Because of Chilton’s style of writing, Paradise Restored lead me to read James Jordan, Gary DeMar, Gary North, R.J. Rushdooney, Ray Sutton and George Grant. These men talked of history and culture and they spoke about God’s Law mandate and dominion. Kenneth Gentry, who was also apart of the group of men mentioned above, spoke about Christian victory in the world, and cited innumerable advances within history because of great Christian leaders operating their gifts for the benefit of the Church and mankind. Newton was a Christian scientist; Descartes was a Christian philosopher, as well as Locke and Berkeley. European government, since the Reformation of the 16th century, was largely influenced by appeals to biblical principles. Representative government, Cromwellian England, the Magna Carta were all Christian ideas of government “for the people, by the people.” These men caused my little Charismatic mind to see the big picture of God’s kingdom. Christianity was a world view, and it had answers to life’s problems.

I was raised within the church that taught, subliminally, that “church and politics” don’t mix. The Bible is about “the Christian walk” until “we get to heaven.” It did not address problems concerning the environment, debts consolidation, property rights, or the right to own a weapon in order to defend one’s family and property. But, David Chilton and Gary DeMar, over 12 years ago, changed all of that thinking in my mind. I was a post-millennialist!

Naturally, Kenneth Gentry’s constant crushing of Dispensationalism (which was my background in the Foursquare church) let me see where this “anti-politic” mindset came from. Christians may have some influence on culture, but ultimately, they will not. The world, before the Coming of Christ, will have exterminated those Christians “left behind.” Ultimately, things are going to get worse. “We are in the last days.” Without going into the details of my conversion to Preterism (or Transmillennialism, call it what you like), my post-millennialist thinking did not change in the least. In fact, by placing the Second Coming, Resurrection of the Dead, and Great Judgment in C.E. 70, the impetus of dominion was more highlighted, more compelling, and much clearer. Time is on our side. Time is not on Dispensationalism’s side. They are time-restrained.

Our model, given to us in Revelation 22, is kingdom infiltration “in the world.” “Its leaves are for the healing of the nations.” “And on no day will its gates be shut.” Culture is being drawn into the gates of salvation. “Nations” make up culture, and as more “nations” come in, the more culture reflects that out come. In short, Preterism teaches that we are living in the Age to Come, World without End. The motto of Christ Covenant Church, adopted in 2002, is simple: Bringing healing to the nations through the knowledge of the Gospel. In short, not only are we reaching out to the lost (those “outside the gates”), but we are reaching out to those brothers and sisters diluted with the disease known as Lindsey’s Syndrome (you figure it out). We say to the whole universal church: change your thinking! We say to the world: “Kiss the Son, lest His wrath flare up against you!” (Psalm 2).

Imagine, if you will, that all churches, parishes, cathedrals and house-churches thought like this. Imagine, if you will, that the supposed 70 million Evangelicals in America thought like this. Take that a step further: imagine if every Christian had no end times view, but only a vision of the future based on bringing healing to the nations by transforming culture according to biblical principles of God’s grace and redeeming love in Christ. Can you see it? Can you feel it? My children, and the children of Christ Covenant Church and other Preterist fellowships, are being raised with this mentality: the sky is the limit, there is no End, get busy! This is the next generation of little Virgils, little Sams, little Daves.

In conclusion, I wrote this piece because of Virgil’s selection of political articles and the re-election of George W. Bush, an Evangelical Methodist. Regardless of what one thinks about him and many of his policies (America ain’t the Kingdom of God, folks), Christians sent a clear message to America in general: it’s the morality, stupid! Where did this come from? Do I have to tell you? You know Him personally if you are reading this. Here is the question for the hour, the question for this generation of Preterists, the million-dollar winner take all question: What is God saying and doing in our midst, today? Now, remember, when you, a Bible fanatic, answer this question, be sure to frame your answer “according to the Bible.” Does God have anything to say on economics? Pre-emptive warfare? Democracy building? Homosexual marriage? Abortion? Pornography? IRS? Social Security?

Let the games begin...