And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel anything to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their commandment. - 1Ch 12:32
"Understanding the times" requires looking at the forest instead of the trees.
What is happening to the forest is more important that what is happening to a tree.
Trees make up the forest but a single tree or a group of trees do not give the forest its personality or its character.
The forest is characterized by the vast majority of the trees. We have seen pine forests with hardwoods interspersed. We have seen hardwood forests with pines interspersed.
As we look at our society, it is important that we do not project the character of a person or a group of people to apply to the nation.
Demagogues are able to convince the masses to accept their Vision, Opinion or Ideology. Their pontification is just noise unless it is accepted by the masses.
In assessing who and what we are as a nation we need to understand the power of the people on the stump to affect us.
Jereboam was able to turn the hearts of the people of Israel away from God to serve false gods simply by the power of his personality and his words.
Jehoshaphat was able to turn the hearts of Judah towards God by the power of his personality and his words.
Who we listen to makes all the difference in who we are. Ideas become principles and take on the essence of doctrine whether true or not.
The forest of our nation is defined by the SevenMountains of influence: Education, Family, Business, Media, Government, Religion, and Entertainment.
The trees of our nation are becoming less and less important as the leaders of the SevenMountains turn their attention to the Power necessary for shaping the forest according to their vision.
Those leader are effectively instruments of Satan whose desire is to Pervert and Destroy what God has ordained for Humanity (HisPlan).
Unless the SevenMountains come under the control of those who would shape the nation in the image of God, destruction is inevitable.
I do not see the Heart of the people to reject the Elitism, the Atheism and the Satanism that has defined our national forest.
Hence, the extent to which that destruction will manifest before the Return of Jesus is yet to be seen.
In the meantime, it is incumbent on every tree to produce saplings which will provide shade and beauty to pockets of the diseased forest.
This is the Will of God.
And he said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. - Mar 16:15