As we watch the riots and unrest grow in the United States, presumedly over Donald Trump’s illegal immigration policies, we wonder, does the Bible address rioting? Los Angeles California seems to be the epicenter of the riots in the United States. Reports are coming in of rioters setting cars on fire, looting businesses, vandalizing property, and blocking roads. Rioters have taken sledgehammers and broken up large chunks of concrete to throw off of bridges at vehicles. Miraculously, there are no reports of major injury or death.
Nearly 400 people have been detained across Los Angeles during the protests which first kicked off on Friday, June 6th. These include 330 undocumented migrants and 157 people arrested on assault and obstruction charges. One includes the attempted murder of a police officer after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at cops.
There are other flash points of violence and unrest in many major cities across the nation.
A group calling themselves “NO KINGS” has planned “no king protests” in almost every city around the nation on June 14th, flag day and Donald Trump’s birthday. They claim the protests are supposed to be non-violent, but their rhetoric is clearly meant to stir up fear and rage.
This is what they claim:
“NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.”
Their claims are either blatantly FALSE or greatly exaggerated. This is a spirit of rebellion. Donald J Trump won the American election in a landslide. The silent majority showed up at the polls. However, now the very noisy and angry MINORITY has planned to rise up and rebel against law and order. Their “motto” is “no kings”. This, too, is spiritual because Jesus Christ IS the KING of kings, and His Kingdom is coming to earth SOON.
What does the Bible say about riots and how Christians are supposed to act in a society?
The role of Christians in society is a multifaceted topic that encompasses various aspects of life, including moral, social, and spiritual dimensions. The Bible provides guidance on how we are to conduct ourselves in the world, emphasizing our responsibility to be a light in the darkness, to love our neighbors, and to uphold the teachings of Christ.
The Bible instructs Christians to submit to governing authorities, recognizing that such authorities are established by God.
Romans 13:1: Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Our submission is not blind obedience but is conditioned by the higher allegiance to God’s commandments. Christians are to respect laws and leaders, pray for those in authority, and engage in civic duties, all while maintaining our ultimate loyalty to God’s kingdom.
1 Timothy 2: First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
The only exception to this rule is when man’s laws come into conflict with God’s laws. In that case, Christians are to obey God rather than man.
An example of this exception can be found in Acts 5:29. An order was issued by the Sanhedrin FORBIDDING the apostles to preach or heal in the Name of Jesus.
Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Disobeying the governing authorities is unbiblical unless man’s laws conflict with God’s laws. This is clearly not the case with the current rioting. Even their name “no kings” implies a rejection of God’s Kingdom.
We are witnessing the increase in the spirit of anarchy and lawlessness – an antichrist spirit disguised as an angel of light. This antichrist spirit was prophesied to increase in the last days. 😈
Matthew 24:12 And because lawlessness will abound, most people’s love will become cold.
2 Corinthians 11:14: No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
A riot occurs when a large number of people behave in a noisy, violent, or uncontrolled way in public. Riots usually result in damage to property, theft, and even injuries or death. Sometimes a peaceful gathering can turn into a riot when something triggers strong emotion among the majority of protesters. Often those who are rioting believe themselves in the right as they passionately express their opinions en masse through rage, violence and theft. But are they right or… Are they deceived?
There are several examples of riots in the Bible. None of them are good.
Riots against Moses and Aaron
In the book of Numbers, Chapter 14, ten spies were sent on a reconnaissance mission to discover how difficult it would be to capture the Promised Land of Canaan from its current inhabitants. God was GIVING the land to Israel, but it wouldn’t come without a fight. The spies returned with a “bad report” describing the inhabitants of the land as literal massive giants. Israel was “grasshoppers in their sight”.
Numbers 13: Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send out men for yourself to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give the sons of Israel; you shall send a man from each of their fathers’ tribes, every one a leader among them.
32 So they brought a bad report of the land which they had spied out to the sons of Israel, saying, “The land through which we have gone to spy out is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are people of great stature. 33 We also saw the Nephilim (tfj: giants) there (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
The people heard the bad report and were TERRIFIED. 😱The spies who brought back the bad report STIRRED UP FEAR and RAGE in the people.
