Before you begin your Bible study, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ,
be sure you have named your sins privately to God the Father.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(Known, Unknown and Forgotten sins) (1Jn 1:9)
You will then be in fellowship with God, Filled with the Holy Spirit and ready
to learn Truth from the Word of God.
"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and
Truth," (John 4:24)
THE PLAN OF GOD
Even before the creation of man, the Principle of establishment was
ordained by God for the perpetuation of the human race. (Psa 148:6) In
His omniscience, God has always known the course of history as well as
every problem that we would ever face as individuals. Therefore, in eternity
past, God the Father sovereignly set up the Plan of Grace for mankind.
Based on His absolute righteousness and perfect justice, His design for
Divine establishment is flawless. The Plan continues throughout eternity
because God Himself is eternal life. And since it proceeds from His
enduring, uncompromising justice, Operation Grace excludes the frailties of
human sentimentality.
Furthermore, the stability of God’s Plan is guaranteed by His
immutability, while His veracity, expressed in the Written Word of God,
reveals to us the Thinking of His Plan. Because He is omnipotent, God has
the power to accomplish His grace objectives even in the devil’s world; and
because He is omnipresent and therefore not limited by time or space, He
maintains continual, on-the-scene Command over human events. God
controls history in three ways: direct control, by means of Divine
intervention; indirect control, through man’s adherence to the Laws of
Divine establishment; (Our subject) and permissive control, by allowing the
angelic conflict to run its course according to the dictates of man’s volition.
Although God may intervene in human events, He never forces the faith of
His creatures. Thus, He allows each individual to make his own decision
concerning Jesus Christ, although it is His sovereign desire that all believe
in Christ and receive eternal Salvation. (1Ti 2:4)
Those who do believe enter the threefold Plan of God: Phase One —
Salvation, or saving grace; Phase Two — the Christian way of life, which
ranges from logistical grace to Spiritual self esteem to Spiritual autonomy
to Spiritual maturity and then dying grace; Phase Three — eternity, with its
surpassing grace blessings and rewards for the believer who has broken
the Spiritual maturity barrier. (30, 60 and 100; Matt 13:8)
Illustration
The Divine structure is unique in that it remains perfect despite the
inclusion of imperfect man. Man cannot hinder Operation Grace, since its
execution depends entirely upon the work of the Trinity in each phase of
the Plan. In Phase One, Jesus Christ accomplished Salvation by His
vicarious, efficacious Spiritual death and judgment on the Cross;
(Rom 5:6-8) the Holy Spirit enables believers to learn Truth and to reach
Spiritual maturity during Phase Two;
(John 16:13-14) and God the Father fulfills Phase Three. (2Co 5:1) Man
makes no meritorious contribution of any kind, and thus he cannot destroy
the perfect quality of God’s Grace Plan.
Within the framework of the Plan of God, the Principle of human
freedom is essential for the function of Divine establishment. As the
cornerstone of freedom, human volition is the decision-maker of the soul.
Man was created with free will, and God made it unmistakably clear to
Adam that He had given him freedom of choice. This would always be the
primary issue in the angelic conflict: would man, inferior to angels but
equipped with the same free will, choose for or against the Divine design?
Since volition must be tested in order to be operative, God set up one
prohibition.
The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the
garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
[Spiritual death] (Gen 2:16-17)
God was saying to man, “In Operation Grace, everything is provided
for your blessing, including your human freedom. You may exercise your
free will in any direction you wish; but the day you go on negative signals
and eat of that forbidden tree, you will be outside My Plan!” To be cut off
from the Divine Plan is to be Spiritually dead, and this eventually results in
physical death. It was up to Adam’s volition whether or not he would
continue under God’s authority. Of his own choice, man walked out on the
Plan of God!
Who was behind the revolt against God’s policy? None other than His
archenemy, Satan! This evil super-creature used the serpent to lure the
woman into rebellion against God’s perfect provision, and the angelic
conflict began to gather momentum on the earth. The woman then
influenced Adam to disobey; and in his Fall man lost the rulership of the
earth to Satan. However, God had not only foreseen man’s failure but
ALWAYS had the way to rescue the human race and thereby resolve the
angelic conflict; and bring many sons to His family! (Heb 2:9-11) He offered
man a new “tree” — the Cross. Now the only way for man to enter the
Plan of God is to exercise positive volition toward the saving work of Christ
on the Cross: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...”
(Acts 16:31) Why do we simply believe? There is nothing we can add to
the finished work of Christ. Faith is non-meritorious. All the merit is in the
Object of that faith. Thus, even the simple mechanics of Salvation are
consistent with the Principle of grace. (Eph 2:8-9)
For all who are positive toward His Plan in Phase Two, the Divine
Blueprint encompasses many impressive provisions and blessings.
(Eph 3:20) However, God has also designed certain blessings for
unbelievers as well as believers who obey and appropriate His grace
provisions found in the Laws of Divine establishment.
DEFINITION OF THE LAWS OF DIVINE ESTABLISHMENT
The Laws of Divine establishment are Principles ordained by God for
the protection, orderly function, survival and blessing of the human race. In
His omniscience, God knew in advance that man would sin; He was also
fully cognizant that once man acquired an old sin nature, he would have
unlimited potential to destroy himself! Therefore, in order to perpetuate
man’s existence during the course of the angelic conflict, it was necessary
to set up for both believer and unbeliever a series of Divine Laws that
would hold the old sin nature in check. These Laws also provide for the
fullest expression of individual freedom.
While the components of Divine establishment were in God’s Plan
from eternity past, they came into existence at various points of time,
beginning with the creation of man in, (Gen 1:26) and extending to the
establishment of nations in, (Gen 10:5). Within the Laws of establishment
are the four Divine institutions: Volition, Marriage, Family and Nationalism.
These apply to the entire human race — believers and unbelievers —
regardless of race, nationality, sex or any other factor.
THE FOUR DIVINE INSTITUTIONS
Volition - Free will
Divine Institution Number One — Volition — is not only the first
Principle of Divine establishment and the key to its proper function but is
also the basic authority in the human race. Divine establishment is God’s
perfect Plan, yet it always involves human volition. Adherence to these
Laws of establishment by a maximum number of people in a national entity
guarantees both human freedom and privacy. This freedom of choice gives
the individual the inherent right to life, liberty, privacy, ownership of
property “and the pursuit of happiness,” provided that the individual does
not violate the Laws of establishment or the common Law of a nation.
The first Divine institution was established when God created man to
operate rationally under the volition in his own soul rather than according to
his instincts. While there is variation in human ability and capacity to learn,
all individuals possess volition. God might have computerized the human
race so that He could program man to carry out His Plan. Instead, it is His
desire that we respond to His grace and serve Him willingly, not react
under some system of slavery. Therefore, volition is a major issue in the
angelic conflict; everyone must be a free agent to accept or reject
Salvation, (John 3:36) the most important decision anyone will ever make.
The will of God is related to man’s free will; and is involved in every
area of life, particularly in Salvation and in his Spiritual advance.
Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge
[Spiritual Thinking] of the Truth. (1Ti 2:4).
Since it is the sovereign will of God that all members of the human
race be saved, and since Christ was judged on the Cross for everyone, the
exercise of man’s free will is a demonstration of the grace solution to the
angelic conflict. Christ’s strategic victory of the Cross resolved the angelic
conflict; man’s positive volition is a tactical victory. Although God wills all
mankind to be saved, some are not saved because He honors free will,
which gives man the responsibility to act either in conjunction with or
independently of the will of God.
Acting on positive volition, we enter Phase Two, or the Christian life,
the moment we believe in Christ. During this time, human volition continues
to function as we constantly make decisions. We are free to accept or
reject the Word of Truth as God’s Plan for Phase Two. God has provided
unlimited Divine operating assets for the believer in time: God the Holy
Spirit, the Spiritual life, and the Word of God, which contains all the
information necessary for the Christian to advance to Spiritual maturity in
accordance with the Divine Plan; the “grace apparatus for perception,”
(GAP --- Operation Z) which enables every believer to understand God’s
Thoughts on every subject. (Amos 4:13) Positive volition toward Truth is a
prerequisite to all stages of Spiritual growth. Only the believer’s own
negative volition can limit or hinder continual progress.
The “advance to the full knowledge of Truth” is possible only through
the persistent exercise of Operation Z, whereby we break the maturity
barrier and move into Spiritual adulthood, Spiritual maturity and dying
grace. We may elect to read, to listen and to concentrate; or decide to go
in the opposite direction, reject the Plan of God for our lives and succumb
to reversionism.
Illustration
Marriage
Divine Institution Number Two — Marriage. (Matt 19:5) Both volition
and marriage came into existence in the Garden of Eden before the Fall.
(Gen 2:22-24) Since the man and the woman must be free to enter this
mutual relationship, marriage becomes a utilization of Divine Institution
Number One. Divinely ordained, marriage is structured to form the basic
stability in a society. It totally rejects any Concept which contributes to
anarchy, such as promiscuity, homosexuality, polygamy or excessive
divorce.
Under establishment, the marriage of one man to one woman
accomplishes two objectives: (1) it forms the most basic unit of society; (2)
it produces the foundation for Divine Institution Number Three — the
Family. Marriage, in which the authority is assigned to the man, (Gen 3:16)
and has as its primary function, the protection of the freedom both in the
national entity and in the individual union; for the unbeliever — both men
and women the Thinking and use of the Laws of that nation for their
authority and protection. (John 19:10-11) For believers — both men and
women — the Thinking and use of the Laws of that nation, and also God’s
Thinking for their authority and protection. (Matt 8:9-10; Prov 8:32-36) In
the pursuit of Spiritual maturity however — we must remain in the condition
we are called — until God provides or does not provide; the husband, wife,
things and or circumstances in our life!
(Matt 6:33; Matt 19:12; Mark 8:33-38; (1Co 7:26-35)
Family
Divine Institution Number Three, the Family, (Psa 68:6) was
established in, (Gen 4:1) as the second fundamental unit for the safeguard
and perpetuation of the human race. The newborn infant enters the world
helpless; therefore, there must be a means of protection until the child is
able to provide for himself. The family unit offers him discipline, material
provision, training, security and guidance based on his parents’ love for him
until he reaches age — that time in life when he must take full responsibility
for his own decisions and actions.
In addition to providing food, shelter and clothing, it is the duty of the
parents to instill in their children the proper norms and standards, to teach
them how to evaluate situations in life, to train them when to say “yes” and
when to say “no” and to inculcate in them the Principles of authority and
self-discipline. While parents have many responsibilities, the children have
only one within the family unit, and that is to respect and obey their
parents. (Eph 6:1-3) Love should follow as a natural consequence after the
parents have properly accomplished their job of training.
Nationalism
In the devil’s world, God must provide safety for mankind. He has
done so by dividing the world into national entities with geographical
boundaries in the formation of Divine Institution Number Four. Adherence to
the Laws of establishment under nationalism furnishes protection for each
nation. In the Biblical Concept, a national entity encompasses all three
categories — racial, geographical and linguistic. Anyone who becomes a
citizen of this country, often called the “melting pot” because of its
multiracial origins, relinquishes allegiance to his former homeland and
pledges loyalty to this, his adopted land.
Human government was founded in, (Gen 9:1) thru (Gen 10:32) at
the beginning of the Postdiluvian Civilization. Obeying God’s Command to
“replenish the [Whole] earth,” the descendants of Noah scattered and
resettled in accordance with the geographical boundaries set for them.
(Gen 10:5; Gen 10:31-32) However, as the population increased, the
people were reluctant to separate further and finally congregated in the
fertile plains of the Tigris-Euphrates Valley. (Gen 11:2) There, at Babel, in
the satanically inspired rebellion against God, the people instituted the
false Concept of internationalism. Because the one nation — one language
Concept is contrary to the Divine design for mankind, the human race might
have become extinct but for the grace of God. By enforcing His Plan of
nationalism and by ordaining the existence of many languages, God
secured the perpetuation of mankind. (Gen 11:7-9)
God ordained the Laws of establishment to be the authority within a
LEGITIMATE national entity. As the guardian of freedom, each nation,
whatever its form of government, (Parliamentary, monarchy, republic, etc.)
must protect the inherent right of the individual to privacy, freedom and to
the pursuit of a course of life based upon his own decisions and ability
within the legal framework of that particular type of government.
