The United States of America was not born in
revolution, and those who promote rebellion against authority and cite the
War of Independence (1775-1781) in support of such resistance will do well
to take another look at the historical times in which this nation was
forged. The word "revolution" has no place in the history that gave birth
to the United States of America. The Israelite people who made up the
original thirteen colonies were under the cover of the King of England.
Original jurisdiction of America was under Almighty God and his servant,
the King of England. Charters granted from the King of England provided
for the lawful cover under which the original colonies were founded.
The King of
England, by his own choice, made the decision to remove the thirteen
colonies from his cover of authority, protection, and jurisdiction.
Abandoned by their protector, the King of England, the Colonies had no
obligation to submit to the English Parliament. Having been
abandoned by the King of England, the Colonies had no option left but to
establish themselves a new cover, a lawful shield of government formerly
provided for them by the King. Every step leading to the founding of a new
governmental authority was one of lawful action by the colonial
legislatures established under authority of the King of England.
"He has abdicated Government here, by declaring
us out of his Protection and waging War against us."
---- Declaration of Independence
All too often, uninformed people, many of them with little
or no background in history, build their rebellious acts against the
government from what they believe to be the rebellion of 1776, wherein our
American Israelite founding fathers led a successful rebellion or
revolution against the King of England. This kind of thinking permeates
much of the religious literature coming off the printing presses in the
remnant today. Our children deserve much better than this. They deserve
the truth, and the truth is that America was not born in rebellion and
revolution.
God blessed and prospered America as a nation because our
founding fathers, being Christian, followed a very lawful and Christian
road to secure our freedom in the War of Independence. May Jesus Christ
bless and prosper the Israelites of this generation who seek to be
Christian and who will take the time to properly instruct their children
in the truth of our country's history. It ishigh time that we root out the
spirit of rebellion that so often is manifested in the preaching and
teaching of the religious journals of our generation. Our children should
be taught to walk under the cover of authority in the home, the church,
and the government. Protests and appeals against ungodly authorities
should be made and every resource should be exhausted to protest sin in
government and in leadership in the home, the church, and the state. Under
no condition should Christians promote rebellion in the home, church, and
state. I pray that the following treatise, written by Mr. Gray Clark,
graduate of the University of Maryland and an ordained minister in the
Church of Israel, will help to document the truth that America was born in
lawful authority and not in rebellion.
Why is it important to reexamine, in a
Christian publication, the founding of America? Because the prevailing
view of the birth of America is stilted. This stilted view has led
Christians into rebellion. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (11
Samuel 15:23) which is always judged by God.
The hoax of the American Revolution is that it
was not a series of rebellious acts by the colonists against the Crown of
England. Modern textbooks are advancing the hoax with statements such as:
"The Declaration was a revolutionary document in the sense that it
justified a revolution already begun." This is a quote from a typical
college textbook. This period of history is being misconstrued in school
textbooks to influence thinking to rebellion and revolution.
When the Christian hears "revolution today", he
thinks in terms of "Communist Revolution" and equates this with the
"American Revolution". False equation. There was no Communist-style
revolution to Birth America. Textbooks further teach that our forefathers
wanted to break from the cover of the Crown and be separate. They,
therefore, revolted to bring forth their desires, a new nation. Such
teachings are not the best interpretation of facts.
Revolution and rebellion are harmful states of
mind. Christians need to learn that America did not want to be independent
of England; it was forced upon her. Before 1776, she made numerous Godly
appeals to the Crown for reconciliation to her pre-1763 relationship with
England, but without success. Actually, England declared war upon America
and granted her independence on 22 December 1775.
The key period of history is from 1763 to the
unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America in
Congress, July 4, 1776. These events led to the Birth of America.
Significant events occurred beginning with the Sugar Act of 5 April 1764
between Parliament, the King of England, and the Colonial Assemblies and
Congress, that need to be better understood.
Some people say history is what the writer says
it is. That is, the interpretation of facts is based upon the
presupposition of the historian. The presupposition of most historians, as
has already been illustrated by textbook example, is that America was
founded in rebellion. This article opposes the rebellion view of America's
birthing. The textbook teaching has, in many cases, and will, in others,
make revolutionaries of us all. Perhaps this is the plan of the enemies of
Christiendom. Since World War II, there has been great emphasis upon
promoting the American Revolution as a rebellion. Even a well known
Kingdom-Israel publication recently supported this view; the editor wrote,
"Perhaps it is time for the Second American Revolution."
