Authority Commensurate With Responsibility 1 - God Respects Authority

God Respects Authority

Men may not respect authority: the devil certainly does not, although he understands it. God does!

When the Lord Jesus addresses each church in Revelation, he approaches the leaders (God's constituted authority) first. God always goes to the leaders first.

Revelation 2:2 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;

Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;

Revelation 2:12 And unto the angel of the church in Pergamos write;

Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write;

Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;

Revelation 3:7 And unto the angel of the church in Philadelphia write;

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;

The Greek word for angel translated here is aggelos and means messenger. It does not refer to the nature of the messenger, but his office. It can refer to a human messenger, for example, a pastor, or a bishop, or overseer, or elder of a church. Its is translated in the King James Version as angel and messenger.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Ezekiel 9:1-7 He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side; And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite; let not your eye spare neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain; go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.