CHAPTER XVI
AFTERMATH

It is now that the process begins insofar as the MANIFESTATION of the TRUE "sons of God" are concerned in both the church and Israel - a process that will separate the wheat from the chaff, the real from the unreal, those who have pretended to be the "Sons of God" and those who really are. And because of this great SEPARATION of the "REAL" from the "unreal," just and seeking men everywhere will be drawn to the "Kingdom of God" producing even in such a time, the "Great Harvest of the Lamb."

The Bible explains:

"For the earnest expectation of the ...[creation] waiteth for the MANIFESTATION of the sons of God." (Romans 8:19)

The Amplified Bible puts it this way:

"For [even the whole] creation ... waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons [the Church] to be made known - waits for the REVEALING, the DISCLOSURE of their sonship." (Romans 8:19, Zondervan, the Amplified Bible )

In this Paul is saying that the whole universe is waiting for something to happen insofar as the "Kingdom of God" is concerned. It is waiting for this "sons of God" to be "REVEALED," "DISCLOSED," "MANIFESTED" - and the disclosure of the so-called 144,000 of Revelation chapter 7 and the 144,000 of Revelation chapter 14. [We URGE you once again to review the material on the 144,000 in Part 5 of Chapter VIII and all of chapter X.]

The testimony will be produced in the church by those who give themselves over to the promulgation and dissemination of the "GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM," and in Israel by those who renounce the alliance between Israel and Babylon and insist that Israel's refuge lies in the coming Messiah. (Please see Zech. 12:8-14, 13:1, 6)

"MULTITUDES, MULLTITUDES IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION, FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR." The world is about ready to be reaped [Joel 3:13-15 (above)] - and you're Christianity is about to be tested: and after that, the JUDGMENT.

In this test, it's not what you claim to be that will count for anything, but what you really are: What you PROVE yourself to be. Again, the Bible says:

"NOT EVERY ONE THAT SAITH UNTO ME, LORD, LORD, SHALL ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 7:21)

AT THE TIME OF THE END

The Bible says that in the immediate aftermath of the Gog / Magog War, the AntiChrist shall -

"... come ... LIKE A WHIRLWIND ... and shall OVERFLOW and PASS OVER."

"He will also enter the Beautiful Land [i.e., Israel] ..." (Daniel 11:40-41)

The Bible continues:

"... and many countries will fall; [i.e., many nations in the Middle East shall fall prey to him]

"Then he [i.e., Antichrist] will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt [which was formerly AntiChrist's ally] will not escape.

"And he [i.e., Antichrist] will GAIN CONTROL OVER THE HIDDEN TREASURES ... [no doubt, the oil reserves of the region]

"But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him [i.e., Antichrist], and he [Antichrist] will go forth WITH GREAT WRATH to DESTROY and ANNIHILATE many. [i.e., shall go north in the direction of Europe, and east in the direction of Pakistan, Indonesia, etc.] (Dan. 11:41-44)

What's happened here? The Gog/Magog war is done, and AntiChrist, claiming that the victory is his, has entered the Holy Land, and from there he has "OVERFLOWED" (Dan. 11:40) into the Middle East in general with an ENORMOUSLY POWERFUL army. And why has he come (the defense pact notwithstanding)? - to "GAIN CONTROL OVER THE HIDDEN TREASURES" of the area: the OIL. But as he seizes the oil, a protest against what he is doing is raised from a group of nations to the "north" and "east" of the Middle East (we are left to speculate on the names of those countries), and he sends forth his army in great wrath to "DESTROY" and "ANNIHILATE" those who oppose him. Then the Bible says that -

"... he [Antichrist] will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain ..." (Daniel 11:45)

The whole dark and sinister tenor of these verses indicates that something astonishing has happened to the AntiChrist. The victory that he supposes to be his as a result of the Gog/Magog War has very obviously produced within him an extraordinary "MESSIAH-COMPLEX," so that now he seems to be saying with Lucifer, "Son of the Morning:"

"... I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

"I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Is. 14:13-41)

And the proof that he has been seized by a "MESSIAH-COMPLEX" is evidenced by the fact that the Bible says that after he has destroyed his enemies "to the north" and "to the east," he returns to the Holy Land to "... pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain ..." (Daniel 11:45) In other words, so taken is AntiChrist by his new "MESSIAH-COMPLEX" that he "establishes" himself in Jerusalem - the "City of God." Whatever doubts that he had had that he was "ON A MISSION FROM GOD" have now all been erased; and in this connection, it should be noted that Isaiah 28:18 seems to indicate that AntiChrist's "presence" in Israel has been transformed into a kind of military OCCUPATION - or how else should one understand that Israel is now "TRODDEN DOWN" by the "OVERFLOWING SCOURGE" (i.e., the AntiChrist).

