form:
Nebuchadnezzar's statue (Daniel 2) represents the world before Christ. Before the Prince of Peace was born, the world was dominated by Satan and his minions. Life was violent. The "Preterist" believes that the Messiah bound the Strong Man at the beginning of the Messianic Reign.
The leaders of the four demonic empires described in Daniel 2 are described by Jesus as "the kings of the Gentiles." The Greek word used in Mark 10 to describe these demonic megalomaniacs is the word from which the English word "anarchist" is derived. They were "archists."
Jesus prohibits His followers from aspiring to rule over others. Jesus said a Christian must not be an "archist."
An "archist" is a "ruler" -- someone who believes he has a moral right to impose his own will on others by force or threats of violence, including fines, prisons, torture, executions, military invasions, and terrorism.
In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, Jesus discovers His disciples arguing about who is going to be the "greatest" in the Kingdom of God. Their concept of the Messiah was someone who would use force and violence to vanquish the Roman occupation army that held Israel under tribute. They looked forward to the coming of a Messiah who would enlist them into a Messianic Israeli Army which would "stick it to" the Romans. But just as Micah said we should beat "swords into plowshares," Jesus said His disciples should "love your enemies," and if their soldiers conscript you to carry their provisions for one mile, you should go with the occupation forces two. (This form of pacifism completely refutes the legitimacy of "national defense.") The disciples didn't understand that Jesus' Messianic Kingdom was quite unlike the kingdoms of the world.
| But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. {43} Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. {44} And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. {45} "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." |
The word translated "rulers" comes from the Greek word from which we derive our English word "anarchist" ("a + archist" -- the first "a" is the Greek letter "alpha," known as the "alpha privative," meaning "not" -- a[n]archist -- the letter "n" bridges the "alpha privative" and the word "archist").
"Lords," "rulers" and "great ones" are "archists."
An "archist" believes he has the right to impose his will on other people by force. He need not rely solely on persuasion. He need not give others anything of value in exchange for what he wants from others. He can threaten violence, and carry out those threats if he doesn't get what he wants. It would be sinful for others to engage in such violent extortion or vengeance, but the "archist" claims a "legal" and moral right to do what others must not do.
Jesus clearly says His followers are not to be "archists." They are to be "servants."
A Christian society is an archist-free society.
We have been brainwashed in "public" schools (run by archists) to believe that an "anarchist" is:
Anyone can be called an "anarchist" by someone who wants to vilify an opponent, but most of those who call themselves "anarchist" have reached their position by their opposition to violence. I am a pacifist, therefore I am opposed to any institution of systematic violence and coercion (e.g., "the Mafia," "the State," etc.).
By etymological definition, the opposite of an "anarchist" is an "archist." By being trained to believe that "anarchists" are bad, we've been subtly inculcated with the belief that those who protect us against "anarchists" (logically, "archists") are good.
But the Bible says archists are bad, and explicitly prohibits us from being archists.
Jesus says His followers are not to be archists. Connect the dots.
www.HowToBecomeAChristianAnarchist.com
Mark 10:42-45 (and other passages we consider elsewhere) teaches that
The Biblical "anarchist" believes that "civil government" has a demonic origin. Our job as Christians is to continue the task of putting to death the old man
Most church-goers believe that empires are good; that they are God-approved, morally legitimate, and socially necessary. You might think that many in Daniel's day and in Christ's day were doubtless confused by the prophecy of the destruction of the greatest empires in the world: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. After all, didn't these great empires provide social order? Wouldn't their destruction lead to "anarchy?" On the other hand, maybe they were smarter than we are. Maybe they suffered under conquest, tribute, forced labor, confiscation of children, random conscription, and other horrors of depraved, child-sacrificing homosexual would-be gods that they rejoiced at the thought. If they read the Bible, they knew that empires were a punishment "ordained" by God against a people who rebelled against God's Commandments. God ordained evils like "the sword." The Bible says all empires are evil. Their history is demonic. Their demonic character was clearly seen at the time of Christ. The Empire represents a refusal to allow God to be Lawgiver, Judge and King.
Yeah, that rhetoric is possibly a bit off-putting.
