Cultural Developments – Target of the Gospel

Deutsch

The cultural developments of the past centuries appear to be random events that have simply evolved along with progress. Yet, the individual steps all have in common that they have had the Gospel as their direct target. This was done within the framework of the usual method of thesis, antithesis, and—to this extent now—synthesis.

It all started with “critical thinking”

After the Middle Ages were consigned to history, people didn’t hesitate to embrace critical thinking. This was known as scientific biblical criticism, or the historical-critical method of examining the gospel. This was a concomitant phenomenon of the emerging Enlightenment in the 18th century. It marked the beginning of humanism, with its first peak in the French Revolution.

A second wave of “critical biblical thought” was unleashed immediately after the turmoil surrounding the French Revolution. At the beginning of the 19th century, “Neo-Protestantism” emerged, which rejected the statements of the Bible that had previously been considered normative, as well as the view of Scripture as the Word of God without exception.

Evolution idea

In 1859, Charles Darwin published his work “On the Origin of Species.” This marked the beginning of the theory of evolution. This theory, based solely on the humanities and their contrived models, quickly spread around the world. To this day, the conceptual construct of evolution is treated as a “science-based reality.” The consequence of the theory of evolution, which can also be seen as a complement to previous scientific criticism of the Bible, is the rejection of the creation account according to the first book of Moses (Genesis).

According to this theory, the world was not created in a literal six days, but rather over a period of—according to current knowledge—approximately 14 billion years since the Big Bang, of which approximately 4.5 billion years represent the beginning of the formation of the solar system and life on Earth as we know it today. The logical consequence is that the seventh day, the completion of God’s creation, and His sanctification of the seventh day have been shelved.

Communism – Atheism

Communism was installed with the October Revolution of 1917. It involved a violent takeover of Russia, the abolition of the monarchy, and the formation of the Soviet Union. Other countries joined as Soviet satellite states. The political system of communism, or socialism, was anything but religious. It was a frontal assault on the taught and practiced gospel. For example, the communist phase led to one of the most Christian countries becoming one with the most atheists (relative to population).

The Czech Republic is the homeland of the early reformer Jan Hus, who was burned alive at the instigation of the Roman Catholic Church at the Council of Constance in 1415. Hus was a national hero and a model of the Reformation in action. A statue of Jan Hus still stands in the capital, Prague, but it remains largely ignored rather than commemorating him. Sweden, although not part of the communist system, also has a majority of atheists today, even though the country actively supported the Reformation during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). Swedish troops even advanced into arch-Catholic Bavaria.

The number of communist countries has shrunk significantly to this day. North Korea is the most prominent example. China represents a hybrid situation, between a communist mentality and a capitalist global economy. Both countries, however, have in common a less than favorable attitude toward religion, especially Christianity. Even during the Cold War, pastors in communist countries had a very difficult time spreading the gospel and were often imprisoned longer than they served in a congregation. In North Korea, even today, the threat of at least a labor camp for “caught Christians” and even their family members. It is not uncommon for those affected to simply “disappear.”

Communism and socialism thus led to a massive apostasy in the respective countries.

Tolerance wave

Shortly after the turn of the millennium, a wave of “tolerance” was unleashed. Suddenly, people were expected to practice tolerance toward everything. Those who had previously been able to openly express their rejection of certain things with impunity suddenly found themselves pilloried for their “intolerance.” The most ardent advocates of tolerance, of all people, formulated strange demands like “intolerance should not be tolerated.”

What went largely unnoticed, however, was that the term tolerance underwent a semantic reinterpretation, even its opposite. Today, it is suggested that tolerance should be accepted, that it describes a willingness to compromise, that it even demands identification. However, the term “tolerance” originally means to endure or bear something. The fact of having to endure or bear something presupposes the rejection of that very thing. However, there are no consequences or defensive reactions; one simply copes with it, “putting on a brave face.” So, anyone who claims to be tolerant toward their spouse is, in the original sense, expressing that they to be able to stand one’s spouse. Not exactly flattering.