Rather than TRUST and OBEY God and take the land, the people assembled against Moses and Aaron, desiring to appoint different leaders to take them back to Egypt where they had been enslaved. God had established Moses and Aaron to be the leaders of Israel, but the people wanted them removed.
When Joshua and Caleb attempted to reason with them, the congregation sought to stone them.
Numbers 14:3: So why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder! Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and return to Egypt!”
10 But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel.
Riots against the Apostle Paul
In the New Testament, there were riots against the Apostle Paul as he spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Ephesus. Like most riots, this riot was stirred up by an agitator with an agenda. An Ephesian man named Demetrius, who was a silversmith, made a lot of money through the crafting of IDOLS. Paul came into Ephesus preaching that idols were nothing, and that people needed to turn away from them and TO the TRUE GOD Jesus Christ. Pagans were turning AWAY from idols – HALLELUJAH!
This was indeed GOOD NEWS, and yet not everyone was happy about it. Idols were big business, which is why Demtrius was enraged. The nation’s Idolatry was padding his pockets. For this reason, he stirred up the crowds against Paul, preaching that Paul was a THREAT and a DANGER.
Acts 19:23 About that time a major disturbance occurred in regard to the Way (tfj: Christianity was called “The Way” at that time). 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing considerable business to the craftsmen;
25 he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. 🤑26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all.
27 Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”
Riots against Jesus Christ of Nazareth
The most infamous riot in the Bible occurred during Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate.
The governor had found no fault in Jesus (Luke 23:4; John 19:4). However, the chief scribes and religious leaders were determined to kill Him, so they stirred up the crowd. 😈 (Matthew 27:20; Mark 15:11).
Here we have a clue as to the nature of most riots. Many of those in the crowd had seen Jesus’ miracles, heard Him teaching in their synagogues, and may even have even been healed by Him. Yet, under the influence of impassioned leaders, they quickly turned against Him. The same people who had shouted “Hosanna! Hosanna!” only days before (Mark 11:9–10) now shouted, “Crucify Him!” (Mark 15:13–14)
Most riots begin with an instigator or instigators, people with an agenda. Those who expect to benefit from the riot often use inflammatory speech, exaggerated details, anything to whip up fear and rage in the masses. The same tactics THAT WERE USED THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO TO INCITE RIOTS ARE USED TODAY. 😈
People caught up in the fervor of the moment don’t realize they are being used. They have been manipulated into believing they are making a righteous point by pillaging and indiscriminately destroying the property of others. Social pressure is a powerful motivator, and when everyone around us is inflamed with fury, shouting opinions and slogans and demanding “change,” it is easy to be swept along with the crowd.
Rioting is a form of lawlessness, which is condemned in the Bible. If people want to enact change, it should be done through legal channels. As the city clerk of Ephesus reminded the rioters in his city, “The courts are open and there are proconsuls. . . . If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly” (Acts 19:38–39).
The lawless think rules don’t apply to them. That’s what happens in a riot. Even normally law-abiding people can become inflamed with fury and self-righteousness and decide that their cause is worth breaking legal, moral, and ethical laws.
If we go back to our example of the angry mob that wanted to stone Moses and Aaron, we see that God was very unhappy with the rioters. Because God had clearly raised up Moses and Aaron to be His chosen leaders, He saw this as a direct rebellion against Him.
Numbers 14:11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people be disrespectful to Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs that I have performed in their midst? 12 I will strike them with plague and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.”
However, Moses interceded for Israel so that God would not dispossess them. God, in His Foreknowledge, knew that Moses would intercede as it was His Will for Moses to do so. God is absolutely JUST and RIGHTEOUS; however, HE is also MERCIFUL and GRACIOUS.
When you think of it, isn’t it just incredible? The people wanted to STONE Moses and Aaron to death, and Moses reacted, not in anger or fear, but in LOVE and COMPASSION. He loved the people enough to intercede FOR THEM, the very people who wanted to kill him.
Numbers 14:19: Please forgive the guilt of this people in accordance with the greatness of Your mercy, just as You also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”
Jesus Christ reacted the same way towards the very people who were CRUCIFYING HIM.
