WHAT'S UP WITH THIS SUDDEN ATTACK ON NATIONALISM !

It was August 2017. Charlottesville, VA, near the home of the wholesome 1970s TV family, The Waltons.  This time, Charlottesville was quite different--it was home to the "Unite the Right" rally that became a riot between protesting Neo-Nazi white supremacists and Anti-Fa counter-protesters...and it got pretty ugly!

President Trump, at the time, said "both sides" were responsible for the bloodshed. The mainstream media, Democratic politicians and some Republicans joined to hammer the President for his assessment and for not slamming the Neo-Nazis even more strongly for their racist views. Looking at the protests, Trump was objectively correct! Frankly, the Anti-Fa fascist thugs were more violent, intimidating and nasty in some, if not most, cases than the Neo-Nazis. However, notably, one Neo-Nazi did ram a car into counter-protesters, killing one.

I recall seeing a Gomer Pyle-esque looking young man (on Twitter), at the rally, dressed in a Confederate uniform, being aggressively intimidated and verbally berated by a group of Anti-Fa thugs as he stood at attention, police looking on.

Fast forward to this year, just a few weeks ago at a mid-term campaign rally in Texas, Trump boldly stated, "You know what I am? I'm a nationalist. OK? I'm a nationalist...Use that word. Use that word." 

Again the mainstream media, especially the likes of CNN and MSNBC, had a fit! They went on and on about the dangers of nationalism since Hitler advocated such a philosophy in the 1930s, clearly wishing to draw a similarity ! The media's aggressive, frankly Nazi-esque reporting of its own was clearly designed to shame Trump and his supporters, lacking sanity, objectivity or credibility. 

The fact that nationalism has been a prominent view held around the world for hundreds of years, including with U.S. Presidents in one degree to another, with possible exception of Obama, Great Britain's Churchill and others didn't seem to matter. 

Rush Limbaugh even noted (11/14/18 radio show) that Google's implied definition of nationalism had references to Hitler and Trump, of course. A convenient and misleading re-definition to demonize Trump, lumping him in with Hitler, while also implicitly supporting Google's own globalist push to help the very nationalistic, authoritarian or even totalitarian Chinese government's increase surveillance over its own people.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, appearing on Tucker Carlson's Fox News show on 11/14/18, made the excellent point that America's nationalism was and is based on ideals, not the ethnic nationalism of other nations, let alone the racial supremacist foundation of Nazi Germany. America's nationalism is based in God-given freedom...in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Remembering this...is it not rational to raise the inherently antichrist nature of those opposing Trump's American view of nationalism, like CNN or MSNBC, or as we shall see, like the French President's misplaced comments this past weekend in Paris, demonizing nationalism.

Stepping back to get a bit of an objective grip on things, it's worthwhile to note that the American Heritage Dictionary defines nationalism in three ways, none necessarily sinister:

• Devotion to the interests or culture of a particular nation,
• The belief that nations would benefit from acting independently rather than collectively, emphasizing national rather than international goals,
• Aspirations for national independence in a country under foreign domination.

Also, Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus shows for the word, "patriot" the definition that, "a person who loves his country and supports its interests. A synonym noted is "loyalist" and a related item is "NATIONALIST."

Two issues are in play:

• Trump's claim of being a nationalist is an easy way for the Trump-hating media and deceitful politicians to demonize him, tying him ridiculously to Hitler without mentioning that Reagan, Clinton, Kennedy, FDR and most preceding presidents acted in the same nationalist manner.
• There are powerful interests globally that are pushing for global integration economically, corporations pushing for new markets like China for example. If China was using these relationships and technology to oppress their citizens, then it wasn't Google or Apple's problem. The United Nations is pushing globalism, billionaires like George Soros as well, and even social media is making the globe a smaller place by making it easier to become acquainted with not just American models and heart-throbs but with Brazil's Adrianna Lima or the UAE's Omar Borkan al Gala.

These powerful political, economic, social, technological, and enivronmental trends are pushing the world to globalism or at least greater inter-dependence. The fact that there is now a "push back" against nationalism means these forces are becoming more powerful. These trends pave the way for the Antichrist even though it may take a major crisis to make his rise to power actually happen! 

Just over this past Veteran's Day weekend in Paris, at a rainy event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the World War I armistice, French President Emmanuel Macron said, "Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism." He added "A withdrawal into isolationism would be "a grave error that future generations would very rightly make us responsible for. The old demons are rising again, ready to wreak chaos and death...History sometimes threatens to take its sinister course again." Macron was also backed up by Germany's Angela Merkel, echoing the same self-righteous, but misguided, anti-nationalist theme. 

