Since 2017 a “special” sect of evangelicals has said that they support President Trump and his sadistic policies because they believe he will start Armageddon, forcing Christ to return in our current lifetime. This classic thinking can only come from the playbook of the adversary. It’s not the first time the devil has tried to deceive someone into believing God could be forced to act outside of His will. Satan’s most daring attempt at this is recorded in Luke 4. The passage reads:
“Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” – Luke 4:5-8
In my mind’s eye, I can see Satan, disguised as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14) at a meeting with evangelical leaders. Using the same tactic, he tried (and failed) to lure Christ with, he makes his pitch to the faithless group of men. “Sexual perversion in this country is getting out of hand. It’s disgusting what’s going on. We need Christ to come back now! And I know just how we can do it! Take Trump. He’s a corrupt, evil and wicked person, but he’s just the type of person we need to accomplish our goal. Persuade your congregations to vote Trump for president. He’ll be so happy to get and keep our votes that he will give us what we want. We can use him to disrupt the middle east by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. His greed and ignorance will do the rest. Under his leadership economies will crumble, trade wars will erupt, nuclear armament will resume and boom! Armageddon and Christ will return.”
Instead of denouncing Satan with scripture as Christ did, they partner with him. To partner with Satan is to betray Christ. To carry out Satan’s plan is to serve him. And to serve him is an act of worship.
The lunacy of this type of reasoning, that they can force Christ to come back, is refuted by the Bible they “claim” to know and live by.
No one, including evangelicals can force Christ’s return. When the disciples asked Christ when would He return (Matt. 24:3, 36), He tells them no one knows not even the angels, only His Father knows when He will return. This implies that the Father has a set date for Christ’s return that cannot be forced by evangelicals’ manipulation of times and events.
For a moment though, let’s suppose they can force Christ’s return. What does the Bible say about individuals who align themselves with evil to bring about God’s plan?
Judas. Remember him? He played a pivotal role in Jesus’ arrest that led to His crucifixion. What did Jesus say about this man who betrayed Him?
“Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?’ He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.”
-John 6:70-71
“Those who You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” -John 17:12b
“The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” – Matt. 26:24
For 30 pieces of silver (Matt. 26:14-16), Judas betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders. Although his actions worked into God’s plan of redemption, Judas reaped eternal damnation.
What about the religious leaders who also played a role in Christ’s execution? What did Jesus say about them? Matthew 23 is full of Jesus’ condemnation of the religious leaders. Verses 31-32 sums up their final resting place.
“Therefore, you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Serpents, a brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”
The religious leaders used lies and trickery to arrest Jesus and demand the Roman government put Him to death. Though they were envious of His ministry, their primary reason for forcing His execution was political to ensure their continued autonomy of power within their religious community (John 11:47-50).
Like Judas, they too played an important role in Jesus’ death. But what was their reward for killing the Son of God? Hell.
No matter how you look at evangelicals’ insane plan to attempt Christ’s forced return their end will be the same as it was for Judas and the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. A reservation to hell.