Tied into bundles for the burning

[B/W Photodude]

At various times in the history of this nation, God has intervened in the events to change the outcomes. While we know some, I suspect that many more such events have occurred. I personally believe the election of Donald Trump to the presidency was just such an event. The morning of the election, it is said they were breaking open champaign bottles on the Clinton campaign jet to celebrate their victory. How quickly the "victory" turned to bitterness in the stomach of the celebrants and stunned the nation. 

I am not sure as some claim that the victory of Donald Trumps will save the nation, and may even have been an event to bring an end of this age even sooner. It may just be a bit like some of the good kings of the Old Testament who held back for awhile the imposition of divine judgement on the wicked nation. While Trump may not be the one to bring in the Sunday laws, he has surrounded himself with many Christians and his vice-president has a Catholic background while claiming to be an Evangelical Christian. With so much hatred being aimed at Trump and media even discussing openly the assassination of Trump, liberals probably know not what they ask for. If they do not like what Trump is doing, they will hate where Pence would take the nation. Symbolically, this election was almost an election between Babylon and Egypt. I would have seen a Clinton victory as just another long road into wickedness like unto Sodom and Gomorrah. There is no saving of this nation from it's future. 

What was striking about this election is the hatred directed at Trump before he even took office. From the "holier than thou" attitude of the Clinton campaign over Trump withholding of an opinion on accepting the results of the election to the behavior of their own refusal to accept the results of the election and the unbelievable amount of hatred and venom spewed forth from various media outlets to the huge demonstrations that occurred after the inauguration, the character of a large segment of the American and World public was demonstrated. Could any demonstration of dissent in this country have gotten any more vile than the Nasty Girl marches? I am inclined to think that equality has been reached in how degraded people can become. The daughters of wrath have become equal to the sons of wrath.

Sister White wrote in a time of less public unrest regarding the violence that surrounded the struggles of the labor unions, "The lust of the flesh, the pride of the eyes, the display of selfishness, the misuse of power, the cruelty and the force used to cause men to unite with confederacies and unions—binding themselves up in bundles for the burning of the great fires of the last days—all these are the working of satanic agencies. "—Evangelism, 26 (1903). – {LDE 116.1} In being caught up in all of these movements, are we being anything more than being bound up for the burning?

The violence of this election has even reached into families. Many family members were "uninvited" to family Thanksgiving dinners and no longer will have anything to do with family because of their political views. Unrealized in all of this is that families will be there long after the politicians have left the scene. I even was unfriended on Facebook by my sister because of differences in politics. One well educated nurse who is professionally involved in the health care of women wrote this on Facebook, "This is for any woman who voted for Donald Trump. I hate you. You are personally responsible for killing tens of thousands of women every year. ... You killed them." If you are a Trump supporter, do not tell your health care provider as your very life could be in danger!

So, the question begs to answered, "What does a Christian waiting for the coming of Jesus do? It would seem that a lack of intense emotional involvement would be a good start. While we should always be students of current events and history, avoid being caught up into the fight going on. The concept of people being caught up in the different movements and the parable of bundles for the burning should be sufficient warning. Another term used several times in the Bible from Jesus to Peter and others is "like a thief in the night." Don't be so caught up in the political skirmishes that you neglect your own souls and your relationship with Jesus. One text I find haunting on many levels is, "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Daniel 12:10 There will be a time when even many Seventh-day Adventists will not be able to discern the times or have understanding of the events around them.

[joeb]

I like your post, B/W.   I would also point out what Ellen White said about the antedeluvians:

Quote

11.
 Worshiped Self-indulgence; Fostered Crime.—They worshipped selfish indulgence,—eating, drinking,
merry-making,—and resorted to acts of violence and crime if their desires and passions were interfered with.
In the days of Noah the overwhelming majority was opposed to the truth, and enamored with a tissue of falsehoods. The
land was filled with violence. War, crime, murder, was the order of the day. Just so will it be before Christ’s second coming

 

This quote is from the SDA Bible Commentary on Genesis 6:11.  Notice the comment on being enamored with a tissue of falsehood.  This is a very accurate description of our society today, and of too many Christians, as well as the immediate resort to violence when their inclinations are crossed.

[B/W Photodude]

On 2/3/2017 at 2:14 PM, B/W Photodude said:

The violence of this election has even reached into families.

This describes how deeply the previous election has affected the population. Even marriages are breaking up over it:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/couple-calls-quits-over-trump-wounds-still-raw-110513812.html

[joeb]

I can't say I'm surprised, but it really is sad that two married people know so little about the other, and have so little respect for each other, that a political event will bring to the surface such deep-seated differences. 

[pierrepaul]

Out of the 10s of millions of couples in the USA it's no surprise to find one that broke up over politics. There is probably also one who broke up over football.

[B/W Photodude]

2 hours ago, pierrepaul said:

Out of the 10s of millions of couples in the USA it's no surprise to find one that broke up over politics. There is probably also one who broke up over football.

What you seem to be saying is that the marriage discussed is a statistically insignificant event. While it may be one example used in the article, no one can say what the complete effect of this elections on marriages has and/or will be. However, it has had a very significant effect on personal relationships in the United States, this was one of the points of the original post in this thread.   You can read more here:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2016/40_say_election_has_hurt_a_close_relationship