While rising empires are often judicious, even rational in their application of armed force for conquest and control of overseas dominions, fading empires are inclined to ill-considered displays of power, dreaming of bold military masterstrokes that would somehow recoup lost prestige and power (Alfred W McCoy)
When an empire falls under a curse, God cannot give it a good emperor. There are three possibilities. God can cause the empire to be invaded by another powerful nation. This usually happens towards the end of the life of the empire. This is what happened to Egypt. Pharaoh was destroyed when it was invaded and defeated by the rising Babylonian empire. God can destroy the empire from within. This is what happened to the Roman Empire. The best that God can to an arrogant empire is give the it an emperor who is mad. That is what happened with Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 5:19). When he exalted himself and demanded worship, God made him go mad and he lived among the donkeys and remained there until he honoured God. This was only possible because a prophet was there to challenge the emperor.
A clown as emperor is a merciful option.
Bill Bonner is a “literary economist”. I admire his ability as a writer. He has some sensible things to say about economics too.
I have just started reading a complimentary copy of his book, The New Empire of Debt, written with his mate Addison Wiggin. This is what he says about empires.
At the peak, the imperial people come to believe that their system is superior, that their values are universal and that their way of life will inevitably dominate the entire world (New Empire p.10).
I have seen some great examples coming out of the Whitehouse recently.
Joe Carney condemning the planned presidential election in Syria.A presidential referendum is a parody of democracy. It would nave not credibility or legitimacy inside Syria or outside Syria.
What about the presidential election being run in Afghanistan under the guns of 60,000 US troops. Is it legitimate, because two warlords from the northern alliance are standing.
Joe Biden sent to Ukraine to scare the Russians.
No nation should stoke instability in its neighbouring country. We call on Russia to stop supporting men hiding behind mask in unmarked uniforms sowing unrest in Eastern Ukraine.
Has he forgotten that neocon Victoria Nulands spend $5 billion dollars trying to change the government in Ukraine, then selected the new president. What is the CIA doing all over the world, not to mention Blackwater (Xe).
John Kerry on Ukraine.
You just don’t in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on completely trumped up pretext in order to assert your interests.
Has he forgotten about Iraq, or Afghanistan.
Looking from the outside these comments seem like a joke, but inside the empire they make sense.
Things that are evil when you do them, are good when we do them.
Here is another imperial delusion
Imperial people believe that their society is so superior, that the rest of the world longs to be just like them, or is inevitably drawn to become like them whether they like it or not.
Bill Bonner gives an example.
The invasion of Iraq was based on the same sort of thinking: that even the grubby desert tribes want to be just like us. All we had to do was get the get the dictator off their banks and the men would start building shopping malls and the women would all start dressing like Britney Spears (New Empire p.10).
The Kingdom of God has come.
Government has shrunk and disappeared. 
The majority of people in the area have chosen to follow Jesus.
Some people are still not Christians and not part of church. They can get the blessing of the Kingdom. However, they can still ignore the kingdom, if they choose. However, they will not get justice and protection from anywhere else.
All the institutions needed to support life are run by people who are submitted to Jesus. So his will done.
Hallelujah.
This full series can be found at Empire to Kingdom.
More expansion occurs as the gospel is proclaimed mightily in the power of the spirit.
The government shrinks as its power collapses.
As the apostles fulfil their mission, the Kingdom of God grows.
New centres of justice are developed. Schools are started. Social welfare increases the acceptance of the gospel.
Once the apostles have been sent out, some of the people in the original church start a business (B). They provide employment for some of the people from the churches they are linked to be the apostles. They also provide work for non-Christians who living in the same area.
The Kingdom continues to expand.
Deacons in the two new churches become highly skilled in caring for poor people who live among them. They take responsibility for caring for all poor people living in the area where the four churches have been established, regardless of whether they are a Christian. They have effectively established an alternative social welfare system (S). This will be really important when state welfare systems collapse.
The churches continue to grow.
When the economy collapses, the police will stop protecting the people, because they cannot afford to maintain patrols. A few of the people in the church start to watch out for their community. They will challenge evil people entering their neighbourhood and pray against them. Their non-violent methods will be more effective than those of the official police. An alternative system of defence is emerging (D).
One of the people in the new church is known for the effective way they home school their children. Other people who are concerned about the failing state schools ask this person if they would teach their children, too. Soon a new school is flourishing in their home (E). A couple of people from outside the church send their children to the new school, because they recognise the quality of the education being provided.
Something else that is very important could begin to happen. In the modern world, the power of governments is weakening and standards of justice are disintegrating, so justice in the state-operated courts is costly, slow, unpredictable and uncertain. People lose all they have fighting to obtain justice.
The new church is modelled on the one that sent it, but reflects the people who belong to it.
A better strategy is to plant churches in neighbourhoods where people are living. This is a neighbourhood church.
If the modern church wants to influence the government, it must send Christians to work within it. This is never very successful, because it is very difficult to work in the state without being corrupted by its power. The principalities and powers are still at work in the state, so those who submit to it are opening themselves up to their influence. The government works by power and control, which tends to undermine the gospel.
Focusing in on one nation, the state dominates the church.
In the last century, secularism set in and the church was squeezed out of its place of privilege.
The state still uses power and control to achieve its purposes and create a good society. The demonic principalities and power still work through the state to accomplish their purposes.
The church and the state both work from the edge of society. The government passes laws and issues decrees. It sends its agents and taxgathers to enforce its power and control.
The church operates in a similar way. People gather in the church to receive guidance and support. They then return to their neighbourhoods to live.
The power of the church gradually weakened. The Reformation divided the church, and nation states began to emerge. The new churches relied on the state for their protection.
The leaders of the church continued to believe that they could control and shape the state. They relied on the power of the state to advance their cause, but the principalities and powers were still active. Power and control were still in ascendance.
The Roman empire eventually withered away, and the church was left in control of the western world. This was Christendom.
This was not ideal, because the church continued to rely on control and power, not on freedom and service.
