Friday, June 12, 2026
The authority of civil governments is an important issue for believers. Many pastors use Rom. 13:1–7 as proof that believers must obey government without limits. But Rom. 13:3 reveals the context; “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same”. But much of governments themselves do evil. And when there’s a conflict Christians “ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29), because we true believers know that God in Christ Jesus is our earthly authority.
But there’s another authority at work also: religious traditions of men that make God’s word of no effect. These are usually indiscernible for the go-along-to-get-along believer. Believers must apply the same mature biblical discernment to religious traditions of men as to civil government. But in either cases we must know God’s word and not ignorantly accept religious traditions as gospel truths. Yet, many trust pastors’ traditions of men as truth because they see him, but they can’t see God. And it’s easier to believe what’s seen than what is unseen. It requires true faith.
The power of religious tradition blinds people to the truth because it’s seen and not of faith. This is what killed faith for many in ancient Israel as they saw the traditions of their leaders. It’s one’s human nature to believe what’s seen instead of what’s unseen. The Holy Spirit warned believers against it, “for whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23c). But in this last generation of this present age unbelief due to religious traditions has infected the very large majority of professing believers. In this case, that unbelieving Jews of Israel are still God’s chosen people; it’s all a lie.
The first thing every professing believer must ask themselves is, “Is Jesus Christ God?” If one is a true Christian the answer is a resounding “Yes!” So, having established that Jesus is God, then please read Matt. 23:5–36. Don’t read this Letter any further until you have read that. Full Stop! Do those words of God’s Son sound like the unbelieving Jews of Israel are still God’s chosen? Certainly not! And anyone with any discernment of new birth faith knows that to be the truth!
Now that you’ve read Matt. 23:5–36 we’re going to let Christ’s Spirit identify exactly who the true Jew really is. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, [or by genealogical descent] nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; [not what’s seen outwardly] but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; [meaning born again by faith] and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Rom. 2:28–29). This identifies all true born again believers from all tongues and nations as those God identifies as His true Jews.
Next, we must read and believe by faith what Jesus Christ said of unbelieving Jews in the Book of Revelation addressing the persecuted and faithful churches. ” I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9); and “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you” (Rev. 3:9). [My emphasis] This truth cannot be ignored, but sadly it is ignored by many who love traditions of men more than Jesus Christ.
Now, as a true born again Christian having the Holy Spirit, why would anyone, even with an immature spiritual discernment, want to identify with, find solidarity with, and unite with the unbelieving Jews of Israel whom Christ called “a synagogue of Satan”?! It’s unconscionable! Again, what an ungodly witness as unbelievers of this world are watching! Yet the majority of the church does exactly that, by following Darby’s and Scofield’s Dispensational traditions of men, that, on this issue, has made God’s word of no effect, Mark 7:13. Jesus said of believers, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matt. 5:13). In this, the church has utterly lost its spiritual salt, and it’s being trampled underfoot and mocked by men!
The power of religious traditions making God’s word of no effect will sweep many to perdition. If you’re one of those who’ve been deceived by the popular Dispensational majority, it’s not yet too late to make an earnest spiritual about-face and believe the testimony of Jesus and “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” which is the fruit of unbelieving Jews of Israel. The great gulf between the many vs the few of Matt. 7:13–14 is more and more clearly revealed.
The authority of civil government in the biblical context is for people to “Do what is good, and you will have praise”, and the authority of God in Christ is also for people to do good and right according to God’s authority in Christ, and one will receive praise. But for a professing believer to find solidarity and unity with a people whom God called “a synagogue of Satan”, well, even an elementary level of spiritual discernment knows that that’s an ungodly alliance. But this, and even worse is to be expected from this end-time church. Those in solidarity with the unbelieving Jews of Israel are not led by the Holy Spirit, but of their own will and Dispensational traditions. They agree with Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, else they’d condemn Israel’s murders.
Understand that, the deeper we enter the times of the end, authorities of wickedness from both the civil government and of the religious establishment will increase. Even now there are threats from our civil U.S. government that “American citizens who criticize Jews or Israel will now be monitored by the FBI. We will monitor social media and check your bank accounts. I have 40 analysts working 24/7, 7 days a week”. (Source) Soon, now, civil governments, together with unbelieving Jews, will all be “a synagogue of Satan”. The Antichrist will soon establish his global authority and unbelieving Jews of Israel will hail him as their messiah. And guess who will be right there affirming those unbelieving Jews? Yes, it will be the church which has fostered a spiritually corrupt solidarity and unity with the unbelieving Jews of Israel!
Many in the church will continue their unity with unbelieving Jews and their messiah, for they were promised by false teachers that they’d never see Antichrist! They won’t be able to discern Antichrist for who he is, having been deceived by Dispensational lies. Satan has deceived many as the majority will follow the popular preaching points and beliefs about Israel, being clueless that true Christians are the true Jews of God who will “Immediately after the tribulation” (Matt. 24:29–31), be gathered to Jesus Christ in the resurrection rapture. I have never, and do not now condemn unbelieving Jews or Israel, but will defend God in Christ, because unbelieving Jews, like all people anywhere have the opportunity of being born again by true faith in Jesus Christ.
My second book “ON EAGLES’ WINGS” explains in detail how to know Christ and find God’s Bozrah sheepfold of safety and place of provision for the last 1,260 days of the great tribulation.
Marlin J. Yoder
