The First and Last Hegemons

Psst…. Hey there,

What do you think might be Heaven’s reason for establishing and allowing hegemony among the nations of the world? ¹ Might we intuit answers by examining the Grand Marshall and Special Entry in history’s parade of hegemons—typically the first and last entries of a parade?

 

Biblically, nations emerged after the flood (Genesis 10–11); historically, our earliest, clear nation-state patterns appeared post-Tower of Babel. But why nations? Why were certain nations allowed to grow to the point that they could/would dominate other nations across a range of sectors? And why have they ultimately collapsed under their own weight—successively corroded in morality and coherence?

The Bible indicates nations were a post-Tower of Babel development, in response to The Lord’s command for people to multiply and fill the Earth. Post-flood humans had a better idea than to scatter a thin population across the vast, empty Earth! We know who won that argument! After He confused their languages, they spread far and wide, grouped by languages. That led to the development of unique cultures and social arrangements. It also led to eventual competition, as each nation developed differently, according to its culture, social arrangements, and especially available NATURAL RESOURCES! But I intuit Heaven may have had other, more strategic, ‘story-telling’ purposes in this progression.

 

In Deuteronomy 8:18, the prophet Moses reveals the power to get wealth is a gift from The Lord, to achieve His strategic objectives in human history. To Nebuchadnezzar, a prideful king of Babylon, the prophet Daniel revealed that The God of Heaven had given him …a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He had given them into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand, and has made him ruler over them all. (Daniel 2:37-38) In a later vision, The Lord revealed to Nebuchadnezzar that He, The Lord Most High, rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men. (Daniel 4:17) In this vision, Nebuchadnezzar saw a great, fruitful tree seen by all, that fed and sheltered all men and beasts. It depicted Heaven’s perspective of the Babylonian Empire. 

 

It is generally understood that Babylon, under King Nebuchadnezzar, likely achieved the first effective hegemon status in history. Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s earlier dream (of a statue made of various minerals—from gold, to iron and clay) revealed subsequent nations would similarly achieve this status, but none would be of the quality and grandeur of Babylon. This depiction might signify Heaven’s primary, strategic rationale for allowing hegemon nations. As with all things earthly, human nature kicks in, and does its best to kick ‘all things Heaven’ out of the picture. Nevertheless, The Lord proceeds to unfold His grand strategy for us. 

 

Both The Old and New Testaments give us snippets of The Lord’s plan to lead a GLOBAL Millennial Kingdom (the Millennial Reign age, the pending 5^th age of history), supported by His (then) immortal saints from across the first 4 ages of history. His kingdom will be the ‘special entry’ in the parade of hegemons depicted in Nebuchadnezzar’s statue dream. 

 

A cursory comparison of Heaven’s symbolic depiction of the Babylonian Empire (the head of gold in Nebuchadnezzar’s statue dream), and that of The Lord’s predicted, global Millennial Kingdom, reveals some significant overlaps, though obviously not in geographic scope and grandeur.

Symbolic Bookends: Babylon vs. Christ’s Kingdom

Conclusion

This comparison gives the wise among us, an opportunity to perceive and intuit The Lord’s possible, primary rationale for hegemony—Heaven’s repetitive signal of the pending, final hegemon in our history. Why ‘primary’? Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream (Daniel 2) signaled that subsequent hegemon nations (symbolically Medo-Persia/Persia, Greece, Rome, and today’s ‘remnants of Rome’), would sequentially deteriorate in overall quality and grandeur. This is symbolized by their notably less than gold representations in the statue dream—from gold to clay. Human history also reveals another rationale for some hegemons is to serve as Heaven’s instruments to judge lesser nations when The Lord’s Grace to them had expired, with no significant repentance from their gross sinfulness. Repentance is the rationale for Heaven’s Grace to humanity. The obvious issue with this strategy is that every hegemon, including the Babylonian, itself, was subsequently, similarly judged! 

As the most recent global hegemon,

the U.S. currently stands …next in line.

Bottom line: All human-led hegemons will significantly deteriorate …and end! Though The Lord’s Millennial Reign on this Earth will end, His authority and dominion over ALL things human, will transfer to the promised, new, eternal Earth! 

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¹ Hegemony—leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others; aggression or expansionism by large nations, in an effort to achieve world domination.

Hegemon—a nation that has, or exercises hegemony.

² Count them: Babylon, Medo-Persia/Persia, Greece, Rome, U.K., U.S.

