After reading hundreds of pages of PCN writing, I submit that PCN’s “this world conquest” version of eschatology 1) minimizes or ignores the NT teaching of suffering, 2) downplays the strong NT emphasis on longing for Christ’s end of time return, and 3) diminishes the tremendous reality of Christ’s return at the end of time to make all things new.
There’s a much better biblical, Reformed, and historical option than the novel views of PCN. Herman Ridderbos explained it quite well when reflecting on the already/not yet aspect of Christ’s kingdom. Here’s a great summary of the NT’s teaching about suffering now and glory at Christ’s return. (The emphasis is mine.)
Already in the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount, he [Jesus] says that they [disciples] will be reviled and persecuted like the prophets before them (Matt. 5:11, 12). And this prophecy is found all through the gospel. False prophets in sheep’s clothing, but who are ravening wolves inwardly, will come to them (Matt. 7:11ff). They are sent forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; they must beware of men, for they will be delivered up to the councils, and they will be hated of all men for Jesus’ sake. The same thing that happened to their master will happen to them, for the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord (cf. Matt. 10:16-25).
…But they are not given any promises of Christianizing the whole world, nor are there any theocratic perspectives disclosed. Much rather, the emphasis lies on the necessity of endurance in affliction (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:19); perseverance in prayer in spite of apparent lack of redress (Luke 18:1-8); vigilance (Matt. 24:44; 25:13); faithfulness and sobriety (Luke 21:34ff).
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Shane Lems | “The Church Conquering the World (Or: Significant Weakness of Postmillennial Christian Nationalism) | November 12, 2025
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Shane Lems
Shane Lems is a graduate of Westminster Seminary California and has a DMin from RTS Orlando. He has been a church planter and pastor in the URCNA. Since 2013 he’s been serving as pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Hammond, WI. He is married and has four children. Shane has written numerous articles for Modern Reformation, New Horizons, and other publications. He is also the author of Doctrines of Grace: Student Edition and manages a book blog, The Reformed Reader.
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While I agree with everything Shane says here, what else would one expect nowadays after 100+ years of an inclusive push from mostly mainline protestant denominations to join hands with a progressive secular agenda from the Left?? Everything Machen said in his “Christianity and Liberalism” has come to pass and even succeeded his most pessimistic views.
Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that for every motion there is an equal and opposite one, or something like that. So what we are seeing take place now with these Christian Nationalists is a hard push back against the over-the-top gains from the Left, especially following WW2. Again I ask, what else would you expect?? Right or wrong, it was bound to come about eventually.