Unraveling the Strands of Christian Nationalism - Part 10

Opening Prayer

As daylight breaks the darkness of night, as the first movements of morning pierce the night’s stillness, so a new waking to life dawns within us, so a fresh beginning opens. In the early light of this day, in the first actions of the morning, let us be awake to life. In our soul and in our seeing let us be alive to the gift of this new day, let us be fully alive.

• John Philip Newell, Sounds of the Eternal, A Celtic Psalter, p. 26.

Interpretation of Scripture Regarding the End Times and Christian Nationalism – Part Two

“For over two centuries, white Christian nationalism was championed by the ‘Protestant Establishment.’” By the 1970’s and 1980’s, “the torch had been passed on to conservative white evangelicals.” The conservative white evangelicals “reverted to the premillennialist version of the End Times story. The horrors of the World Wars and the invention of atomic weapons had made the fiery battle scenes of Revelation seem more real than metaphorical. And predictions of nuclear holocaust were also promises of deliverance and vengeance: true believers could view the nuclear Armageddon secure in the knowledge that it heralded Jesus’ return. It should be little surprise that by the middle 2000’s, one of the strongest predictors that white Americans affirm Christian Nationalist ideology is their confidence that literal Rapture and Armageddon events will take place, in which the faithful are caught up to be with Jesus followed by a war of God’s faithful against ‘the Beast’ of Revelation [Dispensational Premillennialism] (2007 Baylor Religion Survey).”

• Gorski, Philip S., Samuel L. Perry, and Jemar Tisby, The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy, 2022, pp. 68, 69.

Dispensational Premillennialism

Various attempts have been made to explain and relate certain scripture passages concerning the millennium (“thousand years” - Rev. 20) to the course of human history. In certain ages, a particular outlook concerning the millennium has predominated.

“In one cataclysmic moment, millions around the globe disappear. Those left behind face war, famine, plagues, and natural disasters that only one in four people will survive. Odds are even worse for enemies of the Antichrist and his new world order during the seven most chaotic years the planet will ever see.” Those words represent a system of thought known as Dispensational Premillennialism.

Dispensational Premillennialism is a specific system of theological interpretation which can be traced back to John Nelson Darby in the 19 th century (1800-1882). Darby was an Anglo-Irish theologian associated with a small group known as the Plymouth Brethren. Darby emphasized literal interpretations of biblical prophecy, particularly the apocalyptic visions in the Book of Revelation. Darby’s views were further popularized and reached a broad audience by The Scofield Reference Bible in the early 20 th century (edited by Cyrus I. Scofield and first published in 1909). Schofield’s Bible annotated the text with Dispensational interpretations, firmly entrenching these views in American evangelical culture. This system of theological interpretation circulates broadly within modern evangelicalism, especially in the United States.

This system of theological interpretation includes such terms as ‘rapture” – this refers to the event described in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 when believers will be ‘raptured’ or ‘caught up’ in the clouds to meet Christ in the air; ‘tribulation’ – this refers to the intensified persecution against God’s people preceding Christ’s second advent understood to be a seven-year period; ‘Armageddon’ – refers to the battle mentioned in Rev. 16:16.

Those who hold this view are called ‘Dispensationalists’ because they usually divide world history into a series of periods or ‘dispensations’ through which God interacts with humanity differently. All this will culminate with the thousand-year kingdom of Christ on earth. They are also ‘Premillennialists’ because they argue that world conditions will worsen until Christ returns before (‘pre’) the millennial kingdom begins. They insist that prophecy is actually history that has been written in advance, so that the prophetic passages in the Bible constitute a script that will be played out to the letter in the “end times.” They also assume that no single book of the Bible contains the entire script, and that verses from various parts of the Bible must be joined together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle so that people can see the whole picture.

Integral to Dispensational Premillennialism is the theological necessity of Israel’s prominence. Dispensationalism Premillennialism views the modern state of Israel, established in 1948, as fulfilling biblical prophecy and marking the beginning of the “end times.” This outlook also specifically argues that Christ will return only after a period of severe tribulation, culminating in an Armageddon-like final battle centered in Israel. Thus, Israel’s geopolitical success and security are seen as necessary preconditions for Christ’s return. Israel must rise to a prominent and powerful place among the nations as part of God’s divine plan prior to the second coming of Christ. Under Dispensational Premillennialism, all good Christians support the state of Israel because that is what will bring Christ back.

Conflating the biblical Israel, a historical religious community with whom God makes specific covenants, with the modern state of Israel is a theological error. Modern Israel emerged from 20th-century contextual realities, particularly the aftermath of the Holocaust. Just because they share a name does not mean they have the same biblical significance. Biblically speaking, Israel was intended as a “light to the nations,” modeling justice and righteousness (Isaiah 49:6). Today, the Church shares this commission, meant to demonstrate compassion, justice, and peace (Matthew 5:14-16).

As Jemar Tisby notes, “When Dispensational Premillennialism theology directly informs foreign policy without critical reflection or moral accountability, it creates not only geopolitical dangers but theological distortions.”

A timeline summary for Dispensational Premillennialism: Church Age (Acts 2:1-Rev. 19) + Secret Return of Christ/Rapture + Seven Year Tribulation + Armageddon + Visible Return of Christ/Sheep Goats Judgment + 1000 years/Millennium (Rev. 20) + Satan’s “Little Season” + Resurrection of the Unjust (unbelieving dead)/”White Throne Judgment” + New Heavens and New Earth.

For this week: For reflection: How should Christians today approach U.S. foreign policy toward Israel, especially when military action is justified through theological beliefs about the end times?

An invitation to our virtual participants: Discussion and comments are very much encouraged and welcomed. Online discussions can be held in the comments section in the upcoming post on Social Media for this week’s Deacon’s Reflection which is part of adult formation at St. Francis Episcopal Church.

Closing Prayer – Prayer of Blessing

The strength of the rising sun, the strength of the swelling sea, the strength of the high mountains, the strength of the fertile plains, the strength of the everlasting river flowing in us and through us this day, the strength of the river of God flowing in us and through us this day.
May the light of God illumine the heart of my soul.
May the flame of Christ kindle me to love.
May the fire of the Spirit free me to live this day, tonight, and forever. Amen.

• John Philip Newell, Sounds of the Eternal, A Celtic Psalter, p. 29.

“Unraveling the Strands of Christian Nationalism,” Deacon Joe Dzugan, St. Francis Episcopal Church, 2025.