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Ruling in a Universal Kingdom--Part 2

In the conflict between Christians and the world-system, we usually think of "world government" in negative terms. All of the prophesied "beast" systems since the time of Daniel have sought world domination, including the most successful final phase: Mystery Babylon.

The problem, however, is not so much the idea of world government as it is WHO RULES. The Bible makes it clear that after the four beasts of Daniel 7 (or the four metallic nations of Daniel 2), a final kingdom would arise that would be the Kingdom of God. It too is a universal kingdom, having a "world government." It is the Stone Kingdom of Daniel 2:35, destined to fill the whole earth, and it is described again in Daniel 7 as follows:

¹⁷ These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kingdoms who will arise from the earth. ¹⁸ But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, in all ages to come.

Further explanation comes later in verse 27,

²⁷ Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.

This is the true World Government in the Universal Kingdom of Jesus Christ and His "saints." So perhaps Christians ought not to bash the idea of world government, but instead focus upon qualifying to rule in the Universal Kingdom that is coming soon.

The fact is, I do believe in world government, because I believe Jesus Christ is the Heir of the world. I recognize the fact that in the days of Jeremiah and Daniel God gave the world into the hands of men with hearts like beasts. He did this in order to bring judgment upon Israel and Judah for their refusal to submit to the rule of the true God. But this judgment will not last forever. The days of these beasts are numbered. The same prophet who prophesied the rise of these four beasts is the one who has prophesied of their demise and the rise of the fifth kingdom, ruled by the saints of the Most High under the headship of Jesus Christ.

These saints will rule according to the mind and will of God and according to His laws, decrees, statutes, and judgments. At the present time, His will is our lifetime study. His will is known by being led by the Spirit and by studying the Word from Genesis to Revelation. In particular, one must study the laws regarding judges and rulers.

The first law of judges is that a judge must be impartial (Ex. 23:3). James 2:9 carries this mandate into the church, saying,

⁹ But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted of the law as transgressors.

Likewise, Paul tells us in 1 Tim. 5:21,

²¹ I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.

The impartiality of the law means that all are subject to it, whether they are Israelites or foreigners. Numbers 15:16 says,

¹⁶ There is to be one law and one ordinance for you and for the alien who sojourns with you.

We are NOT to tolerate double standards. Neither are we to tolerate the attitude among some Jews that non-Jews are less capable of doing righteously and hence should remain under the so-called "Noahide laws."

http://www.noahide.com/7laws.htm

Such views are based on the idea that Jews have better genes than others and are more beloved of God than other men. Such views absolutely contradict the idea of impartiality and the "one law" principle for all men. By such views has come pride in every form, and by those views men have oppressed others. In fact, these views reveal the heart of the beast governments that have oppressed and enslaved mankind for so long.

This may be the most important misunderstanding of the law ever devised. I do not believe that Jesus Christ will allow any such person to rule in His Kingdom.

Deut. 17:14-20 gives us further revelations of the mind of God in regard to how kings are to rule and judge:

¹⁴ When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, "I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me," ¹⁵ you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses, one from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman.

As the Stone Kingdom arises, it will not demolish national boundaries, but there will be peace between them. In that day, "nation will not lift up sword against nation," Isaiah 2:4 says. Revelation 22:2 says further that there will be a "tree," whose leaves will heal the nations. None of this would be relevant apart from the continued existence of those nations.

The difference is that their rulers will be appointed by Jesus Christ, who is the Yahweh of the Old Testament. ("Yahweh... has become my Yeshua." Isaiah 12:2). The law says that no one can rule apart from being chosen and appointed by Yahweh God. They will not be elected in a democratic manner, but appointed by the Monarch.

 Democracies and Republics are merely defenses against rulers who have the heart of a beast. They represent an attempt to limit their power to oppress men. But when Jesus Christ rules, He does not run for president. He must be recognized as the King of kings.

Each nation, then, must have one of its own as its king (under Jesus Christ, of course). For example, it would not be proper for me to rule as king in another nation. I might be an advisor, perhaps, or even exercise authority in a lesser position, but each king should be from among the people of their own nation.

¹⁶ Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, "You shall never again return that way."

Horses were the military tanks of the day. This speaks of an arms race and dependence upon military strength instead of having faith in Christ to protect us. If we are obedient to Christ, we will not be threatened by other nations. If we are disobedient, God Himself will raise up other nations to conquer us, regardless of how much we spend on armaments.

¹⁷ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.

The New Testament applies this to anyone in position of church authority, saying in 1 Tim. 3:12, "let deacons be husbands of only one wife." This was quite different from the Jewish practice in Paul's day. Whereas the law itself applied the law to kings, Paul applies it even to deacons. Further, whereas the law does not specify a precise number of wives that a king may have, Paul interprets it to mean just one wife is allowed at a time. This should be considered as a further Supreme Court ruling that clarifies the divine law.

God owns all the gold and silver by right of creation (Hag. 2:8). We are only stewards dispensing what He owns. If we think we own anything of God's, it makes no difference how much it is, it is still a sin. Therefore, it makes little difference how much gold and silver we have. The issue is how much of it we think is our right to use in violation of the will of God. By the spirit of the law, even a penny claimed by men might violate the law.