Mat 22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
Mat 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Mat 22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Mat 22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Mat 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Yesterday I made mention of the separation of Church and State being a Christ given mandate.
Let's look at a few more verses than those above.
Mat_19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mar_10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Luk_12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Mar_13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Act 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Act 14:5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
Act 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about
1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1Ti 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1Ti 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
*******
In all these verses there is never a mention of God's people forming their own political realm on earth. They may have formed churches- groups of believers who believed in Christ and desired to live for Christ spreading the good news of Salvation in Jesus Christ- but they did not start ANY sort of governing power over people in a political manner. None were appointed KING, not a single one!
The papacy has claimed Peter as the first pope(king-like figure, a leader, a head of the whole body of Christians), but NO where in the Bible are we given this papal power, this papal authority, and told it is a good thing, no where! Jesus was and always will be THE ROCK upon which the church is built, not any man. There were apostles - 12 of them, and Paul. There were disciples. There were those made Bishops, and those made Deacons, but no where is there a KING, a single leader above all the others. Christ, Himself said the greatest among the apostles would be the least, meaning their perception of having to have one greater than the other was distorted, and His church, His followers would NOT have such a thing, there would be NONE greater but all servants to Him, and Him alone. The preachers, the teachers, the bishops, the deacons all would be equal, the authority would be Christ's alone. The Holy Spirit led the new followers of Christ and many writings were made through the Holy Spirit, not to exalt one prolific writer above another. The idea of a hierarchy where a man could EVER claim to have the authority of Christ on earth is preposterous! There is only ONE CHRIST, and there are Christ followers.
Do you see what I'm getting at here? The followers of Christ were not to go off and form their own kingdom, but rather minister to those in other kingdoms all the while pointing everyone to the kingdom of HEAVEN and ONLY the kingdom of HEAVEN. Earthly gain was to be completely shunned! Desire for earthly power and authority completely rejected all the while looking to Christ and His power, Christ and His authority!
The Papacy did not do that. You can read their history, you can watch movies, shows, and even fictionalized has many elements of truth. You can read the non-fiction and see where they get their stories from. The corruption was not made up, the corruption existed and still does even though it is being covered in a blanket of humanity, a blanket of humility. Beneath that blanket, no matter how thick, no matter how many layers of bedding, lies a rotting corpse of a religious/political system, the Beast.
History proves it, prophecy proves it.
For people to think that today we need to bring religion into our politics, to force our religion or any religious beliefs upon another is wrong. Christ would NEVER force any of His beliefs upon anyone! To force someone to pray- WRONG! To force someone to acquiesce to others including them in their prayer- WRONG! To pray and do so that nothing is forced, no one included that doesn't want to be included, this is good. You can go to your closet and pray for those who shun God, but you don't FORCE them to join you, or into being an unwilling participant. You never ever force. If a prayer is said in a political assembly it should be done so that all who do not wish to take part are given an opportunity to leave, not forced to endure. The same with schools. Already I can hear outrage, because so many people believe taking prayer out of schools has brought God's wrath down upon them. You can't force God on anyone in any way, Christ never would! He didn't once force His prayers on others! No, we are NOT to deny Christ, not ever! But we are not to force Christ, not ever! Those who believe forcing Christ onto people through mandated prayer and such, are not believing the same Christ I believe. Does it sadden me to think how many instances there are where people want anything to do with Christianity taken off public /government owned lands? Yes. But to use that public land, where religion is supposed to be separated from government, to force our religious tokens upon others… no, Christ would not force them on anyone. If they are lands that belong to Caesar, give them to Caesar all of that land every bit of it.
That brings me to this…
No matter where you are, no matter where you live, where you visit, where you go to school, where you work- you should have the freedom to live your religion. To live as Christ would have you live. And we know, those of us who have read Christ's Word, we know that Christ would NOT make a spectacle of His belief, never. Jesus would preach, but He would leave off preaching when things grew tense, He did not incite riots. Yes, He raged in the temple against the moneychangers, but did He instruct His apostles to do the same? No. There were many times those spreading the gospel knew it was time to leave, not stay and face certain death.
If you feel compelled to pray- you can do so silently, or in hiding. If you feel compelled to preach- if your audience is receptive, you preach. You don't force people to listen. You can be a Christ follower rendering to God the things that are God's. And also to be a Christ follower you must render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. This was spoken by Christ, this was dictated by Christ! If we are His true followers we will listen to Him.
