StudyGrowKnow

Changing Society?

January 3, 2026 at 9:14 PM 2 comments

For those Christians who believe that the Christian’s job is to change the tone of society by preaching the Gospel to people with the result being conversion, I’d like to respectfully ask that they think again. By being involved in transforming society, the focus shifts from the person of the unbeliever to the condition of society. While theoretically yes, people who become Christians can have a positive effect on society, there is no guarantee that this will happen.

In order for society to successfully change for the better, billions of non-believers alive now would have to become actual believers, then they would have to mature over time into solid Christians. This might eventually start to translate into a better situation in society, but it might not, because Satan would fight back at every turn.

In the end, this thinking is Dominionism, Seven Mountains Mandate and other beliefs that focus on changing society rather than simply evangelizing the lost and letting God take care of the problems in society. I simply do not see this in Scripture at all. In fact, what I see in Scripture is the exact opposite and I’ve pointed out some of these things in previous articles in this blog and even in books I’ve written.

Is it possible that there will be a worldwide revival of the lost who embrace salvation? To some extent, but overwhelmingly Scripture presents warnings about just how bad things will get during the Last Days that lead up to the start of the Tribulation (and include the Tribulation itself), which the Bible tells us will be the worst time in the history of this planet since Creation (Matthew 24:4-22). I’m not sure how our Lord could have made things more clear.

In Revelation 7, after the 144,000 Jewish evangelists are sealed, immediately following this is the reality that “…a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes…” (7:9). As it turns out, this great multitude represents those who are believers and become martyrs during the seven year Tribulation (7:14).

After the Church is raptured from the face of the earth, the Tribulation can then begin. By the way, for those who continue to erroneously believe that Darby and Scofield created this doctrine in the 1800s, they should do some research to learn what the first, second and early third century church fathers actually believed and taught. From Papias (a disciple of the apostle John), to Irenaeus, to Tertullian to Barnabas and numerous others, they actually declared what they had been taught to them.

Documents have been discovered in Qumran, saved and secured by the Essenes thousands of years ago, that offer clear insight into a firm belief in the PreTrib Rapture, followed by a literal seven year Tribulation, followed by the actual physical return of Jesus and a literal thousand year Millennial Kingdom over which He rules the entire earth. I’ve gone into this a bit in other articles and will do so again in the future. The information is out there and people simply need to avail themselves of it, rather than embrace those who pan PreMillennialism (including the PreTrib rapture), based on their man-made arguments.

Inside the coming literal seven year Tribulation, a great multitude of people will be martyred for their faith. I believe after the Rapture happens and those who have toyed with Christianity (as professing Christians only), own a Bible and may have even gone to church from time to time, but never actually received salvation (know anyone who might qualify?), will be shocked to realize that the rumors they had heard about the PreTrib Rapture were true. This will lead many to most of them to start devouring the Scriptures and seek authentic salvation, understanding that they never had it. Because of that, they will live lives that glorify God during the Tribulation and eschew the godlessness of the world’s system. It will, for many to most, end in martyrdom. So even if there is a revival of sorts inside the Tribulation, the result of that will be death for many. Global society will not change for the better until Jesus returns.

During the Tribulation, Antichrist will spend the first 42 months (3 1/2 years), gaining and consolidating power for himself (conquering). At the midpoint (2 Thessalonians 2, when the Great Tribulation begins, Matthew 24:15-28), this same man of sin will enter the Holiest of All inside the rebuilt Jewish Temple and declare himself to be God. This will cause the Jews alive then who are serious about worshiping God (and fully reject Antichrist’s claims to be God and Messiah), to flee to the mountains, to a place God has prepared for them for their protection.

Satan, through the Antichrist will realize he cannot get to those Jewish people (who become believers in Jesus), and so turns his attention to the rest of the believers throughout the earth (Gentile Christians). This occurs during the second half of the Tribulation (or “great tribulation”), and because of this assault on believers, a “great multitude that no one could count” will lose their lives through martyrdom. That’s the scene in Revelation 7.

Okay, so what does this have to do with the possibility that no matter how hard true believers work to bring truth and enlightenment to the lost, society will still not change for the better, but in effect, simply become worse? If believers will be killed in droves for their beliefs because God grants Satan via Antichrist the power to do so, then society is not changing for the better. Believers do not have the upper hand during the Tribulation and we do not have it now either.

I do not see in Scripture where society gets increasingly better leading to the physical return of Jesus so that Christians can essentially “hand the world” over to Jesus after we’ve somehow made it better morally. If that were the case there would not be the magnitude of martyrdom then. However, I do understand where proponents of that position get their biblical ammunition and in large part, it is gained via allegorization of biblical text and not taking Scripture literally (in its most plain and ordinary sense). It all comes down to how a person interprets Scripture. Jesus already regained title to this world at the cross, which has already been literally given to Him as seen in Revelation 5. It’s a done deal.

