No one can serve two masters. AND NO IM NOT TALKING ABOUT SEX BUT MURDER. Who is you Jesus? Who is your savior?

Romans 13 is the absolute favorite chapter of the Bible for all rich and powerful empires since the 4th century. It is the ‘gotcha’ proof-text for ensuring that its citizens obey the authority of their masters. From kings to presidents, soldiers to police officers, every power-hungry statist loves Romans 13—and with good reason. Romans 13 plainly states that anyone who has governmental authority has been given that power by God himself, and everyone should obey them because of this. That’s what it says. Or does it?

ROMANS 13

¹ Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

² Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

 ⁴ for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

 ⁵ Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. ⁷ Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Romans 13:1-7

   On the surface, this passage seems to make a few claims that fascist dictators dream about at night. Everyone should obey the government? God chooses government leaders? God approves of the government’s use of violence? Christians can or should work in government? These claims are in fact, myths. Romans 13 doesn’t undo the rest of Scripture.

MYTH #1 ­– EVERYONE SHOULD OBEY THE GOVERNMENT

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

Romans 13:1

    The New Testament is filled with examples of Godly people who do not obey the government. The first, and perhaps most important example, is Joseph and Mary. The parents of Jesus intentionally disobeyed King Herod the Great when they escaped to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14). King Herod’s governmental decree was that Roman police kill all baby boys, but Joseph and Mary disobeyed. The very fact that Jesus lived past two years old is a testament to the virtue of disobeying governmental power!.

     Paul himself, the author of the letter to the Romans, disobeyed the government on numerous occasions. The governor of Damascus sought to arrest Paul so that he might be executed. Paul disobeyed the authority of government and escaped through a window in the city’s walls (Acts 9:23-25). He even later cites this event to demonstrate his unwavering commitment to Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:30-33). He also used his Roman citizenship to defend himself when beaten.

     Ever since Paul started following the way of Jesus, he spent his days in rebellion against governments. He never disassociated himself from these actions; instead, he boasts about their consequences as proof of his commitment to Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:22-25). Paul went to prison at least three times because he disobeyed the government. Finally, like Jesus before him, he was executed by the government for his disobedience. If Paul actually meant to teach that followers of Jesus should obey the government, he was a major hypocrite.

     So what is going on here? “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” sounds pretty clear. First, let’s examine the word ‘subject.’ In the original Greek, Paul uses the word ‘hypotassō,’ which means “submission involving the recognition of an ordered structure.”1 The same word is used in verses that say wives should ‘submit’ to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:1). Paul could have used the word ‘hypakouō’ which means ‘obey,’ but he doesn’t. He uses ‘hypotassō.’ This difference in words was enough for Paul not to mean ‘obey’ when he said that every person (himself included) should be ‘hypotassō’ to the governing authorities because he obviously didn’t obey them.2 Paul could have used the word ‘obey,’ but he didn’t.

    The only reason Christians ever ‘obey’ worldly governments is just out of coincidence that doing so coincides with obeying Jesus. Anytime obeying Jesus means disobeying the state, Christians should do so without hesitation but should do so with the wisdom and knowledge that persecution, arrest, or execution may follow (Matthew 5:10-12, 10:16-18; John 15:19-20; 1 Peter 4:12-14; Revelation 2:10-11).  Be wise as a snake but harmless and helpful as a dove.

Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Acts 5:29

MYTH #2 – GOD CHOOSES GOVERNMENT LEADERS

For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Romans 13:1

      Some other translations, such as the NIV, say, “there is no authority except that which God has established.” Whether it be the English word ‘instituted’ or ‘established,’ the actual word in Greek is ‘tassō,’ which means to “arrange, put in place.”3 Theologian John W. Yoder compares God’s work here of ‘tassō’ to that of a librarian: “The librarian does not make the books, does not write them, does not necessarily approve of them, but simply puts them in order.”4 This is a helpful illustration that assists us in making sense of history. During the time that Romans was written, the emperor of Rome was Nero, a desperately wicked ruler who fed Christians to wild animals as entertainment. God need not approve or agree with government leaders in order to tassō them.

       Paul also makes the claim that no authority exists except that which comes from God. This is consistent with the claims of the rest of Scripture. The Old Testament says that Yahweh is the chief creator God that delegates some of his authority to the lesser gods (Psalm 82:1 ESV, 95:3, 136:2; Deuteronomy 10:17). Yahweh even gave these gods (who were formerly on his ‘divine counsel’) nations to rule (Deuteronomy 32:8-9 ESV). These gods rebelled, much like humans, and defined good and evil for themselves.5 This is why all over the New Testament we are told that it is ultimately Satan and his demons that rule over the nations of the world as their gods (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19).

    Authority came from Yahweh but is being abused by the lesser gods of the nations. These gods give their authority to those who worship them, which is how emperors, kings, and presidents receive their power (Luke 4:5-8). For Paul, earthly authorities and evil spiritual authorities cannot be separated; they are interconnected.6 It is upon this worldview that Romans 13 was written.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities [exousia].

Romans 13:1

Our struggle is… against the authorities [exousia]…

Ephesians 6:12

    Government leaders are inherently a rejection of God (1 Samuel 8:5-7). Ultimately, all earthly rulers and state authorities are the consequence  of departing from God and  disobeying his ways.

     7 God allows government leaders to have their power, but he sent his Son to actively work against them (Colossians 2:15). In the end, Jesus will destroy rulers in government because they are his enemies (1 Corinthians 15:24-25). So naturally, Paul’s statement doesn’t in any way imply that the state’s actions are willed or approved by God. Perhaps more so than any book in the Bible, Revelation illustrates God’s hatred for empire.

        They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval… they have rejected me as their king.

Hosea 8:4, 1 Samuel 8:7

MYTH #3 – GOD APPROVES OF THE GOVERNMENT’S USE OF VIOLENCE

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason.

Romans 13:3-4

     Right away, anyone can see that at face value, what Paul says here isn’t always true. Do governments only punish people who do wrong? Do governments never punish people who do what is right? The Gospel accounts, the book of Acts, and even Paul’s life stand in opposition to these claims. Jesus and most of his disciples were murdered by the government when they were doing what was right (proclaiming the Gospel of Christ’s Kingdom).

    God only has one nation—the Kingdom of Christ. Satan rules all other nations. It doesn’t even make sense to claim that Satan’s nations only punish wrongdoers. So then what is Paul saying? One truth that can be drawn from this passage is this: even if Christians die by the hands of the state, at least their martyrdom will magnify God’s glory, just like Jesus’ death did. No Christian should ‘fear’ the evil authority of the state.

    Satan holds the power of death and executes that evil with the power of the sword. But Jesus told us they cannot touch our eternal life! The author of Hebrews says that Jesus is breaking their power and setting his children free (Hebrews 2:14-15). We were once held in slavery by our fear of death, but no longer. We need not fear nations who wield the sword to deal death because we are promised resurrection into new life. We follow after a messiah that willingly laid down his life for his enemies out of love—an action we are called to imitate. Forgive not kill.

       Most commenters agree that Paul is merely describing how worldly governments ought to function in the meantime before God brings them to nothing, not how they do function (1 Corinthians 2:6).8 Paul knows firsthand by his own experiences and his people’s history that rulers do not always reward good and punish evil. Unfortunately, throughout history, many liberal interpreters have used this passage to justify the actions of many evil rulers. It was used in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 40s to support Hitler, and it is often used today in America to support the United States’ foreign policies.

With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.

Revelation 18:21

MYTH #4 – CHRISTIANS CAN/SHOULD WORK IN GOVERNMENT

Do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Romans 13:3-4

   This passage is often used to support the idea that Christians can or sometimes even should work in some governmental capacity. The thought is that if the government doesn’t bear the sword in vain, is a servant of God, and seems to carry out justice, then Christians should be involved. Romans 13 is used to support Christians working in government, serving in the military, and policing the streets. Ironically, Romans 13 stands in harmony with the rest of the New Testament’s teachings in that it prohibits Christians from doing any of these things.

