Far-right group that calls Biden 'the antichrist' is now the 'center of gravity' in evangelicalism

05 February 2024

Although former President Donald Trump has plenty of critics within Christianity — from President Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, to Rev. Raphael Warnock (a Democratic U.S. senator in Georgia) and MSNBC's Rev. Al Sharpton — he continues to enjoy considerable popularity among far-right white evangelicals, including a group of Pentecostal Christian nationalists who are touring in support of his 2024 reelection campaign.

The Pentecostals, according to Religion News' Steve Rabey, are calling their pro-Trump activities the FlashPoint LIVE Rescue America Tour.

Rabey reports, "The personalities and themes of the tour are borrowed from FlashPoint, a Christian current-events program that appears on the VICTORY television channel, owned by controversial Texas televangelist Kenneth Copeland. Hosted by Gene Bailey, a pastor at Copeland's Eagle Mountain International Church, the show, which debuted in 2022, has become a waypoint for established and rising conservative stars. Trump has appeared on the show six times, and viewers can expect to see former Trump White House (Chief) Strategist Steve Bannon, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser Gen. Michael Flynn, as well as Senators Josh Hawley and Rand Paul and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert."

According to Rabey, FlashPoint accepts certain claims as "bedrock truths"— including "Donald Trump is the U.S. president, and those who persecute him face death. Joe Biden, the Antichrist, should be in prison for treason. Christians should rule over unbelievers."

Journalist Elle Hardy, author of the 2022 book, "Beyond Belief: How Pentecostal Christianity Is Taking Over the World," notes that Pentecostals have become increasingly influential among evangelicals.

Hardy told Religion News, "Pentecostals and charismatics have become the center of gravity in the wider evangelical movement. It's not that they were especially late to evangelical politics, it's that they've become so influential in these circles that they can now speak with a much louder voice."

Read Religion News' full report at this link.

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