Rebellion in Response to Captivity is Not so Good

Romans 13:1-7

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.

I can’t even imagine starting out on a trail of rebellion against the government that operates through the mark of the beast. Daily, I would be spouting off with verbal rants or physical aggression against their ungodly culture. The day that I decided to do that I would be locked up in a psychiatric ward or in jail. As anyone can see nowadays, that type of rebellious behavior is everywhere, and it is global. Sadly, there is not one thing that rebellion does to bring any type of light to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It does just the opposite. To abide in the Spirit of Jesus Christ means the spirit of rebellion is not in us. When rebellion surfaces, the Spirit of Jesus Christ disappears. If I am going to suffer being locked up in a psychiatric ward, jail, getting beaten up, or even murdered, it will be for maintaining the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The theme of not rebelling against government authority is repeated multitudes of times in the Bible. The story of Moses in Exodus 2:11-15 is a good summary. Moses didn’t like the way God’s people were treated at the hands of the government. They were put under hardships and were being brutally beaten. Moses rebelled. He murdered the government official who he caught beating one of his brothers in God. A while later, two brothers in God were fighting and Moses questioned why they would be fighting among themselves. They spouted off to Moses and said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses became very afraid realizing that what he had done was known about. Rightly so, Pharoah intended to kill Moses, so Moses became a fugitive for 40 years!

Jesus is not the leader of a rebellion, and His followers are not rebels. Jesus said, “No More of this!” as stated in Luke 22:49-51. As a Christian, I’ve always paid my taxes, even though I know that they use the money to fund their Godless social network. My allegiance belongs to God through Jesus Christ. They can take my money and any other possessions that I have, but I’m keeping my testimony for Jesus Christ.

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, 
for there is no authority except that which God has established. 
The authorities that exist have been established by God. 
Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God
has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 

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.
They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 
Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities,
not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants,
who give their full time to governing. 
Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue;
if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
Romans 13:1-7

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11