1 00:00:04,849 --> 00:00:10,330 Greetings. This is Pastor David Bass at New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church with a 2 00:00:10,330 --> 00:00:15,070 moment of truth, where we challenge you to think through an important issue of life and faith. 3 00:00:15,550 --> 00:00:21,949 And today, I'd like to challenge you to think through eight propositions for a Christian 4 00:00:21,949 --> 00:00:28,230 millennium. I want to take a break today from my consideration of the book of Revelation. 5 00:00:28,649 --> 00:00:34,630 I've been going through that, and I have loved doing it. I've been very passionate about the 6 00:00:34,630 --> 00:00:39,869 book of Revelation, and I hope you've been enjoying this series with me as well. But things 7 00:00:39,869 --> 00:00:48,210 have gotten to such a pass in our country here with a number of issues that we're facing. I think 8 00:00:48,210 --> 00:00:54,670 our republic is in dire straits, and I think we are threatened as a constitutional republic. 9 00:00:54,670 --> 00:01:00,909 And so consequently, I would like to share with you my vision, larger vision, not just for the 10 00:01:00,909 --> 00:01:07,329 United States of America, not just for the Christians here in America, but also for the 11 00:01:07,329 --> 00:01:15,129 whole world in the thousand years to come. That's a pretty big vision, I know. Maybe I'm 12 00:01:15,129 --> 00:01:20,510 just full of hubris here and thinking that I can cast a vision for the next thousand years. 13 00:01:20,650 --> 00:01:25,629 But I think the Bible has already done that for us. And so I'd like to articulate a little bit of this 14 00:01:25,629 --> 00:01:31,430 for you, what's been on my mind, what's been on my thinking for our country. I love the United 15 00:01:31,430 --> 00:01:37,950 States of America. I love the Constitution that has been bequeathed to us over the generations we've 16 00:01:37,950 --> 00:01:44,329 been entrusted with such precious document and such a precious heritage that I don't want to waste it. 17 00:01:44,329 --> 00:01:53,609 And what I'd like to do with you today is consider what I see as eight propositions for a Christian 18 00:01:53,609 --> 00:02:01,049 millennium. Consider this with me. Eight propositions for a Christian millennium for the next thousand 19 00:02:01,049 --> 00:02:07,790 years. Yes, consider these with me, please. Now, these are eight propositions that I've been working 20 00:02:07,790 --> 00:02:15,849 up and that I've been working with now for several years. And they're malleable and they're not finished. 21 00:02:16,469 --> 00:02:22,310 In fact, I would love to have input from many of you who may have some of the same things on your 22 00:02:22,310 --> 00:02:29,129 own heart and mind. And I'm willing then to expand them to maybe nine or ten. I started out with ten, 23 00:02:29,229 --> 00:02:35,990 but I've cut them down to eight and I could go to seven or five. So these are all malleable. But I think 24 00:02:35,990 --> 00:02:44,370 you'll get the drift of where I'm going with this after I share them. And I'm just being vulnerable and 25 00:02:44,370 --> 00:02:51,509 open with you and frank with you in my heart and my mind as I consider eight propositions for a 26 00:02:51,509 --> 00:02:57,949 Christian millennium. So let me go ahead and briefly give them to you. And I'm going to be 27 00:02:57,949 --> 00:03:04,050 expanding on each one of these over the next few months, maybe the entire year. I don't know. But I am 28 00:03:04,050 --> 00:03:10,469 very much concerned with the state of our republic. And I'm not sure it's going to last. I'm not sure 29 00:03:10,469 --> 00:03:18,009 that is going to endure as it has been envisioned for us by our founding fathers. And so I have 30 00:03:18,009 --> 00:03:27,110 something that I hope might very easily and conveniently fit then as a replacement in its 31 00:03:27,110 --> 00:03:35,909 place. And not something that is just a bare replacement, but also grows out of and flows out 32 00:03:35,909 --> 00:03:47,550 of the Christian constitutional republic that we have had for us and for our progeny to come if it 33 00:03:47,550 --> 00:03:52,229 indeed does endure. But let me share my eight propositions for a Christian millennium. Here we go. 34 00:03:52,669 --> 00:03:58,889 Number one, there will be a world government. Yes, dear listener, there will be a world government and 35 00:03:58,889 --> 00:04:07,409 it might as well and indeed ought to be Christian, a Christian world government. Now, this shouldn't be 36 00:04:07,409 --> 00:04:14,810 so scary for us. I know we all blanch at and we all put up the sign of the cross as if we're 37 00:04:15,370 --> 00:04:24,529 indeed looking at blood-sucking monsters before us, right, when we talk about a world government. But 38 00:04:24,529 --> 00:04:30,290 there is indeed a world government coming and it might as well be and indeed ought to be Christian. 