Prophecy Watchers — Studies with Stearman
Episode: "God and Country | Studies with Stearman"
Date: March 11, 2026
Hosts: Gary Stearman and Mondo Gonzales
Episode Overview
In this episode, Gary Stearman leads a deep-dive Bible study on Romans 13, examining the Christian's responsibility to government and neighbors—especially in light of biblical prophecy and historical context. Stearman traces the development of Paul's views on civil authority, the apostolic stance on obedience to governing powers, and the radical call to love in a chaotic world. Throughout, he grapples with the unsettling idea that even corrupt governments are ultimately permitted by God, challenging listeners to faith, obedience, and readiness as the return of Christ draws near.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Context of Romans 13: Christian Citizenship under Rome
- Historical Background (00:04–09:30)
- Stearman situates Paul's letter amidst first-century Rome, highlighting Paul's exceptional education and experience as both a Jew and Roman citizen.
- “Paul was an extremely well educated man,” (00:07) and appealed to Roman authorities multiple times.
- Early Christians were seen by Rome as a Jewish sect and often conflated with Jewish unrest and rebellion.
- The Jews frequently revolted against Roman rule, earning a reputation as "an unruly lot." (00:09)
- Paul penned Romans 13 in AD 57, during what was known as the Quinquennium Neronis—the first five, peaceful years of Nero’s reign before chaos erupted.
2. The Christian Stance toward Government
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Paul’s Teaching (00:12–15:40)
- Paul commands, “let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God.” (00:12)
- In summary: Christians are called to submit to government, not rebel, because all authority is established by God—even when those governing are wicked.
- Stearman notes that both Peter and Paul emphasize this point, despite facing persecutors like Nero.
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Apostolic Consistency (00:17–19:30)
- Peter, writing contemporaneously, echoes Paul: “submit yourself to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king... or unto governors.” (00:18)
- Early believers believed that even evil emperors were God’s instruments, no matter how “ungodly” they were.
3. The Paradox: Honoring Evil Governments
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Historical Ironies & Faith Challenges (00:20–27:50)
- Paul and Peter were eventually executed by the very empire they instructed Christians to honor.
- Stearman explores the tension: “God's ways are beyond man's ways... Would God put into power a man like [insert tyrant here]? Yeah.” (00:21)
- Prophecy does not predict a golden age before Christ’s return; rather, “in the latter days things are going to get worse and worse...” (00:23)
- Governments—good or bad—play their part in God’s redemptive plan and fulfill prophecy, even if that includes economic chaos and persecution.
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Christian Response: Protest vs. Rebellion (00:28–33:00)
- Lawful protest, not violent uprising, is mandated: “not disobedience, but legitimate protest is the duty of the Christian.” (00:28)
- Even amid persecution, early Christians “did not rebel... they sang hymns. And that's the honest historical truth.” (00:32)
4. Obedience, Tribute, and Practical Submission
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Paying Taxes & Showing Honor (00:38–42:00)
- Paul commands, “for this cause pay ye tribute also... tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” (00:39)
- Jesus’ teaching is revisited: “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.” (00:40)
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True Citizenship (00:42:30)
- Stearman reminds listeners: “your true citizenship is in heaven... while you’re living in this alien land... observe the customs here. You do it on faith that there is a God in heaven behind it all...” (00:42)
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Faith Under Challenge (00:44:00)
- God even places undesirable people in authority for His purposes; this can be hard to accept, but “the Bible says, God puts those people there.” (00:44)
5. Christian Life: Obligations and Call to Love
- Love Fulfills the Law (00:47–55:00)
- Paul’s radical imperative: “Owe no man any thing but to love one another.” (00:48)
- In Greek, Stearman emphasizes, this is an emphatic, non-negotiable command—"Don't you go on owing anything to anyone else but love." (00:49)
- Loving everyone, not just a select few, is the fulfillment of the law. “Love is probably the hardest assignment that any of us will ever receive.” (00:53)
- Jesus condensed the law to: “love God... and love your neighbor as yourself.” (00:54)
- Challenging personal application: “You don’t know my neighbor... but you owe everybody.” (00:55)
6. Prophetic Urgency: Living in “High Time”
- Imminence and Readiness (00:57–01:03:00)
- Paul warns, “knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (00:58)
- The “kairos” (season) is a period when action is appropriate—the apostles believed Christ’s return was imminent, and modern Israel’s existence revives this urgency.
- Personal application: live as if cleaning house for a guest; “You get the rooms cleaned up, so to speak.” (01:01)
7. Living Out the Calling: “Put On Christ”
- Practical Holiness (01:05:00–End)
- “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh...” (01:07)
- Stearman explores the idiom of “getting dressed” spiritually, not just holding faith inwardly but displaying Christ in outward actions.
- “You want to look sharp and be in shape... looking good as a Christian.” (01:12)
- Walk in the light, cast off “works of darkness,” and let your conduct reflect Christ—especially as the world grows darker.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Submission to Authority:
- “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God.” — Gary Stearman, reading Paul (00:12)
- “God puts people in power at different times for different reasons.” (00:45)
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On the Paradox of Obedience:
- “Both Peter and Paul say... it is God who puts these men in the positions that they occupy. Do you believe that?” (00:21)
- “No prophecy says that in the last days, things are going to get better and better... every prophecy says... things are going to get worse and worse.” (00:23)
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On Love as the Christian’s Debt:
- “Don’t you go on owing anything to anyone else but love.” (00:49)
- “Love is probably the hardest assignment that any of us will ever receive.” (00:53)
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Application and Urgency:
- “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (00:58)
- “Personal application: Live as if cleaning house for a guest... in preparation for the guest. And that's exactly how you're to run your life in view of the fact that Jesus is coming soon.” (01:01)
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On Handling Governmental Adversity:
- “I'd like to go out there packing heat. Let's get this thing fixed up right. ... Well, that's not what the Bible says. ... And it challenges your faith.” (00:44)
- “Government rises and falls and goes through cycles of degeneracy. But still your faith has to say, there is no power but that power of God.” (00:45)
Important Timestamps
- 00:04–09:30: Historical background on Paul, Jewish-Roman relations, and the reign of Nero
- 00:12–15:40: Introduction to Romans 13 and the Bible’s teaching on submission to government
- 00:20–27:50: The paradox of honoring evil rulers; prophecy and the worsening state of the world
- 00:38–42:00: On taxes, tribute, and practical submission (link to Jesus’ teaching)
- 00:47–55:00: Radical call to love as the fulfillment of the law
- 00:57–01:03:00: The urgency of living in readiness for Christ's return (“high time”)
- 01:05–End: “Put on Christ”—practical holiness, “getting dressed up” spiritually, and walking in daily faith
Conclusion: Faith, Obedience, and Readiness
Throughout the study, Stearman wrestles with hard questions about godly submission, the presence of evil in authority, and the believer’s radical call to love. He consistently pulls listeners back to the sovereignty of God in world affairs—even as things appear to unravel—urging a posture of faith and readiness for Christ's imminent return. The sharp edge of Paul’s teaching is as bracing now as when written, compelling Christians to honor authority, owe nothing but love, and “put on” Christ daily as “the night is far spent [and] the day is at hand.”