This article is written to let you know: Christians are citizens of Heaven. The Kingdom of Jesus is not of this world. Christians are in the world but do not belong to this world. This truth precludes Christians from polluted by the dirty and filthy politics of the world. There is no Christian politics anyway.
According to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politics Meriam Webster defines the Essential Meaning of politics : “activities that relate to influencing the actions and policies of a government or getting and keeping power in a government.” Based on the definition, the Bible does not forbid Christian to have “activities relate to influencing the actions and policies of a government or getting and keeping power in a government.” Of course “activities” do not include illegal activities or dirty tricks or fake news and fake statements.
There is no Christian politics just as there is no Christian prostitution. There is no Christendom. There is no Christian nation. There is no Christian nationalism. There is no Christian democracy. There is not Christian imperialism. There is no Christian capitalism. There is no Christian terrorism. These terrible things do not exist and the Bible does not approve them. Unbelievers and the wicked call those un-Christian things “Christian” in order to justify their evil deeds and existence.
I. LET US TALK POLITICS
Let us first talk about politics and see if you can stand the truth and not personally get angry or mad:
Marianne Thieme said, “Politicians and corporations have always placed economic interests above moral interests. This is now hurting the entire planet.” This is a true confession. American politics are all about money and power for their groups and individuals; it has nothing to do with truth and justice. The ballot is not strong anymore, it is bought by vested interest. Those who have most money get elected. In most cases, election has no meaning but an exercise of the rich and powerful to gain power and to remain in power.
A politicians boasted, “I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.“ I am sure that politician found out the matter too late.
Some politicians said, “Show me a young Conservative and I’ll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I’ll show you someone with no brains.” That is the problem of the world, not just America. The world leaders today have no heart and no brains.
Abraham Lincoln said, “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.” For white and black supremacists, their idea of democracy is to make America the Master, America First, and the whole world slaves.
Plato said, “There will be no end to the troubles of states,Or of humanity itself, Till philosophers become kings in this world, Or till those we now call kings and rulers really And truly become philosophers .” There will be no end to the troubles of nations, or of humanity itself, even if philosophers become kings in this world, and even those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers. The world must wait for the King of kings and Lord of lords to rule and reign for eternity.
Plutarch said, “An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” There are so many imbalances in the world, not just between rich and poor, but also between powerful and helpless, between the just and the unjust, between the civilized and the uncivilized, between the informed and the ignorant, between males and females, between peaceful and the violent, between the productive and unproductive, between the noble and vulgar, between honesty and crookedness, between disciplined and undisciplined, between order and chaos, and between the desirable and undesirable.
Barry Goldwater said, “Conservatism therefore looks upon the enhancement of man’s spiritual nature as the primary concern of political philosophy. Liberals, on the other hand,— in the name of a concern for “human beings”— regard the satisfaction of economic wants as the dominant mission of society. ”The truth is both Conservatism and Liberalism are political deceptions. Whatever is for the greatest good of the greatest number of people is right, it does not matter what you call it. To borrow the pragmatism of Deng Xiaoping, it does not matter whether it is a white cat or a black cat, it only matters if it catches rats.
I do not have quarrel with Douglas MacArthur who said, “In short, is American life of the future to be characterized by freedom or by servitude, strength or weakness? The answer must be clear and unequivocal if we are to avoid the pitfalls toward which we are now heading with such certainty. In many respects it is not to be found in any dogma of political philosophy but in those immutable precepts which underlie the Ten Commandments.”
Plato said, “If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools.” I say, even if you do take an interest in the affairs of your government, you are still doomed to live under the rule of fools anywhere.
Plato said, “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” Plato had long been gone, he could not foresee the world is such the morally and intellectually superior people cannot get in the government, so no matter what you do, you end up being governed by your inferiors.
Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power. “If Eisenhower were alive today, he would be shocked that neither the Republican party nor the Democratic party has its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral. Both the Democratic and Republican parties do not serve the national interest; they are not political parties anymore. They are merely a conspiracy to seize power and waste taxpayers’ money. In early November 2021, 70% of Americans say America has gone the wrong way.
Lord Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” American government has absolute power for a long time. Many governments of the world also go for absolute power. You wonder why absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Charles Krauthamer, “To understand the workings of American politics, you have to understand this fundamental law: Conservatives think liberals are stupid. Liberals think conservatives are evil.”
Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Lincoln was right. There was a white man who knew nothing about policy and procedure. He was promoted to be a supervisor by his friend the same veteran. He was so intoxicated with power. A fool in power is most dangerous. His character came out so ugly that he ran his group like military. He considered wrong whatever he did not know.
William Proxmire was a Washington insider and he said, “Power always has to be kept in check; power exercised in secret, especially under the cloak of national security, is doubly dangerous.” There are too many things only God knows that Washington has been doing under the cloak of national security.
Edward Abbey was right, “Power is always dangerous. Power attracts the worst and corrupts the best. “The state of the world is in the worst situation because the world leaders are of the worst of mankind.
Blaise Pascal was right, “Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.” The problems today are that whatever is just is not powerful, and whatever is powerful is not just.
George Bernard Shaw had a point when he said, “Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.” Two kinds of fool are in government and politics: Those who are corrupted by power and those who corrupt power.
Percy Bysshe Shelley said, “Power, like a desolating pestilence, pollutes whatever it touches.”
Edmund Burke said, “Power gradually extirpates from the mind every humane and gentle virtue.”
Joseph Pulitzer had well said, “Money is the great power today. Men sell their souls for it. Women sell their bodies for it. Others worship it. The money power has grown so great that the issue of all issues is whether the corporation shall rule this country or the country shall again rule the corporations.” As far as America is concerned, undoubtedly money and power have ruled this country for a long, long time. I do not see the possibility in the coming future of this country to rule money and power.
Franklin D. Roosevelt had well said, “In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.” America had long ceased to be a democratic nation; power has not been linked with responsibility, and is no longer obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good. In fact, power and money have been linked to special interests and for the good of the few.
I like Arnold J. Toynbee who said, “Sooner or later, man has always had to decide whether he worships his own power or the power of God.”
The Bible says, Psa 62:11, “God has spoken once;
Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.”
John Stuart Mill said, “The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant.” American leaders and politicians exercise power for its own self-interest or American First and in the interest of expanding its power to subdue all other nations and peoples. Imagine this is what they call democracy, freedom and justice.
Henry A. Kissinger said, “Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.” The unholy ambition of big corporations and world leaders and politicians is to control food supply; control the energy; and with Wall Street to control money and thus control the whole world.
Will Durant said, ““The political machine triumphs because it is united minority acting against a divided majority.” A united minority can win power because of the unorganized majority. History again and again, repeatedly proves the case. I had personal knowledge about this: Black students of Los Angeles City College were minority but well organized to have a black student president. They wanted more and more power and so demonstrated their power by disrupting the educational process by rioting. They wanted to shut down the college. I saw the college president was a weakling. The governor of California had no jurisdiction over the junior college. The research for help logically led the president of the United States. I was a poor unknown junior, the activities stood to destroy my educational dream. It was the last semester that I must transfer to the university. So my future was threatened by ambitious but ignorant black students. That made me decided to appeal my case to the President. I wrote a powerful letter that President Richard Nixon responded by sending two FBI agents to investigate the riots at the Los Angeles City College. Consequently, the city college was never shut down, I was successfully transferred to the University. The rest was history. I soon learned even I don’t bother politics, politics would bother me. Ever since I was a strong supporter and follower of President Richard Nixon to this day. Years later I could describe myself in this way: I am a Christian by grace, a Chinese by race, an American by nationality. In politics I am a Nixonian; in Management I am a Koontzian; in English I am a Ruskinian; in philosophy I am Willie Wong Thought. This whole incident or episode waked me up from my political slumber that prompted me to become a strategist.
