I'm not going to offer an opinion on the American Revolution. Suffice to say that the Christians who undertook leadership of that revolution believed they were led by God. Certainly God has used America...both for the furtherance of the gospel and the creation and protection of Israel. That all aside, what does the Bible say about overthrowing rulers by force? Nothing positive. The Holy Spirit through Paul in Romans 13:1-2 and through Peter in 1 Peter 2:13-17 makes it clear that we are to submit to all authorities. We are not of this world, although we are in it; this we should not employee the world's methods. In Israel's captivities, they did not rise up to overthrow the Assyrians or Babylonians or Persians or Egyptians. Instead, in each case, God Himself set them free at His appointed time.
On the other hand if we see others in captivity and have the power to help them be free, nothing in Scripture constrains us and much there impels us. It all fits with God's economy in which the overarching attitude is that we are to live out lives as into Christ and for the benefit of others.
But in democracies, God has provided those blessed enough to live in one with a tool with which they can choose their own rulers ... not by violence but through an organized and nonviolent process.
To me, I see nothing in Scripture that would encourage --or even merely condone-- the popular overthrow of one's own government, regardless of how oppressive it may seem. After all, those first two verses of Romans 13 are quite clear-- there is no ruling authority that God has not put into place. And they are there for some purpose.
I think the principle is very similar to what the Bible says about slaves in 1 Peter 2:18-21; Colossians 3:21-24; and Ephesians 5:6-8. I'm other words whatever situation you find yourself in know that it is permitted by God and therefore submit to God and focus on presenting a good witness to those around you.
Thanks Pastor. It would seem that the Arab Spring had somewhat brought "popular overthrow" to new meaning. I don't believe the world had any idea how affective that sort of thing could be. Albeit, it would seem there were other levers in play for the Arab Spring (like coordinated CIA level movements--in my view...a Soros like globalist agenda to 3rd worldize Europe), so maybe because of major globalist social shifts the Arab Spring would not be a holistic or organic example of standard popular overthrow. It would seem though at some point, where government becomes so bad popular overthrow would tend to be a reaping of bad government sown regardless. And understandably so.
I imagine under the Iranian regime, there would be no such thing as legal protest. Whereas in democracy there would be reason and allowance for it. But in the case of Iran, a people taking to the streets to voice their concerns (even if not legal) would seem fitting under the governance of terror. The civilized world would understand. I would suppose the difference there is a purist form of protest -- not with aim to overthrow but with a primary means to cry out. Perhaps protest under tyranny is reasonable in as much as it be the cry of the people for better, and not a move to overthrow but to appeal. Perhaps.
It would seem that the context of Romans 13 (yeah...I never found it in 12...lol) to such a letter so well targeted if not more to the Jew than the gentile, at least as much, the Jews and their tendencies of discomfort under Roman rule in part be understood perhaps somewhat exegetically. Meaning, that the context of "Don't be about zealot business as is typical of Jews toward Rome," as an historical context by which to understand specific meaning and tone in context. It would seem often what is derived is the sense of devine right of rule, and the sovereignty of God over all governance (which is a theology to rightly take from that). But perhaps understood as the tenor and default of the believers heart toward governance (in context and contrast to zealous subterfuge). In that perhaps sense, Paul making his case to the Roman courts would be a speaking to his own defense. As perhaps public protest could be understood as the people's defense under the harsher portions of tyranny.
Of course in the case of Paul it would have been within the context of what was afforded by law, and protest be aside from judicial hearings marginally legal, in general. In the case of America it would have seened somewhat true that the colonies under King George were potentially a reasonable case of land under organized conditions breached. And in that condition, unique. And seemingly a time of providential shift from Monarchy to Democracy proper. Something not in the hands of man. But perhaps in ways not familiar to us, shifting tides of rule and function shifting in the providential balance. So perhaps America and Arab Spring are two uncommon examples perhaps outlayers to the commons of Romans 13. Whereas today, seeing people take to the streets in Iran would not necessarily = popular overthrow as much as the natural cry of oppression expressed. Something the Arab Spring and America Revolution might not fit so well in similar context.
I guess to me at the time during Arab Spring to hear that Iranian public protest not also join the Arab Spring rallies on one hand is understandable. I did not see the Arab Springs back then as a likely globalist enterprise. To me it seemed like God's story time of Ishmael/Isaac retelling in Imax. In my mind though hearing my pastor telling Iranains to go back home and not protest seemed weak. Jmacs is known as "Loser theology." Meaning: "Folks the church loses down here." And as you have well pointed out pastor, there are biblical themes that affirm not being a rebel rouser. And the New Age Spirit of our day is like: "You are not deceiving me, so there, take that," like. But the weak side going too far is: "Ok, I'll wear a mask. I'll take the jab. Just tell me what to do." And I there can be ways in which I have seen from that church it tends to feminize men. Although I thought it was good and manly leadership for Jmac to stand against the COVID tide in contrast to Newsom and be an umbrella to a lot of less situated churches.
Didn't mean to put you on the spot or anything. I realize there is nuance and tension and context in it all. One Youtube channel that helped me out of the American Reformed camp view was called Beyond the Fundamentals. This channel has kind of taken on different leanings of late, but one helpful notice in respect to a topic like this was what they termed second half of life wisdom. Where we spend the first half of our lives learning biblical principals. And the second half is not rehashing principles but dynamically applying them as we grow. To do that in first half of life would be a mess. To not do that in second half of life could retard growth. It seems the second half, form what that channel perspective noticed, was where churches in general might feel a bit challenged. That channel would take notice that there can be a tendency in churches to overprotect principle but not really weathering as much how to instruct in such a way as to produce sages for the next generation. The world does that. I believe in centuries past perhaps the church had done so: Galileo, Blaise Pascal, Isaac Newton etc (but perhaps even there in likely fashion contrasting the church too in ways). But just bringing it up in passing. Topic like this can be controversial. It seems we tend to lean a bit more toward the Funademtalist approach (like corralling concepts) as reaching the shore line. Whereas the shoreline might be a whole lot behind that in a second half of life wisdom exploit. But certainly not in the sense of overthrowing goverments...lol. Just trying to work some of this out as we go in my heart and head. Something that caught my eye in rememberance. In any event, don't mean to derail the discussion flow. Thanks for weighing in. It it great to see Iranain people have a heart and a pulse in hopeful better government for their families. Amen. Blessings
). I do check him out when things go down in Israel to get his take. God is good 
I hope Israel ignores this and keeps going to the very end.
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