the “form of his world” passing away. Because of the political and financial changes that have happen over the last year, I believe that our world as we know it is in process of “passing away” and the past political climate that has given safe harbor to Christians as instituted by our founding fathers, is being replaced. The apostle John described an “increase of antichrists in the last hour”, or many with a spirit that is against Christ will appear at the close of this age. I see this spirit rising up in the USA and also the world. The religion of Islam, gaining ground throughout the world, is anti-Christ in nature.
Having said this, I want to remind you of the posture that Paul took before he was martyred. He was an instrument that restrained the “mystery of lawlessness” along with many others. We must continue to challenge and restrain the increasing anti-christ spirit in our government while going on the offense with the preaching of the gospel in all the world.
As the last days unfold, I want to emphasis that our attitude cannot be “business as usual.” Our mind-set and focus must continue to be directed toward the heavens. Certainly, there is a major collision of two sources of wisdom, one from beneath and the other from heaven.
Individuals, families and churches must prepare for the tough times ahead!
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