SUCCESSFUL SECESSIONS in The BIBLE and HISTORY
To listen to an audio of this message, click here.
To view a video of this presentation, click here.
Free the Cape of Good Hope
Cape independence has been much in the news recently. A Free the Cape March is planned for next week, 11 AM on Wednesday, 27 April, which is a public holiday, in South Africa, Freedom Day. The marchers are to gather in front of the old City Hall on the Grand Parade in downtown Cape Town. Numerous pastors and concerned Christians have asked me what the Bible teaches on the subject of secession and are there examples of successful secessions in history?
Let My People Go!
“So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me.’” Exodus 10:3. The nation of Israel grew out of secession from Egypt. In the Bible, a nation is an ethnolinguistic people group with a shared faith. The Scriptures make it clear that the Hebrews remained Hebrews, even after 480 years in Egypt. They never became Egyptians. We are not geographic accidents, but demographic descendants. The Scripture emphasises that all the families of the nations of the earth are to sing the praises of the Creator in every language and tongue. “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your Blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9
Confusion About What a Nation Is
Unfortunately, many today are confused about the concept of nations. This could be because there are a group of state representatives in New York calling themselves “the United Nations”. Of course, most of them have no legitimacy at all. The United Nations is the largest collection of unelected dictators, mass murderers, drug traffickers and human traffickers on the planet. Most of them are actually gangsters with flags.
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
When the Soviet Union (USSR) broke up, this was considered a good thing and there was much rejoicing as Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia and many others seceded from the Union – the Soviet Union. It is a good thing for freedom that the Soviet Union was not indivisible!
The Destructive Legacy of Versailles
There never was such a concept as Yugoslavia or Czechoslovakia before the vindictive and destructive Versailles Treaty of 1919 and those entities do not exist today either. They were bad ideas from the beginning. Free and independent nations have broken away from those empires. Yugoslavia, meaning the land of the South Slavs, included Slovenia and Croatia, who definitely are not Slavic, formerly part of the Austrian empire and with Germanic language and culture. However, the fragile political entity called Yugoslavia was composed of six republics, five nationalities, four languages, three major religions, two alphabets, but only one political party – communist, from 1945 to 1989. Another kaleidoscope nation created by the Versailles Treaty, Czechoslovakia, did not long survive the fall of the Iron Curtain and the withdrawal of Soviet armies of occupation. In 1993, Slovakia seceded from Czechoslovakia, peacefully after a referendum.
The Secession of the Ten Northern Tribes of Israel from Judah and Benjamin
In 1 Kings 12, we read of the secession of the ten Northern tribes from United Kingdom of Israel. After the reigns of King Saul, King David and King Solomon, the United Kingdom was divided when Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, foolishly dismissed the wise counsel of the elders who had stood before his father, Solomon. Instead Rehoboam chose to rather listen to the irresponsible advice of the young men who had grown up with him. As a result, he arrogantly dismissed the petition of his subjects and threatened to tax them even heavier and to burden them with more oppressive laws than they had ever experienced before. “Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying: ‘What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!’ So Israel departed to their tents.” 1 Kings 12:16
This is of the Lord
“So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day… There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.” 1 Kings 12:19-20. When king Rehoboam assembled 180,000 warriors to fight against the house of Israel to restore the United Kingdom, God stopped them, declaring that this secession was of Him.
You Shall Not Fight Against your Brethren
“But the Word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, ‘Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.’ Therefore they obeyed the Word of the Lord, and turned back, according to the Word of the Lord.” 1 Kings 12:22-24
Ten Key Principles of Freedom
Centralisation of power in a unitary state has always been a pagan tendency, as seen in Nineveh and Babel (Genesis 10:11; 11:1). Because power corrupts, it is wise to limit and divide the powers of civil government in a system of checks and balances. God established in the government of Israel, ten key principles of freedom:
- A written constitution, or covenant, based upon the revealed Word of God to clearly define and restrict the powers of government (Psalm 19:7-10).
- A separation of powers and functions into three branches of civil government: Executive (the king); Legislative (the Council and Sanhedrin); Judiciary (the elders or judges in each community). These three functions of government are based on how the Lord revealed His government (Isaiah 9:6-7). “(For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us)” Isaiah 33:2
- An independent judiciary and a right to fair trial (Exodus 23:1-3; 2 Chronicles 19:5-7; Deuteronomy 19:15-19).
- A national legislature (law-making body). The one house was composed of representative judges, or officials, directly elected by the people (Exodus 18:21; Deuteronomy 1:13-17).
- A second house in the legislature composed of two hereditary elders from each of the 11 tribes (or geographic areas) of Israel, in addition to 24 priests from the tribe of Levi and 2 scribes (lawyers) from each of the 12 tribes. This not elected (but traditional community leaders) body totalled 70 men and became known as the Sanhedrin (Exodus 24:1; Numbers 11:16-17).
- An executive office (Judge, or King) elected with the guidance of God and the consent of the elders (Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Chronicles 11:3).