39 00:04:31,310 --> 00:04:38,790 Isaiah puts it this way. Indeed, there will be a world government ruled by our Savior, by our Lord, 40 00:04:38,970 --> 00:04:44,250 and it might as well be Christian. And it's going to happen before he returns again in power and glory. 41 00:04:44,790 --> 00:04:50,829 Isaiah puts it this way. For to us, a child is born. To us, a son is given. And the government 42 00:04:50,829 --> 00:04:57,730 shall be upon his shoulder. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting 43 00:04:57,730 --> 00:05:03,310 Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end. On 44 00:05:03,310 --> 00:05:09,269 the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it, justice and with righteousness 45 00:05:09,269 --> 00:05:15,870 from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this, unquote. That, 46 00:05:15,870 --> 00:05:22,509 of course, is that famous passage from Isaiah 9 that we cite so often at Christmas. But indeed, 47 00:05:22,610 --> 00:05:30,230 it is a verse that we should embrace all through the year and all through the millennia. There is 48 00:05:30,230 --> 00:05:37,149 indeed a time when this will be true in its full fruition. There will be a world government. Christ 49 00:05:37,149 --> 00:05:43,189 will be the head of it. So it might as well and indeed ought to be a Christian world government and it 50 00:05:43,189 --> 00:05:49,310 ought to begin as soon as possible. And we ought to be in the vanguard, in the forefront of bringing 51 00:05:49,310 --> 00:05:55,910 a world government under Christ. It would indeed be a benevolent one. It would indeed be a just one. 52 00:05:56,209 --> 00:06:01,029 It would indeed be a government of peace because it would be headed by the Prince of Peace. 53 00:06:01,689 --> 00:06:07,930 That is my first proposition for you. That is, there will be a world government and it might as well be 54 00:06:07,930 --> 00:06:16,649 and indeed ought to be a Christian world government. And I state that unashamedly and boldly. My second 55 00:06:16,649 --> 00:06:23,529 proposition is this, number two, that world government's representative body, and indeed the 56 00:06:23,529 --> 00:06:30,709 world government ought to have a representative body. And that representative body must be composed 57 00:06:30,709 --> 00:06:40,810 of a worldwide assembly of Christian republics. Yes. Abolish the UN. Oh, get rid of the UN. Destroy it. 58 00:06:40,930 --> 00:06:48,370 Root and branch. Pull it up. Instead of a United Nations as we now know it, there must be instead a 59 00:06:48,370 --> 00:06:57,050 world congress. A world congress composed of representatives from each Christian constitutional 60 00:06:57,050 --> 00:07:04,610 republic. The world should be filled with Christian constitutional republics. Indeed, that grow and 61 00:07:04,610 --> 00:07:10,250 flourish. They may have differences here and there in their characters and in their compositions 62 00:07:10,250 --> 00:07:17,689 because we do indeed live in a diverse world with diverse cultures. But all governments around the world 63 00:07:17,689 --> 00:07:25,970 should be basically Christian constitutional republics. Now we know this is a biblical model because we see, 64 00:07:25,970 --> 00:07:31,550 and I'll get into this in greater detail in weeks to come, but we know from Scripture that Israel 65 00:07:31,550 --> 00:07:38,509 practiced a constitutional republic early in its history. And of course, each tribe was its own 66 00:07:38,509 --> 00:07:44,490 constitutional republic, but they all had tribal heads to represent the people. This is all through 67 00:07:44,490 --> 00:07:50,149 the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. And we see this modeled for us, and we were intended 68 00:07:50,149 --> 00:07:59,449 to follow that model. Indeed, a world congregation, a world congress, if you will, of republican representatives 69 00:07:59,449 --> 00:08:07,089 serves this purpose very well, dear