W. H. Murray said, “I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!“
Years ago I dreamed of using the website to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. After a number of years, now my websites have reached more than 182 nations; and it reaches roughly 3,153,750 users and delivers about 6,938,310 pageviews each month.
According to Niccolo Machiavelli, “Politics have no relation to morals.” This is an indirect confession that politicians are immoral.
Maybe you say enough of talking politics, we want to get down with the serious business. I agree.
II. THERE ARE VARIOUS FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
According to 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica“Government
- (0. Fr. governement, mod. gouvernement, O. Fr. governer, mod. gouverner, from Lat. gubernare, to steer a ship, guide, rule; cf. Gr. Kv(3epvelv), in its widest sense, the ruling power in a political society. In every society of men there is a determinate body (whether consisting of one individual or a few or many individuals) whose commands the rest of the community are bound to obey. This sovereign body is what in more popular phrase is termed the government of the country, and the varieties which may exist in its constitution are known as forms of government.”
I think we can all agree that government is “the ruling power in a society.” As to what form of government is the best it is debatable to this day. We select some forms of government for analysis and consideration. The oldest form of government, historically speaking may be theocracy.
A. THEOCRACY
Theocracy simply means the rule of God. Under theocracy, there was no king, but priests and prophets spoke on behalf of God. They rule the nation in the name of God. God is being King over the people. Historically speaking, the first and last nation of theocracy was the state of Israel.
Historically Theocracy failed not because God failed, but because Israelites wanted to be ruled by king as other nations do at that time.
In human government, the rulers have to get the consent of the ruled. In Divine government, God does not seek the consent of the people. God rules by His sovereignty, by His wisdom and power, by His will without consultation with mankind. Theocracy is only the forerunner of the eternal Kingdom of God and the sovereignty of God is universal, supreme, righteous, just, holy, majestic, perfect and eternal.
At the present, the world is in a chaos, because no matter what form of government, man is not suitable to rule over mankind. So the history of mankind is the history of wars and failures, again and again.
Jdg 17:6 , “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” In the history of the Jews, there were days when there was no king in Israel. In those days everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Jdg 18:1, “In those days there was no king of Israel; and in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for themselves to live in, for until that day an inheritance had not been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel.”Jdg 19:1, “Now it came about in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah.”Jdg 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
God ruled over Israel since the exodus from Egypt. God had shown Israelites His glory and His greatness, and they had heard His voice in the midst of fire. The children of Israel could remember all the way which the Lord had led them in the wilderness these forty years. They had seen all that the Lord had done to all those nations because of them and the Lord had been fighting for them. Exo 13:18, “Therefore God led the people around by way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in battle formation from the land of Egypt.”
Exo 16:35, “And the sons of Israel ate the manna for forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.”
The miracles and wonders of theocracy can be illustrated by history and attested by His servant Moses, Deu 29:2, “And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants, and to all his land; the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great miracles and wonders. Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear. And I have led you in the wilderness for forty years; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.”
Act 13:17, “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it.”
Exo 13:21, “And the LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from the presence of the people. But at the morning watch, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion.”
1Sa 8:4-22, “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the matter was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have abandoned Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you as well. Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of the practice of the king who will reign over them.” So Samuel spoke all the Words of the LORD to the people who had asked him for a king. And he said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots. He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. “He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. “And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. “He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and use them for his work.“ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.“ Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.” Yet the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the LORD’S hearing. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, every man to his city.”1Sa 10:19, “But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your catastrophes and your distresses; yet you have said, ‘No, but put a king over us!’ Now then, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your groups of thousands.”
The sons of Israel had rejected God being King over them. They preferred to have a human king over them like all the nations. So God gave them what they wanted. I am aware of other forms of theocracy by other religions which leaders have absolute authority — but I neither have interest to dwell nor interest to discuss. The only theocracy worthy is the second coming of Jesus Christ to be King of kings and Lord of lords in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.
B. MONARCHY
1Ch 11:2, “In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be leader over My people Israel.” Perhaps the State of Israel from the beginning was the first nation that views its leader as the shepherd of the people. The idea originated from God.
1Sa 9:2, “He had a son whose name was Saul, a young and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome man than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.” Saul was more handsome and taller, if he campaigns in America, he will surely win.
1Sa 9:21, “Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?” Saul began as a humble man.
1Sa 9:27, “As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Speak to the servant and have him go on ahead of us and pass by; but you stand here now, so that I may proclaim the Word of God to you.” Saul in the beginning also listened to the Word of God.
1Sa 10:21, “Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin forward by its families, and the Matrite family was selected by lot. And Saul the son of Kish was selected by lot; but when they looked for him, he could not be found.” According to: The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia Lots: “Means of determining chances. Primitive peoples, and occasionally those on a higher plane of culture, resort to lots for the purposes of augury. They spin a coconut or entangle strips of leather in order to obtain an omen. Thieves especially are detected by the casting of lots, etc. (Tylor, “Primitive Culture,” German ed., 1:78-82). The pagans on a ship with Jonah under stress of a storm cast lots in order to find out who among them had incurred the Divine anger (Jonah 1:7). ”According to International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia“(b) But the Bible appears in some places to give its approval to some kinds of artificial or (as it may be called) ominal divination.
- (i) Sortliege or divination by lot. The use of the lot as a means of ascertaining the will of Deity is referred to at least without expressed censure, and, as the present writer thinks, with tacit approval, in many parts of the Bible. It was by lot that Aaron decided which of the two goats was to be for Yahweh and which for Azazel (Le 16:7-10). It was by lot that the land of Canaan was divided after the conquest (Nu 26:56 ff; Jos 18; 19). For other Biblical instances see Jos 7:14 (Achan found out by lot); 1Ch 6:54 ff; 24:5 ff; 25:8 f; 26:13 f; Es 3:7 (“They cast Pur, that is, the lot”; see Century Bible in the place cited.); Ne 10:34; 11:1; Jon 1:7 (“The lot fell upon Jonah”); Mt 27:35; Ac 1:26. In the URIM AND THUMMIM (which see), as explained by modern scholars, the same principle is applied, for these two words, though etymologically still obscure, stand for two objects (pebbles?), one denoting yes or its equivalent, and the other number Whichever the high priest took from his ephod was believed to be the answer to the question asked. In all cases it is taken for granted that the lot cast was an expression and indication of the Divine will.”. Jos 7:14, “So in the morning you shall come forward by your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which the LORD selects by lot shall come forward by families, and the family which the LORD selects shall come forward by households, and the household which the LORD selects shall come forward man by man.”1Sa 10:20, “So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel forward; and the tribe of Benjamin was selected by lot.” Lot in Hebrew is lāḵaḏ which means to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere; to take (by lot); – which occurs 121 times in the Old Testament.1Sa 14:41-42, “Therefore, Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected by lot, but the people were exonerated. Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected by lot.” Jon 1:7, “And each man said to his mate, “Come, let’s cast lots so that we may find out on whose account this catastrophe has struck us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.” Although the primitive people used their method to cast lots, God determined to make sure Jonah could not escape and made the lot fell on Jonah. Jonah could not run away from God, he must accomplish his mission. Lot in Hebrew gôrāl which means lot – pebbles used for systematically making decisions; a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot):—lot. No lot is fallen over it, i.e. no discrimination is made. Be divided by lot; according to lot; apportion by lot; give by lot; have by lot; lot for assigning to service, duty or punishment; portion; – which occurs 77 times in the Old Testament.”
