Disciples Global Network

In popular usage, the English term ‘Christendom’ refers to “that part of the world in which Christianity prevails,” either because most of a nation’s citizens claim to be Christian, or because a specific church or denomination is recognized by the State as the country’s official religion. Thus, the nation becomes identified as “Christian,” it is one of the “Christian nations” as opposed to the less enlightened non-Christian peoples and cultures of the planet.

Jesus declared that “ violent men are seizing the Kingdom of God .” Was he referring to malevolent men from the outside who attempt to take control of the Kingdom through force? Are his disciples called to “forcefully seize” the promises of and from God, or was he saying that the Kingdom must advance through forceful action? Jesus was discussing the ministry of John the Baptist, and how John was received by the Jewish people.

Jesus proclaimed a new political reality, the Kingdom of God, one that bears little resemblance to the political regimes of this world . Jesus arrived in Galilee proclaiming the “ Kingdom of God ” – “ Repent, for the kingdom is at hand .” In his ministry, the reign of God was invading the Earth. However, the nature of his realm was radically different than the governments and political ideologies of the existing world order, and more than once, Jesus refused political power, especially when offered by Satan.

The False Prophet employs economic pressure to retaliate against those saints who refuse to render homage to the Beast from the sea .  In Revelation , the “ False Prophet ” employs the economic power of the first Beast against those who refuse to give allegiance to the Empire , and he wields the “ mark of the Beast ” as a weapon for enforcing compliance. The ability to level economic penalties against nations, communities, and individuals is the key to his persecuting power.

John saw the “ Beast ascending from the Earth ” intent on deceiving the “ Inhabitants of the Earth .” The “ Beast from the Sea ” is characterized by its political power. In contrast, the “ Beast from the Earth ,” the “ False Prophet ,” uses religious performance and propaganda to deceive men, and economic sanctions to suppress all those who do not submit to its demands.