1st Kings 22:26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; 27 And say, Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.
The disposition to starve, threaten, or harm persons with whom we do not agree is the same outworking of the beast principles. The kingdom of God grants to all individuals the freedom of choice, with natural consequences, but the kingdom of the beast uses coercion to exact compliance from unwilling minds.
The use of force by the beast is a principle that has been long in development for centuries, and which will culminate in what Revelation 13 describes as a theocracy, that will begin to enforce its dogmas in ways and means that many thought impossible. As was stated before, it will begin to take shape under the cover of darkness. Man-made theocracies and democracies are two systems which are, for the most part, essentially at odds in their perspectives and in their operations.
In man-made democracies persons enjoy the freedom of speech, and the freedom to worship according to the dictates of one’s conscience. But in man-made theocracies, persons are forced to live and worship according to all the dictates of the state. Morality is mandated and the government’s concepts of right and wrong are urged upon the people on pain of various punishments, and in some cases, even death.
Daniel 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore, he spoke and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most, mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!