I’ve read and re-read your post to ensure I’m understanding your point and I think you need to read to the end of The Book where Christians gain Heaven while this world passes away with its various demons and Satan. Christians have no battle for this world (i.e. no “mop-up operation”) but do have a battle to claim souls for the Kingdom. The world has already stands condemned, the only hope is for those called out of it by Christ who owns the Church as His Body.
You’ve attached way more import to both the National Anthem and my post than even I could. It’s OK to disagree on a performance or performer without making it a test of faith and salvation.
I think you are reading claims into what I am saying that are larger than what I am making. Try to keep the patronization to a minimum would you?
This mortal coil is but a temporary stage and will, as you note, give way to an eternal unshakeable Jerusalem. Still, Jesus bought the world of souls in it. It’s up to them to accept the payment, or refuse it and go to hell.
I HAVE read the end of the story — but I in turn beseech you to consider Romans 1:20 carefully. It describes God’s expression of Himself in the creation, before the famous sequence of degradation. He’s visible as metaphors in the Anthem.
And by the way, do not ignore the wonderful fact that God can illustrate His dominion right in this temporary creation by conquering the use of resources that had been dedicated to sin. As a simple example think of the meat sold in idol temples in Paul’s day. Paul did emphasize that this meat could be legitimately used by mature Christians who understood that Christ had ultimate authority, even over this now hell bent decaying creation that is “condemned” to pass away. However he also emphasized that immature Christians may need to refrain because they still view the meat as an offering to idols, i.e. demons. And that mature Christians need to show gracious consideration to their immature brothers by not flaunting this capability in their presence when it could be misunderstood and hurt those brothers (as you, apparently, misunderstand me).
Anyhow I don’t know about “test of faith” as you accuse, though it certainly is a feature of advanced faith to be able to see such things as I see. I’ve been drilled by decades of hard times with no human, only God, to help. And it’s that experience that has taught me what God can do.