Wesley,
Yes, I think I understand that you are of the dispensational pre-millenial school of eschatology (Please correct me if I am wrong. I hate it when people incorrectly label me.) with a particular emphasis on the idea that ALL nations will be against the church in the end. Thus, in your view, ultimately, all national governments will fail and will be used by satan to persecute the church. You believe that the world will continue to worsen until finally every single earthly authority will be under satan's immediate command (albeit for God's glory, ultimately). You believe that this decay of all authorities (except the church) into evil is inevitable because of your eschatological views. Now, let me quote you again from a prior post:
"My point is this, the United States is a world government. It will fail one day. I do not choose the side of the Union or the Confederacy."
From your perspective, the discussion of the War for Southern Independence is really not so important because you believe that all governments must eventually fail, including the U.S. So, why spend all this time looking into this if we cannot change the outcome anyways? Thus, your eschatological presuppositions determined your views on the War of Northern Aggression before you opened a single history book. This is true for all of us. Our presuppositions determine our conclusions.
Now, I have the opposite view of the future. The end of Psalm 2 says:
7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall breakthem with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
"The nations" shall belong to the Lord Jesus. And the pre-millennial idea that this will occur only after his earthly kingdom is established is lacking. What "nations" will there be after the supposed Armageddon? None. Furthermore, look at Psalm 110
110:1 The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
2 The Lord sends forth from Zion
your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!
3 Your people will offer themselves freely
on the day of your power,
in holy garments;
from the womb of the morning,
the dew of your youth will be yours.
4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will execute judgment among the nations,
filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs
over the wide earth.
7 He will drink from the brook by the way;
therefore he will lift up his head.
Note the phrase "until I make your enemies your footstool." Jesus shall reign over His Kingdom from His throne in heaven until all his enemies are subdued, here on earth, in history. This will be accomplished via the preaching of the gospel (His "mighty scepter") by His church ("sends forth from Zion"). Thus, you see, Wesley, I believe that Genesis 1:28 will actually be accomplished in history by God's power working through His church via His Spirit and His Word. I do not believe that the fall will undo God's intitial command and plan for this earth. I believe the power and grace of Christ will perform God's initial plan and desire, despite satan, sin and this evil world. The Great Commission is just the restated command of Genesis 1:28 for a fallen world. "Lord, how can we be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and take dominion over it, now that it is so wicked and fallen and apparently hopeless??!!" Jesus answers this with His life, His death, His resurrection, His Great Commission and His glorious ascension and enthronement at the right Hand of God the Father.
So, when I look back on the WNA, I see a great punishment of God on this nation (North and South) because of many disobediences, including the national sin of slavery. But, I also see a devastating loss in the progression of nations being subdued under the gospel. I believe we are to strive to bring not only our personal lives under the dominion of God's Word, but every area of life, be it church, civil, political, economic, etc.
Clear as mud?
The existence of God is proven by the impossibility of the opposite. GB