Government: Should nations have borders?
What a controversial subject this has been! But what does the Bible tell us about this? It is this Book of all books that should always be our guide, even on political issues. Unfortunately, most people have little interest in the Bible, if any interest in it at all. By no means is it often thought to be the source of truth and wisdom that it certainly is!
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick [alive], and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [Emphasis added]
The Bible is a source of truth the unbeliever finds impossible to grasp unless the subject is the gospel message [as in I Corinthians 15:1-4] by which he can be saved.
I Corinthians 2:14
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. [Emphasis added]
It is the Bible that is a divine book. It is the Book that reveals the nature of God and much more, having practical value for daily life like no other book in existence.
II Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect [mature in thinking], thoroughly furnished unto all good works. [Emphasis added]
Having the wisdom of the Bible even provides true happiness.
Proverbs 3:13-15
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 For the merchandise [SACHAR = profit] of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. [Emphasis added]
It is for this reason we should have an ongoing desire for a thorough understanding of it.
I Peter 2:2
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: [Emphasis added]
In this case, we need wisdom concerning the value of a strong border, instead of some international order of things. It is in the Bible that we find the origin of nations and countries with borders.
Genesis 10:5
5 By these [people] were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. [Emphasis added]
Here is another example in that same passage.
Genesis 10:19
19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha [on the southern border of Canaan]. [Emphasis added]
Then later in chapter eleven we see God speaking about the need to separate people in this way to restrain their evil practices. A part of this that was done to separate them and create nations was the creation of the various languages.
Genesis 11:1-9
1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. [Emphasis added]
As you can see, this was the origin of nations with borders. We find that this situation of people being scattered into nations having borders will continue throughout this present age of grace, as well as in the time of the coming Tribulation and Second Coming of Christ, and all the way to the end of the thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth. This next passage speaks prophetically of that future time.
Revelation 20:3,7-8
3 And [Jesus Christ] cast him [Satan] into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [Emphasis added]
Therefore, despite all Satan’s efforts to unite man into a one-world order, God tells us in the Bible that such a one-world order will never happen. It is safe to say that from now to the end of human history on Earth there will always be nations with borders. That’s because this is precisely the way God wants it. This will be the way of things despite the best efforts of organizations such as The United Nations and The World Council of Churches. It is good that God does this to restrain and limit man’s evil. It is through the philosophy of internationalism that Satan would be far more successful with only one political system to have to influence and control. It is for the purpose of hindering and limiting his control that God has instituted nations with borders. From the beginning Satan has sought to deceive man. One area of deception has been to cause him to think that a one-world order would bring peace and prosperity to all mankind.
Revelation 12:9
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [Emphasis added]
However, for the time between Christ’s Second Coming to the Earth to the end of a thousand-year reign, God will remove Satan and imprison him. As we noticed above, it is right after that period that he is again released for a short time.
Again, nations with borders have always been essential for limiting Satan’s influence. This is why God will see to it that, for the most part, borders will be preserved. In his sermon on Mars Hill the apostle Paul makes mention of this.
Acts 17:24-26
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; [Emphasis added]
Should these boundaries be defended? That’s another controversial subject. The answer is a resounding yes! Again, it is when nations are not defended and there’s a mingling of the nations that Satan is allowed to have greater control. But despite his best efforts, he will not succeed. In the end, he is locked up and punished forever.
Revelation 20:10
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. [Emphasis added]
But meanwhile God uses nations with borders to keep the activity of evil limited. He has placed various authority structures for this in every nation.
Romans 13:1-7
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers [authority structures]. For there is no power [authority] but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power [their system of authority], resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers [the authority figures] are not a terror to good works, but to the evil [criminals]. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain [for capital punishment]: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil [criminals like those who unlawfully cross borders].
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath [because of punishment], but also for conscience sake [because it is the right thing to do].
6 For this cause pay ye tribute [taxes] also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. [Emphasis added]
Every country has the God-given right and responsibility to clearly define its borders. They’ve also been given the right to protect those borders in whatever ways they can. It has been this way from the beginning, and this will continue right on.