     “Bearing the sword,” whether in vain or not, is something that Jesus forbids. The only time in all of Scripture where a follower of Jesus attempts to use a sword, he gets rebuked (Matthew 26:52). This, of course, is because Jesus taught his followers never to use violence but instead to love and bless their enemies. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, continues this teaching. Directly before Romans chapter 13 is chapter 12, where Christian living is addressed.

       Romans 12:1-2 tells us to worship God and not be tempted to conform to the culture of the worldly nations we live in. Romans 12:3-8 tells us that within the body of Jesus, we all have specific gifts for lifting up the Church. Romans 12:9-13 tells us the importance of love and caring for other people. Romans 12:14-16 tells us to bless and love those who persecute us. Romans 12:17-21 tells us never to repay evil, never to take revenge, to feed our enemies, and to overcome evil with good. (the original letter didn’t have chapter markers) Romans 13:1-7 tells us to not be in violent rebellion against our enemy—the state. Romans 13:8-10 wraps up by telling us that only love fulfills the law.

    Romans 12 and 13 take the reader on a progression of living rightly from within Church community, to the local community, to how we live in relation to those who persecute us, to how we live in relation to our enemies. Romans 13 describes our enemies, not permitted occupations. This is grammatically proven by the pronouns that Paul uses. In Romans 12, Paul constantly addresses ‘you’ (Romans 12:14-21 ESV). While in Romans 13, Paul uses the pronouns ‘he’ and ‘his’ (Romans 13:3-4 ESV). The first part of Romans 13 isn’t talking about Christians in authority; it is talking about Caesar and his appointed rulers.

    Paul believed that Jesus will return to destroy everyone in governments (1 Corinthians 15:24-25 NLT). Paul’s first-century context couldn’t imagine Christians taking part in the Roman government. It wouldn’t make any sense then, and it doesn’t make any sense now. Working in government doesn’t exempt a follower of Jesus from the clear command to love one’s enemies. A person carrying a sword (or a gun) faces an unfortunate choice: love their enemies (as commanded by Christ) or kill them (as commanded by Caesar). Christians should never work for governments.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”

Romans 12:19-20

For he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Romans 13:4

AN ALTERNATE INTERPRETATION

    No matter which way you slice it, Romans 13 is tricky. It doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the New Testament’s teachings at first glance. Perhaps Romans 13 is so tricky because of Paul’s situation. Paul was writing to a church deep in the heart of the world’s most evil empire to date. Christians were a persecuted minority known for treasonous sedition. His letters were not secret and would have been subject to inspection by Roman government soldiers (Galatians 2:4-5). For this reason, the letter could have been cleverly written so as to appear compliant with the Roman government but also so a truly knowledgable Christian would have no doubt as to what it actually meant. So here below is a possible alternative interpretation.

WHICH AUTHORITIES IS PAUL REFERRING TO?

      The early Church understood that Jesus was King and Caesar was not. Caesar claimed a false authority by the power of the sword—deception, terror, and murder. Caesar claimed for himself what God the Father gave to his Son: all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Caesar was not a valid authority. So what if Paul didn’t mean Caesar when he said, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”? Instead, what if he meant the only valid authority, which is Jesus and his body? After all, the correct and only path to full Kingship for Jesus was through the cross, not through the sword. So Caesar’s authority, bought with the blood of the sword, was invalidated by Jesus’ example. According to Paul, Jesus is “the blessed and only Ruler” (1 Timothy 6:15, 1:17; Acts 17:6-7; James 4:12). God’s words to Hosea seem to validate this, “They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval.” (Hosea 8:4). Romans 13 begins to make more sense if understood in this light.

A TERROR FOR THOSE WHO DO RIGHT?

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.

Romans 13:3

God’s true and valid rulers are truly not a terror to those who do right. But does Paul actually think that Caesar is not a terror to those who do right? Not at all.

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8

       Paul clearly thinks that governments are a terror to those who do right, saying, “Remember… my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal… In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 2:8-9, 3:12). The rulers of Rome were certainly a terror for Paul who was doing right. So if Paul is referring to Jesus in Romans 13:3 then he indeed holds no terror for those who do right.

WHAT ABOUT THE RULERS WHO DO “NOT BEAR THE SWORD IN VAIN”?

     We know from Jesus that anyone who wields actual swords does indeed do so in vain (Matthew 26:52, Revelation 13:10 NLV), so Paul could likely be speaking metaphorically. Several places in the New Testament refer to Jesus’s words of truth as a metaphorical sword (Ephesians 6:17, Matthew 10:34; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16; 19:15, 21). If Jesus is in view as the valid authority, then his sword would be the truth.

WHAT ABOUT PAUL TELLING US TO PAY TAXES?

     Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:7-10

     To whom are taxes and customs owed? Paul previously was arrested for practicing non-Roman customs (Acts 16:20-22). Does Paul believe that Christians owe Rome the practicing of their customs? No, of course not. Does Paul think that Christians owe Caesar taxes? Also no. You can notice that Paul, just like Jesus, never actually tells his readers to pay taxes. Tax collectors were hated because the Jews understood that taxation was theft—or extortion more precisely.

     Governments demand money from people without their consent and will use violence and/or murder if anyone refuses to pay. By the very definition used to arrest any normal person for committing this action, taxation is theft. Stealing is outlawed because it is wrong. “You shall not steal” (Romans 13:9). So governments do to people what they don’t allow their subjects to do to them. This violates what Paul continues on to say is the summary of the whole law: “love your neighbor as yourself.” So to whom are taxes owed? Paul answers his own question, “owe no one anything except to love each other” (Romans 13:8 ESV).

THE ENEMIES OF GOD

       Romans 13 doesn’t teach that we should obey governments. We obey God, not men. God doesn’t choose who is in government, he merely arranges them the best he is able while maintaining our free will. God doesn’t approve of any violence done by any person, whether they are his children or not. And since government leaders are given their authority directly from the devil, of course, Romans 13 doesn’t give Christians permission to ever be a part of any government.

    Jesus didn’t consider human rulers to be true rulers and authorities (Mark 10:42-45). He considers them to be his enemies, which he will destroy (1 Corinthians 15:24-25 NLT).9 He rebukes their supposed ‘authority,’ and so should we.

So are you going be conformed to the world or stand for truth?

Rejecting the lies of empire.

Jesus and his disciples had a lot to say about how Christians should treat other people. He even went as far as telling his followers that they must love their enemies if they want to be considered a child of God. This is a radically difficult and counter-cultural command that has far-reaching implications.

If Jesus commanded people to love every person, including enemies, then that rules out going to war against them. The early Church understood Christ’s command this way. They forbid service in the military because it would require killing enemies instead of loving them. It only took 300 years after the time of Jesus for humankind to invent a theology to get around this command. Ever since then, Christians have been killing their enemies instead of loving them. This has been justified for many reasons over the centuries.

Today in America, the justification for ignoring Christ’s command to love our enemies is the excuse that soldiers have fought and died for the very freedom that allows us to worship God. Therefore, the logic is that it is a necessary exception to following Jesus because it is what allows us to follow Jesus. While this certainly wasn’t the mindset of the early Church and those closest to Jesus, it has become the narrative of the day.

There is just one problem.

DYING FOR FREEDOM?

There is a story that the empire of America echos every chance it gets: that U.S. soldiers who have died in America’s foreign wars and foreign interventions have done so in defense of our rights and freedoms. It is a message that can be heard at sporting events, memorial services, airports, churches, and everywhere else that anyone will listen.

There is one major thing wrong, however. It’s a lie. None of those soldiers died protecting our rights and freedoms. That’s because our rights and freedoms were never being threatened by the enemy forces that killed those soldiers. To many, this sounds like a bold claim. Prove it, right? Let’s take a look at every major military conflict that the U.S. has been in, starting from the most recent (at the time of this writing) to the oldest.

