Speaking Against Authority

A.  "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"  (Romans 13:1).

B. "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another"  (Psalms 75:6-7).

II. Satan spoke against the authority of God.

A. "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High"  (Isaiah 14:12-14).  Please note the words "For thou hast said in thine heart".   Lucifer spoke against God in his heart (or thoughts), not vocally.

B.  Satan suffered the consequences.  "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"  (Isaiah 14:12).   "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?"  (Isaiah 14:15-17).

C. "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him"  (Revelation 12:7-9).

III. We are not to speak against the authority. 

NOTE:  We can obviously speak against authority in words, but also in thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and actions.  

A.  "Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people"  (Exodus 22:28).  The word translated "gods" is "elohim" which is often used for the plurality of God. Here we can see that both actions and words are mentioned. 

B. When Paul unknowlingly spoke against the high priest and was corrected he said, "Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people"  (Acts 23:5).

C. Elihu, the wise counselor, said this to Job, "Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?  How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands"  (Job 34:19).

D. The author of the book of Ecclesiates said, "Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter"  (Ecclesiastes 10:20).  Again, we are not to speak against God even in our thoughts.

E.  Peter wrote, "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities"  (II Peter 2:10).  Here we should note that it begins in the attitude of being selfwilled.

F. God corrected the people when they asked how they spoke against Him.  "Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?"  (Malachi 3:13-14).  Here, the people spoke against God in their beliefs.

IV. Speaking against the authority brings serious consequences.

A.  Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman.

"And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman"  (Numbers 12:1).

The result was that Miriam became leprous. Even when Aaron pleaded with Moses and Moses spoke with God, God said that she would have to remain outside of the camp for seven day and that all the Hebrews would have to wait for her before they moved.

B. Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and the 250 princes spoke again Moses and Aaron.

"Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?"  (Numbers 16:1-3).

The result was that the earth opened up and swallowed  Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, both them and their families. (Numbers 16:31-33).

Furthermore, a fire came out from God and consumed the 250 princes that sided with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.  "And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense"  (Numbers 16:35).

C. Then congregation spoke against Moses for killing their heroes.

"But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD."  (Numbers 16:41).

The result was that fourteen thousand and seven hundred were killed in a plague before Aaron could stop it by offering insence to make an atonement for the people. (Numbers 16:47-50).

D. As the people traveled in the wilderness, they spoke against God and Moses because of the manna and the lack of water.

"And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread"  (Numbers 21:5).

The result was that God sent firey serpants among them.  "And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died"  (Numbers 21:6).

V. In the last days the spirit of the antichrist will arise.

A. "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time"  (I John 2:18).  Note: the prefix "anti" means to be against.  The word "christ" means one who is anointed of God to rule and reign. Isaiah prophesied, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace"  (Isaiah 9:6).   "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son"  (I John 2:22).

B. "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness"  (II Thessalonians 2:8-12).

C. "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty"  (Revelation 16:13-14).

D. People are rising up in many countries against those who in authority:  Egypt, Libya, Jordan, Yemeni, and Iran.  This is more than just prosters against bad rulers, it is rebellion against authority.  It is a spirit of rebellion manipulating mobs of angry people.  It is also being seen in our own country.  Wisconson is the current focal point, but people from all over the contry have come to protest against the govenment. 

E. This appears to the setting of the stage for the antichrist to rise to power through deception and rebellion.  Once rebellion has occured and the order of government is desolved, then there will be a cry for a new world order.  In steps Satan in the form of the antichrist who is to come to power.