An Ancient Blueprint for Modern Times
The Paradigm was published in 2017, but it may possibly be more relevant now that when it was released.
Jonathan Cahn unlocks a mystery linking the fall of ancient Israel to the growing apostasy in America.
It all started with King Ahab and Jezebel. Jezebel was a Phoenician woman who likely married Ahab for political purposes to forge an alliance between Israel and Phoenicia. Into Israel Jezebel brought pagan worship, namely of Baal, and her religion was rampant with sensuality and child sacrifice. She sought to replace Israel's God with her own, so she wickedly opposed God's people who were standing in her way.
What Israel once rejected and shunned, as outlined in the scriptures, they eventually embraced.
Similarly, America, a nation founded on Christianity, would encounter the same shift as ancient Israel. Culture wars have made advances in supplanting our biblical morality with a new morality, and because the growing apostasy is becoming state-sponsored, immorality is becoming the law of the land.
The most amazing aspect of this story is to see timelines and behaviors from the ancient template align perfectly with a modern equivalent. Cahn outlines in great detail how Bill and Hillary Clinton are an exact match to Ahab and Jezebel, how Obama parallels the biblical heir (Joram), and how God used an imperfect man like Trump to be the warrior, like Jehu, who slows our nation's descent into apostasy.
Movement Towards Persecution
Based on the biblical prototype, Cahn explains how Christianity, which once defined our nation, will move from being revered, to tolerated, to marginalized, vilified, criminalized, and ultimately persecuted.
Hillary Clinton admitted her goal when she said in a speech that "deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs, and structural biases have to be changed." In other words, say good-bye to freedom of religion under a progressive banner.
The book does not deliver much of an optimistic forecast for Christianity in America, but before the apostasy is sealed and our nation progresses towards judgment and destruction, God could grant us a reprieve if we would repent of our sins, turn from our wicked ways, and return to Him.
Anti-Biblical Shift in the Culture
During the biblical reign of King David, the ways of God represented the ruling principle in the nation's culture. Cahn explains, "Biblical faith was society's reigning worldview, and biblical morality represented its prevailing code of ethics."
As the shift to an anti-biblical culture happens, faith becomes countercultural, radical, and revolutionary. People come to see evil as good and good as evil, just at scriptures foretell.
Sadly, when immorality becomes a culture's ruling principle, many of God's people will be tempted to soften their stands on biblical issues. They will feel the pressure from society and compromise with the darkness.
Be an Elijah
Elijah prophesied against Ahab and Jezebel after they murdered Naboth to possess his vineyard. Even though the prophet was dubbed the "troubler of Israel" for not bowing to Baal, Elijah refused to be intimidated. Cahn describes Elijah as one who would "stand unyielding, uncompromised, and unashamed for the ways of God."
We are no longer in the David stage--where church and culture were in sync. Western civilization has spiraled to the Ahab stage. As a result, God's people must move to the Elijah stage.
Elijah stayed faithful to the Lord's ways, even as the nation changed for the worse. So, too, in our post-Christian or anti-Christian culture, we must refuse to go along with the apostasy and hold true to the Word of God. As we do, we become the Elijahs of our age. It's how we can be light in the darkness.
The key to standing strong in the faith is to be more dependent on God and more independent of the surrounding culture. We can achieve that by staying plugged into God through His Word, prayer, and worship. We must not be silent. It may appear like we're on the losing side, but Cahn advises we must be "all the more stubborn in faith, all the more bold in truth, and all the more confident of victory."
America at a Crossroads
America hangs in the balance between God and Baal. Revival can only come through repentance, and repentance is a decision we must all make.
My Thoughts on The Paradigm
If you prefer Joel Osteen-esque feel good fluff, this book might shock your system. It's simultaneously mesmerizing and tough to read.
We know the end of the story--God wins. Many of us, however, don't want to think about what harsh realities we might face before victory.
The disciples of Jesus and the apostles died horrible deaths and suffered endless persecution, yet we have somehow convinced ourselves the Christian life should be a walk in the park. In Western civilization, we've gotten comfortable and complacent, and in so doing, we haven't stood up for truth when we should have and fought for our values. It's costing us. Our culture is devolving, and it's grievous to watch.
Yet, we don't have to be silent bystanders. We can take a stand. We can refuse to compromise our biblical principles. We can vote for righteous leaders in politics and demand free and fair elections. We can insist our kids not be indoctrinated in wrong ideologies at school. We can refuse to support groups and sports teams that dishonor God and our flag. We can assert that there are only two genders and that marriage can only occur between a man and woman. It's time believers find their voices and stop waiting for someone else to lead. You can speak the truth of God's ways with boldness out of love for the lost rather than from the harshness of judgment.
As yet, it's not too late for our nation to repent and return to God so He can heal our land, but we must be people of action. We can show the love of Christ to the world, even when the culture labels us with an "ism" of some sort to silence us. We can still be salt and light to get America back on track for the last, great harvest of souls.
I encourage you to read this book. The past gives us insight so we can avoid making the same mistakes, but time is of the essence. Our window of opportunity is closing.
More Books by Jonathan Cahn
Jonathan Cahn is a powerful and prophetic voice in our time, and he teaches the deep revelations of scripture to help us grow in our faith.
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