I quoted a Messianic Jew a few days back who has written much about prophecy using various technical terms from the Rabbinical and mystical literature that I don’t understand. He talks about the destruction of America and how it fits into a prophetic timetable. This has got a large amount of publicity in the USA: I will admit that I start seeing parallels with the British Israelites, who had a plausible set of superstitions that went down very well to deceive many in the now dead British Empire before it fell. But he ends his message calling for repentance and revival.

To avert judgement, we must return one last time to the burning ruins of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The prophet Jeremiah had warned his nation unceasingly that the day of its calamity was coming. Jonathan says they could have averted if they turned back to God but they did not listen to the prophet. Today, Jonathan says that America is heading down the same path but says there is still hope. He also says God is sovereign and for every prophecy, there is grace for fulfilment of that prophecy. Where there is repentance, there is revival says Jonathan.

Well, we have floods, not fire locally. I am never sure about the specifics of prophecy. I do think one has to read and think about Revelations. However, I am quite aware that I can find patterns in randomness. I have read Freud, who stayed close to the patient, but I have also read Foucault and Derrida, who spout nothing but nonsense and refuse to submit to any experimental testing [1].

Our ability to see patterns is useful. It means we scan the weather as we walk, and get off ridges before the sleet and snow hit and visibility drops to white out conditions. It means that we can see what is happening.

And it means that we can see the time for a change is closer.

And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

(Luke 21:29-36 ESV)

I am more interested in the application here. The idea that dissipation and drunkenness are held in parallel has an insight. for many who don’t really care about getting drunk are inflamed by lust, and some have difficulties with both[2].

We have to stand: we have to be men with a spine. That including remembering that in theology man is a collective word for the species, with two divergent and complementary sexes, and not getting too precious about words or taking offence about the terminology of discussion.

For taking offence is a form of dissipation, and takes the anger and wrath that should go into confronting evil and uses it to destroy the function of a nation, letting more evil in.

It is more better to pray for the people of Wanganui, who are flooded, and Greece, which is being bankrupted. It is far better to preach within the church that we should not allow our young men to be ferally promiscuous, or our women to be ferally hypergamous [3]. It is much better to set up structures that allow us to live in righteousness: within marriage or within singleness.

For the signs show that this society is falling apart. It is time to stand apart from it, and turn to God, and live according to his rules. An evil state will call that hatey, and try to ban us. But the evil state will not stand at the final time.

And we need to pray for each other, that we at then end standing will remain.

__________________
1. There are psychodynamic therapies that have stood up to clinical trials: interpersonal psychotherapy for depression and the self psychologies of Kohut and Kernberg.
2. I have a personal dislike of addiction as a metaphor for bad habits. I prefer to call them sins: drunkenness, gluttony, the use of other substances, and being a pickup artist (PUA) or a the member of a PUA’s harem. We confront people who use substances daily, as we ought: and our structures around changing their habits fail all too often for they are the form of religion without the power of it.
[3] Yes, I select the twitter screenshots for the text. And today, I did not to got searching for them: they are all from today’s feed.