The Kingdom of God Amidst the Political Intrigue of the Kingdom of the World

The world will not have Jesus Christ to rule over it (Lk 19:14). People are ignorant of the King of kings (1 Tim 6:15), and the kings prefer it that way. Suppression of the truth is essential (Rom 1:18), for those who wish money and power for themselves. This is why nations participate in espionage, censorship, and disinformation.

The kingdom of God is in the Spirit (Rom 14:17). It is spiritual (1 Cor 2:15), and those who have been transferred into it (Col 1:13) have the title, “ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20).” The ministry of these ambassadors is the reconciliation of lost souls (2 Cor 5:18–20).

As nations seek an elusive unity, the most powerful attempt to gather power to themselves. They construct treaties and alliances, some public and some secret. When they work to be united, there is always subterfuge between them. There is endless bunkum. When the balance of power becomes lopsided, there is resistance.

The kingdom of God on the earth is the church of Jesus Christ. The church is the assembly of God’s people scattered among the nations (Rev 5:9). To some degree, the church is visible to the kings of the earth. The devil, the great deceiver (Jn 8:44), has his spies in the church, even as he rules the kingdom of this world (Jn 12:31; 14:30).

Those who serve Satan in Christ’s church, operate as angels of light. They are messengers sent to deceive the people of God with a deluding influence (2 Thess 2:11). They spread lies in order to confuse the people of God. They lead Christians away from the Bible, or they twist the Scriptures, in order to mislead them (2 Cor 11:4).

Christians are of God, not of the world. We are not to love the world, nor the things of the world because we only sojourn here for a time (1 Jn 2:15–17). Still, we must serve God in our generation. The task is to preach Christ the King (1 Cor 2:2), to make him known to the lost, elect souls and to the people of the world, who belong to the world.

In proclaiming Christ to all people, everywhere (Mt 24:14; Mk 16:15), Christians engage in the spiritual warfare explained in the Bible (Eph 6:10–20). Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and power in high places (Eph 6:12). We have one weapon, and that is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6:17).

By preaching and teaching the Bible, we follow in the steps of Jesus (1 Pet 2:21), who suffered for the sake of the elect people of God (1 Pet 2:24), as did the Apostle Paul (2 Tim 2:10), and everyone else who has gone before us (Col 1:24). The kingdoms of the world do not want to hear what we have to say. The Gospel of God is not good news to them.

When a man, belonging to the world, hears that the world is condemned to destruction (2 Pet 3:10–12), he cannot believe it. He loves the world. He loves the things of the world. He never dreams of denying himself all that the world offers him, in return for his allegiance. The god of this world makes promises he cannot keep, but man is deceived (2 Cor 4:4). Men, of course, deny this, unequivocally.

The nations are in an uproar (Ps 2). Their quest for building their own versions of utopia, heaven on earth, are ever in competition with one another (Eccl 4:4). Even within nations there are civil wars, as the proud attempt to establish themselves as little gods (Gen 3:5). They are replaced by new despot-wannabes in every generation.

Christians must be reminded, in the midst of upheaval that nothing thwarts the advance of the kingdom of God. Tyrants come and go, but the Word of God stands, forever (Ps 119:89; Is 40:8). It must advance to all nations. It must be preached, until the last of God’s elect, redeemed people has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 2:5; Col 2:13; 1 Pet 1:3). Then, the end of the world will come, just as it is written in Holy Scripture (Mt 24–25; Mk 13; Lk 21).

In tumultuous times of political intrigue, in a nation or between nations, Christians must fix their eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2), the King of glory and anchor for our souls (Ps 24; Heb 6:19). He is our Rock (1 Sam 2:2), our Fortress (Ps 18:2), and our Shelter in the storm (Ps 91). He is Lord of all (Acts 10:36), and the world must hear about it, either as a warning of judgment to come or as a message of salvation from that very same scheduled wrath (Mt 3:7; Lk 3:7).

There is no hope, for those who place their trust in some version of salvation concocted by this world (Acts 4:12). There is absolutely nothing that can bring peace and stability to our world (Jn 14:27). Trouble in the world is guaranteed (Jn 16:33).

Empires come and go. Economies rise and fall. Kings are exalted and brought low. History serves to illustrate the biblical truth that there is no new thing under the sun (Eccl 1:9). The Bible assures us this will be true, up until the very last day of history, which is the terrible Day of the Lord (1 Thess 4:13–5:11).

Christian, our Lord Jesus Christ is on the throne of God (Rev 7:17), at the right hand of Majesty (Ps 110:1; Heb 1:3). In His sovereign reign over heaven and earth (Mt 28:18), He rules in judgment of nations. In this, He is sovereign (1 Tim 6:14–15). In the intrigue of kings and kingdoms He knows all things, even as He directs all things (Prv 3:5–6; Eph 1:11; 3:11).

Our pledge of allegiance is to heavenly Zion (Heb 12:22), to our exalted King, who is coming again, to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). The kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of God because there will be nothing left of this world, after the righteous judgment (Rev 11:15; 19:11–21).

A final reminder, my dear reader, is for you to ready yourself for the One who says, “Behold, I am coming, quickly (Rev 22:20).” Even so, come Lord Jesus. We who are called by your Name, welcome You.

David Norczyk

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

January 12, 2021