The irony is...Macron may be right that "old demons are rising again." However, the "demons" that should be watched are not Trump's nationalism, which is actually advancing prosperity and freedom. The danger is from China--returning to a one-man, heavy-handed authoritarian or totalitarian rule--, it is radical Islam and it is the globalism that Macron, Merkel and other Europeans and Americans wish to impose. These are the threats to the world and to the primary benefit of nationalism--that being national sovereignty which can shield sin, tyranny and misguided policies from infecting the whole world.

You don't have to be a Bible scholar to realize that global trends are setting the stage, which are all part of God's plan, for the rise of a strong, dynamic world leader, the Antichrist.

Ultimately, perhaps in less than a hundred or even fifty years from now, a truly new world order with Jesus Christ as world leader will smash this current world order. Nationalism won't be needed to help insulate the world from the destructive nature of sin. As Revelation 21:4 notes, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

THE SEVEN SEALS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

The Seven Seals' judgments are the first of God's judgments noted in the seven-year Tribulation period. In Revelation 6:1-17 are the first six seals and then the 7th Seal continues on through Revelation 9:21.

The seals start with the white horse representing the coming of the Antichrist, followed by the 2nd Seal's red horse of war, the 3rd Seal's black horse of famine, and then the 4th Seal's pale horse representing death. The 5th Seal represents the Tribulation martyrs and their prayer asking for God's wrath. The 6th Seal is marked by intense natural judgments on the earth, called the "Day of the Lord." 

Finally, the 7th Seal starts with a short time of silence but includes the even more intense Seven Trumpet judgments within the 7th Seal. The seven bowl judgments are likewise included in the 7th Trumpet.

THE TIMING OF THE SEALS

In his book, Revelation Expounded (pg.80), noted End Times author, Finis Jennings Dake, notes that the seven seal judgments and the first six trumpet judgments take place in the first 3 1/2 years of the 7-year Tribulation week referred to in Daniel 9:27. Daniel 9:27, referring to the Antichrist, notes, "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week..."

SOME RELATED & AFFIRMING BIBLE VERSES TO THE SEVEN SEALS IN REVELATION

Isaiah 13:9-11 refers to the Seven Seals', specifically the Sixth Seal, also known as "The Day of the Lord." A few quotes from this passage,"...Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger...for the stars of heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity."

Ezekiel 14:21 outlines similar judgments on Jerusalem. 'How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem--the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence--to cut off man and beast from it?"   While the judgment in this passage was on Jerusalem, the Seven Seals will be on the whole earth. 

Daniel 7:24 outlines the rise of the Antichrist and how he conquers the ten kings in the Revived Roman Empire through the deception implied in the first seal's white horse. "The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shal be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings."  This shows or at least implies a "conquest" by deception, manipulation and/or perhaps by choice of the conquered.

Daniel 11:40-45, referring to the Antichrist as "the King of the North", portrays more conventional conquering, as it notes, "...shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horseman and with many ships..."

In the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:6-44, after being asked by his disciples, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered with the judgments seen here in this passage about the seven seals:

• "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will deceive many."   Matthew 24:4-5

•   "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars..." Matthew 24:6
•   "...And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places."  Matthew 24:7
•   The Olivet Discourse also speaks of persecution of the righteous, false prophets, lawlessness, false prophets, as well as signs in the heavens.

II Thessalonians 2:8-12 refers to the 1st seal again, the implied deception that the Antichrist, at least, partially uses to conquer. "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they may be saved."

I Thessalonians 5:1-4, addresses in a summarized fashion, the 1st through the sith seal, noting, "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord (noted in the Sixth Seal) so comes as a thief in the night. for when they say, "Peace and safety!" (the likely promise of the Antichrist in the 1st Seal) then sudden destrction comes upon them...(refers to the desturction of the 2nd through the 4th seals, and on to the 6th Seal brought on by prayers of the martyrs for God's wrath in the 5th Seal).

Revelation 13:1-4 refer to 1st seal. "...And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten crowns..." This beast represents the 10 kings of the Revived Roman Empire, from which the Antichrist will come. This passage refers to the 1st Seal again, the rise of the Antichrist. revelation 17:13 notes that these ten kings will "give give their power and authority to the beast", part of his conquest noted in the 1st Seal.

THE SEVEN SEALS EXPLAINED
1st SEAL - Revelation 6:2 NIV notes, "I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest." 