Furthermore, this freedom must insure the right of the individual to accept
or reject Jesus Christ as Savior. (Acts 17:26-28)
While there are several excellent forms of government, the Laws of
establishment can exist under any one of these types. However, there is no
way that any government can perpetuate itself indefinitely. Every system of
government contains the elements by which it will eventually destroy itself:
by negative volition toward the Word of Truth on the part of the believer,
and rejection of the Laws of Divine establishment on the part of both the
believer and the unbeliever. Only adherence to the Laws of establishment
and the grace of God can sustain a nation and its government for any span
of time! (Psa 127:1)
One of the most tyrannical forms of government is a democracy,
which means “rule of the many” and is based on the assumption that all
men are equal. Theoretically, democracy is the direct rule of the people;
but in practice, it is essentially a mob rule. The inability of a mob to think,
plus minimal restraint on the old sin nature, precludes any possibility of the
proper function or perpetuation of this governmental system. Alexander
Hamilton perfectly described the tyranny of all democracies:
It has been observed by an honorable gentleman that a pure
democracy, if it were executable, would be the most perfect government.
Experience has proved that no position in politics is more false than this.
The ancient democracies, in which the people themselves deliberated,
never possessed one feature of good government. Their very character
was tyranny; their figure deformity. When they assembled, the field of
debate presented an ungovernable mob, incapable of deliberation. In these
assemblies the enemies of the people brought forward their plans of
ambition systematically. They were opposed by their enemies of another
party; and it became a matter of eventuality, whether the people subjected
themselves to be led blindly by one tyrant or another.
The United States is not a democracy. Our nation was originally
founded as a constitutional republic, which is a representative form of
government. The only pure democracy existed in fifth century B.C. Athens,
and it soon dissolved into chaos. As Greece grew into an empire, it was
established on the Principle of an oligarchy — the rule of a few. The
hypothesis that all people are equal is an unrealistic and untrue premise.
When Thomas Jefferson stated in the Declaration of Independence that all
men are created equal, he was saying in effect that the colonists were
equal to the citizens of England in the eyes of the Law. He never meant to
imply that everyone was born with the same intelligence, abilities or talents.
Jefferson was fully aware of the inequality of man, as demonstrated by his
ownership of slaves and his beliefs regarding their lack of status in society.
The Madison/Jefferson letters reflect his complete thought regarding the
equality and inequality of man.
Tragically, we are no longer a true republic; we are something
between a democracy and a “mobocracy.” The governmental Concepts of
our forefathers have been tragically perverted. Satanic propaganda has
steadily nibbled away at our constitutional foundations, with the result that
our once great nation is crumbling. No longer are we a first-rate power nor
even an establishment-oriented country as in the past. Instead, we are
accepting the evil substitutes of socialistic and communistic ideology as the
solutions to our social and economic problems. By ignoring God’s specific
design for nationalism, we have compounded the problems and hastened
our demise.
Because a republic depends upon the virtue and thinking of the
people, it rarely endures more than a few hundred years. The Roman
Republic, an exception to the norm, continued for five hundred years before
the Senate became so decadent that the nation began to disintegrate. Out
of the ensuing century-long civil war rose the triumvirate of Caesar,
Pompey and Crassus. After a top-echelon skirmish in which Crassus and
Pompey were eliminated, Julius Caesar emerged victorious as the
administrative genius who laid the foundation for the empire. His brilliant
contributions to the Roman governmental structure were so completely
organized on the Laws of Divine establishment that the empire enjoyed the
longest and most phenomenal peace and prosperity of any era in history.
The Bible advocates only one kind of government — a monarchy.
Historically, the most successful governments have been some form of
monarchy; in fact, the greatest government that will ever exist will be the
personal reign of the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, during the
millennial dispensation.”
Although both marriage and family are also involved, it is basically
Nationalism, Divine Institution Number Four, which furnishes protection for
Divine Institution Number One — Volition. In his famous war cry during the
preliminary days of the War for Independence, Patrick Henry dramatized
this very relationship between Divine Institutions One and Four. His fiery
conclusion, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” expressed the entire
Principle in a nutshell!
Freedom is the atmosphere and environment for Spiritual growth. The
believer’s self-determination — is the expression of positive volition toward
Truth; and can function best in a free nation. Throughout the history of
nationalism, the religious and political climate of many nations — from the
Sumero-Akkadian Empire of Ur (Gen 11:31) down to the present-day
communist bloc — has suppressed the function of the Spiritual life, the
intake of Truth — Operation Z. Separation from such tyranny becomes a
MUST for Spiritual progress! Just as Abraham could not advance under the
shadow of idolatry and evil and was therefore Commanded by God to
separate from it, so many people have been forced to migrate to our
country since its founding in order to escape the stranglehold that choked
their freedom in their own nation.
PRINCIPLES INVOLVED UNDER NATIONALISM
Interior Protection
Interior protection in a national entity, which is the guardian of human
freedom, is achieved through proper enforcement and administration of the
Law, supported by the people and whatever form of government exists.
There must be equitable systems of establishing evidence in the courts,
strict punitive measures for those who are guilty; (Eccles 8:11) and the
immediate release of those who are innocent. The entire internal security
of a people is based upon the justice and skillful administration of its Law,
which is designed to punish the guilty and to protect the innocent.
Capital Punishment
How tragic is the apathy and lack of respect in this country today in regard
to the Law and its enforcement! Our police officers can be shot down and,
except in rare instances; only minor disciplinary action is taken against the
offender. After spending a short time in jail, criminals are released to
repeat their crimes! When a murderer’s guilt is properly established by
conclusive evidence in a court of Law, that person should be removed from
the earth. Execution is the only answer! The Law must have “teeth,” capital
punishment!
There is a wide area of disagreement today regarding the validity of
capital punishment. Its opponents and proponents alike cite the Bible to
prove their position. Is the death penalty indeed a Biblical Principle? Is
killing condoned under any circumstances? What about the sixth
Commandment of the Decalogue, “You shall not murder?” (Exo 20:13) The
failure to “rightly divide the word of Truth” has resulted in many unfortunate
distortions of the Concept of “killing.” The Bible authorizes three types of
killing: (1) killing the enemy in battle for the preservation of national
freedom;
(Deut 7:2; Eccles 3:3; Eccles 3:8; Mark 13:7) (2) for personal self-
defense; (2Sa 21:17; Eccles 3:3) (3) for the function of the state in
executing the criminal. (Num 35:30-31; Rom 13:4)
RATSACH, the Hebrew word for “murder,” is used in the sixth
Commandment rather than KATAL, the usual word for “kill”; therefore, it is
a prohibition against homicide. (cf. Matt 19:18) This Commandment is
designed for the preservation of Divine Institution Number One --- Volition.
Murder deprives an individual of his life and freedom. Since the operation
of free will is the basic issue in the angelic conflict, the heinous crime of
murder was an invention of Satan to obliterate this very Principle.
(John 8:44) Indeed, could he succeed in the total destruction of the human
race, he would win the angelic conflict by default! Thus, it is obvious that
this strategy of the devil to neutralize the angelic conflict must be restrained
by the most drastic measures — a life for a life. (Exo 21:23)
Why, then, you may wonder, did God not pronounce the sentence of
capital punishment on the first murderer in human history — Cain? The
answer to this question will also give us an insight into the Biblical history of
Law and the development of the Divine institutions, which include capital
punishment.
Up to that point in human history, there had been no physical death,
let alone murder. In fact, it required the intellect of Cain, a reversionistic
believer, (Gen 4:13-16) under the influence of satanic thinking, to devise a
way to kill his brother. The New Testament commentary on Cain’s crime is
described by the Greek work SPHAZO in, (1Jn 3:12) which means “to kill
as a sacrificial animal.”
In His omniscience, God was cognizant of Abel’s murder from eternity
past; omnipresent God actually witnessed the scene and knew every
detail; Divine justice now demanded a trial. (Psa 116:15) Since the Laws of
establishment were not yet instituted, the first murder became a matter for
the personal attention of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Heaven.
Cain’s trial, therefore, would be unique. However, only those details
essential to our understanding of the angelic conflict have been recorded.
Under the perfect justice of God, Cain’s trial was absolutely fair in
every respect. But Cain’s response to the interrogation repeatedly revealed
a distortion of Truth and disorientation to reality so typical of the
reversionistic criminal mind. He covered for his violence by deceit and thus
disclaimed all responsibility for his own decisions and actions. He further
evaded the Lord’s question regarding the whereabouts of Abel by twisting
the Doctrine of privacy. His retort, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” stated a
true Doctrine — he was not his brother’s keeper! (Rom 14:4-13) However,
note his hypocrisy: he claimed to respect Abel’s privacy only after he had
permanently violated it; then he turned around and used it in his defense!
Even though there was as yet no standard established for the crime
of murder, Cain knew by conscience he was doing wrong; otherwise, he
would have seen no necessity to bury the evidence! But nothing is hidden
from God, and the blood of his victim cried to God for vengeance.
(Gen 4:10; Heb 12:24) Divine justice cannot and did not overlook the crime.
To do so would be a compromise of God’s essence. However, the
implication is that ignorance is no excuse. Intent is not a factor with God,
as it is in our present Law. We define homicide in terms of first, second
and third degree, which involves intent. The murder of a loved one is of
little consequence in our mixed-up, reversionistic society, which always
ignores the blood crying from the ground and pities the murderer! But the
blood of a murder victim sends up signals to God until justice overtakes the
culprit. (Job 16:18-19; Isa 26:21; Eze 24:7-9; Rev 6:9-10)
Antediluvian Law
In the Postdiluvian Civilization, under the Laws of Divine
establishment, the crime of murder would demand the death penalty. But
since Cain’s crime occurred before God had given man the Principle of
capital punishment, the Lord imposed a unique sentence, which would be
representative of the Antediluvian Civilization.
"Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to
receive your brother’s blood from your hand. "When you cultivate the
ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; [Produce] you will be a
vagrant and a wanderer on the earth." (Gen 4:11-12)
This was a harsh penalty for a man who loved his profession and was
proud of his superior agricultural abilities. Cain was not executed because
at that time there was no Law against murder, nor had a punishment been
designated. Although it was both sin and evil, murder had not been defined
in relation to the Laws of establishment. Even more important, to remove
Cain from the earth in this stage of history would destroy the meaning of
the angelic conflict. Throughout man’s history, Cain’s and all progeny, must
have the opportunity to be saved. In these extenuating circumstances, the
justice of God placed Cain under a lifetime sentence which involved a
double curse.
First, Cain would no longer be permitted to pursue his profession of
farming. The earth would no longer respond to the cultivating hand of Cain.
Second, Cain was set apart from society as an established criminal.
People could not look at him without saying, “There is Cain, the murderer”;
and this would constitute a form of isolation. This twofold punishment was
the forerunner of imprisonment for the separation of the criminal from
society. A third punishment, execution, would not be added until the
establishment of the Divine institution of nationalism. (Gen 9:6; Gen 10:32)
God knows exactly how to fit the punishment to the crime; in Cain’s case, it
was calculated to make him miserable for life! Yet it was a grace
punishment, a reminder to Cain of his need for rebound, for at any time, he
could exercise positive volition toward God and Truth.
Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is too great to bear!
(Gen 4:13)
Cain was more concerned about the consequences of his crime to
himself, than about the crime itself. This is true of the criminal mind: there
is no conscience or remorse involved for violating the freedom and rights of
another — only self-pity and occupation with his own rights! Yet Cain
ignored the fact that his crime had canceled the rights of his brother;
consequently, he had forfeited his own personal rights.
In his punishment, Cain was deprived of a normal life because
criminals are abnormal. Not only is it ludicrous, but it is also dangerous for
the Law to recognize the insanity plea for a criminal. Insanity is part of
being criminal! Criminals are always divorced from reality! Furthermore,
regardless of a criminal’s frame of mind, he still acts from his own volition
and must be held responsible for his actions.
"Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground;
and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer
on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." (Gen 4:14).
Cain realized the severity of the sentence; and although he had
rejected God’s Plan of Spiritual maturity, he did not wish to be driven out of
the area of blessing. (Jud 1:11-13) Unbelievers as well as believers benefit
from the proper function of the Laws of Divine establishment. But, like
Cain, many shirk or even defy the very Laws that sustain them. Our jails
today are filled with Cain’s reversionistic counterparts who want the grace
blessings of this country without the responsibility of obeying its Laws. The
“sick society” is one that is filled with a maximum number of
antiestablishment reversionists. Unless they are saved and or renewed in
their Thinking, (Rom 12:2) God will eventually have to destroy the nation!
When Cain surveyed the monstrous situation that he had created by
his crime, he became afraid for his own life. In his reversionistic
imagination, he already anticipated a large army of revenge-seekers from
the ever increasing line of believers ready to avenge Abel’s death. He at
once recognized the trend of the Antediluvian Civilization toward violence.
By introducing murder into the human race, Cain had set a precedent which
might boomerang on himself at any time.
When a criminal violates the Laws of establishment, he becomes
wary of everyone, for the Law no longer constitutes a defense. Whenever
establishment is set aside or destroyed, its protective vigor dwindles and
society, stripped of freedom and privacy, becomes a deadly jungle in which
every individual must fend for himself. In such an unstable environment, the
constant threat of violence prevents living a normal life.
The Divine judgment gave Cain such a sense of insecurity that he
appealed his sentence. His appeal also explains the reason for the
necessity of capital punishment. Without this restraint, people would take
the Law into their own hands to avenge the murder of loved ones and
would turn the world into a great blood-feud.
So the LORD said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance
will be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain,
so that no one finding him would slay him. (Gen 4:15)
Cain had to be shielded from human reprisal; but more important,
Law-abiding citizens must be protected from the temptation of taking
criminal action against the murderer. Though the criminal, by his
Lawlessness, has forfeited his freedom and deserves punishment, any
punitive measures are the prerogative of duly authorized personnel, not of
any private individual. Whoever pursues vengeance deprives himself of the
same establishment benefits lost by the criminal.
“Sevenfold” expresses the intensity of Divine retribution toward the
avenger who takes the Law into his own hands. Anyone seeking to
retaliate against Cain would be guilty of a worse crime; moreover, he
would reduce himself to the level of the criminal! Uncontrolled, emotional
vigilante action is never justified, nor is it a legitimate solution to crime.
Vigorous, Lawful measures on the part of Law enforcement officers and
increased punishment in the hands of professional judges; are the
ingredients which stem the tide of vicious criminal activity.
The “sign of Cain,” therefore, represented a Principle of Divine Law in
the Antediluvian Civilization. It was not an additional punishment, nor was it
the source of the melanoderm races, [Black] as some commentators have
fancifully alleged. Whatever its appearance, it was merely a visible sign to
designate the offender and to restrain further violent activity. Prison bars
today are analogous to the mark of Cain. Just as jail cells isolate the
prisoner from unauthorized punishment, so Cain’s protective warning sign
said in effect, “Do not attack this man and become a criminal yourself.
Divine justice has already been enacted!”
God’s judgment took the place of human government to provide a
Law to protect the fledgling human race from destroying itself in one
massive vendetta. The insertion of Law into the human race was also a
safeguard for the freedom, privacy and function of mankind so that
evangelism might occur in every generation. Cain’s sign became the
antediluvian procedure and a forecasting of the future system of Law under
Divine establishment. It would be replaced by human government in the
Postdiluvian Civilization. Not until after the population had expanded and the
angelic conflict had become a full-scale engagement with the human race,
did God ordain capital punishment as the establishment solution to capital
crimes such as murder and rape
(Gen 9:5-6; Exo 21:12-14; Num 35:30-31) When government fails in this
responsibility, as has the administration in the United States during the past
decade, Law enforcement becomes so weakened that crime cannot be
controlled, and the freedom of the Law-abiding citizen can no longer be
protected.
Exterior Protection
Exterior protection of a nation is delegated to the military
establishment. The Bible has much to say concerning the role of the
military, for it is designed by God to be the means of defending and
preserving national sovereignty and freedom, both in the area of armed
force; (Num 31:3-5; Num 31:32; Jos 5:13) thru Jos 6:3; Jdg 3:2;
Jdg 3:9-10; Neh 4:14; Psa 18:34; Matt 24:6; Rev 19:11) and as an
intelligence agency. (Jos 2:1-24; (1Sa 30:11-18) We are free today in the
United States because, for two hundred years our valiant men have died on
battlefields all over the world, and our enemies have been annihilated.
Many of you became believers after World War II; yet you might not have
had the liberty to hear the Gospel had it not been for the magnificent
American Army which fought in that war! Those who sneer at the uniform
and ridicule the military establishment are being congratulated by the devil!
There is nothing more disgraceful than the failure to recognize an axiom
which is conspicuous throughout the pages of the Word of God: Freedom
comes through military victory!
General Douglas MacArthur eloquently expressed this Biblical Truth
when he accepted the Japanese surrender on the Battleship Missouri in
Tokyo Bay. He said, “The issues... Have been determined on the
battlefields of the world and hence are not for our discussion or debate!”
There is no room for argument with totally victorious armed forces! But
when a nation’s military is so weakened as to be incapable of victory, it
cannot restrain foreign predators, and thus freedom is destroyed from
without. Our liberties are secured by bona fide warfare, which then permits
the government to function properly in perpetuating our individual freedoms.
On the other hand, the satanic and liberal thinking of the pacifist politician
squanders our hard-earned independence.
The violence of evildoers can be restrained only by the greater
violence of righteousness. Divine establishment represents that
righteousness embodied in the Concept of a prepared military. The
Principle of military establishment is based on the fact that a stronger
righteous power provides freedom from the encroaching forces of evil. The
battlefield victories of the nations which employ the violence of
righteousness and establishment have made it possible for the human race
to continue in this phase of the angelic conflict.
In his aggressive domination of the world, the rapacious violence of
Genghis Khan and subsequent Mongol hordes of thirteenth century turned
a large civilization in Asia into a desert. Had it not been for a few Polish,
Austrian, Prussian, Hungarian and Greek knights who had the courage to
oppose these invading enemies by exerting the utmost justified violence.
Western Europe would be Mongolian today! Similar instances have
occurred in other periods of history. Why is all Europe not Mohammedan?
Because Charles Martel and a group of organized, pro-establishment,
military-minded individuals used legitimate violence to kill Mohammedans
and drive them back beyond the Pyrenees. With her fantastic army, navy
and air force, the United States of America moved in to help suppress the
tyranny of Japan and Germany in World War II. It takes an incredible
amount of violence to preserve national independence! Justified violence
related to establishment is the sole deterrent to violent aggression and is
the means of perpetuating freedom.
Few politicians in this country today understand the difference
between evil violence and righteous violence. Demonstrated in favor of
welfare and other disastrously socialistic programs. Our lack of Spiritual
courage is seen in our rejection of the Truth that evil powers must be
subdued by legitimate forces. We no longer demonstrate the backbone
needed to prevent the aggression of internationalism. If this cowardice
continues, we will inevitably be subjected either to enemy takeover by the
blackmail of the rattling saber on the outside and or to actual attack from
the inside. The violence of anarchy and antiestablishment is out of control in
many areas of the United States of America.
The Military Image of Jesus Christ
No nation remains free without having that freedom challenged. In
both the struggle for and the perpetuation of Jewish freedom after the
Exodus, Jesus Christ Himself was the Commander in Chief of the Jewish
Armies.
Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his
eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his
sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you
for us or for our adversaries?" He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as
captain of the host [Armies] of the LORD." And Joshua fell on his face to
the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my Lord to say to
his servant?" The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, "Remove
your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy."
And Joshua did so.
(Jos 5:13-15)
Jesus Christ issued instructions to annihilate the enemy to spare
neither man, woman, child nor animal. (Deut 7:2; Jos 6:21) When His
Command was not obeyed completely, the Israelites suffered dire
repercussions, even for generations to follow. (Jdg 2:1-15) The Lord Jesus
Christ holds the record for slaughtering the enemy. At His word, the
Assyrian Army of 185,000 infantrymen was destroyed in one night.
(Isa 37:36) He will break His own record in this application of righteous
violence at the close of the Tribulation, when He will decimate the military
invaders in the Middle East. (Rev 19:17-21)
Today many believers would censure the Lord Jesus Christ if they
understood the impact of this passage. They envision Him only as the
meek and mild Jesus Who spoke in terms of turning the other cheek.
(Impersonal love in the Spiritual life) (Matt 5:39)
Modern liberalism have also pilfered support from many of the Biblical
statements concerning the Millennium, which it has attempted to associate
falsely with our present dispensation. For example, such passages as “...
They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into
pruning hooks...” (Isa 2:4) Or “...Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they train for war.” (Mic 4:3) have absolutely nothing
to do with this age. During the Dispensation of the Church and the
Tribulation which follows, there will be “wars and rumors of wars.”
(Matt 24:6) Only the return and reign of Jesus Christ will assure universal
peace, and that will be based upon His decisive execution of righteous
violence to destroy evil violence in the final battle at Armageddon.
Preparation for War and Peace
To insure peace, you must be prepared for war! Instead of
disarmament, the objective of any intelligent nation is to be well prepared
and well armed. Only those individuals living in a fool’s paradise encourage
disarmament, antiwar demonstrations and the burning of draft cards! They
have misapplied certain Scriptures and completely distorted others. In any
generation, righteous violence is absolutely essential for the preservation of
national freedom.
In another period of Jewish history, when Nehemiah returned to
Jerusalem, the nation was only a small group of people, disarmed and
surrounded by enemies. Threatened from the north by the Samaritans,
from the southwest by the Philistines, from the east by the Moabites and
from the south by the Edomites and Arabs, the Jews were in desperate
straits. Nehemiah, an administrator under the King of Persia and a brilliant
military genius, had been granted leave to aid his stricken people. He
immediately organized a Jewish Army for the defense of Jerusalem while
the reconstruction of the crumbling walls was in progress. When the army
was assembled, he addressed the troops in order to inspire battlefield
courage.
When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials
and the rest of the people: "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord
who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, (Nation) your sons,
your daughters, (Family) your wives (Marriage) and your houses."
(Freedom --- volition)
(Neh 4:14)
Though physically outnumbered by the enemy forces, the Jews had a
vastly superior strength on their side the Lord of the Armies, Jesus Christ.
“...If (Since) God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom 8:31)
Was Nehemiah’s battle cry! If Jesus Christ did not hesitate to kill the
enemy, neither should they! Then Nehemiah reminded them of the Divine
institutions, which are the ONLY motivation for justified warfare: their nation
— Divine Institution Number Four; their families Number Three; their wives
— Number Two; their homes — Number One — the Divine Concept of
freedom and privacy and the right, (Volition) to follow a course of life as
Law-abiding citizens.
Many of you men, as believers in Jesus Christ and as members of an
authorized military unit, will engage in combat with Communists. At that
time, I want you to remember this Precept: when you, filled with the Spirit,
kill the enemy, you are fulfilling your Christian responsibility! You are
protecting your wives, your sweethearts and your country, and both you
and they should thank God for every one you kill. Never return home with a
guilt complex. The profession of arms is an ancient and honorable calling.
When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had
frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his
work. (Neh 4:15)
A prepared national military heads off enemy aggression. The only
way to avoid war is to be adequately equipped in advance!
Understandably, man desires peace, and his freedom is best expressed in
times of peace; but the manner of achieving and maintaining that peace
has been the subject of much debate throughout history. Disoriented,
unrealistic and demonic individuals advocate peace through capitulation to
the enemy; they assume they can usher in world peace by good will. Yet,
despite man’s efforts for peace, warfare will continue until the Millennium;
(Matt 24:6; Mar 13:7; Luk 21:9) therefore, for the preservation of
nationalism, war is an inevitable, indeed, an essential part of history.
