I am reading in Revelation 13. It is a very long passage of Scripture, so I will only be able to quote parts of it. I would recommend, if you have not already, that you read it in its entirety, for it really speaks of the times in which we are living, and where things are headed in my nation (USA), and in the world, now and in the future.
It begins by speaking of a dragon, which represents Satan. Then it speaks of a beast to whom the dragon (Satan) gives his power and his throne and his great authority. The world then worships the dragon and the beast.
I believe the beast represents a king or a singular governing authority which holds supreme and unrestricted power over the world, and which rules his kingdom by absolute monarchy, which is a One World Order. So this is a one world governing tyrannical authority which could be headed by just one man, but is supported by those who swear their allegiance (fidelity) and support to this tyrannical government, as well as it is supported by the wealthy and powerful ruling class of the world who are behind him. And there is no constitution or elected body to limit the monarch’s power.
The citizens of this absolute monarchy, who give their undying support and loyalty and devotion to “the king,” are those who vow to defend its institution and who vow to not conspire to overthrow the government. They are loyal subjects of the government who give their full support to whatever actions are taken by “the king” (the supreme ruler). But should we obey our governing authorities? Yes, but not without question, and not if they are asking us to give our loyalty and devotion and support to them in whatever they do, and/or if they are asking us to sin against God in any other form.
This beastly tyrannical absolute monarchy is also supported by the wealthy and powerful ruling class of the world. They have been called “the shadow government,” who I believe have largely now come out of the shadows, many of whom are blatantly making decisions for the people of the world over which we have no say, much (or all) of which is not for the good of the people but for the advancement of the wealthy and the powerful elite of the world. More and more they are gaining control over our lives and over our destiny while they plot their evil schemes against the citizens of the world.
“It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” (Revelation 13:7-10 NASB1995)
So, how is this “beast” presently making war with the saints (God’s holy people who are living different from the world because being conformed by God to the likeness of character of Jesus Christ)? Well, depending on where you live in the world will depend upon how Christians are being treated. Here in the USA Christians, so far, have not been persecuted in the ways in which Christians are being persecuted in other nations. Our persecution presently is more geared towards those of us who teach biblical repentance and obedience to God as requirements by God as part of faith in Jesus Christ.
We are being charged with being “negative” and “judgmental” and of teaching “works salvation” or “lordship salvation” as a means of us trying to work our way into heaven. Now are there people doing that? Yes. They are the legalists who add fleshly works and traditions onto the gospel. But if we are teaching the words of Jesus and the words taught by the apostles, in the correct biblical context, we are not in error. And they taught that by faith in Jesus Christ it means that we die to sin and we now obey our Lord, in practice, or we don’t have salvation and eternal life with God.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
But the majority here in the USA, anyway, appear to all be teaching a cheapened form of the gospel, which is a half-truth gospel, which only requires a verbal confession of Christ as Lord and Savior, and of his death and resurrection. Repentance may be mentioned, but often in the context of a mere verbal confession of sin, no change required. And biblical repentance and obedience to God may be taught (or not), but usually as more of a recommendation, but not as required of God for salvation from sin and for eternal life with God. And Satan is against the truth, but he’s for the lies.
Why? Because if Satan can get you to believe that God makes no requirements of you other than a verbal profession of Jesus as Lord, et al, then he has you right where he wants you. And if heads of “church” congregations, and if heads of governments can get you to believe Satan’s lies so that you do not die to sin, and so that you do not obey God, in practice, because you believe you don’t have to, they have you right where they want you, too. For they are prepping you to receive the mark of the beast, because your allegiance is really to them, and not to God.
Will you pledge your undying loyalty and devotion to a human government and to a human ruler or “king”? Or to your pastor or to some celebrity preacher and teacher of the Scriptures? Will you heed their words and follow them unquestionably, assuming that because of who they are, that they are telling you the truth? Or will you pledge (vow) your allegiance (fidelity) to God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit – and to him alone? Will you seek out his teachings and obey them above all else? And will you test what other humans say against the correct biblical context to see if it is true?
“Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” We must be spiritually discerning people who do not become followers of other humans and who do not pledge our absolute loyalty and devotion to any person or to any government or to any institution of human origin, or we might be taken captive by the lies of Satan and end up not truly saved from our sins, and not truly those who will inherit eternal life with God. So please know what Jesus and his apostles taught, in context, for they taught we must die to sin and obey God or we do not have salvation from sin and eternal life with God.
For Our Nation
An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Recording Via Gerry Peters, music producer and arranger
Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.
Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.
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Your Pledge of Allegiance
An Original Work / October 20, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love