SYRIA

The Syrian government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Syria was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

PAKISTAN

The Pakistan government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Pakistan was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

LIBYA

The Libyan government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Libya was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

NIGER

The Niger government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Niger was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

SOMALIA

The Somali government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Somalia was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

IRAQ

The Iraq government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Iraq was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

AFGHANISTAN

The Afghan government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Afghanistan was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms. Even al-Qaeda never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Its terrorist attacks were retaliation for U.S. interventionism in the Middle East.

PANAMA

The Panama government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in Panama was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

GRENADA

The Grenada government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in Grenada was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

VIETNAM

The North Vietnam government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in Vietnam was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

KOREA

The North Korean government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in Korea was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

WORLD WAR II

The Japanese government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in the Pacific theater in World War II was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms. The Japanese attack on U.S. Naval forces on Hawaii was intended solely to prevent the U.S. Navy from interfering with Japanese attempts to acquire oil in the Dutch East Indies in response to President Roosevelt’s oil embargo, whose aim was to provoke the Japanese into attacking the United States so that the U.S. could get into the European part of war.

The German government never invaded the United States and try to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in the European theater in World War II was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms. Germany wasn’t even able to cross the English Channel to invade England, much less the Atlantic Ocean to invade the United States. In fact, the last thing that Germany wanted was war with the United States, as reflected by Germany’s refusal to react to President Roosevelt’s repeated provocations to get Germany to attack the United States. Germany only declared war on the United States (to fulfill its treaty obligations) after FDR successfully provoked the Japanese into attacking the U.S. Navy fleet at Pearl Harbor, in hopes that this would provide a back door to entry into the war in Europe.

WORLD WAR I

The German government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in World War I was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms, especially given the ridiculous aims of U.S. intervention into the war: to “end all wars” and to “make the world safe for democracy,” a word that isn’t even in the U.S. Constitution. In fact, it is perversely ironic that it was U.S. interventionism into the conflict that contributed to the rise of Nazi Germany and World War II.

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

The Spanish government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any soldier who died in the Spanish-American War was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.

In the World War, we used propaganda to make the boys accept conscription. They were made to feel ashamed if they didn’t join the army. So vicious was this war propaganda that even God was brought into it. With few exceptions our clergymen joined in the clamor to kill, kill, kill. To kill the Germans. God is on our side… it is His will that the Germans be killed. And in Germany, the good pastors called upon the Germans to kill the allies… to please the same God. That was a part of the general propaganda, built up to make people war conscious and murder conscious.

Beautiful ideals were painted for our boys who were sent out to die. This was the “war to end all wars.” This was the “war to make the world safe for democracy.” No one mentioned to them, as they marched away, that their going and their dying would mean huge war profits.

—Smedley Butler, at the time the most decorated Marine in U.S. history.1

Never Ending War

WHY LIE?

So, why the lie? Why keep saying that U.S. soldiers have died protecting our rights and freedoms? Perhaps the truth is too embarrassing and too shameful, especially when one is an ardent supporter of all or some of these foreign wars and interventions. It’s easier to salve one’s conscience by simply buying into the lie. But more importantly, the lie is necessary for the empire to continue to survive. This is why keeping up the lie becomes “a matter of national security.”

After World War II the war machine never turned back off. An entire industry that profited from war was built and was never torn back down. In his farewell address, President Eisenhower warned the American people: “Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. …we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions… we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”

Since that time, the American economy has transformed around profiting from war and the spoils they bring. Today, war is the largest industry in America and we are the world’s most prolific purveyor of weapons. It is ironic that in Eisenhower’s warning, he used the imagery of makers of plowshares making swords. The prophet Isaiah prophesied a time when God’s people would beat their swords into plowshares, weapons transformed into instruments of agriculture, and there would be no more war (Isaiah 2:4). Scripture identifies this prophesied time as the arrival of Jesus Christ. With the coming of Jesus, war has been abolished as his followers now work for peace instead of war.

Isaiah prophesied the work of Christ and his peace. Eisenhower prophesied the work of anti-christ and its war.

THE LIES WORK

The lie that America fights for freedom is a lie that is repeated endlessly from grade school and onward in attempts to indoctrinate. In fact, the indoctrination is so perfect that it actually doesn’t matter what the troops are doing overseas. Whatever they are doing is automatically considered to be “defending our freedom.”

Consider a hypothetical. Suppose there is some country thousands of miles away that is minding its own business. There are no attacks on the United States or even threats to attack the United States. The only problem is that the regime is not sufficiently submissive to the U.S. government. The U.S. government decides to invade the country and install a pro-U.S. regime. The troops are sent into battle. Some are killed. Countless more people are killed on the other side.

There is no doubt that millions of Americans will automatically conclude that those U.S. troops killed and died “defending our freedom,” notwithstanding the fact that our freedom was never at risk. Remember: that hypothetical country never attacked the United States or even threatened to do so. Yet, many Americans will nonetheless honor their brave and courageous soldiers who died or lost arms or legs while “defending our freedom.” It is how the indoctrinated mind works.

But, how can we be so certain that that’s the way many Americans would react to that hypothetical situation?

Because that’s what happened with Iraq, a country whose government never attacked the United States or even threatened to do so. Thus, not one single U.S. soldier died in Iraq “defending our freedom” because our freedom was never threatened by Iraq.

REJECT THE LIE

Over 120 countries have freedom of religion and none of them have soldiers fighting all over the world to maintain it. The majority of countries have freedom of speech. And, for all the military bases that the U.S. has (it has around 800) in over 70 countries, America still isn’t the freest country in the world.2 America is outranked by 16 other countries for having the most freedom.3

If you invade another country, you aren’t defending your country — you are attacking people who are defending their country from you.

As Sun Tzu, a Chinese general and author of The Art of War, once wrote, “all warfare is based on deception.” Satan is the great deceiver who comes to kill, steal, and destroy (Revelation 12:9, John 10:10). The more power that a worldly nation acquires, the more it operates according to the power structures of Satan, which are inverse to the power structure of Jesus. Romans rallied around their troops “for the glory of Rome.” That worked for them. For America, troops are honored because “they defend our freedoms.” It’s the same old lies with a fresh coat of paint.

Nations of the world, which are controlled and ruled by Satan will always use lies to further death (1 John 5:19). Jesus offers another way.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

When the Church and the State don’t mix.

      For many, the phrase “for God and country” stirs up feelings of patriotism and pride. The phrase evokes an idea that a cause is both for the good of the country and also aligns with God’s will. Many soldiers hold the phrase dear to their hearts as it is personal reassurance that they fight for a noble cause. After all, the government “does not bear the sword in vain, it is God’s agents of wrath.”

    This quote from Romans 13 has been used throughout the centuries to justify various nation’s use of violence. Is there Biblical support for a Christian to participate?

Let’s take a look at the passage in question:

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Romans 13:1-4

    In America, the line of thinking often is: “You have a duty to participate in the government and defend your country because God is over it, and God says to submit to the government.” So when America goes off to war, it is not “waging war for no reason,” America is “God’s wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” American Christians like the idea that the United States was set up as a “servant of God.”

EVERY NATION UNDER GOD

This interpretation of Romans 13 would logically indicate that God also set up every other nation as an “agent of wrath” that “does not bear the sword for no reason.” After all, Paul says that “there is no authority except that which God has established.” So that means that North Korea’s government was established by God. That means that everyone who died at the hands of Stalin in Russia was “resisting against the authority that God had appointed.” It means that everyone who was killed by the Nazi’s Third Reich was justifiably killed because “rulers hold no terror for those who do right, only for those who do wrong.” Paul makes some pretty terrifying claims at first glance.

The idea that “God is on our side” or Gott mit uns as Hitler would say! It has been an absolute favorite ploy of nearly every national leader throughout recent history. It is a mentality that has worked wonders in the United States in getting Christians to sign up for military service. It worked very well in Nazi Germany as well. The majority of Nazi soldiers were Bible-believing Christians. Each and every one of them wore the words “Gott Mit Uns [God With Us]” on their belt buckles. They believed it. We believe it. But is it true?

