The beginning of a new year is a favorite time for people to make New Year’s resolutions. I wonder how many of those resolutions have already been broken? New Year is also a time when people make predictions, even prophecies, about the ‘Year Ahead’ regarding what will happen or what this new year will bring. I, too, have been reflecting on what might be ahead of us as a nation in the world today (bearing in mind that this Langstaff Letter is written from the perspective of America).
In this Langstaff Letter, I want to look at the new year from a different perspective, considering what some other people, including some secular commentators, are saying may happen in 2024. And then, in the next Langstaff Letter, I will share some of my own thoughts and ideas on the year ahead.
For a number of years, I have considered Isaiah 60:1-2 as a summary of what is happening in the world today. These verses state,
“Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.”
In other words, even though the world is going to get darker and darker, in the midst of it all, a light will shine, and the glory of the Lord will be seen.
THE WORLD WILL GET DARKER
Most people, when pressed to think about it, would agree that the world is getting darker, what with COVID, moral decline, wars, economic issues, etc. Let’s take a look at some things that are happening.
- A REVOLUTION
Historian Davis Hanson, a regular contributor on TV, recently gave the current climate in the United States in an interview with Tucker Carlson, stating, “We’re in the middle of a cultural, economic, political revolution,” but “we think that we’re still playing within the same sidelines or parameters, and we’re not. Everything’s under negotiation.”
Hanson argues that the legal actions against Trump are politically motivated and biased and designed to send a message to the half of America that will not simply ‘comply’:
“The idea is now that we now have the power to do this, and because we have the power to do it, it’s moral and right, and if you don’t like it, what are you doing to do about it?”
Finally, Hanson issues a call to action of sorts, noting that “There are legitimate efforts to rectify and stop this madness and let’s see what happens in 2024.”
“You need leaders who will tell people we are in a Jacobin takeover of this country, and the old get along at any cost does not work,” Hanson said.
“I hope everybody can keep their head because I think the next 12 to 18 months are going to be the most explosive in our history since the Great Depression” (zerohedge.com).
- BRINK OF DESTRUCTION
David Horwitz, an American conservative writer and activist, has an interesting background. Sixty years ago, he was a ‘Marxist revolutionary’ bent on bringing America, as we know it, to an end. Hortwitz comments, “What we see today didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of a movement that began with the Communist revolution in Russia and has been 100 years in the making.” He goes on to connect it with Obama in modern times.
“When you think of “the enemy within” you may think of Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi or even Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez…and you wouldn’t be wrong.
But make no mistake: The real mastermind is Barack Obama. Barack Obama laid the groundwork for everything we’ve seen since 2020 back in 2008. Barack Obama led the destruction of our cities, cozying up to Black Lives Matter radicals and siding with criminals over police upholding the rule of law. Barack Obama championed the castration of our military, making us a laughingstock on the world stage. And Barack Obama was the true architect behind the bogus Russian collusion witch hunt.
The devastation and destruction we see today has been over a decade in the making – but most of the American people have no clue what we’re up against.”
Now, you may not agree with Hortwitz’s analysis of our present situation, but nonetheless, this is how many people feel (i.e., we are on the brink of a disaster). You can read more in Hortwitz’s book ‘he Enemy Within: How a Totalitarian Movement Is Destroying America.’
- PERSECUTION AND ANTISEMITISM
Michele Bachman, who was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives(2007 – 2016) and is now Dean of Robertson School of Government at Regent University, recently wrote an article for Decision Magazine addressing Israel, the rise of Antisemitism, and the attack by Hamas on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023. Bachman pointed out, “The hatred of Jews is as old as Satan’s hatred and jealousy of God” (decisionmagazine.com).
The war in Gaza is not over, and the support of Israel by the United States is being challenged, resulting in ongoing protests. But Christians are and will also face increasing opposition and persecution in one way or another, including in court cases. And in countries overseas, opposition and persecution are so much worse, as people are often martyred. Be assured persecution will increase for the Jews and Bible-believing Christians.
- ECONOMY
Although there are some positive signs that the U.S. economy is improving and that we seem to be avoiding the recession that many commentators predicted, nonetheless, there are still predictions of economic problems in 2024 and beyond. One such person, Harry Dent, founder of HS Dent Investments, made predictions about this happening in 2023 but declared that the timing was off. Again, not all people agree with his assessment.
“The ‘everything bubble’ could finally burst in 2024, warned Harry Dent, founder of HS Dent, who forecasts a meltdown in all assets except one.
Bubbles are dangerous because the economy has been overstimulated, and once assets start to sell off, the move down will happen fast, Dent told Michelle Makori, Lead Anchor and Editor-in-Chief at Kitco News.
“We won’t know until the second half of this year whether we’ll be able to get through this. And the problem is that things could be happening very fast by then,” he said. “Bubbles crash because they go to such extremes by nature – when people are just investing in things because they’re going up”(kitco.com).
America has over 34 trillion dollars in debt, and the interest on the national debt is more than our defense budget(usdebtclock.org).
- GLOBALISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE
There will also be a rise in globalism in the coming year. Many people are not aware, but this has been going on for a number of years. In February 2024, a World Government Conference is being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with the theme of ‘Shaping our Governments.’ There is a conflict between nationalism and globalism.
Alongside this is the issue of ‘climate change.’ There is too much to cover in this Langstaff Letter other than simply to say ‘climate change’ is linked to globalism, seeking to bring more and more people under government control.
- MORAL ISSUES
Issues that are before us both as individuals and as a country will continue in 2024, such as abortion, especially in light of the Supreme Court Decision regarding Roe vs. Wade, is an issue that divides this country. There are also other issues to be dealt with, many of which involve the church and how it relates to the moral issues in our society. For example, the Methodist church has lost 25% of its congregations over issues such as gay marriage. How will the church continue to deal with moral issues now that the majority of Americans accept gay marriage as legitimate?
Then there is the issue of transgenderism, involving the question of whether minors should be allowed to change their sexual orientation without their parent’s knowledge or consent. We do not know the long-term effects that this could have on a person’s body.
Undoubtedly, you can think of other moral issues that are before us. Although these issues would benefit from the church having a united voice speaking the truth, this is unlikely. Consider the recent word from the Pope, with his approval of the priest’s blessing of people involved in gay marriage. We are in a post-Christian era.
- WAR AND IMMIGRATION
It is probable that the Ukraine war will linger on and that there will be continual conflict in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians. There is an ongoing push by many countries for what is called a ‘two-state solution, which, in my opinion, would never work.
Some people hope that the immigration of illegal immigrants will be solved before the 2024 Presidential Elections, as this crisis has become a major political problem. But I doubt it will be fixed.
- OTHER ISSUES
We could go on and on, looking at other issues that the nation is facing, such as crime, homelessness, the presidential election, issues relating to school and education, or the decline in church attendance. The end result of all this is that America has become a very divided country with very little common ground to help it come together again.
Now, that is enough bad news, so in the next Langstaff Letter, I will consider the good news, the other side. Yes, the world is getting darker, but a light will shine, and the glory of the Lord will be seen.
Note – I would be glad to hear what you have to say about where you think we are heading as a nation, so comment below or send me an email (Kairosmin@aol.com).
RESOURCES
https://decisionmagazine.com/the-satanic-roots-of-antisemitism/
Kairos Ministries 
Very much appreciate your bold truth telling. We are in a very precarious place in the natural but very secure in God’s kingdom.