12/04/23 ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT

12/04/23 ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT

God gave the authority of human government to man. Human government is basically to punish the wicked (criminal) and protect the righteous (law abiding). No man has the personal right to force his own code of law or justice. All men have the obligation to follow God's rule and all men have the obligation to follow man made law when it does not conflict with Divine rule.

The State has the power, the authority of the sword of steel (through civil order, military might and courts of justice). No man, no nation, no government has the right to subvert God's laws, God's rule, God's justice. When human government, human rule, human action either subverts or contravenes Divine law and justice, God will hold those people responsible.

A "government" that opposes God's rule and authority will answer to God. A "government" that promotes or allows crime, violence, oppression, or persecution of God followers is a rogue, illegitimate regime and is not to be obeyed when it commands disobedience or opposition to God's rule as found in the New Testament. People are still responsible to follow and obey legitimate law and rule, even when evil men hold position of authority.

There is no present day theocracy. All human government fails at some point. "End times" governments and rule will deteriorate rapidly and completely. This will reach its zenith during the Seven Year Tribulation, after the Rapture of the Church. Until the rapture, wickedness will continue to increase, and law and order (locally, nationally and internationally) will continue to be corrupted by evil men and evil systems.

We are watching, as the "cup of iniquity" (for individuals and entire societies) fill up quickly. It is becoming more evident that the words of Jesus ("... in the days of Noah..." and, "... in the days of lot...") are rapidly approaching.

It is incumbent for believers to become all that God wants us to become, while we can, if we are going to be able to stand firm in the midst of the coming tsunami of evil.