There are many people, many Christ followers all over the world that cannot be Christ followers openly. They don't deny Christ when confronted, but they don't go out taunting their government officials with their Christianity. They remain ever dutiful to their government as long as it doesn't ask of them anything contrary to the laws of Christ.
When this commandment was given--
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
God meant it.
No government can compel a person to serve them as if they were serving God. No government can take the place of God. People have been, and even now, are being tortured as they are told to renounce God, to renounce Jesus Christ and believe in Him no more. This is WRONG.
Forcing anyone when it comes to God- either to give Him up or to take Him up- is WRONG.
And when a government creates laws forcing people to uphold any one person's religion, it is wrong.
The nature of force when it comes to faith is impossible. You cannot force faith on anyone. You can try and that will create a lot of fake faith, but nothing more than that.
So to all who are crying out that God is being forced out of our country, remember this, our country's government was truly formed with God and all religion separated from all government.
THOMAS JEFFERSON -- Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make "no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State. (Thomas Jefferson, Writings, Library of America, p. 510).
JAMES MADISON -- The civil Government, though bereft of everything like an associated hierarchy, possesses the requisite stability, and performs its functions with complete success, whilst the number, the industry, and morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the people, have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church from the State. (James Madison, letter to Robert Welsh, March 2, 1819)
Every new and successful example, therefore, of a perfect separation between the ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance; and I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity the less they are mixed together. (James Madison, letter to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822; emphasis supplied)
The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights.
Pasted from
Jefferson and the Bill of Rights
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, whose letter to the Danbury Baptists Association is often quoted in debates regarding the separation of church and state.
In English, the exact term is an offshoot of the phrase, "wall of separation between church and state", as written in Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. In that letter, referencing the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Jefferson writes: "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church and State." Jefferson reflected his frequent speaking theme that the government is not to interfere with religion and vice versa.
The Bill of Rights was one of the earliest examples in the world of complete religious freedom (adopted in 1791, only preceded by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789) but it was interpreted as establishing a separation of Church and State only after the letter of Jefferson (see section United States for more details). At the time of the passage of the Bill of Rights, many states acted in ways that would now be held unconstitutional, some of them with official state churches. All of the early official state churches were disestablished by 1833.
Pasted from
*******
Our government - lamblike with two horns- a separation of church and state.
The Beast government- a single horn possessing politics and religion- Pagan and Papal Rome.
The Image to the Beast form by the government that lays claim to a separation of church and state- is in the making and as our history can prove, there has ever been forces at work in an attempt to bring religion into politics. The forming, the making of this image of the beast government has been on going for some time. The deadly wound of the beast has been healed, all the world wonders after that beast. And there has been a winding, twisting, push towards and retreat from, an ebb and flow of the forces to bring religion into politics. They stay behind the scenes and then jump in front of them as they strive to be formed. We must watch and rather than cheer blindly as victories for religion in government matters are made, we must note that the image of the beast is such an animal.
Satan truly has pulled the wool over the eyes of millions, and yes, those who take a stance against religion in government will stick out as being ungodly by those who believe it must be a part of our government. It will be unpopular to claim to be a Christian, to belong to Christ, and yet also say that Christ should not be forced upon others, because those people for this mingling don't view their stance as force, but rather as a right of their freedom to practice their religion.
People should be allowed to believe in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The Roman centurion- whose duty was to Caesar who fancied himself a god along with all the other Roman Gods- found Christ.
Act 10:21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
Act 10:22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
Act 10:23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Act 10:24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
Act 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
Act 10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Act 10:27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
Act 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Act 10:29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
Act 10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
Act 10:31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Act 10:32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
Act 10:33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Act 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Act 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
Act 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
A Roman- a gentile- called to believe.
As stated earlier, a government may try to force a person not to believe, but in truth they cannot take away belief. However, belief can be surrendered, belief can be denied. Satan would have us all deny Christ. Satan would have all try to FORCE Christ on others knowing the Christ they force is NOT the true Christ who would never be forced upon another.
I believe this concludes our study on the Image of the Beast. We know it is in the making, we know that once it is finally finished (completely made) that our probation is up, the time for us to have made a decision for Christ is over. We know that the image must reflect the true beast. We've been warned. We must watch and pray! Watch and pray always!
May God bless us as we seek ONLY HIS TRUTH and no others! May our eyes forever be opened to discerning all truth, in discerning all prophecies as they unfold nearing completion so that the warning is shouted loud and clear. Please LORD save us! We believe Lord, help thou our unbelief!
All in YOUR LOVE, YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOUR MERCY, YOUR GRACE!
Amen.