Did you ever see the Nazi “God With Us” Belt? Hope we won’t see you at the “Nuremberg trials”.n You were just follow whose orders?

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.

Romans 13:1

    The Greek word that Paul uses that we translate into ‘established,’ is ‘tasso.’ The word can mean ‘to establish,’ or ‘to file,’ or ‘to order something,’ and sometimes is translated as ‘orchestrate.’ There are many scholars who argue that Paul, thankfully, isn’t saying here that the way governments are is the way God established them, because then you’d have to conclude that God set up Nazi Germany. Rather, what he’s saying, is that God will work with the governments, evil or good, to create some kind of order. Whether he likes them or not, he’ll use them according to the kind of government they are.

   Remember, Scripture claims that Satan rules over the nations. But God is a redemptive God, he can use the most evil schemes of oppressive government, turning them on their heads to advance his Kingdom. While God works with the governments he finds, it doesn’t mean that God approves of every government’s every action. Empires are a major enemy of God. Yet God is their friend.

‘Is an authority which persecutes the children of God, which attacks the faith and which undermines our religion, from God? We shall answer this briefly. Nobody will deny that our senses—sight, sound and thought—are given to us by God. But although we get them from God, what we do with them is up to us.… God’s judgment against the authorities will be just, if they have used the powers they have received according to their own ungodliness and not according to the law of God.’

– Origen of Alexandria (3rd century scholar)

CHRISTIANS WITH A SWORD?

The most important question is whether or not Romans 13 allows for followers of Jesus Christ to participate in “bearing the sword.” Context is key when it comes to Romans 13. We aren’t left to wonder if Christians are to be a part of the role of governments that Paul describes. Just one paragraph earlier in the scripture Paul explains the role of a Christian in relation to government, law-keeping, and military:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Live in harmony with one another. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:14-21

In the original text, there were no chapter markers, those were added later. Paul explains the role of the Church (12:14-21) and then immediately explains the role of the State (13:1-4). Paul is of course very familiar with Christ’s command to “love your enemies.” Paul repeats many of Christ’s teachings when he says things like “bless those who persecute you, do not repay anyone evil for evil, live at peace with everyone, do not take revenge, feed your enemy.”

How can a Christian love their enemies and work in government or the military and be responsible for killing their enemies? Obviously they can’t. Paul knew this too. That is why in Romans 12, Paul is clearly speaking directly to the believers in Rome using the pronoun “you.” But when Paul talks about Caesar in Romans 13, the pronoun changes to “he” or “his.” (seriously, crack open your Bible and read it again)

Romans 13 isn’t about you. Romans 12 is about you!

Being a Christian means being a citizen of the Kingdom of God. We aren’t citizens of America, or Germany, or any kingdom of the world. We have our own government, we have our own army.

The main reason Paul addresses what he does in Romans 13, is to speak into the desire to revolt against Rome. There was a constant temptation to be drawn into violent revolutionary movements. Paul is telling the church in Rome to resist that urge and to follow the way of Jesus instead of the way of the sword.

SWEARING OFF EKDIKEO

Paul, known for carefully crafted word-play and intentional literary structure, uses a clever word illustration when he goes on to explain the role of governments.

In Romans 12 and 13, Paul uses the words ‘revenge,’ ‘avenger,’ and ‘vengeance.’ In the original Greek, Paul uses a single root-word for all three, the word ‘ekdikeo.’ He says “[Christians], do not take revenge (ekdikeo) for ‘vengeance (ekdikos) is mine,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19) Paul then goes on to say that “government is a servant of God, an avenger (ekdikos) who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4).

Scripture says here that Christians shouldn’t act out ekdikeo. Why? Because ekdikeo is for God to handle. How? God uses governments to act out ekdikeo. The governments— bearers of the sword— are agents of God’s ekdikeo. They are not held to the same high standard that Christians are held to. Governments do ekdikeo, Christians don’t.

Any role that requires us to aggress in order to achieve justice is not the role of the Church, it is the role of the State.

How can Christians “love their enemy,” “not take revenge,” “never repay evil for evil,” “feed their enemies,” and “live at peace with everyone” if they are they are also a “servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath”? Paul is making the claim that they can’t.

If Christians take the commands of Jesus seriously, Christians should make pretty lousy soldiers. Instead of dropping bombs, they would be saying prayers. Instead of throwing hand-grenades, they would be sending blessings. Instead of firing bullets, they would be serving meals. God has a radical calling for followers of Jesus.

Sword with Bible

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO

Paul gives us a clear guide on the differences between the State and the Church in Romans 12:9-13:7.

THE STATE

Uses “the sword”

Takes “vengeance” on God’s behalf

Represents God’s wrath & justice

Maintains social order

Demands taxes & obedience

THE CHURCH.

Rejects “the sword”

Leaves “vengeance” to God

Represents God’s infinite compassion

Spreads radical love for all

Offers taxes & submission

It should come as no surprise that Paul would claim that “the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Christians have a different role to play in shaping the world. Our weapons aren’t swords or guns, arrows or bullets. And that makes sense since our true enemies are not physical, they are spiritual (Ephesians 6:12).

Jesus knew that his followers shouldn’t be warriors. The apostles knew it. Paul knew it too. Most surprisingly though, a Roman Emperor knew it as well.

The early church, up until Christianity was co-oped by empire in AD313, without exception, did not allow those in the military or government to be baptized. Those that were baptized were forbidden from killing. After Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome, all that changed. Now soldiers were required to be baptized Christians and Romans 13 was used to justify killing in the name of Jesus.

Despite perverting the Christian religion, it seems Emperor Constantine knew he shouldn’t be baptized while living the life he was. Constantine waited until he was on his death bed to be baptized. Following his baptism, Constantine refused to wear the imperial purple and died wearing a white baptismal robe. It seems he knew he couldn’t live out Romans 13 and Romans 12.

WHEN YOU PICK UP A SWORD, YOU PUT DOWN THE CROSS

The late theologian, John Howard Yoder, explains John 15:13: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”: Jesus said that about himself. Many Western war monuments to the dead have that verse on them, as though what a dead soldier went out to do was to lay down his life for his friends. That is not what he went out to do. He went out to kill, and hoped to come home. He went out to lay down somebody else’s life.”

So that is the truth about laying down your life and not being conformed to the world

PEACE

Acts 26:12

“While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,

Damascus. The Damascus Road conversion of Saul is one of the most dramatic scenes in the Bible and the story is told no less than three times (Acts 9:3-6, 22:6-11, 26:13-18).

---

Acts 26:13

at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me.

Brighter than the sun. This was not a metaphorical light but a light bright enough to blind Saul (Acts 22:11). What exactly did Saul see?

Although we can’t prove it, it’s possible that Saul was blinded by the face of Jesus. On a couple of occasions in scripture, Jesus shone like the sun. “He was transfigured before them; and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as light” (Matt 17:2, see also Rev. 1:16). Barnabas told the disciples that Saul “had seen the Lord on the road” (Acts 9:27).

---

Acts 26:14

“And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

Hebrew dialect. Some Bible translations have the Lord speaking the common language of Aramaic, but the original word here means Hebrew (Hebrais). (Aramaic is not a Hebrew dialect but a separate language.) The Lord spoke to Saul in his native tongue and in the language of the Hebrew Bible. He did not speak to him in Greek.

---

Acts 26:18

to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

(a) Turn from darkness to light. In the new covenant, repentance is often described as a return or turning to God (see entry for Acts 26:20).

(b) Receive forgiveness. Forgiveness is a gift to receive, not a wage to be earned.

(c) Forgiveness of sins. All your sins – past, present, and future – were dealt with on the cross (Heb. 9:26). In Christ, you have the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14). In him, you are completely and eternally forgiven according to the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:7).

