As I read the blog again today, I realized my perspective could easily be misunderstood.  It could sound as though I am anti-Barack Obama.  I am not. As I said, I am grateful that we as a nation could elect an African American president and finally largely debunk (not completely though!) the stranglehold that racism has held over this country.  My thoughts had nothing to do with him as a person.

I’ve been doing a lot of studying and reading around the subject of the last days, rehashing my eschatology. I am convinced that what we believe about the end times is important.  For the longest time it has been popular or chic to say, “I am a ‘pan-millennialist’ or ‘pan-tribulationalist’, because I believe everything will eventually ‘pan’ out in the end.”  I think that is a dangerous attitude, because it is obvious from Scripture the Holy Spirit wanted us to know signs of the times so we could be ready, prepared for what may be ahead, and to be alert for the purpose of prayer.  Most Christians aren’t.

So my thoughts about yesterday come from a strong sense that events are leading toward a fulfillment of Scripture that involves a couple of key realities. First, there will be a triumphant, victorious church in the last days, full of power and love, but also greatly persecuted.   And secondly, going hand in hand with that, many “believers” will fall away in the last days. 

I love this nation. I have had the privilege of traveling a bit around the world. I know how blessed we are to live here in this time in history. But I am also keenly aware that the U.S. is potentially a key player in setting up the last days global scenario that the Bible prophesies will take place.  

Much of the language and implied policies that President Obama has already introduced into legislation and alluded to in his speeches both public and private contain some issues that alert me to the potential of this administration rapidly changing the United States as we know it today.  Do a Google search of “Obama’s Gloabal Poverty Act”. It will take you some time to read all the material, but it is very interesting to say the least. Especially take note of the “one world” or “global community” language and stop and realize the potential of the United States perhaps yielding its right of self determination to other nations for the good of the “global community”. This is a very sobering potential reality. Though the goal of addressing world poverty is a worthy one, the Lord Jesus said “the poor will always be with you”. There is a lot of theology in that statement that I don’t have time to get into here. But the bottom line is that we are to be first, a Kingdom people.  Therefore, our first allegiance is to our King.  We live in a great nation that has been, and can continue to be an instrument for the furthering of the glorious Kingdom. Let’s watch and pray to that end. What the nations really need is the Global Preaching of the Gospel Act!

Am I a conspiracy theorist?  No. Just a man trying to hear God and help lead the church through some very interesting times in world history.

-Rick Martinez