From our "95 Theses on the State"
The Origin of "the State" ("Civil Government") - Political Philosophy 101 According to the Bible
The Meaning of εξουσιαι - "the Powers that be"
The Bible, when read from cover to cover, is an anarchist manifesto. Romans 13, in context, shows "the State" to be of demonic origin and character. The chapter begins by saying
"Let every soul be subject to the higher powers"
The phrase "higher powers" is sometimes translated "governing authorities," which has the connotation of "legitimate guardians of the peace, wise, benevolent, foresighted, public servants, and community-minded leaders." Or something like that. Rah.
But in the Bible, "the powers that be" are dark, menacing, evil, and malevolent. And "the State" is the product of evil, depraved rebels against the reign of God.
What Romans 13 says (continuing the thought from the previous chapter, Romans 12) is that we are not to resist evil. We are to overcome evil acts, chaos, and tyranny with good deeds, peaceful order, and service.
Here's a website that allows you to search for Greek words in the New Testament. Here are the results for a search of the Greek word in Romans 13:1, "εξουσιαι," "powers" (plural):
| Base form: |
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| Number: | plural |
| 2. | Romans 13 |  |
1 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. |
| 3. | Ephesians 3 |  |
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, |
| 4. | Ephesians 6 |  |
12 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. |
| 5. | Colossians 1 |  |
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: |
| 6. | Colossians 2 |  |
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. |
| 7. | Titus 3 |  |
1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, |
| 8. | 1 Peter 3 |  |
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. |
| There is one passage that seems less clearly demonic: Luke 12:11. Closer analysis shows the Satanic connection: | |||
| 1. | Luke 12 |  |
11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: |
Greek New Testament - Univeristy of York
"The rule of the Roman Empire was the simultaneous integrated endeavor of spiritual and human authorities. In Pauline literature 'authorities' (exousiai, including the singular used in such a way as to indicate a plurality, i.e., 'every authority') is consistently used to refer to the spiritual powers" (Clinton Morrison, The Powers that Be: Earthly Rulers and Demonic Powers in Romans 13.1-7, p. 25).
The claim that the binding of the demonic Strong Man occurred in the past, and the call to abolish archism in the present, are not refuted by a common misunderstanding of Romans 13. That passage is about the demonic "powers." God sovereignly controls all things, but that does not mean that God gives all things His moral seal-of-approval. The State has God's Seal-of-DISapproval. Our website on Romans 13 covers these issues in more detail:
This is a book-length website. Here are some pages which dig deeper into the background and meaning of Romans 13. They explore God's sovereignty over evil, the work of angelic beings in the Providence of God, and the necessity of abolishing evil in the world, especially the State. These are the lost themes of Romans 13.
We recommend reading them in the order below. The first three pages are foundational. The first page helps us cultivate the heart of a servant and Christian non-archist. The second page is critical to understanding Romans 13, and the reader is urged to spend some time perusing the rest of the pages on that site ("TOTAL Predestination"), particularly the pages on "Baalism" and "Radical Calvinism."
- Pray for a Servant's Understanding of Romans 13
- All Evil is Predestined by God
Reading all these verses puts Romans 13 in a completely new context.- Christian "Anarchism" is Our Goal
For those who would like more detail, especially on the cultural background of Romans 13, the following are useful. These essays were written back in the early 1980's, and have not been revised since. We're counting on the reader being delayed by those first three pages (above) long enough for us to get the rest of these pages edited and revised. As you will discover, there are very few original thoughts on this website. Nearly all our ideas are plagiarized from other writers: Reformed, Dispensational, and even secular. Our contribution is putting them all together for the first time.
- Angels and God's Throne of Government
Providence - God Governs through Angels- Stars and Idolatry
God Governs the Evil through demons- Why the State Always Encourages Immorality
Theft, murder, vengeance, fraud, sexual immorality- Unlucky 13 -- Romans 13, Revelation 13 and Isaiah 13
Isaiah 13 and Revelation 13 say the same thing as Romans 13
The State is evil, but God is sovereign over it.- A Roman's-Eye View of Romans 13
The State: The Religion of Man
The Liturgical State
The Supernatural State
The Syncretism of the Universal State
The Greco-Roman Background
Views of Babylon, Egypt
Main Currents in Greco-Roman Statism
Power (dunameiV, dynameis)
Astrology
Monotheism- "Principalities and Powers" - Part One: The Old Testament
Judaism vs. the Bible
The Spirit World of Judaism
Deuteronomy 32:8
Daniel 10- "Principalities and Powers" - Part Two: Powers in the New Testament
German Liberals and Conservative Protestants
Lords Many and Powers Many
Exousiai is plural- Lakes of Fire in "Smoke-Filled Rooms"
"Demons" (daimones, daimoneV)
Pagan Demonology
Christian Syncretism- Romans 13: The Burden is on the Archists
Romans 13 is Not a Starting Point
God's Law is Our Starting Point
The State vs. the Family: Monopolization of Powers
Why the Decline of Patriarchal Power?
