What Do I Mean by “Prophetic Patriotism”?
Whose side are you on?
This seems to be the question that best defines the times in which we live. But I believe I have a different take on how American Christians should approach the issue.
The Bible, and the creeds of historical Christianity, tell us that Jesus promised to return to earth to rule and reign as its king. This is confirmed by passages like Matthew 24 & Acts 1, and by a reciting of the well-known Apostles’ Creed (“He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.”). With this in mind, I will begin by sharing a metaphor.
Picture ten bowling pins, standing upright at the end of a bowling lane, waiting for a champion bowler to send down his ball for the game-winning strike. What is it that set those pins in place for this game-ending frame? The pinsetter, the mechanical device known to every bowler. It comes down from “above,” sets all the pins in their proper configuration, and then disappears, up and out of sight.
The days described in the Bible as those immediately preceding the return of Jesus Christ are commonly referred to as the Last Days or the end times. Even though the United States of America is not specifically named among the biblical end times players and events predicted to “take the stage” before this Second Coming of Christ, the United States is nevertheless very much like the pinsetter that configures the pins in a bowling alley. In my analogy, the champion bowler represents God the Father, who is getting ready to send down His Son, Jesus Christ, for His promised return to rule and reign. Thanks to the Father’s pinsetter, the United States, it will be a perfect strike. I have singled out ten biblically predicted end times “eye-openers” as being especially important. They are the “ten pins.” Their placement on the world stage today has undeniably been brought about primarily by the United States of America.
This truth is so profound that I believe it compels us toward the following conclusion: God’s hand was involved in the founding of America, to eventually bring about its end times prophetic role. What is America’s ultimate purpose? It is now, to usher in the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If I am right, then right-of-center Christians should resist viewing American history only through the lens of a heroic narrative. Neither should left-of-center Christians think of American history as being blameworthy. Instead, our history should be understood as being driven by a prophetic purpose, namely, that of being God’s pinsetter. “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). But, “setting the stage for the end times” is the work of the United States.
Prophetic patriotism comes from the “eye-opening” realization that the time has come to stand up for a truly constitutional America, so that our Last Days assignment from God will not be lost. It is patriotism motivated by a passionate desire to see America fulfill its prophetic purpose!
Whose side are you on?
It is my hope that, after reading this book, you will agree that it is best to be on the side of biblical prophecy–God’s side.