Luk 1:8-9, “Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.” A priest named Zechariah was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. Chosen by lot in Greek is lagchanō which means to obtain by lot; to receive by divine allotment; obtain; , determine by lot; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. And there and then Luk 1:13, “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.”
Act 1:26, “And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.” Lot in Greek is klēros which means an object used in casting or drawing lots, which was either a pebble, or a potsherd, or a bit of wood; the lots of several persons concerned, inscribed with their names, were thrown together into a vase, which was then shaken, and he whose lot fell out first upon the ground was the one chosen. History proves the lot of Matthias was not valid; 2Co 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” According to https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com
“By lot: using a method of choosing somebody to do something in which each person takes a piece of paper, etc. from a container and the one whose paper has a special mark is chosen.” To make a long story short, Saul was selected by lot to be the king when he was thirty years old.
1Sa 11:15, “So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.”
1Sa 13:11-13, “But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Since I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So I worked up the courage and offered the burnt offering.” But Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for the LORD would now have established your kingdom over Israel forever.” Saul acted foolishly because the king must not perform the office of the priest.
1Sa 13:14, “But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” Poor Saul from the start had not kept what the Lord commanded him.
To make a long story short, how God rejected Saul, how Saul wanted to kill David, and how Saul and Jonathan died at the battle–they are written in the Old Testament. This history of the Jews were plagued with many bad kings and few good kings.
In the majority of the kings of both Judah and Israel, history only attested it was a dismal and disastrous failure. Only king David may be with a 95 percent pass rate; in the majority of the kings of both Judah and Israel it was a dismal and disastrous failure. The Chinese people believe there were famous ancient virtuous and wise emperors. Afterwards most of Chinese emperors were corrupted by power and luxury. The emperors were not wise and had too much power in the hands of one person. His words were the law and had power to kill nine clans. The last miserable dynasty was a shame to all Chinese because it was so corrupt and weak and abused and oppressed by Japan and Western powers. Sun Yat Sen was a good and great leader, but he was not fortunate. The analysis of Sun Yat Sen would require a book, at least a separate article.
According to https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/What-Are-the-Various-Forms-of-Governments#
“The word “monarch” comes from the Greek language: The Greek word monos, which means “one” is paired with the Greek word árkhō which means “to rule.” In a monarchy, there is one supreme leader who often rules by “divine right.” Monarchy — whether king, emperor or some other title–is one of the oldest forms of government, going back to prehistoric times when a chief was the tribal leader. The position of monarch is hereditary, usually passing from father to son. (Occasionally, if there were no sons, a daughter could become the ruling queen.)Until the nineteenth century, an autocratic monarchy was the most common form of government—the sovereign had absolute power. The modern monarchy is quite different from earlier ones. In some countries, the monarchy is only symbolic as in a crowned republic. The most common form of modern monarchy is a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch retains only restricted power. The degree of power the monarch retains varies from country to country
- · In some countries, the real authority resides in a constitution and in an elected body of representatives of the people. The monarch may reign, but not rule.
- · In other countries, the constitutional part remains in theory, but the ruler has close to absolute power. Today a person who rules with the power of an absolute monarch is often called a dictator. Queen Elizabeth of England is an example of a monarchy without absolute power.” United Kingdom, although it is a constitutional monarchy, the House of Lords proves the aristocrats (the wealthy nobility) participate in the rule. There are quite a few monarchies in some underdeveloped nations in fact their kings practice Kleptocracy.
Ideologies exhibit themselves like fascism, communism, socialism, capitalism, authoritarianism, etc. rule in some nations whatever they classify or call themselves.
China has a long history. During the Zhou (1040-256 BC) dynasty, great schools of thought—Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, and others—all developed. A long history is always mixed with mythology and legend and even superstition. The Yellow Emperor is the ancient ancestor from which all Han Chinese are believed to have descended. Because my graduate student arranged the company car and chauffer, we were able to visit the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor in the vicinity of Xian which took half a day to go. My students asked why I did not worship the Yellow Emperor, I replied as a Christian I respected my ancestor, but I only worship the true and living God.
In the history of China, the last ruler of the last Dynasty is the most miserable and pitiful government that most Chinese cannot accept. Although Western observers and so-called scholars practice pure European embroidery to depict the decline and decay of the last Chinese Dynasty. Even today Western journalists, politicians and scholars still practice ethnocentric bias and prejudices against China without measure.
The most undesirable person appeared in the last Dynasty of China was the Manchu Empress Dowager Cixi, the Concubine in 1849–the unmistakable devious and depraved tyrant in Chinese history.
In passing I want to call attention to a pagan king, King Ahasuerus who was interesting. When Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s order, the king consulted his seven wise men what to do with disobedient Queen Vashti. Memucan was right that the Queen has wronged not only the king but also all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. According to Niccolo Machiavelli, “The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.” King Ahasuerus was a wise ruler who was surrounded by seven wise men. In reflection, I believe the seven wise men would be more effective and efficient in managing and running the United States and with less budget and no debt. Do you know how much the U.S. bureaucracy costs and wastes? No one exactly knows. A few years ago I read in the mainstream media that the Department of Defense alone had unaccountable trillions of dollars. The Court of King Ahasuerus would be more efficient and effective than the Executive government of America. Besides King Ahasuerus did not have a foreign policy of aggression and military interventions all over the world to conquer nations and subdue peoples. No one knows exactly how much the U.S. bureaucracy costs and wastes each year. According to https://harvardpolitics.com/under-the-hood-the-cost-of-bureaucracy“Oct 24, 2011 · The Small Business Administration (SBA) released a study earlier this year estimating that regulation costs America $1.75 trillion.” No one releases the costs of the Pentagon which is known the black hole of American government.
I would like to mention King James I. According to https://www.royal.uk/james-i?https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-I-king-cof-England-and-Scotland As a Christian and English-speaking I really adore James I (r. 1603-1625) “An able theologian, James ordered a new translation of the Bible which became known as the Authorized King James’s Version of the Bible.” You may not know how much the King James Bible has meant to me personally (before the new versions became available) and how much it has influenced the whole world. “James famously oversaw a new authorized English translation of the Bible, published in 1611, which became known as the King James Version.”
C. Totalitarianism
According to https://thebestschools.org/magazine/common-forms-of-government-study“Totalitarianism is an authoritarian form of government in which the ruling party recognizes no limitations whatsoever on its power, including in its citizens’ lives or rights. A single figure often holds power and maintains authority through widespread surveillance, control over mass media, intimidating demonstrations of paramilitary or police power, and suppression of protest, activism, or political opposition.”
There is one peculiar nation on earth which calls itself as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The way things are in North Korea had a historical background, because it was once ran over and attacked by the supreme power of the United States and its allies. It is clear to all, North Korea is a totalitarian state, and its supreme leader is hereditary with one consistent Kim dynasty, who rules with unchallenged and seemingly popular authority. In my opinion, North Korea can not be a threat to any other nation because it is poor and backward country with whatever ideology.
It is fair to say, the Chinese emperors were generally totalitarian in their rules, with a few exceptions. You can say the Chinese imperial rule was wrong in nature and bad in system. It crumbled and collapsed in the last Qing Dynasty.
The most funny part is a totalitarian country claims to be democratic. There is totalitarianism in so-called democracy, and there is also so-called democracy in totalitarianism.
