Glenn is very much influenced by Cleon Skousen.
Every great nation dies eventually. Some go overnight, like the Babylonians, and some go through a long sigh, like Rome.
God’s in charge. Isa. 40.
He revitalized the economy with an austerity program, reformed Roman law and standardized it with the "Justinian Code" which became a foundation for much of western civil law thereafter. He was a true Roman, who spoke Latin as his native tongue, the last ruler to do so. He rejoined the west with the Byzantine empire, launching a golden age of Byzantium.
The renewed empire became prosperous and strong but was stymied in the end by a crippling epidemic of bubonic plague. And, as always with the Romans, when he died there was no clear preparation for succession.
Will America produce a Justinian renewal? She certainly could.
He revitalized the economy with an austerity program, reformed Roman law and standardized it with the "Justinian Code" which became a foundation for much of western civil law thereafter. He was a true Roman, who spoke Latin as his native tongue, the last ruler to do so. He rejoined the west with the Byzantine empire, launching a golden age of Byzantium.
The renewed empire became prosperous and strong but was stymied in the end by a crippling epidemic of bubonic plague. And, as always with the Romans, when he died there was no clear preparation for succession.
Will America produce a Justinian renewal? She certainly could.
W. Cleon Skousen - The Man Behind Glenn Beck
Skousens politics aside, it was his theology that was especially troubling. His book The First 2,000 Years, published in 1953, included a section on God that can only be described as blasphemous.
Under the subtitle The Source of Gods Power, he wrote,
Through modern revelation we learn that the universe is filled with vast numbers of intelligences, and we further learn that Elohim is God simply because all of these intelligences honor and sustain Him as such His glory and power is something which He slowly acquired until today, all things bow in humble reverence. But since God acquired the honor and sustaining influence of all things it follows as a corellary (sic) that if He should do anything to violate the confidence or sense of justice of these intelligences, they would promptly withdraw their support, and the power of God would disintegrate. This is what Mormon and Alma meant when they specifically stated that if God should change or act contrary to truth and justice He would cease to be God. Our Heavenly Father can do only those things which the intelligences under Him are voluntarily willing to support Him in accomplishing (pp.355-356).
The idea that God could cease to be God is not at all unique to Skousen. In fact, on page 354 he rightfully notes that the phrase comes directly from the Book of Mormon (Mormon 9:19;
19 And if there were amiracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he bchangeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
Alma 42:13, 25).
13 Therefore, according to justice, the aplan of bredemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would ccease to be God.
15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself aatoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of bmercy, to appease the demands of cjustice, that God might be a dperfect, just God, and a emerciful God also.
Glenn Beck gives Skousen book's sales a 'Leap'
"As part of his rallying cry against all things socialistic, he included the need to read Skousen's book, a primer on the "inspired" United States Constitution.
"The first thing you do," he told his viewers, "is get 'The Five Thousand Year Leap.' over my book or anything else. Please. Read it. Inform yourself about who we are and what the other systems are all about."