Does the Bible command us to submit to the rule of politicians?

War… is a difficult time in every nation. Killing, murder, rape, theft, lack of food and lack of water are part of everyday life.
How should we behave then?
Join the army, defend the country, shoot, kill?
And what should we do when the war is fought by foreign forces, when it is started by the USA, by the financial establishment, by hostile entities?
What should we do when joining the army means defending dirty interests, criminal ideas, the struggle of these entities for power?
These are dilemmas that we must think through in accordance with our faith, with our conscience, in conversation with our family.
Let’s see what the Bible’s position is on this subject.
Should we pray for politicians?

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all Godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

The Apostle Paul encourages us to pray for kings. This word also means: leaders of the people, chiefs, sovereigns. It seems that prayer, faith in God’s intervention, and in God’s help are very important. It is God who can change the plans of politicians, inspire them to remorse, to correct mistakes, to fight for the truth.
It is not only about praying for the most important politicians in the country, but also for the true leaders of the nation, that is, people who have a positive, valuable, grassroots influence on people.
Should we submit to the rule of politicians?

“Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.” – Romans 13:1-5.

The Apostle Paul commands submission to superior authorities. He argues for this thesis by saying that authorities come from God.

There are certainly positives to the existence of state structures:
• they are visible when globalism does not enter politics as strongly as in France, for example. The police are still able to defend you, reader, from thieves, attackers, murderers.
• When you are wrongly accused of a crime, you have a chance to win in court.
• Strong state structures cause the blocking of the actions of the mafia, criminals causing evil, etc.

But… the apostle Paul knew the Scriptures perfectly. He knew that the structures of the state were used by kings to use force, to mistreat the nation. For hundreds of years, kings had served foreign gods. They opposed God YHWH and built numerous temples in which they prayed to different gods. This was a great crime.

For such betrayal, God rejected the chosen people:

“I thought, ‘After she has done all these things, she will return to Me.’ But she didn’t return, and her treacherous sister Juda saw it. I observed that it was because unfaithful Israel had committed adultery that I had sent her away and had given her a certificate of divorce. Nevertheless, her treacherous sister Juda was not afraid but also went and prostituted herself.” – Jeremiah 3:7-8.

“Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Juda remained….and handed them over to plunderers…So Israel has been exiled to Assyria from their homeland to this very day.” – 2 Kings 17:18, 20, 23.

“For long ago I broke your yoke; I tore off your chains. You insisted, ‚I will not serve!’ On every high hill and under every green tree you lay down like a prostitute.” – Jeremiah 2:20

Let’s see how Paul ends his statement on submitting to the will of politicians:

„And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.” – Romans 13:6-7.

Lord Yeshu also touched upon this issue:

“When they came, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know You are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do You show partiality but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, „Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” They brought a coin. “Whose image and inscription is this?” He asked them. “Caesar’s,” they replied. Yeshu told them, „Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”And they were utterly amazed at Him.” – Mark 12:14-17.

The apostle Paul says that we are to submit to authority.
But what authority?
Paul defines this precisely: „because it is in the service of God,” so the authority that serves the true God. And what to do when the authority does not listen to God, does not fulfill His laws?
When it lies and deceives its nation?
Consequences of listening to bad politicians
Politicians and nations have departed from God:

“For all the nations have drunk the wine of her sexual immorality (porneias 4202), which brings wrath. The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality (4203 eporneusan) with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from her sensuality and excess.” – Revelation 18:3

“The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality (4203 eporneusan) with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality. (porneias 4202)” – Revelation 17:2.

It turns out that there is an entity in the Revelation of John called: „woman, female”, who rules over politicians:

“And the woman (1135) you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth.” – Revelation 17:18

About babylon the great and the prostitute/woman/female–https://yeshu.info/post/babylon-the-great-has-fallen

Summary

The condition for submitting to politicians is their verification.
The test for this is very simple.
We answer the question: does a politician serve the true God or not?

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed One: “Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.” – Psalms 2:1-4.

„So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling. Pay homage to the Son or He will be angry and you will perish in your rebellion, for His anger may ignite at any moment. All who take refuge in Him are happy.” – Psalms 2:10-12.

The Revelation of John strongly warns us against corrupt politicians.
They will fight against God:

„Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming from the dragon’s mouth, from the beast’s mouth, and from the mouth of the false prophet. For they are demonic spirits performing signs, who travel to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God, the Almighty.” – Revelation 16:13-14.

„So they assembled the kings at the place called in Hebrew, Harmagedon.(Armageddon-717)” – Revelation 16:16

Important note: during the fulfillment of these prophecies, the soldiers will be fighting against the true God.
And finally, some interesting verses to think about:

“For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war (4754) according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds.” – 2 Corinthians 10:3-4.

„Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the Gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit — which is the Word of God.” – Ephesians 6:11-17.

Author: Robert Brzoza

Translator: Hubert Brzoza