Rebellions and revolutions that overthrow existing governments follow a predictable historical pattern rooted in human nature rather than in the particular ideology or grievance driving them. Such upheavals typically occur between two opposing classes within a nation—the rich and the poor, the politically powerful and the powerless, or property owners and those without property. Political battles between opposing parties, such as those between conservatives and liberals in nations like the United States and Britain, reflect this same underlying dynamic, as each side believes its own approach to governance is superior to that of those currently holding power. The French Revolution serves as a clear historical example of this pattern. The common people, though possessing well-educated leadership, rebelled against a monarchy accused of violence and oppression against them. After winning control of the nation, however, the commoners themselves became just as violent and oppressive as the rulers they had replaced, employing the guillotine as their instrument of vengeance until they, too, were eventually overthrown. This near-universal outcome—where those who overthrow a government simply become copies of what they replaced—stems directly from unchanged human nature. Merely altering who holds power does not transform the human heart; that requires an act of God to produce a genuinely higher standard of righteousness capable of establishing better governance. The American Revolution is presented as an exception to this pattern, not because Americans possessed a nature superior to the French, but because God intervened for His own purposes, bringing together an unusually gifted assembly of leaders. This divine intervention did not make America a Christian nation, but it did produce balanced constitutional laws and sound-minded leadership that the people were willing to follow, resulting in fruit markedly different from that of the French Revolution. The deeper explanation for why rebellions rarely produce substantial change lies in a principle drawn from Ecclesiastes, where Solomon repeatedly asks what profit a person gains from his labor, concluding that all is vanity. This "for-profit" drive is identified as the central motivator of human nature—not merely financial profit, but the underlying question of what personal gain results from any action. Rebels, once successful, discover that achieving and maintaining power requires them to act in essentially the same ways as those they overthrew, because the system established by the ruler of this world determines what is deemed profitable. As long as people remain ignorant of God, or lack genuine fear of God even with some knowledge of Him, nothing truly changes, and mankind remains trapped in this self-perpetuating loop. This same profit-driven nature explains even extreme acts, such as premeditated violence committed because the perpetrator believed some benefit would result. This drive within the human heart is not inherently evil, but must be rightly understood and rigorously controlled according to God's standards—a struggle the Apostle Paul himself described in Romans 7. God's Spirit, given in mercy, provides the power to understand and control the carnal nature, but only if that power is rightly used; otherwise, one reverts to the former, unchanged condition.

The overthrowing of government, as illustrated through history and modern events, demonstrates a repeated pattern rooted in unchanging human nature rather than genuine reform. The French Revolution of 1789 serves as a central example: common citizens, oppressed by an elite ruling class that lived opulently while claiming divine right and superior education, revolted and stormed the Bastille as a symbol of their oppression. Yet victory was not enough; the revolutionaries sought vengeance through trials and executions by guillotine. Ultimately, those who had been victims of tyranny became just as vicious, tyrannical, and incompetent as the rulers they replaced. Only the names and faces in power changed—nothing substantial improved. This historical pattern connects directly to modern phenomena such as the Black Friday shopping frenzy and the Occupy Wall Street movement. Shoppers, driven by intense lust for bargains, sacrificed sleep and comfort, risked physical harm, and in some cases resorted to violence—pepper spray, stun guns, and riots requiring police intervention—all to obtain desired goods. Simultaneously, Occupy protesters engaged in violent clashes with police in pursuit of what they believed was a fairer system, willing to endure arrest and injury for their cause. Though smaller in scale than a revolution, these incidents reveal the same underlying human nature: a willingness to become violent and injure others to achieve a perceived entitlement. The only real difference among shoppers, occupiers, and revolutionaries lies in the size of the objective, not in the nature driving the behavior. This pattern reflects a biblical principle: whatever a man sows, he reaps. Since carnal nature drives the sowing, the fruit produced—regardless of who holds power—will inevitably mirror what came before. History's repetition proves that mankind, acting from the same underlying nature, cannot produce lasting change simply by overthrowing existing authority. Changing the faces in government without changing the nature that governs human motivation guarantees the same destructive outcomes recur. God, therefore, is not pursuing reform through this route of revolt and replacement, recognizing it as futile. Instead, He is using an extended period of time to prepare a distinct group of people to govern alongside Jesus Christ at His return. Those being prepared will possess the spirit of a sound mind, distinguishing them from every past revolutionary or reactionary movement. They will not be motivated by lust, entitlement, or revenge, as shoppers, occupiers, and revolutionaries have been. Instead, their governance will be founded on love for God and His purposes first, followed by love for one's neighbor. Because this motivation differs fundamentally from the carnal nature that has driven every failed human overthrow of government throughout history, this future rule—unlike all previous attempts—will actually succeed.

An article by attorney Timothy N. Baldwin, published on NewsWithViews.com, raises the question of Christian submission to Romans 13 by arguing that believers are not obligated to submit to a government that is unjust or cruel. His premise suggests that Christians bear a responsibility to work toward overthrowing such an unjust government in favor of one that follows the judgments and laws of God. While this idea may sound appealing on the surface, it opens the door to a great deal of subjective interpretation by those who advocate it. The French Revolution serves as a historical warning of where such reasoning can lead, since the revolutionaries who overthrew the unjust royal government themselves became murderers once in power. This subject carries strong emotional weight, particularly during times when political leadership differs radically from what has been known before, making it easy for people to become emotionally entangled in ways that are unhelpful. Properly understanding Romans 13 should be straightforward for a converted person who genuinely believes what Scripture says. Philippians 3:20 establishes that a Christian's citizenship, or true political allegiance, is in heaven rather than in any earthly nation. First Peter 2 reinforces this by describing Christians as aliens and pilgrims, temporarily residing in a land where they are not citizens and merely passing through on their way elsewhere. That same passage instructs Christians to submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, meaning that such submission honors the same submissiveness Christ Himself demonstrated. This principle extends even further, as servants are told to obey their masters whether those masters are good and gentle or harsh. Jesus Himself, when speaking to Pilate, declared that His Kingdom is not of this world, and that if it were, His servants would fight for Him. This statement makes the matter unmistakably clear: God instructs His children not to fight against harsh governments, since doing so would amount to fighting against Him, as He is the One who places rulers in their positions according to His purposes for the present time. Daniel 4:17 confirms this principle, stating that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives authority to whomever He wills, even setting the lowest of men over kingdoms. The Christian's position in the face of harsh or unjust government, then, is not to rebel or seek its overthrow, but to endure such circumstances through faith, trusting that God remains sovereign and aware of the broader situation in society. He permits such governments for the advancement of His greater purpose during the present time, and believers can trust that conditions will eventually change according to His will. The proper response is patient endurance, relying on God to care for His people within whatever governmental circumstances they find themselves, rather than taking it upon themselves to overthrow authority He has permitted to stand.