Iowa caucuses past, candidates look to the future
Iowa Caucuses top vote getters
Iowans voted in their caucuses last night. Sometimes Iowa matters a little and sometimes a lot in US presidential politics. If Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump had pulled off significant victories last night, their eventual nominations could have appeared to be unstoppable.
But that is not the view after the votes.
Notice the following about the vote:
February 2, 2016
DES MOINES, IOWA—
Senator Ted Cruz defeated billionaire Donald Trump in Iowa’s Republican caucus Monday, while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders ended the Democratic contest in a virtual tie.
Cruz, a conservative lawmaker from Texas, finished with 28 percent of the vote. That is 3½ percentage points better than Trump, the national front-runner.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio finished with 23 percent, making him easily the leader among establishment Republican candidates.
On the Democratic side, the race appeared too close to call. With 94 percent of votes counted, Clinton led Sanders by just two-tenths of a percentage point. …
Cruz, who came away as the night’s clear winner, sounded upbeat as he gave a victory speech in Des Moines.
“Let me first of all say, to God be the glory,” Cruz said to loud cheers. “Tonight, is a victory for the grassroots. Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa and all across this great nation.”
Subdued
Trump appeared more subdued, even while assuring his supporters he was “so happy with the way everything worked out.”
“We will go on to get the Republican nomination. And we will go on to easily beat Hillary or Bernie or whoever the hell they throw up there,” Trump said.
Rubio had his own reason to be optimistic after a better than expected third-place finish. …
“For months they told us we had no chance,” Rubio said. “But tonight here in Iowa, the people of this great state have sent a great message.”
Democrats
In her post-caucus speech, Clinton seemed to acknowledge there is a tough fight ahead with Sanders, the self-proclaimed democratic socialist who has outflanked her to the left on many issues.
“It is rare that we have the opportunity we do now to have a real contest of ideas,” she said. “I am excited about getting into a debate with Senator Sanders about the best way forward for America.”
For his part, Sanders sounded triumphant, as he pumped his fist in the air at a rally in the capital.
“Nine months ago, we came to this beautiful state, we had no political organization, we had no money, we had no name recognition,” he said. …
Next up: New Hampshire
The primary race now heads to New Hampshire, which will vote on February 9. That election will take place with a reduced field of presidential hopefuls.
As the Iowa results were released, GOP contender Mike Huckabee announced on Twitter he is suspending his campaign. Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley is also dropping his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. http://www.voanews.com/content/iowa-caucus-kicks-off-us-election/3172758.html
The avowed socialist Bernie Sanders did well last night. Partially, because a major segment of the USA is getting less concerned about growing governmental involvement in the economy, and partially because of concerns about Hillary Clinton’s integrity and health.
Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio must be quite pleased with last night’s results.
Even though he finished third (and a close third), Marco Rubio gave what sounded like a victory speech to me last night. He is now considered the great “hope” for the more establishment Republicans.
Outsider Donald Trump did not win. That would, by his definition, make him a loser. Yet, that does not eliminate him. The Iowa caucuses possibly could have propelled him to victory, but coming in second in Iowa does not doom one to lose the nomination.
Ted Cruz looked quite happy last night and gave a lengthy victory speech where he put forward various of his ideas about the future. A secular future which he believes will reverse parts of what has happened under the Obama Administration. Ted Cruz is a Southern Baptist. Interestingly, his last name (Cruz) means “cross.”
Notice what Wikipedia reports about Ted Cruz’s positions on “Domestic Issues”:
Domestic affairs
On abortion, Cruz is “strongly pro-life” and “would allow the procedure only when a pregnancy endangers the mother’s life.”[145][146]
Cruz opposes both same-sex marriage and civil unions.[147] He believes that marriage should be legally defined as only “between one man and one woman,”[148] but believes that the legality of same-sex marriage should be left to each state to decide.[149]
In 2015, Cruz voted in favor of the USA Freedom Act, which reauthorized the USA Patriot Act but reformed some of its provisions.[150][151]
Cruz is a proponent of school choice[152] and opposes the Common Core State Standards Initiative.[153] Cruz is a strong critic of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the ACA or “Obamacare”). He has sponsored legislation that would repeal the health care reform law and its amendments in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
Cruz is a gun-rights supporter.[154] Cruz has adopted a “hard-line stance” on immigration issues during the 2014 border crisis[155] and is an opponent of comprehensive immigration reform.[47][155] Cruz advocates for a 500% increase (from 65,000 to 325,000 annually) in skilled foreign workers entering the United States using H-1B visas.[156]
Cruz opposes the legalization of marijuana, but believes it should be decided at the state level. (Wikipedia, viewed 02/02/16).
While Ted Cruz’s social positions on ‘domestic affairs’ tend to be liked by more of the conservative religious people in the USA, the reality is that those same positions offend many. Of course I am anti-abortion and same-sex marriage. But many voters have a different view.
While I would not describe myself as a Ted Cruz supporter, the fact that he has been to willing to have the courage to be separate from the Republican establishment and compromise his principles less than many politicians seems to be a character strength.
