Thanks for clarifying. But I don't believe for a minute that God expected Christians to obey every order of a Caligula or Nero. Both were thorough deranged and evil men who did many evil things. No one will ever convince me that God put them in their positions of authority.
I'm not actually not trying to convince people that God has put government on earth to accomplish His will. I'm stating the case as I've discovered it in scripture and expecting people to find the flaws in my argument for a different interpretation. So far, no one has explained what these passages really mean and why they really mean something else other than what they say.
Many object and say God's word is higher priority than any government (Evidently they feel democracy is more evil than Royalty, or Rule by the Church of England, or whichever) but they have no clear scripture to back it, so far. Give it your best people. Take them one at a time. I'm listening.
Psalm 22:28
For the kingdom is the LORD'S And He rules over the nations.
1 Chronicles 29:12
"Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.
2 Chronicles 20:6
and he said, "O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.
Psalm 66:7
He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
Psalm 67:4
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth.
Psalm 103:19
The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.
Isaiah 9:6
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.
Proverbs 20:24
Man's steps are ordained by the LORD, How then can man understand his way?
Lamentations 3:37
Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it?
Acts 17:26
and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
James 4:13-15
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."
Romans 13:1
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Proverbs 8:15-16
"By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. "By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.
Daniel 2:37-38
"You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory; and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.
Daniel 4:17
"This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men."
Daniel 5:21
"He was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes.
John 19:11
Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."
1 Timothy 2:2-3
for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
1 Peter 2:13
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
Romans 13:2-3
Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
Ezra 7:26
"Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment."
Proverbs 29:4
The king gives stability to the land by justice, But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.
