FOR New Jersey-based Bible prophecy preacher Jonathan Cahn, a Messianic Jew who believes Jesus Christ is the divine savior prophesied in Judaism, the November 5 United States national elections is a historic battle pitting our Lord and the social, political, economic and ideological forces supporting Christian governance and living against opposing sectors, parties, ideas and wherewithal — labeled "antichrist" from the First and Second Letters of St. John.
And for Cahn and many other religious-minded commentators, an October 17 Wisconsin rally remark by the Democratic Party standard bearer, Vice President Kamala Harris, showed which side backed Christ and which didn't. Video footage showed the VP telling two college students to her right off-camera: "Oh, you guys are at the wrong rally." After the crowd laughed and cheered, she added: "No, I think you meant to go to the smaller one down the street," prompting more jeers.
What did the students say to get Harris' reply? They said they shouted at Harris from 25 meters away: "Jesus is Lord. Christ is King." That's what one can make out from the fuzzy audio in some videos. And Cahn, other Christian commentators and Harris critics denounced her response as anti-Christian.
Notably, too, on the very day of her Wisconsin sortie, the VP declined to attend a New York Catholic benefit dinner traditionally graced by presidential candidates, as Trump did. So, is Harris anti-Christ while her rival is pro? Let's see.
'Bring America back to God'
Asked about the US presidential race in mid-September, Pope Francis urged American Catholics: "You must choose the lesser evil. Who is the lesser evil? That lady or that gentleman? I don't know. Everyone in conscience, think and act."
Francis opposes Trump's immigration policies, including erecting a Mexico border wall. The Pope also decries abortion, which Harris and her Democratic Party support, as akin to "assassination."
So, which is the greater evil: detaining and deporting illegal immigrants or giving every woman the right to kill a helpless human being — clearly another person with a totally different genetic code from hers — thriving inside her?
Clamping down on violators of US immigration rules sounds like enforcing the law. Allowing the killing of millions of unborn infants cannot but be murder.
However, heaven's wish list in Tuesday's polls goes far beyond just the lesser evil. For Cahn and other Christian leaders, our Lord wants nothing less than the return of America to God in worship, morals, family life and public policy.
Cahn saw Trump's 2016 surprise victory against Hillary Clinton as prefigured in the overthrow of Israel's queen Jezebel by rough-mannered army chief Jehu, anointed by religious leaders, who then ended decades of idolatrous and immoral ways under Jezebel, her husband and her son.
The best-selling author applying Bible prophecies to our time cites fundamental moral and religious issues dividing Harris and Trump and their parties. The VP and the Democrats favor abortion, gender procedures on children without parental consent, and restrictions on religion and religious speech — all opposed by the Republicans.
"Trump might be the most pro-religion president ever," wrote Marc Thiessen of the Washington Post Writers Group after a year of his presidency. "Trump pledged to defend religious liberty, stand up for unborn life and appoint conservative jurists to the Supreme Court and federal appeals courts. And he has done exactly what he promised. ... Trump has arguably done more in his first year in office to protect life and religious freedom than any modern president."
Besides opposing abortion and defunding US programs promoting it abroad, Trump appointed conservative high court justices crucial to overturning in 2022 the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling against states banning abortion. He boosted funding for religious schools and learning programs as well as clergy education. And he stopped requiring government staff to provide reproductive services contrary to their religion and denying funds and contracts from entities refusing inclusivity policies against their faith.
After the July assassination attempt against Trump, John Henry-Westen, editor of conservative Catholic website Lifesite News, thanked St. Michael for saving the Republican candidate.
"Let's pray for President Donald Trump," Westen urged, "that he embrace the faith, embrace the truth that saved his life, and allow him to work and save America, bring America back to God."
Peace on earth
What about the world? What might heaven want for our earth from the next US leadership?
For starters, peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, as Pope Francis has incessantly sought. Instead, America under President Joe Biden blocks peace in Europe and fuels war in Israel.
In March 2022 — the same month Catholic bishops led by Francis consecrated Russia, Ukraine and the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as she instructed in Fatima in 1917 to obtain global peace — Moscow and Kyiv nearly signed a peace accord.
Invading Russian troops would exit if Ukraine stayed out of the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Ukraine joining the nuclear-armed alliance, warned the Holy Father, would "bring NATO barking at Russia's gate." Western nukes in Ukraine could then hit Moscow in minutes without retaliation.
But the Biden administration offered NATO arms for Ukraine to keep fighting and blocked the Moscow-Kyiv deal, which would have prevented half a million deaths, the exodus of many millions of Ukrainians, the devastation of their cities and the loss of vast territory. Plus, there is the threat of direct NATO-Russia hostilities.
In the Middle East, with Washington's staunch support for Israel despite worldwide opposition, risks rise of a wider war possibly dragging in nuclear superpowers. A new approach is clearly needed to stop trebling casualties and escalating attacks since the Hamas assault in October last year.
And Asia? The Biden agenda is to build up US forces and alliances against China, weaponizing our country and endangering the region's only Christian nation if US-China hostilities erupt. Plainly, with armies and armaments already facing off across the planet, more of the same in Asia is hardly God's agenda.
May America's next president bring faith back to his nation and advance peace in our world. Amen.