Mat 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Mat 22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Mat 22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Mat 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Yesterday I made mention of the separation of Church and State being a Christ given mandate.
Let's look at a few more verses than those above.
Mat_19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mar_10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Luk_12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Mar_13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Act 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Act 14:5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
Act 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about
1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1Ti 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1Ti 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
*******
In all these verses there is never a mention of God's people forming their own political realm on earth. They may have formed churches- groups of believers who believed in Christ and desired to live for Christ spreading the good news of Salvation in Jesus Christ- but they did not start ANY sort of governing power over people in a political manner. None were appointed KING, not a single one!
The papacy has claimed Peter as the first pope(king-like figure, a leader, a head of the whole body of Christians), but NO where in the Bible are we given this papal power, this papal authority, and told it is a good thing, no where! Jesus was and always will be THE ROCK upon which the church is built, not any man. There were apostles - 12 of them, and Paul. There were disciples. There were those made Bishops, and those made Deacons, but no where is there a KING, a single leader above all the others. Christ, Himself said the greatest among the apostles would be the least, meaning their perception of having to have one greater than the other was distorted, and His church, His followers would NOT have such a thing, there would be NONE greater but all servants to Him, and Him alone. The preachers, the teachers, the bishops, the deacons all would be equal, the authority would be Christ's alone. The Holy Spirit led the new followers of Christ and many writings were made through the Holy Spirit, not to exalt one prolific writer above another. The idea of a hierarchy where a man could EVER claim to have the authority of Christ on earth is preposterous! There is only ONE CHRIST, and there are Christ followers.
Do you see what I'm getting at here? The followers of Christ were not to go off and form their own kingdom, but rather minister to those in other kingdoms all the while pointing everyone to the kingdom of HEAVEN and ONLY the kingdom of HEAVEN. Earthly gain was to be completely shunned! Desire for earthly power and authority completely rejected all the while looking to Christ and His power, Christ and His authority!
The Papacy did not do that. You can read their history, you can watch movies, shows, and even fictionalized has many elements of truth. You can read the non-fiction and see where they get their stories from. The corruption was not made up, the corruption existed and still does even though it is being covered in a blanket of humanity, a blanket of humility. Beneath that blanket, no matter how thick, no matter how many layers of bedding, lies a rotting corpse of a religious/political system, the Beast.
History proves it, prophecy proves it.
For people to think that today we need to bring religion into our politics, to force our religion or any religious beliefs upon another is wrong. Christ would NEVER force any of His beliefs upon anyone! To force someone to pray- WRONG! To force someone to acquiesce to others including them in their prayer- WRONG! To pray and do so that nothing is forced, no one included that doesn't want to be included, this is good. You can go to your closet and pray for those who shun God, but you don't FORCE them to join you, or into being an unwilling participant. You never ever force. If a prayer is said in a political assembly it should be done so that all who do not wish to take part are given an opportunity to leave, not forced to endure. The same with schools. Already I can hear outrage, because so many people believe taking prayer out of schools has brought God's wrath down upon them. You can't force God on anyone in any way, Christ never would! He didn't once force His prayers on others! No, we are NOT to deny Christ, not ever! But we are not to force Christ, not ever! Those who believe forcing Christ onto people through mandated prayer and such, are not believing the same Christ I believe. Does it sadden me to think how many instances there are where people want anything to do with Christianity taken off public /government owned lands? Yes. But to use that public land, where religion is supposed to be separated from government, to force our religious tokens upon others… no, Christ would not force them on anyone. If they are lands that belong to Caesar, give them to Caesar all of that land every bit of it.
That brings me to this…
No matter where you are, no matter where you live, where you visit, where you go to school, where you work- you should have the freedom to live your religion. To live as Christ would have you live. And we know, those of us who have read Christ's Word, we know that Christ would NOT make a spectacle of His belief, never. Jesus would preach, but He would leave off preaching when things grew tense, He did not incite riots. Yes, He raged in the temple against the moneychangers, but did He instruct His apostles to do the same? No. There were many times those spreading the gospel knew it was time to leave, not stay and face certain death.
If you feel compelled to pray- you can do so silently, or in hiding. If you feel compelled to preach- if your audience is receptive, you preach. You don't force people to listen. You can be a Christ follower rendering to God the things that are God's. And also to be a Christ follower you must render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. This was spoken by Christ, this was dictated by Christ! If we are His true followers we will listen to Him.
