Scripture: 'Submit to the power structure'

"Calvinists and Amillennialists are part of the reformed people who believe we can go back and reclaim the government, restructure the government.

"They get virulently angry when you come along and say, 'No, no, no, it ain't getting better; it's getting worse, it's heading toward the Antichrist. Everything you do won't stop it.'

"This is why they don't like the idea of dispensational bible study and taking the Bible literal," says Richard Jordan. "We tell them, 'You're not Israel, you're the body of Christ and God's got a future for Israel.' "

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Romans 13: [1] Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

[2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

"What was the most significant higher power, in an earthly sense, in Paul's life at that time? The Roman government and he's writing to Romans," explains Ohio preacher David Reid.

"Notice verse 3: [3] For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

"Paul's writing that about the government that is shortly going to put him to death for no real reason. That's how the story ends. Yet, the authoritative work of Scripture taught submission to him.

"Verses 4-5: [4] For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

[5] Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

"I don't believe Paul was dumb. I believe he fully knew what happened to the Old Testament prophets, which is that they were stoned, put to death.

"I personally don't think Paul was naive about what was going to happen to him and yet he writes that he needed to submit to the higher powers for conscience's sake.

"He did that because he wanted to have a clear conscience before God. In other words, 'God, if you allow the powers that be to kill me so be it, I can live with that, but I'm not going to act contrary to your Word. You created this power structure, I'm going to submit to it, and how it plays out it plays out but I'm going to obey your Word.'

I Timothy 2: [1] I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

[2] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
[3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
[4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

"When Scripture commands us to pray for kings and all that are in authority, it's often praying for those who are contrary to us. It doesn't say there to rebel against the government; it says to pray for them why? That we may lead a quiet, peaceful life.

"In II Timothy 3 when Paul says, 'This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come,' are we going to be able to thwart or reverse the natural course of this world?

"There's a segment of political Christendom who thinks they're going to take back these power structures and then they'll operate for the glory of God.

"That's not going to happen. It doesn't matter what you do, the Beast is going to show up at the exact time God determined he would.

"You're not ultimately going to prevent that which was prophesied from happening. What we can do is lead a quiet and peaceable life and pluck firebrands from the fire. We should not confuse our ambassadorship with our political preferences.

"When you think about submission, there are structures God has created and we all need to submit according to what Scripture tells us. That's the most spiritually beneficial way to live.

"We need to use our time and energy for the proclamation of the truth. The things of matter are the teaching of the gospel of grace, the teaching of the Scriptures rightly divided and the proclamation of the authority of the King James Bible. Those are the things that will actually make a difference in people's lives."