Luke 23:34: But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves.
Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This is the hallmark of the Christian, the hallmark of the children of God.
Luke 6:35: But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people.‘
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to embody love and mercy, for God IS LOVE and He embodies mercy. Yet, God is equally Just and Righteous. Those who opposed Moses were condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years due to their rebellion. God did not dispossess Israel; however, He denied THAT GENERATION entry into the Promised Land. The generation that REBELLED against MOSES and refused to enter the Promised Land out of fear of the giants perished in the wilderness. After forty years, God used JOSHUA to lead the subsequent generation of Israelites into the Promised Land.
Similarly, there were significant consequences for crucifying Jesus Christ, the Son of God – even though this was God’s plan all along. ✝️
Israel’s rejection of their Messiah and their demand for His crucifixion led to their expulsion from Jerusalem, which occurred forty years later in 70 AD. During this period, Rome besieged Jerusalem, resulting in the devastation of the city and the destruction of the Temple. Israel remained in exile for nearly 2000 years (40X50), only returning in the year 1948. During their time of exile, the Jewish people have endured many atrocities and antisemitism, the most horrific being the genocide of six million Jews during the nazi reign of terror.
Israel COULD have entered the ULTIMATE PROMISED LAND (KINGDOM OF GOD) two thousand years ago…but then, where would the Gentiles (non-Jews) be? Israel’s rejection of their Messiah caused them to wander and suffer in the wilderness for a very long time, but during this time, God extended HIS PLAN OF SALVATION to ALL PEOPLE. This is the Age of Grace. 🕊️
Romans 11:15: For if their (tfj: Israel’s) rejection proves to be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Even now, as we write this post, Israel is embroiled in a DIRECT war against Iran that could begin the Ezekiel 38 war. Missiles are flying and air-strikes are being conducted, even as we write this post. Iran has been waging proxy wars for many years, but now Israel and Iran are in a direct, heated conflict that has the potential of expanding into a World War.
Is the age of Grace nearly over??
The Bible is very explicit about Israel’s suffering during the Great Tribulation. All nations will turn against Israel. (Zechariah 12:3). There will be a place of safety for the Jewish remnant, but sadly, many Jewish people will suffer greatly. This is known as the “final indignation” in the book of Daniel. At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will return and rescue Israel and the Jewish people from the antichrist.
Daniel 8:19: And he said, “Behold, I am going to inform you of what will occur at the final period of the indignation, because it pertains to the appointed time of the end.
Daniel 12: “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
The Bible does not portray riots in a good light. Riots are sinful and lawless. One of the fruits of the Spirit is SELF-CONTROL. We are to operate in the fruit of the Spirit, not in the deeds of the flesh. To operate in the deeds of the flesh is to set our minds on death (Romans 8:6).
Galatians 5:19: Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit🕊️is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
We stand with the Word of God which tells us that riots are lawless, and we should avoid them. As Christians and children of the Most High God (YHWH), we are also called to forgive and pray for the rioters, that God be merciful to them and that they have a change of heart.
Peaceful protests are permitted in a free nation; however, with the incendiary rhetoric that is being tossed about it is highly likely that the protests will turn into violent riots. We’re already seeing this in Los Angeles. All it takes is one spark on dry tinder to set it ablaze. 🔥
“ASRA NOMANI: I watched hate😈 consume Democrats’ ‘non-violent’ #NoKings rallies”
“Journalist documents $204 million network of radical organizations chanting ‘Globalize the intifada’ at supposedly peaceful demonstrations”
Our prayer to God the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace…. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Father God, have mercy on the United States of America. Help us to remain united and to remove the seed of discord that seeks to divide us.
We pray for all the communities that have been or will be affected by the riots;
For all those left injured, traumatized or afraid;
For the police and law enforcement at the national and local level seeking to restore public order and bring perpetrators to justice;
For places of business or worship that are or will be shuttered, robbed, or vandalized. And all people of faith and goodwill seeking to promote peace and respect in the face of violence and hatred.Teach us, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
and lead us in the path of your commandments.Keep our nation under your care;
and guide us in justice and truth.Have mercy on us.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