(Num 21:14; Eccles 3:8)
No nation ever achieved a more impressive record for maintaining
national peace than the Romans, who enjoyed several periods of over one
hundred years without war. Why? Because of their total military
preparedness! Tacitus, a Roman historian, explained the power and
strength of SPQR: “The tranquility of a nation is not preserved without
arms. The troops cannot be maintained without pay, and their pay cannot
be made good without taxes.” Taxation, a bona fide function of
government, is the source of support for a military organization. “Pax
Romana” (The peace of Rome) meant not only peace for Rome but for all
its client states and provinces as well. As a result, the Augustan Age
sponsored the second great cultural surge of Western European civilization.
Armies can defend freedom with righteous violence or destroy it with
unrighteous violence. National sovereignty, freedom and integrity inevitably
depend on the winning army and, as a rule, the superior force! In,
(Jer 12:12) the Chaldean Army was destroying the freedom of the Jews; in,
(Jer 34:7) the Jewish Army was struggling to defend their liberty. When the
Chaldean Army emerged victorious, Jewish freedom became a page in
history. (Jer 40:1-3)
A portion of Divine judgment against a nation is military defeat, which
accompanies the fifth cycle of discipline and the enslavement of the people.
There is always a decline in the military establishment before this judgment
occurs. The fifth cycle of discipline was administered to Assyria in 612 B.
C., but the Assyrian military had been deteriorating for thirty years. The
Chaldean military, was in the process of decay since the death of
Nebuchadnezzar in 562 B.C., and was easily subdued by the Persians in
539 B.C. The same was true for both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and
the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Thus, when a nation’s armed forces are
demoralized and unprepared, the nation is in grave danger of losing in war
and forfeiting the freedom of its people.
Since freedom is secured on the battlefield, universal military training
is a vital factor in national survival. (Num 31:3-5; Neh 4:1-23; Luk 14:31)
Initially, the Jewish nation subscribed to universal military training; but with
the passing years, the reduction in forces (RIF) gradually depleted the
army until it virtually ceased to exist!
How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD,
they walk in the light of Your countenance. (Psa 89:15)
There is double happiness to the nation which continues to respond to
the call to military preparedness. The plural of the Hebrew noun ASHERE,
“happinesses,” has a two-fold meaning. First, the security derived from
universal military training raises the quality of young men in any generation.
The service regimen can take a “wimp” and transform him into a real man!
Why? It teaches him the self-discipline, team-discipline, respect for
authority, polish and poise so necessary in life. Second, if the quality of the
men is improved, the women are blessed by association. Military training is
futile if the men in the nation are degenerate, apostate and
antiestablishment, full of emotional revolt and scar tissue. Under these
conditions of the soul, self-discipline and respect for authority are
nonexistent; consequently, the idea of a volunteer army becomes ludicrous.
Although there are many fine people serving in VOLAR, it cannot meet the
communist threat of the present hour. Every able-bodied American man,
from eighteen years on, should spend a portion of his life learning the
military skills. This is the only answer to our military problems today.
There are two ways by which a nation is preserved in a crisis: the
victorious action of the military and or the existence of Spiritually mature
believers. When the military is unable to function because of the evil policy
of national rulers or because of general apostasy from reversionism, the
only hope for the nation lies in a maximum number of Spiritually mature
believers. Jesus Christ controls history, and His direct intervention
preserves mature believers who have been faithful in taking in the Word, as
expressed by the last half of, (Psa 89:15). If the nucleus of mature
believers is large enough, the entire nation is delivered. (Psa 46:8-10;
Eccles 9:13-15; Isa 28:4-6; Isa 37:31)
“...Walk in the light of Your countenance” in (Psa 89:15) is a transition
from the military Concept of universal military training to the Spiritual factor
in preserving a nation. There is a relationship between the military
establishment and Spiritual progress. Enlistment in the service is analogous
to entrance into the Plan of God through Salvation. Once you enlist, you
are in full-time Christian service! Advance in the military is achieved by
learning to respect authority — first, from the drill instructor. In the Spiritual
life, advance is accomplished through concentration on the message of
your Spiritual authority, the pastor-teacher. Both require self-discipline
which — in the Spiritual realm, is the assimilation of the Mind of Christ —
Divine Thinking — Truth. Each generation must learn discipline and
authority to perpetuate both national and Spiritual greatness.
Military defeat on the battlefield is an indication of the lack of self-
discipline, Spiritual incentive, motivation for courage and respect for
authority, which are the essential components in the perpetuation of
freedom. Failure of the military can also be an index of the character and
stability of the population of that national entity. In fact, God often uses the
military in action to demonstrate the Spiritual and moral degeneracy of a
nation, as in the conquest of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C.
Sometimes defeat will come to the nation which fails to correctly interpret
history as well as current events. This factor, coupled with the overruling
will of God, explains the decline of certain military forces throughout history
that otherwise had superb leadership.
In his last words, Nathan Hale, symbolizing the spirit of patriotism, left
a noble heritage for all Americans when he courageously declared, “I only
regret that I have but one life to lose for my country!”
Those who understand the Laws of Divine establishment know it is better
to die with honor on the field of battle than to be a slave — or worse!
Characteristics of Good Military Leadership
Another index of national character is the type of leadership it
produces, whether civilian or military. (Prov 24:1-6) Business, professional
and military leadership in this country has excelled in the past and has been
one of the keys to our greatness as a nation. All successful leaders are
flexible, have a relaxed mental attitude under pressure and have the ability
to vigorously resolve any contingency at the most advantageous time. They
make policy on the basis of Principle rather than on conformity to a
personality image. Robert E. Lee, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, John J.
Pershing and Douglas MacArthur, to name a few, possessed fantastic
mental attitude dynamics under stress and pressure.
Military leadership demands self-discipline, group-discipline, a sense
of responsibility and courage. Effective leadership includes fighting for the
military, as well as fighting as the military! Military leaders must also
possess the confidence which is derived through professional
understanding and knowledge of military science. Some of the most self-
assured Commanders in history — from Napoleon to Schlieffen — had a
phenomenal Concept of logistics, strategy and tactics. Common sense,
good judgment, loyalty, recognition of authority, fairness to all personnel
regardless of personal prejudices, an understanding of others, executive
ability, good health, flair, poise and courtesy; are all vital in military
leadership.
Economy Based on Free Enterprise
The foundation for the economic prosperity of a nation is free
enterprise. Every country that has operated under free enterprise
Principles has been singularly blessed. Largely as the result of American
free enterprise, the economy of many areas flourished, such as West
Germany, Southern France and Northern Italy, particularly from 1870 until
around 1910. When Woodrow Wilson became president in 1913, an era of
good economy built on free enterprise began to decline.
Under a resurgence of free enterprise, American industry and
ingenuity reached its peak during the World War II era and enabled us to
contribute immeasurably to the winning of that war. Immediately after the
war, our free enterprise system maintained the economy, provided jobs for
men who returned from the war, and gave them the opportunity to go as
far as their ability could carry them with the freedom they so recently had
won.
Few people recognize the relationship between free enterprise and a
good military establishment. Yet this Principle has been understood at
various periods in history, as demonstrated by the Great Elector, Frederick
William of Brandenburg-Prussia. During his reign over these two sections
of land in Northern Germany, there existed at the same time a group of
believers in France called the Huguenots, whose lives were centered in the
Bible. They formed the stable middle-class industrial backbone of France;
until Roman Catholic persecutions and the repeal of the Edict of Nantes,
which had guaranteed their religious freedom, forced them to leave their
mother country. Where did they go?
At the invitation of Frederick William, who promised them capital,
religious liberty and freedom from governmental interference in industry,
the Huguenots moved to Brandenburg-Prussia. There, under the system of
free enterprise, they set up a phenomenal industrial complex and laid the
foundation for a powerful military establishment that was still in effect in the
days of Frederick William’s grandson and continued for 150 years.
Subsequently, under Bismark, there emerged a unified German state
whose greatness and power were a direct result of its adherence to the
Principles of Divine establishment.
Government was never intended to regulate the lives and industry of
individuals. Rather, it is established to protect their inherent rights of
privacy and freedom. As a believer in Jesus Christ, you had better take
another look at industry, because you are looking at the last stand! The
men in industry are supporting the population of this country. If you wipe
out big business, little business will also collapse. Every business
organization is in some way related to the industrial structure. You cannot
name a business that does not depend on some industry.
In Jeremiah, the economic disaster of Judah is related to the rejection
of the Laws of Divine establishment.
"For the mountains I will take up a weeping and wailing, And for the
pastures of the wilderness a dirge, Because they are laid waste so that no
one passes through, And the lowing of the cattle is not heard; Both the
birds of the sky and the beasts have fled; they are gone. (Jer 9:10)
Industry is defined in this context under the Concept of an agricultural
economy. At that time, business had been operating under free enterprise;
but because of the decline of establishment in other areas, particularly the
military, industry was also crippled. Military and economic disintegration
opened the doors to the invading army, and Judah’s land was devastated!
Like Jeremiah, as we see our personal freedoms gradually
diminishing, we may wonder how much longer we can exist as a free
nation. The decline in one area of establishment is always related to the
decline in other areas. Which takes precedence, may vary from time to
time and from nation to nation; in fact the deterioration may occur
simultaneously.
When free enterprise is destroyed and socialism is instituted, taxes
are increased to support such travesties as socialized medicine and a
guaranteed minimum wage, while the military funds are decreased. Then it
is only a matter of how the nation will go out: a depression from the
dissolution of big business; widespread disease as a result of socialized
medicine and consequent lack of incentive in the medical profession; a take-
over by organized crime because the citizenry has been disarmed; or
invasion by enemy forces and loss of freedom due to depletion of the
military! We in this country are on the verge of economic and military
collapse; and just as tears came to Jeremiah’s eyes as he watched the
disintegration of Judah, so we should not only weep but pray for our
country as it faces this danger!
Common Law
In a national entity, there must be a single system of Law which
operates according to the Principle of objectivity. Under this judicial
uniformity, there are two types of Laws — one that controls governmental
function and another that settles and regulates matters among people
within the framework of a nation. Legislation should never encroach upon
freedom; it is designed to protect the life and freedom, privacy and
property of Law-abiding citizens.
Law is perverted when it is used as an attempt to make people
equal, when it caters to expediency or places the honest citizen in jeopardy
under the guise of the satanic policy — the greatest good for the greatest
number. A recent occurrence in an eastern state is a case in point. In the
process of being robbed in his home, a well-to-do citizen shot and
wounded the intruder. Not only did the criminal recover, but he
subsequently sued the homeowner and was awarded substantial damages
which bankrupted the man! In many states, the Law has been so distorted
that the use of firearms to protect one’s life, family or property from
criminal activity no longer constitutes a legal defense.
When the legal system breaks down under subjective legislation or
when good Law is administered by reversionists. It is a simple matter for
the criminal to violate the Law without suffering any serious reprisal. Most
criminal activity is the result of rationalization from blackout and scar tissue
of the soul. (The latter stages of reversionism) The reprobate rationalizes
that since the legal system will shield him, he can indiscriminately murder,
steal, rape, destroy property or indulge in any minor or major infraction of
the Law. So effective have been the demands of the criminal for his “rights’
that today he has been rendered almost immune to punishment. In reality,
the criminal forfeited his rights when he violated the Law. The only right any
Lawbreaker has is the right to a fair trial! When the Law becomes the
basis of removing liberty and intruding upon the privacy of the innocent,
thus subjecting private citizens to criminal activity and violence, the country
has lost the use and protection of its Law.
The Law is intended to restrain crime, to prosecute and remove
violators from society and at the same time to protect Law-abiding citizens;
yet legislators in reversionism are enacting Laws that make almost any
manner of crime a non-punishable offense! Criminals, so to speak, come in
the front door of the Justice Building but are let out through the back door!
The deterioration of Law is as evident today as the network of crime
syndicates, which operate freely and with impunity.
