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From ancient time and until this twentieth century, heads of political states have been worshiped as gods. Persons familiar with human history know that. The royal Pharaohs of ancient Egypt were viewed as gods, each ruling Pharaoh being considered as the son of the Sun-god. Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire, was deified after death; so were successors of his. Even during life, the emperors were addressed as “Your Divinity.” Almost two thousand years later, after the close of World War II in 1945, Emperor Hirohito of Japan publicly disclaimed being a god, the son of the sun-goddess Amaterasu. But some few diehards still hold onto emperor worship in that Land of the Rising Sun[SUP].
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[SUP][/SUP] As time has gone on, one national god after another has been debunked. But the worship of heads of political states has had serious consequences for the world of mankind. Untold numbers of people may think that they are now too intelligent, too modernized, to worship political gods. And yet, what about worship of the political State itself? Or of the worldwide political system of rulership? Since the beginning of man-made political states thousands of years ago, the vast majority of mankind has been guilty of such State worship.
Nineteen centuries ago, a man who has gone down on the pages of history and whose writings have been read by hundreds of millions till now, used vivid symbols to show how worldwide worship of the human political system got started. It got started by someone whom this man, John the son of Zebedee, likened to a dragon, fiery red in color. John does not give to this dragon the meaning that the nation of China gives to its popular one-headed dragon. John uses the dragon as a symbol befitting a superhuman person, whom John identifies by the expression “the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan.” (Revelation 20:2; 12:3, 9) It is not imagination or naïve to believe that the human system of politics originated with this one. When we consider how man-made political systems from times of old have governed and acted, there is little left to argue against the fact that the political system started with the dragonlike Satan the Devil.
The role that the wild beast plays in the book of Revelation shows what it pictures, the worldwide system of political rule over all mankind. The fact that the wild beast looked like a leopard but had bear’s feet and a lion’s mouth harmonizes well with the fact that the world system of politics has expressed itself through various forms of government at different times and places. Most likely John was led to think of what the ancient prophet Daniel saw in a prophetic dream. (Daniel 7:1-18) So the oddly formed wild beast that John saw symbolized the worldwide political system that has expressed itself through a number of governmental kinds.
It is no wonder, therefore, that the Master of whom John was a disciple spoke of Satan the Devil as “the ruler of this world.” (John 14:30; 16:11) And Paul, a fellow disciple of John, called Satan the Devil “the god of this system of things.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) This is something for those many people to think about today who boast that they do not worship anything at all. Do they, like the atheistic Communists, worship the political State? They may deny doing so, but when a serious national issue arises, when international war breaks out or national sovereignty is threatened, they then worship their respective countries/governments as a god. Their course of action then discloses the truth and speaks so loud as to drown out what they say with their mouths.
The first two of the Ten Commandments identify by name a God who is without equal, a God whose record is not matched by that of any so-called “god,” not even Satan the Devil, himself, “the god of this system of things.” Satan the Devil allows for idolatrous images to be made even of himself and of “gods” associated with him. But the God whose name is Jehovah strictly forbids the making of any image to represent him and forbids any other idolatrous image to be associated with the worship of Him. He cannot be compared to any created thing, to any man-made image. By another prophet who came after Moses, he said: “I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.”-Isaiah 42:8.
Unaware of what it is really doing, the vast majority of mankind is worshiping the symbolic “wild beast,” the political State that, in one form or another, governs “every tribe and people and tongue and nation.” (Revelation 13:7) But there are other things that selfish, imperfect humans can elevate to the position of gods in their lives. Modern-day physical science has been made a “sacred cow” for worship in the lives of many who think that human scientists can do anything, solve all problems. Also, in this day of entertainment and amusements of so many kinds, there is an idolizing of theatrical “stars,” movie celebrities, radio and television acclaim-winning performers. Sexual immorality is constantly gaining more and more worshipers as earlier standards of morality and decency break down.
