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 effect 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 that 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.