Charlie Kirk And The Devil’s Christmas

What A Week

I and so many others who have been discussing the assassination of the happy warrior Charlie Kirk. I know that his killing by Tyler Robinson has become a touchstone of controversy in political and even religious circles and for good reason. He was outspoken and didn’t back down to anyone who disagreed with him, but he did so with a civility that few could match. He surely knew this verse from the Bible because he lived it out:

But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully. (1 Peter 3:15, AMPC)

He was a rare commodity in the Christian conservative world and was special if only for his ferocious debates with young people on secular college campuses even worldwide. Rather than give up on the young voters as past political candidates for president of the United States have done, Kirk got in the arena and arguably delivered that demographic to now US President Donald Trump. That alone makes him unique. And as we learn more and more about his assassin it appears that that was the motivation for deciding to kill him. Only God knows the heart, but Robinson’s feelings about Kirk are seen in his social media posts that are being revealed in this new world of online investigation. Even the bullets he used had messages on them surely meant to be seen by Kirk’s supporters.

It’s Personal

As I researched the various and sundry hateful comments I came across an article from NBC News advertised as addressing the toxic rhetoric online mostly thinking it would give me fodder for this podcast. Considering the source I should have known that it would be slanted against conservatives and moved on and I would have been right except that it highlighted the moral blindness to the problem. The lamestream media blames Kirk for his own demise and tries to caution us that his supporters are only going to make things worse. Noting that there were incendiary comments from the liberal side it downplayed them as being insignificant in size and affect. Apparently the writers didn’t see what I saw and certainly haven’t been paying attention for oh, the last 10 years or so of caustic speech aimed at conservatives and conservative Christians. Former president Obama called us people who cling to our religion and guns. Democratic presidential candidate Hilary Clinton labeled us a basket of deplorables and that gaffe may have cost her the 2016 election. But the toxic outpouring of venom over the news of Charlie Kirk’s shooting and death raised the online temperature to a whole new level. And it wasn’t generic either. It was intensely personal. In one article from the Daily Mail we get a small taste of the demonic spewing of rhetoric:

'I'm not saying Charlie Kirk deserved to be shot, but I think enablers to pedophiles should be shot, too.'

One wrote: 'I don’t know I think getting killed by your favorite thing in the world is sweet. It a nice gesture.'

Another said: 'If he doesn't make it at least he died with the love of his life, school shootings.' 

One profile posted Hitler giving Charlie Kirk a tour in hell with a picture from a movie I didn’t recognize. The Hitler reference was used over and over again with another profile saying this about him: And you know what kind of Nazi is the best Nazi? A dead one. She was happy that Kirk was no longer in this world. The worst part of all these posts is that they are evidence of hearts and minds that are deadly serious about them. And of course the millions of likes they received.

The Devil’s Christmas

I know the moment is still fresh in many people’s minds, mine included, but I asked God if the Bible had any example of the vitriol surrounding Kirk’s death I watched on social media as the news of the shooting spread. He told me three words. Now, you may wonder what that means, but to me I knew exactly what He was telling me. You see growing up in a church where the senior pastor taught on Bible prophecy. I was weaned on the topic in my early years of being a Christian. And I had a natural bent for it as seen by the first book of the Bible I read was the book of Revelation. This coupled with my pastor being clever in his titles created my fascination with learning all I could about the end of the end times and the last of the last days. One of those sermons was one he titled “The Devil’s Christmas” and really, the longer I study the basis for that unique title and term it does fit. Rather than keep teasing you, here's the portion of Scripture that formed the basis for it:

And I will give power to my two witnesses to prophesy 1,260 days clothed in sackcloth.”

4 These two prophets are the two olive trees, and two candlesticks standing before the God of all the earth. 5 Anyone trying to harm them will be killed by bursts of fire shooting from their mouths. 6 They have power to shut the skies so that no rain will fall during the three and a half years they prophesy, and to turn rivers and oceans to blood, and to send every kind of plague upon the earth as often as they wish.

7 When they complete the three and a half years of their solemn testimony, the tyrant who comes out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them and conquer and kill them; 8-9 and for three and a half days their bodies will be exposed in the streets of Jerusalem (the city fittingly described as “Sodom” or “Egypt”)—the very place where their Lord was crucified. No one will be allowed to bury them, and people from many nations will crowd around to gaze at them. 10 And there will be a worldwide holiday—people everywhere will rejoice and give presents to each other and throw parties to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them so much!

11 But after three and a half days, the spirit of life from God will enter them, and they will stand up! And great fear will fall on everyone. 12 Then a loud voice will shout from heaven, “Come up!” And they will rise to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watch.13 The same hour there will be a terrible earthquake that levels a tenth of the city, leaving 7,000 dead. Then everyone left will, in their terror, give glory to the God of heaven. (Rev 11:3-13, TLB)

If you haven’t connected the dots the key verse is verse 10:

And there will be a worldwide holiday—people everywhere will rejoice and give presents to each other and throw parties to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them so much!

And when you think about it the celebration of the death of these two supernatural men does seem like a devilish Christmas celebration. As I prayed and ruminated over the events of that fateful day it was like God wanted me to realize that the same spirit behind the prophetic future killings is at work today.

A Solemn Mission

For Kirk’s closest friends it is a hard thing to go through. One podcaster cancelled her podcast simply saying No show today because I am feeling deeply angry it’s personal. I could give you hundreds of examples of the angst felt by Kirk’s untimely death. The raw video of the moment he was shot still haunts me to this day. As I talked to people in my circle they were all devastated. Although I’m not trying to make a direct correlation to the death of the two witnesses, the spirit behind it and the subsequent actions taken are eerily prescient. The haters in the Tribulation despised these two men because their words cut them to the quick. After living with them for 3 ½ years they were deliriously excited when they were assassinated by none other than the Antichrist himself. And all because he loathed their mission and what they stood for. I like how a commentary from the Bible Hub describes it:

Their mission is to bear witness to God's truth and to call the world to repentance during a time of great tribulation. They are granted the power to perform miraculous signs, such as shutting the sky to prevent rain, turning waters into blood, and striking the earth with plagues (Revelation 11:6). These acts serve as both a testament to their divine authority and a means of judgment against a rebellious world.

Again, please know I’m not saying that Kirk is one of those two witnesses and he would blush if I did. But I just want us to recognize the spirit of antichrist that emboldened these heartless responses to his death is no accident at all. The denizens of hell didn’t like what Kirk was doing and the stands he was taking. He was taking away his own soldiers and reaching young people he felt were solidly in his camp. And his success made him a target. But his story won’t end. Satan always overplays his hand because the groundswell of love and devotion to keep fighting the good fight is much like what will happen in the future:

But after three and a half days, the spirit of life from God will enter them, and they will stand up! And great fear will fall on everyone. 12 Then a loud voice will shout from heaven, “Come up!” And they will rise to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watch.13 The same hour there will be a terrible earthquake that levels a tenth of the city, leaving 7,000 dead. Then everyone left will, in their terror, give glory to the God of heaven. (Rev 11:11-13, TLB)

Kirk won’t come back to life, but notice that just like there will be a huge earthquake occurring in the future, I envision a massive earthquake happening in the movement he started and you can already see it happening now. If we want to honor the life of Charlie Kirk then we need to ask God how, whether it is finding a cause to support and champion or continuing to minister in one we’re already involved with. I see Kirk as a martyr and his blood is watering the seeds of God’s work even now.