The question is, from where did this "messiah-complex" originate? AntiChrist is, after all, merely a man; he is not God; he is not divine. Indeed, speaking of him, the Bible says,

"Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus [i.e., AntiChrist - please see The Coming Prince by Robert Duncan Culver], Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; YET THOU ART A MAN, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God ..." (Ezek. 28:2)

AntiChrist's "messiah-complex" originated from somewhere, just as Hitler's did. Hitler received his ideas from the German people - people such as Alfred Rosenberg, Houston Stewart Chamberlain (who was actually an Englishman, but who became German), Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, etc. Where did AntiChrist get his? That's the question! These ideas - the kind that lead to a "messiah-complex" - don't appear out of thin air.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
A TYRANT AND A MESSIAH

The one great difference between a tyrant and a messiah-figure (which AntiChrist plainly is) is that a tyrant forces himself on a population; he imposes himself on it, often by force of arms like a Pinochet or a Samosa. But a messiah-figure - someone like a Hitler, for instance - receives his power by acclimation. Rather than imposing himself on people, he gives the appearance of emanating from them - and this is precisely what the Scriptures say about AntiChrist:

"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." (Rev. 13:1) [In Scripture, the "sea" is a representation of the people; in other words, the "beast" (AntiChrist) originates from the people by acclimation.]

A messiah-figure is in a very real sense a living MANIFESTATION of the people out from which he comes; he is their creation, their "mirror image" - and so much so that it is often the case that the people "recognize" a "messiah" long before he "recognizes" himself.

The well-known English historian Ian Kershaw writes concerning the possessor of this kind of "charisma" or "messianism" (specifically, as it pertained to Hitler):

"If I have found one concept more than any other which has helped me to find a way to bind together the otherwise contradictory approaches [to Hitler] through biography and the writing of social history, it is Max Weber's notion of 'charismatic leadership' - a notion which looks to explanations of this extraordinary form of political domination primarily in the perception of 'charisma', that is, in the society rather than, in the first instance, in the personality of the object of their adulation."

What Kershaw is saying here is that the holder of "charismatic power" derives it not so much from the force of his own personality, but from a society that is predisposed toward seeing him as such; specifically, IT IS DERIVED FROM THE READINESS OF OTHERS TO SEE HIM AS A MESSIANIC FIGURE.

Max Weber conceptualized messianic leadership, which he contrasted with "traditional" and "legal" leadership (i.e., leadership resting on impersonal, "rational," bureaucratic rules), as an extraordinary form of rule, tending to arise in unusual or crisis conditions, and directed not at the solution of everyday problems of government, but at overcoming "supradimensional" emergencies. Messianic authority rests on people perceiving in their messiah-figure supernatural and/or superhuman power.

According to Weber, then, Messianism is a quality determined by the subjective perceptions of the followers. Weber writes:

"What is alone important is how the individual is actually regarded by those subject to charismatic (i.e., messianic) authority, by his 'followers' or 'disciples'."

The followers of the leader are won over and their backing derived from personal loyalty, not abstract "rules" or positions; and it is sustained by great deeds, resounding successes, and notable achievements which provide the repeated "proof" of the leader's "calling." The bearer of charisma (i.e., messianic leadership) seizes the task for which he is destined and demands that others obey and follow him BY VIRTUE OF HIS PERCEIVED MISSION OR "CALLING." If those to whom he feels sent do not recognize him, his claim collapses; if they recognize it, he is their master as long as he "proves" himself.

Who, then, are AntiChrist's followers in the first instance? From what social milieu does he emanate that renders to him the "recognition" messianic leadership demands? WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE PRONE TO SEE HIM AS A MESSIAH? - and remember here, this great latter-day messiah possesses much more than mere social charisma, but RELIGIOUS charisma, and a particular kind of religious charisma; a kind that attaches great importance to the Holy Land, and most particularly, to Jerusalem. So very obviously, we are not talking about a Hindu-like "New Age" charisma; that kind of leader would be more disposed "to pitch the tents of his royal pavilion" (Daniel 11:45) in the Himalayas, or in the Hindu-Cush, or maybe even in the Andes or some other such "High Place," but not in Jerusalem.

THE AMERICAN EVANGELICALS

The very real fact of the matter is, THERE IS ONLY ONE GROUP IN ALL THE EARTH THAT IS TODAY PRONE TO SEE MESSIAHS - at least the religious kind of messiah described in Daniel and the Revelation: and that is THE AMERICAN EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY, THE VERY GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO TODAY FORM THE CORE ELEMENT OF AMERICA'S RELIGIOUS RIGHT.

