The provided transcripts don't specifically describe governments paying clergy, but Les Feldick teaches that religious organizations hold tremendous political power and that a future religious government will unite religion and the state.
Les Feldick says worldwide religious organizations have tremendous wealth and political power. He also describes a coming 'religious government' that receives its power from Satan. Paul's words in Romans 13 show government as God's minister and a collector of taxes, but they don't command state funding of churches.
Romans 13:1-7 — Paul outlines the God-ordained role of civil government, including taxes and submission, providing the biblical backdrop for government-religion issues.
Revelation 17:3 — This vision of a woman riding a beast portrays a religious/political power, which Les Feldick connects to present and future religious systems.
The Bible presents civil government as an institution God has ordained. Romans 13:1 says, "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." Government's purpose is to be a terror to evil and to allow believers to pursue a peaceful life (Romans 13:3-4). Citizens support this God-given ministry through taxes: "For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing" (Romans 13:6). Scripture also uses powerful prophetic imagery of religion joined to political power. In Revelation 17:3, John writes, "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." The Bible does not specifically command civil governments to fund churches; rather, it shows government as God's minister for order and judgment.
Les Feldick does not directly discuss European state-funded clergy in the available transcripts. But he does describe worldwide religious organizations that already have tremendous wealth, political power, and a history of persecuting true believers (Clip 0). He also teaches that a coming 'religious government' — the second beast of Revelation — will be a satanic religious system led by a religious figure who speaks like a dragon (Clips 3/4). Les acknowledges that in our day, government guarantees rights to assembly and religion (Clip 2). He applies Romans 13 to the believer's duty: submit, pay taxes, and only resist when the state commands something contrary to Scripture (Clips 5-7).
Les Feldick says we are already seeing the seeds of the great religious system that will come on the world (Clip 0). He points to huge worldwide religious organizations that have tremendous wealth, tremendous political power, and have, for the most part, been persecutors of true believers. He does not name one specific denomination but says there is much speculation about which system will head it up.
In Daniel's vision, Les explains that the second beast rises 'up out of the earth' and is a 'religious government.' It is centered in a person who has two horns like a lamb — a religious leader — but speaks like a dragon. Though he appears to be a religionist, his power comes from Satan. This is a satanic religious system that will come on the scene, uniting religion and government (Clips 3/4).
Paul's teaching in Romans 13 shows that government is God's minister even when ungodly, and believers should pay tribute (taxes) so government can do its work (Clips 5, 7). Les Feldick adds that it is the believer's responsibility to live peaceably under the government, but if a regime commands something contrary to the Christian faith or Scripture, the believer has the right to say, "I can't do that" (Clip 6).
Les Feldick notes that in our present time, the government "guarantees our rights to assembly and to religion" (Clip 2). This is a form of legal protection for religious organizations. He also observes that large religious organizations already hold tremendous political power (Clip 0), which can give them a privileged relationship with government. The transcripts do not directly mention tax-funded clergy salaries.
Religious Wealth and Political Power
Les notes that huge worldwide religious organizations already have tremendous wealth and political power, and many have persecuted true believers.
Why Even "Good People" Can't Escape God's Judgment — Romans 2
But many of them even narrowed it down that it has to be based upon the gospel of Jesus Christ. And again I read something just the other day, I think it was by Jefferson, and Jefferson of course was not what I would call a born again believer. I think Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin both were more or less the same bull to claw.
Government Guarantees Religious Rights
Les observes that in our day, the government guarantees rights to assembly and religion, which is one way governments legally support religious practice.
Religious Government Predicted
Les identifies the second beast as a religious government whose leader is a religious figure energized by Satan.
Satanic Religious System
Les repeats that the second beast is a satanic religious system — a religious government that rises out of the earth.
Government as God's Minister
Les teaches that government is God's minister even when ungodly, and believers should pay taxes.
Resisting Ungodly Government
Les says believers should submit to civil government, but have a right to resist when the state contradicts Scripture.
Government's God-Given Role
Les explains that government is meant to be a terror to evil and that taxes fund its protective role.
Romans 13:1: 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.
Paul establishes that civil government is an institution appointed by God, which is foundational to any discussion of government support.
Romans 13:6: For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
This verse shows that taxes are part of the believer's duty toward the government, which is God's minister.
Romans 13:7: Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
The believer is to give government what is due, but this passage does not direct the government to fund religious organizations.
Revelation 17:3: So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
This prophetic imagery is used by Les Feldick to depict a great religious system connected to political power.
Romans 13 shows government is God's minister for justice and order, not a required funder of churches. The Bible doesn't explicitly command or forbid state sponsorship of religion. Les Feldick's clips focus on religious organizations' wealth and political power rather than on government subsidies.
In the provided transcripts, Les Feldick doesn't directly discuss European state churches or government-paid ministers. He does talk about worldwide religious organizations with wealth and political power and about a future religious government energized by Satan.
Les teaches that believers should live peaceably under government, but when government commands something contrary to Christian experience or Scripture, believers have the right to resist (Clip 6).
Watch the Teaching: Revelation 17 Explained: The Rise of the Antichrist's World Religion