D. Military Dictatorship
Military dictatorship is illegal and unconstitutional, all generals who usurped power should be executed. That is the only thing worthwhile comment.
E. Democracy
Democracy is the Pandora’ box full with many political troubles and worms. Historically, Europe and later on America claim to represent the political forms of democracy. Whatever its definition, it does not fit the democracy practiced by Europe and America. In particular, recently 70% of Americans say and think America has gone the wrong way. Democracy in its simplest definition means the majority rule. For a long time, only one percent of American population rules over the 99 percent; and the one percent owns most of the power and wealth of America. For that reason in more than 300 years there could not be a revision of the U.S. Constitution to stipulate the national sovereignty is vested in the hands of American citizens. America does not practice a national referendum to determine the direction of the nation and all important and vital issues and policies. Why no American leaders and politicians want to revise the U.S. Constitution to vest the national sovereignty in the hands of American citizens? Because American leaders and politicians want to keep the power to themselves and at the same time fool the people with the slogan of democracy! You may think it is extreme. Let me ask you a question: If a nation and its people cannot be self-supporting, self-sufficient, self-feeding, self-managing, why and what justifies the existence of that nation? If a boy cannot support himself, his wife, and his children why does he have the privilege to get married and set up his own household?
Abbie Hoffman had legitimate complaint against America: “You are talking to a leftist. I believe in the redistribution of wealth and power in the world. I believe in universal hospital care for everyone. I believe that we should not have a single homeless person in the richest country in the world. And I believe that we should not have a C.I.A. that goes around overwhelming governments and assassinating political leaders, working for tight oligarchies around the world to protect the tight oligarchy here at home.”
Noam Chomsky accurately described American corporations: “It’s ridiculous to talk about freedom in a society dominated by huge corporations. What kind of freedom is there inside a corporation? They’re totalitarian institutions – you take orders from above and maybe give them to people below you. There’s about as much freedom as under Stalinism.”
I want to say it again, the whole world is fooled by phony Western democracy. Democracy means majority rule. No nation on earth has NEW CONSTITUTION WHEREBY it stipulates the national sovereignty lies in the hands of majority citizens. The majority of citizens have the power and right to instantly remove any elected or appointed official without impeachment. The majority (51%) of citizens may change the government or the policy or stop any foreign war, etc. All nations who have general elections are without a New Constitution. That is why even majority of citizens oppose the governments like Japan, South Korea, Germany, America, etc. they are unable to instantly remove the wrong leaders after all.
III. POWER AND RULE
The Word of God says, Psa 62:11, “God has spoken once; twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.” Jhn 19:10-11, “So Pilate said to Him, “Are you not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above; for this reason the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”
There is a difference between power and authority. People who have power may not have authority. People who have authority may not have power. As an illustration, the United States has done many UNLAWFUL things because it has military power, but it is without authority (or unauthorized). The United Nations has authority, but it cannot do many things because it is without military power.
Gen 16:6, “But Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your slave woman is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.” Power in Hebrew is yāḏ which means hand; strength; means; – which occurs 1,627 times in the Old Testament.
According to Marriam Webster, power means:
a. Ability to act
b. Legal or official authority
According to https://coredifferences.com/difference-between-power-and-authority/
Abulous
Core Differences between Power and Authority
1. Power resides with a person while authority with position
2. Power does not follow any order whereas authority follow the hierarchy
3. Authority can easily be lost while power is not easily lost
4. Power is a personal trait whereas authority is designated
5. Power tends to be informal influence whereas authority is a formal influence
6. Authority is legitimate whereas power is illegitimate
7. Power fosters violence unlike authority which discourages violence
8. The sources of power are knowledge and experience while authority is positions given.
In general I agree, but I don’t agree with item 7. which says power fosters violence. I had personal experience to illustrate the difference between power and authority. Once in a corporation I conducted management seminars for middle managers which earned a reputation that the no. 2 man in the corporation expressed desire to participate. My professor Dr. Harold Koontz also wanted to participate, except he could not get up the early hours to begin at 8 a.m. My management seminars were held in a style of free and open discussion, and non-condemning way. Every participant may express different opinions. I said to the Executive Vice President, the problem was when you participate, the middle managers would not dare to express their opinions, they were afraid to offend you. Consequently, all middle managers learned I really had management knowledge, they often came to my office for consultation. This event provoked jealousy and displeasure of the top management. You see I had power and because I had management knowledge, and management knowledge attracted middle managers; but I did not have position of authority. Power of knowledge influences people and earns respect.
But God is not mankind, God is very different. There is no power and authority difference in God, for God has both authority and power. The authority and power of God are supreme, absolute, and ultimate.
In a democracy, authority is given due to position. If you are the leader of a country, you have both power and authority. The first requirement of a ruler is the power. A ruler who has no power to rule is like a bird which has no wings to fly. It reminds me of a Japanese who had a Ph.D. in computer science but his English was so poor he could not command the respect of his subordinates and so he failed to be a manager. It also reminds me powerfully of the most pathetic last Manchu Qing dynasty of China, it existed to spoil the corrupt Ch’ing’s Dowager Empress who lived in luxuries, Qing dynasty was routed by a coalition armies of foreign aggressors, abused and humiliated China in losing large territory and big revenue. According to Wikipedia, “Empress Dowager Cixi, of the Manchu Yehe Nara clan, was a Chinese empress dowager and regent who effectively controlled the Chinese government in the late Qing dynasty for 47 years, from 1861 until her death in 1908. Selected as a concubine of the Xianfeng Emperor in her adolescence, she gave birth to a son, Zaichun, in 1856. After the Xia…” Cixi, Empress Dowager of Qing China, Last Empress of Qing Dynasty was an indulgent betrayer of China. She was single-handedly responsible for losing China to foreign enemies including Japan and Western powers. It was not defamation, CIXI was in fact the most morally decayed woman in Chinese history who lost China to Japan and the West. She was not the dragon lady, she was the snake crafty wanton woman who had no redeeming features. The greatest civilization ended in disgrace and dismay.
Western politicians and scholars had a tendency of being revisionists who do not strictly conform to facts, but often express their ethnocentric opinions and slanted views as historical facts. Their assessment of the infamous Opium Wars was a classic example of distortion and discrepancy. They blamed China for not practicing free trade, and downplayed the brute force of corrupt and evil British opium trade that enslaved the Chinese and marginalized the real issues of humanity and morality and justice. Whatever the West had done was good and right; and whatever China had done was bad and wrong. Only God keeps all the records of cruel and brutal Japanese and Western supremacists had done to China. Any revisionist attempt only highlights and intensifies their iniquity upon iniquities. According to Niccolo Machiavelli, “There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.”
In this world, those who have power possess honors and wealth, it does not matter they deserve them or not. Money talks. Power speaks even louder. Those who have power and wealth do not use persuasion or principle, they use naked force or military force. For that reason they lie, kill, destroy and rob any nation or people that does not bow or submit to them. Confucius said, “The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.”
The problems of world leaders and politicians today: Psa 82:5, “They do not know nor do they understand; they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.”
You wonder why the world is so bad because most world leaders and politicians are like Niccolo Machiavelli who said, “Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.” The world is never safe to have a man like Machiavelli around. No wonder, Merriam-Webster defines ‘Machiavellian’ as “marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith.” Sad is the state of the world because its leaders and politicians are Machiavellian as marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith. If ideas and views of Machiavelli can help people, then poison would be good for you.
