Dispensational theology is the predominant theology among evangelical leaders today. A major problem with this theological perspective is its fatalism in relation to the future role of the church within the world and its cultural implications. John MacArthur is a highly respected American pastor who calls himself a "leaky dispensationalist." By this, he means he rejects much of dispensational theology but retains some aspects of it, especially when it comes to Israel and end-times eschatology. John MacArthur said in one of his messages to his church:
"Guess what? We don't win down here, we lose. Are you ready for that? Oh, you were a post-millennialist. You thought we were just going to go waltzing into the Kingdom because you took over the world. No, we lose here. Get it? It killed Jesus. They killed all the apostles. We're all going to be persecuted. "
I'm actually surprised MacArthur teaches that because he himself stood up to the governor of California and disobeyed the government's Covid-19 restrictions in mid-2020 during the pandemic by continuing to hold indoor services! He wrote:
"Christ is Lord of all. He is the one true head of the church He is also King of kings—sovereign over every earthly authority. Grace Community Church has always stood immovably on those biblical principles. As His people, we are subject to His will and commands as revealed in Scripture. Therefore we cannot and will not acquiesce to a government-imposed moratorium on our weekly congregational worship or other regular corporate gatherings. Compliance would be disobedience to our Lord’s clear commands."
John MacArthur stood up to the government and he won! My hat is off to him! I'm sure he won due to his prayers and the prayers of the members of his church. God is on the throne and prayer changes things! God, not man, is sovereign and in control.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to authorize a $400,000 payment to settle a legal battle with Grace Community Church over lead pastor John MacArthur’s defiance of COVID-19 restrictions in the early months of the pandemic. Under the agreement, which the board unanimously approved without discussion, the state of California will also pay the church $400,000. This agreement, county officials said, was reached in the context of the US Supreme Court’s decision in February that told California it couldn’t enforce a ban on indoor worship because of the coronavirus pandemic. LA County modified its health order and lifted the indoor worship ban after the ruling. (Source: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/september/john-macarthur-covid-settlement-california-church-grace-com.html)
The liberal anti-God woke government of California could not defeat the Church!
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
There have been many times throughout history when God's people stood up against the World and won. The Pope and the Catholic Church could not stop Martin Luther or the Protestant Reformation. The Catholic Spanish Armada could not defeat Protestant England. The Jesuit Gunpowder Plot did not destroy the British Parliament. Pope Pius XII despite his support of Hitler could not conquer all of Europe. The Roman Catholic Church failed miserably in its attempt to declare itself to be the State Church of America in 1888! You may not have heard about it. School history books don't teach it. I learned about it from Justin Fulton's book, Washington in the Lap of Rome.
Here's the account of the event:
Slowly, stealthily, with the look of a saint for the outward seeming, with the heart of a Jesuit for the inward reality, Romanism has accomplished in fact, if not in name, what in name as well as in fact she achieved in so many of the kingdoms of Europe, a union of Church and State. This few will admit, but all may know that fact was to have been revealed on the 24th of May, 1888; that it was not, was not Rome's fault, but God's decree. Preparations had been going on for months to lay on that day, in the presence of the distinguished representatives of the nation, the corner-stone of the Catholic University of America, that the light of virtue and science might be preserved in the State," in accordance with the decrees and behests of Rome. The Cardinal, the Prince of the Roman Catholic church who was to officiate as President of the Board of Trustees, is, by virtue of his high office, the most conspicuous figure in the Catholic church in this country.
It was expected that the Cardinal, dressed in the red robes of his office, arm-in-arm with the President of the United States, was to strike the blow which would inaugurate the commencement of an enterprise that would exert a felt influence upon the institutions of this fast-growing Republic. Soldiers, belonging to an army seven hundred thousand strong, now enlisted and drilled, and being led by the scarred veterans of the Confederate and Union armies, were to be there, under the command of Mayor General Rosecrans, Grand Marshal, who, with prancing steed and nodding plume, was to place before the eyes of gathered thousands the proof that Church and State were united, and that a willing soldiery was getting ready to enforce the decrees of Rome. Bands of music accompanied the delegations, and filled the air with martial strains, as on Wednesday evening they marched along the streets of Washington.
Archbishops, bishops and priests, monks and nuns and Christian brothers, crowded the homes of expectant Romanists. Everything was apparently for Rome. The President of the United States left the Presbyterian Assembly in Philadelphia to grace with his presence on this occasion. Every member of the cabinet and distinguished statesmen were expected to keep him company. Seats were prepared on the platform for two thousand guests.
That night, in a great hall in Washington, gathered a company of praying people. They saw the peril; they declared it, and pleaded with God to bring confusion upon the enemies of the faith; though ministers in Washington as a rule, and the churches almost without exception, recognize the Roman Catholic church as a part of the Christian world, and are opposed to saying anything, or having anything said, that shall provoke discussion, or awaken enmity. Many there are who believe that Romanism is the foe of Christianity, and is yet to be cast down.
Thursday morning came. The day darkened as it climbed towards noon; the rain came first as a protest. It increased in quantity and finally fell in sheets. The streets looked like rivers. The procession was abandoned; the town was held in the grip of the storm. The crowd that gathered about the great stand was roofed with umbrellas. The cardinal and clergy, who expected to pass around the building to bless the foundations, were unwilling to face the storm. At three P.M., a Change of Programme was announced, in these words: "3 P.M. The procession has been abandoned, but the rest of the ceremony will go on." It did not go on! The foundations remained unblest! As Burns said:
"Full many a plan of mice and men Gang oft a-glee."
Wow! How many people know the story of the failed Roman Catholic Church's coup of the American government in 1888? I sure didn't until I read Justin Fulton's book. The Lord answered the prayers of His people! God can also answer our prayers against the elite and their plans to control every single person on earth. We can pray against UN Climate Change Conference also known as COP 28 which is due to start after 28 hours from the time of this post on November 30.
What are the elite's plans for the world?
I wrote this list off the top of my head based on things I've been hearing over the years. I searched the Internet but couldn't find what I wanted. Maybe you can come up with a better list.
The point of this article is we don't have to take the abuses of our constitutional liberties lying down! We can pray that the Lord will defeat any government policy that is against our morals and our faith in the Bible. Canadian Pastor Artur Pawlowski who was repeatedly jailed for holding church services in defiance of the government's ban on indoor worship due to Covid-19 was eventually vindicated! Even in nations like China and Iran, counties that do not guarantee the same human rights as Western Nations, people have risen against the abuses of their government and the government was forced to back off somewhat.
God is on the throne and prayer changes things.
My name is James Arendt. I was raised in the Hegewisch neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, served in the USAF from 1970 to 1974, and became a full-time missionary for Christ living 40 years in Japan, 3.5 years in Russia, and a few months in other countries such as Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China where I also served the King of Kings, Jesus, as an Ambassador for His Kingdom. My full bio.
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