Unraveling Democracy

I recently heard a journalist comment that democracy in America is unraveling. This comment arose midst the Covid-19 pandemic, the “Black Lives Matter” protests following the death of George Floyd, and the ever-increasing vitriolic division over the Trump presidency. Each of these catalysts could be analyzed to assess the depth of the impact upon the very heart of our democracy. That is beyond my ability. But suffice it to say, the impact runs very deep and each will have a long-lasting effect upon the psyche of this country as well as the diplomatic power of its leaders in international relations. Our democracy is unraveling. The impact may be more than long-lasting, it may portend the end. 

My views and commentary on each of the three crises, were they to be delineated, might alienate many of my conservative Christian friends. I often have to just smile, and keep quiet as I listen to their emphatic opinions.

So let me look into God’s prophetic writings to understand the unraveling of American democracy. Yes, it is prophesied. America’s role in the unfolding plan of the end of the age is no little thing. That role is spelled out by God so that we might know what is coming. How well we understand or heed what He foretells is another matter, but He does not keep His plans hidden, nor do the events of unfolding history catch Him by surprise. 

The biggest prophecy of America’s role as this age soon comes to an end is spelled out in Revelation 13. I have written much, and taught often, that the beast of Rev 13 is not the antichrist, but the seventh beast nation in a long litany of dominant and oppressive world powers. Daniel spells out four of those beasts in two different prophetic visions (Daniel 2 and 7), namely Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. Two beasts preceded those, Egypt and Assyria. The seventh beast is only briefly alluded to in Daniel’s prophetic dreams. It was important to God then, and more important to spell out in John’s Apocalypse. Don’t miss it. 

The details of Daniel’s prophecies are incredible. I was recently impressed with this fact while studying Daniel 8 and 11, the precise and accurate depiction of the ruthless campaign of Antiochus Epiphanes against Jerusalem in 170-165 BC (Dan 8:23-25; 11:21-35). It is so precise and accurate that many theologians insist that these prophecies were written after the fact, then attributed to Daniel. Were I not a firm, firm believer in the inspiration of the Scriptures by the Holy Spirit, and the careful attention of God to foretell His plans, I would have to agree with those critics. But, no, I believe Daniel wrote those prophecies in the sixth century BC, 400 years prior to the events that God foretold. 

So, if the prophecies about Antiochus are that precise, I began to wonder about the prophecies of America in Daniel 2 and 7. Especially in light of the mounting evidence of the unraveling of democracy. In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan 2) America is foretold in the feet and toes of mixed iron and clay (Dan 2:32-35; 41-43). In Daniel’s vision (Dan 7) America is foretold in the little horn that arises in the midst of ten nations that come out of the Roman empire, then subduing three of the ten to establish itself. (Daniel 7 :8, 11; 20-25). 

When I heard the comment that democracy in America is unraveling, I mulled it over, debating whether it could be true. Not debating the current crises, and the abounding opinions, but looking at the detail of the prophecy of the feet of clay and iron (Dan 2:41-43). There I find a precise description of the unraveling of democracy. The kingdom is divided, it is partly strong and partly brittle, and the people are a mixture and will not remain united. The division is not just Republican and Democrat, conservative and liberal, religious and atheist, wealthy and poor, straight and gay, black, brown and white. Although all of those contribute to the divisiveness, the heart of it lies in the fact that we do not want to unite, we want to attack, belittle, put down, utter unbending opinions and unyielding demands. There is no seeking consensus, no centuries-old history that binds us together, no empathy or sympathy for anyone but like-minded cohorts. Need I remind you, a house divided will not stand. 

Iron is strong, clay is brittle. That is God’s word picture of American democracy. We can wield the sword around the world, displaying firepower the likes of which could never have been imagined before America took the helm. But we can’t even be logical or civil midst a pandemic, or understanding about civil rights and white privilege. 

America is a mixture that God says “will not remain united”. While I enjoy democracy and capitalism, they have their weaknesses. Our pledge of allegiance declares America to be “indivisible”, but our “liberty for all” and our inalienable rights have become a pursuit of my happiness, my opinion, my rights… my, my, my, mine.  

My wife asked me, “what comes after an unraveled democracy?” Usually it would be either a police state or total anarchy. But in this case, it is a large stone that destroys the entire statue, by striking it at its feet of iron and clay (Dan 2:34). Unraveling of democracy will bring America to its end. The court will sit, the books opened. The little horn beast will be slain, destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. How do I know? Because it has been prophesied by the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:9-12).