It is cautiously concluded that power belongs to God only, mankind is unfit to rule; those who seek and play with power has the power of the dog intended only to do harm and evil. Those who wield the power of the sword will die by the sword. The GOD of armies will judge the wicked with terrifying power. The pride of the Western power will be brought to an end. Daniel was right. Dan 2:20, Daniel said, “May the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.” Not only mankind is unfit to wield power, mankind has no wisdom to use power. Wisdom and power belong to God. As long as mankind has no wisdom and power, whatever form of government and whatever system of ideology would not work in this world. So no human rule can be wise, good, and right. That is why we need the Kingdom of God.
IV. THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Just as man rules in the kingdom of men, so God rules in the Kingdom of God. God has unlimited power and authority and wisdom that differentiate from all men. Men are too blind to find the Way. Men are too weak to discover the Truth by reason alone. Men do not have the light of Life in themselves. The Lord Jesus opens our eyes so that we may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that we may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Christ. First is to get rid of self-conceit by admitting you do not know anything about the Kingdom of God. It is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows. To be filled, one has to empty himself first. Second is to accept everything the Word of God says.
Quoting from Vine under “Kingdom”: https://studybible.info/vines
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
“While, then, the sphere of the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are at times identical, yet the one term cannot be used indiscriminately for the other. In the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ (32 times in Matt.), heaven is in antithesis to earth, and the phrase is limited to the Kingdom in its earthly aspect for the time being, and is used only dispensationally and in connection with Israel. In the ‘Kingdom of God’, in its broader aspect, God is in antithesis to ‘man’ or ‘the world,’ and the term signifies the entire sphere of God’s rule and action in relation to the world. It has a moral and spiritual force and is a general term for the Kingdom at any time. The Kingdom of Heaven is always the Kingdom of God, but the Kingdom of God is not limited to the Kingdom of Heaven, until in their final form, they become identical; e.g., Revelation 11:15 , RV; John 3:5; Revelation 12:10 .” (An Extract).
Rev 11:15,“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying: “ The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Notice the word the “Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” is singular. Some people are mistaken to say the Kingdom of God is ruled by God, and the Kingdom of Heaven is ruled by Christ. They are mistaken that the Kingdom of God is one which comes first, and the Kingdom of Heaven is the last part. Misled and mistaken by dispensationalism, there are well-meaning people who believe God and Savior have two eschatological and eternal programs: one for the Jewish Christians, the other for Gentile Christians. No, absolutely not. God and Jesus have only one eternal program for all believers in Christ whether Jewish and Gentile.
Although the Kingdom of God is invisible in the hearts of believers, it becomes visible when Jesus returns with great power and glory. John, James and Peter had a preview of the coming of the Kingdom of God:
2Pe 1:16-18, “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such a declaration as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory: “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased”—and we ourselves heard this declaration made from Heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”
Obviously, the Kingdom of God is visible in the reign of Jesus Christ on earth for 1,000 years.
V. MY KINGDOM IS NOT Of THIS WORLD
For thousands of years, the West (Europe first and then America) has perpetuated the fallacies of Christendom, Christian nation, Christian nationalism, Christian politics, etc.
(A). God is not interested in secular politics and does not have political attributes. The world has only secular politics, there is no such a thing called Christian politics. Politics has to do with administration and distribution of national resources, power and wealth, law and order, and system or form of government. It is blasphemous to suggest that God has political attributes. God has no concern at all with political life and He is not interested in corrupt politics of men. Although it is true that God decided the destiny of the kings and empires. How God dealt with King Nebuchadnezzar is a classical example. (Dan Chapter 2.) The word “politics” does not occur in the Bible. The word “political” occurs twice in the Bible only in the Old Testament. 2Ch 1:2, “Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army, the judges, and all the political and clan leaders.” Jer 2:36, “Why do you constantly go about changing your political allegiances? You will get no help from Egypt just as you got no help from Assyria.”
(B). Christianity is not considered to have the essential traits and implications of tribal or group-religion. It is blasphemous to impute the attributes to God that relate Him directly to the political life of the people. There is no where in the Bible to indicate that God is interested in politics or the political life of the sons of Israel who rejected theocracy and embraced the rule of a king. The illustration of the vital interaction between religion and politics in ancient Greece is not worth mentioning because it has no relation to Judaism or Christianity. To equate the political interests of Athena and Zeus with the God of the Bible is sheer nonsense and vain speculation. Some American church members are so outrageous and outlandish and even blasphemous that they suppose Jesus Christ would be interested in the corrupt and dirty American politics. The American democracy is ruled by 1 percent of the population at the expense of 99 percent. The system of government which makes 1 percent of the population who owns most of the power and wealth. They often ask inappropriately, How would Jesus vote and whom He will vote for? Iniquity upon iniquity, would Jesus Christ vote for any American leaders who have been liars, killers, and robbers since the beginning of the nation and more brazenly since the end of World War II, who killed millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world in hundreds of wars of aggression and bloody military interventions which created millions and millions of refugees who live in abject poverty? The current American leaders who have military bases all over the world to encircle and target Russia and China under false pretenses of threat and in order to maintain American and European domination and dictatorship in the world. Where in the world there exists truly a nation which has LIBERTY, PROSPERITY, EQUALITY, SECURITY, and CIVILITY? If you find one, please let me know.
(C). Mat 20:25-28, “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.” It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” The way of the rulers of the Gentiles is not the way of Christians in the Kingdom of God. Here lies the Christian attitude toward politics. Jesus says, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. The governance of the Church is not like the governments of the world. The rulers of the Gentile nations (even Israel today is a secular nation) lord it over them, and their great men (leaders like president, prime minister, etc.) exercise authority over them. This does not mean Jesus Christ endorses the forms of the government in this world (be it authoritarian, dictatorial, democratic, socialistic, or communistic). Jesus Christ is indifferent to the nations and governments of the world.
(D). For Jesus says, Jhn 18:36, “Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm.” The Kingdom of Jesus is not of this world, not of this realm. This truth precludes Christians engaging in world politics. I have contempt for all American politicians who declared God wanted them (male and female) to be president and lost the election. If God wants you to be something, you cannot lose. Jesus had no reason or expectation to envisage His followers in political office at all. The Kingdom of Jesus is unlike the kingdom or empire of any nation. There is no such a thing called the Christian nation. American and European nations are not Christian nations; they are unchristian and secular nations. Mat 4:8-10, “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Luk 4:5-7, “And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.”
Note: Ironically, you may not know, that all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, all this domain and its glory, has been handed over to the devil, and he can give it to whomever he wished. The devil is the present ruler of the world. The devil offers all the kingdoms of the world and their glory to tempt Jesus to fall down and worship the devil. Jesus rebuked the devil and said, “Go, Satan. For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only!” Perhaps you may not know: Jhn 12:31,“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” Jhn 16:11, “and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” 1Jo 5:19, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” Some leaders are so proud and arrogant, but they do not realize actually they are under the influence of the evil one. They are running dogs of Satan. Dan 6:26, “I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, and His Kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever.”
Note: Even Darius the king had to admit the Kingdom of God is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever. Rev 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in Heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” The days are coming when all the kingdoms of the world will become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.
(E). What should be the Christian attitude toward politics then? Eph 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”
Note: First and foremost, Christians are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household. Phl 1:27, “Above all, you must live as citizens of Heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the Faith, which is the Good News.” Secondly, Christians must live as citizen of Heaven, not as citizens of evil empire or warmongering nation. Christians conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Christians are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the Faith, which is the Good News or the Gospel. Phl 3:20, “But we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.”
