We are apt to believe the hype. Churches are being planted at unprecedented rates. Nations culturally “closed” to the gospel are now bursting with new believers. Revival is breaking out amongst the younger generations. Rock stars and “Influencers” are turning to Christ. Technology, the internet and digital age have magically multiplied our evangelistic efforts and effectiveness. It’s all stellar, spectacular and starry-eyed spiritual success. It seems the “State of the Church” report just couldn’t be better. I just don’t believe any of it.

What’s happening on the ground tells a far different story. Governments are cracking down on Christianity like never before. The Barometer of Oppression rises and falls first in “third world” countries. What is coming Globally is first beta-tested in “undeveloped” parts of the world. Off the grid. Far away from prying eyes and public scrutiny. And what we see is nothing less than Spiritual Totalitarianism. Calling such nations “democracies” is mere word play. Typically a few hundred people run nations of hundreds of millions. And what such Tyrants are doing there should shake us to our knees. Forget the obviously engineered poverty, manufactured famines and carefully orchestrated conflicts. Let’s limit ourselves to the overt oppression of Christianity. The tactics are utterly evil. The reports are radical. The statistics stunning. Persecution of the Church is here. And it has come much less like a boisterous bully, but more like an “angel of light”.

The Word of God is infinitely clear. We are headed to a “time of trouble such as never was” (Dan 12.1). We’d have to put our heads in spiritual sand to not recognize it has begun. More Christians have died for their faith over the last 100 years than in all prior centuries since Jesus’ time combined. Global Strategic Alliance reports the universal persecuted church had more than 26 million documented cases of martyrdom in the 20th century alone, more than in the previous 1,900 years combined. But the bloodbath is not the pointy end of the spear. It is much more cunning than that. The most effective method is State Regulations. That is, using legislative means to suppress the proclamation, promotion and practice of biblical Christianity. “Regulate, Mandate, Suffocate” is the motto of those manhandling the Church. “Emergency Powers” have been the most obvious weapon to cull and close churches. But the most surreptitious tactic is often less obvious: “Registration”.

Understandably governments require the official Registration of clergy, churches and ministries to operate. In times past, such Registrations were put in place to protect the people from nefarious schemes and scams. Now such Regulations are used for one primary purpose: State Control of Churches. Which should not surprise us. Afterall, the Word of God has clearly indicated that a One-World Religion will reign in the End Times. This does not mean everyone will be practicing one religion. Rather, it portends something more insidious: Global State Control of all Religions. One “Council.” One “Regulator.” One Arbiter of “Who” and “What” is permitted or not. Deciding not only “Who” can practice their “faith”, but also “What” their doctrine and practices can and cannot be. Hiding behind virtue signaling “protective measures”, the public swallows an increasing measure of laws that shut out Christ and insert State-approved Religion. “Hate speech”, “Gender Equality”, “Compassionate Closures”, “Community Standards”, “Right to Choose”, “Human Rights”, “Children’s Rights”, “Gender Discrimination”, “Indigenous Religions Affirmation”, “Proselyting Protections” are just a few of the cunning legislative and executive tactics systematically stamping out Christianity.

Which bring us to the point: Get Ready! The day is not coming. It’s here! The “State Church” is alive and well.

Again, first implemented unabashedly in third world countries. All around the world Slum Pastors cannot get licensed...unless they come under prominent “Bishops” aligned with the local governments. “Independent” Churches cannot be registered unless they officially associate themselves with a select number of “acceptable” denominations. Intra-Church “Councils”, used to “propose” regulations to the governments, are nothing more than proxies of the governments. Suffice it to say, the originators, orchestrators and administrators of these oppressive tactics are “Spiritual Community Leaders” on government payroll. Handpicked, not elected. The process dictatorial, not democratic. The outcomes are disastrous.

This past month, in an unspecified country, upcoming elections are exposing the inevitable agenda of the next administration. And it’s not boding well for the real Church... but very well for the State Church. A prominent candidate spoke at the national “Church Council” meeting. Proudly and publicly promoting “massive regulations of churches in the country which might see many small churches to be closed down”. Such a bold promotion of heavy-handed State Control of Churches is utterly stunning. In election years, most politicians are fawning before the thousands of slum pastors to gain millions of votes. Apparently, those votes are not necessary to ensure victory.

Which begs the question: “What are we to do”? First and foremost, understand that things are not falling apart. They are falling into place.

God has ordained that all things are moving to His Conclusion. And the way this will happen is quite daunting. One-World Government, One-World Economy and a One-World Religion system. To spend our efforts fighting this inevitability is not only senseless, it would actually be in opposition to God’s clearly stated agenda.

The Pastors and Ministry Leaders at the Bible Schools understand this. Because they have labored, prayed and mediated on the Word of God...the “whole counsel of God.” Verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book. By doing so, they have come not only to understand the Will and Ways of God, but also to embrace them. To this extent, they accept the downward spiral into a Totalitarian State Religious System. But they don’t stand idly by. Much the opposite.

We are called to operate in Reality, not Fantasy. We have much to Do...and quickly!

It might be well to remember “Who” the perpetrator is. It is not Politicians, Pundits and Persecutors. The “Enemy” is not a neighbor or a politician, but rather the “Enemy of our Soul,” Satan himself. He and his minions. And this simple Truth should infiltrate all that we Do under the reality of State Church. Ours is not to fight in the flesh, but rather labor in Intercession above all else...

We called not only to Pray, but fully Function, in the excited anticipation of the Conclusion of all things. And in this regard there is much to Do. The final Command of Christ at the end of His First Coming, was to launch our mission until His Second...

We have no time to be focused on what the Kingdoms of this World are doing. We belong to another Kingdom. We serve another King. And He has prescribed us a Mission of Biblical proportions: Make Disciples of Jesus Christ. We do that the DSM Bible Institutes. This semester we have the largest enrollment in our 20 year history: 295 Pastors and Ministry Leaders. Soldiers in the Lord’s Army. Not only Disciples themselves...but now becoming Disciple-makers.

Our motto at the Bible Schools sums it up...

“Eyes on Him...and hands on the Plow”.