- A decentralised state (Exodus 24:1; Deuteronomy 1:13-17; Acts 17:26) with most responsibilities and powers on local municipalities, families and individual citizens.
- A citizens army (Militia) made up of trained citizens who have the right and duty to bear arms for the defence of their home and family, community and nation (Numbers 1:2-3; Judges 3:2; Exodus 22:2; Deuteronomy 20:1-4; Numbers 4:14; Numbers 32:20; 1 Samuel 25:13).
- A free market economy based upon the private ownership of property (Exodus 20:15, 17; Deuteronomy 19:14) and individual free enterprise (Ecclesiastes 5:19; Proverbs 10:2-4, 12:24, 13:4, 11; 1 Thessalonians 3:10).
- An education programme controlled by parents, aided by the church, but independent of the state (Deuteronomy 6:7; Hosea 4:6; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 2:8).
All Authority is Limited, Delegated and Accountable
To the Roman governor, Pilate, the Lord Jesus Christ declared: “…You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above…” John 19:11. Civil authority is clearly delegated by God, limited and answerable to God (Romans 13:1-4; Revelation 1:5; 11:15). The sanctity of human life was the foundation for the establishment of government (Genesis 9:6). The priority of any government is to protect the right to life of the preborn and every other member of society who is law-abiding.
Civil Government is to Serve Its Citizens
In the teachings of our Lord, it is clear that civil authorities are to be public servants (Matthew 20:25-28). “…‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger and he who governs as he who serves.” Luke 22:25-26. The concept that civil government is a servant of its citizens is a uniquely Christian idea that originated from these verses. Hence, the term prime minister – as the first servant. Cabinet ministers are to be deacons of God for justice.
“Lex Rex”
Before the Reformation the general view of government was summarised in the Latin phrase “Rex Lex – The king is law.” The king’s word is law. The king is above the law. The Reformation inverted this Latin phrase to Lex Rex – The Law is King. The king is under the Law. Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish Presbyterian minister, wrote the book: Lex Rex, published in 1644. Utilising arguments from Scripture and building on Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos, Lex Rex attacked the idea of absolutism and statism, emphasizing the importance of covenant and the rule of law. As the prince, or the king, may command loyalty, the king owes his subjects protection. If government fails to provide protection and the rule of law, respect for life and property, then the citizens are absolved of any loyalty to such an abusive ruler who has failed to fulfil his duty.
In Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants
Junius Brutus, In Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants, had argued that as we owe our king loyalty, so the King of kings requires loyalty and obedience from all kings who are under Him. If our rulers are in rebellion to the King of kings, we must not join them in their war against God and against His Laws. If a ruler commands that which is against the Law of God, we must obey God, rather than man. If a ruler infringes on the Laws of God and seeks to ruin His Church, it is our right and duty to resist him. “Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God”. This was also emphasised by Scottish Reformer, John Knox.
The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrate
The Reformers taught that if the central government is corrupt, wicked and oppressive, then the lesser magistrates have the duty to resist. Provincial governors, mayors and magistrates may and must resist and suppress tyrants in central government. Rulers are not permitted to rule for their own self-interests. If central government fails in their promises and duties, the people are exempt from obedience and taxes, the contract is null and void.
The Duties of Civil Government
Romans 13 makes clear what the duties of civil government are. Civil authorities are to be ministers of justice, under God. All authority is delegated authority and is accountable to Almighty God, the Creator and Eternal Judge. Civil government is to be a terror to evil, a minister of justice, executing wrath on those who practise evil. Civil government is not to be a terror to those who do good, but is to protect the law-abiding (Romans 13:1-7).
War Against God
Throughout history there have been those who have attempted to impose their political and religious will on the world, such as Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and Caesar Nero of Rome, who commanded everyone in the empire to worship him. People were required to place the ash of the incense they had burned before Nero’s image on their forehead, before they were allowed to trade in the market place. From Babel to Babylon, from Rome to the French Revolution and from the Soviet Union to Red China, those who seek to impose a one-world government and one-world religion, also seek to control the economy. They pour out blasphemies against God and His people, persecuting those who refuse to bow to their political and religious will. They make war on the saints and attempt to stamp their mark on all that they have power over (Revelation 13:6-17).
We Must Obey God Rather Than Man
God's people have always been called to resist stateism and tyranny. Christians were not persecuted in the Roman Empire for worshipping Christ, they were persecuted for refusing to worship Caesar. “And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death.” Revelation 12:11. Those who wage war against God will lose.
The Great Commission and All Nations
When the Lord gave the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 …to make disciples of all nations, He used the word ethne for nations. Ethne is the root word for ethnic. In the Bible, a nation is an ethnolinguistic people group with a shared faith. We are not merely to make disciples of the 212 countries that claim to be member states of the United Nations. Missiologists have identified over 12,000 ethnolinguistic people groups of a shared faith. Wycliffe Bible Translators identifies 6,909 distinct languages, of which 2,197 are spoken in Asia. Operation World reports that the World Christian Database identifies 13,674 different people groups. The Joshua Project lists 16,350 distinct people groups. Gospel Recordings Network estimates there are over 10,000 spoken languages and dialects. The World Christian Encyclopaedia identifies 13,511 languages and dialects.