Note: Last but not least, Christians are citizen of Heaven and we are eagerly waiting for Jesus Christ to return as our Savior. The preaching of the Gospel and the eagerly waiting for Jesus Christ to return are the two main tasks of every Christian, not the politics of any nation. The Lord does not approve the use of violence even for a good cause. Mat 26:51-52, “And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.” Europe in the last 500 years and later America have from the beginning took up the sword to kill and rob many nations and peoples in the world. What is worst they did it in the name of Christendom (which does not exist) and under the false pretense of democracy, human rights, freedom, independence, justice, etc. Even today America and its allies still take up the sword to maintain the status quo of world domination and dictatorship. But the Word of Jesus stands: All those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Warmongering America and Europe may start a nuclear war that will destroy the whole world.
(F). A white secularist remarked that a sense of responsibility for the continuance of a social system is basic to any morality. Oh boy, the morality of Western civilization is the frightening destruction and injustice, havoc and cruelty, oppression and exploitation in the world. In the last 500 years or more what European and later American imperialists and colonialists have done to the social and economic and political system in the world are not only writing on the wall, it is an open book of travesty, iniquity, abnormality, absurdity, immorality, cruelty, brutality, atrocity, criminality, corruptibility, debility, destructibility, and depravity. During the infamous Opium Wars alone, Great Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Japan, Russia, etc. had robbed and looted China’s national treasures worth at least at market value of US$100,000 trillion dollars, not counting interest, and not counting the total loss and destruction of Yuan Ming Garden. Yuan Ming Garden was reportedly more beautiful and luxurious than Palace of Versailles. You can find the robbed and looted priceless national treasures and antiques of China in British Museum, Smithsonian Institution, the Louvre, the royal palaces, public and private museums of many European nations, Japan, Russia, etc. Since the end of World War II the United States and its allies had lied, robbed and killed millions of innocent peoples around the world in hundreds of unjust wars of aggression and oppression and bloody military interventions that created millions of refugees and more millions of displaced peoples living in abject poverty and misery. Western mainstream mass media continue daily and habitually make fake news, fake reports, and fake views and spread lies to smear and tarnish nations and peoples they do not like and act as agents for their aggressive and oppressive governments under the false banners of democracy, human rights, freedom, independence, and justice.
(G). God has the absolute power, there is no other absolute power. Christianity survives the onslaught of the forces of darkness. The Church that Jesus builds is upon the Rock of Himself, and the gates of Hades cannot overpower it. Jesus wants to make a separation between the Church and the government of nations. Mar 12:17, “And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.” Because His Kingdom is not of this world, not of this realm. Rom 13:1-7, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”
Note: In the last days we face with the phenomenon unusual and abnormal: There is authority not established by God, in fact established by evil. A clear example, the Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex are evil. There are rulers who are a cause for evil. There are leaders and officials who are not ministers of God for good. There are rulers who are not servants of God, but agents of the devil. Yet, the Lord never advocates revolution to overthrow the evil Roman empire. Jhn 14:30, “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” The ruler of the world is already in the world. Eph 2:2, “in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”
(H). The Bible does not advocate a course of political action to overthrow the prince of the power of the air. 1Jo 5:19-20, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” We know Washington, Wall Street, Hollywood, military-industrial-security complex, Islamic terrorists, etc. lie in the power of the evil one who is the devil. The Bible does not command Christians to organize resistance of the evil. We know the Son of God is true, and we are in Him who is true. This is the true God and eternal life. The Gospel is the greatest concern of all Christians, not political world affairs. This is the Christian attitude toward politics collectively.
Act 5:27-32, “When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as the Prince and the Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Note: This is the truth in Christ. Individually, Christian are witnesses of the Savior and obey Him. We must obey God rather than men, no matter what authorities and governments say or do. This following Scripture is the promise of Lord to the churches: Rev 3:9-13, “Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the Word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the City of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Note: The last message of Jesus Christ to all Christians: I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Christianity does not belong to any country or government, and refuses to be recognized by any nation or government. The City of God and the New Jerusalem are heirlooms of the children of God.
(I). Theocracy versus Democracy.
The idea of the god-king or the semi-divine ruler was not supported by the Law of God. At first the Jewish nation practiced theocracy where God-King was a reality. Theocracy cannot succeed when the people rebelled and disobeyed the law of God. Since the sons of Israel rejected theocracy, they embraced the one-king rule. The king was never god-king or the semi-divine ruler. Even during the reign of the great king David, the king was assisted and advised by the prophet and the priest. The prophet was not afraid of the king when the king sinned as illustrated by 2Sa 12:7-15, “Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! Why have you despised the Word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.” Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.“ However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.” So Nathan went to his house. Then the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s widow bore to David, so that he was very sick.”
Note: Even in the New Testament, the great John the Baptist was not afraid of king Herod when he took the wife of his brother Philip. Consequently, the head of the great prophet John the Baptist was worth half a kingdom. Mat 14:3-12, “For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Having been prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” Although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus.” Mar 6:21-24, “A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
Since the beginning Jesus Christ put a demarcation and separation between the secular and the spiritual, between Caesar and God. Mar 12:15-17, “Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” They brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.” As a citizen of Rome, you have to fulfil certain responsibility. As a child of God, you obey the will of God. When the secular violates the spiritual, what shall Christians do? Act 5:27-29, “When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” When any government forces and orders you not to preach Jesus Christ, We must obey God rather than men. Here lies the root cause of persecution and even death or martyrdom.
Christianity from its inception practices the severance and separation between secular politics and the Faith. The Church must not participate or engage in corrupt, dirty, and immoral politics. The so-called recognition of the political character and interests of the divinity in the belief that God inspires the leaders of a kingdom or state with wise counsel is not supported by the Scriptures. God has made known His law and will, it is up to the leaders of kingdoms or nations to obey and follow. Judaism or Christianity is not a humanitarian religion, it is divine. It does not mean Christianity is inhuman like an evil religion. The central person of Christianity is Jesus Christ, not man. Jesus Christ is the only religious leader who says, Love your enemy. The Catholic Church did not escape from the bondage of the Sacred Books, on the contrary the Catholic Church committed apostasy and was corrupted by deviation and disobedience from the Holy Scriptures. The Church of England liturgy hypocritically contains the prayer uttered during the session of Parliament that God will direct their counsels to righteousness and His glory. By the way the Bible does not recognize any liturgy, liturgy is made by men. There is no Christian liturgy. The British Empire was among the most evil, immoral, unrighteous and un-Christian empires which had done so much evil in the world. The British Empire lied, killed, and robbed the resources of its conquered colonies in Asia and Africa so much so to enrich themselves beyond measure. The infamous Opium Wars certainly did not reflect the righteousness and glory of God. In fact, in the last 500 years or more European powers and later America have lied, killed, and robbed and have done more evil and atrocities and iniquities than all other empires and kingdoms in the history of mankind. The brutality of Japanese military only God has all the records, Japan would not escape the judgment of God.
The modern politics of Western nations has never been responsible and righteous, but maintains itself in sordidness of their imperial policy of aggression and oppression, the presence of tragic catastrophes, calamities and agonies of many unjust wars of aggression and expansion, coupled with the depressing and deadly milieu of immorality, cruelty, meanness, inhumanity, injustice and intrigue. It is certainly not divine providence that Europe and America have distorted and disgraced Christianity. Democracy as represented by Western (Europe and America) nations are the most atrocious and fallacious and vicious form of government where 1 percent of the population rules over the 99 percent of population. And 1 percent of the ruling population owns most of the power and wealth. Democracy is the worse form of government because it pretends to be what it is not, kidnapped by special interests, power in the hands of the few, and enriches the 1 percent of the population at the expense of the majority. The proof: America the so-called oldest and largest democracy is useless and most corrupt, immoral and totally dysfunctional, on top of it which is warmongering and violent having the largest national debt in the world.