listener. So my second proposition of eight for you is that 70 00:08:07,089 --> 00:08:13,730 world government's representative body, there must be a world government representative body, 71 00:08:13,730 --> 00:08:23,329 a congress of Christian republics instead of the abominable United Nations. Yes. All right. My third 72 00:08:23,329 --> 00:08:30,350 proposition for a Christian millennium, indeed, the next millennium, this third millennium, Christ's 73 00:08:30,350 --> 00:08:38,570 appearance from Christ's earthly ministry in his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension from which 74 00:08:38,570 --> 00:08:44,570 throne now, the right hand of his father, he now rules the nations. This third proposition for a 75 00:08:44,570 --> 00:08:50,929 Christian millennium for the next thousand years is that, number three, history has shown that the freest 76 00:08:50,929 --> 00:08:58,450 and most prosperous societies were those constituted as Christian republics. Now, some of these points are 77 00:08:58,450 --> 00:09:04,110 going to overlap a little bit, and I'll be repeating maybe some of the themes a little bit, but each with a 78 00:09:04,110 --> 00:09:10,350 different emphasis. So I want you to bear with me here as I articulate for you eight propositions for a 79 00:09:10,350 --> 00:09:16,409 Christian millennium, and that third one is that history has already shown us that the freest and 80 00:09:16,409 --> 00:09:24,370 most prosperous societies were those constituted as Christian republics. Yes. I'll give you as an example 81 00:09:24,370 --> 00:09:30,389 several examples here. There was England. For me, one of my favorite periods in English history was during 82 00:09:30,389 --> 00:09:38,509 the interregnum, that is, that period, between the kings, between the kings and kingdoms in England, 83 00:09:38,649 --> 00:09:44,710 between the monarchies, indeed, under Oliver Cromwell. That was one of the freest and most 84 00:09:44,710 --> 00:09:50,629 prosperous times in English history, and it was then a Christian republic. And then we also have the 85 00:09:50,629 --> 00:09:56,970 Dutch republic, too. I am, of course, of Dutch heritage, and I love following the history of the 86 00:09:56,970 --> 00:10:03,690 Nederlands, the outer lands, right, which were indeed precious to the Lord. You find there over the 87 00:10:03,690 --> 00:10:10,549 history of the Nederlands, a growth and prospering of a Dutch republic. And, of course, we have the 88 00:10:10,549 --> 00:10:18,509 Swiss Confederation, and that Swiss Confederation tenaciously independent, fiercely free. The Swiss 89 00:10:18,509 --> 00:10:25,529 Confederation, of course, composed of independent free cantons. One of my favorite examples all through 90 00:10:25,529 --> 00:10:30,870 world history is the Swiss Confederation, a republic, if you will, composed of independent free cantons. 91 00:10:30,970 --> 00:10:38,350 And then, of course, my favorite period in our own nation's history was that period of the colonies, 92 00:10:38,649 --> 00:10:45,549 the 13 states of the American colonies. And, indeed, they were free and independent states, 93 00:10:45,750 --> 00:10:52,070 free and independent republics in their own right, who combined under the Constitution to form 94 00:10:52,070 --> 00:10:59,330 a free republic, right? Oh, dear listener, we have seen that history has shown, as I'm saying, 95 00:10:59,690 --> 00:11:06,129 freest and most prosperous societies were those constituted as Christian republics. Dear listener, 96 00:11:06,529 --> 00:11:14,350 what a dear price we've paid to learn this. The crucible of redemptive history is dear, and it's costly 97 00:11:14,350 --> 00:11:20,889 for human striving, for individual dreams and aspirations. Isn't it costly for the individual? But 98 00:11:20,889 --> 00:11:27,330 in the long run, it proves the worth of human governments over time. Ah, if we will but learn 99 00:11:27,330 --> 00:11:34,169 from history, we will very quickly see that Christian constitutional republic provides the best 100 00:11:34,169 --> 00:11:40,250 model of human government yet seen on the stage of human history. Oh, dear listener and sister in 101 00:11:40,250 --> 00:11:46,350 Christ, it has taken millennia to refine, hasn't it? Oh, we have seen history. If you're a student of 102 00:11:46,350 --> 00:11:51,789 history, you've seen growth and flourishing of tyrannies, absolute tyrannies in the history of 103 