Romans 13 and Revelation 13

[JohnHurt]

If you are operating a non-profit that is not a church, you are required to file various returns.

If you are a legitimate church, then you don't need to.

I am not a non-profit, or a "legitimate church" as these are entities of the State. My faith and activities do not exist as an subordinate entity to the governments of men.

I usually give direct to the needy and bypass "the legitimate church" entirely. Christ forbade me from supporting a paid clergy. Matt 10:8

But if a "legitimate church" is helping the needy, then I may support it financially, as I would any other charity.

The "legitimate church" is legitimate only in the eyes of the State. The Government of Men is the source of its "legitimacy", not God.

There is "another church" that only the Lord can grant admission:

Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

And the Lord can remove people from His Church:

Rev 3:(16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Yet anyone can walk into a "legitimate church" and stay as long as they like. So there are two churches and two sets of rules.

Many of the people sitting in the "legitimate church" are good people that belong to the Church that Christ created. But there are other people sitting in the pews of every "legitimate church" that have not been added to the Lord's Church. They are two groups that overlap.

Here is a difference between the two church systems:

The "legitimate church" that is authorized by the State never suffers persecution as long as it follows the rules of the State.

The "Lord's Church" is always under attack by the enemy, or the "Beast":

Rev 13: (7) And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

(8) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

To me it appears that there are many people who sit in a "legitimate church" and yet somehow worship "the Beast" system. They are only "Christians" on Sunday, or when it benefits them in some way.

My question is:

Does participating in the "tax deduction" system for private donations put the Government of Man in a superior position over the Church, where government can dictate policy to Christians concerning "legitimate" donations?

What does Revelation 13 have to do with the relation of the Church with Government, or a false "Beast system" religion that is aligned with the Government?

In Rev 13, my guess is that the first beast is the governments of men, the second is the church of Constantine, and her daughters.
The Second beast's purpose is to compel Christians to worship the government of men:

(12) And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast,

The "Tax Deduction" system is an enticement to partake of that worship. That is why I reject it.