Michael Bresciani
Persecution of the church always comes from civil authority and government
By Michael Bresciani
When ecclesiastical and civil power marries, something evil always emerges.
When Papal authority and civil powers married it produced the dark ages.
When the false religion of Islam married the civil authority of Arab nations it produced Boko, Al Qaeda, Isis, Hamas Hezbollah and other extreme movements that see death and torture as integral to their message.
We are quick to say that most of the Muslim faith is comprised of middle of the road moderates who do not believe in that kind of extremism. The truth is that the moderates make up the smallest numbers of Muslims who do not believe in violence.
Yet, once again civil and ecclesiastical powers will merge for a short period, but the inevitability of megalomaniacs to trump all will follow when the ecclesiastical powers will be cast off and one man will emerge to become the world's last dictator.
History is the greatest teacher and witness that man will always repeat the past because it is not the past that is the plague of mankind, but the very present nature of mankind that endures through the ages. That Adamic nature flowers in all its fullness at the last days of time as we know it. We are born with a sin nature that will follow us until it is finally dealt with by severe judgment. Wish there was another cure for the unbelieving, but don't hold your breath.
Church V. State 101 – A Crash Course
By no means is this list of proofs comprehensive, but it encompasses most of the well-known cases in history which serves as proof positive that, whether we like it or not, religion and politics do mix, but often it is the church that loses the most – at least for now
From the Bible we see Ahab persecuting the prophets, Nebuchadnezzar trying to burn God's servants alive and feed some to the lions, Pharaoh oppressing Israel for 400 years, Herod killing babies to circumvent the birth of Messiah, Pilate, Agrippa, Caiaphas, Nero and more chasing down, arresting and murdering Christians by the thousands.
From the pages of history and in today's political climate we see Mao and today's leaders of China suppressing and persecuting the Chinese Christians. Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan and groups like ISIS and others are spreading death and havoc among the Christians in the Middle East.
The Obama administration is offending the sensibilities of Christians with abortifacient mandates and the approach of sodomite perverted marriages.
We can throw in the more well-known evil anti-Christian and anti-Jewish scourges of Hitler, and Joseph Stalin, who crushed the Eastern Church in his day. In the end it is clear that those who ignore civil rulers who are borderline despots, and legislative and judicial action that is anti-Christian, end up paying dearly for clinging to the foolish adage about politics and religion not mixing.
As long as we can pray and then vote, become active against Godlessness on all levels of governance we do not have to see evil flourish as it does this day.
Three Levels of Destruction – A Prophetic Promise
1. The true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ which includes all the faithful of any sect or denomination and non-denomination that stays on the revealed word of God as revealed in the Bible will undergo persecution. As the last days approach these attacks will become more frequent and more severe, until the very strength and power of the church will be almost eliminated. To wit:
"And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." (Da 12: 7)
2. The False church will be next when it is summarily discarded like an old rag by a world bent on following its latest and last world leader – the antichrist. What is perceived as the center of Christianity and all apostate churches that have joined with the "Harlot" will be brought to desolation in only one day. (Rev 17: 1f) (Rev 18: 1f)
3. Those that have effectively removed the true church and watched the elimination of the false church will be judged completely by the returning King of King and Lord of Lords. The judgment will be pervasive and complete the world over. Not one city will be left standing (Rev 16: 18) and not one system of global governance will remain intact. Not one false religion and not one false person will remain standing. To wit:
"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev 11: 15)
The "I could've had a V-8" mentality won't Work in the Last Day
We listen to a thousand voices every day, but in the last day we will know that almost all of them were blowing hot air. The temporary fixes, the nascent ideologies, the charismatic personalities, the celebrities, the sycophantic rants and ramblings of liberals and the pseudo intelligent along with the endless blather of the political hacks will produce not even the slightest echo in our memories.
The Old Testament explains it this way.
"And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." (2Ch 20: 20)
The New Testament says it this way.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." (Lu 21: 33-35)
These seemingly foolish words, these warnings and this clarion call to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ will be the only thing men will remember in the day that is coming.
This is my best advice.
Take heed today, don't wait until then.