Much of our present legislation is soft on crime; furthermore, it
represents the greatest intrusion upon personal liberty that has ever
existed in this country. Many of the invasions of our privacy are perpetrated
under some subtle ruse, such as the population census or the income tax.
Most people are not even aware that these are attacks upon their freedom
and privacy. I recently read an article entitled “Frogs and Freedom,” which
perfectly describes what is currently happening to our freedoms.
There’s an old story that says you can’t kill a frog by dropping him in
boiling water. He reacts so quickly to the sudden heat that he jumps out
before he’s hurt. But if you put him in cold water and then warm it up
gradually, he never decides to jump till it’s too late. By then he’s cooked.
Men are just as foolish. Take away their freedom overnight, and you’
ve got a violent revolution. But steal it from them gradually, (Under the
guise of security, "peace," and or "progress") you can paralyze an entire
generation. Look at the income tax. It started out as a harmless sounding
1%. It would have been easy to jump out of water as tepid as this, but like
the frog we waited while it climbed even higher. (Try jumping now!)
Worst of all, we never learn. Even today we cannot believe that
Medicare is the same warm water that will one day boil us in Socialized
Medicine. We see no connection between farm price supports and
Nationalized (State controlled) Agriculture. And if we draw a parallel
between subsidized teachers’ pay and federal control of education, we are
called "extremist."
The tragedies of history are always repeated by those who refuse to
learn them. To seek guidance from the past is not "turning the clock back,"
as we are so often told. It is merely a good way to keep out of hot water.
Gun legislation, as advocated today, is another prime example of our
liberties being swallowed up by governmental interference. According to
our Constitution, Law-abiding citizens have the right to own and to use
firearms; and all legislation should defend that right. The prohibition of this
privilege will only result in the removal of guns from honest citizens and
leave weapons in the hands of the felon. Since he knows he is the only one
who is armed, his job is facilitated immensely!
Crime is not the result of individual ownership of firearms! The same
factor that produces a weak society produces crime: reversionism and the
influence of evil in the souls of individuals. When you have a sick society,
you also have a maximum number of criminals in that society because an
evil society cannot restrain crime. Before a person becomes a criminal, he
has entered into the last stages of reversionism — blackout of the soul and
scar tissue — where he is totally influenced by evil, not sin. You must
understand that sin is not synonymous with evil. While evil and sin often
overlap and certain types of evil are also sinful, evil embodies the entire
satanic thought pattern, which is antiestablishment and anti-Truth.
Crime, therefore, does not originate directly in the old sin nature.
While it is true that all criminals are sinners because everyone in the human
race possesses an old sin nature, (Rom 3:23) yet not all sinners are
criminals. Crime involves other influences related to evil: human volition and
deliberate violation of the Laws of Divine establishment. Thus, restraints on
the volition restrain crime, and this is one of the major factors for the
existence of the Laws of Divine establishment.
Common Culture
There must be a common culture in a national entity which reflects the
Spiritual life, the obedience, the nobility and the patriotism of the people.
Culture is expressed in at least four areas: literature, drama, art and
music. For example, music, whatever style — classical, baroque,
impressionistic, jazz, pop, swing, and patriotic — should inspire and uplift.
By this standard, much of our contemporary music, such as “Psychedelic,’
“Rock” and the “Beat,” reflects chaos, disorder and confusion, and
encourages the breakdown of the Laws of establishment and glorifies the
use of drugs. Art, literature and drama should always manifest the vigor,
the best of a nation — not its decadence and reversionism. Much of our
present-day culture represents the old sin nature and the psychotic soul.
People in reversionism cultivate the evil and the ugly, the degrading and the
seamy side of life, rather than that which is lofty and noble — the true
purpose of the arts.
Governmental Function
The administration of government-must operate in compliance with
the foregoing Principles of patriotism and allow the genius of its people to
express itself. This is done through two channels: one, to leave its citizens
alone without governmental interference; and two, to protect those citizens
from criminal activity; (The old sin natures’ of people) in the country and
from without. While we are born with certain unquestionable rights, the
government is designed to protect, not to guarantee these rights to
everyone nor indeed to anyone! Neither can we compel the government to
give us those commodities which are already our natural rights. This was
certainly not the intent of our forefathers in framing the Constitution. The
purpose of the Constitution was to prohibit the Federal Government from
tampering with our rights. It is important to understand the distinction
between the Principle of inherent right and that to which we have a right.
“Rights” are merely the just or Lawful claims on whatever we can lawfully
possess by our own efforts and abilities. In other words, the government
must not guaranty us food, shelter, clothing, property, jobs, etc.; but it
must protect our freedom to lawfully acquire them! Our inherent rights to
exploit whatever opportunities come our way must not be denied or
tampered with!
Tragically, in this country, an ever-expanding bureaucracy of
demoniacally minded people has dissipated our national prosperity through
a system of governmental agencies instituted to encroach in every area of
our society. Consequently, in the name of politics, we are saddled with a
group of self-serving individuals, who lack Spiritual Virtue — in ALL places
of leadership; such a condition stifles ingenuity and incentive. In this sense,
our federal government has become an immoral hierarchy! With one goal in
mind; the bringing in of the "One World" government!
Freedom to Evangelize
Freedom provides the basis for the proper function of evangelism.
Since freedom of choice is prerequisite for response to the Gospel,
national freedom becomes essential in order that Gospel information may
be disseminated without fear of punishment; and those who do believe in
Christ must not be subjected to retaliation. Every person who is positive at
the point of God-consciousness has the right to hear the alternatives and to
exercise positive or negative volition toward the Gospel.
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not
obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
(John 3:36)
The Laws of establishment protect human freedom and enable
evangelism to function in every generation. While the agents of evangelism
vary in each dispensation of human history, the Principle of evangelism
remains unchanged that is, the Gospel will always be presented, and those
who accept its Truth will be saved. (Acts 16:31) Obviously, evangelism and
the teaching of Truth must occur where people are — the inhabited earth;
but where many people congregate, crime and violence will be inevitable,
because of the angelic conflict and the influence of evil. Without a system
of authority to restrain them, people will always cease to behave like
human beings. When every man does that which is right in his own eyes,
(Jdg 17:6) Law and order breaks down in society; the Law of the jungle
takes over, and like a pack of wild animals, the strong tyrannize the weak.
A perfect illustration is the conditions that exist in any disaster or
catastrophe situation where all authority has been temporarily wiped out.
Looters and marauders descend to plunder, rape, and destroy. Overt
restraints are necessary to curb this vile activity of mankind.
Evangelism is virtually impossible under such chaotic conditions. Only
by God’s overruling will, in cases of positive volition, can the Truth be made
available. To bring order out of chaos, God instituted the Laws of
establishment as part of Jesus Christ’s control of history so that mankind
would continue to exist, be evangelized and grow to Spiritual maturity, even
in the devil’s world! The Divine institutions were also established by God for
this same purpose. Even in the worst period of human history — the
Tribulation — volition, marriage, families and nations will still exist. No
disaster, no type of warfare nor satanic strategy can eliminate the human
race and the individual right to choose for or against God’s Plan.
(Matt 24:14) The only issue is whether this will be done under an orderly
system or under extremely difficult conditions of confusion and tumult.
Again, this reminds us of the axiom that Jesus Christ controls history —
directly, indirectly and permissively!
Satan would neutralize or destroy the human race if he could, and the
angelic warfare would be “no contest!” But when God created man. He
also assumed responsibility for maintaining him; therefore, the human race
can never be eradicated. No nuclear weapon, no invention devised by man
will ever decimate the entire populated earth. (Until the end of the
Tribulation period) Nothing or no one can set aside or negate the Plan of
God. Individuals will die — even in tremendous numbers; but God’s Plan
grants that humanity itself will survive. The fear that someone will “push a
button, a meteor collision, a plague, an economic system collapse, and no
healthcare” makes a sensational movie plot, and it also makes cowards of
people and politicians! This is the demonic cry from the leaders in our
national government! As a result, our nation has become deceived.
Furthermore, such timidity by the people is a contributing factor in the rush
toward internationalism, a system sponsored by Satan; and never more
present, in internal and external affairs than in our time!
NATIONALISM VERSUS INTERNATIONALISM
While nationalism provides the maximum opportunity for freedom to
operate under the Laws of establishment, internationalism, by the very
nature of its system, is more vulnerable to despotism and tyranny. Why?
Because of the influence of evil and the lust pattern of the old sin natures’;
OF ALL PEOPLE! (Rom 7:18) Internationalism imposes fewer restraints
on the sin natures of those in power and allows greater margin for the
enslavement of people. Nationalism is God’s system for safeguarding
mankind by providing a balance of power among many nations rather than
a concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals. (Gen 11:1-9)
Under internationalism, Satan can more easily rule his domain and enforce
his policy of evil, which includes the destruction of human freedom. While
leadership often functions under the influence of evil in one nation,
nationalism acts as a deterrent to the spreading of this evil to other
countries. Nationalism isolates evil; it does not prevent it. Only adherence
to Divine establishment and Spiritual growth can frustrate evil!
The satanic strategy is to weaken and deceive the nations,
(Isa 14:12; Rev 20:8) in order to wrest control of the world from Jesus
Christ, as the devil has already seized its rulership from man. (John 12:31)
What better way than to oppose and destroy God’s Plan of nationalism?
Satan’s first scheme was the Tower of Babel where he sponsored the
building of a city and mammoth tower, which would be the basis for an
international religion. It became the focal point for power and a breeding
ground for concentrated evil and rejection of God.
(Gen 11:3-4; cf., Isa 14:12-14)
God’s indictment against the combined efforts of Satan and man was
the dispersion of the human race, the institution of national boundaries and
the creation of many languages. (Gen 11:8-9)
The idea that there would be better understanding and brotherhood
among nations if all the languages in the world were merged into one
common language has been once and for all demonstrated to be mere
illusion. Man’s problem is not a multiplicity of languages or the lack of
international understanding; but the ever-present influence of demonism
and the fact that we all possess the old sin nature — that the demons use
to war with us. (Eph 6:12) A universal language did not guard that
civilization against satanic evil or the expression of Satan’s policy — in
human old sin nature good,” nor will it today. (Gen 8:21) Like sheep,
people are easily led astray and taken in by the devil’s deceptions.
(2Ti 2:25-26) Only the believer who knows and understands God’s Thinking
can see through his clever devices. (2Co 2:11)
Satan has never ceased his efforts to organize a one-world system.
Indeed, as history moves-on to its culmination, the devil’s aims of
internationalism will appear to succeed. However, with all his genius, Satan
is incapable of pulling the peoples of the world together and ruling them
under internationalism, as will be demonstrated during the final period of
the Tribulation. He can never circumvent God’s Plan of nationalism!
Contrary to what is so often proclaimed from the pulpits today, God’s
Word neither advocates nor condones internationalism. During the angelic
conflict, internationalism or one-world-ism is satanic, anti-Christian and anti-
God. This includes the United Nations, the World Council of Churches,
Communism and every other international system, whether political or
religious. Internationalism has no place in God’s system. It is outlawed all
the way! Even in the Millennium, national entities will remain existent.
(Isa 61:11)
Before World War II, most of the sentiment of the people in Western
Europe had moved toward internationalism. Communism was making
inroads in those countries as well as in the United States. The majority of
citizens in this country are deluded by the visionary proclamations of the
communistic Concept, and every day the ideals of a welfare state become
more popular. In our reversionistic, mixed-up society, an unrealistic attitude
toward internationalism continues to prevail which, if it persists, will
ultimately lead to our doom.
And he causes ALL, the small and the great, and the rich and the
poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right
hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy
or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast
or the number of his name. (Rev 13:16-17)
Why do we cling to this anti-Biblical Concept? Because the time has
come for man to make the choice for or against Christ and for or against
Divine Thinking; Truth!
When a nation is on the skids, only the Word of Truth or a sudden,
overwhelming catastrophe will awaken its citizens. Sometimes the
awakening comes too late, as with the Carthaginians in the Third Punic
War. By the time they realized that Rome was intent on their annihilation,
they had already accomplished extensive disarmament, their defenses had
fallen into disrepair and their fate was sealed. In a last ditch effort,
Carthage under siege held for four years, but the Romans were victorious.
