Despite human pretensions, history demonstrates the impermanence of political power. Rome may have endured for a thousand years, but its empire fell all the same. Like life itself, political power and imperial ambitions are fleeting, and they often collapse quickly and unexpectedly. Its allotted time expires. At the height of…

For disciples of Jesus, rage and violence are NOT appropriate reactions to hostility, though his instructions on this are contrary to the “wisdom of this age.” Enraged responses by Christians to perceived violations of their “rights” only demonstrate how far we have strayed from his teachings. And by “we” I…

In Revelation, the “beast” uses its control of trade and commerce to coerce submission to its agenda. Anyone who refuses to give allegiance to its beastly order is excluded from participating in economic activity. The “mark of the beast” is an economic tool it uses to bludgeon all those who…

Often, church “leaders” exhort their congregants to work diligently to elect politicians, support policies, and pass laws of which they approve, claiming it is God’s will and warning of the dire consequences that will befall us if we fail to do so. Believers must fight tooth and nail for their…

For disciples of Jesus, rage and violence are NOT appropriate reactions to hostility, though his instructions on this are contrary to the “wisdom of this age.” Enraged responses by Christians to perceived violations of their political and individual “rights” only demonstrate how far we have strayed from his teachings. And…

In the book of Revelation, humanity is divided into two and only two groups — those who follow Jesus, and those who give their allegiance to the “beast from the sea.” Members of the former group will be exempted from the “second death,” but everyone without exception who takes the…

Political leaders invoke “god” to validate their power, and the most popular religions are employed to do so. Just as officeholders today pay lip service to “Judeo-Christian values,” so Caesar appealed to the traditional Roman gods for divine approval. Patriotism and religious faith become synonymous, and lack of nationalistic fervor…

In the book of Revelation, the “beast” is “GIVEN” authority over the “inhabitants of the earth” for “forty-two months,” and the right to “wage war against the saints” for this limited period. …

The Apostle Paul instructed believers living in the Roman Empire not to resist the government — God had “arranged” the powers that be. Writing to the churches in Rome, he presented principles for Christian conduct towards the State. Believers are to “subordinate themselves to governing powers: for there is no…