Strategic Implications of American Millennialism

<p>Since the beginning of the Republic various forms of millennial religious doctrines of which dispensational pre-millennialism is the most recent have shaped U.S. national security strategy. As the dominant form of millennialism in the U.S. evolves it drives changes in U.S. security policy and subsequent commitment of the instruments of national power. Millennial ideas contribute to a common American understanding of international relations that guide our thinking irrespective of individual religious or political affiliation. Millennialism has great explanatory value significant policy implications and creates potential vulnerabilities that adversaries may exploit. In the simplest usage of the word millennialism refers to any belief system religious or secular which anticipates a purification of society or the world through dramatic and sweeping change. In the U.S. today the most well-known and influential form of millennialism is a religious variant known in formal theological parlance as dispensational pre-millennialism. This contemporary form of millennialism took shape during the 1970s and has significantly shaped current U.S. security policy. Dispensational pre-millennialism is loosely based on depictions of battle between the forces of good and evil in the biblical Book of Revelation. In the U.S. dispensational pre-millennialism contends that in the very near future Jesus Christ will 'rapture' or remove his church from the Earth. A period of intense tribulations and battles will follow culminating with a cataclysmic defeat of Satan. Jesus would then establish an earthly kingdom for 1000 years - the millennium. Today the theological doctrines of dispensational pre-millennialism contribute significantly to American culture. This has resulted in a pervasive sense of determinism and pessimism that has significant implications for U.S. security policy around the world. Military leaders planners and strategists require greater understanding of Ameri</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>