On the night he rose from the dead, Jesus instructed his disciples to preach the good news of the complete forgiveness or remission of all sins (see entry for Luke 24:47). After the cross, the apostles described forgiveness in the past tense and as a gift to receive (see entry for Acts 13:38).

(d) Those who have been sanctified. Throughout scripture, Christians are consistently referred to as sanctified saints (Acts 20:32, 26:18, Rom. 1:7, 12:1, 15:25, 1 Cor. 1:2, 6:11, 16:1, 2 Cor. 1:1, Eph. 1:1, Php. 1:1, Col. 1:2, Phm. 1:5, Heb. 2:11, 10:10, 14, 13:24, Jude 1:1).

Christians are holy because Jesus makes them so (Heb. 10:10, 14). Collectively Christians are known as a holy priesthood and a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:5, 9). The church is both God’s holy temple (1 Cor. 3:16-17, Eph. 2:21), and the Lord’s radiant and holy bride (Eph. 5:27).

(e) Sanctified. To be sanctified is to be made holy or whole and in Christ you are completely complete (Col. 2:10). Jesus is the Holy One (Mark 8:38), and “if the root is holy, so are the branches” (Rom. 11:16). Christians are holy branches connected to the Holy Vine. See entry for Holiness.

(f) Sanctified by faith. All of God’s blessings, including forgiveness, salvation, righteousness and sanctification, come to us freely by grace and are received by faith. Faith does not compel God to forgive us or sanctify us. But faith is the conduit through which grace flows. See entry for Eph. 2:8.

---

Acts 26:20

but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

Repent and turn to God. In the new covenant, repentance is often described as a return or turning to God (Matt. 13:15, Mark 4:12, Acts 3:19, 9:35, 11:21, 14:15, 20:21, 26:17-18, 20, 2 Cor. 3:16, 1 Th. 1:9).

Many scriptures in the Old Testament link repentance with turning from sin (e.g., 2 Chr. 7:14). In the old covenant, God’s blessings were conditional on you humbling, praying, seeking, and turning. But in the new covenant, all of God’s blessings are poured out on us of the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:3, 7, 2:7).

Because of the change in covenants, it is a mistake to define repentance as turning from sin. Preach “turn from sin or you’re not saved” and you are preaching pure law. You are prescribing sin-rejection as a means for salvation. This false gospel leaves sinners worse off because it empowers the sin that enslaves them while scorning the grace that might otherwise save them (1 Cor. 15:56).

In the old covenant, repentance implied a turning from, as in turn from sin. But in the new, repentance means a turning to, as in turn to God (Acts 20:21). Turning from versus turning to may seem like splitting hairs, but it’s the difference between life and death. Someone who turns to God automatically turns from sin and dead works, but someone who turns from sin does not automatically turn to God. Consider the religious Pharisees. They turned from sin on a daily basis yet they did not recognize the Grace of God even as he came and stood among them.

See entry for Repentance.

(b) Performing deeds appropriate to repentance. Just as faith without works is dead, repentance without works is dead.

Faith and repentance are two sides of the same coin. They are both nouns that are evidenced by verbs – the things we do. So what are the deeds which are appropriate to repentance? The New Testament lists hundreds of imperative statements but the chief of all is to believe in Jesus. Believing in Jesus is both the will, the work and the commandment of God (John 6:29, 40, 1 John 3:23). See entry for Jas. 2:14.

taken from Paul Ellis The Grace Commentary

https://thegracecommentary.com/acts-26/#acts26v12

That fell down hard in the vapor trail

Venus was a high mountain

A new season of dirigibles in the upper cloud

Silvery shiny bullets colonoized the space

Over her nipples and down her hair

Venus conquered by her damn slaves

Building pyramids to Hathor

Darting back and forth

THERE she was long long ago.

……………….

They called her Ishtar Hathor

A just slut and secret prostitute

And she was not saint or secret

But filled with nauseating filth and scum

SMELL OF RANK DEATH

Open pit to the masturbation gods

A pit trap for young ripe men to fall in

To enjoy the delicacies of gonorhea

So beautiful photoshoped surface

An Atmosphere crushingly awesome

So thick she will melt your skin

In 700 degree super liquid fun.

……………..

Death has many faces

But the worst of all is mask of Delilah

Samson said with face so red

I had to say when I left her bed

I must have lost all my head

At least my eyes? Were they worth it?

I must have lost my head

As I left her bed

And was flying at orbital speed

Crossing outer space in a race

In time to get away and find my way home

I touched the filth

It was wrapped in Aphrodite’s skirt

I fell down and was broken to pieces

On the rock of reality

As my own children i sacrificed on her altars

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Oh Venus

You magical mistress of the stars

Eternal prostitute in all the bars

How could I fall

For such a falling star

How could i drink the poison from

An Alien well

How could i drink it

An be so far away from home and think I was well

So far i was a wandering probe

Wasteland wandering Jew

In a Dagon Canaan hell

How could I be so weak

To let her cast her spell

…………………

I have had enough

It was time to leave and see

The blue and green life

Find Love again and reconnect

Again with you my Fresh wind

And my pure drink of water

To be refreshed and rescued

Out of this burning world

By my Lord and savior

My hero and big brother

My real Qadesh

…….

Im done now with the backward days

Of the new ocean fog and haze

Im done with the shining orbs

And eastern sunsets

Over the metalic ballons and cocoons

I am so done with the sleepless nights

And fights for nothing

SO done with this world of pressure cooking

Bye Venus and all that stinks

Even your not very pink

I was stirred up to a whinning pace

A rocket launched into the spirit of space

I rose so high and was pulled into orbit

Onward to the heavenly places so far from

All the planetary powers they are no more

SO high above that heavenly body of lust

That turned out to be the second step

From the sun to the grave

And from the grave to escape velocity

He rose and took me in His power

I am so exalted to be here

I grow with you my love

I grow by the hour

My hero My big brother

So far above all the stars, imposters,

the actors in bars

Presidents from Mars.

L’amour, pas la haine, est la réponse

Plus d’amour ! Puis plus de Joie ! Puis plus de Paix et tout ce que l’Esprit peut donner par son fruit.

L’amour est tout ce dont tu as besoin

L’amour ne fait jamais défaut

1Co 13:8

La charité ne faillit jamais ; mais s’il y a des prophéties, elles viendront à manquer ; s’il y a des langues, elles cesseront ; s’il y a de la connaissance, elle s’évanouira.

L’amour est le premier fruit et tout le reste suit

Gal 5:22

Mais le fruit de l’Esprit, c’est l’amour, la joie, la paix, la longanimité, la douceur, la bonté, la foi,

L’amour est la force

Eph 3:16-19

Qu’il vous accorde, selon la richesse de sa gloire, d’être fortifiés par son Esprit dans l’homme intérieur, afin que Christ habite dans vos cœurs par la foi, et que, étant enracinés et fondés dans l’amour, vous puissiez comprendre avec tous les saints quelle est la largeur, la longueur, la profondeur et la hauteur, et connaître l’amour de Christ, qui surpasse toute connaissance, afin d’être remplis de toute la plénitude de Dieu.

1Co 13:7

Supporte tout, croit tout, espère tout, endure tout.

L’Amour nous tient ensemble ! Son amour nous dépasse, pas la peur.

He 2:14

Ainsi donc, puisque les enfants ont part à la chair et au sang, Lui-même a eu part à la même chose, afin de détruire par la mort celui qui a la puissance de la mort, c’est-à-dire le diable,

He 2:15

et de libérer ceux qui, par crainte de la mort, étaient asservis toute leur vie.

2Co 5:14

Car l’amour du Christ nous commande, ayant conclu ceci, qu’un seul est mort pour tous, donc tous sont morts ;

Luc 8:37

Et tous les habitants du territoire des Géraséniens et de la région environnante lui demandèrent de les quitter, parce qu’ils étaient envahis par une grande crainte ; il monta dans une barque et s’en retourna.

