As the presidential elections draw closer, I start to wonder whether the outcome will significantly affect the eschatological views of Christians. I do not mean to imply that politics has any hidden or overt connection with eschatology. I merely ask whether certain views, which have for their basis the evolutionary concept of continued progress, in both the social and religious spheres, may not be substantially affected, and even irreparably injured, by the outcome of the next presidential election.
This brings me, naturally, to the subject of Preterism. As I’ve learned in my dealings with Preterists, the great majority of them believe that the present evil age will continue for thousands and thousands of years. While this belief in itself is not heretical, when held against the trend of current world events, it does pose some problems for those who hold that things on earth must get “better and better,” and that eventually (in several thousand years) the whole world will become converted to Christianity.
Such an ideology is, of course, always negatively impacted when social conditions speak the exact opposite. When that happens, expect credibility in the aforesaid optimism to fail. My question is, will the 2008 presidential election results “give the lie” to the doctrines of Preterism? Will the results be followed by a mass departure from “past fulfillment” theology, as more and more Christians seek relevance in the study of end-time prophecies? We ought to realize, at least nobody can deny, that the world is in a grave state right now. Can anyone really maintain, in the midst of such a downgrade, that Christians are about to “take over the world?” I think not.
Rather than give my opinion of the two candidates, let me instead pose another question. What will happen to Preterism when the results of the polls come in? How will Preterism be affected? If the current state of the movement gives any indication, its fruits and hopes must soon fail. It has nothing left to feed upon.
Even in past weeks I’ve seen a slump in interest toward anything that resembles the “fulfilled in A.D. 70” view. The teachers of Preterism, many of whom built their careers on these teachings, are about to be discredited in a major way. They are about to have their scoffings and unbelief cast right back in their own face. And when the Great Tribulation begins, who can say whether or not they will be among those to whom God will send a strong delusion, that they may believe Antichrist and his lies (2 Thess. 2: 11-12).
What Preterists are looking for is a politico-religious Messiah. Is not that what Antichrist shall be? They are looking for a great social leader who will profess belief in Christianity. Of course it doesn’t matter whether the profession is genuine or not. It doesn’t matter whether the heart of the individual be truly regenerate. As long as the socio-political conditions of the world maintain and uphold a semblance of ”progress,” the reconstructionist’s dream may comfortably continue. But once hold revolution under his nose, and he’ll wake up to the harsh reality that we are in the “last days.”
Mind, I am not wishing for any kind of upheaval to overtake mankind. Nevertheless, a simple glance at the prophetic record of Scripture would incline me to think that the tribulation is right around the corner. Perhaps what we are seeing now is a prelude to the rise of Daniel’s “little horn.” I am not ruling out that possibility. I am certainly aware (as we all should be) that the world is heading more and more toward globalization. And this is a fulfillment of end-time prophecies. It is for Christians to heed the “signs of the times,” and not to bury their heads in the sand. The world will not continue “for ever and ever and ever.” My continued message is: wake up, and return to the Gospel which Jesus Christ preached, and leave behind the false lying “replacement gospel” that is called Preterism.
So many Christians have failed to the one thing needful, and that is, to separate from the world (James 1: 27; 1 John 2: 15). We must be fully consecrated to the Lord. Paul said, “I beseech you, therefore, beloved, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12: 1-2). That means maintaining our witness in the midst of an unregenerate world. For we know that the whole world lieth in wickedness (1 John 5: 19). Perseverance is neccesary in order to obtain the crowns.
But how have we utilized the talents with which the Lord has entrusted us? Let each search his own heart for the answer. Should persecution begin to rage, and the gibbets be set up; should suddenly “informers” crop up and the autos da fe begin, where will we stand? Will we have enough strength to do as Polycarp did, and go to the stake with a calm and prayerful mind, and with unruffled faith? The results of this year’s elections may push us closer to such a scenario. How much better, then, to simply believe the words that Jesus Christ has spoken. “In the world ye shall have tribulation. But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16: 33).
Yes, Christ has overcome the world. And it is because of this that we long for our deliverance from the present evil age, that we may obtain inheritance with Him when He comes with all His saints. Is this not the “blessed hope” for which all Christians long? (Titus 2: 13). Is not the daily petition of all true disciples, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven?“ (Matthew 6: 10). How can anyone wish for a continuation of the world’s sordid conditions, and his/her heart be right in the sight of God? Such a heart-state seems to belie the very “new birth” upon which salvation wrought in Christ is based. Christians, I urge you to stop shutting your eyes to the “falling away” and to the degeneracy of this present evil age, and to fill your vessels with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Return to the pure Gospel and thou shalt be blessed. But if thou remain in thine iniquities, know for sure that the flames of hell shall overtake thee at the last.
Hell is a very hot place, and its fires are kindled daily by the souls that awake therein. Oh, if we only knew how many souls are suffering eternal torments for their refusal to hearken to the true Gospel, and accept the salvation that Christ has offered, how we should all redouble our zeal to remain separated from the things that defile. If professing Christians knew half the truth of the horrors of hell, they would become evangelists tomorrow. I pray for some such awakening among those who claim Christ as their Savior. Awake now, before it is too late!
But some will never change. Those who remain in slumber will doubtless see the election results as a minor setback to their plans of progress. And as the world becomes progressively worse, and humanity increasingly more depraved, so their Christianity will become more Laodicean in nature. Mind, this is no long and bitter rant against Dominion Theology. It is merely a warning and exhortation to return to the “faith delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Yes, we are in the dispensation of grace and not of judgment. But signs abroad tell us that this dispensation is soon to end. Those who fail to keep God’s word undefiled will be cast into great tribulation. Isn’t the truth, therefore, worth fighting for? Return to Jesus Christ with all thine heart today, and thou shalt be saved from the coming wrath.
