Israel was a theocracy until the Israelites clamored for a king, and paid dearly for it. But Israel was the only theocracy with the one true God as both God and King. Yet in spite of that privileged position, the Jews were generally in rebellion against God and they also paid dearly for it. And when King/Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ presented Himself to Israel as both King and Messiah, He was rejected and put to death. As a result the nation of Israel ended.
But Church and State have been linked together for a very long time -- for almost two thousand years. Augustine began the trend, and the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire "thrived" under this arrangement. And to this day Church and State are linked in many European countries. In England "The Sovereign holds the title 'Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England'. " And because the Reformers (former Catholics) saw no problem with the linkage of Church and State, much evil was perpetrated in the name of Christ through powers which belonged to the State.
But this was never God's plan for the Church. Jesus laid down a clear principle: Christians were to render to Caesar that which belonged to Caesar, and to God that which belonged to God. And if the State would demand violation of the things which belonged to God, it was to be resisted regardless of the consequences. Thus the apostles became martyrs and there were probably thousands of Christians who were also killed by the State.
In the 18th century the Founding Fathers of America (many of whom were Deists or Freemasons) realized that it was not a good idea to allow Church and State to be linked. And as a result Christianity flourished without any connection to the government. But then the government decided to trick the churches into state-control by offering them tax exemptions. And most of them fell for this trickery.
In any event the day is fast approaching -- according to Scripture -- when the Antichrist will establish a one-world "church" (religion would be more appropriate) and a one-world government for 3 1/2 years. The inhabitants of the world will be compelled to worship Satan, the Beast (the Antichrist), as well as his image (harking back to the time of Nebuchadnezzar). And those who refuse to bow down to these evil entities will be beheaded (harking back to the reign of terror of ISIS). At present the cabal of elites is preparing the way for total submission to the Antichrist.
The world caught a preview of this when the COVID conspiracy and tyranny demanded that everyone bow down to the god of Wuhan Virus (or "COVID-Moloch). And almost 99.9% of the world succumbed to this tyranny. So when the Antichrist comes on the scene, very few will resist and reject his tyranny.
But according to Scripture the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition cannot take control until and unless the Holy Spirit -- the divine Restrainer -- is "taken out of the way". Which means that God's restraining influence on the total reign of evil on earth will be temporarily removed. And since the Holy Spirit indwells the Church (the Body of Christ), the Church will also be taken out of the way at that time. This should be a wakeup call to every person who is not saved.
But Church and State have been linked together for a very long time -- for almost two thousand years. Augustine began the trend, and the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire "thrived" under this arrangement. And to this day Church and State are linked in many European countries. In England "The Sovereign holds the title 'Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England'. " And because the Reformers (former Catholics) saw no problem with the linkage of Church and State, much evil was perpetrated in the name of Christ through powers which belonged to the State.
But this was never God's plan for the Church. Jesus laid down a clear principle: Christians were to render to Caesar that which belonged to Caesar, and to God that which belonged to God. And if the State would demand violation of the things which belonged to God, it was to be resisted regardless of the consequences. Thus the apostles became martyrs and there were probably thousands of Christians who were also killed by the State.
In the 18th century the Founding Fathers of America (many of whom were Deists or Freemasons) realized that it was not a good idea to allow Church and State to be linked. And as a result Christianity flourished without any connection to the government. But then the government decided to trick the churches into state-control by offering them tax exemptions. And most of them fell for this trickery.
In any event the day is fast approaching -- according to Scripture -- when the Antichrist will establish a one-world "church" (religion would be more appropriate) and a one-world government for 3 1/2 years. The inhabitants of the world will be compelled to worship Satan, the Beast (the Antichrist), as well as his image (harking back to the time of Nebuchadnezzar). And those who refuse to bow down to these evil entities will be beheaded (harking back to the reign of terror of ISIS). At present the cabal of elites is preparing the way for total submission to the Antichrist.
The world caught a preview of this when the COVID conspiracy and tyranny demanded that everyone bow down to the god of Wuhan Virus (or "COVID-Moloch). And almost 99.9% of the world succumbed to this tyranny. So when the Antichrist comes on the scene, very few will resist and reject his tyranny.
But according to Scripture the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition cannot take control until and unless the Holy Spirit -- the divine Restrainer -- is "taken out of the way". Which means that God's restraining influence on the total reign of evil on earth will be temporarily removed. And since the Holy Spirit indwells the Church (the Body of Christ), the Church will also be taken out of the way at that time. This should be a wakeup call to every person who is not saved.
