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Hi Mike,

I’ve heard many a preacher claim Rom 13:4 gives the NATIONS the right to vengeance. I saw it said that anything in the bible that is italicized was added by the translators (in this verse execute is italicized in King James). I’m new to your site and would like some clarification.

Thank you,

C____

Hi C____,

Thank you for your question. Here is that section of scripture:

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [ execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Rom 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

When Christ was before Pilate and Pilate told Christ that he (Pilate) had the power to release Christ or to kill Christ, Christ answered Pilate: “You have no power but what is given you from above.” This accords with Peter’s statement in Act 2:

Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

God is “working all things After The Counsel of His Own Will. Read the paper by that title, and it will open your eyes to the Truth Christ was telling Pilate.

The work ‘execute’ is in italics, but it is not at all going against the sense of that verse. God has indeed “given from above,” as Christ told Pilate, the power to “execute wrath upon him that doth evil.” Sometimes, as in the case of Christ, it is also used to “execute wrath” upon God’s innocent elect. But even then it is “by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. “Whosoever resists that power resists the ordinance of God.”

I am unusually aware of the corruption within government as well as in God’s church. But that corruption is from the harlot to the beast. It is not vice versa.

Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman [ God’s apostate church] sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

It is the woman who is calling the shots. The poor beast at this time is being “sit upon.” Eventually the beast will always turn on the woman and devour her. But that is only near the end.

Here again is the Truth of how things are being done, no matter how contrary to this Truth things may appear:

Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles [ governments], and the people of Israel [ God’s apostate people], were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

I hope this has answered your question. Read After The Counsel of His Own Will.

Mike