“Contrôler, contraindre, et submerger est le même mot sunecho “.

1 Jean 4 :18 ” Il n’y a pas de crainte dans l’amour, mais l’amour parfait chasse la crainte, car la crainte a un châtiment, et celui qui craint n’a pas été parfait dans l’amour. “

Deux choix : Vivre par la peur de la mort tous vos jours terrestres. Ou vivre libéré de la peur par l’Amour tous les jours qui restent. Ayez un impact ! Laissez une trace avant de mourir, car vous le ferez de toute façon dans ce monde. Regardez autour de vous. Pas un seul chrétien n’a été enlevé !

L’amour vous fait avoir un but et être quelque chose !

Co 13:2

Quand j’aurais le don de prophétie, quand je comprendrais tous les mystères et toute la science, quand j’aurais toute la foi, au point d’enlever des montagnes, quand je n’aurais pas la charité, je ne serais rien.

Je ne veux pas être rien ! Je le refuse.

L’Amour de Dieu est plus puissant que tout, même que la mort ! Rien que nous puissions faire ou non. Rien de ce qu’ils peuvent nous faire ou non. Rien dans l’univers n’est plus grand que DIEU. L’ennemi peut prendre cette vie qui est un rêve passager mais pas la vie éternelle qui est la réalité du rocher.

Rom 8:39

Ni la hauteur, ni la profondeur, ni aucune autre créature ne pourra nous séparer de l’amour de Dieu, qui est dans le Christ Jésus notre Seigneur.

Et Dieu est AMOUR

1Jo 4:8

Celui qui n’aime pas ne connaît pas Dieu, car Dieu est amour. Alors, à qui faites-vous confiance, à Dieu ou aux hommes qui mentent et qui haïssent ?

L’amour de Dieu se définit par le fait de donner et non de prendre

1Jo 4:9

L’amour de Dieu s’est révélé en nous par le fait que Dieu a envoyé son Fils unique dans le monde, afin que nous vivions par lui.

Nous vivons aujourd’hui avec l’esprit qu’il nous a donné, l’amour et non la peur. Abandonnez-vous à son Esprit !

1Jo 4:10

En ceci consiste l’amour, non que nous ayons aimé Dieu, mais qu’il nous ait aimés et ait envoyé son Fils comme propitiation pour nos péchés.

Il est le remède à la peur de la mort.

1Jo 4:11

Bien-aimés, si Dieu nous a ainsi aimés, nous devons aussi nous aimer les uns les autres.

Rom 5:5

et l’espérance ne déçoit pas, car l’amour de Dieu a été répandu dans nos cœurs par l’Esprit Saint qui nous a été donné.

Laissez donc l’amour vivre en vous et demandez plus d’amour par la puissance de l’Esprit du Christ qui vit en vous.

L’amour apporte la vie et la paix, mais la peur apporte la mort. Choisissez donc l’amour. Priez pour que de plus en plus d’amour soit déversé en vous ! Il est capable de faire plus que vous ne le pensez. Il ne répondra peut-être pas à toutes vos prières égoïstes, mais il vous transformera en une personne meilleure, capable d’accomplir son dessein en vous. Peut-être mieux que ce que vous aviez prévu. Dieu est intelligent.

Eph 3:20

Maintenant, à celui qui peut faire beaucoup plus que tout ce que nous demandons ou pensons, selon la puissance qui agit en nous,

AMOUR !

Love, NOT HATE is the answer

More love! Then more Joy! Then more Peace and all the Spirit can give by its fruit.

Love Is all you need

Love never fails

1Co 13:8

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Love is the first fruit and all follows

Gal 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Love is strength

Eph 3:16-19

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

1Co 13:7

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Love Hold us together! His Love overwhelms us not fear.

Heb 2:14

Therefore, since the children share in [flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Heb 2:15

and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

2Co 5:14

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

Luk 8:37

And all the people of the territory of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Him to leave them, because they were overwhelmed by great fear; and He got into a boat and returned.

« control, constrain, and overwhelm is the same word sunecho »

1 John 4 :18 « There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment; and the one fearing has not been perfected in love. »

Two choices : Live by fear of death all your earthly days. Or live free from fear by Love all your days that remain. Make an impact! Leave a mark before you die, because you will anyways in this world. Look around. Not one Christian had been raptured out!

Love makes you have a purpose and be something!

Co 13:2

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

I do not want to be nothing! I refuse that.

The Love of God is more powerful than anything, even death! Nothing we can do or not. Nothing they can do to us or not. Nothing in the universe is Greater than GOD. The enemy may take this life which is a passing dream but not Eternal life which is Rock reality.

Rom 8:39

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And God is LOVE

1Jo 4:8

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. So who do you trust God or men that lie and hate?

Love of God is defined by giving not taking

1Jo 4:9

By this the love of God was revealed [fn]in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him.

We live today with the spirit He gave us of love not fear. Surrender to His Spirit!

1Jo 4:10

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

He is the cure from fear of death.

1Jo 4:11

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Rom 5:5

and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So let love live in you and ask for more love by the power of the Spirit of Christ that lives in you.

Love brings life and peace but fear brings death. So please chose Love. Pray for more and more love to be poured into you! He is able to do more than you think. He may not answer all your selfish prayers but HE will change you to be a better person able to fulfill His purpose in you. Maybe better than what you planned. God is smart.

Eph 3:20

¶

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

LOVE!

bâtard
Nous voici donc le 25 février 2022 et voici quelques trésors que j’ai trouvés sur le site d’Henry Makow : Peu importe ce que vous pensez de lui, vous pouvez trouver de l’or dans la terre si vous êtes un prospecteur comme moi.

Voici quelques extraits :

“Les dirigeants du monde ont décidé que le mensonge de Covid ne fonctionne pas. Ils n’ont pas tué assez de gens avec leur premier plan. Ils n’ont pas pu asservir assez de gens avec la peur de la mort de cette façon non

Peut-être que Dieu a dû intervenir par un miracle pour nous garder. Ils n’ont pas pu nous convaincre de courir vers nos dirigeants pour obtenir de l’aide. Ils n’ont pas pu tromper assez de gens comme ils l’avaient prévu. Ils n’ont pas pu décourager les vrais croyants. Ils n’ont pas pu tuer suffisamment par le découragement, la dépression, le suicide, la famine et la maladie. Non !”

Alors j’ajoute, “N’écoutez pas les mensonges des faux prêcheurs mes chers ! !! Armegadon n’a jamais été le plan de Dieu, peu importe ce que les menteurs vous ont enseigné. Ce n’est pas inévitable. L’Apocalypse en tant qu’écriture ne peut pas annuler tout l’Evangile. Et tous les livres de l’Apocalypse ne peuvent effacer la grâce de Jésus ! Il est ici et vous n’avez pas besoin d’attendre la fin du monde. Cela a toujours été un mensonge des faux prophètes. Il est ICI et VIVANT dans chaque vrai croyant en CHRIST et c’est maintenant notre jour pour nous lever et briller ! !!

Alors maintenant, les dirigeants et les rois du monde comme Poutine, Merkel, Biden, Schwaub et Jinping se sont réunis à Davos pour faire des plans de guerre mais contre qui ? Personne d’autre que la menace des rois.

Actes 4:26

Les rois de la terre se sont levés, et les princes se sont assemblés contre le Seigneur et contre son Christ.

N’ayez pas peur de ce qu’ils peuvent faire avec la troisième guerre mondiale. Leur plan a toujours été de vous rendre fou de peur afin que vous abandonniez volontiers Christ et la liberté de le prêcher ! Ils essaieront d’utiliser la peur de la mort pour voler toutes nos libertés et contrôler tous les croyants avec des lois martiales pour notre ” protection ” NE LES CROYEZ PAS ! Ils utiliseront le patriotisme pour diviser et conquérir le monde avec la haine et la méfiance. Faites confiance à l’amour ! Faites confiance à Dieu ! Pas la guerre ! La puissance ne fait pas le droit ! Les puissants s’écrouleront et tomberont ! . Ne courez pas vers votre police ou votre armée locale pour vous sauver ! Ne pensez pas que vous êtes du bon côté et que vous allez tuer vos frères en Russie et en Chine ! Ce n’est pas la bataille ! La nôtre n’est pas avec la chair et le sang.

