Acts 5:40 And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
The images we saw recently of some women being beaten into compliance in Afghanistan are the same outworking of man-made theocracies, and even if there may be some variations and different levels of force, it’s the same spirit of Revelation 13 at work.
Here in the land of the free, and the home of the brave we have enjoyed those freedoms which our democracy brings. Folks enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of religion, or freedom from religion if we so choose, and the basic freedom to work for our daily bread is essentially available to all, some more, some less.
But, the scriptures warn us in Revelation 13 of a coming theocracy that will seek to impose its own views and perspectives on its citizens. Morality will be enforced, the dictates of one’s conscience would be trampled upon, and the freedoms we now enjoy will literally go up in smoke.
Revelation 13:14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!