00:11:51,789 --> 00:11:59,490 human government, right? We've seen pagan kingdoms. The book of Daniel, for example, envisions four of 104 00:11:59,490 --> 00:12:07,389 these pagan kingdoms, right? The gold, the silver, bronze, and then the iron and mixed with clay, 105 00:12:07,389 --> 00:12:17,190 right? The four different kingdoms that indeed personify Babylonia, and then also Persia, and then 106 00:12:17,190 --> 00:12:24,370 Greece, and then Rome, of course. All of these pagan kingdoms. And then we have the various Christian 107 00:12:24,370 --> 00:12:30,669 monarchies throughout European history, as an example. All of these culminating, then refining over 108 00:12:30,669 --> 00:12:36,730 time as Christ has labored through his people. Human government has also come along, hasn't it? 109 00:12:36,730 --> 00:12:44,090 Not just society, not just culture, not just the church and spiritual matters, but also politics 110 00:12:44,090 --> 00:12:51,009 and human government has also grown and become refined till we finally reach the capstone of the 111 00:12:51,009 --> 00:12:56,769 constitutional republic, top of that. History has shown, that's my third proposition for a Christian 112 00:12:56,769 --> 00:13:03,210 millennium, that redemptive history has demonstrated to us that the freest and most prosperous societies 113 00:13:03,210 --> 00:13:11,049 those counts as Christian publics. My fourth proposition, indeed, for a Christian millennium, 114 00:13:11,370 --> 00:13:17,190 my fourth proposition for a Christian millennium is this. And then, and now, as such, Christian 115 00:13:17,190 --> 00:13:25,549 republics are obliged to foster, inculcate, and establish Christian republics in other nation-states 116 00:13:25,549 --> 00:13:33,909 throughout the world until, as the prophets say, and I quote Zechariah here, Christ shall speak peace to the 117 00:13:33,909 --> 00:13:41,690 nations. His rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth, unquote. Oh, 118 00:13:42,029 --> 00:13:47,730 your listener, dear friend, I have come to the conclusion in my years of study, my years as living as a 119 00:13:47,730 --> 00:13:52,629 Christian, and of seeing the American republic unfold, come to the conclusion that it is part of the Great 120 00:13:52,629 --> 00:13:58,470 Commission to do this, to establish, to foster, inculcate, and establish Christian republics all 121 00:13:58,470 --> 00:14:04,110 through the world. There is no sphere of human existence that is not to be transformed by the 122 00:14:04,110 --> 00:14:11,129 gospel. The Bible is clear on this. Dominion is our destiny, as Revelation so clearly portrays one of 123 00:14:11,129 --> 00:14:17,629 the major themes of Revelation. Indeed, is that dominion over the whole world. Dominion is our destiny as 124 00:14:17,629 --> 00:14:24,490 Christians and as the church. All of life, spiritual, physical, social, cultural, and yea, political, too, 125 00:14:24,730 --> 00:14:31,049 is meant to be under the transformative power of Christ and his gospel, and consequently, established 126 00:14:31,049 --> 00:14:37,529 Christian constitutional republics. They are responsible for planting, nurturing, and enfolding 127 00:14:37,529 --> 00:14:43,470 within the larger Congress of Christian republics, other nascent republics, and then as well, 128 00:14:43,470 --> 00:14:50,330 tribes, tongues, peoples, and nations, yet struggling to form themselves. We must be shepherds among the 129 00:14:50,330 --> 00:14:57,470 nations, shepherding human governments, indeed, to flourish them as Christian constitutional republics, 130 00:14:57,549 --> 00:15:04,129 and then become a part of the larger Congress of Christian republics in a world government. I want to be 131 00:15:04,129 --> 00:15:10,549 bold in saying this, and unashamed in saying this. Well, our fifth principle, then, our frith, 132 00:15:10,710 --> 00:15:19,309 pardon me, our fifth proposition, then, for a Christian millennium, our fifth proposition for 133 00:15:19,309 --> 00:15:24,169 a Christian millennium is that, number five, Christianity is destined to be the religion of 134 00:15:24,169 --> 00:15:30,730 the whole world, and Christ is destined to be the ruler of the whole world, and the Holy Spirit is 135 00:15:30,730 --> 00:15:37,629 destined to be the power of the whole world within this sphere of time and space, within this sphere 136 00:15:37,629 --> 00:15:45,070 of time and space, before our Lord's return. The