Et soyez libres. Dieu nous a amenés jusqu’ici, alors pas de remerciements pour les gens comme Gates et le contrôle de l’internet ! !! . Et maintenant Dieu va montrer son bras fort et délivrer merveilleusement ceux qui invoquent son nom ! Priez et soyez bénis. Priez et soyez délivrés !

“L’agriculteur a parlé au Western Standard sous couvert de l’anonymat car il ne veut pas subir de répercussions supplémentaires.

Après la fermeture, le 4 février, du site initial de financement par la foule du convoi pour la liberté, GoFundMe, il a fait un don à GiveSendGo. Le deuxième site de crowdfunding a été piraté et les donateurs privés ont fait l’objet d’un doxxing.

Quelques jours plus tard, il a découvert que ses comptes personnels et professionnels étaient gelés après avoir essayé d’envoyer deux virements le même jour, un pour du matériel et un pour des biens.

Il a déclaré que “les signaux d’alarme se sont déclenchés” après que TD Bank l’a informé que les transferts étaient bloqués et il a commencé à enquêter sur ce qui se passait.

“Tout d’un coup, tout était gelé. Je ne pouvais pas faire de virements électroniques, je ne pouvais pas payer mes factures en ligne.”

Il s’est alors rendu dans son agence locale pour parler à quelqu’un en personne. “Je leur ai demandé ce qui se passait. Ils n’ont (pas) voulu me dire quoi que ce soit. Tout est dicté à partir de Toronto”.

L’agriculteur a retenu les services d’un avocat pour résoudre le problème, car ” je dois gérer une entreprise “, mais jusqu’à présent, la banque a donné des réponses évasives à son avocat.

En désespoir de cause, l’agriculteur utilise d’autres moyens pour payer ses factures.

“J’ai utilisé le compte (d’un proche parent) et j’ai emprunté de l’argent à un ami (sinon) nous aurions de gros problèmes”.

Il a déclaré que toute cette situation lui a donné un sentiment d’impuissance.

“Je ne sais pas vraiment où aller (pour obtenir de l’aide). C’est juste un tel sentiment d’impuissance de ne pas avoir accès au financement ou à votre argent.”

Il a dit qu’il n’a pas dit à beaucoup de gens ce qui lui est arrivé parce qu’il ne sait plus qui sont ses amis dans ce “monde coupé et divisé”.

“Je ne peux pas croire que les gens sont si naïfs et sont incapables de voir la vérité… ce qui se passe avec (ce) programme communiste.”

L’agriculteur a déclaré que les Canadiens devraient se soucier de ce qui lui est arrivé car “ce n’est que le début de ce qui se passe. Ils vont surveiller les comptes bancaires de tout le monde et nous n’avons plus aucune liberté.”

Le Western Standard a demandé au fermier s’il finançait le terrorisme au Canada.

“Certainement pas. Le don était destiné au carburant ou aux chambres d’hôtel ou autre. Une manifestation pacifique était ce qu’elle était censée être, et puis ils font venir des flics de l’ONU ou d’où qu’ils viennent. On ne sait pas.”

“C’est très effrayant pour moi. Oui, ça l’est. Assez effrayant. Je pense à vendre et à déménager hors du Canada.”

Tous les Canadiens ont eu une démonstration du système de crédit social communiste chinois.”

La guerre est toujours une distraction du sabotage économique. Même si les graines des crashs financiers sont souvent plantées et arrosées bien à l’avance par les banques centrales, les banques ne sont jamais blâmées car les conflits internationaux prennent commodément le devant de la scène. Par extension, la crise économique provoque la pauvreté de masse, le désespoir de masse et l’hystérie de masse, et les mondialistes diront que ces dangers exigent une solution internationale qu’ils fourniront volontiers sous la forme de la centralisation.

“Mais cela ne s’arrête pas là. Poutine et le Kremlin ont également entretenu un dialogue constant avec le Forum économique mondial, le projet du mondialiste désormais notoire Klaus Schwab. En fait, pas plus tard que l’année dernière, la Russie a annoncé qu’elle rejoignait le “réseau de la quatrième révolution industrielle” du WEF, qui se concentre sur la socialisation économique, l’intelligence artificielle, l'”internet des objets” et une foule d’autres intérêts mondialistes qui mèneront tous à la technocratie et à la tyrannie mondiales.”

Vous voulez savoir qui tire les ficelles ? Voici votre nouveau gouvernement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Economic_Forum?fbclid=IwAR3YXMkWMnFAR8gBeUcFzZjf0_np-2_IMaImJBPP65i91SPkw2jJAm5OHeU

So here we are in Feb 25 2022 and here are some treasure i found in Henry Makow’s site: No matter what you think of him, you can find gold in the dirt if you are a prospector like me.

Here are some excerpts:

“The leaders of the world have decided that the Covid lie is not working. It has not killed enough people with their first plan. They could not enslave enough people with fear of death that way no

Perhaps God had to intervene with some miracle to keep us. They could not convince us to run to our leaders for help. THey could not deceive enough people as they planned. THey could not discourage the real believers. They could not kill enough by discouragement, depression, suicide, famine and sickness. No!”

So I add, “Do not listen to the lies of the false preachers dear ones!! Armegadon was never Gods plan not matter what the liars have taught you. It is not inevitable. Revelation as a scripture cannot overide all the Gospel. And all the Book of Apocalypse cannot erase the grace of Jesus!! He is here and you need not wait for the end of the world. That was always a lie from false prophets. HE is HERE and ALIVE in each true believer in CHRIST and now is our day to RISE and SHINE!!!

So now the leaders and Kings of the world like Putin, Merkel, Biden, Schwaub and Jinping have met in Davos in to make the plans to war but against who? None other than the threatening of the kings

 Act 4:26

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

Do not be afraid of what they can do with world war three. It was always their plan to drive you crazy with fear so that you will gladly give up Christ and Freedom to preach Him! They will try to use the fear of death to steal all our freedoms and control all believers with martial laws for our “protection” DO not believe them!! They will use patriotism to divide and conquer the world with hatred and mistrust. Trust love! trust God! Not War! Might does not make right! The mighty will crumble and fall! . Do not run to your local police or army to save you! DO not think you are on the right side and kill your brothers in Russia and China! That is not the battle!! Our is not with flesh and blood.

And be free. God has brought us this far, so no thanks to the likes of Gates and the control of the internet!!! . And now God will show His arm strong and wonderfully deliver those that call on HIs NAME! Pray and be blessed. Pray and be delivered!

“The farmer spoke to the Western Standard on the condition of anonymity because he does not want to suffer additional repercussions.

After the Freedom Convoy’s original crowd funding site, GoFundMe, was shut down Feb. 4, he donated to GiveSendGo. The second crowdfunding site was hacked and private donors doxxed.

Days later, he discovered his personal and business accounts were frozen after he tried to send two wires on the same day, one for equipment and one for property.

He said “red flags went up” after TD Bank notified him the transfers were held up and he started investigating what was going on.

“All of a sudden everything was frozen. I couldn’t do an e-transfers, I couldn’t pay bills online.”

He then went into his local branch to speak to someone in person. “I said what’s going on? They (wouldn’t) tell (me) anything. It’s all dictated from Toronto.”

The farmer has hired a lawyer to resolve the issue because “I gotta run a business” but to date the bank has given his lawyer the runaround.

Out of desperation, the farmer is using other means to pay bills.

“I’ve been using (a close relative’s) account and I borrowed some money from a friend (otherwise) we’d be in big trouble.”