Finis J. Dake maintains the first seal (and I agree) refers to the Antichrist's conquests which are accomplished, at least in part, by threat, blackmail and/or deception. Dake also maintains the First Seal fulfills Daniel 7:8-9, Daniel 7:23-25, Daniel 8:8-10, Daniel 8:20-23, and Daniel 11:35-45.  Dake in "Revelation Expounded" offers the insight that the Antichrist will be conquering the other kings in the Revived Roman Empire, which is consistent with Revelation 17:12-14.

Daniel 8:23, for example, is but one of these passages referring to the Antichrist, "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes..." 

The symbolism of the first seal is interesting. A rider that held a bow and was given a crown. No arrows but "bent on conquest." It seems to reflect the deceitful nature of the Antichrist, as Daniel 8:23 notes, he uses schemes/ deception effectively rather than actual weapons to conquer. Although, Daniel 11:35-45 indicates that the King of the North, also seen as the Antichrist, will be an actual conqueror but this passage seems to indicate that it will be at the end of his 7-year reign.

While this passage focuses on the deceiving conqueror, the Antichrist, it is interesting to note that II Thessalonians 2:9-12 confirms that the Antichrist is really God's judgment (He uses Satan as His tool of wrath) on the earth's people, "the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan...and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

I am confident that we are seeing this characteristic increase markedly among many today, that of believing a lie despite massive evidence or lack of evidence to the contrary, ala human-caused climate change, while refusing to believe truth such as the success of the American economy during Trump's Administration, let alone the clear biblical prophetic evidence pointing to the divinity of Jesus Christ.


2nd SEAL - Revelation 6:4 NIV declares, "Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword." Most commentators believe this is a seal/judgment of war. Given the Antichrist's deceit, it is reasonable to believe this "man of peace" would actually be a man of war. Indeed this idea is consistent with I Thessalonians 5:3 which declares, "While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."

I am speculating here but I believe, given the 3rd and 4th seals, that the war of the 2nd Seal, may be nuclear, chemical and/or biological, nuclear at least in part. Why? 

TO BE CONTINUED........3rd through the 7th Seals

THE SEVEN SEALS of REVELATION, PART II

Continuing now to the 3rd Seal of Revelation....

3rd Seal - The third seal is found in Revelation 6:5-6 NIV, "When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, 'Come!' I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine." A tragic but often necessary consequence of war is famine, economic collapse and shortage. Famine is illustrated by the fact that a day's wages is needed to buy a daily ration of wheat. Accompanying the famine and shortage is hyper-inflation; the price of a loaf of bread would be $50+ in today's terms.

Hyper-inflation...imagine needing a wheel barrow full of money to go grocery shopping. It happened in Weimar Germany of the 1920s, Zimbabwe (in southern Africa) and the 3rd Seal indicates a similar condition in this seal.

4th Seal - In Revelation 6:7-8 NIV, the fourth seal is described, "When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, 'Come!' I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth." This seal appears to be a natural consequence of the prior seals. However, it seems this seal is a further intensification of the prior three seals because the rider of this seal mentions death again, as well as the causes of death mentioned in the prior seals. However, another possibility is that this seal is a strong culmination of the prior three seals with the "wild beasts of the earth" mentioned to prefigure the fact that they would dine on those judged in this seal.

5th Seal - Revelation 6:9 notes, "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed." 

Not to make light of the cries of these martyrs but it occurred to me as I was writing this that by this point in the seal judgments (some time in the 7-year Tribulation period) that already a massive judgment had fallen on mankind. It is also worth noting that these martyrs didn't "love on their persecutors" as many comfortable American Christians urge, but asked for God's vengeance/ justice on them in prayer. They were not rebuked for that but were told to be patient, vengeance would come!

Many feel that the book of Revelation is allegorical. One of my thoughts is that the picture painted in this book is so unpleasant that people cringe at the thought of such brutal judgments being dished out by a vengeful God. Either they hate God or they have a picture of a "loving God" that would never do such a mean thing to his children, humanity. Let me address the latter idea. First, this is a "touchy feely" idea of God that is not biblical. Secondly, God is not father to all humanity but only those who receive His Son as Lord and Savior according to John 1. 

The 6th and 7th Seals of Revelation will be addressed on PART III of this blog post. 

Sources: 
* Finis Jennings Dake, in his book "God's Plan for Plan" (pg. 808) summarizes very well the meanings and interpretation of the first 6 seals of Revelation.
* Finis Jennings Dake, in his book, Revelation Expounded," pg. 80-90.
*The Seven Seals are noted in Revelation 6:1-17 and 8:1.
*Note that the imagery of the horses can be found in Zechariah 6:1-8

THE SEVEN SEALS CONCUDED

Stay tuned for this final post which will address the 6th and 7th seals noted in the book of Revelation.