It's true that Israel was under Roman occupation - but I'm still wresting with all this. God hadn't given Rome any religious legal authority - that was given to the Israelites (and I'm thinking this is what's front and center on this - religious legal authority). That's why, I believe, it's ancient Jerusalem that's the "harlot" - because there was no expectation for the Roman Empire to be faithful to God.
Rome had political authority and had the power of life and death over those they ruled.
I would think that Yahweh put Gentile heathens in place to chastise His children if they become lawbreakers disobeying Him
Notice John and Romans
John 19:8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid,
9and he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked.But Jesus gave no answer.
10So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?”
11Jesus answered,
“You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one[Judas/Religious Rulers] who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”
12From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”
13When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Aramaic
a is Gabbatha.
14It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour.
b And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”
15At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!”
“Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked.
“
We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests.
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I appeal to Caesar! Acts 25:11
Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
3
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God,
an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
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And even He says that His chosen will go thru trials and tribulation
Luk 21:12
“But before all these things, they [1st century Jewish Rulers] will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons<5438>.
You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man enduring trial<3986>; for when he has been approved, he will receive the Crown of the Life which the Lord promises to those who love Him.
Revelation 2:10 "fear not...ye shall have tribulation 10 days"
Revelation 2:10 No yet thou be fearing! which-things thou are being about to be suffering
Behold!
the Devil is being about to be casting ye into a prison<5438>, that
ye may be being tried<3985>. And ye shall be having
tribulation ten days,
Be thou becoming faithful until death! and I shall be giving to thee the Crown of the Life.