Bible is clear on this. I am convinced the Scriptures 137 00:15:45,070 --> 00:15:53,509 and redemptive history have demonstrated, at this point, this emerging fact. Christianity is destined to 138 00:15:53,509 --> 00:15:58,929 be the religion of the world. Christ is destined to be the ruler of the world. The Holy Spirit is destined 139 00:15:58,929 --> 00:16:05,669 to be the power of the world. It's all to transpire within this sphere of time and space. All through 140 00:16:05,669 --> 00:16:11,970 the Bible, this is revealed to us. For example, Psalm chapter 2, verses 7 through 9 says, I will tell of 141 00:16:11,970 --> 00:16:17,850 the decree. That is, this has been decreed. This has been ordained by God himself. He says, I will tell of 142 00:16:17,850 --> 00:16:24,730 the decree. The Lord said to me, you are my son. Today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make 143 00:16:24,730 --> 00:16:30,590 the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a 144 00:16:30,590 --> 00:16:36,710 rod of iron, dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Oh, this is our destiny. Minion is our 145 00:16:36,710 --> 00:16:43,029 destiny, and Christ's destiny as well, and he will take possession of his inheritance. And we, as the 146 00:16:43,029 --> 00:16:49,389 church, are co-heirs with him. John tells of this fact, and it's present today. He says in Revelation 147 00:16:49,389 --> 00:16:56,490 chapter 20, then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was 148 00:16:56,490 --> 00:17:01,970 committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the 149 00:17:01,970 --> 00:17:07,309 word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or its image, did not receive its mark on 150 00:17:07,309 --> 00:17:13,289 their face. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. That's us. We have come to 151 00:17:13,289 --> 00:17:19,869 life in Christ. We are presently reigning with him for a thousand years, and that thousand years, 152 00:17:19,970 --> 00:17:26,089 of course, is an indefinite period of time. It's a symbolic period of time. As we know, 153 00:17:26,450 --> 00:17:33,190 numbers throughout apocalyptic literature are symbolic. This thousand years is an indefinite 154 00:17:33,190 --> 00:17:39,369 period of time where, indeed, Christ has been reigning now already with us, the church. Redemptive 155 00:17:39,369 --> 00:17:45,970 history is also clear, not just the scriptures, but also if we have eyes to see, we see that redemptive 156 00:17:45,970 --> 00:17:53,890 history is clear for any eye to see. Christianity has grown, and it's flourished for over two thousand 157 00:17:53,890 --> 00:18:01,390 years now, like the proverbial mustard seed, right? Jesus' parable of the mustard seed. Small and 158 00:18:01,390 --> 00:18:07,569 insignificant at first, the smallest of all seeds, but indeed planted now, flourishing for two thousand 159 00:18:07,569 --> 00:18:13,349 years. It has become a mighty tree, as Jesus says, throughout the world, and it's still growing, 160 00:18:13,750 --> 00:18:20,150 destined to flourish and grow. Christianity's dominion, I submit to you, listener, Christianity's 161 00:18:20,150 --> 00:18:27,390 dominion is inexorable. Christianity's dominion cannot be stopped, no more than Christ can be stopped. 162 00:18:27,849 --> 00:18:35,269 Indeed, Christianity's dominion will make of the whole creation a dominion. For her Lord is the Lord 163 00:18:35,269 --> 00:18:41,109 Jesus Christ, and we are with him, participants with him in this. Oh, dear listener, this is our 164 00:18:41,109 --> 00:18:48,410 destiny. Dominion is our destiny. That is the fifth of eight propositions that I have for you. Eight 165 00:18:48,410 --> 00:18:56,910 propositions for a Christian millennium. Oh, I hope my vision doesn't overreach here, but indeed, I think 166 00:18:56,910 --> 00:19:03,609 this is what the scriptures bear out for us. Then number six, my sixth observation, my sixth proposition 167 00:19:03,609 --> 00:19:10,569 for a Christian millennium is, the United States Constitution is thus far in redemptive history 168 00:19:10,569 --> 00:19:18,910 finest framework for human government ever produced. But it is not perfect. It can be perfected in part 169 00:19:18,910 --> 00:19:27,769 by, for example, making Christ, not the people, the chief authority throughout its various components. 