If the State is "Ordained," How Can it Be Judged?- Taxation, "Consent of the Governed," and the Myth of the State
The Myth of "Representative Government"
Taxation and Biblical Law - Can the State tax too much?
Taxation and "Representation" - Did Christians in Paul's day enjoy representation?
Consent of the Self-Governed- Why the State is not a "Divine Institution"
Some Kind of "Christian Anarchism"?
The State and the War of the Powers Against Supernatural Government
The State after Nimrod- Angels and Autarchy
Angelic Government Before the Cross
Autarchy and Anarchy
Angels Watching Over Me
The Church's Witness to the Angels
From cover to cover, the Bible is an "Anarchist Manifesto" and urges mankind to eradicate the institution of "civil government" or "the State."
"The State" -- The Polis -- began with Cain the murderer and first city-builder. God divided rebellious man at the Tower of Babel, confused their languages, and placed the nations under demonic guardians. With the coming of Christ, the Principalities and Powers were overcome, and on Pentecost the Gospel was heard in every language.
Famous Archists in History: |
You'll recognize one of those archists above as Adolph Hitler.
Hitler did not kill six million Jews.
Name one Jew whom you can prove Hitler killed.
Six million Jews were killed by
six million Germans
who chose to wear a silly uniform, walk a silly goose-step, and follow the orders of a beyond-silly, pathologically evil man.These Germans were archists. They were "ordinary people." Just like you.
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If you don't take immediate steps to become an anarchist, then by default you'll be an archist. Plus, you'll be unable to resist the temptations, the bribes, the pressure and the threats by archists to become an archist. You'll become an archist just like those rows and rows of "good" Germans above. They are just like you. You are just like them. "Sensible." "Rational." "Practical." |
The ProcessThe Old Testament Prophet Daniel predicted the destruction of the ancient imperial world, and the inauguration of a new world order under Christ: |
| Daniel 2 31 You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. 32 This images head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35
Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 37You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; 38 and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them allyou are this head of gold. 39 But after you shall arise another kingdom [s] inferior to yours; then another [t], a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces [u] and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. 41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potters clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the Stone [a] was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the goldthe great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure. |
Notes - Geneva Bible, 1599
By gold, silver, brass, and iron are meant the Chaldean, Persian, Macedonian [Greek], and Roman kingdoms, which would successively rule all the world until Christ (who is here called the stone) himself comes, and destroys the last. And this was to assure the Jews that their affliction would not end with the empire of the Chaldeans, but that they should patiently await the coming of the Messiah, who would be at the end of this fourth monarchy. Daniel leaves out the kingdom of the Assyrians, which was before the Babylonian, both because it was not a monarchy and general empire, and also because he would declare the things that were to come, until the coming of Christ, for the comfort of the elect among these wonderful alterations. And he calls the Babylonian kingdom the golden head, because in respect of the other three, it was the best, and yet it was of itself wicked and cruel. (s) Meaning, the Persians who were not inferior in dignity, power, or riches, but were worse with regard to ambition, cruelty, and every type of vice, showing that the world would grow worse and worse, until it was restored by Christ. (t) That is, those of the Macedonians will be of brass, not alluding to the hardness of it, but to the vileness with regard to silver. (u) That is, the Roman empire will subdue all these others, which after Alexander were divided into the Macedonians, Grecians, Syrians, and Egyptians. (a) Meaning Christ, who was sent by God, and not set up by man, whose kingdom at the beginning would be small and without beauty to man's judgment, but would at length grow and fill the whole earth, which he calls a great mountain, as in Dan 2:35. And this kingdom, which is not only referred to the person of Christ, but also to the whole body of his Church, and to every member of it, will be eternal: for the Spirit that is in them is eternal life; Ro 8:10. |
| Isaiah said of the Messiah, "of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end" (Isaiah 9:6-7). "His authority shall grow continually..." (NRSV). |
HowToBecomeAChristianAnarchist.com
