A Message to the American Church After the Election


Doug Witherup

On the Monday prior to the 2024 Presidential election, our church gathered for a day of prayer and fasting. In the middle of prayer, I saw the number “312”. I had no idea what it meant, but I wrote it down in my journal with a “?” beside it. Then the Lord started sharing with me the rest of what I will share in this blog. A few days later, I realized what the “312” meant. (It was the number of electoral votes President Trump ended up getting.) I believe the Lord showed me that number as a confirmation that I was hearing Him correctly and that I needed to share the rest of what He was telling me.


Ephesians 6:12


For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.


We do not wrestle against personalities, but against principalities.


Daniel 10:13


But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.


Daniel tells us that some of these principalities and strongholds are established over nations, cities, and regions through the vehicle of governmental systems (“Kingdom”) through the leadership of that government (“prince”). The stronghold was in place, in part, because of its alignment with systems that the government invited in, which allowed partnership, and therefore the establishment of the particular principality.


Strongholds Are Established Through:


  1. Invitation
  2. Permission
  3. Agreement
  4. Patterns


Principalities and strongholds can attach themselves to policy.


Policy either evokes evil or evicts evil.


(“Evoke” means to “invoke a spirit or deity”)


For example, policy has invited in and agreed with strongholds of:


  • Abortion
  • Chronic Disease/Healthcare
  • Lawlessness


But when laws/policies are changed, they serve as eviction notices for strongholds.


But Wait! Before We Celebrate Too Quickly...


There is both a great danger and a great opportunity.


Luke 11


14 Now Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons.”


When strongholds start to break, not everyone is happy.


17 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.”


When strongholds start to break, it stirs up division.


20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.


When strongholds start to break, it is a sign that God’s kingdom is among us.


Now Jesus transitions to a metaphor, but keep in mind the context. The context is demonic activity and strongholds.


21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.


24 When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none, it says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of the person is worse than the first.


Here is the Word to the American Church After the Election:


  1. It is not enough for strongholds to be torn down.
  2. It is not enough to ‘clean house and restore order.’
  3. When strongholds start to break, our work is JUST BEGINNING!


We must put our foot on the gas!


What I Believe the Lord is Calling the American Church to Do:


  1. Be aware of the enemy’s strategy of division and pursue unity.
  2. Establish altars of God’s Presence through prayer and worship.
  3. Establish cities of revival and renewal by taking the fire of the altar to the gates (major areas of influence) of the city.
  4. Be personally committed to the greatest soul-winning effort of the generation.


A Lesson from The Black Widow


In the film, The Black Widow, it follows the storyline of Natasha Romanov and her sister, Yelena Belova. Yelena has been under the stronghold of General Dreykov, who has hijacked the minds of young women and formed them into an evil army. As Yelena is exposed to a red dust, it breaks the power of mind control, in a sense setting her “free” from the stronghold. But she is still in a state of hurt, confusion, loneliness, and is desperately searching for connection, family, and purpose.


There is something wrong with me. An emptiness. I'm just... drifting. And I don't have purpose. —Yelena Belova


Church, this is our greatest threat and greatest opportunity in the coming days. Strongholds are being broken! People will be set “free” from lies of deception and manipulation that they have been under for years. But just because they have been set free doesn’t mean they are saved.


This is our opportunity to step in and lead people to JESUS and to finding the life, family, freedom, and purpose that only He can give.

These have the potential to be the greatest years of harvest for the church.


But if we do not respond, it opens up potential for the enemy to come back in, seven times stronger.


The Choice is Ours.


By Doug Witherup October 28, 2025
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Okay, confession time: the title is a little clickbaity. But I also really do mean it. And I think it matters. Here’s why. First off, let’s clarify: the word eschatology is not in the Bible. That’s not necessarily a problem. After all, neither is the word Trinity , and that doctrine is foundational to the Christian faith. And just because Christmas trees don’t appear in Scripture doesn’t mean having one in your living room is wrong. (Unless it’s February. Then it’s very wrong. Take it down. Seriously.) But back to the point — eschatology , as a term, didn’t exist in the vocabulary of early Christians. It wasn’t introduced until around the 17th century , during the rise of post-Reformation theology in Europe. The word gained real traction in the 19th century , especially among Protestant systematic theologians. Again, the problem isn’t the word’s late arrival. The issue is the meaning it carries. Eschatology = “The Study of the End” The word combines: Eschatos = last, final -logy = the study of So, eschatology quite literally means “the study of last things” or “the end times.” But here’s where I push back: Revelation isn’t the end. It’s not a wrap-up or a closing chapter. It’s a re-beginning. It’s Eden restored. The garden becoming a garden-city. The curse removed. Heaven and earth reunited. It’s not the end — it’s the again . And sure, I realize this might sound like a matter of semantics. But let’s not forget: semantics shape theology, and theology shapes how we live. If my framework is built around endings , I live clinging to this world. I fear death. I avoid Revelation because it seems scary and unfamiliar.
But if my theology is rooted in re-beginnings , then I’m filled with hope. I long for a better land. I ache — in the best way — for the ultimate homecoming. A Better Word and a Better Way: Palingenesiology Let me humbly propose an alternative: palingenesiology. It's built on the Greek word παλιγγενεσία (palingenesia), meaning rebirth or regeneration . Palin = again Genesia = birth or genesis It appears in Matthew 19:28 , where Jesus promises “the renewal of all things.” This word captures not just the personal transformation of salvation, but a cosmic one — the full-scale renewal of everything broken. Palingenesiology = the study of new beginnings.
 The study of Genesis again .
 The study of Eden again . The study of a restored world where Christ is King, the curse is no more, and all things are made new. So Let Me Ask You: Would you rather study a theology of endings that feels fearful and heavy?
Or a theology of re-beginnings that breathes life and hope into every part of your soul? Me?
I’ll take palingenesiology — every time.
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