1) "Repent...so that (ὅπως in order that) the times of refreshing may come...the times of the restoration of all things" Acts 3:19-21. The "age to come" contingent upon the conversion of the Jews (Rom. 11:12, 15). The Jews have to do with the govt of the earth: the church never.

2) The Church will be associated with Christ over the heavenlies (as it is now in spirit Eph. 1:3; 2:6). The age to come will have a heavenly and and earthly side both being headed up in Christ (Eph. 1:10). The eternal state which follows that age also will be an intersection of

3) of heaven and earth but not in connection with Headship as in the millennial kingdom age because the thought is not government then but eternal felicity in glory -- God dwelling with man and having delivered up the kingdom God will be "all in all." These truths have a present

4) practical bearing: when the Church involves itself in the governmental matters of the world as if it is one of the rival parties vying for power down down here; trying to establish righteousness over the unconverted; it will end in apostasy and disaster. The reason is simple:

5) politics (in the liberal democratic sense) is the art of compromise not the perfect or ideal. Various ideologies must sacrifice the perfect for the good. But this is intolerable for the Christian (or for any religious ideal such as Islam which is essentially theocratic). Then

6) Christianity becomes Christianism (as Islamism). This explains the polarization and toxicity of the political scene in the USA beginning with the Moral Majority in the early 80 's. No compromise - but now it's coming to a head in all its ugliness. The political center (which

7) is the genius of "democracy" gradually has become smaller and smaller. Christian elements involved with this are becoming more fanatical delusional, and frustrated. This is dangerous. Political opponents of conservatism become more extreme in reaction. They rightly call out

8) the Christian hypocrisy. This damages the testimony of Christ and perverts the whole idea of the gospel and the Christian mission in the world. The sinners are no longer sinners in need of a Savior they are the evil "left" - the energy put into moral reformation of the world

9) sucks the life out of the gospel. We need to get back to separation from the world as witnesses of the heavenly kingdom which is not of this world. I have no doubt that the Lord will save the elect, build His church -- but for the rest, the apostasy is gaining critical mass.