170 00:19:27,769 --> 00:19:34,910 And I hope I don't shock too many of you in saying this, but I am not of the conviction that the United 171 00:19:34,910 --> 00:19:43,710 States Constitution is an inspired document like Holy Writ. No. That being said, though, I am of the 172 00:19:43,710 --> 00:19:52,450 opinion, I think scripture, the Bible, is the only truly God-inspired document that we have. The United 173 00:19:52,450 --> 00:20:00,269 States Constitution is not amongst Holy Writ. But that being said, I am of the opinion that the United 174 00:20:00,269 --> 00:20:06,170 States Constitution is the best charter of self-government for any people who are under the 175 00:20:06,170 --> 00:20:11,690 rule and discipline of the Christian faith. That's the great proviso. Indeed, John Adams said that the 176 00:20:11,690 --> 00:20:19,509 Constitution is not a document that is fit for any other people than one that is, indeed, one of faith 177 00:20:19,509 --> 00:20:26,690 and religious ethics. And I'm praising him there. So the Constitution, United States Constitution, 178 00:20:26,869 --> 00:20:31,190 in my opinion, is the best charter of self-government for any people under the rule and discipline of the 179 00:20:31,190 --> 00:20:38,250 Christian faith yet. But that being said, too, it can be improved. For example, I would say the 180 00:20:38,250 --> 00:20:46,130 preamble should begin. That begins right now. We, the people, should be he, the Lord Jesus Christ, 181 00:20:46,130 --> 00:20:51,849 ordains and establishes this Constitution. Our present Constitution makes the people supreme. 182 00:20:52,029 --> 00:20:56,309 That's one of its major weaknesses, I think, because, indeed, people are fallen and corrupt, 183 00:20:56,849 --> 00:21:04,230 liable, then, indeed, to what we see transpiring now in our own country at this time. Well, who is it 184 00:21:04,230 --> 00:21:09,630 that is supreme, really? It is, of course, obvious to us, but not to the world. And we should acknowledge 185 00:21:09,630 --> 00:21:13,769 this to the whole. God will honor our next Constitution all the more if we acknowledge this 186 00:21:13,769 --> 00:21:20,730 rather than we, the people, we say Christ ordains and establishes this Constitution. Well, then I have 187 00:21:20,730 --> 00:21:27,730 a seventh proposition for you here, a seventh proposition to consider, as we consider eight 188 00:21:27,730 --> 00:21:34,470 propositions, new millennium for the third millennium for the next thousand years. This should be the 189 00:21:34,470 --> 00:21:41,589 millennium of Christ. Oh, number seven, no tyrant surrenders power without resisting. Consequently, 190 00:21:41,589 --> 00:21:52,190 we must be prepared to fight spiritually, culturally, and, yea, militarily to establish a worldwide system 191 00:21:52,190 --> 00:22:01,210 of Christian constitutional republics. Yes, no tyrant surrenders his power voluntarily. No tyrant 192 00:22:01,210 --> 00:22:06,589 surrenders power without resisting, without fighting, right? We see this in the tyrants in Washington, 193 00:22:06,589 --> 00:22:12,609 D.C. They are not going peacefully into the night, are they? No. It's been the case from the beginning 194 00:22:12,609 --> 00:22:18,789 of redemptive history, too. And it begins in the garden. Remember what God said to the serpent 195 00:22:18,789 --> 00:22:25,769 in reference to the seed of the woman. He says, I will put enmity between the woman and between your 196 00:22:25,769 --> 00:22:31,049 offspring and her offspring. He shall bruise your head, you shall bruise his heel, right? And there has 197 00:22:31,049 --> 00:22:37,269 been warfare ever since. Oh, it is first and foremost a spiritual warfare, but also spills out 198 00:22:37,269 --> 00:22:42,789 into every other area of human life. Chairman Miles said, political power comes out of the barrel of a 199 00:22:42,789 --> 00:22:48,650 gun. But we, as Christians say, spiritual power comes out of the blood of the cross. This is our primary 200 00:22:48,650 --> 00:22:54,450 source of power for us, for Christians. Paul also puts it this way. He says, for the weapons of our warfare 201 00:22:54,450 --> 00:23:01,690 are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. Indeed, brother and sister. 