Also, in this time when the world of mankind was never so rich in the so-called “comforts of life,” laborsaving devices, means for rapid travel to distant places, and a wider variety of things to eat, a person might be lured to seek an abundance of these things. Or, the world’s inflation and its increasing economic problems may pressure a person into concerning himself most with gaining material things. In either case, he may become materialistic, to the extent of having no time or interest for spiritual things. Although he may not like to think so, materialism has become a god to him.
Today mankind in general is caught between the forces of nationalism and materialism. Many are falling to the worship of both nationalism and materialism. The others, although having no special personal interest in national politics, are yielding to the worship of materialism. What individual on earth today can say that he worships nothing? They may think that, because they boasts of believing in no intelligent personal God, they are not worshiping a god or gods. But if they honestly examines themselfves, they will find that they are making nationalism, materialism, sports, sex, their own belly, and other selfish things, their gods and are slaving for them. Furthermore, in worshiping these selfish things of the world, they are unwittingly worshiping the personification of selfishness, Satan the Devil, “the god of this system of things.” There is no sense in a person’s fooling himself.
[/SUP]
[SUP][/SUP] As time has gone on, one national god after another has been debunked. But the worship of heads of political states has had serious consequences for the world of mankind. Untold numbers of people may think that they are now too intelligent, too modernized, to worship political gods. And yet, what about worship of the political State itself? Or of the worldwide political system of rulership? Since the beginning of man-made political states thousands of years ago, the vast majority of mankind has been guilty of such State worship.
Nineteen centuries ago, a man who has gone down on the pages of history and whose writings have been read by hundreds of millions till now, used vivid symbols to show how worldwide worship of the human political system got started. It got started by someone whom this man, John the son of Zebedee, likened to a dragon, fiery red in color. John does not give to this dragon the meaning that the nation of China gives to its popular one-headed dragon. John uses the dragon as a symbol befitting a superhuman person, whom John identifies by the expression “the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan.” (Revelation 20:2; 12:3, 9) It is not imagination or naïve to believe that the human system of politics originated with this one. When we consider how man-made political systems from times of old have governed and acted, there is little left to argue against the fact that the political system started with the dragonlike Satan the Devil.
The role that the wild beast plays in the book of Revelation shows what it pictures, the worldwide system of political rule over all mankind. The fact that the wild beast looked like a leopard but had bear’s feet and a lion’s mouth harmonizes well with the fact that the world system of politics has expressed itself through various forms of government at different times and places. Most likely John was led to think of what the ancient prophet Daniel saw in a prophetic dream. (Daniel 7:1-18) So the oddly formed wild beast that John saw symbolized the worldwide political system that has expressed itself through a number of governmental kinds.
It is no wonder, therefore, that the Master of whom John was a disciple spoke of Satan the Devil as “the ruler of this world.” (John 14:30; 16:11) And Paul, a fellow disciple of John, called Satan the Devil “the god of this system of things.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) This is something for those many people to think about today who boast that they do not worship anything at all. Do they, like the atheistic Communists, worship the political State? They may deny doing so, but when a serious national issue arises, when international war breaks out or national sovereignty is threatened, they then worship their respective countries/governments as a god. Their course of action then discloses the truth and speaks so loud as to drown out what they say with their mouths.
The first two of the Ten Commandments identify by name a God who is without equal, a God whose record is not matched by that of any so-called “god,” not even Satan the Devil, himself, “the god of this system of things.” Satan the Devil allows for idolatrous images to be made even of himself and of “gods” associated with him. But the God whose name is Jehovah strictly forbids the making of any image to represent him and forbids any other idolatrous image to be associated with the worship of Him. He cannot be compared to any created thing, to any man-made image. By another prophet who came after Moses, he said: “I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.”-Isaiah 42:8.
Unaware of what it is really doing, the vast majority of mankind is worshiping the symbolic “wild beast,” the political State that, in one form or another, governs “every tribe and people and tongue and nation.” (Revelation 13:7) But there are other things that selfish, imperfect humans can elevate to the position of gods in their lives. Modern-day physical science has been made a “sacred cow” for worship in the lives of many who think that human scientists can do anything, solve all problems. Also, in this day of entertainment and amusements of so many kinds, there is an idolizing of theatrical “stars,” movie celebrities, radio and television acclaim-winning performers. Sexual immorality is constantly gaining more and more worshipers as earlier standards of morality and decency break down.
