THE NATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND BRAZIL ARE ON THE BRINK
Josimar Salum
September 12, 2025
I received this report from a very close friend, Raffoul Najem. The points were written by Fred Markert, one of the leaders of YWAM in the United States. I have tried to explain what they mean and add some remarks that I would like you to consider in prayer:
ATTRIBUTES OF CIVIL STRIFE PHASE OF SOCIETY: WARNING SIGNS OF THE RUN-UP TO CIVIL WAR
1. Information Bubbles, Misinformation, and Propaganda
When societies enter the civil strife phase, information itself becomes weaponized. Citizens increasingly live in echo chambers, where only one worldview is reinforced and alternative voices are dismissed.
• Misinformation spreads unchecked through social media, fringe media, or partisan outlets.
• Propaganda deliberately distorts reality to inflame hatred or fear.
• Hateful speech normalizes hostility against groups or individuals.
• Dehumanization takes root: political opponents or minority groups are no longer seen as human beings, but as threats or enemies to be eliminated.
2. Breakdown of Civil Society and Social Cohesion
Healthy societies rely on strong bonds of trust — between neighbors, communities, institutions, and government. When these bonds collapse:
• Mistrust spreads, even among people of the same community.
• Traditional mechanisms of conflict resolution (law, courts, dialogue, negotiation) cease to function or lose legitimacy.
• Society becomes fragmented into competing groups that no longer cooperate in the national interest.
3. Ethnic, Religious, or Identity-Based Tensions
Historical grievances and unresolved injustices become reactivated, often manipulated by political actors.
• Discrimination and marginalization against ethnic, religious, or cultural groups fuel resentment.
• Sectarian movements or militias emerge, representing specific communities (e.g., Antifa, BLM, or extremist factions on the right).
• Violence begins to be justified in the name of “defense” of identity or community.
4. Political Polarization and Extremism
When polarization reaches extreme levels, opponents are no longer simply rivals — they are seen as existential threats.
• Ideological divides run so deep that compromise becomes impossible.
• Populist leaders exploit divisions, presenting themselves as the only true voice of “the people.”
• Violent rhetoric becomes common in political discourse, preparing the ground for physical violence.
5. Social Unrest and Mobilization
Widespread frustration manifests in the streets.
• Mass protests, strikes, and civil disobedience escalate.
• Demonstrations often spiral into confrontations with police, counter-protests, or riots.
• Mobilization reflects the inability of political systems to absorb discontent peacefully.
6. Economic Decline and imbalance
Economic instability often accelerates social fractures.
• Unemployment, poverty, inflation, and declining living standards breed anger.
• Wealth disparity becomes stark, with elites perceived as corrupt or detached.
• Kleptocracy and corruption deepen resentment, as citizens believe resources are stolen or misused.
7. Migration, Displacement, and Demographic Pressures
Large-scale demographic changes fuel perceptions of instability.
• Unregulated immigration creates job competition and cultural tension.
• Internal displacement (caused by economic collapse or violence) stresses social systems.
• Declining birth rates alter demographics, leading to fears about cultural continuity.
8. Declining Trust in Government and Institutions
Citizens stop believing that institutions represent them.
• Government, media, judiciary, and police are increasingly seen as corrupt, biased, or illegitimate.
• Elections lose credibility; accusations of fraud or manipulation become widespread.
• Citizens withdraw consent to be governed, creating fertile ground for unrest.
9. Erosion of Democratic Institutions and Rule of Law
Institutions once respected as neutral arbiters are politicized or undermined.
• Elections are manipulated to favor one side.
• Judiciary is politicized; justice is not applied equally.
• Press freedom is curtailed, silencing dissenting voices.
• Civil liberties are suppressed, often justified as necessary for “security.”
10. Loss of Central Authority and State Fragmentation
As central authority weakens:
• Regions, states, or provinces begin to ignore federal laws, acting independently.
• Local militias or governors may refuse national mandates.
• The unity of the state becomes fragile, with the risk of fragmentation into rival zones of control.
11. Authoritarian Leadership and Political Repression
In response to instability, leaders may centralize power.
• Emergency powers become permanent.
• Dissent is suppressed through censorship, intimidation, or imprisonment.
• Politics becomes militarized, with security forces deployed against citizens.
12. Escalation of Violence
The final warning sign is the shift from words to weapons.
• Political assassinations target leaders, journalists, or judges.
• Targeted killings, riots, and domestic terrorism become more frequent.
• State institutions are attacked, whether legislatures, courts, or government offices.
• Violence feeds cycles of retaliation, dragging society closer to open conflict.
The civil strife phase is the period when all these warning signs converge: propaganda dominates, trust collapses, violence escalates, and institutions lose legitimacy. If unchecked, these conditions almost inevitably evolve into open civil war. The key to prevention lies in recognizing these signs early, strengthening institutions, protecting civil liberties, and cultivating reconciliation before the tipping point is reached.
My friend, this report summarizes perceptions that are very close to my own. The rhetoric of the people described here is not merely words or ideology, but an intentional projection of actions, consciously aiming at the very results outlined. These are not simply defenders of political viewpoints — they are driven, and in many cases literally possessed, by spirits of ideologies.
As I compare this report to Brazil, it aligns frighteningly well with the imminent reality of the nation. I am not speaking merely about analyzing facts or interpreting them accurately. I am referring also to the insights, visions, and impressions from the Spirit of God within me over these past years. While many continue with “business as usual” in their families, churches, and communities, a massive storm of evil is rising on the horizon of society — and yet countless people remain preoccupied only with their own yards and personal matters.
At the same time, I also discern within me a gentle breeze flowing. But in the larger picture, that breeze announces a perfect storm of God’s visitation, rising with such power that it will ignite revival and a movement of transformation unlike anything ever seen before on Earth.
We must take this with far greater seriousness — lifting our eyes to the broader picture — in order to teach our people, especially the youth, to engage culture with the values and ways of the Kingdom.
What I saw this week, when Charlie Kirk was shot, was a waterfall of blood pouring from the head of a young man devoted to Jesus. Blood is the language of the spiritual realm. The blood speaks in the unseen dimension: “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10 “Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24) I do not know about you, my fellow minister of the love of God, but what I see is the urgency of our total devotion to intercession — shifting our attention away from our own agendas and matters into the full pursuit of the Kingdom of God in this critical hour:
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (1 Timothy 2:1–2)
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)
I know that President Donald Trump has called the whole nation to pray in the coming months until Independence Day 2026. Yet beyond this, I would officially call the entire nation to three days of prayer, fasting, and intercession for national repentance — so that our compassionate Father would send an outpouring of His Spirit to reconcile the people and heal the land:
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
My friend, please do not take this verse as if it were just words to be repeated. Let us understand what these words truly mean. Let us receive them as medicine — the very remedy of God — and swallow them as our last resort of help, the only cure for a nation on the edge
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach.’” (Joel 2:15–17)
And I believe the faithful leaders of Brazil must do the same — to cry out to God to deliver us from the powers and principalities drawing the nation into the abyss of destruction and to heal our land:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
“Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease… Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation.” (Psalm 85:4–7)
This is the decree of God after all:
“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”(Hebrews 12:26–29)
#ASONE