Freedom of 'Seasoned' Speech (Poem)

Freedom of speech, an intended Grace,

Some governments give to citizens.

But with traps, it is heavily laced,

Turning some folks into …‘shitizens’!

 

You see, with Graces to us given,

We have a natural tendency,

To ‘hog’ it for ‘us, and our chosen’,

And restrict others’ dependency.

Leadership 'Inversality' (Poem)

In choosing leaders to serve,

The Lord God displays His Hand,

Giving to any people,

Leaders He knows they deserve.

He thus achieves His Grand Plan,

That’s revealed in His Bible. ¹

 

History echoes this pattern,

From ancient, to modern times.

We could see it if only,

Into folks’ hearts we could discern.

Yet there is a paradigm,

That shows it to us clearly! ²

 

Though He gives us ‘freedom of choice’,

He knows what we’ll choose in advance,

His foreknowledge plus our freedom,

Synergistically form ‘a voice’.

So what we think happens by chance,

Is that voice, shaping His outcomes! ³

14th Anniversary!

Friends,

The just-concluded 13th year (Sept.--Aug.) of Life in the Key of J! was blessed with remarkable growth, both in content (105 posts vs. 77 in Year 12), and especially readership across the world. Join me in praising The Lord for the many new readers who have joined us in exploring deeper insights into His Multi-millennial Strategic Plan for Humanity—The Holy Bible!

Jesus promised: 'To everyone who has, more will be given, and he/she will have abundance.' (Matthew 13:12) He spoke of broader, deeper insights into Heaven’s secret plans. The Lord revealed it to Joel during the 2nd age (Joel 2:28–29); then, as a man, Jesus was the last One Who helped to fulfill it at the end of that age! Peter repeated it at the start of the 3rd age (Acts 2:17–18), which I believe sparked its application to us who are thirsty and attentive during the closing years of this age! Imagine that... I now believe such outpourings will be one of Heaven’s repeating patterns at the close of each remaining age of our history (get this...) including The Millennial Reign and the post-Millennial Reign ages—fresh, confirming insights poured into thirsty souls!!!

My prayer is that you and many others will remain increasingly thirsty for Heaven's fresh downloads, and attentive to discern them by applying The Mind of Christ within us.

Every discernible, predicted precursor of the closing of this 3rd age has long been visible across the world. The only one beyond our discernment is the ‘the fullness of Gentiles’ entering the Kingdom. If you are aware of other precursors not yet on the scene, please let me know!

Thank you for your readership in the months ahead, and your encouraging financial support (no matter how small). I look forward to your probing questions that challenge and sharpen us as we continue this journey together.

‘New year’ blessings~

—Brother J!

Hasty Jewish Migrations (Part 3)

Click here to see the series, plus 

9, predicted, major, Jewish migrations

 

Parts 1–2 trace 5 hasty Jewish migrations—3 historical, 2 prophetic—and the patterns behind them. It poetically frames the 5 hasty migrations as catalyzed by 7 men: an Egyptian Pharaoh, Moses, a Roman Emperor, Germany's Hitler, the final anti-Christ man, Jesus The Lord God, and either the anti-Christ's prophet/prime minister, OR possibly one of Israel's prime ministers who might commit despicable acts that trigger massive, global anti-Jewishness. 

 

Here’s a reminder of the list of 9 major, Jewish migrations across The Bible, 5 of which would be hasty:

1.     Canaan → Egypt (not hasty)

2.     Egypt → Canaan (hasty #1)

3.     Israel → Assyria (not hasty)

4.     Judah → Babylon (not hasty)

5.     Babylon → Judah (not hasty)

6.     Judea → the world (AD 70) (hasty #2)

7.     Europe → Israel (post-1945) (hasty #3)

8.     Worldwide → Israel (pre-MR) (hasty #4, prophetic)

9.     Worldwide → Israel (post-MR) (hasty #5, prophetic)

 

Part 3 connects those patterns to The Lord’s Grace, Judgments, and the rise-and-fall of hegemon nations, to demonstrate how and why the 2 final hasty migrations might unfold as The Bible predicts.

 

Let’s briefly take note of some pre- and post-migratory parallelisms in Jewish history and in yet-fulfilled prophecies. Relevant questions may be:

 

1. Were all major migrations away from the promised land, triggered as a result of their unrepented sinfulness during lengthy periods in that land?

2. Were/will all return migrations back to the promised land triggered by The Lord’s Grace ‘to give them another chance’, and in preparation for His unique events that would/will have global impacts?