Also, in this time when the world of mankind was never so rich in the so-called “comforts of life,” laborsaving devices, means for rapid travel to distant places, and a wider variety of things to eat, a person might be lured to seek an abundance of these things. Or, the world’s inflation and its increasing economic problems may pressure a person into concerning himself most with gaining material things. In either case, he may become materialistic, to the extent of having no time or interest for spiritual things. Although he may not like to think so, materialism has become a god to him.
Today mankind in general is caught between the forces of nationalism and materialism. Many are falling to the worship of both nationalism and materialism. The others, although having no special personal interest in national politics, are yielding to the worship of materialism. What individual on earth today can say that he worships nothing? They may think that, because they boasts of believing in no intelligent personal God, they are not worshiping a god or gods. But if they honestly examines themselfves, they will find that they are making nationalism, materialism, sports, sex, their own belly, and other selfish things, their gods and are slaving for them. Furthermore, in worshiping these selfish things of the world, they are unwittingly worshiping the personification of selfishness, Satan the Devil, “the god of this system of things.” There is no sense in a person’s fooling himself.
This came to mind: "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Luke 16:13).
It isn't exclusively about money, but anything that distracts us from the Almighty God. For some, the god they have before God is religion and vain philosophies.
It isn't exclusively about money, but anything that distracts us from the Almighty God. For some, the god they have before God is religion and vain philosophies.
You have emotions that you can express them, but since God is spirit and nothing isn't impossible for the spirits and which satan has the abilities to enter in us; that the part of God that shows anger, vengence, and judges had moved aside and let His Mercy to overcome the body.
John 3
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
Matthew 13:13This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
John 3
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
Matthew 13:13This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
Peace be with you, The Holy Scripture say; 'HE (JESUS) was in the likeness and fullness of GOD.'
So when you see JESUS who is 'visible', you actually see the FATHER who is in nature 'invisible' and in SPIRIT lives in JESUS.
That is why, it is true that believing in JESUS who represents the FATHER and is the FATHER Himself in person, confirms that the commandment of the Living GOD is not broken.
For example, let me share with you a story, 'Since i was young until grown up, i was very close to my father and love him whole heartedly, been obedient to him and his words. i have watched him, i have listened and paid attention to him, i have imitated him, i have represented him and etc.
So one day my father sent me on a journey to a far away country to meet a relative of his. Upon meeting and living and fellowshipping with them, suddenly the elder of that house spoke saying; 'You are exactly like your father. Seeing you, is like seeing him. Being with you is like being with him. Talking with you is like talking with him. How amazing is this, seeing and believing and it proves to be true.'
So when i return home and upon hearing this news that others are believing in such, won't my father will be happy, be well pleased and be proud of me, that he has not failed and i have been faithful at all times, even while i was there for him, i honored him by being him, in the presence of all his relatives?
That is why now, he has honored me as King over all.'
So when you see JESUS who is 'visible', you actually see the FATHER who is in nature 'invisible' and in SPIRIT lives in JESUS.
That is why, it is true that believing in JESUS who represents the FATHER and is the FATHER Himself in person, confirms that the commandment of the Living GOD is not broken.
For example, let me share with you a story, 'Since i was young until grown up, i was very close to my father and love him whole heartedly, been obedient to him and his words. i have watched him, i have listened and paid attention to him, i have imitated him, i have represented him and etc.
So one day my father sent me on a journey to a far away country to meet a relative of his. Upon meeting and living and fellowshipping with them, suddenly the elder of that house spoke saying; 'You are exactly like your father. Seeing you, is like seeing him. Being with you is like being with him. Talking with you is like talking with him. How amazing is this, seeing and believing and it proves to be true.'
So when i return home and upon hearing this news that others are believing in such, won't my father will be happy, be well pleased and be proud of me, that he has not failed and i have been faithful at all times, even while i was there for him, i honored him by being him, in the presence of all his relatives?
That is why now, he has honored me as King over all.'
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