The conception of the divine right of kings does not apply to secular nations of secular kings. David the great king over the house of Judah and over the house of Israel was the exception. David had the divine right of being king because he was appointed and anointed by God. Today no nation and no king can claim the divine right of king. To call democracy a modern freedom force or a moral religious ideal is a repugnant hypocrisy of the highest order. God never and does not rule by democracy. The sovereignty of God is absolute and non-negotiable. Dan 2:44, “And in the days of those kings the God of Heaven will set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever.”
The Kingdom which God will set up is the Kingdom of Heaven, its sovereignty is eternal. God will break and destroy the nations of the world in pieces, and all the kingdoms and states of this world will come to an end, and only the Kingdom of God shall stand for ever. There is no such a thing called national soul. The idea that as a rule God approves war or takes pleasure in war is mistaken. Exo 13:17, “Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” God does not like people to see war. Historically, Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. Exo 17:13-14, “So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under Heaven.” God hated warmonger Amalek so much so that He would utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under Heaven. America the warmonger is the modern Amalek, who knows God will utterly blot out the memory of America from under Heaven. Num 10:9-10, “When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”
In the event that the adversary attacks Israel, Israel shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that Israel may be remembered before the Lord God, and be saved from the enemies. God clearly prefers peace. Deu 2:9, “Then the LORD said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the sons of Lot as a possession.” God told Israel not to harass Moab, nor provoke them to war. America and its allies have harassed other nations and provoke them to war since the end of World War II. America under false pretense continuously and consistently harasses and oppresses Russia and China, and provokes them to war. Eventually America and its allies Europe, NATO, Britain, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc. may trigger a nuclear war that will destroy the whole world. Deu 4:34,“Or has a god tried to go to take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?”
Historically, the Scripture cited above sums up God through various means including war to save Israel in Egypt. However, throughout the Jewish history God prefers to make peace than to make war. 1Ch 5:20-22, “They were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him. They took away their cattle: their 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys; and 100,000 men. For many fell slain, because the war was of God. And they settled in their place until the exile.” Note: There may be time when the war was of God as cited in the Scripture above. God may use wars to destroy wicked nations and peoples. Psa 144:1, “A Psalm of David.
Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle.” Note: In the life experience of king David, he had to fight many wars with the Philistines to defend Israel. God is his Rock, who trains his hands for war, and his fingers for battle. Remember, God helped David to kill Goliath the giant of Philistine. Isa 42:13, “The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war.
He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies.”
Note: When it is necessary, the Lord will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies. The nation of Israel is surrounded by its hostile enemies. Have no fear if God is on the side of Israel. Peace be upon Israel. God will prevail against His enemies. God will prevail against the nuclear shield and nuclear weapons of His enemies. Rev 12:7-12, “And there was war in Heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in Heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the Word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. For this reason, rejoice, O Heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
Note: The first war took place in Heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, was thrown down to the earth. For that reason the devil is the present ruler of the world. The devil has only a short time, for Jesus Christ is coming to judge the world and reign with the saints forever and ever. Rev 17:14, “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” Note: The beast and his followers will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. The called and chosen and faithful are Christians with Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
FOR THIS REASON, THERE IS NO CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM.
VII. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Rev 11:17, “saying,
“We give You thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.”
At the end of the Millennium, Lord God, the Almighty, has taken great power and has begun to reign. The Kingdom of Heaven is real and true and visible.
There are those unbelievers who say Heaven is a state of mind, not a real place. I met one old miserable Chinese pastor who preached the false gospel. They want to destroy the Christian Faith. However, our faith in the Word of God does not depend on the opinions of men. The New Heaven and the New Earth, the Holy City the New Jerusalem are not an allegorical or symbolic description, they are more literal and real than Shanghai and Copenhagen. They are one trillion times better than Newport Beach or Carmel.
There is the most profane and provocative claim by Western warmongers who think they are on the side of the King of kings and Lord of lords, but in fact they are on the side of the beast who is the serpent of old, the dragon who is called the devil and Satan. Isa 2:4, “And He will judge between the nations,
and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they learn war.” Mic 4:3, “And He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war.”
Note: The Scriptures cited above provide a most beatific and beautiful vision of the Kingdom of Heaven when Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace reigns with the saints. Psa 72:5-9, “Let them fear You while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. May He come down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In His days may the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon is no more. May He also rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. Let the nomads of the desert bow before Him, and His enemies lick the dust.” The days are coming when the enemies of Christ will lick the dust! Isa 9:7, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over His Kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” Isa 55:12, “For You will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before You, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isa 66:12-13, “For thus says the LORD, “Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees.“ As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;
and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
Note: The Scripture cited above provides a glimpse of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, where peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like a overflowing stream. The fallacy that God is the author and source of our thoughts. The idea that God is the source and author of our thoughts and moods is at least fallacious and irresponsible, and at most a dangerous and perilous doctrine. Gen 6:5-7, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” The secularists must be sick and insane to claim that God is the author of every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart is only evil continually. The great wickedness of man on earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually was the reason that God was grieved in His heart and the Lord wanted to blot out man from the face of the land. Deluge (the flood of Noah) became God’s solution. The intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth (Gen 8:21). Gen 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” Joseph learned the great truth that man may mean evil, but God means it for good by making all things work together for good. Man by nature is prone to evil. Exo 32:22, “Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil.” Luk 6:45, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good is like a good tree bears good fruit. The evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth what is evil is like a bad tree bears bad fruit. Mar 7:20-23, “And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”
Jesus Christ provides the etiology of evil things coming out of the evil heart of men. Mencius a Chinese philosopher said, “In the beginning man was good.” God made man originally was good. Since the fall of man, man is by nature evil. Jesus is the final and ultimate authority on the nature of man. Mat 12:34, “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” Mar 10:18, “And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” Jesus is good because He is God. Even Apostle Paul admitted, Rom 7:18-21, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.” Flesh is by nature sin which dwells in man. For that reason, a man must be born again by the Spirit. Jhn 3:5-6, “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Water refers to the Word of God. Thus, far from it that God is the author of evil. The devil is the origin of evil. The most illustrious example is Judas the traitor. Jhn 13:2, “During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him.” The devil implanted in Judas an evil thought or imagination. Although the devil put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus, it does not mean that Judas is not responsible. For Jesus says, Mar 14:21, “For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” By the same token Hitler cannot claim innocent because the devil put in his heart to kill six million Jews, and the Japanese military killed 35 million Chinese, and American leaders killed millions and millions of innocent peoples around the world since the end of World War II. Everyone is responsible for his sins, and dies in his sins if he does not repent and believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. Jas 1:13-17, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” Without doubt or dispute, evil comes from the devil. Every good thing comes down from the Father of lights.
In a sense the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are one and the same. It is a matter of time and continuity. The Kingdom of God is realized when Jesus returns to establish the peaceful reign of 1,000 years on earth. At the end of the Millennium, the release of Satan, the battle of Armageddon, the devil (dragon) and the beast and the false prophet cast into the Lake of Fire; the Great White Throne Judgment; the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God that officiates the commencement of the Kingdom of Heaven when and where God will live with His children and the saints will reign with Christ for eternity. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem is not a symbol of the Church. The Church is the Body of Christ made of all saved believers of all generations. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, is the final place that Jesus Christ has prepared for His followers, and the Paradise of God where God will live with His children for ever and ever. That is the Kingdom of Heaven. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem on the new Earth is not a figment of (one’s) the imagination, or a state of mind. It is a real place where Jesus has prepared for His followers. God began His works with the Garden of Eden (Paradise), and God finished His work with the Paradise of God, the Holy City, the New Jerusalem on the New Earth.
