Former President Donald Trump's return to the White House has brought cheer to some evangelical Christians in the US, who believe the Republican candidate's victory was God's divine will.
According to celebrity evangelist Lance Wallnau, Trump's victory had been prophesied years ago and "is part of God's plan to usher in a new era of Christian dominion around the world." Wallnau's controversial statement came in his election night livestream on Tuesday night, according to NBC News.
Wallnau, a self-described prophet, had earlier courted controversy with his bizarre statements, including about how Democratic candidate Kamala Harris had used "witchcraft" and Trump as the "one chosen by God to restore Christian power in America."
He had also strangely claimed that God had a plan to keep Trump in the office despite the 2020 election defeat and even led a group of pro-Trump protestors to pray for divine intervention to stop Joe Biden's takeover.
Kamala Harris, Wallnau claimed, is being guided by demonic forces and has used "the spirit of Jezebel" to deceive followers. He also said that Harris' great debate performance was the "seduction of witchcraft and the manipulation of imagery that creates an impression contrary to truth".
Overjoyed by Trump's victory, Wallnau told his followers on Wednesday morning that "a different dialogue about spirituality is happening in America" and God has given permission for Trump to "take it right to the White House."
Despite his felony charges, three marriages and sexual abuse charges, the evangelists led by Wallnau continue to back Trump and hail him as a flawed leader anointed by God to save America from the demonic influence of Democrats. Trump surviving the assassination attempt only attested to their belief.
During Trump's campaign, Wallnau and two of several right-wing Christian leaders hosted revival-style events calling Trump as God’s anointed candidate and even toured to recruit election workers.
As per the exit poll conducted by NBC, 80% of white evangelicals backed Trump. An estimated 67% of Latino evangelicals backed him while 14% of Black evangelicals too leaned towards Trump.
Another evangelist, Dutch Sheets who describes him as a self-described apostle too celebrated Trump's win on Wednesday. Sheets described Trump's victory would usher in a "Third Great Awakening". "The reformation will take some time, but we will get there. And Trump is a necessary part of this reformation," Sheets said.