Introduction
How many times in the past few years have we heard the expression, “Drain the Swamp,” especially since Donald J. Trump began campaigning for the office of POTUS and was subsequently elected? It became a hue and cry demand from his political base, then it became more of a slogan and byword than an actual demand for action. The Republican base has allowed the demand to die down somewhat, but it is still heard regularly at conservative political rallies. But what does that demand actually mean? The first step is to define the swamp.
The Physical / Natural Swamp
One must understand what a natural swamp is to better understand the demand to drain the swamp being mentioned in that slogan. Anyone who has driven past, or even worse, wandered into a swamp knows exactly what it is, but the common definition of a swamp is ‘a bog, marsh or wetland, partially or completely covered with either fresh or salt water, dominated by woody vegetation and usually unfit for cultivation.’ Even though a natural swamp may contain many beneficial plants and animals that have adapted to the swampy conditions, it is still considered by most people to be an unpleasant place. But, just because a natural swamp is a place that may make a human uncomfortable does not make it evil; it simply makes it unpleasant, and indeed, for the person who is unskilled, a dangerous place.
Most people who have not been raised near a natural swamp and who are thoroughly unfamiliar with it would not likely be found wading through one. The water, not having a natural flow, is mostly stagnant and thick with algae and other unattractive growth. And some, if not most, of the creatures encountered there can be frightening and downright dangerous, like alligators or venomous snakes, not to mention numerous parasites and harmful bacteria. Prudent people would naturally avoid a swamp altogether and, unless a dangerous swamp critter left the swamp and attacked people some distance away from it, they would likely not give the existence of swamps a second thought.
Since swamps are usually naturally-occurring environments that may provide many benefits to an ecosystem, draining them is not usually a good idea if it can be avoided. But when draining takes place, most environmentalists recommend removing as many of the swamp critters as possible and relocating them to another swamp. With the swamp being drained, the likelihood that the former inhabitants would return is very low. When the swampy environment disappears, so do the critters that love, and need, the swamp. If the swamp is not posing any problem other than being unpleasant, and if that environment is abhorrent to you, simply do not go into the swamp.
The DC Swamp / The ‘Culture’ of ‘the Swamp’
The expression we’ve heard so often recently has nothing to do with draining a natural, physical swamp, so let’s delve into the real meaning of the expression.
The slogan refers to what has become known as the ‘DC Swamp,’ what I call ‘the political swamp’; it is not a natural, physical swamp, but is actually the corrupt political environment that encourages and invites the type of critter that feeds on, and propagates, corruption. Unlike the physical swamp, the environment of the spiritual swamp does have the power to bring great harm even to those who do not go into it since the decisions made by the corrupt dwellers of the swamp reach well outside the boundaries of it.
The DC swamp, like all political swamps in the world, is a political, spiritual swamp, controlled by evil spiritual forces and inhabited by immoral, natural people who have allowed themselves to become controlled to some extent by those evil, spiritual forces. The DC Swamp is made up of several groups including the US Congress, the presidency, the judiciary and the Intelligence agencies, commonly called the Deep State. The environment (the culture) that defines this particular swamp is one of greed for power, money and control. Such is the very nature of politics in our country, and indeed, the world.
Just what is that environment? It is a culture of greed and self-aggrandizement, a culture that is addictive because of the rewards it offers to those who so eagerly jump into the swamp, follow the leading of the senior critters, and learn how to use it to become rich beyond imagination. Granted, there may actually be a few representatives who enter those offices with the best of intentions, with some motivation to ‘make things better’ for their constituents. However, the evil influence of power, easy money, recognition, and fame is usually too much for any man or woman to resist.
It is rare for anyone having served more than one term in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives to have a net worth smaller than when they first arrived there. It is a mystery, indeed, what might seem to be a ‘miracle’ that representatives, earning a mere $174,000 per year, can leave that illustrious body after several terms as millionaires or multimillionaires. Having gotten a taste of the rewards of weakness and immorality, it becomes paramount for them to do everything in their power, whether illegal, immoral or unethical, to be reelected.
The greatest and most obvious difference between the DC swamp and all the political swamps of the world, and any physical, natural swamp, is that the natural swamp is usually only dangerous to those who deliberately, or perhaps mistakenly, wander into the swamp.
On the other hand, the political swamps of the world, and especially the DC Swamp, have the ability to negatively affect the lives of every person living on this planet, because the actions taken by the swamp dwellers resonate to every citizen, regardless of how close they may actually be to Washington D.C or any other political swamp base in the world. The laws and policies set into motion by the world’s swamp critters have the ability to seriously, and usually negatively, affect everyone on earth.
Unfortunately, the DC Political Swamp is not a ‘one of a kind’ swamp. All politics, and the greed that defines politics, the greed for power and money, are interconnected between nearly all the nations of the world. Observing the actions of the world’s political swamp dwellers indicates that we are witnessing what, I believe, is the final push for a One-World Government, where all power is consolidated in one group of people who will give their allegiance to the Antichrist when he shows up on the world stage.
