Delusions can often lead into idolatry Regrettably, the questionable narrative of 'British tyranny' has brought forth the present undeniable idolatry of American patriotism
Pointed and encouraging exhortation The phrase "elders in every city" comes borrowed from the OT signifying the appointed elders presiding in each city, though the tendency is to link it to the idea of a single one-man-ministry for each church.
To the point The spirit of antichrist has been ongoing from the serpent tempting in Eden, and often made evident by individuals mentioned as the sons of Belial in the OT, but did continue manifesting throughout the NT against Christ incarnate through individuals as Judas, Herod, or the pharisies for instance, and since then it has had many other manifestations as the papacy among others. Sadly many fences are going down in institutions that knew better in the past, and many due to the constant subtil political lobby of Rome in the USA are being deceived. "Little children, ... ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; ..." "that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
Proofs from Ashbel Green's autobiography The last 10 minutes of this lecture shows from a primary historical source how undercurrents anchored on the humanistic ideology driving the French revolution in the eighteenth century negatively infiltrated, tinted and influenced the course and times of the American war of independence. Every American should be aware off of such facts to better understand their present as much as their future.