AMERICA AS OUR AUTHORITY? The attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon has caused the United States of America to come into focus as never before. The destroying of the World Trade Center was an evil deed. If something ought to be called devilish, it has to be acts like this. Obviously the USA will use occasions like this terrible catastrophe to defeat terrorists and fundamentalists. They have got an enemy, and it looks like they are able to gather almost the whole world to oppose this enemy. Is it not remarkable that nations that few years ago appeared like enemies, now join hands fighting against this common threat? The father of the president, George Bush, was able to gather all the nations of the world towards a common enemy during the Gulf crisis. In reality, his son is repeating this.
In a previous pamphlet we have discussed that the USA is the nation that is fulfilling the prophecies of the 13th chapter of Revelation, verse 11 and forward. If you have not yet read the arguments, you can get a repetition by reading the pamphlet "666, the beast, the mark of the beast…"
As a result of the terrorist attacks on the 11th of September, the U.S. president, George Bush, has put forth strict laws. The terrorists can be traced and judged without a thorough judicial trial - wherever they are on the globe. But how can one judge a person except the person get a chance of defending himself? The lawyers have the opinion that in such cases, where terrorists are threatening the safety and security of a nation, they may use emergency paragraphs. -The nation is in a state of emergency and war, so we must use laws like this, they argue. The new laws, that are worked out by John Ashcroft and the department of Justice, gives the federal government the right to tap the phone and monitor all correspondence via the Internet. The law is called USA Patriot Act of 2001, and this law also gives permission for house searches without informing the inmates of the house. It also allows placing electronic monitoring systems into computers to tap private communications. Also in the House of Commons in England they voted for a similar, strict anti-terrorist-law. This law contains some of the same aspects as the one in the U.S. - persons can be arbitrarily arrested if the security police suspect him of being linked to the terrorist-organizations, or for maintaining unacceptable views. The security police are then allowed to arrest these people - wherever they may be on the globe - and put them into prison for an indefinite period.
Even though the international laws prohibit putting people in jail without a thorough examination - for example § 5 in the European Convention of Human Rights - both the Britain and the American governments say that they can make an exception, since they are in an emergency situation.
In another pamphlet, we have mentioned the law Bill Clinton instituted in the last part of his career as president: HR 2431, which states that a committee in the U.S. can punish persons or groups that they consider Is practicing religious persecution. These new laws of war that the present president, George W. Bush, is promoting, and the law HR 2431, is just the beginning of a series of similar laws that will come, and that will restrict the liberty of conscience on our globe.
Almost everywhere they are starting to use surveys and control-schemes to map people even on the private level. This information is gathered in computer-banks. In this way the government, the police and the military, knows who and where the people are that will not obey the orders of the elite.
The Bible says that the USA, which has been a country of liberty, will begin to speak as a dragon (a symbol of the devil). Satan, the enemy of God, will bind people under his tyrannical power. Now it is the terrorists that are fought against, but the Bible makes it clear that America will enforce laws that will punish those that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus (Rev. 13. 15; 14. 12). The terrorist phrase will soon be extended to include the so-called "religious fundamentalists", that will also be punished and exterminated. Yes, the opening of such persecution has already started.
As a result of the terrorist attacks in America, a new department was established in November 2001; the Office of Homeland Security. Tom Ridge, the leader of the new department, said just after he had come into office, that the Americans who express criticism towards fellow citizens, just because they worship God in another way… shall be defined with one word: terrorists. It is through the laws that America will begin to speak as a dragon. Can we see that America is starting to speak like a dragon?
In the British anti-terror-law there is a paragraph that should arouse the attention of Christians. It says that messages that may appear as religious offences, and therefore can cause divisions among nations or groups, should be prohibited and condemned by the anti-terror-laws (Time, November 26, 2001 and "Dagbladet", November 21, 2001). How shall we then be able to fulfill the Biblical call to give a warning against the Catholic system, Apostate Protestantism, and the ecumenical efforts to get the churches back to Rome?
We understand that we are approaching the times when the conscience will be governed by the laws of the state. The USA and the rulers of the New World Order want obedient slaves, and poor be those that will resist. We therefore clearly understand that America is about to create an image of the beast, where the church and state will be united - that will say the religious leaders are using the state to force its laws. The Bible makes it clear that the U.S. will co-operate with the papacy. It says that the second beast (America) will use all the power of the first beast (the papacy), to fulfill the purposes of the first beast (the papacy). Lately we have seen the close connection between the Vatican and the presidents of the United States. It is also the case right now. Yes, the Bible tells that it will go so far that America will enforce laws that those that will not accept this new form of government (where the individuals are no longer allowed to follow their own conscience, but have to follow the directives of the state in religious matters), and that will not accept the mark of the beast, will be killed (Rev. 13. 15). Just like the papacy was persecuting and killing tens of thousands - even hundreds of thousands - of people during the Middle Ages, because they were of another faith, America will join the papacy in exercising these persecutions. Can we assert that the foundation of this persecution is already laid?
The Bible makes it clear that when America first enters the scene as a leading superpower, it will only rule for a short period of time. It does not say that it will lose its power, because later it becomes a superpower once again. So, when the United States has first entered as a superpower, it will keep its power for a short time, and in this time period it will enforce the image and mark of the beast. It will be the example for the other countries to follow. This development we can see in many areas.
