GOD RULES IN THE KINGDOMS OF MEN

TRUMPET VOLUME 1

Although God did not deprive Satan of his overlordship over the earth after his rebellion,
His ownership of the universe is not in dispute. “I have made the earth”, said God, “and
created man upon it: I, even my hands have stretched out the heavens and all their hosts
have I commanded.” (Isaiah 45:12) The fall of man at the instance of the Devil has not and
will not make the Almighty God fail to accomplish His purpose for mankind. That he rules
in the kingdoms of men and does unquestionably what he pleases is clearly shown in the
Scriptures.

God at different times intervened in the affairs of men to assert His overriding
sovereignty. When evil ran its course to an unbearable pitch in the days of Noah that the
wickedness of man was great and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only
evil continually, God stepped in. he destroyed all evil doers but saved Noah whom He found
to be righteous and his family of seven as to allow the human race to subsist. Even angels
who in disobedience participated in the debauchery of that time by getting to do with the
fair sex only to produce unnatural children, were not spared but were justly punished by
God. – Gen. 6:1-8; 7:1, 11-12, 22; 2 Pet. 2:4, 5.

But for the almightiness and providence of God, Satan would have turned the world
upside down. Men of sound mind and integrity have always acknowledged the fact that God
alone has an unquestionable control over the earth. Said King Jehoshaphat, “O LORD God of
our fathers, art Thou not god in heaven? And rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms of the
heathen? And in Thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand
Thee?” (2 Chron. 20:6) God preserves all His creation that no one can alter His purpose. To
this fact Nehemiah testified: “Thou, even thou, art God alone; Thou hast made heaven, the
heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas,
and all that is therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the
host of heaven worshipeth thee.” – Neh. 9:6.

Babylon was the first to organize government in the days of Nimrod its founder. It
was clearly distinguished from the patriarchal family sort of government set-up. But he was
a wicked man whose regime suffered ruin. (Gen. 10:8-10) However, Babylon still became
the third World Empire after Egypt and Assyria.

The Israelites suffered under the bondage of Egypt when the Pharaoh who knew not
Joseph was in power. And when god in answer to the cry of the Israelites sent Moses to
Pharaoh as to allow them passage to the wilderness, he blurted out, “Who is the LORD, that
I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.”-
Exo. 5:1, 2.
 Pharaoh’s wickedness in his oppression of the Hebrews and obstinacy informed the
manifestation of the power of God and his intervention in the government of Egypt. When
God unleashed punishment upon the Egyptians through the wonders of Moses and Aaron
that surpassed those of their sorcerers and magicians, Pharaoh was forced to confess to
Moses and Aaron: “I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are
wicked.” (Exod. 9:27) Eventually, the mass slaughter of all the firstborn of the Egyptians by
an angel was the last straw that broke the camel’s back and Pharaoh swallowed his pride
and let Israel go. God asked Moses to tell Pharaoh thus: “And in very deed for this cause
have in raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared
throughout all the earth,” – Exod. 9:16.

BABYLON

There is also the instance of God’s intervention in the Kingdom of Babylon when
Nebuchadnezzar, the king, was full of himself to the extent that he without regard for God
ascribed greatness to himself. Said he boastfully, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built
for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?”
And there is this record: “While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from
heaven, saying, O King Nebuchadnezzar, tot thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed
from thee.” (Dan. 4:30, 31) He was immediately humiliated having been afflicted with a
malady that made him go on all fours like a beast. Daniel the Prophet, had in his
interpretation of his dream that was fulfilling on him, said that his humiliation was “to the
intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth
it to whomsoever He wills, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” – Dan. 4:17.

At the expiration of the period of Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment, he regained his

senses. Here are his own words: “And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my
eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most high,
and I praised and honoured Him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting
dominion, and His Kingdom is from generation to generation: and all the inhabitants of the
earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and
among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto him, what does
Thou? Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose
works are truth and his ways judgement: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.”
– Dan. 4:34-35, 37.

Many people hardly learn from the experience of others, that is why they easily fall
victims of Satan’s machinations. Had Belshazzar the king recalled the experience of his
father, Nebuchadnezzar, and learnt by it he would not have lost his Kingdom nor would he
have been slain. He demonstrated deliberate defiance of the true God by using the sacred
vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem for his banquet of drinks to which he invited a
thousand of his lords. While he, his princes, wives and concubines used these holy vessels
in drinking, they “praise the gods of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of iron, and of
wood, and of stone.” Suddenly, God struck terror upon him when he saw a man’s
handwriting on the wall of his palace. He was thrown into such a panic that “the joints of
his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.” – Dan. 5:1-6.

