Many Americans feel that this presidential election of 2016 is one of the most crucial elections ever held since elections began. It seems that either Marxist socialism will rule America or Donald Trump will prevent it. It may be that God has anointed the brash Republican nominee to break the power of Marxism like he anointed the proud and ambitious Jehu to destroy Baal worship in Israel.
The waves of political turbulence in America caused by Donald Trump’s run for the presidency this fall may be a precursor to the fulfillment of an important end-time prophecy. In Revelation 13:11-16 we read of the time in the near future when America will become ‘great again.’ The USA is depicted in the end time prophecy as a world super-power who commands the inhabitants of Earth to make an image to the beast. And Inspiration tells us that “Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world" (6 Testimonies p. 395). We don’t see foreign nations so eager to follow the USA at the present time.
Under the Obama administration, America has been in a steady decline. No longer is America respected or feared as a world super-power. Her enemies mock her and her own leaders apologize for upholding the principles that have made her the greatest nation on earth. But according to prophecy, there is a great change coming when America will be great again and be the dominant power on earth.
One thing is certain: If Donald Trump wins this election, it will not be due to clever statesmanship or personality appeal, but the intervening of Providence. The world will see the working out of what we read in Daniel 4:25 that “. . . the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will." A Trump victory would mark a dramatic swing away from the truth-inhibiting ‘political correctness’ that has dumbed down free speech in society in recent times. It would be a blow to the non-Christian and atheistic elements in the government and educational institutions which have been opposed to the Christian-Judeo principles upon which the US was founded. On the other hand, if Trump fails to win the election, the world will continue its downward slide, both morally and economically, and will become an unfit place for a true Christian to exist. This writer doesn’t think God will continue to extend more time to a government and society which is becoming increasingly hostile to Christian principles.
The political struggle between the ‘progressives’ and the ‘conservatives’ in the current election cycle may also be a fulfillment of the prophecies of Daniel 11. That chapter gives us an outline of world history beginning with the Medo-Persian empire right through to the end of probationary time. In this chapter we are introduced to the term ’King of the North’ and ’King of the South.’ See verses 5&6. The first mention of this has to do with the two ultimate divisions of the Grecian empire into its northern kingdom ruled from Syria and the southern kingdom ruled from Egypt.
When Rome took over the Grecian empire in 168 B.C. it also became divided into north and south after the assassination of Julius Caesar. Mark Anthony became the King of the South with his occupation of Egypt and surrounding territory. Octavius became the King of the North with headquarters in Rome from which he governed the northern part of the empire. However, imperial Rome fell to the barbarian invasions and the Popes of Rome took over the authority abdicated by the Roman emperors. “. . .and the dragon (pagan Rome) gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. “ At this point, Papal Rome became the King of the North. See Daniel 11:31-36.
The part of Daniel 11 which is of special interest at this time is verse 40. It says, “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him. . . “ The time of the end began in 1798 A.D. and this verse tells us that at that time the King of the South will push at the King of the North. We have noted that the King of the North is the Roman church, but who is the King of the South in this time of the end? Historically, the King of the South was Egypt, where the Ptolemy’s reigned during the Grecian empire and where Mark Anthony ruled in the Roman era. However, by 1798, Egypt had no political power and was no longer any threat to the King of the North. Who then is the King of the South?
There is another power depicted in Revelation 11:8 which is called Egypt.
“And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
This passage has reference to the French Revolution and the enmity and disgrace which the people of Paris manifested against the Bible and Christianity when the whole nation became atheistic. France also vented its rage against the Roman Catholic church by slaughtering its priests and confiscating her churches and institutions. It was at the hands of atheistic France that Rome received its deadly wound when the French general invaded Rome and took the pope captive. This was the King of the South that pushed at the King of the North at the time of the end. However, the political ideology of the French revolutionists did not end when the Revolution ended. The ideology of atheistic France lived on in the development of socialism as promoted by such men as Engels and Karl Marx. As socialism spread throughout the world it also developed into communism, as was seen in the Soviet Union and China.
What is most significant is the fact that in America and Europe, the ideology of socialism with its atheism is also manifested in a large segment of society. The educational institutions are riddled with this ideology. We also see it in the current governing party in America which is fighting to keep its hold on the nation. It manifests itself in the attempted enforcement of ‘political correctness’ and the agitation for what they call ‘social justice’ which is just another name for ‘socialism.’ We have the modern King of the South personified in the Marxist socialism that has become the ideology of governments and institutions in this country. This modern King of the South has been pushing at the King of the North, against the Christian-Judeo principals held by Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. We can see this battle raging in the current election debates.
However, if God sees fit, the prophecy of Daniel 11:40 will be fulfilled. The King of the North will come against the King of the South like a whirlwind and overturn his power. In America, the King of the North at this point in time would be represented by the Republican party with Donald Trump as the leader. And the King of the South would be the Democratic party with Hillary Clinton and Obama, its chief exponents. A fulfillment of Daniel 11:40 would indicate a national repudiation of the principles of Marxist socialism and its promoters.
That may seem to be a good thing except that a swing to the right could trigger a movement to get “God back into the nation” through a false revival that will end up legislating religious laws to improve the morals of society. Perhaps the time is here for that to happen. We know that the setting up of the image to the beast will be used by God to purify His church and separate the wheat from the tares.
The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. . . In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church (5 Testimonies p.81).
In 1888 there was a Sunday law bill being debated in the US congress at the very time that a special message was being brought to the church. That would have brought a great sifting in the church at that time. But when the message was rejected, the agitation for a Sunday law died out in congress. Now after 128 years of wandering in the wilderness since Minneapolis, it seems that it is time for the final events to move forward again. And it should be obvious that these final events will be spearheaded by a conservative and apparently Christian USA. This coming election could well decide whether atheistic Marxism and the forces of Islam who also are opposed to Christian-Judeo principles will continue in the US government and educational institutions, or whether the Christian-Judeo principles espoused by Protestants, fundamental Catholics and Jews will prevail.
Time will tell whether this scenario will take place in November. No matter what happens, we are going to face increasing trouble, either from the anti-God forces that have been targeting Christians in every segment of society with no redress from the government or from a false Christianity which will attempt to coerce the conscience in religious matters. So how should God’s people relate to the perils looming up before them? The following passage from Inspiration should be a source of comfort and assurance for such a time as this.
It is a perilous time now. If this land of boasted liberty is preparing to sacrifice every principle which enters into her Constitution, making decrees to suppress religious freedom, and for the enforcing of papal falsehood and delusion, then the people of God need to present their petitions in faith to the Most High. There is every encouragement, in the promises of God, for those who put their trust in Him. The prospect of being brought into personal danger and distress, need not cause despondency, but should quicken the vigor and hopes of God's people; for the time of their peril is the season for God to grant them clearer manifestations of His power (2 Selected Messages p.370).
Floyd Sayler
Floyd Sayler attended Walla Walla College as a music major and completed his diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Toronto. Along with apassion for Bible study & research, Floyd also enjoys writing for Creation Illustrated and the Adventist World magazines.