Are you serious....the first verse you highlighted is applied unto believers being killed by unbelievers who think they are doing God service....wow....
John 16:1These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.[SUP] 2 [/SUP]They shall put you out of the synagogues:
yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.[SUP] 3 [/SUP]And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.[SUP]4 [/SUP]But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Jesus mentioned the example of the synagogue where the unbelieving Jews would put them out of the synagogue, AND THEN He spoke of a time that will come when people ( believers and unbelievers alike ) will think they are doing God's service by killing believers. That means any one that kills thinking they are doing God's service does not know the Father nor Jesus, because He does not endorse any believer to kill anyone in serving Him. Period.
That's right. God did not call christians to have the crusades against the muslims in medieval past to recover Jerusalem.
That does not include serving your country when God appoints those in authority to not bear the sword in vain to deter evil.
Romans 13:1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.[SUP] 2 [/SUP]Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.[SUP] 3[/SUP]
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:[SUP] 4 [/SUP]For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid;
for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.[SUP] 5 [/SUP]Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
During the great tribulation, saints are not allowed to take captive nor kill those with the mark of the beast even though there is a war against the saints to wipe them out. Of all times one would think you would be allowed to kill are those with the mark of the beast to buy & sell in that new world order, because His words says that any one with the mark goes to the lake of fire; no exception. There is no redemption for those whom had received the mark.
Revelation 13:[SUP]16 [/SUP]And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
[SUP]17 [/SUP]And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Revelation 14:[SUP]9 [/SUP]And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,[SUP]10 [/SUP]The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and
he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:[SUP]11 [/SUP]And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Revelation 19:[SUP]20 [/SUP]And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
So why not kill them? Because vengeance belongs to the Lord, and thus the saints have this commandment that comes with a guaranteed consequence for the great tribulation.
Revelation 13:[SUP]9 [/SUP]If any man have an ear, let him hear.[SUP] 10 [/SUP]He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
So there is no way a believer is serving God by killing any heretick, let alone someone with the mark of the beast either.
That does not mean the believer is not saved for doing that, but they are in iniquity that needs repentance from by His grace & by His help.
BUT a believer can serve his country in killing evil to deter evil.
Which goes to a solemn note that USA will not be around for the great tribulation which is why there is no resistance from a country such as ours. Its fall in Revelation 18th chapter is after the pre trib rapture as it happened by the 2nd angel of the 3 angels sets up the hour of trial that shall tempt all on the earth ( Revelation 14:6-13 ) on whether to believe in the gospel or to take the mark of the beast to buy & sell in the NWO.