I disagree. I believe that the colonists did
not revolt (in terms of today's definition), but reacted to the
Prohibitory Act of 22 December 1775. This Act forced the writing of the
Unanimous Declaration of 4 July 1776. The Prohibitory Act is the key act
of this historical period, yet only 10% of the history books written since
World War II mention the act. None give its implications. Do you know of
this Act? You will soon learn of it.
Were there no Prohibitory Act, there would be
some justification to defend an American rebellion; but with it, none.
Since, in fact, our Christian forefathers did not rebel against the King
of England, Christians can no longer use our founding fathers as an
example and excuse to rebell today. Rebellion is a dangerous attitude and
response to any action. It is condemned by the Word of God: "An evil man
seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against
him" (Pro. 17:11).
It is important to remove the curse of
misapplying what our forefathers did during the Revolutionary War era.
These words of Solomon come to mind: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so
is he." (Pro. 23:7). When Christians hold in their heart the deceptive
teaching of "revolution/rebellion", the implication upon personal lives is
obvious.
Case in point: Do you know anyone who
has committed rebellious acts against civil government using the excuse
that "We owe it to our forefathers?" The question is, "What do we owe to
our forefathers?" Do Christians owe "rebellion/revolution" or
"responsibility/Godly appeals"? Charles M. Andrews knew the value of an
accurate view of history when he wrote over 50 years ago in his
Colonial Background of the American Revolution: "A nation's
attitude toward its own history is like a window into its soul, and the
men and women of such a nation cannot be expected to meet the great
obligations of the present if they refuse to exhibit honesty, charity,
open-mindedness, and a free and growing intelligence toward the past that
has made them what they are?
This article addresses two main thoughts:
America was born under responsibility and Godly appeals. Governments born
in rebellion die.
The understanding of the founding of the great
American nation centers around, first, the relationship between the
colonies, the King of England, and Parliament and, second, the Prohibitory
Act, 22 December 1775.
Charters were contracts between proprietors and
companies and the King of England. Parliament was not a party to these
contracts or charters. The charters granted the founder executive,
legislative and judicial authority. The King had only restraining
authority. David Ramsey writes in his Prelude to the American
Revolution, 1765-1775.: "They (founders) looked upon their charters as
a voluntary compact, between their sovereign and themselves, by which they
were bound neither to be subject to, nor seek protection from any other
prince: nor to make any laws repugnant to those of England: but did not
consider them as inferring an obligation of obedience to a parliament, in
which they were unrepresented."2 As an example of many possible examples,
the Charter of Maryland given to Lord Baltimore in June, 1632, and his
heirs contains this clause: "free, full and absolute Power...to ordain,
Make, and Enact LAWS of what kindsoever, according to their sound
Discretion."
Colonial America was self-governed people. The
Encyclopedia Britannica says: "The Crown delegated rights of settlement
and subordinate rights of government to proprietors...The patentees
governed the colonists, and the Crown only interfered at intervals to
adjust matters."4 As an example of the independence the Colonial
Assemblies had of internal British control, only 5% of the thousands of
laws colonial legislatures passed between 1691 and 1763 were vetoed by
Britain.5
After the ending of the French and Indian War
in 1763, Great Britain was left with a large debt. From this point,
serious interference by Parliament into the lives of colonists began.
Parliament passed a series of famous acts beginning with The Sugar Act (5
April 1764) and ending with the Prohibitory Act (22 December 1775) to
raise money to pay war debts and to control the Colonial Assemblies. The
Colonial Assemblies resisted Parliament on grounds that the Charters did
not grant her legislative power over them. Additionally, the colonists
were not represented in Parliament, hence the cry "taxation without
representation." The leaders in the colonies understood the Colonial
Assemblies to be the lawmakers of the colonists and Parliament her
counterpart of the English people. Parliament and the Assemblies were
co-equal. Both legislatures reported to the King representing their
separate peoples. Parliament was outside the colonial relationship with
the King per Charters.
The
relationship of each colony to the King was one of allegiance to him in
exchange for his protection
| Protector | King (Crown) | |
| Legislatures | Colonial Assemblies | Parliament |
| People | Colonists | Englishmen |
| Realm | America | |
During the ensuing years of 1763 to 1776, the
colonists made several attempts of reconciliation. They desired to retain
their independence that existed prior to 1763, being free of internal
British control. They were not striving to gain independence, but to
preserve it. Parliament was attempting to erode it by usurping the
legislative authority of Assemblies. After the war had begun on 19 April
1775 (Lexington and Concord), the Continental Congress voted to make one
last effort to reconcile with England. The outcome of this vote was the
Olive Branch Petition (8 July 1775). It was a petition to express loyalty
to the King and seek a change of heart by England. In quoting from a
portion of the Petition, does it sound of an attitude of rebellion and
revolution? This was a Godly appeal.
