As we approach the presidential election of 2024, more and more Christians are turning their thoughts to the Bible to guide their actions and decisions.

Sometimes, their interpretations of the Bible reveal much about what evil or love dwells in their own hearts.

Are they seeking to dominate others? Or to serve others?

The Way of Jesus is NOT to dominate others!

The Way of Jesus is to serve others!

As Jesus warned us:

“You know that . . . rulers . . lord it over [others] and . . . high officials exercise authority over [others]. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant . . .. (Matthew 18:1-5).

You can learn much about what evil or love dwells in someone’s heart by listening to what conclusions they draw from Revelation and other passages in the Bible.

Does their interpretation and application of the Bible darken the world by encouraging us to dominate by using Might and Power, including the Powers of Money, Religion and Kingdoms?

Or does their interpretation and application of the Bible light the world by encouraging us to serve by using the Spirit of the LORD Almighty, including the Powers of Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control? (Matthew 5:14; Zechariah 4:6; my book Lighting the World).

These themes are discussed in my following blog (titled “Building the Temple: The Word”) that I posted several years ago:

In the Book of Revelation, John envisioned “‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” (Revelation 21:1).

Part of the “first earth” that had passed away was the first Jerusalem and the Temple built by King Herod, using the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World.

In “the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God”, John did not envision “a [physical] temple in the city”. (Revelation 21:2,22).

Why?

“Because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (Revelation 21:22). (In Revelation, the “Lamb” refers to Jesus (Revelation 5:5-12).

John heard a loud voice saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4; Isaiah 25:8).

How did this wonderful new heaven and new earth come to be?

The Word of God.

John began his Gospel by revealing to us: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1).

This Word is the Light of all Humanity. This “light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5). This Word became flesh and dwelt among us, as Jesus.

In Revelation, this Word is envisioned as riding a white horse. This “rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. . . . . He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11-13).

The way that you perceive and understand this vision of the Word of God judging and waging war is a Rorschach Test of your heart, soul and mind.

In a Rorschach Test by a psychologist, you are shown patterns of inkblots. Your  understandings and perceptions that arise by studying John’s visions in Revelation reveal what is in your heart and mind.

If your heart is full of hatred and violence, you will flunk this Rorshach Test when you read and interpret the many visions in Revelation.

You will have eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear. You will be ever seeing and not perceiving. You will be ever hearing and not understanding. The callouses on your hardened heart will be revealed. (Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:10-15; Mark 4:10-12; Luke 8:9-10; Acts 28:23-27).

For example, if your heart is full of hatred and violence, you will mistakenly perceive, understand and conclude that the Word wages war using the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World.

But these kinds of wars waged by using the Power of knives, guns, tanks, and nukes are part of the old heaven and earth that are passing away.

These kinds of wars waged by using the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World are part of the old heaven and old earth that are passing away.

These are the kinds of wars that the Word of God—Jesus—rejected by forgiving those who insulted him, tortured him, and murdered him. (Luke 23:24).

Therefore, you will only pass this Rorschach Test of the Word, if your heart, soul and mind are full of the fruit of the Word: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

You will only pass this Rorschach Test of the Word, if you love the One-LORD-God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength—despising false gods such as the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 22:35-38; 6:24).

Those who love the One-LORD-God will be in “the armies of heaven . . . following the [Word], riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” (Revelation 19:14). “(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s people.) (Revelation 19:8).

We will light the new heavens and the new earth with our good deeds—not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Word. (Matthew 5:14,16; Zechariah 4:6).

We will heal Humanity. “No longer will there be any curse” (Revelation 22:2-3).

Why?

Because “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are [our] temple.” (Revelation 21:22).

We will serve the One-LORD-God. We will see his face. His name will be on our foreheads. (Revelation 22:3-4).

“There will be no more night. [We] will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the [One-LORD-God] will give us light. And [we] will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5).

Let there be Light! (Genesis 1:3-4).

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

In what ways do you try to dominate others in your family, church, business, politics, the government, the nation, the civilization, and all Humanity?

In what ways do you try to serve others in your family, church, business, politics, the government, the nation, the civilization, and all Humanity?

How do you think Revelation should be understood and applied in your life, your family, your church, your business, your politics, the government, the nation, the civilization, and all Humanity?

In what ways is Dominionism (also called the Seven Mountains Mandate) contrary to the teachings of the Bible and to the Way of Jesus?

In what ways is Dominionism (also called the Seven Mountains Mandate) serving the false gods of the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World?

READ MORE

For related thoughts, please read my blogs “Civilizations and Governments: An Independent Path” and “Civilizations and Governments: Giving Wisdom Without Finding Fault”.

To learn more about the Powers of Money, Religion, and Kingdoms of this world, please read my blogs “Do Not Live on ‘Bread’ Alone”; “Do Not Jump Off the Temple”; and “Do Not Seek the Kingdoms of the World and Their Authority”.

For related thoughts, please read my blogs “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”, “Jesus Climbs the Temple Mount”, “Spilling Coffee”, “Individuals and Systems, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable”, “Nationalism Is Patriotism Gone Astray”, “Keeping the Powers of Money, Religion and Kingdoms Separate” and “Alcatraz: Escaping by Using ‘Countervailing Powers’ Wisely”.

To learn more about the Way of Jesus, please read my blogs about the Way of Jesus (and the blogs referenced by them): “The Way of Jesus: The Nones”, “The Way of Jesus: Following the Way of the Wisdom That Follows the Way of the LORD”, “The Way of Jesus: St. Francis of Assisi”, “The Way of Jesus: The Truth of Christmas”, “The Way of Jesus: The Truth of Easter”, “The Way of Jesus: The Truth Overcomes Oceans of Hopeless Confusion”, “The Way of Jesus: The Truth Overcomes Oceans of Doubts”, “The Way of Jesus: The Life”, “The Way of Jesus: Every Knee Should Bow”, and “The Way of Jesus: You Can’t Get There from Here”.