Hbr 11:16, “But now they desire a better, that is, a Heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a City for them.”
The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, is a Heavenly country. It is the City God has prepared for His children as promised.
Note: When I was young I used to think America was the best country in the world. Indeed, during the Nixon presidency, the United States was in the golden era. Later I was disillusioned by corruption, greed, fraud, inequality, injustice, crime, discrimination, uncivilized behavior, violence, profanity, vulgarity, lust, lewdness, aggressive foreign policy, etc. prevalent in America. I went to Europe and Scandinavia looking for a better country where I developed a theory of good society. Please read The Theory of Good Society. I discovered Norway was the best country in the world then. However, recently I am disappointed in Norway, not only the paradise was lost by a terrorist act, also by the way the Norwegian government has conducted itself. Please read A Response to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. I must conclude by saying: My kingdom is not of this world. There is no better country than the Heavenly country which the Lord has prepared for His followers.
Rev 21:10-27, “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” The descriptions cited above literally real and true, it is not a figure of speech. Do you want to have your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? By grace through faith in Jesus Christ, you can.
Rev 3:12 , “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the City of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God, and My new name.”
Rev 21:1-4 , “Then I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying: Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
Note: The New Heaven and the New Earth are actual and real and true and visible. The state of the Holy City, New Jerusalem, is where there will be no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain – the old things will be gone for good.
Rev 21:21-26 , “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the City has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.”
Note: The street of the City is made of pure gold is not a figment of imagination. In this world people fight and die for gold (wealth or money); but in the world to come the blessed walk on the streets of gold. The gold is so pure that it is like transparent glass. Have you ever seen pure gold like transparent glass? The lamp of the City is the Lamb who shines and illumines the glory of God for eternity.
Rev 21:16, “The City is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, twelve thousand stadia; its length, width, and height are equal.”
The Scriptures cited above are literal descriptions. Stadia in Greek is stadion which means furlong; a space or distance of about 600 feet (185 m); according Strong’s Concordance, 1. a measure of length comprising 600 Greek feet, or 625 Roman feet, or 125 Roman paces (Pliny, h. n. 2, 23 (21), 85), hence, one-eighth of a Roman mile (i. e. 606 3/4 English feet (about 15 miles less than one-fifth of a kilometer)); – which occurs 6 times in the New Testament.
According to NASB95, Rev 21:16, “The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the City with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal.”
Many translations convert this measurement for us to help us understand the size of the City. The NET reads 1,400 miles. The amazement is looking at a city which is 1,400 miles long, 1,400 miles wide, and 1,400 miles high. I believe as it is written the Holy City, New Jerusalem is descriptive of an actual locality on the new Earth. These numbers not only perfect but so astonishing and astounding. Traveling all over the world, you do not find a city of 1,400 miles long. The world does not see a city 1,400 miles wide. It blows one’s mind just to think of a city 1,400 miles high. What is more to look at a city 1,400 miles high, 1,400 miles long, and 1,400 miles wide which is literally true. God has made the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, with perfect dimensions and numbers. No wonder the Scripture says, 1Co 2:9, “ but just as it is written:
“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” The Paradise of God is better than the first paradise, and it is eternally perfect. Heb 11:16, “ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a Heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a City for them.” Thanks be to God, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever; for God has prepared a City for His children for eternity. Amen.
The Kingdom of Heaven occurs 154 times in the NASB20.
Mat 3:2, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
John the Baptist preached to the Jews. The most important reason for the Jews to repent is because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, it is near.
Mat 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kindom of Heaven is at hand.”
Jesus began His ministry when John the Baptist was taken into custody. In other words, Jesus began His ministry by preaching and saying, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Mat 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Why the poor in spirit are blessed? For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Arrogant scientists and theologians, world leaders and politicians, the Kingdom of Heaven does not belong to you.
Mat 5:10, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Why those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness are blessed? For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter.”
The one who does the will of God will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 8:11, “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The Kingdom of Heaven is not a banana republic. It has great population that many will come from east and west. The prominent members of the Kingdom of Heaven are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. All children of God, Jewish and Gentile, will be one in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 13:45-46, “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.”
The Kingdom of Heaven is like one pearl of great value, and that nothing can compare with its value.
Mat 18:3, “and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
To enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we must change and become like children. Like the innocence and simplicity of children.
Mat 18:4, “So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
To be great in the Kingdom of Heaven one must humble himself like children.
Mat 19:14, “But Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them to come to Me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”
We must come to Jesus like children because the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these. The crafty and cunning president, prime minister, politician, pimp and prostitute do not belong to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 19:23, “And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
CONCLUSION
Since the end of World War, America and its allies have engaged in my unholy wars and bloody military interventions all over the world. Consequently they created millions and millions of war refugees and even more millions of displaced persons. It is fair and just to know there are differences between refugees and illegal migrants. Most recently reported on TV (November 2021) are illegal migrants and economic opportunists from the Middle East who want to migrate to Europe and live on welfare hereafter happily. It was known that many illegal migrants were violent people. On November 15, I happened to watch TV, seeing a girl at Belarus-Poland borders with a sign “I want to go to…” The country she wanted to go was not visible. I saw the Middle East illegal migrants on TV are even more violent. This little girl and her parents might not know, the world is not free that you can go to any place you want to. Many nations do not welcome illegal migrants. First you have to obtain a visa, you cannot just walk in to a country, as many Mexicans and Latinos have done to the U.S.
Rom 13:11-12, “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let’s rid ourselves of the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
Everything written about the Holy City the New Jerusalem is actual, literal and true. God has prepared the most wonderful City for eternity. You know how much it cost me to visit England, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway for three months? Hotel, rent, food and transportation were not cheap. The good news is the truth that you may enter the Kingdom of Heaven by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It is an eternal inheritance absolutely free. Jesus says, the Gospel is preached to the poor.
Luk 7:22, “And He answered and said to them, said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: people who were blind receive sight, people who limped walk, people with leprosy are cleansed and people who were deaf hear, dead people are raised up, and people who are poor have the Gospel preached to them.”
Listen all poor people in the world, you may enter the Holy City in the Kingdom of Heaven without passport, without troops harassing you, and it is absolutely free. But you must be born again, to have the Holy Spirit living in you.
If there is no Paradise of God, no Holy City, no New Jerusalem, then there is no hope of the glory of God. If there is no hope, then Christians live in vain, the wicked and evildoers win. Then we are waiting for the hope of righteousness in vain. Not so. The Word of truth, the Gospel, brings us the hope laid up in Heaven.
Col 1:5, “because of the hope laid up for you in Heaven, of which you previously heard in the Word of truth, the Gospel.”
We Christians know that Christ in us is the hope of glory. The hope of glory is to have spiritual, glorious and immortal body when Christ returns. We will be forever with the Lord in the Kingdom of Heaven where Christ and the saints will reign for eternity. God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago for His children to have a Heavenly country. So Christians of all generations are looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Christians are made heirs of the Kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? What Kingdom? It is the Kingdom of Heaven.
You can repent and believe in Jesus Christ, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.
You can do it now.
Willie Wong Thought
Willie Wong
August 14, 2025
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