The Next US President!
By: Demario Carter
As children of God, we recognize that our kingdom is not of this world. However, while we are not of this world, we are still in the world. As a result, we are to live as lights in the midst of darkness. This is especially true at this time when Americans and all the world is driven by politics. First of all, how are Christians to relate to politics? As noted by the 19th century Christian prophetess, “We cannot with safety vote for political parties; for we do not know whom we are voting for.” (1). Now while this is the case, it is completely appropriate for us to study Bible prophecy and notice the signs fulfilling its predictions. This brings me to my next question: How are Christians to relate to the current presidential campaign? And more interestingly, with Bible prophecy in mind, who is the presidential candidate that is most likely to win the 2016 election? Well, I am aware of the thin ice upon which I tread with this question, but in September of 2015 I answered this question in a lecture I gave in Colton, CA. You can view the seven minute excerpt here. Since then, more has developed, and I still hold to my position in light of unfolding events. So let’s take a look, from a historical and prophetic perspective, at the candidate who may become the next president of the United States and the dangers posed by this candidate.
First of all, we must recognize that it is God who chooses rulers. When God revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel, Daniel praised God and said “… he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings …” (Daniel 2:21). Several years later in speaking to Nebuchadnezzar Daniel said “… the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Daniel 4:17). In addition to the fact that God chooses rulers, we have to remember that He appoints rulers that will judge a people in proportion to the works of the people to be governed. For example, when the nation of Israel provoked God to anger, God would often sell Israel into the hands of evil kings. “And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan … and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.” (Judges 4:1-3). And again, “… the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.” (Judges 6:1). There are many other examples of this happening. It goes to show that if the nation is given to wickedness, a wicked king will be its judge, even if that king is of another nation.
Furthermore, when a nation turns away from the commandments of the God of heaven and commits sin, that nation will have a myriad of rulers, which only leads to further confusion and corruption. The Bible says, “For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof …” (Proverbs 28:2). This verse shows that political disorder comes as a punishment for national sin. As noted by the 17th century biblical scholar Matthew Henry, “National sins bring national disorders and the disturbance of the public repose: For the transgression of a land, and a general defection from God and religion to idolatry, profaneness, or immorality, many are the princes thereof, many at the same time pretending to the sovereignty and contending for it, by which the people are crumbled into parties and factions, biting and devouring one another …” (2). The authors of The Pulpit Commentary agree: “…when iniquity, injustice, apostasy, and other evils abound, a country becomes the prey of pretenders and partisans striving for the supremacy.” This is precisely the current condition of America. Because of her transgressions, America has political parties that are contending for your vote. This brings me to another fact. Although it is God who chooses rulers, there were times when the choice of the ruler(s) was solely the will of the people. This is especially the case when a nation forsakes God. When addressing the northern kingdom of Israel concerning their long-continued departure from God, God spoke the following through the prophet Hosea: “Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not …” (Hosea 8:3, 4). This initially occurred when the ten tribes of Israel first rebelled against the house of David, the rightful heir of the throne. Consequently, there were many rulers in northern Israel that did evil in God’s sight; they were neither chosen nor approved by God. And as it was said of ancient Israel, so can it be said of modern America: “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” (Hosea 8:7).