3. What were/might be significant external factors that might have impacted/will impact the 5 hasty migrations? (Prepare for a shocking insight!) 

Arming for Armageddon (Poem)

See the Armageddon series here

Shhh...

Here’s something I think the world doesn’t know:

As arms cascade, and armies parade,

Show-casing arms, they’ll use against foes,

They’re arming for what Scripture portrays.

 

It’s earthly foes, they all have in mind,

As new weapons, they crave, then design.

They speak in terms, their foes to malign,

Like young bullies act, in ways benign.

Good Works Delusions (Poem)

See the Discerning Delusions series here

 

There’s a strange paradox I perceive,

On both sides of the ‘Christian divide’, 

Folks Christian and Christianesque alike,

About good deeds, and what they believe.

What The Bible says, they over-ride,

And think, with The Lord, a deal they’ll strike!

 

I perceive some Christians may agree,

‘Good deeds salvation’ just isn’t their thing,

But something for other religions.

They ‘signed up’ for salvation that’s free!

So the ‘good deeds thing’, they’re not buying!!

About this, they’ve got strong convictions. 

Closer Than We Think!

 ‘Therefore wait for Me,’ says The Lord, ‘Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, all My fierce anger; all the Earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy. For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language [a global unitary language, like pre-Tower of Babel], that they all may call on The Name of The Lord, to serve Him with one accord. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering. In that day you [Jews worldwide] shall not be shamed for any of your deeds in which you transgress against Me [disbelief, denial, denigration, etc.], for then I will take away from your midst [population of Jews worldwide] those who rejoice in your [Jewish and typical human] pride, and you shall no longer be haughty in My holy mountain [global government in the Millennial Reign age, the ‘seat’ of which will be Jerusalem, in a greatly expanded Israel]. I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people [the post-apocalyptic population of Jews worldwide], and they shall trust in The Name of The Lord [The Messiah]. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness, and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid [because of the presence of The Lord God Almighty ruling the Earth].’ (Zephaniah 3:8-13)

 

This prophecy was given in the 7th century BC, during the 2nd age of human history. It looks forward to the dawn of the The Millennial Reign age, the 5th age of history, when The Lord will have ended the apocalypse at Armageddon.

 

Ever since this amazing prophecy was pronounced, penned, preserved, propagated and preached, I imagine people who were, and are now familiar with it, may have wondered:

Age-ending Stock-taking (2nd Age)

See the introduction and series here

2nd Age Genesis 6 Equivalent

 

The 2nd age is history. 

What follows is my summary 

of what I imagine may have been Heaven’s perspective

of that age, as it prepared for the birth of Jesus, 

The Lord God, as a man. 

 

¹ After King Cyrus released the Babylonian captives, many Jews returned to Judea and began to rebuild Jerusalem, and re-establish Jewish customs across the region. Some men married pagan wives, contrary to The Lord's inter-marriage law. Because the Law was far from their minds, The Lord sent prophets to remind the people of His requirements for them to remain safe in the land. In response to their hard-headedness, The Lord kept His Word to His prophets to send ‘a famine of His Word' across the land. *

² Now as the end of The Lord’s promised years of ‘silence from Heaven’ approached, ALL in Heaven began to activate their assigned roles, written in The Scripture of Truth, concerning the Birth of The Lord as a human man. 

³ Angels dutifully began to orchestrate the assignments of people into their designated roles in the many miraculous events to occur—Roman governors and soldiers assigned to Judea, Mary and Joseph betrothed, degeneration of Temple worship and related affairs, etc.

⁴ And The Lord said, ‘The time for My birth and sacrificial offering are close at hand. For My Word, and that of My prophets across the 2nd age, shall become historical. From then on, many people will come to know I am The Lord.’ 

⁵ The Roman Empire was the giant hegemon in those days—represented by the thighs and legs of iron in the statue about which Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had long ago dreamed. Rome spread its ruthlessness and wickedness across all regions it controlled.

⁶ And the kingdom of satan was greatly stirred, understanding something BIG was about to explode on the Earth. Thus, it magnified its deceptions and temptations across the world to distract from what it perceived Heaven may have been planning. satan remembered The Lord’s word in Eden, ‘…The seed of a woman shall crush your head!’

⁷ Preparing to perform His Father’s will on Earth, The Lord was sustained by The Spirit of Joy for His pending transition from God Almighty, to a fetus in the womb of a virgin.