Church and State Part 3: The Battle is the Lord's

There has been much contention throughout the world over disagreements on how to address the various calamities that are coming on the earth, who has what authority in addressing these issues, and what to do when we do not agree with how those with authority over us exercise that authority.

As with all things in the Christian's life, let's look and see what the Word of God has to say on these things.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. ...Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. (Romans 13:1-3, 7)

Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. (Matthew 22:21)

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto govenors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (1 Peter 2:13-14)

Jesus answered (to Pilate), Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. (John 19:11)

What is Heaven Really Like?

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. ...But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:9, 10, 14)

We've already seen in a previous post that hell is not a place where the Devil will get to torment unrepentant sinners and unbelievers for all eternity, but the misconceptions of the "afterlife" don't end there. For centuries the most common depiction of heaven is a place full of fluffy white clouds where the saint's of God will spend eternity floating around in white robes strumming harps, but what does the Bible say?