Jesus, the Anointed King, will prevail in time and on earth. From Heaven, He will subdue the nations BEFORE His final coming.
I believe any other philosophy of history rests on tortuous -- and tortured -- exegesis.
Many ask how our Lord and King will bring this about. As I read Psalm 1 earlier this week, I saw clearly the mechanism by which Christ will continue to extend His rule: sanctions within the flow of history.
His blessing rests on covenant keepers. Their efforts will prosper. His judgment falls on covenant breakers. They will be blown away in the winds of judgment.
Oh, I know that bad things happen to good people, and that for a time the wicked may seize temporal wealth. But in the long run, over time, covenant keepers win and covenant breakers lose.
And the more a society conforms to verses 1 & 2, the more pronounced the sanctions will become. O that American Christians would put their personal & corporate efforts & resources into a Psalm 1 lifestyle instead of pouring time and money into a political choice of the lesser of evils.
Here is how I've oulined Psalm 1:
The Standard: Biblically Mandated Ethics and Worldview
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
The Positive Sanction: Blessing
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The Negative Sanction: Judgment
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
The Outcome: Victory in Time for Godly Culture (Way of the Righteous)
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:1-6)
I believe any other philosophy of history rests on tortuous -- and tortured -- exegesis.
Many ask how our Lord and King will bring this about. As I read Psalm 1 earlier this week, I saw clearly the mechanism by which Christ will continue to extend His rule: sanctions within the flow of history.
His blessing rests on covenant keepers. Their efforts will prosper. His judgment falls on covenant breakers. They will be blown away in the winds of judgment.
Oh, I know that bad things happen to good people, and that for a time the wicked may seize temporal wealth. But in the long run, over time, covenant keepers win and covenant breakers lose.
And the more a society conforms to verses 1 & 2, the more pronounced the sanctions will become. O that American Christians would put their personal & corporate efforts & resources into a Psalm 1 lifestyle instead of pouring time and money into a political choice of the lesser of evils.
Here is how I've oulined Psalm 1:
The Standard: Biblically Mandated Ethics and Worldview
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
The Positive Sanction: Blessing
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The Negative Sanction: Judgment
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
The Outcome: Victory in Time for Godly Culture (Way of the Righteous)
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:1-6)
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