© Michael Bresciani
June 26, 2015
When ecclesiastical and civil power marries, something evil always emerges.
When Papal authority and civil powers married it produced the dark ages.
When the false religion of Islam married the civil authority of Arab nations it produced Boko, Al Qaeda, Isis, Hamas Hezbollah and other extreme movements that see death and torture as integral to their message.
We are quick to say that most of the Muslim faith is comprised of middle of the road moderates who do not believe in that kind of extremism. The truth is that the moderates make up the smallest numbers of Muslims who do not believe in violence.
Yet, once again civil and ecclesiastical powers will merge for a short period, but the inevitability of megalomaniacs to trump all will follow when the ecclesiastical powers will be cast off and one man will emerge to become the world's last dictator.
History is the greatest teacher and witness that man will always repeat the past because it is not the past that is the plague of mankind, but the very present nature of mankind that endures through the ages. That Adamic nature flowers in all its fullness at the last days of time as we know it. We are born with a sin nature that will follow us until it is finally dealt with by severe judgment. Wish there was another cure for the unbelieving, but don't hold your breath.
Church V. State 101 – A Crash Course
By no means is this list of proofs comprehensive, but it encompasses most of the well-known cases in history which serves as proof positive that, whether we like it or not, religion and politics do mix, but often it is the church that loses the most – at least for now
From the Bible we see Ahab persecuting the prophets, Nebuchadnezzar trying to burn God's servants alive and feed some to the lions, Pharaoh oppressing Israel for 400 years, Herod killing babies to circumvent the birth of Messiah, Pilate, Agrippa, Caiaphas, Nero and more chasing down, arresting and murdering Christians by the thousands.
From the pages of history and in today's political climate we see Mao and today's leaders of China suppressing and persecuting the Chinese Christians. Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan and groups like ISIS and others are spreading death and havoc among the Christians in the Middle East.
The Obama administration is offending the sensibilities of Christians with abortifacient mandates and the approach of sodomite perverted marriages.
We can throw in the more well-known evil anti-Christian and anti-Jewish scourges of Hitler, and Joseph Stalin, who crushed the Eastern Church in his day. In the end it is clear that those who ignore civil rulers who are borderline despots, and legislative and judicial action that is anti-Christian, end up paying dearly for clinging to the foolish adage about politics and religion not mixing.
As long as we can pray and then vote, become active against Godlessness on all levels of governance we do not have to see evil flourish as it does this day.
Three Levels of Destruction – A Prophetic Promise
1. The true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ which includes all the faithful of any sect or denomination and non-denomination that stays on the revealed word of God as revealed in the Bible will undergo persecution. As the last days approach these attacks will become more frequent and more severe, until the very strength and power of the church will be almost eliminated. To wit:
"And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." (Da 12: 7)
2. The False church will be next when it is summarily discarded like an old rag by a world bent on following its latest and last world leader – the antichrist. What is perceived as the center of Christianity and all apostate churches that have joined with the "Harlot" will be brought to desolation in only one day. (Rev 17: 1f) (Rev 18: 1f)
3. Those that have effectively removed the true church and watched the elimination of the false church will be judged completely by the returning King of King and Lord of Lords. The judgment will be pervasive and complete the world over. Not one city will be left standing (Rev 16: 18) and not one system of global governance will remain intact. Not one false religion and not one false person will remain standing. To wit:
"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev 11: 15)
The "I could've had a V-8" mentality won't Work in the Last Day
We listen to a thousand voices every day, but in the last day we will know that almost all of them were blowing hot air. The temporary fixes, the nascent ideologies, the charismatic personalities, the celebrities, the sycophantic rants and ramblings of liberals and the pseudo intelligent along with the endless blather of the political hacks will produce not even the slightest echo in our memories.
The Old Testament explains it this way.
"And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." (2Ch 20: 20)
The New Testament says it this way.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." (Lu 21: 33-35)
These seemingly foolish words, these warnings and this clarion call to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ will be the only thing men will remember in the day that is coming.
This is my best advice.
Take heed today, don't wait until then.
© Michael Bresciani
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