The Great Question of Authority
Every generation faces a defining question:
Who has the right to rule the conscience of man?
This question lies at the heart of all history—whether in the thrones of empires, the decrees of priests, or the laws of nations. Behind every political struggle is a spiritual controversy:
Does man’s duty to God belong under the jurisdiction of the state, or under the direct authority of Heaven alone?
The apostle Paul, writing from pagan Rome—the very symbol of imperial authority—addressed this eternal conflict in the thirteenth chapter of his epistle to the Romans.
For nearly two millennia, Romans 13 has been
misunderstood, twisted to justify monarchy, papal absolutism, and even religious persecution. Kings have wielded it to demand unquestioning obedience; popes have used it to sanctify tyranny. Yet when rightly understood, it is the clearest defense of liberty of conscience in all of Scripture.
A.T. Jones, during the 1889 U.S. Senate hearings on national Sunday legislation, captured the essence of Paul’s argument when he declared:
“the powers that be, although ordained of God, have nothing whatever to do with the relations which men bear toward God.”
— A.T. Jones, The National Sunday Law, p. 5
That single statement sums up the divine constitution of liberty. God Himself ordained civil authority for the preservation of order and justice, life, property, liberty and the pursuit of happiness among men—but the conscience remains subject to God alone. This distinction is the foundation of all free government and all genuine religion.
This has been an excerpt from the book by David Barron. You can download and read the full book by clicking here
Why This Book Matters Now
A Note from the author
For centuries, Romans 13 has been misunderstood to justify tyranny, papal power, and the suppression of liberty. But as this book reveals, Paul’s words were never a license for oppression—they were a declaration of freedom.
Sword Ordained of God restores the true, biblical meaning of civil authority: a power ordained by God for protection, not persecution; a sword ordained of God to defend the innocent, not to compel the conscience. Through Scripture, prophecy, and history—from Daniel and the apostles to the Waldenses, the Reformers, and the American founders—this book traces the divine limits of government and the sacred rights of conscience.
At a time when church and state once again seek to unite in the name of “moral order,” this message could not be more urgent. Every reader will be challenged to see that the final test of liberty is not political—it is spiritual.
Read this book prayerfully. It will open your eyes to the coming crisis and strengthen your resolve to “obey God rather than men.”
Furthermore, I would recommend a visit to David’s website ThirdAngelsMessage.tv and supporting his ministry.
Get the book for FREE at this link below:
The Loud Cry 