Pastor Brandon Holthaus has an article (How to Read the Bible Without Misapplying It), that delves into this subject and it is important for Christians to get an actual grip on God’s meaning from Scripture, not what we think it says to us.[1] It takes work and understanding to study Scripture, which is why Paul tells us we need to learn to “rightly divide” it (2 Timothy 2:15), which I could write several articles on.

I say all of this to bring us to this point. I recently watched a video highlighting a talk given by Kevin Shipp (ex-CIA) about the Deep State and Shadow Government, two different but somewhat connected entities according to Shipp.[2] I didn’t really want to watch it because it’s over an hour and we simply have to take Shipp’s word for things. He starts off offering a few jokes designed to relax everyone. I found them annoying because his subject centered on the absolute corruption of the Deep State/Shadow Government and ostensibly, what society can do to destroy it.

Shipp spends time explaining history, which is worthwhile; how the CIA was created (unconstitutionally by Harry Truman because it circumvents Congress), in 1947 and how it quickly morphed into its own secret agency that is completely outside the federal government’s accountability. Shipp talked about how the CIA has worked to protect itself in every way using billions of dollars of taxpayer money to keep the agency going. Shipp also broke things down to help us understand the various other government agencies that are under the CIA (unofficially), like NSA and a host of others.

It’s not a surprise that the CIA does things that are completely outside the limits of the Constitution. It was only a short time after its creation that Truman stated how much he regretted creating it because of the complete lack of transparency and accountability. Shipp noted that during JFK’s term, JFK fired CIA director Allen Dulles. We also know JFK stated boldly and publicly that he wanted to destroy and splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces. Big mistake. He was assassinated in TX and interestingly enough Dulles – the same guy who was fired by JFK – became the head of the committee to investigate the JFK assassination. No conflict there, right?

Shipp continued to draw parallels pointing out other situations like the fact that every phone call, text message or whatever is sent from a phone today is captured by the NSA, sorted and stored in huge computer databanks in Utah. The computers are so powerful that massive rooms filled with cooling units are needed to keep the computers from overheating. The point is that we all lost our anonymity and privacy years ago and it’s only getting worse, not better. We cannot stop it because it will culminate in Revelation 13 with the mark of the beast needed to buy and sell. Society gets to that point gradually and over time, though things are now drastically speeding up because of AI.

Here we are nearly 80 years after the CIA was started and no one has been able to take the agency down. Moreover, the CIA controls members of Congress by donating millions to re-election campaigns (just like Big Pharma). If a politician doesn’t want to play ball with the CIA, the CIA has plenty of ways to make their life miserable and assassination can be part of that “problem solving” agenda (Chuck Schumer stated as much). They can create lies that appear as truth. They can threaten family members of elected politicians. In short, they can do whatever they want to do and never have to worry about paying the price. Is this why Elise Stephanik, Marjorie Greene and others are resigning from Congress?

At the end of his video, Shipp essentially tosses a few bones to the gathered crowd. He says we need to start a grassroots movement throughout America made up of true patriots who want to take this country back. Good luck with that and I apologize for my apparent sarcasm. People will not come together for something like this simply because it’s far too dangerous to do so or those who do come together in support of it will run out of steam. The CIA works in the shadows and can literally do anything and get away with it. No one can stop the CIA.

Consider investigative reporter Nick Shirley, who broke the fraud scandal within the Somali communities. He and his family members lives are being constantly threatened. He’s up against something far bigger than just fraud.

The CIA (and other secretive agencies inside the federal government), have held sway for too long and will simply not give it up. Why should they? Shipp went into great detail about how the CIA controls information always hiding behind the “state secrets” or “classified information.” Even via FOIA lawsuits, when documents are released, they are usually highly redacted (blacked out), and essentially unreadable, providing no information to the public. We are seeing this with the Epstein files. Shipp states Epstein worked for the CIA. If so, does anyone actually believe the CIA is going to allow those documents to be released without censure?

So between the secret government agencies that taxpayers support and the clarity of Scripture indicating that society is going to continue to worsen until He returns, what should the Christian do? What should our approach be to the world’s (evil) system? Well, it’s really simple. Let me explain.

I’m in the process of finishing up a book by Ken Johnson, ThD titled, Paul’s Ancient Hebrew Thessalonian Epistles. I’ll be offering a fairly thorough review of this book in an upcoming article. I’ve found Johnson’s books to be scholarly and devoid of sensationalism. He simply presents information and his videos are of the same vein. Very worthwhile in my opinion, though I’m certain some would disagree with me.