That your faithful subject on this continent
request...that the wished for opportunity would soon be restored to them,
of evincing the sincerity of their professions by every testimony of
devotion becoming the most dutiful subjects and the most affectionate
colonists.6
This was the final colonial
attempt to appeal to the King to return to the pre-1763 days of
independence. The King refused to respond to this Petition.
On 6 July 1775, the Continental Congress issued
the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms. The
Continental Congress felt that it was necessary to state why the colonies
were taking up arms against England. Notice in the following quote from
that Declaration that the delegates did NOT desire to separate from
England. This indicates a responsible act of self-defense.
We have not raised armies with ambitious
designs of separating from Great Britain, and establishing independent
states. We fight not for glory or for conquest. We exhibit to mankind the
remarkable spectacle of a people attached by unprovoked
enemies.7
Revolution meant in 1775 "motion backward", a
return to a prior position. The colonists desired to return to their
independent position of 1763 as granted by the Charters. Webster's 1828
Dictionary says of revolution: "Motion of any thing which brings it to the
same point or state; as the revolution of a day." The colonists were
attempting something unique. To preserve a government, not overthrow it.
The meaning today is not one of preservation, but replacement in a violent
way. Webster's New World Dictionary (1976) says of revolution: "overthrow
of a government, form of government, or social system by those governed
and usually by forceful means, with another government or system taking
its place." This definition adequately explains the French Revolution, the
Communist Revolution in Russia (1917), and many others. But the American
Revolution, often equated with these, should not be. It had different
methods and different results. Our Revolution resulted in the same people
being in power before and after the War. Unique. There were no blood baths
and "reigns of terror." Unique again. Our forefathers drove the announced
enemy (per Prohibitory Act) from this soil, and a new nation was born.
Nothing more; nothing less.
Quoting from the authors of The Revolution
Myth (p. 90):
"Irving Kristol observes that 'a successful
revolution is best accomplished by a people who do not really want it at
all, but find themselves reluctantly making it. The American Revolution
was exactly such a reluctant revolution.' In fact, it could be argued that
there was no revolution at all.8
Parliament's response to colonial resistance
was the passage of the Prohibitory Act on 22 December 1775. This Act is
the key move taken by England to force the Declaration of Independence. On
26 October 1775 George III proposed in a speech to Parliament to
remove the colonists from his protection and
treat them as foreign enemies. The King's views were carried
forth in Parliament by Lord North, the Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Thomas Walpole, a member of the House of Commons, expressed this view of
the Act: "It begins with a formal indiscriminant declaration of war
against the inhabitants of thirteen colonies."9
David Hartley, another member of Parliament,
comments, "An inflexible majority in the Parliament have now declared all
America to be an independent hostile state."10
Proof that this Act set America free
from the king's protection negating her requirement to remain
loyal to him, is the hiring of mercenaries (Hessians) by England to
fight colonists. Mercenaries were used in the 18th century only for the
purpose of engaging enemies of a nation. They were not used to put down
civil unrest. The Prohibitory Act transferred the colonists from citizens
to enemies of Great Britain. Remember that all of this took place seven
months prior to 4 July 1776.
Colonial reaction to the Prohibitory Act will
convince the concerned reader that America was outside the protection of
the King and announced an enemy of England:
John Adams: "It is a complete Dismemberment of the
British Empire. It throws thirteen colonies out of the Royal Protection,
levels all distinctions, and makes us independent in spite of our
supplications and entreaties."l1
Samuel Adams: "The King has thrown us out of his
protection."12
Edmond Quincy points out that it is a maxim of common
law according to William Blackstone that upon the duties of kings; that,
when protection ceaseth, allegiance ceaseth to be the duty of the
subject.13
The Passage of the Prohibitory Act meant that
the colonies were free of English rule as of 22 December, and the
subsequent Declaration of Independence was announcing that independence.
It states in the Declaration: "He (King George) has abdicated Government
here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us."
