The
image depicts King Darius signing a decree that would damage and
persecute the Prophet Daniel and the Jews in captivity.
Today,
reply is on government, idolatry, law, and persecution. Government
through a chief or monarch (e.g., king; emperor; pharaoh) was modeled
after the divine institution of family ruled by patriarchs and sacred
law that appeared through a priesthood administering offerings and
sacrifices of blood. As the tribes of the Exodus sought to enter the
promised land, the seer, Balaam, acknowledged that “the shout of a
king” and “the strength of a unicorn” was among the tribes of
Israel as though there was already a centralized government described
by a crown and stable domain, led by a recognized champion, located
by a fixed seat (the throne), and administered from a permanent
residence (a castle keep). Joshua and the tribes removed more than
30 kings; yet, during the time of Samuel (who is called the last of
the Judges, the first of the Prophets) the people demanded rule by a
king who would be a civil officer. Israel rejected divine counsel
that the errors and infirmity of temporal kings include greed,
self-promotion, taxes, and waste. Thus, it is written: 1st
Samuel 8: 4-9, King James Version (KJV): 4 Then all the elders of
Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in
thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to
judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7 And
the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice
of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not
rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign
over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since
the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day,
wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they
also unto thee. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit
yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king
that shall reign over them. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers”
public forum on Religion and Spirituality, who uses the ID “PeTer”
(Level 3 with 1,478 points, a member since March 31, 2009) posted the
following:
Daniel
6 Why would the king establish such a foolish law of worshiping him
for 30 days?
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: 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. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the
ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves
damnation. 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: 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.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but
also for conscience sake. (Romans 13: 1-5, King James Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: An Account of Lawlessness (11/16/2018); Called “The
Anointed One” (05/08/2018); Politics and The Kingdom? (05/31/2017);
The Peace to Endure? (03/28/2017); GOD’s
Answer to Injustice? (04/28/2016); Martyrdom and Tribulation?
(09/30/2015); GOD Rules (07/07/2015); A Price for Religious Liberty?
(06/30/2015)
“PeTer”,
it was not foolish; and the accounts on government that appear
throughout the Scriptures should not be taken as discrete and
unrelated. In those times, it was believed that the judgment of GOD
would reside within the king; and the king would be an embodiment of
the law. Yet, the demand that Daniel petition only the king is no
less the persecution of his faith than a demand that he worship a
huge image of gold erected on the plain of Dura. The account from
the Book of Daniel that petitions and requests (we say, prayers) be
made only of the king for a period of 30 days has generally been seen
as expressing envy, personal conflict, malice, “dirty politics,”
and exaggerated pride by rivals in government directed against the
Prophet, who was one of three Presidents within a one-world empire.
On surface, a temporary suspension of activity surrounding the many
idols, vanities, and worship communities would encourage allegiance,
assimilation, unification, and commitment to the state. The empire
expanded by using military force, and relocating the manpower,
resources, and skills from conquered states within its own territory.
That such government and practice is contrary to divine intent, and
eternal purpose is always covered and obscured by arguments for
economic increase, improving the quality of life, and an insistence
there will be peace. Where men rely on government and civil
legislation for survival, they often respond to a man-made
abomination where they otherwise flee from idols and idolatry. It
remains that peace is the outcome of judgment, not war; and there
must be resolution of conflict and settlement of disputes by
applications of divine law. Persecution is systematic behavior by
government endorsing or being manipulated by a religious
establishment to destroy, legislate against, and undermine developing
belief within new faith communities. Because of the cruelty and
violence that appear, persecution often is labeled as injustice, the
denial of religious liberty, oppression, and terrorism. Consider the
following that uses language from the Bible:
1.
1st Samuel 10: 17-21, King James Version (KJV): 17 And
Samuel called the people together unto the LORD
to Mizpeh; 18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the
LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of
Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of
the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: 19
And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of
all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto
him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present
yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by
your thousands. 20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of
Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 21 When he had
caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the
family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and
when they sought him, he could not be found.
2.
Isaiah 10: 1-3, KJV: 1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous
decrees, and that write grievousness which they have
prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take
away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their
prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 3 And what will
ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which
shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye
leave your glory?
3.
Daniel 4: 30-37, KJV: 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this
great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the
might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 31 While the
word was in the king’s
mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king
Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from
thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall
be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat
grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know
that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to
whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon
Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as
oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs
were grown like eagles’
feathers, and his nails like birds’
claws. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted
up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me,
and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that
liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all
the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he
doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among
the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say
unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned
unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness
returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and
I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto
me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of
heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and
those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
4.
Ecclesiastes 5: 8, KJV: 8 If thou seest the oppression of the
poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province,
marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the
highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, 5. Ephesians 6: 10-17, KJV: 10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 13 Wherefore take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith
ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God:) Even so, I trust this
fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE
BLACK PHOENIX
Washington,
DC
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