Whomever HE Pleases!

The one true God changes the times and seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings as He pleases - to achieve His purposes. Church leaders often exhort their members to work diligently for the election of politicians approved by them, claiming their election is God’s will. They warn of the dire consequences that will befall us if we fail to immerse ourselves in partisan politics, but they do this despite the teachings of Scripture and the Witness of History.

It seems that followers of Jesus must fight tooth and nail for the candidates and ideologies chosen by their “spiritual” leaders, even using the immoral and often violent means of this world to do so.

[Photo by Benjaminrobyn Jespersen on Unsplash]

How do these alleged “men of God” know which political party represents God’s will, or which proposed policy will advance His cause on the Earth? Can our Christian leaders see “the end from the beginning,” or do they know what is truly in the heart of any political candidate or officeholder? How do they know what the immediate or long-term plan of God is?

The Book of Daniel declares that God gave the king of Judah, Jerusalem, and the “vessels of the house of God” into the “hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon,” the pagan ruler who later destroyed the Kingdom of Judah, the City of Jerusalem, and the Temple, and exiles many Jews to Babylon.

What patriotic Israelite given half a chance would have elected that man to the imperial throne? Nevertheless, with Nebuchadnezzar in mind, the Prophet Daniel praised Yahweh as the one who “removes kings and sets up kings” – (Daniel 2:21, 4:17).

Nebuchadnezzar attributed his might and majesty to his own talents. In response, an angel pronounced punishment on him. He would soon learn that the “Most-High has dominion over the kingdom of men, and to whomever he pleases, he gives it, and He sets up over it even the lowest of men” – (Daniel 4:17).

King Nebuchadnezzar was removed from the throne for “seven seasons” until God restored him to office. Humbled, the mighty ruler of the World Empire declared:

• “I rendered praise and honor to the God of Heaven, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation, before whom all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and according to his own pleasure he deals with the army of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth, and none there is who can smite upon his hand, or say to him - What have you done?”

The King of Babylon learned that only God has dominion over all governments, empires, regimes, and other political powers. He grants the right to rule to whomever he pleases, and He does so to accomplish His purposes.

Despite the testimony of Scripture, why are so many of us seemingly incapable of accepting and applying this lesson to our circumstances?

THE ARRANGEMENT OF GOD

Writing to believers living in the center of the World Empire, the Apostle Paul exhorted them to respect governors, magistrates, and the emperor. “There is no authority except by God, and the existing ones have been arranged by Him, therefore, he who opposes the authority, opposes the arrangement of God” - (Romans 13:1-7).

Paul wrote this when members of the church had few if any civil “rights” under Roman rule. They certainly had no ability or opportunity to elect their political representatives or influence the policies of the Roman Regime.

At the time Paul wrote his Letter to the Romans, the Empire was ruled by Nero, one of the most despotic rulers of Roman history, a man who murdered his mother, kicked his pregnant wife to death, and became the first emperor to persecute the Church of Jesus Christ, yet the Apostle exhorted believers not to oppose Caesar’s government.

God's hand is not limited. He is well able to employ evil, good, and even incompetent rulers, kings, and presidents to achieve His plans, and despite its irresistible power, the once mighty Roman Empire no longer exists. All the political powers of this evil age inevitably fall and vanish from the Earth. Rome was no exception, and its contemporary incarnation will certainly not escape the same fate.

In the end, only the Kingdom of God will be left standing. It is the only political reality that will endure on the Earth. As for the political systems, parties, and ideologies of the present world order, they will prove to be “perishing meat”, they will not survive the return of Jesus in power and glory.

When Satan offered Jesus all the political powers of this age, God’s chosen Messiah and King refused the offer. Instead, he submitted to an unjust death at the hands of the World Empire, and he taught his disciples to walk this same path – To deny themselves, take up the cross, and become servants of all men who are in need:

• “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it” - (Matthew 16:24).

• “You know that they who rule over the nations tyrannize them, and their great ones dominate them. But it is not so among you! Whoever would become great among you, will be your servant, and whoever would be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” – (Mark 10:42-45).

Since his elevation to the Davidic Throne, Jesus has been calling his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations, not to seize political power and forcibly impose his reign or otherwise imitate the corrupt political systems of this age.

This is not a call for passivity or disengagement from the world, but a summons for the church to engage humanity in the same way that Jesus and his Apostles did – by faithful witness, prayer, enduring unjust suffering, and yes, even martyrdom.

Unfortunately, having arrogated to themselves the right to decide who should govern, according to their own likes and dislikes, many church “leaders” have trespassed on what is God’s prerogative. But it is the “God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” who grants political power to whomever He pleases.

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SEE ALSO:

• Lord of History - (Imperial arrogance is the legacy of the Tower of Babel, humanity’s first but certainly not last attempt to establish the World Empire)

• Kings and Emperors - (God allows good and evil rulers to govern nations and uses them to accomplish His purposes. Believers must show them proper respect)

• The True Emperor - (Messianic promises from the Psalms are applied to the present reign of Jesus who possesses all authority in Heaven and on Earth)

• Rois et Empereurs - (Dieu permet aux bons et aux mauvais dirigeants de gouverner les nations et les utilise pour accomplir Ses desseins. Les croyants doivent leur montrer du respect)