He said the whole situation has made him feel powerless.

“I don’t actually know where to go (for help). It just is such a helpless feeling to have no access to funding or your money.”

He said he hasn’t told very many people what happened to him because he doesn’t know who his friends are anymore in this “cut and divide world.”

“I can’t believe people are so naïve and are unable to see the truth…what’s going on with (this) communist agenda.”

The farmer said Canadians should care about what happened to him because “this is just the start of what’s going on. They’re going to monitor everybody’s bank accounts and we have no freedoms anymore.”

The Western Standard asked the farmer if he was financing terrorism in Canada.

“Definitely not. The donation was for fuel or hotel rooms or whatever. A peaceful protest was what it was supposed to be, and then they bring in UN cops or wherever they came from. We don’t know.”

“It’s very scary to me. Yeah, it is. scary enough. Thinking about selling and moving away out of Canada.”

All Canadians have had a demonstration of the Chinese Communist social credit system.”

War is always a distraction from economic sabotage. Even though the seeds of financial crashes are often planted and watered well in advance by central banks, the banks never get the blame because international conflicts conveniently take center stage. By extension, economic crisis causes mass poverty, mass desperation, and mass hysteria, and globalists will say that these dangers require an international solution that they will happily provide in the form of centralization.

“It doesn’t stop there, though. Putin and the Kremlin have also kept a steady dialogue with the World Economic Forum, the project of the now notorious globalist Klaus Schwab. In fact, only last year Russia announced it was joining the WEF’s “Fourth Industrial Revolution Network” which focuses on economic socialization, Artificial Intelligence, the “internet of things” and a host of other globalist interests which will all lead to worldwide technocracy and tyranny.”

Want to know who is pulling the strings? Here you go your new Government

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Economic_Forum?fbclid=IwAR3YXMkWMnFAR8gBeUcFzZjf0_np-2_IMaImJBPP65i91SPkw2jJAm5OHeU

Actes 9:2

et lui demanda des lettres pour les synagogues de Damas, afin que, s’il en trouvait qui fussent de la Voie, hommes ou femmes, il les amenât liés à Jérusalem.

Saul, comme l’appelaient ses collègues pharisiens, était un flic de la loi. La loi anti-chrétienne des Pharisiens et leur religion basée sur le temple.

Dans le dernier chapitre, nous l’avons vu être de connivence avec les meurtres d’Étienne. Mais il ne pouvait pas oublier ce qu’il avait vu, n’est-ce pas ? On peut tuer le corps mais pas l’esprit !

Actes 9:3

Alors qu’il voyageait, il s’approcha de Damas, et soudain une lumière brilla autour de lui, venant du ciel.

Cette lumière n’était pas une lumière ordinaire sur le plan physique. C’était une révélation comme celle que Paul allait recevoir et partager plus tard

Eph 1:18

Les yeux de votre intelligence sont éclairés, afin que vous sachiez quelle est l’espérance de son appel, et quelles sont les richesses de la gloire de son héritage dans les saints,

Beaucoup d’entre nous sont aveuglés par Satan et toutes les distractions de son monde. L’attraction de la convoitise et du désir de la chair. L’orgueil des niveaux et la fausse sécurité de la position. La menace de tout perdre et de mourir. Chut !

Jn 12:40

Il a aveuglé leurs yeux et endurci leur cœur, afin qu’ils ne voient pas de leurs yeux et ne comprennent pas de leur cœur, qu’ils se convertissent et que je les guérisse.

Certains accusent Dieu d’être celui qui aveugle et qui donne la vue. C’est une croyance issue de la révélation limitée donnée à Moïse. Dieu a fait les yeux et rend la vue et il rend aussi les hommes aveugles ?

Exo 4:11

Et l’Éternel lui dit : Qui a fait la bouche de l’homme ? ou qui fait le muet, ou le sourd, ou le voyant, ou l’aveugle ? n’est-ce pas moi, l’Éternel ?

Puis Jésus est venu guérir les aveugles avec de l’argile et ouvrir les yeux de notre compréhension par la révélation de l’esprit. Jamais JEsus n’a rendu les gens aveugles ou endurci leur cœur. Le diable l’a fait mais il n’a pas été révélé et Dieu n’a pas été pleinement compris jusqu’à ce que Jésus se lève pour révéler pleinement qui est Dieu et qui est l’ennemi. C’était si peu clair jusqu’à ce que la parole de Dieu vienne sous la forme d’un homme appelé Jésus ! Un homme qui a expliqué l’amour par l’action.

Jn 1:18

Personne n’a jamais vu Dieu, mais le Fils unique, qui est dans le sein du Père, l’a révélé.

Col 2:15

Ayant désarmé les principautés et les puissances, il les a livrées en spectacle, et il a triomphé d’elles.

2Co 4:4

dont le dieu de ce siècle a aveuglé l’intelligence, qui ne croient pas, afin que la lumière de l’Évangile de la gloire de Christ, qui est l’image de Dieu, ne brille pas sur eux.

Personne n’a pleinement vu Dieu jusqu’à ce qu’il ait vu l’image de Dieu en Jésus, son Fils !

Satan, ce vieux serpent, a pris le contrôle de la création de Dieu pour un âge et une période. C’est lui qui est la cause de l’aveuglement, pas notre Père !

Mais il a fallu l’Esprit Saint vivant dans un homme pour montrer ces vérités lorsque les yeux de leur compréhension ont été ouverts et qu’ils ont vu l’espoir. Paul était sur le point d’avoir ses yeux spirituels ouverts sur le chemin de Damas !

Actes 9:4

Il tomba par terre, et il entendit une voix qui lui disait : Saul, Saul, pourquoi me persécutes-tu ?

Jésus-Christ a été élevé à la droite de Dieu dans les royaumes célestes. Nous aussi, qui avons été appelés à faire partie de son corps, la soi-disant église ou Ekkelsia, avons été appelés hors de ce monde de l’âge de Satan.

Lorsque Saul blessait le plus petit des croyants, Jésus ressentait la douleur ! Nous sommes tous membres de son corps. Notre esprit est éternel et déjà dans les lieux célestes, assis à côté du Père. Mais notre corps n’est pas encore là. Nous faisons tous partie du Seigneur qui fait son travail sur terre.

Actes 9:5

Et il dit : Qui es-tu, Seigneur ? Et le Seigneur répondit : Je suis Jésus que tu persécutes ; il t’est difficile de frapper contre les aiguillons.

Act 9:6

Et lui, tremblant et étonné, dit : Seigneur, que veux-tu que je fasse ? Le Seigneur lui dit : Lève-toi, va dans la ville, et l’on te dira ce que tu dois faire.

Il y a des conséquences à frapper le Christ en frappant ses disciples.

Paul aurait pu mourir sur place d’une attaque, mais il a été appelé. Il aurait pu mourir comme Ananias et Saphirra, mais Paul a été appelé à faire une grande œuvre dans le Royaume de Dieu.

Jésus a dit à Paul d’aller voir un Ananias réticent. Ce n’est pas la même personne qui est morte plus tôt dans les Actes. Mais le nom était toujours “favorisé de Dieu” et cet Ananias l’était. Il a eu le privilège de guérir Paul et de l’envoyer dans sa nouvelle mission.

Jésus a révélé à Ananias de Damas ce qu’était cette mission.

Actes 9:10

Il y avait à Damas un disciple nommé Ananias. Le Seigneur lui dit en vision : Ananias. Et il dit : Voici, je suis ici, Seigneur.

Cette histoire est une grande leçon sur la façon dont Dieu notre Père a tout prévu. Il a le temps et l’espace entre ses mains et n’a aucun mal à planifier. Il a placé Saul sur la route de Damas. Il l’a fait tomber de son orgueil et l’a humilié (ou on peut dire que Saul s’est humilié lui-même) en le rendant aveugle. Puis il l’a envoyé dans la maison de Judas, dans la rue droite de Damas.