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of American in
Congress, 4 July 1776 (Declaration of Independence), was announcing that
which had already happened months ago. This Declaration gave reasons why
reconciliation with Britain would not be possible. Quoting from the Notes
of Proceeding: "That the question was not whether, by a declaration of
independence, we should make ourselves what we are not; but whether we
should declare a fact which already exists. That as to the people or
parliament of England, we had always been independent of them...That as
for the King, we had been bound to him by allegiance, but that this bond
was dissolved by his assent to the late act (Prohibitory) of Parliament,
by which he declares us out of his protection, by his levying way on us, a
fact which had long ago proved us out of his protection; it being a
certain position in law that allegiance and protection are reciprocal, the
one ceasing when the other is withdrawn."14
The Scriptures confirm the preceding historical
study, that being, America was born under authority and not in rebellion.
The same principle judges nations as man. Sin brings judgment from God.
When man sins, a in the case of King Saul, God took the kingdom from him.
When nations sin, as in the case of Israel and her idolatry, God judges
her to divorcement. The United States of America is viewed by Biblically
knowledgeable people as the prophecy of Manasseh fulfilled. Christians can
now take comfort that God did not use rebellion to Birth America but
delivered her within the framework of Scripture. A brief study of the
governments of Biblical Israel will ice this truth.
During the formation of Israel as a nation, God
used Judges to deliver Israel from the hand of those that spoiled them
(Judges 2:16). The typical pattern was this: Israel would sin as a people,
and God would bring an enemy to judge Israel: this pressure caused Israel
to cry for deliverance, and God would respond to her repentance by sending
a Judge to defeat the enemy and restore rest to the
land.
In every case Yahweh appointed the Judge. After
the Judge defeated the enemies of Israel, there was rest (i.e., Judges
3:11). Peace and rest were blessings. Judges were both civil and military
leaders. They were under the authority of Yahweh.
But on one occasion there was rebellion to gain
rulership of Israel. After the death of Gideon, Abimelech conspired to
make himself king. A king was not a Judge, therefore, unlawful. God always
appointed the Judge, but Abimelech rebelled against this and killed 70
brothers to become king by trickery. This story is recorded in Judges 9.
It should be read for full understanding. Abimelech sought an unauthorized
and unscriptural goal. He was consequently judged by Yahweh and those who
conspired with him. God sent an evil spirit to divide between him and the
men of Shechem. Civil war came. Abimelech was slain at Thebez by a woman
who cast a piece of millstone breaking his skull. This judgment upon
Abimelech was God's answer to his rebellious actions (Judges 9:56). This
administration, the only one born in rebellion/revolution, had to cope
with insurrection, plots, and enjoyed no rest. He died in violence. The
Judges were blessed; however, Abimelech was not. Rebellion is not blessed.
If America was founded in rebellion, why was not George Washington judged
as Abimelech?
When Yahweh granted Israel rulership by
kingship, he established the control of their appointment by direct
calling. Saul, David and Jeroboam were called. If God did not make a
special calling upon someone, then the throne went to the heir upon death
of the king. Solomon and others are examples. All who have studied the
reign of the kings know that many were evil. But, some were good. David,
Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah were good kings. No good king
gained the throne outside God's order. But, and this is the point, any
king who did murder and rebel to become king brought forth only evil
administrations. They were judged. Examples follow:
Athaliah destroys royal seed to become queen of
Judah. The rightful heir, Joash was spared. Athaliah's six-year reign was
one of Baal worship. God Judged her to death. (Study II Kings 11). The
rightful heir, Joash, ruled right, though not perfect.
Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea killed to
become king. Zacharian, king of Israel, was killed by Shallurn, who became
king.
Shallum was killed by Menahem, Mehakem was killed by Pekah and
Pekah was killed by Hoshea. All these rebellious men were classed by God
as having done evil (11 Kings 15:24). The Act of Shallum was a conspiracy
(11 King 15:15). The only good administrations were those that grew out of
order. If American was born in rebellion, why wasn't President Washington
judged as these men?
I hope that this brief article is sufficient to
establish that grounds to justify personal rebellious acts against
government are not defendable by actions of our Founding Fathers. Yahweh
did not Bless revolution in Biblical Israel, so why would He now?
Christians are encouraged to thoroughly understand America's Birth. Should
you desire to know more, you may obtain a copy of The Revolution
Myth and the tape The Birthing of America from the Church of
Israel. The book contains an abridged copy of the Prohibitory Act as
well as many important points not covered in this article.
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free" (John 8:32).
Is your heart now free of the curse of the Hoax
of the American Revolution? It should be.
"Go and sin no more" (John 8:11).
7. Ibid., p. 35.
8. Ibid., p. 90.
9. Ibid., p. 41.
10. Ibid., p. 42.
11. Ibid., p. 49.
12. Ibid., p. 73.
13. Idem.
14. Ibid., p. 50.
First Printing, July, 1988
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