The Carthaginians’ ivory-tower attitudes rendered their defeat inevitable.
The majority in this country are filled with the same naiveté, so far removed
from GOD’S REALITY! That unless we get back to the Divine Thinking of
the Word of God, our land too will be obliterated! There are only two ways
to learn the Principles of Divine establishment: the easy way — through the
Bible, or the hard way — through a national crisis!
ALTERNATE LAWS TO ESTABLISHMENT
God has a series of Laws which go into effect when a nation rejects
the Laws of Divine establishment. These are Principles of judgment defined
in the five cycles of discipline, which result in national disaster and finally in
the destruction of the nation. (Lev 26:13-39)
Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, I will refine them
and assay them; For what else can I do, because of the daughter of My
people?
(Jer 9:7)
God causes the nations that disregard His Laws to go through the fire
of adversity. Whenever a majority of the people in a nation become so
influenced by evil that they depart completely from every Principle of
establishment, not to mention Christianity, then God puts that nation
through the refining process.
(Isa 48:10)
Many national disasters perfectly illustrate the Principles of,
(Amos 3:6; Jer 18:7-11). Under pressure, evil cannot sustain; thus, during
a catastrophe, the dross is burned off and the nation is purified from
corruption. The people turn back to the Laws of Divine establishment,
Christ and Truth — the survivors are thereby protected from annihilation.
(Rev 11:13) God cannot do otherwise than to purge a nation when it
reaches the point of national degeneracy and moral disintegration. Those
who are totally infected with evil are removed, and the remnant of believers
that survive are protected. This is consistent with God’s character and His
grace as well as the best interests of the national entity!
REVOLUTION AND ESTABLISHMENT
Throughout the course of the angelic conflict, Satan launches major
offensives against the Gospel, Doctrine, Divine institutions and
establishment. (Against ALL Divine Thinking and Plans) In order to affirm
his rule over his cosmic kingdom and to superimpose his volition over Homo
sapiens, he often resorts to the violent overthrow of duly established
authority in a nation. However, bear in mind that while Satan has usurped
the rulership of the world, he rules only by the permissive will of God; he
can do no more than God allows! (Job 2:1-10) Jesus Christ will always be
in control of history! When events in human history get so out of hand that
the true issues in the angelic conflict are obscured or the survival of
mankind is threatened, God steps in to overrule and control.
As long as man shall live on this earth, God protects the function of
human volition. Free will must be operational for the angelic conflict to be
resolved and concluded. Were revolution allowed to become too
widespread, man’s volition would be left unprotected and completely
throttled by Lawless violence and anarchy. Consequently, revolutions may
run their course only until they begin to jeopardize God’s purpose for
mankind in the resolution of the angelic conflict. Since revolution involves
the antagonism of evil against the system of authority ordained by God to
protect the human race, we must understand the true Biblical Concept of
evil.
Evil encompasses the entire policy and thinking of Satan as the ruler
of this world. Contrary to general opinion, sin is not the primary issue in the
Spiritual battle. The sin problem was settled once and for all at the Cross
and is resolved initially by personal Salvation and subsequently in Spiritual
growth and by rebound or by discipline for failure to rebound.
(1Co 11:30-31) While some sin is included in and overlaps evil at various
points, the Concept of evil is much broader in scope. Evil involves human
old sin nature good, which is the application of Satan’s policy to human
experience.
(Acts 5:1-5) This satanic plan includes every attempt to solve the problems
of life apart from Christ and Truth. It also incorporates every plan that is
antithetical to God’s Plan: religion,” socialism, communism, political
internationalism and “brotherly love,” altruism, humanitarianism,
philanthropy, public welfare, revolution, “the greatest good for the greatest
number,” governmental interference in Divine establishment, coercion by
legislation to name a few! Any and every deviation from the Mind and
Thinking of Christ, (1Co 2:16) such as reversionism, apostasy, legalism
and or any organized “Christian program” which attempts to sponsor
Spiritual growth, apart from the filling of God the Holy Spirit and the daily
intake and Thinking with Divine Thoughts: is evil! (John 4:23-24)
Satan’s policy was in the pristine Garden — in the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, which represented Satan’s sin nature and the
cosmic system; when he took over as ruler of the world. The original man
and woman partook of the forbidden tree, and at that moment, Satan’s
plan replaced God’s Plan. Under Satan’s rule, the first application of evil
thinking in human history, was an act of human old sin nature good —
Operation Fig Leaves. (Gen 3:4-7) (If we are superficially and or relatively
right with each other; we will be justified before God)
As the plan and policy of Satan, evil is a reaction against both Truth
and the Laws of Divine establishment and is therefore the false Concept
behind all revolution. (Psa 64:4-5; Prov 17:11) When satanically sponsored
liberal panaceas are escalated into governmental tyranny then evil is in full
bloom. By definition, revolution is a radical, sudden change in political
organization, constitution or governmental structure; the overthrow,
generally accomplished by violence, of duly constituted authority. Without
using the existing Laws of election or succession, revolution overturns
established government, tears down the authority of establishment by
means of violence and replaces it with another power.
The evil motivation behind revolution can be mental attitude sins, such
as arrogance, jealousy, vindictiveness, implacability; it can stem from the
lust pattern of the old sin nature — power or approbation lust; or it can be
a sincere desire to do "good." Aristotle, the teacher of Alexander the
Great, wrote in his Politics: “Inferiors revolt in order that they may be
equals, and equals revolt that they may be superior. Such is the state of
mind which creates revolution!”
Since evil runs the gamut from religion, legalism, liberalism,
reversionism and apostasy to socialism, altruism, reformation and public
welfare, these demonic thoughts produce numerous antithetical types of
revolutionaries. A revolutionist may be a power-mad dictator or a sweet,
well-meaning clergyman; a sincere visionary and reformer or a hard-core
Bolshevik; a deprived, exploited, downtrodden derelict of society or an
ambitious, wealthy member of the aristocracy. He might even be a
reversionistic Christian attempting to improve the devil’s world. Regardless
of the particular brand of evil the revolutionist advocates, he is an opponent
of human freedom.
While revolution is often condoned on the basis of promoting a great
and noble cause, the Word of God never justifies revolution! But the the
Word of God always justifies fighting to protect freedom! (Esther 9:16)
God demonstrated His attitude toward revolution in, (Num 16:1-33). When
the BELIEVERS; Korah, Dathan and Abiram revolted against Moses’
authority
(cf. Jud 1:11-13) God destroyed them in an earthquake, and their followers
were consumed by a plague of fire. Even though the revolutionary cause is
frequently led by sincere but naive do-gooders, revolution is always anti-
God, antiestablishment and can be traced to that trend of evil which begins
with some form of reversionism or apostasy.
Return to Him from whom you have deeply defected, O sons of
Israel. (Isa 31:6)
Whether in the believer or the unbeliever, reversionism always seeks
human solutions to the problems of life. These solutions may or may not be
related to the sins of the old sin nature, but they invariably advocate the
overthrow of establishment-type authority and establishment values.
Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; (Angelic conflict) For the
LORD speaks, "Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted
against Me. "An ox [Ignorance] knows its owner, And a donkey [Arrogance]
its master’s manger, But Israel does not know, My people do not
understand." Alas, sinful nation, People weighed down with iniquity,
Offspring of evildoers, Sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the
LORD, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away
from Him. Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your
rebellion? The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint. (Isa 1:2-5)
When revolutionary ideology is allowed to undermine establishment
issues, national psychosis sets in.
The revolutionist has no regard for the Concept of duly constituted
authority. He cannot separate the Principle of authority from the individual
or individuals who exercise or possibly abuse that authority. Consequently,
he reacts by destroying both the leadership and the authority that
leadership represents. Irrespective of whether you agree or disagree with
the person in authority, and irrespective of how corrupt he may be,
recognition of the Divine order and the correction of abuses within the
framework of that recognized order are the only means of ultimately
righting an injustice. (1Pe 2:13-23) This applies not just to governmental
function but to business, marriage, the military, the church and many other
areas of life. Church revolutions occur when the congregation rejects the
pastor’s authority and attempts to usurp his God-given prerogative.
(Heb 13:7-17)
Neither the French Revolution of 1789 nor the Russian Revolution of
1917 was justified. They were in utter opposition to God’s order.
(Rom 13:1-7; (1Pe 2:13-14) In both cases, the revolution was evil, and the
one authority as well as the authority itself was destroyed. Whatever evil
may have existed under the Bourbon and Romanov dynasties, it was only
replaced by a worse evil. These two classic revolutions were the result of
overthrow of establishment authority by mob violence. The anatomy of
revolution is always the same. Although it may take many years before the
final eruption occurs, liberalism breeds revolt in the minds of the people
and prepares the ground in which the seeds of revolution can be planted.
Evil thinking infiltrates every facet of life — economic, educational, political,
Spiritual — and conditions the people for the overthrow of authority. Once
the machinery of revolution is set into motion, the radicals grow bold and,
with the moral decline of the people, begin to act like a mob. Violence
becomes the order of the day, as described by Edmund Burke, the great
British statesman, in Reflections on the French Revolution: “In the groves of
their academy, [The French Revolution] at the end of every vista, you see
nothing but the gallows. Invariably, the liberals, who in confused idealism
and stupidity opened the floodgates to such catastrophes, are swept away
with the innocent. All vestiges of the former governmental structure are
destroyed. Chaos ensues; and authority, freedom, privacy and property
are wiped out!
The question is often asked, “What about the American Revolution of
1775? Was it a revolution comparable to the French or Communist
Revolutions?” It was not! “Revolutionary War” is a misnomer. The term
“revolution,” in its true Biblical connotation, is always evil. Any change
brought about through establishment Principles, cannot technically be
classed as a revolution. Initially, there was a struggle on the part of the
colonists to gain representation in the English government. Denied this
representation, the effort grew into a “War for Independence” and became
a fight to retain freedom under the proper function of establishment rather
than an overthrow of government.
British subjects in America... were then the freest people in the world,
and in many respects more free than anyone today. They argued and then
fought, not to obtain freedom but to confirm the freedom they already had
or claimed! As it would be today, if the current government turned into a
tyranny; and began the dismantling of freedom and establishment
Principles!
In England, legislative power was vested in the lower House of
Parliament. The thirteen colonies were being taxed without being
represented in the House of Commons. Taxation is bona fide as a part of
Divine Institution Number Four; but taxation without representation is a
violation of the Principles of both Divine Institutions One and Four! This fact
made the war a battle against tyranny rather than a revolt against authority
and resulted in the emergence of a strong and vigorous pro-establishment
nation.
Edmund Burke understood perfectly that the American conflict with
England was not a revolution but a justified demand for representation.
Just as he vigorously opposed and condemned the French Revolution, so
he continued to support the cause of the colonists, and he stated this
Principle before the House of Commons in 1775 in his brilliant speech,
“Conciliation with America.”
The Bible discloses that the source of revolution is the heart or right
lobe of the soul, which results from the infiltration of false Biblical satanic
thoughts.
Transgressing and denying the LORD, And turning away from our
God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving in and uttering from the
heart lying words. (Isa 59:13)
’But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have
turned aside and departed. (Jer 5:23)
Revolution, which is the result of a breakdown of respect for the
Laws of establishment, sweeps toward disaster a collection of
reversionists who are under the influence of evil. Every Concept of Law
and order and authority is obliterated in their right lobes prior to or during
their participation in revolution. Apostasy and reversionism neutralize the
true function of the frame of reference and its memory center; they
eradicate the norms and standards in the conscience of the soul so that the
Laws set up by God are no longer a part of the vocabulary and categories
of the right lobe, nor are they retained on the “launching pad” for
application to experience. (Heb 3:15)
The Lawless mobs spawned by revolution can neither think nor listen
to reason. Revolutionists seek to overturn the establishment in a grab for
power, yet they totally lack a sense of responsibility. Irrational and
emotional, mob action is the epitome of stupidity. While there may be
individuals in the mob who have a genius IQ, in the mob, mentality is
inevitably swept away by the lowest common denominator; blind emotion!