While Europe is a spent force religiously speaking, American Christianity is alive and well, and has actually installed "ITS MAN" in the presidency. There is NOTHING in Europe that even comes close to the vibrant nature of American evangelicalism. There are no churches anywhere there that can match the huge size of D. James Kennedy's church in Florida, or James Robison's church in Texas. Such churches simply don't exist in Europe.

Yes, Europe has its cathedrals, but they are nothing more than empty hulks of a bygone era that serve more as tourist attractions to visiting Americans than houses of worship to Europeans. Leaving aside the fact that Europe is a pygmy militarily speaking, and nothing more than an American client-state economically speaking, Europe simply doesn't possess the kind of population that sees messiahs any longer. They are a "spent people" on a "spent continent" that no longer are capable of "climbing high mountains," or "dreaming great dreams."

But Americans? - THEY'RE DIFFERENT! They still believe in "MANIFEST DESTINY!" - and they still believe that some great destiny awaits them. And no where else does this dream hold sway more than in the hearts of American evangelicals. To Americans, America is God's great REDEEMER NATION. What German today would ever say that about Germany? Or what Englishman would say that about England? Or what Frenchman would say that about France? - and most especially, what European would ever say that about that impersonal, bureaucratic, detached entity called the E.U.? Such people don't exist.

MANIFEST DESTINY IS ALIVE AND WELL

But in America, MANIFEST DESTINY is alive and well, and it is throbbing in the breasts of countless numbers of American evangelicals whose hearts beat proudly whenever they see their planes bomb another village in Afghanistan, or another aspirin factory in the Sudan; or whenever they see one of their massive carrier battle groups return home from duty to San Diego or Newport News, having bombed the hell out of some third world country. [And I say this not as one who has never served in the military; I am a combat veteran of the Vietnam war having served in two long, drawn-out combat campaigns and having won a bronze star.]

GOD'S REDEEMER NATION

American Christians long ago forgot what Jesus said about this world:

"... My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight ... but ... my kingdom (is) not from hence." (John 18:36)

They have instead unabashedly embraced the old Calvinist (Puritan) concept of America as the "REDEEMER NATION" that God has chosen to carry "Christian Civilization" to the world.

In recent years, this older Calvinism has been merged with the newer concept of "dominionism" which has served only to enhance and strengthen the concept of America as the "REDEEMER NATION" on the American evangelical's imagination. Al Dager, a recognized authority on "dominionism," explains the new dominionist mindset,

"Some two decades before Pentecostalism found its way into the (mainstream) denominations (i.e., the Episcopalians, the Catholic Church, etc.) as the 'Charismatic Renewal', it experienced a new surge of experience-oriented theology within its own ranks. It was from this neo-Pentecostal experience - what came to be called the 'Latter Rain Movement' - that Charismatic Dominionism sprang. The more prominent leaders of that movement blended Pentecostal fervor with teachings that THE CHURCH WAS ON THE BRINK OF A WORLDWIDE REVIVAL. THAT REVIVAL WOULD RESULT IN A VICTORIOUS CHURCH WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE ... (WHICH) WOULD INHERIT THE EARTH AND RULE OVER THE NATIONS WITH A ROD OF IRON."

The mixture of the two - i.e., the older Calvinism that pictured America as God's REDEEMER NATION and the newer dominionism that postulates the belief that the church is on the brink of a great REVIVAL that will result in the church inheriting the earth and ruling over the nations with a rod of iron - has produced in evangelicals the belief that God is going to bring a vast revival to America, and through America, the world. It has conjured up a picture in American evangelicals of America as a kind of new CRUSADER STATE destined by God to spread the Christian message throughout the world - AT THE POINT OF A SWORD, if necessary.

SPREADING CHRISTIANITY
AT THE POINT OF A SWORD

Preaching the "Gospel of peace" (Rom 10:15 & Eph 6:15) at the point of a sword? It's OXYMORONIC! It's INSANE! Nonetheless, this is what the late R.J. Rushdoony plainly taught when he wrote,

"In winning a nation (or the world) to the gospel, THE SWORD AS WELL AS THE PEN MUST BE USED."

It's also what Sam Fife believed when he said,

"... Jesus is setting up His kingdom here on earth ... WE ARE THE RULERS OF THIS PLANET - IT'S TIME WE TAKE OVER."

And insofar as America's pivotal role in the conquest of the world for "Christ and the church," Kenneth Copeland says:

"THIS COUNTRY BELONGS TO GOD ... He's the One who brought the United States of America into existence. He has a SPECIAL PURPOSE for it (as God's REDEEMER NATION) ... He raised it up, and it's not going to be taken away from Him."

To evangelicals like Kenneth Copeland, Sam Fife and R.J. Rushdoony, there is no such a thing as the separation of church and state. The state exists merely to serve the needs of the church. For example, the late W.A. Criswell, the Senior Pastor of Dallas's giant First Baptist Church, said:

"THERE IS NO SUCH A THING AS THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. It is merely a figment of the imagination of infidels."