Belshazzar’s confusion was worse confounded when none of his wisemen, the
astrologers, the Chaldeans and soothsayers, whom he immediately invited was unable to
read the writing or interpret it. The queen remembered Daniel and asked the king to send
for him. Then was Daniel brought and without mincing words he read the writing and gave
the interpretation. He recalled how God raised high his father Nebuchadnezzar, but
because of his pride and disregard for God, he was debased “till he knew that the Most High
God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that He appointed over it whomsoever He will”. He
added, “And thou his son, Belshazzar, hast not thou humbled thine heart, though thou
knowest all this; but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of Heaven; and they have
brought the vessels of His house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives and thy
concubines have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of
brass, iron, wood, and stone, which ye see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God, in whose
hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: then was the part of
the hand sent from Him ; and this writing was written.” -Dan. 5:10-24.

Daniel read the writing thus: “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.” The interpretation
was to the effect5 that god has numbered his kingdom and finished it. That he was weighed
in the balances and found wanting; and the kingdom was divided and given to the Medes
and Persians. In tht night Belshazzar, the king, was slain. Thus his reign ended
ingloriously.- verses 25-31.

WORLDLY GOVERNMENT

The governments of the world, though imperfect they are, are permitted by god to hold
sway over the affairs of men until His Kingdom or Government of righteousness and
endless peace will take over control of the world. Those who think they can rule in sheer
contempt for God have always ended up in shame and ignominy. King Herod who killed
James the apostle to vex the church and apprehended Peter whom God sent his angel to
deliver miraculously from him, was one of such rulers. He, in the pomp and grandeur of his
royalty, impressed his people by his oration so much that inn a thunderous applause they
shouted: “It is the voice of god, and not of a man.” At that instant the angel of God struck
him “because he gave not god the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the
ghost”. – Acts. 12:20-23.

In recent times, we are all witnesses of the sudden crash of the giant empire of the
Soviet Union whose policy was atheism. That a world power acclaimed to be super could in
a twist of faith be subjected to such a colossal fall is a clear confirmation of the time-
honoured truth that God rules in the kingdoms of men. Now in Russia and the other states
the gospel of Jesus Christ is flourishing and God is being worshipped. And there is this
prophecy: “For the nation and kingdom that will not serve Thee shall perish; yea those
nations shall be utterly wasted.” – Isa. 60:12.

Here in Nigeria, many people are yet to overcome the trauma experienced recently
during the reign of terror unleashed on the nation under the dictatorship of the late
General Sani Abacha. Those who flattered him and others who were instrumental in
executing his mischievous plans and objectives had a field day but every voice of dissent
was to be silenced and/or exterminated. Everyone looked on helpless as long as he wielded
his power ruthlessly. His sudden inglorious end that remains unsung drives home the point
that “the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever He will.” The
relief the demise of Abacha has brought to the country is better imagined than described.

Democracy said to be the best of human systems of government is now acclaimed to

have come to Nigeria. Those now charged with the responsibility to putting it into practice
in all ramifications of governance must endeavour not to fail the nation. Though no human
government is perfect, lot of things can be done to meet the expectations of people to an
appreciable and good extent, the function of the government is to protect the sovereignty of
the nation, engage genuinely in its development, harness available resources for the
advancement and stability of its economy, provide amenities and facilities to improve the
lives of people, and to ensure that there is order, decency and peace in the society.

It is on ground justice and fairness become vital requirements of rulers. Said King
David who doubled also as a prophet: “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to
me; He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the
light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender
grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.” (2 Sam. 23:3, 4) This accounts
for the joy of the people which King Solomon in his proverbs spoke about. He said, “When
the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the
people mourn.” He added, “The king by judgment (justice) stablisheth the land: but he that
receiveth gifts (bribes) overthroweth it. The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne
shall be established forever.” – Prov. 29:2, 4, 14.

NEW WORLD

Jesus Christ, when arraigned before Pilate the governor, drew a line between the kingdom
or government of the world and that of his, which is God’s Kingdom, “My Kingdom is not of
this world.” He said “if my kingdom is of this world, then would my servants fight, that I
should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” It was this
auspicious pronouncement that incensed Pilate to ask, “Art thou a king then?” Jesus’
answer was forthright: “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this
cause came I into he world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of
the truth heareth my voice.” – John 18:36,37.

The presence of worldly governments is recognized by God, and Jesus Christ paid
tax for himself and Peter. (Matt. 17:24-27) and in his encounter with the Pharisees as
regards tribute to Caesar, he confounded them when he said, “Render therefore unto
Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:15-
22) As long as this evil world persists true Christians will remain in it and prove to be loyal
to the powers that be, and be good citizens. Christ among other things said to his Father in
heaven, “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them (his disciples) out of the world, but that
Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” – John 17:15.

However, the hope of true ‘Christians is in the world to come, the New World or
World Without end under the sovereignty of Jesus Christ. This wicked world will pass away
in a terrible conflict but St. Peter gave this assurance, “Nevertheless we, according to his
promise look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” And he
went on to exhort, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that
ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.” – 2 Pet. 3:13, 14.

God intervenes and rules in the kingdoms of men in order to assert His eternal
sovereignty and ownership and not to allow Satan the devil to overthrow the world until
His promised kingdom or government under the kingship of Jesus Christ will be fully
established on the earth.