As more and more politicians yield to the pressure to accept the ‘rewards’ associated with Satan’s control over the governments of the world, that power becomes more and more concentrated. If you question whether Satan truly has control over human governments, read Luke 4:1-7.
While the business of governing through a political process may have been thought a good thing when the Founders began the United States system of government, their system was based on the premise that those elected as representatives of the people would be godly, trustworthy men who would honestly represent their constituents in Congress. When our nation was being formed, the Founders were mostly godly men who knew that, without a government built on the proper, godly foundation, the nation would not long endure the many evil attempts that would be made to destroy it.
John Adams, our second president, certainly understood the ‘godly’ aspect of the process when he stated, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
President Adams seemed to be saying that, should immoral and irreligious people come to power in the US, our Constitution would no longer be respected, nor would it long stand. His words have proven to be prophetic. Very few young people in the US have ever read our Constitution and have no idea what it says, what it means, and how critical it is to the survival of our nation. Most representatives in our Congress neither understand the Constitution nor respect it as the “Law of the land.” Their many actions prove their disdain for that law.
Everyone who regularly follows politics in the United States is aware that our U.S. Congress no longer functions as planned by the Founders, and consequently, very few Americans have any respect for Congress and its members. Nearly all 535 members of the current US Congress, as well as numerous members of the so-called intelligence communities, have been involved in some questionable, unscrupulous dealings, and some who should have been indicted, prosecuted and punished for their misdeeds are still ‘functioning’ there, going about doing their evil misdeeds.
The Foul Influence of ‘Politics’
I believe there are many Christians who still have a favorable view of politics in general, and the US political system in particular, indicating they may not understand exactly what politics is.
One dictionary defines politics as: the use of intrigue or strategy in obtaining any position of power or control, as in business, university, government, etc.
I highlighted the words “power or control” since this seems to be what modern politics is truly all about. As a matter of fact, in every national mid-term election, when all the 435 members of the House of Representatives (every two years) and approximately one third, or 33 Senators of the 100 in office must stand for reelection, the talk all during the campaigns is how the result of the election will affect the “balance of power” in the Congress.
If every person who runs for a congressional office would consider that, if elected, they are being sent to Washington and paid by the People to represent the citizens of the districts in their home states, rather than drooling over the ‘power’ they will assume as either a congressman/woman or senator, they might actually accomplish some good for their constituents and the country.
But, human nature being what it is, most of them are already so overwhelmed with the ‘glitter’ associated with the power offered, and all the monetary ‘goodies’ that go with that power, they end up bringing ruin on themselves, their constituents and the entire country.
Frank Herbert once said, “Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible.” It would be very difficult to name more than a dozen political swamp dwellers in the US who have gone into politics with a good conscience and a true, honest heart and have exited Congress the same way. The temptations offered by the forces of evil are simply too great for most to resist.
Just as the environment of a physical, natural swamp must be conducive to sustaining the natural critters that live in it, the environment of the DC swamp, indeed any political swamp anywhere in the world, must also be conducive to luring and sustaining the evil people that inhabit it. For that reason, the political swamp dwellers will fight with every ounce of energy they possess to maintain that foul and corrupt environment.
This kind of a political system has made the United States Congress a complete sham, with very few ‘knowledgeable’ Americans having any respect for the members thereof. Just as the natural swamp environment, or culture, provides the perfect setting for natural swamp dwellers, it is the environment of the DC political, spiritual swamp culture that allows the swamp critters to flourish and indeed encourages them to remain firmly ensconced there, year after year after year.
Just as Satan tempted Jesus with an offer of power and riches, he also tosses his evil bait to those who willingly enter that foul swamp. Those elected representatives who take the bait will eventually exit Congress rich beyond their wildest imaginations. However, that wealth comes with a price, and they must be willing to pay that price in order to get the power and wealth offered. They must forsake God and give their souls over to Satan who then owns them, possibly for eternity. In effect, they have become whores, selling their souls for money and power.
This should come as no surprise to the American public. While prostitution has long been called ‘the oldest profession,’ President Ronald Reagan had this to say about politics:
“Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”
Even though the human prostitute sells her (or his) body for money, the resemblance to the political whore who sells his/her soul is there. However, the results of the transaction are far worse when it involves selling one’s soul for gain.
Draining (Changing) the Environment
Since the days of Nimrod, there have been wicked men in every generation who, through greed and lust for power and control over other people, have easily fallen prey to the forces of evil who use that fallen human nature to control and manipulate them to do the work of Satan. Also, in every generation, there has been the culture of greed and ‘power-hungriness’ that creates the perfect environment of a political swamp.
As long as there are evil forces striving to destroy everything that God created, and evil people willing to do their bidding, the swamp environment, along with the inhabitants thereof, will flourish. The environment of evil, corruption and greed is what produces the swamp critters, not the other way around. Therefore, regardless of the critters inhabiting the swamp, the environment/culture is what makes the swamp possible, and that environment must be changed for any ‘swamp-draining’ to occur.
