"Why do the nations rage?"

Thoughts on the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election

It has been a tumultuous election season in the United States and a tumultuous week since the election. States were slow to announce their results due to the large numbers of mail-in ballots being counted. While President Trump claimed victory on election night, his challenger Joe Biden was named the presumptive winner on Saturday as the vote count began to clarify. Celebrations erupted in many cities among Biden supporters, and protests erupted from Trump supporters.

Meanwhile, political leaders from all over the world have been congratulating Biden on his victory, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who touted his long-time personal friendship with Biden and called him “a great friend of Israel.”

Because Trump has so far refused to concede the loss and is challenging the results in court, the presidential transition of power is not yet underway, leaving American citizens living in uncertainty. The United States remains deeply divided.

At the same time, COVID-19 cases are dramatically rising all over the country, with more than 100,000 new infections a day.

Every day since November 3, I’ve been asked by friends and family members what I make of this unprecedented post-election period. What does it mean in terms of Bible prophecy? Does this moment align with any predictions about the last days?

God is in Control

The first thing I tell them is not to have too America-centric of a worldview. It’s easy as Americans to view everything—including events of the end times—through a red, white and blue lens. Yes, our nation is a world leader in every sense of the word. Yes, I believe we are one of the greatest nations in the history of the world. And, yes, the United States has been an important ally of Israel and was uniquely influential in the rebirth of Israel in 1948.

But there’s a much bigger world outside our borders. God’s plans for humanity include all 7.5 billion people in the world—not just the 328 million of us who live in America.

The second thing I tell them is that God is still in control and He knew this moment was coming. Psalm 2 is an incredibly important prophecy about the end times and I believe it refers to moments of uncertainty like this one. I want you to read it in its entirety:

Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 “Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
7 “I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.—Psalm 2

This passage speaks of a time when the world rebels against “the Lord and against His Anointed” (verse 2). That is the Psalmist’s way of referring to God the Father and His Son, Jesus. This passage is God’s response to a world attempting to reject His authority.

I believe it is a vivid description of what is happening around the world right now as we see unprecedented rebellion against God and His Word.

When you feel anxiety or uncertainty about the state of the world—or the state of our nation—you are reacting to the presence of the Antichrist spirit. It is palpable. But as the nation’s rage against God’s authority, God “sits in the heavens” and laughs, like a parent watching a group of two-year-olds plotting to take over the house.

In other words, I don’t want you to look at the election results from the perspective of Republicans (who desperately want to hold onto power) or Democrats (who desperately want to regain power). I want you to view it from God’s perspective.

God already holds all the power. He knew all this was coming.

In the final verse of this Psalm, He gives a warning to the leaders of the earth: If they will not “kiss the Son” (Jesus) and bow down to Him, then God will visit them in His wrath. That period is in our near future.

The Kings of the Earth

At the end of human history, the coming Tribulation will be God’s response to this rebellion. The Apostle John wrote about this in Revelation 6:

“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’”—Revelation 6:15-17

These kings and “great men” of the earth are the same leaders God was addressing in Psalm 2. They are the people raging against Him and refusing His authority. He warned them that calamity would fall on them, and Revelation 6 describes this judgment taking place.

The judgment is so severe, John describes the leaders of the world calling upon rocks to fall upon them, to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. They want the end to come quickly!

Later in Revelation, John writes about how desperate these leaders will be: “In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them” (Revelation 9:6).

I can’t imagine a worse fate. The seven years of the Tribulation will be the worst seven years of all human history, representing God’s punishment on those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and receive His salvation as an act of grace.

Stand Strong in the Midst of Uncertainty

In the face of political uncertainty in the U.S.—whether it’s right now, during the coming presidential transition period, or after the inauguration in January 2021—I want you to remember that God is in control. He knew this was going to happen.

He has promised to rapture His followers before the Tribulation, then to judge unbelievers for their rebellion here on earth. Meanwhile, you will receive your eternal reward in the presence of God.

So I am not here to advocate for President Trump staying in office or Joe Biden becoming the next president. I am not here to align myself with Republicans or Democrats in the fight for political control.

I am here to point to God. Keep your eyes on that eternal perspective. Stand strong in your beliefs, and stand against those who are in rebellion against God. Remember, God is still offering all of us the opportunity to “kiss the Son.” But very soon, this moment of opportunity will be over. We as believers will be with the Lord and the wrath of the Lamb will punish those who thought they could cast God aside.

Until then, live for God and not the world. Put Jesus first. Pray for our leaders and give witness to the Light in the middle of a time of darkness.

Minister to your family, work diligently in your job, contribute to your church and community, and prepare yourself for His coming.

I continue to believe that time will be soon.