The 80-year cycle idea can describe how societies lose trust and enter instability, but Revelation goes deeper: it reveals that the real conflict underneath instability is worship and allegiance. When institutions shake, the temptation is to attach ultimate hope to counterfeit power (Beast) or counterfeit security (Babylon). Revelation does not ask us to predict the next collapse; it forms us to remain loyal to Christ when pressure rises, because the throne is already occupied and the Lamb has already won.
What you have exposed:
Institutions lose trust → authority stops working
Unraveling becomes a crisis → systems break
Leaders must adapt → old tactics fail
You can’t sit it out → choose how you move through it
What the Book of Revelation exposes in society
Worship is the battlefield → allegiance is being demanded
The Beast = counterfeit authority → “comply, conform, stay silent.”
Babylon = counterfeit security → “buy peace with compromise.”
Endurance is victory → faithful witness over fear or escape
When the world feels unstable, Revelation asks one question: Who owns your loyalty? Make sure you can answer that question!
Regardless of your religious stance (or lack thereof), this is a profound question that everybody should ask themselves. And I'm not sure the answer is as direct as people may think.
This was a profound read. Going to need to digest quite a bit, but needed to thank you for writing this. Plan on sharing this with people I love and care about. We can all feel the shift, but you put it into beautiful words with history to boot!
Wait, I didn’t realize that the Fourth Turning was written by Strauss and Howe as well. So they came up with the concept in ‘91, published in their book Generations.
Then 6 years later they focused on the Crisis stage and released The Fourth Turning.
When Everything Shakes, Worship Shows
The 80-year cycle idea can describe how societies lose trust and enter instability, but Revelation goes deeper: it reveals that the real conflict underneath instability is worship and allegiance. When institutions shake, the temptation is to attach ultimate hope to counterfeit power (Beast) or counterfeit security (Babylon). Revelation does not ask us to predict the next collapse; it forms us to remain loyal to Christ when pressure rises, because the throne is already occupied and the Lamb has already won.
What you have exposed:
Institutions lose trust → authority stops working
Unraveling becomes a crisis → systems break
Leaders must adapt → old tactics fail
You can’t sit it out → choose how you move through it
What the Book of Revelation exposes in society
Worship is the battlefield → allegiance is being demanded
The Beast = counterfeit authority → “comply, conform, stay silent.”
Babylon = counterfeit security → “buy peace with compromise.”
Endurance is victory → faithful witness over fear or escape
When the world feels unstable, Revelation asks one question: Who owns your loyalty? Make sure you can answer that question!
Thanks for sharing!
The last line is pretty powerful.
Who owns your loyalty?
Regardless of your religious stance (or lack thereof), this is a profound question that everybody should ask themselves. And I'm not sure the answer is as direct as people may think.
This was a profound read. Going to need to digest quite a bit, but needed to thank you for writing this. Plan on sharing this with people I love and care about. We can all feel the shift, but you put it into beautiful words with history to boot!
Thank you so much for this comment, Tarah. I’m really glad you find it all as profound is I do.
I also made another realization recently about the 80 year cycle that gives more explanation about this time in history.
I’m doing a Substack live on Thursday at 11am PT that will be all about the 80 Year Cycle. I hope you can join.
Full credit to The Fourth Turning.
Yes. The 80-year cycle was developed in 1991 but then the 1997 book Fourth Turning made it widely known.
Have you read that book? I haven’t and feel like I should
We are well into the fourth turning now.
I have. Highly recommend reading it.
Wait, I didn’t realize that the Fourth Turning was written by Strauss and Howe as well. So they came up with the concept in ‘91, published in their book Generations.
Then 6 years later they focused on the Crisis stage and released The Fourth Turning.
I hit send too early.
It looks like Libby doesn’t have The Fourth Turning (WTF?) but I just borrowed Generations. Starting that today.
apparently I hit send too early again. Correction. Libby has The Fourth Turning. Just put it on hold.
They also wrote Millennials Rising, which I had read back when everybody was scared Millennials were a different breed of humans.
I didn't know about the 80-year cycle.. such a good read!
I’m glad you liked it Claudia! Thanks for coming by.