If a natural swamp environment, having been drained, no longer draws and supports the natural swamp critters, they will leave on their own and search for another more hospitable environment. So, ‘changing the nature’ of a political swamp environment is the only way to drain a political swamp.
The evil spiritual forces that have controlled the DC Swamp, as well as all the ‘political swamps’ around the world for many years, are well-entrenched and do NOT want to give up that control. Through the willingness of the swamp dwellers in DC to introduce legislation that becomes US law, the evil that is set against our God and His Son influences and, to some extent, controls the lives of every person in the US and the world. The evil swamp dwellers bait their evil hooks with the promise of power; and since power is the currency of politics in DC, that power is always for sale with the sale price being the soul of the buyer. There are usually as many buyers as there are sellers who hope one day to possess enough power to ‘change our world’ – for their own benefits of course.
Satan himself cast his evil bait of temptation in the path of Jesus, and the story is recorded in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Even though Satan offered Jesus great material wealth and power over all the earthly kingdoms, Jesus steadfastly resisted him and defeated him with the written Word of God. In every instance of temptation from Satan, Jesus stated, “It is written…,” and with those words, Satan was defeated by our Lord.
Unfortunately, Satan has had much greater success with many earthly, human politicians. Please note that when Satan offered all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus, He did not deny the statement’s validity. He simply resisted the temptation by presenting the Word of God to the devil. Unless I have missed some great upheaval in world politics, Satan is still deeply involved in every government in the world, and is in firm control of many, if not most of them, including the United States.
Conclusion: Who Can Drain the Swamp?
I wish I could say I am extremely hopeful and confident that the political swamps can be drained, but I honestly believe that the political swamps, rather than being drained, will grow larger and more in control over the lives of people in the world as the time approaches for the appearance of the Antichrist. More and more political power will be consolidated into a One-World Government over which the Antichrist, aided by the False Prophet, will assume control.
This is only my personal opinion, but since there has never been a successful, long-term ‘human government’ (one that runs properly, according to God’s precepts generation after generation), I think it is safe to say that nearly 6,000 years of human government has been a dismal failure.
Every time there is an attempt to set up a government that provides for the needs of the people, human nature and the greed for control, power and money has eventually destroyed all the good efforts of good people. Even though God has provided all the knowledge mankind needs to set up and run that type of government, the corrupt government seems to pay better, at least in the short term.
Even though it may be impossible to drain the evil swamps, does that mean we should give up and allow evil to run amok? Of course not. We will be held accountable for our efforts to rein in the evil, whether successful or not.
As difficult, not to mention expensive, as it may be to drain a physical swamp, draining a political swamp is a much more daunting challenge. The natural swamp is not ‘drained’ by those critters that inhabit it. It is done through a process started and completed by those on the outside of the swamp. If it is to be done, the spiritual, political swamp must also be drained from the outside. So, whose responsibility is it to start that process? It must be done by people who know the truth about political swamps and will experience the most benefit from it; thus, by people who dwell outside the swamp environment.
I submit that, if swamp-draining is even possible, the process belongs to the Christians in our nation and around the world who have learned how to battle the spiritual forces of darkness.
Paul told us, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11-12).
This is a description of a spiritual battle between believers and evil spirits such as those that control every spiritual, political swamp in the world.
In that same chapter in Ephesians, Paul told us how to conduct that battle:
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:13-18).
Even though the DC swamp is filled with people who have allowed evil forces to take over their lives, the above-described battle is not conducted against them but against the evil spiritual forces controlled by Satan, who manipulates them to do his bidding. Even though one believer can make a difference in such a battle, the more believers who can come together and fight against the enemy, the more likely a real victory is.
Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:18-20).
If enough true Christians were to listen to what Jesus told us, as well as what we were told through the Apostle Paul, and would decide to stand against the evil sprits that still control human governments and the swamps embedded within them, the spiritual, political swamps around the world could possibly be changed.
Keep in mind that all those who would engage in such a spiritual battle must be spiritually prepared. The enemy of our souls will stop at nothing to win such a battle so, if you decide to engage in the battle, be prepared for great pushback from Satan and his minions. Those evil spirits, under the control of Satan, will stop at nothing to win such a battle.
Note the words “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” These ‘darts’ are the weapons used by evil spirits to discourage and destroy those who oppose Satan. Combatants in this battle should be aware that the darts WILL be coming and should know how to stop them.
One last point: when, and if, a spiritual battle is won and a political, spiritual swamp is drained, it must be maintained and kept free of all the critters who formerly inhabited it, and who would only be too happy to get back in. And, any victory in this war is temporary.
Only when the Lord returns and defeats evil and banishes it from the earth will the vile forces that create a swamp be defeated. Only the establishment of Jesus’ righteous kingdom will create true and righteous government.
Until then, grab your spiritual armor, pick up your weapons and get into the fight!