God's one government has two branches!
The Sabbath-keeping Church of God (that remains faithful to the
plain truth of the Bible that Herbert W.
Armstrong taught) has heard a lot about government, but
many seem to have forgotten that God's ONE government has TWO
branches: Church (Priest) and State (King). That's why many have
difficulty reconciling apparent differences or contradictions
between "the Law of Moses," with its statutes and judgments that
we're commanded to REMEMBER (Malachi 4), and Jesus' "Sermon on
the Mount."
The Law of Moses (actually, the revealed Law of God) consists of
community or NATIONAL laws. That's why the State can execute
hardened criminals or wage war and be guiltless in God's sight
(Romans 13). The State is actually sanctioned by Scripture to
take vengeance for God! They have authority to deputize, whether
to uphold the law or protect the country. They're to protect,
serve, and defend the community and country, and to encourage
obedience to God's laws. The State isn't only to make an example
of those who fail to love God, king and country, but commend
those who do!
However, Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" applies to INDIVIDUALS. It
reveals an attitude of going the extra mile, of not being
trigger-happy or always demanding our rights (there's a time and
a place and a way). But some have taken Jesus' hyperbole to a
pacifist and self-righteous extreme that Jesus never intended!
Jesus didn't say, "If someone rapes your wife, give them your
daughter as well," or "if someone steals your car, offer them
your house too." Christ commands that we love our neighbor
as ourselves, not more than ourselves! And when He was
speaking of enemies, He was referring to those with whom we
PERSONALLY disagree; He was talking about INDIVIDUALS that we
have conflict with. Christ was preaching about interpersonal
relationships, NOT international affairs!
If someone carefully and prayerfully studies the Scriptures,
they will see that these things are so. They will see that it is
not wrong to call upon Joseph and Judah to OBEY GOD and not fear
men; to cherish and not despise our birthright and inheritance;
to never surrender our God-given Temple Mount, prophesied land
possessions and strategic sea-gates and prominent place in the
world (that enables us to do much good), ordained by God. And as
a God-fearing nation, we'll understand that sacrifice means
sacrifice, that battles are battles, and that we must offer, if
and when necessary to OBEY GOD, our blood, toil, sweat and
tears!
It's indicative of the curse we're under when we're afraid to
battle national enemies and risk losing some lives in the
process. The ghost of Vietnam haunts us. The pride of our power
has been broken. Thank God for those who sacrificed their lives
and their fortunes to found this great country of Manasseh! And
we should be thankful for those who truly sacrificed that we
might remain free from tyranny and practice our biblical
religion as a free people in a free land.
Judah was also founded by such men and women who sacrificed all
for future generations, and has been preserved by others of the
same selfless attitude and actions.
May God bless Joseph and Judah, and may God bless His Church to
recognize and respect the one government of God with its two
branches!