Johnson highlights 1 Thessalonians 4, where he notes that Paul speaks of living a “quiet life” or a “life of simplicity.”

In ancient times, the concept of leading a quiet lifestyle was call(ed) the Life of Simplicity. There was a clear set of virtues and vices the children learned that we have forgotten. Paul actually mentioned several of these throughout his epistles. With the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls we have some of the lost Testaments of the Patriarchs which teach moral lessons like these, history and prophecy. (p70)

Johnson then goes into aspects of this Life of Simplicity from the Testament of Issachar document. What I find fascinating is that nowhere in those writings are we told to change society. Jesus didn’t come to change society either. He came to change hearts and many to most thoroughly rejected His message. Issachar tells us to live simply, righteously, in a way that brings glory to God. If God wants to change society He will do so and He will do so when He returns. Prior to that, He will allow things to heat up to a crescendo necessitating pouring out His wrath onto global society.

Issachar talks about the righteousness of living simply, of walking in simplicity of heart. The reason for this is because it is well-pleasing to the Lord. If we stop to consider it, much of the New Testament epistles (and even throughout the Gospels), speak of living morally and of course, Christians are enabled to do so by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

My children, keep God’s law, live in simplicity and walk without guile. Do not curiously pry into your neighbor’s business. Instead, love the Lord and your neighbor. Have compassion on the poor and weak. Work hard and offer gifs unto the Lord with thanksgiving…(p72)

Issachar also looks ahead to the last days or end times and apparently prophetically sees the way society will be.

My children, I know that in the last times your sons will forsake simplicity. Their lives will be filled with greed and malice. They will forsake the commandments of the Lord, will cleave to Belial. They will leave simplicity, follow wickedness, and will be dispersed among the Gentiles, serving their enemies. Teach your children what awaits them, so that if they sin, they may quickly return to the Lord; for He is merciful, and will deliver them even to bring them back into their land. (p72)

I cannot think of a better description of current society, can you? The book also quotes from the Testament of Asher where he talks about the evil that only appears to be Godly (p73), which clearly exists in society today and even within too much of Christendom. Likewise, the book highlights aspects of the Testaments of Benjamin, Simeon, and Reuben.

Frankly, I don’t know how a Christian can be involved in attempting to change society like many want to do today and continue living the Life of Simplicity that Paul highlights in 1 Thessalonians 4. The war that many Christians are involved in is one that focuses on changing society instead of introducing people to Jesus.

No one wants to move into a future that will be filled with God’s wrath. Too many within Christendom ignore what Scripture says and prefer instead to adopt an approach that in reality, tends to nullify what the Scriptures teach.

I was taught by John, himself, that after the resurrection of the dead, Jesus will personally reign for 1,000 years. – Papias, Fragment 6, AD 90-110

And therefore in the end, when the church is suddenly caught up from this, it is said ‘there shall be tribulation such has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.’ Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.29.1 – AD 178

Jesus gave believers a commission. That commission involves preaching the Gospel to the lost. We are also to live a simple life (living a life of love), doing our best to meet the needs of those who are not as fortunate because this is a wonderful way to introduce them to our Lord and Savior. Nowhere do I see in Scripture where we are to work hard to change society so that it aligns with the Bible’s moral code.

Unfortunately, this is in the works behind the scenes with groups currently pushing the Noahide Laws, who want those laws to become societal norms. This is why things like Seven Mountains Mandate and other similar ideologies always come to the fore through extra-biblical sources; usually “words of knowledge” given by supposed modern day prophets and apostles. None of this is in God’s Word. It’s all separate and distinct from the Bible, but pushed as though God Himself spoke it. If it contradicts His Word, you can bet it is not from Him.

I cannot imagine the CIA or any other secretive government agency being dismantled and demolished until the Lord returns. He alone will take care of it along with all globalists who perceive themselves to be gods.

Any Christian who gets involved in attempting to do so is not wise. Moreover, it’s very possible they are going to put targets on their own or their family’s backs. Our job remains to evangelize the lost of this world. We need to tell them about their need for Jesus. It is up to God to open a lost person’s eyes or not. That is beyond our purview. Attempting to change society is also beyond the realm of our responsibility.

There is enough to do in this world in fulfilling the Great Commission, period. Let’s stay in that lane and trust the Lord for the results.

[1] https://mailchi.mp/brandonholthaus.com/how-to-read-the-bible

[2] https://substack.com/home/post/p-182005514

Entry filed under: christianity, Religious - Christian - End Times, Religious - Christian - Prophecy, salvation. Tags: dominionism, great commission, NAR, seven mountain mandate, seven mountains mandate.