What Is the New Apostolic Reformation?
And how is it different from what we've already learned about Christian Nationalism? (Scroll to the end to listen)
If you’re new here, welcome. Since we have many new subscribers, I’m doing a recap of Christian Nationalism with some added coverage on the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). I will explain how NAR is more radical than the form of Christian Nationalism in which I was indoctrinated, and I will show what that could mean for YOU.
I spent my first three decades immersed in Christian Nationalism. It took almost two decades to untangle this religious indoctrination.
One of my earliest newsletters outlined what Christian Nationalism is. New subscribers can read its seven characteristics in the newsletter below.
I’ve written about how Christian Nationalists feel compelled to force everyone to live by their interpretation of the Bible because of their own “wrong” or “sinful” urges. To control themselves and their urges, they expect all people to live by their strict definition of faith and morality, whether society agrees or not.
In one important newsletter, I wrote about how Christian Nationalists view sexual immorality. They believe God orders them to root out and punish any behavior they deem to be sexual immorality in society.
As Roger Severino wrote in the Health and Human Services section of Project 2025, he and other radicalized Christian Nationalists believe it goes against their faith to “live and let live.”
A big part of my Christian Nationalist indoctrination revolved around the end of the world. My pastor firmly believed we are living in the last days of the earth. I was taught that Jesus will rapture the “true believers” from society. (This is where the streaming series “The Holdovers” got its premise.)
Once God removes Christians from society, chaos will lead to the seven-year Great Tribulation, a one-world government led by the Anti-Christ, and the final Battle of Armageddon. Jesus will descend from heaven and defeat the Anti-Christ, send all unbelievers to hell, and create a new earth for his faithful. This view of the end times is called premillennialism.
This is why many Christian Nationalists don’t believe in climate change. Why preserve the earth for future generations when we’re living in earth’s last days?
Today, I explain how the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) differs in this view of the end times. While I could do a deep dive into what the NAR is, readers can find an excellent journalistic essay HERE. It goes into apostles, the Seven Mountain Mandate, and much more.
The Alabama IVF ruling is a recent example of the New Apostolic Reformation in action. Alabama Chief Justice Tom Parker used NAR language in his ruling. He has openly discussed the importance of the Seven Mountain Mandate with known NAR apostles.
The “Appeal to Heaven” flag recently flown by Samuel Alito is also associated with NAR. While House Speaker Mike Johnson has never publicly acknowledged ties to NAR, he also displays the “Appeal to Heaven” flag outside his Capitol Hill office.
Such positions of leadership and influence are important for NAR members, because they believe Jesus cannot return until they transform the earth into the Kingdom of God. C. Peter Wagner coined the term “victorious eschatology.” Here’s what it means:
In terms of eschatology—or End Times beliefs—the trend has been to move away from premillennialism, which generally emphasizes the idea that Jesus’ return precedes the establishment of his physical kingdom on Earth for a thousand-year reign, and towards what Wagner and others call a “victorious eschatology,” which promotes the idea that before the return of Jesus, the Kingdom of God will grow and fill the Earth, as the Church rises in glory, unity and maturity. For Wagner, “victorious eschatology fits dominion theology like a hand in a glove.” It’s the “primacy” of the cultural (or dominion) mandate over evangelism. Wagner believed in the total and complete victory of Christianity for eternity—as do most in the NAR and many beyond as well.
NAR members are schooled to hide in plain sight until they achieve the mountaintop, where they can use their power to force society to adhere to their interpretation of the Bible. Thus they will “cleanse” their mountain, bringing earth closer to the Kingdom of God.
It isn’t hard to see why NAR adherents want to do away with democracy. They envision a world - not only a United States, but a WORLD - where their version of Christianity and their interpretation of the Bible exert total dominion and control.
NAR members don’t care whether people believe their faith or share their views. All of society must be forced to live by NAR directives and dogma, or the Kingdom of God will not grow to fill the earth, and Jesus will not return.
This difference between premillennialism and victorious eschatology provides a window into why Christo-fascist Republicans are attacking freedoms on multiple fronts. They no longer believe in winning hearts and minds. For their faith to be proven “true,” they must crush all who refuse to live by NAR rules.
Because NAR adherents are reticent to admit their ties to the movement, it isn’t wise to ask political candidates about these connections. But my newsletters on how to detect Christian Nationalist political candidates will still be useful. I include links to both below.
Whether the Christian Nationalism is driven by Premillennialism or the New Apostolic Reformation’s victorious eschatology, what could it mean for YOU?
You or your loved ones could be forced to live by the rules of Christianity, even if you adhere to another faith or don’t currently practice faith.
You or someone you love could be compelled to live in a world where there is no meaningful medical research, no contraception, no divorce, forced marriage, and no women working outside the home.
If you’re female, you could lose the right to vote, own property, have your own passport apart from your husband or other male authority, have a bank account, or access credit. Of course, if you become a true female apostle, you could see some of those privileges restored, provided Christian Nationalist men agree.
If you fall on hard times, your only choice for welfare assistance could be a government-mandated religious congregation who will force you to live by their rules in exchange for food, clothing, shelter, and more.
If you’re LGBTQIA+ or transgender, you will not be able to live openly as yourself without fear of criminal charges.
If you have an abortion (or a miscarriage), you could be charged with a felony and be given the death penalty. (Such laws have already been proposed in several red states.)
Pornography and sexual immorality will be anything that prevents God’s kingdom on earth. Penalties for engaging in any behavior an NAR member considers pornographic or sexually immoral could lead to felony charges and jail time. (We already saw this in our deep dive into Oklahoma’s proposed anti-porn legislation.)
"...radicalized Christian Nationalists believe it goes against their faith to 'live and let live.'" This could be the sub-header of your substack...and it is the mantra that those who are not paying attention need to be hearing over and over again. I think modern Americans have become so accustomed to the freedom to live as you see fit as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, that they can't really imagine a whole cadre of their fellow citizens have no intention to live and let live.
Not sure how to explain Christian Nationalism to someone? Use this free teleprompter app with ten suggestions from Andra. You don't have to instal any software and it's there when you need it, or share the teleprompter with a friend. You can use it on your phone and adjust the font size and scroll speed to your preference.
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/03/07/how-to-unmask-christian-nationalists-pushing-project-2025/