Empire to the Kingdom of God (1)

When the church was getting underway, the Roman Empire controlled everything.

John called the Roman empire the Beast. It was the ultimate evil empire, controlling everything and destroying everything that came into its path. The Empire was actually controlled by principalities and powers, the spiritual forces of evil.

The empire controlled its empire by issuing decrees from the edges. The emperor never goes into the world. He issued decrees and sent his agents to enforce them. Caesar never visited Jerusalem. His agents Pilate and Herod maintained his control.

Peter told his followers to submit to the empire. Not because it was noble. Peter saw it as the government of men. However it was so strong, that there was no point in taking it on head on. It would fight back and the fledgling church would be crushed. It was more important to get on with preaching the gospel under the radar. This was a subversive strategy.

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers… that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men (1 Pet 2:13-14).