As many readers are aware, I have a book related to Hillary Clinton titled: Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States. The subtitle asks “What About Republican Leaders?” which I thought about today because of Ted Cruz. Here is some of what my book says about Republicans:
Some ways in which some Republican may differ from Hillary Clinton (as well as some other successor to Hillary Clinton) could include the amount of defense spending cuts, the amount of debt, the amount of regulations, and how Europe and the Middle East are treated. But even if they make the more biblically moral choices, it will be too little, too late. That will be the case under any U.S.A. leader without real national repentance.The reality is that a future U.S.A. president will likely, at least partially, offend the Europeans once they are strong enough to support the destruction of the U.S.A. (even though the Europeans will, for a while, think that this is not their intent or plan per Isaiah 10:5-11). (Thiel B. Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States. Nazarene Books, p. 96)
Should Ted Cruz actually become President of the USA, look for him to make comments and/or take steps that will result in the Europeans better arming themselves. Look for him to take trade positions that the Europeans will not like.
Many professing Christians, including many who voted for Ted Cruz last night, believe that they need to vote even though that concept is not endorsed in the Bible. But notice two concepts that are:
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).
2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil (Exodus 23:2)
The “lesser of two evils” is still not good.
Neither the current US President nor the leading candidates have called for national repentance and, even if any did, it is not likely that they would call for repentance for Americans to go to the faith of the original Church of God of the New Testament.
Consider the following:
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
National repentance and prayer is what the USA needs or it is biblically-doomed (cf. Habakkuk 2:6-8; Daniel 11:39). The same holds true for its Anglo-Saxon descended allies such as the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Although many sincerely believe that it is their “Christian duty” to vote (even though that “duty” is not specified in the Bible), some seem to have overlooked some prophecies related to political leaders in the end times:
12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.” (Isaiah 3:12)
43 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower (Deuteronomy 28:43).
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:16).
It should be clear that Isaiah prophesied that there would be end time leaders that cause people to err. This is what many politicians, directly and indirectly do.
While it is true, that like the King of Ninevah (Jonah 3:5-6), political leaders could call for national repentance after enough people begin a fast, the reality is that this simply is not something that many of them ever seriously consider, let alone do. It seems that this will not happen (unless perhaps after the prophesied destruction).
Notice also a disturbing comment from a secular source that generally supports democracy:
All political campaigns lie and mislead. We all know that, and that knowledge is “baked into the cake,” so to speak, when it comes to assessing candidates. (Bookman J. GM on Romney: ‘Campaign politics at its cynical worst.’ Atlanta Journal Constitution, October 31, 2012. http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/10/31/gm-on-romney-campaign-politics-at-its-cynical-worst/)
No candidate should lie or mislead. And while I am not agreeing with the statement that they all do, the reality is that it is not godly conduct to lie or mislead, and that not only reflects unfavorably on the candidates, but also the process of modern democracy.
The Bible is clear that humankind, apart from God, cannot solve its problems. Jesus will return and He will be the non-humanly elected King of Kings (Revelation 17:14). Problems all humans have faced will be solved by the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God:
3 “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:3-5)
No matter which politician gets elected in carnal governments, human political leaders will not bring this about (see also Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism?).
If Christians are not supposed to vote, what should we do about leaders?
Pray for them!
Notice what Paul wrote:
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior (1 Tim 2:1-3).
Notice that we are to pray for worldly leaders and those that have authority over us so that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life. Nothing like this is said for voting that many falsely claim is their “Christian” duty–prayer for leaders is.
Irrespective of who becomes the next president, by virtue of timing, that leader will be in a sense, apocalyptic. Meaning that steps will be taken that will lead to the end of the USA by the next president.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
Abortion, the Bible, and a Woman’s Right to Choose Do you know what the Bible teaches on this? Has the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions? What about the real Church of God? Some may also, or instead, wish to view the YouTube video Abortion, the Bible, and US Debt.
Cross-dressing and other assaults against your children. What should you do? Is there an agenda to turn your children and/or grandchildren away from biblical morality and towards practices promoted by homosexuals? What does the Bible teach about cross-dressing? What should parents do? If there is an agenda, what has been going on? There are also two YouTube videos related to this, titled Transgender ‘Woe to those who call evil good’ and Cross dressing and Other Assaults Against Your Children.
The Bible Condemns Homosexuality “Same-sex marriage” for “gays” and lesbians is becoming more acceptable to many. What does the Bible teach about homosexuality? Can homosexuals change? A related video sermon is titled: What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2023 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2016, 2017, or 2018? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2016 o 2017? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives. A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast Will international trade agreements like WTO/TTIP/CETA lead to the fulfillment of end time prophecies concerning the Babylonian Beast power that the Book of Revelation warns against? What does the Bible teach? A related video would be WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.
Hillary Clinton in Prophecy Prophecy, Hillary Clinton? Are there prophecies that Hillary Clinton may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that she has already helped fulfill? Could Hillary Clinton be apocalyptic? Could Hillary Clinton be the final Antichrist? A video of related interest is titled Hillary Clinton and Bible Prophecy.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Women and the New Testament Church What roles did women play in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles? Did Jesus and the Apostle Paul violate Jewish traditions regarding their dealings with women? Do women have any biblical limitations on their role in the Church? Were there female prophets? Do women have any special responsibilities in terms of how they dress? What does the New Testament really teach about women? Here is a related sermon titled: New Testament Women.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States This is a 188 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Hillary Clinton and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also discusses Republicans. The physical book can be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Hillary Clinton Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Hopi, and other America-Related Prophecies? $11.99.
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version of the 188 page print edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition.
 |
Tweet |
|