Rainbow campaigns

After the (twisted) tolerance standards took hold, the rainbow wave and gender theories emerged in a smooth transition, and in retrospect, a logical sequence within a presumed agenda. While not a new innovation, as this “trend” had already been invented in the USA in the 1970s, it was the result of an incomparably massive campaign at all levels. Politics, business, and even (once) Protestant churches hoisted rainbow flags or decorated public transport vehicles with them, new laws against discrimination were formulated, and, how could it be otherwise, even Bibles were published in “gender-appropriate languages.”

Systematic Eradication of the Gospel

Despite their seemingly random development in the course of “cultural changes,” all of these developments in recent decades and centuries have in common that they are directly directed against the Gospel. The 7th day of the week is the day blessed and sanctified by God (Genesis 2:2-3), thus the Sabbath (according to Exodus 20:8-11). It has been declared null and void by evolutionary theory. This also applies to the creation account at the very beginning of the Gospel. God created two human beings, man and woman (or male and female). Today, it has been shelved.

This chain of events within the “cultural transformations” began with the general doubting of the Word of God. This, in turn, shows that it seems far-fetched to speak of coincidence rather than a thoroughly thought-out strategy. Once the origin and intent of the gospel are called into question, it is no longer difficult to impose new religions (Info).

Thesis – Antithesis – Synthesis

“As in small things, so in large things.” This also applies to the application of Hegelian dialectics. Take a thesis, if one doesn’t already exist, create it, counter it with an antithesis, let people squabble over it, and divide them into two desired camps, ultimately forming the desired synthesis (Info).

The gospel exists as a thesis. This requires an antithesis. This was provided by humanism, based on Hellenistic philosophy. The two are opposed to each other. One only needs to support both sides appropriately (media, financially) to drive people either toward the thesis or the antithesis. Two extremes: biblical faith or atheism within the framework of human reason. A compromise, that is, a synthesis, is already within reach.

Nature God and Self-Deification

Theosophy, a new “world ethos.” A mix of divinity, not personified in Jesus Christ but universally present, and the morality and reason of (self-deified) humans. God himself is present in nature, the universe is filled with divine energy, and the “divine spark” in humans only needs to be awakened. Therefore, it’s no surprise that nature conservation has officially begun as a religion (Info).

The fusion of the Gospel and humanism into collective theosophy (keywords: inclusion, common good) is expressed in phenomena that have long been observable (Info).

Recognizing the Development in the Seven Trumpets

Today, given the omnipresence of apostasy from the gospel, it is naturally not easy to recognize the true gravity of this development. The Bible speaks of “spiritual death” here. This development persists over time, and was also foretold, in particular, in the “mythical” Seven Trumpets in the Book of Revelation.

A prophecy that certainly covers two areas. One is a development over the centuries with the character of punitive measures against the opponents of God’s people, and the other is a quasi-fast-track from the beginning of the end times (Info). In the second version, however, it serves as a warning signal before the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur, Nisan 10).

A lot of burnt things

In the symbolic language of Revelation (Info), the seven trumpets speak a great deal of “burned trees, burnt grass, slain sea creatures, people dying from bitter wormwood.” All of this symbolizes spiritual death, in turn (Revelation 8 and 9).

Impact of the 7 Trumpets

1st Trumpet – A third of the trees burned, all green grass was consumed.
2nd Trumpet – A third of the creatures died in the bloody sea.
3rd Trumpet – A third of the waters turned to bitter wormwood, and many people died.
4th Trumpet – The sun, moon, and stars were darkened by one-third.
5th Trumpet – Smoke from the abyss, locusts harmed people for five months.
6th Trumpet – Four bound angels were released, and a third of the people were killed.

The 7th trumpet in Revelation 11 signals the finale, in which “all things” have already been decided.

This sequence fits with the “cultural developments” that all led to further apostasy from the gospel and thus to unbelief or spiritual death. As things stand, the time of the 6th trumpet has long been underway, and the 7th trumpet is not far off.

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)