202 00:23:02,170 --> 00:23:07,829 And Revelation 2 is crystal clear as to how we conquer, right? How is the beast overcome? Oh, 203 00:23:07,970 --> 00:23:13,289 John says, they have conquered, that is the saints have conquered him, the beast, by the blood of the 204 00:23:13,289 --> 00:23:19,789 lamb and by the word of their testimony. For they love not their lives, even unto death. This is where 205 00:23:19,789 --> 00:23:23,630 our power comes from, the word of our testimony, the blood of the cross. But nevertheless, 206 00:23:23,630 --> 00:23:28,970 we must acknowledge that we are in a warfare, brother and sister, we are in a warfare. And 207 00:23:28,970 --> 00:23:35,009 tyrants will not surrender power without resisting. We must keep this in mind. And so there are no 208 00:23:35,009 --> 00:23:42,230 non-combatants, Christian. You cannot laze a fare behind the lines. There's no safe places behind 209 00:23:42,230 --> 00:23:49,789 the lines. Every Christian is on the front line of this spiritual war. You must take this upon yourself. 210 00:23:49,789 --> 00:23:54,069 You must realize it first and take your place as a soldier of the cross, so to speak. Well, number 211 00:23:54,069 --> 00:23:59,130 eight, the eighth proposition that I have for you, eighth proposition that I have for you, 212 00:23:59,210 --> 00:24:04,549 indeed for the next Christian millennia, for the next thousand years, is that no true Christian 213 00:24:04,549 --> 00:24:11,609 believes that biblical dominion can be achieved apart from a thorough worldwide conversion and 214 00:24:11,609 --> 00:24:18,230 reformation of the majority of all tribes, tongues, peoples, and nations. Yes, freely acknowledge that 215 00:24:18,230 --> 00:24:22,710 we're not going to be able to force that gunpoint anyone to be a Christian. That's never been true. 216 00:24:22,710 --> 00:24:29,630 And therefore, evangelism is a priority for the church because biblical dominion cannot be achieved 217 00:24:29,630 --> 00:24:35,849 by main force through the barrel of a gun. No, Christian biblical dominion can only be achieved 218 00:24:35,849 --> 00:24:44,089 through a worldwide conversion and reformation of the majority of peoples, of all tribes, tongues, 219 00:24:44,089 --> 00:24:51,109 peoples, and nations. Oh, Jesus came to the disciples, and he said, just before his ascension, he said, 220 00:24:51,630 --> 00:24:59,809 all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 221 00:25:00,430 --> 00:25:05,690 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to 222 00:25:05,690 --> 00:25:12,289 observe all that I have for you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. Oh, dear listener, 223 00:25:12,289 --> 00:25:19,269 that's my indeed eighth proposition. We're not going to do this. There's going to be no Congress of 224 00:25:19,269 --> 00:25:28,549 Christian republics until there is a main force and a worldwide conversion of souls, reformation of the 225 00:25:28,549 --> 00:25:34,650 lives of the majority of peoples, all tribes, tongues, peoples, and nations. That ain't going to happen, 226 00:25:34,789 --> 00:25:40,670 brother and sister, without the Holy Spirit working as the power to indeed convert the major portion of 227 00:25:40,670 --> 00:25:44,950 all the world. So we can look for this and pray for this and anticipate it. Oh, dear listener, this has 228 00:25:44,950 --> 00:25:50,410 been Pastor David Bass at New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church. I've just frankly shared my 229 00:25:50,410 --> 00:25:56,150 heart with you of eight propositions for a Christian millennium for the next thousand years. And please 230 00:25:56,150 --> 00:26:00,890 give me some feedback. Let me know what you think. Maybe you have propositions that you would like 231 00:26:00,890 --> 00:26:06,930 to propose or ones that I can eliminate. This is a work in progress, and I need your input. So thank 232 00:26:06,930 --> 00:26:11,309 you for listening, and thank you for considering these things, and let's help to indeed achieve 233 00:26:11,309 --> 00:26:16,769 this for the next millennium. Eight propositions for a Christian millennium. Pastor David Bass at New 234 00:26:16,769 --> 00:26:24,130 Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and I urge you to join us for worship on Sundays at 10 a.m. at 235 00:26:24,130 --> 00:26:32,670 101 4th Street on the corner of 4th and Boulevard. You can call us at area code 208-523-0196. 236 00:26:32,670 --> 00:26:41,170 For further feedback, we worship on Sunday at 10 a.m. at 101 4th Street on the corner of 4th and 237 00:26:41,170 --> 00:26:50,109 Boulevard, and call us for feedback. Give me your input at area code 208-523-0196.