Intimidation of delegated authority by mob violence destroys the
safeguards of freedom and results in anarchy, which can then be exploited
by evil men. Individual liberty is always wiped out in revolution!
The Lawless seek to gain power through violence. The only way to
halt antiestablishment violence is by meeting it with a greater violence. In
other words, unjust violence must be suppressed by the strong arm of the
Law! Unlike the wanton destructiveness of the mob, the legitimate
application of force under establishment is controlled and orderly. Those in
authority who have honor, righteousness and integrity can utilize superior
might without corrupting the power involved. The nation’s internal use of
legitimate violence is embodied in the Law and is expressed to the
maximum by capital punishment, in order to curb the malignant violence of
crime. Externally, military action is the force of righteousness which
purchases national freedom and crushes the evil fury of the aggressor!
In general, there are several types of revolution: first, political, such
as the French and Russian Revolutions, which embodies the overthrow of
existing government; second, legalistic, exemplified by the Pharisees in the
time of Christ. Their distortion of the Scriptures led to blatant opposition to
the Person of Christ and to their subsequent self-destruction. The
Judaizers, too, were in legalistic revolt against Truth; consequently, they
resented the teaching of Paul. A third type of revolution, economic, is the
overthrow of free enterprise in business. Governmental regulation and
ownership of private industry has created a crisis that has bankrupted
England — spread to Australia and is on the verge of destroying our own
country’s prosperity. A fourth, social, occurs when there is reaction against
the accepted norms and standards of an established culture. This results in
a radical, kaleidoscopic change in life-styles, fashions and education.
Social revolution is evident everywhere in the United States: the "new"
American has emerged in gay marriage, socialism, universal obamacare,
internationalism and the suppression of Truth in every form — patriotism
has diminished; Law enforcement faces constant opposition; and capital
punishment, which has only recently been reinstated, is an object of
negative public opinion. Crime is on the increase; pornography is prevalent;
and the illicit and now semi-legal traffic and use of narcotics and marijuana
continue to thrive. This revolt against traditional Concepts in society is the
result of mental revolution against God. (Rom 1:19-26) Those who are
involved in this type of rebellion are not only vociferously antiestablishment,
but they have defied the very Laws that have given them the freedom to be
defiant! They demand privilege without responsibility! By rejecting the
discipline and order of establishment, they have chosen the path of self-
destruction, chaos and national disaster. Not only will they suffer personally
from the consequences of human degeneracy and anarchy, (Rom 1:27-32)
but so will others in their periphery!
Freedom is like mercury: when you squeeze it, you lose it. Revolution
puts the squeeze on freedom. While our Constitution protects our personal
liberty, many people understand it only in the sense of being free to steal,
to rape, to kill or to do as they please, irrespective of anyone else’s rights.
In so doing, they not only violate the rights of others, but they forfeit their
own right to remain at liberty. Nothing durable or worthwhile is ever
achieved through revolution. Even in governments where gross inequity and
injustice exist, revolution can never rectify the situation. The end does not
justify the means. One evil is only replaced by a greater evil. The Anglo-
Saxon heritage of the United States demands the avoidance of evil force
and violence as a means to solving problems. The only permanent solution
for national as well as individual wrongs is found in positive volition toward
the Gospel, Bible Truth (Eze 2:3-10) and in adherence to the Laws of
DIVINE ESTABLISHMENT!
AUTHORITY IN ESTABLISHMENT.
Authority is essential for every function in life. Freedom ceases to
exist where authority is not exercised and respected. Hence, as a
safeguard for freedom, authority is not only an integral part but the very
basis of Divine establishment. By definition, authority is the legal power
delegated by God under the Laws of Divine establishment, whereby certain
members of the human race have jurisdiction over and responsibility for
other members of the human race. Authority is absolutely necessary in any
association of two or more people, either in settling disputes or in
determining policy. Someone must be responsible for making the final
decisions; someone’s judgment must prevail. Thus, authority is a critical
factor in creating a stabilized atmosphere of peace, justice and liberty.
The authority of the policeman on the corner and the judge on the bench is
ordained by God to protect the freedom of a nation by due process of
Law: apprehension, adjudication and punishment of those guilty of crime.
The motto of establishment is “Live and let live”; but the criminal who has
violated the rights, privacy and property of others, must be incarcerated
and or executed. Without restraint on crime, chaos rules, and freedom is
destroyed from within.
Even the individual’s capacity for life is based on self-imposed
authority over his own soul! Unless he can set up and enforce priorities in
his life, he will never mature or develop the capacities that accrue only to
those who possess self-discipline. Most of the problems in life are the
result of either lack of self-discipline or rejection of Divine authority.
(Psa 2:1-12)
Long before the creation of mankind, Lucifer, the most magnificent
and powerful of all the angels, revolted against God, the only Authority
higher than his own. (Isa 14:12-16) The arrogance of this super-angel led
to his rejection of Divine authority. He thus perpetrated his own fall and
initiated the angelic conflict. Authority again became an issue when
mankind was created as an extension of the angelic conflict.
In the Garden, the woman lived under two Principles of authority —
her right man, Adam, and her Bible Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. She
failed on both counts! Her lack of concentration in Bible class resulted in
rejection of Spiritual authority; thus, ignorant of Truth, she was easily
deceived into committing the first sin in human history. (1Ti 2:11-15) The
woman also rejected the temporal authority held by Adam, who was both
her right man and the ruler of the world. Adam failed as well. When he
accepted the forbidden fruit, he threw away his own authority and bowed
to the dictates of his wife! The result was the Fall of man, the takeover of
the world by Satan and the entrance of evil into the human race.
Those who do not respect authority are basically arrogant. In fact,
the criterion for arrogance, whether in angels or in men, is the lack of
response to authority. Arrogance is a heinous sin, the result of evil thinking.
(Prov 6:16-19) When arrogance is put under pressure, its counterparts rise
to the surface. These may be jealousy, cowardice or some other sin that
had always lurked behind the facade of pride. Under the influence of evil,
national arrogance in the United States has reached unprecedented
proportions, as demonstrated by its citizens’ almost total rejection of
Divinely constituted authority. The police officer is despised, judges are no
longer respected; the uniforms of our armed services are ridiculed.
Criminals go unpunished, while labor unions are permitted to practice
extortion against the owners of industry. Students riot on college campuses
and demand rights totally incompatible with the academic processes.
Pastors are turned into “beanbags,” husbands are not reverenced, and
children do not respect the authority of their parents. Because our very
national existence depends on the reversal of this trend, we have reached
a stage in which the only solution is the inculcation of the Mind of Christ!
(1Co 2:16)
SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY
The Authority of God
The ultimate authority, of course, is God. His authority is expressed
today through the Word of Truth — not through dreams, visions, trances or
miraculous Spiritual gifts. His will and His Plan are clearly defined in
Scripture. Respect for God’s sovereignty is learned in one of two ways:
directly, through Divine discipline; (Heb 12:9-11) or indirectly, through the
pastor-teacher’s communication of Truth, which results in blessing.
Suffering and Divine discipline are inevitable to the individual, as well as to
the nation which resists God’s authority and the Principles of
establishment. Authority is one of the most underrated Concepts in
Theology. Every Principle of Truth is related to authority; furthermore, all
other authorities in life stem from God’s Word.
Apostolic Authority
The unique authority of Jesus Christ is, of course, supreme; but the
apostles held the highest Spiritual authority ever given to human beings.
(2Co 10:8) Paul, as the top-ranking apostle, possessed the greatest
authority and ruler-ship ever bestowed by God in the Church. When he
began an epistle by announcing, “Paul, an apostle of the Lord Jesus
Christ,” he was stating his rank. He was saying in effect, “Clear the decks
for action — the admiral has arrived!” And that is exactly what apostle
means — “Admiral of the Fleet.” However, the Spiritual gift of apostleship
was existent only during the formation of the New Testament Canon. In the
pre-canon period of the Church Age, (A.D. 30-96) it was necessary for
someone to possess, the authority of absolute dictatorship in order to
establish churches, to train pastors, to regulate Truth, to formulate policy
and to keep the churches Doctrinally straight, as well as to be used by
God the Holy Spirit to write Scripture.
The entire New Testament was written under apostolic authority,
whether by the apostles themselves or their close associates. For
example, Peter dictated the Gospel to Mark, while Luke, Paul’s co-worker,
wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. In A.D. 96, with the death
of the Apostle John, the gift of apostleship was permanently removed.
There is no basis for the claims of Romanism, which insists on the
perpetuation of apostolic authority. The function of apostleship is now
replaced by the authority of the written Word of God, and the “regimental
colors’ have been passed to a new Commander the pastor-teacher.
(2Ti 4:1-2)
Authority in the Local Church
The Word of God authorized the autonomous local church as the only
place where Church Age believers can grow in the knowledge of Truth to
the point of Spiritual maturity. Denominations, church councils and
independent organizations outside the local church are definitely not
Biblically sanctioned and can never cause their members to grow
Spiritually. Within each local assembly, the authority is vested in one pastor-
teacher. He delegates authority to deacons and others in his administrative
system, but they have no jurisdiction over the congregation. (Acts 6:1-7)
Fundamentalism is divided into many camps with regard to authority
in the local church. Some groups do not believe in a pastor at all, and some
think there should be a plurality of elders. (Multiplicity of pastors) Others
believe that authority should be vested in one or two boards or in some
form of hierarchy. But the Bible teaches that the final, human authority in
the local church is the pastor.
Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you;
and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. (Grow to
Spiritual maturity) (Heb 13:7)
Who has the rule over you? The deacons? No! The Scripture plainly
states that those “who have communicated to you the Word of God” are
the only ones who have authority over you. The only one who falls into that
category is the pastor-teacher, and he establishes his authority by faithful
Bible teaching. But, you say, “This verse just says to remember them.”
Stand by for a shock! The Principle is amplified in verse 17.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your
souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not
with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. (Heb 13:17)
You are Commanded to obey and to submit to the authority of your
pastor-teacher. Since every believer is a Royal Priest, it is important to
understand the structure of authority instituted by God for the growth and
progress of each member of the Royal Family of God. First is overt
authority, which includes the Word of God, the communicator of the Word,
(Pastor-teacher) and the administrative function of deacons. Second, the
inner authority is the exercise of the believer’s volition, as he assembles for
Bible teaching and maintains objectivity, even under the fire of rebuke by
the Word. The injunction of, (Heb 13:17) brings together these two basic
categories.
A sign of human maturity is the ability to recognize bona fide authority
and to respond objectively. Only through affirmative response to Bible
teaching, coupled with the filling of the Spirit, can believers grow in grace
and advance to Spiritual maturity. The responsibility for the transfer of
Truth from the Canon of Scripture to the individual soul belongs to the
pastor. But apart from strict academic discipline in the classroom of the
local church, and or computer; the pastor cannot effectively communicate
Truth with its variety of subjects. The key to learning Truth is
cooperativeness to the properly sanctioned authority. When conflicting
personalities, preconceived thoughts and or viewpoints interfere with the
believer’s objectivity, self-discipline becomes the cohesive factor.
The phrase, “for these same ones keep watching, (Must be alert) for
the benefit of your souls,” and presents a further reason why a pastor must
have authority in his congregation. The word “pastor’ means “shepherd.”
He is the shepherd of his flock and is directly accountable to Christ, the
Chief Shepherd. (Heb 13:20; (1Pe 5:4) The pastor must be alert to shield
his sheep from bullying by others in the flock and to protect their privacy
and rights by removing those believers who are unruly, who gossip, malign
and intrude into the affairs of others in the Royal Family. His authority,
therefore, assures the privacy of believers and makes it possible for them
to learn Truth. He must also be on guard to eliminate false Truth, or Christ
will eject him from the “cockpit of that local church. (2Ti 1:13-14; Rev 2:5)
Because bona fide problems can and do exist in the local church —
not only because of ordinary pressures, but also as a consequence of the
angelic conflict — there must be a final authority, and it must be based
upon the Word of God. The Principle of authority must not be confused
with tyranny; the pastor has no license to be a bully. He should be the
epitome of self-discipline, have an understanding of administration and the
delegation of authority and possess enough leadership ability not to abuse
the tremendous power invested in him by God through the gift of pastor-
teacher. He must furthermore have the Spiritual courage to make Decisions
consistent with Truth.