From a common point of view it is not so strange that most people deny that America will enforce the mark and image of the beast. The United States has been a country of religious liberty. In the Constitution it says that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." What we now see is that the Congress, the Senate and the president in the United States have already repudiated the restrictions the Constitution has established, and that they have established laws (f. ex. HR2431) that oppose the Constitution. When the law takes the role of defining and regulating the liberty of conscience, it breaks the principle of complete division of state and church. In the future we will see that the governing organs in America will disregard the principles of the Constitution. They will more directly deal with religion as well.
Because the Bible has foretold that America will enforce the image and mark of the beast, there has always been somebody proclaiming this message the last 150 years. Ellen G. White wrote about it over 100 years ago in the book "the Great Controversy". Here is an interesting quote:"…the Constitution guaranties to the people the right of self-government, providing that representatives elected by the popular vote shall enact and administer the laws. Freedom of religious faith was also granted, every man being permitted to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience. Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the nation. These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity…
But the beast with the lamblike horns "spake as a dragon…" The lamblike horns and the dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus represented. The "speaking" of the nation is the action of legislative and judicial authorities. By such action it will give the lie to those liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation of its policy. The prediction that it will speak "as a dragon" and exercise "all the power of the first beast" plainly foretells a development of the spirit of intolerance and... And the statement that the beast with the two horns "cause the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast" indicates that the authority of this nation is to be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to the papacy.
Such action would be directly contrary to the principles of this government, to the genius of its free institutions, to the direct and solemn avowals of the Declaration of Independence, and to the Constitution. The founders of the nation wisely sought to guard against the employment of secular power on the part of the church, with its inevitable result _ intolerance and persecution. The Constitution provides that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," and that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office of public trust under the United States." Only in flagrant violation of these safeguards to the nation's liberty, can any religious observance be enforced by civil authority…
When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result." _Great Controversy, p. 441-444
The writer of this pamphlet wrote about this in a pamphlet that was distributed in 650.000 copies in connection with the pope visiting Norway in 1989. It caused great reactions. Yes, during the last 150 years, tons of tracts, pamphlets, tapes and videos have been distributed about the theme the world over. These preachers have been scorned. People have shaken their heads and they have been called prophets of destruction coming with absurd assertions, but now we see the times coming to pass when these prophesies will be fulfilled. We understand that we coming to the end of this world's history. "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21. 28) Jesus Christ is soon coming back. Hallelujah!
Maybe the rulers of the world believe that they are about to make genial, centralized, international laws, that will aid them in promoting order and peace, and that in this way they will govern the world for a long time. But the Bible says that all the wicked powers of the world (the secret organizations, the trade unions, the church leaders, the political and military leaders, and so on) will work together in the end of time, and they will fight against Christ and those on Christ's side (Rev. 17. 12-14). This is the struggle in a nutshell. Therefore Paul writes: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph. 6. 12)
The rulers of the world will not accept God as their authority, or the Ten Commandments, which God has given us to follow. The rulers of the world will themselves be the authority, and their international and super-national laws will be in opposition to the simple principles that God has given us in the Ten Commandments, as we can already see taking place.
The leaders of the world require that the people shall submit to their laws and their authority. In the Bible the church is described as a body. Christ is symbolized as the head of the body. Almost all church*leaders believe that their church is the body. But if the body is opposing the word of God, we have to follow the head, not the body. Jesus Himself says: "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Mat. 23. 11). Jesus, that was God, came to this world as a man to save those that receive Him by faith. Imagine what a degradation and humility! When Jesus came to the earth, He was both a fellow being and a servant. He bowed down to the weak to relieve their pain. He was called the friend of republicans and sinners. He did not have any place or group of people where he could find rest. He was persecuted of the religious leaders that stirred up the people, and at last they shouted: Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Their shouts were put into practice: Jesus was crucified between two thieves. Even though Jesus had not done anything wrong, He sacrificed His life for you and me, that whosoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3. 16).
Jesus wants all to experience the truth and be saved. He is the one who will judge, not us. Therefore we must have a love for each other. With the love of God in our hearts we have to wish all people the best, regardless of which position they are in _ secret organizations, the superior positions within religion, politics, economy or the military. Obviously there are many upright persons in the most important positions the world over that may have been deluded. Each and every one has to test himself, whether he will follow the example of Christ, or not (1. Peter 2.21). Are we rulers or servants? May everyone - by the influence of the Holy Spirit on mind and heart - who realizes that they have chosen the wrong direction, ask God for power to break the bonds that might bind him, and place himself fully on the side of God.
In the situation of today we must deplore that the rulers of the world have chosen their own way. How different Jesus was than the leaders of today. As the rulers of the world are now tightening the grip, and plan to have a global government through massive, international laws, we need to make a choice when their laws are contradicting the principles of God and His law. Therefore the questions are raised: Which authority do you want to obey? It will also become the question in connection with the mark of the beast. Who will you obey and serve, the leaders of the world, or the law of God? Let's choose to obey the Creator, and show it in practice by worshipping Him on the day He has blessed and made holy! Then you will yourself be blessed!
Best greetings from Bente and Abel Struksnes