To American evangelicals, the holy trinity consists of:

• Conservative Christian preachers,

• Conservative politicians.

• The military establishment.

It has very little to do with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To evangelicals, when liberals attack the flag, preach non-violence, cut the defense budget, and try to impose religious "diversity" on the political and social structures of the nation, what they are really doing is attacking God. Potts says:

"Church and state, far from being separated, are a simultaneous and identical occasion in the United States ... The flag is the symbol of this religious fusion and the Pledge is the state prayer."

The fact is, in America God is wrapped up in the flag, and the mandatory worship of this piece of cloth, with all the ceremony attendant to this obligation, is the real liturgy of American evangelicalism.

This is no joke! This is no exaggeration! This is for real! For example, John Eckhardt, the pastor and "overseer" of Crusaders Ministries in Chicago and a luminary in today's "Apostles and Prophets Movement," characterizes the church in the "end of days" as a church of WARFARE. To Eckhardt, that's what "Apostolic Ministry" is all about. [Please see our article on "Apostolic Ministry" entitled "Today's Church: Making Zombies out of Christians - the Prophets and Apostles Movement."] Eckhardt writes:

"Apostolic ministry is a ministry of WARFARE. It entails commanding, mobilizing, rallying and gathering the ARMY of God to challenge and pull down the strongholds of the enemy. The Apostolic Church invades new territories and breaks through."

A "WHO'S WHO" OF AMERICAN "DOMINIONISTS"

And the list of those who now embrace this kind of very menacing Christianity reads like a "Who's Who" of American pastors and leaders - people who fervently believe in America as the REDEEMER NATION destined by God to conquer the world for "Christ and the church" - and includes such Christian "luminaries" as Charles Stanley, D. James Kennedy, Tim LaHaye, the late John Wimber, Juan Carlos Ortiz, C. Peter Wagner, Beverley LaHaye, Ern Baxter, Kenneth Copeland, the late Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts, Richard Roberts, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Chuck Colson, Jack Hayford, David Yonggi Cho (yes, even Cho who isn't an American, but a Korean), Robert Stearns, Mike Bickle, Reuven Doron, Che Ahn, Frank Hammond, Cindy Jacobs, Bill Hamon, John Eckhardt, Bobbie Byerly, Dutch Sheets, Jim Goll, John Paul Jackson, James Ryle, Frank Damazio, Ed Silvoso, Carlos Annacondia, Claudio Freidzon, Roger Mitchell, Ted Haggart, Paul Cain, Chuck Pierce, Rick Joyner, Kingsley Fletcher, Jim Laffoon, Barbara Wentroble, ad infinitum.

THE ESCHATOLOGICAL MODEL OF DOMINIONISM

Once again, the eschatological model that all these men in one way or another subscribe to is as follows:

• The world is plunged into a time of political and spiritual crisis, one which threatens the world with chaos and the church with destruction. [Dominionists believe we have been in this phase of the "end of days" for a long time now as evidenced by the decline of America's older, euro-centered, Christian civilization, the removal of prayer from the schools, and the concomitant emergence of secular-humanism, militant feminism, homosexuality, pornography, rampant liberalism, etc., etc.]

• The Lord brings revival to the church. [Dominionists believe that that's what is beginning to happen now with the "new charismatic movement," the growing ecumenism between and among the various branches of Christianity, the "Signs and Wonders" movement, and most especially with what C. Peter Wagner calls the "New Apostolic Reformation" (please see our article on this phenomenon: "Today's Church: Making Zombies out of Christians - The New Prophets and Apostles Movement").]

• This revival results in the end of the church's divisions and the rule of the "apostles and prophets."

• The "Gospel of the Kingdom" is preached in America first; America is "revived" as the REDEEMER NATION, which leads ultimately to the conversion and eventual conquest by the REDEEMER NATION (i.e., America) of the world.

• This results finally in the CONVERSION OF ISRAEL, and the judgment of those who refuse to convert.

• The Lord returns.

Now it's important to note that the dominionist model as depicted here is not an eschatological model that is well organized or very well thought-out - and most certainly it is not based on any kind of systematic treatment of the Word. Indeed, one will search in vain for any theological coherence in it at all. Within the world created by this system, one will find very few people arguing over its details. There are no details, only broad generalizations and a good deal of talk about a coming "Great Revival," "taking back territory from the enemy," "demonic principalities and powers," the "Coming of Christ in oneself" (i.e., the "Grail Quest" and the "search for inner purity"), and that kind of thing.

"Taking back territory" from the "enemy" - whether in oneself or in the world - that's what the dominionist mindset is all about - and when one "takes enough territory back," Christ will come again.