Successful Secessions in History - Switzerland
Switzerland seceded from Austria in 1291. Inspired by the story of expert marksman William Tell, who refused to bow before the hat of Albrecht Gessler, raised on a pole in the market square of Altdorf. When William Tell refused to bow, Gessler’s cruel wrath, mixed with a curiosity to test William Tell’s legendary marksmanship, commanded him to shoot an apple off his son’s head with his crossbow bolt. When William Tell succeeded in splitting an apple with his arrow, saving the life of both his son and himself, Gessler asked why he had readied two arrows. William Tell stated that if he had missed with the first, then he would not have missed with the second, in Gessler’s heart! Enraged, Gessler had William Tell arrested and taken by boat across Lake Lucerne to Kussnacht, to spend the rest of his life in a dungeon. A fierce storm enabled William Tell to escape to shore, where he later ambushed and killed Gessler with an arrow, launching the young confederacy’s secession from Austrian rule. The first three cantons which formed the Swiss confederacy, 1291, were Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden. The oldest republic in the world, Switzerland now consists of 26 cantons.
An Island of Peace on a Continent Often Torn by War
Despite Switzerland occupying the crossroads of Germanic and Romansh Europe, as reflected in its form of linguistic and cultural regions, German, French, Italian and Romansh, its confederal, decentralised, direct democracy policy of armed neutrality enabled Switzerland to stay out of the ruinous world wars. Despite French, Germans and Italians killing one another by the hundreds-of-thousands, Switzerland successfully protected its territorial integrity and stayed out of the conflicts.
Caring for Its Neighbours
Switzerland is the birthplace of the Red Cross, one of the world’s oldest and best known humanitarian organisations and is home to many international organisations and missions which have brought relief to suffering prisoners during the World Wars and provided sanctuary for those fleeing from those colossal conflicts.
An Example of Excellence
Switzerland is one of the most developed countries of the world, with the highest nominal wealth per adult and the highest per capita Gross Domestic Product in the world. In terms of quality of life, three cities of Geneva have been ranked amongst the ten top cities in the world: Zurich, Geneva and Basel. Switzerland is an example of excellence of how people of different nationalities, languages and religious affiliations can live together in peace and harmony – by decentralisation, referendums and Landsgemeinde – community gatherings.
American Independence and Magna Carta
The United States of America seceded from Great Britain in 1776. Demanding their chartered rights as Englishmen under Magna Carta of 1215, the thirteen colonies constitute themselves as the United States of America with their Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776. They maintained that as the English government had failed to protect them and provide their rights, as guaranteed by Magna Carta, 1215, they were absolved of allegiance to the British government in London.
Other Successful Secessions
Led by Prince William of Orange, the Netherlands seceded from Spain, beginning in 1568.
Belgium later seceded from the Netherlands in 1830.
Texas seceded from Mexico in 1836. The Battle of the Alamo (23 February – 6 March 1836) was a pivotal event in the war of independence for Texas. The cruelty and arbitrary lawlessness of president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, led other Texans to rise up and defeat the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto, 21 April 1836, securing the independence of Texas from Mexico.
Nicaragua seceded from Guatemala in 1838.
Norway seceded from Sweden in 1905. Price Carl of Denmark was unanimously elected King by the Norwegian parliament, the first king of a fully independent Norway in 508 years. He took the name Haakon VII. A national referendum confirmed the people’s preference for a monarchy over a republic and the peaceful separation of Norway from Sweden was effected on 7 June 1905.
Finland seceded from Russia in 1917. In reaction to the Bolshevik Revolution, which was tearing Russia apart, the Finns set up their own parliament which declared independence from Russia, 6 December 1917.
The Republic of Ireland seceded from Great Britain in 1922.
Pakistan seceded from India in 1947.
Taiwan seceded from China in 1949.
Singapore seceded from Malaysia in 1965 and has turned an unpromising island swamp into one of the most potent economic powerhouses in Asia.
Bangladesh seceded from Pakistan in 1970.
Namibia seceded from South Africa in 1990.
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia seceded from Russia in 1991.
Croatia and Slovenia seceded from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia in 1991.
Slovakia seceded from Czechoslovakia in 1993.
East Timor seceded from Indonesia in 2002.
South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011.
The Nuba of South Kordofan are at this moment fighting for their independence from Sudan and the Kurds of Turkey, Iraq and Iran are seeking their own country of Kurdistan. Many in the Western Cape are seeking a free and independent Cape of Good Hope.
You can visit this website dedicated to promoting a free and independent Cape of Good Hope and the Facebook page, The Cape of Good Hope
You can also view or download the Cape Independence Handbook here
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1
Yours for Faith and freedom
|  |  | |
See also:
Successful Secessions in the Bible and in History
Eyewitness to Successful Secession Movements
A Case for Cape Independence