The pastor’s authority, which extends only within the limits of his local
church, is designed to give him the right to administer Divine policies and to
communicate the Word of Truth. (1Th 2:13) If he does not exercise this
prerogative, he will find himself in the indefensible position of being a
doormat; he easily succumbs to the dictates of the congregation, and
anarchy and confusion reign!
TEMPORAL AUTHORITY
Authority in the Divine Institutions
Divine Institution Number One — Volition. As the authority within each
individual; free will is the basis for freedom and is therefore the very center
of Divine establishment. The proper regulation of volition in the soul
demands self-discipline. Self-discipline is the consistent self-determination
and concentration on an objective and avoidance of any distractions that
hinder the accomplishment of that objective! (In our case; to reach Spiritual
maturity) All truly great people in life are self-disciplined. Self-discipline is
the foundation of integrity, honor and nobility as well as all the attributes of
character that enable a person to enjoy life to the fullest.
General John Brown Gordon described the importance of the
authority of Divine Institution Number One, throughout the Laws of Divine
establishment. He tells the story of the Confederate troops facing the
almost invincible Union position on top of Malvern Hill. Yankee artillery was
mercilessly pounding the Southern lines, tearing great gaps through the
ranks. It was a terrifying situation! As the shells struck, their victims were
literally blown apart! Hands, arms, pieces of flesh would fly through the air
and land among the soldiers. There was noise, dust and death all around!
In the midst of this carnage, a panic-stricken rabbit suddenly jumped out of
its hiding place and sprinted furiously toward the rear, away from the
gunfire. A mountaineer in the Confederate ranks noted the rabbits speed
and direction of flight and, raising his voice so that it could be heard above
the din of the battle, he shouted, “Go to it, Molly Cottontail! I’d be going
with you if it wasn’t for my character!”
General Gordon continued:
In this connection, I am reminded of the commonplace but important
fact that the combined character of a people of any country depends upon
the personal character of its individual citizens; and that the stability of the
popular government depends far more upon the character, the individual,
personal character of its people, than it does upon any Constitution that
could be adopted or statutes that could be enacted. What would
safeguards be worth if the character of the people did not sustain and
enforce them? The Constitution would be broken, the Laws defied; riot and
anarchy would destroy both, and with them the government itself. And of all
the countries on earth this one, with its universal suffrage, its divergent and
conflicting interests, its immense expanse of territory, and its large
population, made up from every class and race, and still to be increased in
the coming years, is far more dependent than any other upon the character
of its peopled
A person who lacks self-discipline lacks capacity for life and cannot
fully enjoy any activity, no matter how pleasant. In fact, an undisciplined
person cannot even properly use his own freedom because the exercise of
freedom is itself a function of self-discipline. The greatest example of self-
discipline in all of human history is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications
with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death,
(Temporal death; From getting out of fellowship) and He was heard
because of His piety. (Obedience in fellowship) Although He was a Son, He
learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (Thought, people,
organization and disaster testing) (Heb 5:7-8)
While the term “Son” seems to imply some measure of inferiority,
Jesus Christ has never been less than coequal and coeternal with the
Father and the Holy Spirit. God the Father is neither greater nor stronger,
nor is He more wise than the Second Person of the Trinity. Christ’s title as
a Son expresses Lordship and establishment and carries fantastic
implications for mankind. As an integral part of the Father’s Plan in the
Divine Decrees,” Jesus Christ set the pattern for happiness and orientation
to life through obedience to authority. (Heb 12:2-4)
Christ had great capacity to enjoy life and freedom, yet His entire life
during the Incarnation was one of self-discipline and obedience to the Plan
of the Father! (Heb 10:7) This same Principle is illustrated in a limited way
by those in military service. A nation cannot survive as a free people unless
the relatively small numbers of men who enter the service learn obedience
under pressure. They voluntarily relinquish their freedom and submit to
strict discipline and authority in order to function as a team and to
eventually become an effective fighting force. Just as they are willing to
endure great hardships, in training and in combat, so Jesus Christ, with
perfect happiness and strict adherence to the Father’s will, lived most of
His thirty-three years in “beast barracks,” culminated by His excruciating
judgment and Spiritual death — His sacrifice on the Cross!
The development of self-discipline began in Jesus’ childhood through
learning Truth, undergoing testing and in His relationships with other
people. Every temptation to sin was an issue of self-discipline, for His
objective was to reach the Cross in sinless perfection. (2Ti 2:3-4) Had He
succumbed to sin in even one temptation, He would have acquired an old
sin nature and become a sinner in the same way that Adam became a
sinner. But He accomplished His goal by completely avoiding any kind of
sin. He fulfilled His function in the First Advent by yielding to the will of God
the Father, even though He was well aware of the terrible price He would
have to pay.
Saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; (Spiritual
death and Judgment) yet not My will, but Yours be done." (Luk 22:42)
Had He not learned absolute submission to authority, there would
have been no Salvation. If He had not been the most disciplined Person
who ever lived, He could not have gone to the Cross and offered Himself
for our sins. Contrary to every impulse, every desire, every inclination of
His soul, He “set [His] face like a flint,” (Isa 50:4-10) “Humbled himself, and
[Of His Own volition] became obedient unto death, even the [Spiritual]
death of the cross.” (Php 2:8)
And having been made perfect, (Reached Spiritual maturity) He
became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal Salvation.
(Heb 5:9)
Obedience to the Cross on the part of Christ was the offering of
Himself as the High Priest; our obedience is to believe in Him as Savior and
trust His Word. Both the High Priest and those who enter the Royal
Priesthood have a characteristic obedience. Christ’s obedience was the
submission of His freewill and Divine power and using the Spiritual life; and
when God Commands obedience to the Cross from us, it involves our
doing nothing in the power of our old sin nature; but submission of our
freewill and using the Spiritual life.
(Mark 8:35)
Since freedom is possible only through subjection to authority,
obedience to the Cross is the foundation of our priesthood which assures
us liberty.
(Gal 5:1) By means of continued discipline under the function of Operation
Z, God brings the believer to Spiritual maturity, where He can pour out
maximum blessing. (Eph 3:20)
Respect for the authority of your own soul demands that you take the
responsibility for your own decisions, good or bad. For example, every
believer continues to possess an old sin nature as long as he lives.
(1Jn 1:8) Depending on his level of Spiritual maturity and other factors, he
will commit various kinds of sins with varying frequency; but whatever his
sins may be, he commits them from his own free will. (Jas 1:13-15) Even if
he does not realize that a certain activity is a sin, he still did it because he
wanted to do it! Volition is always involved in any sin that is committed, and
ignorance is never an excuse! The rebound technique recognizes that there
has been a transgression of God’s Law and that the work of Christ on the
Cross has already paid the penalty.
(1Jn 1:7-9) If a believer fails to take the responsibility for his own decisions
and does not use rebound as required, God steps in with retributive justice.
(1Co 11:30-31)
In the same way, failure to regulate your own life under the Principle
of the daily intake of the Word of God, it will be answered by punitive
action. If you do not exercise self-discipline, God will impose His own
discipline over you! Divine chastening is designed to teach the self-
discipline essential for advance to Spiritual maturity. (Heb 12:5-14)
Divine Institution Number Two — Marriage. Even in the noble
relationships in life, there must be authority. In marriage, the man is the
head over the wife. (Eph 5:23) Taken from the side of the man, the very
origin of the woman places her in a position of subordination to him. She
will always be a part of the man; and even though she may reject his
lordship, her entire physiology, as well as the formation of her soul, forces
her to be in subjection, whether she likes it or not! When Jesus Christ
formed the woman from Adam’s rib and led her to the man, He delegated
man’s authority over her.
The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken
from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now
bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man." (Gen 2:22-23)
Adam is also called ISH. (Hebrew word for category Homo sapiens)
Simply add a feminine suffix, and you have the woman’s name ISHAH, to
indicate that she belonged to him. The Hebrew name ADAM, (Man)
signified that he ruled the woman as well as the human race. Then, in
anticipation of life outside the Garden, Adam became a prophet: “For this
reason a man ISH shall leave, [Hebrew verb AZAB] his father and his
mother...” (Gen 2:24) AZAB means that when the children marry, they
must leave the jurisdiction of the parents and establish themselves as a
separate entity. When a man and a woman unite, they are no longer to be
dependent on their parents; the man must assume the responsibility for the
woman soulishly, physically, mentally and Spiritually. Under Divine
Institution Number Two, the parents relinquish their authority over their
children; and from here on, the children must be allowed to make their own
decisions, right or wrong. The relationship between parents and offspring
shifts to rapport between adults.
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. (Col 3:18)
“Subject” is a present middle imperative of a military verb,
HUPOTASSO, meaning “to be a private in the ranks under the authority of
a Commanding officer.” It carries the connotation of subordination, which is
the role of the woman in marriage. She submits in the sense of voluntarily
yielding her freedom in love. But should that love not exist, it still means to
submit to the authority of the Divine institution. Regardless of whether the
marriage is good or bad, the Principle of delegated power in the marital
relationship remains intact: the husband is the ruler; the wife is subordinate.
(1Pe 3:1)
This is a solemn fact, which should motivate every woman to think
twice before she agrees to be married. She should ask herself: “Do I want
to submit to the authority of this man for the rest of my life?” As soon as
she answers affirmatively to one man, she surrenders her life to his control.
Of her own free will, she selects that man to be her company Commander!
When a man walks away from the wedding ceremony with His bride
on his arm, he is in charge of someone, perhaps for the first time. Any man
who takes a wife to himself assumes a tremendous obligation, for with
authority comes responsibility! For the rest of his life, he must protect the
soul of the woman entrusted to him — not just her body — and make sure
her soul thrives in love and freedom. A marriage in which the man does not
guard the soul of his wife will never be a happy one. There is much more to
marriage than sex! The woman, in fact, lacks even the capacity for good
sex without the proper obedience to the authority of the man. A woman,
even more than a man, must understand and appreciate authority, for from
it stems her entire capacity for life.
No matter how compatible a couple may be in all other areas, if she
continually resists the authority of the man, she will ultimately come to
despise him. This is one of the main reasons why marriages fall apart or
exist merely as an armed truce, waiting for the outbreak of hostilities.
The backbone of love is respect. Manliness, (Virtue) is a condition of
soul by which a man gains the esteem of his right woman. If the man fails
to assert his proper authority, the woman will usurp it; yet a woman never
really admires a man she can control. She will not only dislike him, but she
will also hate herself and will react like a grenade with the pin out!
Designed to be under authority, a woman cannot be happy outside that
sphere. In fact, the Divine discipline connected with Divine Institution
Number Two is misery and unhappiness from failure to comply with the
Divine order. Furthermore, a society controlled by women breeds weak
men and mediocre leadership in all areas of life.
An immense appreciation for responsibility is necessary in order to
handle authority well. The man who has always bucked authority in life
cannot exercise authority himself, because he has never developed self-
control. He consequently has no capacity to love. One of the first
qualifications for being a good lover is self-discipline. If a man misuses his
prerogative by lack of self-discipline, he becomes a tyrant. Authority linked
with arrogance turns him into a monster! When he throws his weight
around and abuses a woman, he destroys the very thing he wants. But
when he provides Spiritual strength, stability, tenderness and concern to
which she can respond — she willingly gives him her soul and body, then
he possesses something truly fantastic!
Divine Institution Number Three — Family. Parents, (Or parent, as
the case may be) are the authority in the family. (Eph 6:1; Col 3:20)
Parents existed before children, and for good reason! Parental authority is
the basis for stability in society from one generation to the next and
provides the first source of discipline in life. Once a child learns to obey his
parents and comes to understand the Principle of authority from them, he
is then prepared to respect other authorities in life.
A boy first learns the Concept of authority under the tutelage of his
mother. His
