There is a very good question floating in the air nowadays in the Christian realm. How to face the world authorities in face of Rom 13 which commands us to obey them, & with many draconian new regulations from the New World Order which are being imposed upon our families, children & older folks as well…???
Let’s read the text in question…
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 2 Therefore he, who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good and you will have praise from the same, 4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. 5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake; 6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing. 7 Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
I highlighted some sentences in the passage, like for example… rulers are not a terror to the good work… What happens when… rulers are a terror to the good work?
…he is a servant of God to you for good… What when these authorities are not for our good?
…an avenger for wrath to him who does evil… What if we are doing that which is right, & these world authorities are the ones doing evil?
Here we see some examples of the way Jesus, John the Baptist & Christians in the book of Acts & later on in the book of Revelations, faced the world authorities. Without even mentioning the men of God in the Old Testament, when rulers often disobeyed God's Laws and went after other gods, then ancient prophets not only disobeyed them, but exposed them as evil rulers before the whole nation of Israel.
Jesus said… Mat 10:16-20 “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. 18 Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations. 19 But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Mat 14:3-4 For Herod the king had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her;”
Luke 13:31-32 On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to Jesus, “Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission. (mind you, Jesus sent that message to the king in power in Palestine at the time)
Act 4:6 Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest. (These religious leaders had civil authority over all Jewish citizens in Palestine at the time) Act 4:18-20 They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”
Also in the book of Revelations we see two of the greatest leaders & prophets of God in the near future in complete opposition to world authorities.
Rev 11:3-7 I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands, standing before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. 7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.
Next we see that the last world leader will be a terror to Christians…
Rev 13:7 It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.
And not only Christians but also all those who will not comply with their taxing policies…
Rev 13:16-18 He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; 17 and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.
Rev 14:9-12 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
Going back to Rom 13:9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. 11 Do this; knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.
Beloved, it is already time to wake up & realize the world we are in. There are many Christians still believing everything the world authorities say on TV. How long will it take for them to realize the media is in the hands of the enemy? 99% of everything you see in the news is propaganda to make you believe their narrative & not what God Word says.
I leave you with a strong word, help you see where you stand, would you decide to ignore God’s True…
2Th 2:9-12 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 2:12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
But Paul follows that strong statement with these words of comfort…
2Th 2:13-14 But we are bound to always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So in every case, just ask the Lord to lead & guide you as what to do & when, & He will guide you every step of the way, each & every day...
Mat 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (In other words fear only Yahweh, the true God) 29 Are not two sparrows sold for an assarion? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Therefore do not fear, you are of more value than many sparrows.
Ask God to guide every step you take, He is with you…
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Blessings… Alejandro
If this reading has been a blessing to you, please don’t hesitate to share it with the world. We need to be a blessing to others today, tomorrow may be too late. John 9:4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me, while it is day. Night comes when no man can work.
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