There are many people, many Christ followers all over the world that cannot be Christ followers openly. They don't deny Christ when confronted, but they don't go out taunting their government officials with their Christianity. They remain ever dutiful to their government as long as it doesn't ask of them anything contrary to the laws of Christ.
When this commandment was given--
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
God meant it.
No government can compel a person to serve them as if they were serving God. No government can take the place of God. People have been, and even now, are being tortured as they are told to renounce God, to renounce Jesus Christ and believe in Him no more. This is WRONG.
Forcing anyone when it comes to God- either to give Him up or to take Him up- is WRONG.
And when a government creates laws forcing people to uphold any one person's religion, it is wrong.
The nature of force when it comes to faith is impossible. You cannot force faith on anyone. You can try and that will create a lot of fake faith, but nothing more than that.
So to all who are crying out that God is being forced out of our country, remember this, our country's government was truly formed with God and all religion separated from all government.
THOMAS JEFFERSON -- Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make "no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State. (Thomas Jefferson, Writings, Library of America, p. 510).
JAMES MADISON -- The civil Government, though bereft of everything like an associated hierarchy, possesses the requisite stability, and performs its functions with complete success, whilst the number, the industry, and morality of the priesthood, and the devotion of the people, have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the church from the State. (James Madison, letter to Robert Welsh, March 2, 1819)
Every new and successful example, therefore, of a perfect separation between the ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance; and I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity the less they are mixed together. (James Madison, letter to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822; emphasis supplied)
The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights.
Pasted from
Jefferson and the Bill of Rights
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, whose letter to the Danbury Baptists Association is often quoted in debates regarding the separation of church and state.
In English, the exact term is an offshoot of the phrase, "wall of separation between church and state", as written in Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. In that letter, referencing the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Jefferson writes: "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church and State." Jefferson reflected his frequent speaking theme that the government is not to interfere with religion and vice versa.
The Bill of Rights was one of the earliest examples in the world of complete religious freedom (adopted in 1791, only preceded by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789) but it was interpreted as establishing a separation of Church and State only after the letter of Jefferson (see section United States for more details). At the time of the passage of the Bill of Rights, many states acted in ways that would now be held unconstitutional, some of them with official state churches. All of the early official state churches were disestablished by 1833.
Pasted from
*******
Our government - lamblike with two horns- a separation of church and state.
The Beast government- a single horn possessing politics and religion- Pagan and Papal Rome.
The Image to the Beast form by the government that lays claim to a separation of church and state- is in the making and as our history can prove, there has ever been forces at work in an attempt to bring religion into politics. The forming, the making of this image of the beast government has been on going for some time. The deadly wound of the beast has been healed, all the world wonders after that beast. And there has been a winding, twisting, push towards and retreat from, an ebb and flow of the forces to bring religion into politics. They stay behind the scenes and then jump in front of them as they strive to be formed. We must watch and rather than cheer blindly as victories for religion in government matters are made, we must note that the image of the beast is such an animal.
Satan truly has pulled the wool over the eyes of millions, and yes, those who take a stance against religion in government will stick out as being ungodly by those who believe it must be a part of our government. It will be unpopular to claim to be a Christian, to belong to Christ, and yet also say that Christ should not be forced upon others, because those people for this mingling don't view their stance as force, but rather as a right of their freedom to practice their religion.
People should be allowed to believe in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The Roman centurion- whose duty was to Caesar who fancied himself a god along with all the other Roman Gods- found Christ.
Act 10:21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
Act 10:22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
Act 10:23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Act 10:24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
Act 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
Act 10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Act 10:27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
Act 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Act 10:29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
Act 10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
Act 10:31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Act 10:32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
Act 10:33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Act 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Act 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
Act 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
A Roman- a gentile- called to believe.
As stated earlier, a government may try to force a person not to believe, but in truth they cannot take away belief. However, belief can be surrendered, belief can be denied. Satan would have us all deny Christ. Satan would have all try to FORCE Christ on others knowing the Christ they force is NOT the true Christ who would never be forced upon another.
I believe this concludes our study on the Image of the Beast. We know it is in the making, we know that once it is finally finished (completely made) that our probation is up, the time for us to have made a decision for Christ is over. We know that the image must reflect the true beast. We've been warned. We must watch and pray! Watch and pray always!
May God bless us as we seek ONLY HIS TRUTH and no others! May our eyes forever be opened to discerning all truth, in discerning all prophecies as they unfold nearing completion so that the warning is shouted loud and clear. Please LORD save us! We believe Lord, help thou our unbelief!
All in YOUR LOVE, YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOUR MERCY, YOUR GRACE!
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment