No. 819
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish [fill] the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Gen. 1:26-28)
In the first chapter of the Divine Revelation, God thus declares His purpose concerning His earthly creation and its government. This commission to multiply, and fill, and subdue, and have dominion over the earth was not to Adam alone, but to all mankind: “Let them have dominion,” etc. Had the human race remained perfect and sinless, this dominion would never have passed out of its hands.
Notice that in this commission no man is given dominion or authority over fellowmen, but the whole race is given dominion over the earth, to cultivate and to make use of its products for the common good. Had the race remained perfect and carried out this original design of the Creator, as it grew in numbers it would have been necessary for men to consult together, and to systematize their efforts, and to devise ways and means for the just and wise distribution of the common blessings. And as, in the course of time, it would have been impossible, because of their vast numbers, to meet and consult together, it would have been necessary for various classes of men to elect certain of their number to represent them. And if all men were perfect, mentally, physically and morally; if every man loved God and His regulations supremely, and his neighbor as himself, there would have been no friction in such an arrangement.
Thus seen, the original design of the Creator for earth’s government was a republic in form, a government in which each individual would share. This dominion of earth conferred upon man had but one contingency upon which its everlasting continuance depended; and that was that this divinely-conferred rulership be always exercised in harmony with the Supreme Ruler of the universe, whose one law, briefly stated, is Love. “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Rom. 13:10) “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. . . . Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matt. 22:37-40)
But man’s disobedience to the Supreme Ruler forfeited not only his life, but also all his rights and privileges as God’s representative ruler of earth. Then speedily the kingdom of God on earth ceased, and has not since been established, except for a short time, in a typical manner, in Israel.
Our Lord’s death redeemed or purchased not only man, but also all his original inheritance, including the dominion of earth. He is now the rightful heir, and in due time He will take possession of His purchase. (Eph. 1:14) But as He bought man not for the sake of holding him as his slave, but that He might restore him to his former estate, so with the dominion of earth: He purchased it and all of man’s original blessings for the purpose of restoring them when man is again made capable of exercising them in harmony with the will of God. Hence the reign of Messiah on earth will not be everlasting. It will continue only until, by His strong iron rule, He will have put down all rebellion and insubordination, and restored the fallen race to the original perfection, when they will be fully capable of rightly exercising the dominion of earth as originally designed. When thus restored, it will again be the Kingdom of God on earth, under man, God’s appointed representative.
During the Jewish Age God organized the people of Israel as His kingdom, under Moses and the Judges – a sort of Republic – but it was typical only. And the more despotic rule afterward established, especially under David and Solomon, was in some respects typical of the Kingdom promised, when Messiah should reign. Unlike the surrounding nations, Israel had Jehovah for their King, and their rulers nominally served under Him. (Psa. 78:70-71) Israel is called “the kingdom of the Lord” (2 Chron. 13:8) and it is said that Solomon “sat on the throne of the Lord, instead of David his father” (1 Chron. 29:23),who sat upon or exercised the rule of the same throne for the forty years previous, following Saul, the first king.
When the people of Israel transgressed against the Lord, He chastised them repeatedly, until finally He took away their kingdom entirely. In the days of Zedekiah, the last who reigned of the line of David, the scepter of royal power was removed. There the typical kingdom of God was overthrown. (Ezek. 21:25-27) In fulfilment of this prophecy the king of Babylon came against Israel, took the people captive and removed their king. Though afterward restored to national existence by Cyrus the Persian, they were subjects and tribute payers to the successive empires of Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, down to the final destruction of their nationality, A.D. 70, since which time they have been scattered among all nations.
The kingdom of Israel is the only one, since the fall, which God ever recognized as in any way representing His government, laws, etc. All kingdoms other than that of Israel are Scripturally called heathen or Gentile kingdoms – “the kingdoms of this world,” under the “prince of this world” – Satan. The removal of God’s kingdom in the days of Zedekiah left the world without any government of which God could approve, or whose laws or affairs He specially supervised. The Gentile governments God recognized indirectly, in that He publicly declared His decree (Luke 21:24) that during the interregnum the control of Jerusalem and the world should be exercised by Gentile governments (“the Times of the Gentiles”).These “times” or years, during which the “kingdoms of this world” are permitted to rule, are fixed and limited, and the time for the re-establishment of God’s Kingdom under Messiah is equally fixed and marked in Scripture.
Evil as these Gentile governments have been, they were permitted or “ordained of God” for a wise purpose. (Rom. 13:1) Their imperfection and misrule form a part of the general lesson on the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and prove the inability of fallen man to govern himself, even to his own satisfaction. God permits them, in the main, to carry out their own purposes as they may be able, overruling them only when they would interfere with His plans.
Man’s inability to establish a perfect government is attributable to his own weaknesses in his fallen, depraved condition. These weaknesses, which of themselves would thwart human efforts to produce a perfect government, have also been taken advantage of by Satan, who first tempted man to disloyalty to the Supreme Ruler. Satan has continually taken advantage of man’s weaknesses, made good to appear evil, and evil to appear good; and he has misrepresented God’s character and plans and blinded men to the truth. Thus working in the hearts of the children of disobedience (Eph. 2:2), he has led them captive at his will and made himself what our Lord and the Apostles call him – the prince or ruler of this world. (John 14:30; John 12:31) He is not the prince of this world by right, but by usurpation, through fraud and deception and control of fallen men. It is because he is a usurper that he will be summarily deposed. Had he a real title as prince of this world, he would not thus be dealt with.
Thus it will be seen that the dominion of earth, as at present exercised, has both an invisible and a visible phase. The former is the spiritual, the latter the human phase – the visible earthly kingdoms measurably under the control of a spiritual prince, Satan. It was because Satan possessed such control that he could offer to make our Lord the supreme visible sovereign of the earth under his direction. (Matt. 4:9) When the Times of the Gentiles expire, both phases of the present dominion will terminate: Satan will be bound and the kingdoms of this world will be overthrown.
In order that His children should not be in darkness relative to His permission of present evil governments and concerning His ultimate design to bring in a better government, God has given us, through His Prophets, several grand panoramic views of the “kingdoms of this world,” each time showing, for our encouragement, their overthrow by the establishment of His own righteous and everlasting kingdom under the Messiah, the Prince of Peace. That man’s present effort to exercise dominion is not in successful defiance of Jehovah’s will and power, but by His permission, is shown by God’s message to Nebuchadnezzar, wherein God gives permission to rule, until the time for the setting up of Christ’s Kingdom, to the four great empires, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. (Dan. 2:37-43) This shows where this lease of the dominion will end. As we now glance at these prophetic views, let us remember that they begin with Babylon at the time of the overthrow of the kingdom of Israel, the typical kingdom of the Lord.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM
Among those things “written aforetime” for our edification (Rom. 15:4), is the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and its divine interpretation through the Prophet Daniel, who explained the dream, saying:
“Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. . . . This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.” (Dan. 2:31-34)
“Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” (Dan. 2:35)
“This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. . . . Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee [silver], and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter’s clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.” (Dan. 2:36-42)
The student of history can readily trace, among the many smaller empires of earth which have arisen, the four above described by Daniel. These are termed “universal empires” – Babylon, first, the head of gold; Medo-Persia, conqueror of Babylon, second, the breast of silver; Greece, conqueror of Medo-Persia, third, the belly of brass; and Rome, fourth, the strong kingdom, the iron legs and clay-mixed feet. Three of these empires had passed away, and the fourth, the Roman, held universal sway over “all the world” at the time of our Lord’s birth, as we read, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.” (Luke 2:1)
The iron empire, Rome, was by far the strongest, and endured longer than its predecessors. In fact, the Roman Empire still continues, as represented in the nations of Europe. This division is represented in the ten toes of the image. The clay element blended with the iron in the feet represents the mixture of church and state. This mixture is in the Scriptures termed “Babylon” – confusion. As we shall presently see, stone is the symbol of the true Kingdom of God, and Babylon substituted an imitation of stone – clay – which it has united with the fragmentary remains of the [iron] Roman Empire. And this mixed system – church and state – the church nominal wedded to the kingdoms of this world, which the Lord calls Babylon, confusion, presumes to call itself Christendom – Christ’s Kingdom.
Daniel explains: “And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men [church and world blend – Babylon]: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. [They cannot thoroughly amalgamate.] And in the days of these kings [the so-called “Christian kingdoms” or “Christendom” represented by the toes] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” (Dan. 2:43-44)
Continuing his interpretation, Daniel states: “Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” (Dan. 2:45)
The stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which smites and scatters the Gentile powers, represents the true Church, the Kingdom of God. When complete, when entirely cut out, it will smite and destroy the kingdoms of this world. Not the people, but the governments, are symbolized by the image, and these are to be destroyed that the people may be delivered. Our Lord Jesus came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. (John 3:17)
The stone does not become the mountain until it has smitten the image; and so the Church, in the full sense, will become the Kingdom to fill the whole earth when “the day of the Lord,” the “day of wrath upon the nations” or “time of trouble,” will be over, and when it will be established and all other dominions have become subservient to it.
When the iron rod has accomplished the work of destruction, then will the hand that smote be turned to heal, and the people will return to the Lord, and He shall heal them, giving them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. (Isa. 19:22; Jer. 3:22-23; Hos. 6:1; Hos. 14:4; Isa. 2:3; Isa. 61:3)
DANIEL’S VISION
The stone class, the true Church, during its selection or taking out of the mountain, has been esteemed by the world as of no value. It has been despised and rejected of men. They see no beauty in it that they should desire it. The world loves, admires, praises and defends the rulers and governments represented in this great image, though it has been continually disappointed, deceived, wounded and oppressed by them. The proud are now called happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up in power. (Mal. 3:15) Can we not see, then, that the destruction of this great image by the smiting of the stone, and the establishment of God’s Kingdom, means the liberating of the oppressed and the blessing of all? Though for a time the change will cause disaster and trouble, it will finally yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness.
But now, calling to mind the difference of standpoint, let us look at the same four universal empires of earth from the standpoint of God and those in harmony with Him, as portrayed in vision to the beloved Prophet Daniel. As to us these kingdoms appear inglorious and beastly, so to him these four universal empires were shown as four great and ravenous wild beasts. And to his view the coming Kingdom of God (the stone) was proportionally grander than as seen by Nebuchadnezzar. (For Daniel’s description of these four beastly empires, see Dan. 7:2-7)
Of the fourth beast, Rome, Daniel says: “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; . . .and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” (Dan. 7:7-8)
Here the Roman Empire is shown; and the divisions of its power are shown in the ten horns, a horn being a symbol of power. The little horn which arose among these, and which appropriated the power of three of them to itself, and ruled among the others, represents the small beginning and gradual rise to power of the Church of Rome, the Papal power or horn. As it rose in influence, three of the divisions, horns or powers of the Roman Empire were plucked out of the way to make room for its establishment as a civil power or horn. This last especially notable horn, Papacy, is remarkable for its eyes, representing intelligence, and for its mouth – its utterances, its claims, etc.
After giving some details regarding this last or Roman beast, and especially of its peculiar or Papal horn, the Prophet states that judgment against this horn would be rendered, and it would begin to lose its dominion, which would be consumed by gradual process until the beast should be destroyed.
No matter what may be the means or instrumentality used, the cause of this fall will be the establishment of the Fifth Universal Empire of earth, the Kingdom of God, under Christ, whose right it is to take the dominion. The transfer of the kingdom from the fourth beast, which for its appointed time was “ordained of God,” to the fifth kingdom, under the Messiah, when its appointed season has come, is described by the Prophet in these words: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him [the Christ – head and body complete] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” This the angel interpreted thus: “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Dan. 7:13-14, 27)
The dominion of earth is to be placed in the hands of Christ by Jehovah (“the Ancient of days”), who shall “put all things under his feet.” (1 Cor. 15:27) Thus enthroned over God’s Kingdom, He must reign until He shall have put down all authority and power in conflict with the will and law of Jehovah. The “kingdoms of this world,” like the “prince of this world,” will not surrender peaceably, but must be bound and restrained by force. And thus it is written, “To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints.” (Psa. 149:8-9)
Each of these governments represented in the image and by the beasts existed before it came into power as the universal empire. So, too, with the true Kingdom of God: it has long existed separate from the world, not attempting rulership, but awaiting its time – the time appointed by the Ancient of days. And, like the others, it must receive its appointment and must come into authority or be “set up” before it can exercise its power in the smiting and slaying of the beast or kingdom preceding it. Hence the appropriateness of the statement that God will set up His Kingdom in “the days of these kings” (while they still have power) and it will consume all those kingdoms and stand forever. (Dan. 2:44) Hence, however we may look for it, we must expect God’s Kingdom to be inaugurated before the fall of the kingdoms of this world, and that its power and smiting will bring their overthrow.
Man’s idea was self-government independent of God; and when God permitted him to try the experiment, Satan embraced the opportunity to extend his influence and dominion. Thus it was by wishing to forget God (Rom. 1:28) that man exposed himself to the influence of this wily and powerful though unseen foe; and therefore he has ever since been obliged to work against Satan’s machinations, as well as his own personal weaknesses.
While, therefore, we recognize the beastly character of these governments, as rendered so by the exaltation to power of a majority of unrighteous rulers, through the intrigues and deceptions of Satan, operating through man’s weaknesses and depraved tastes and ideas, yet we recognize them as the best efforts of poor, fallen humanity at governing itself. But after centuries of experiment, the results are as far from satisfactory today as at any period of the world’s history. In fact, the dissatisfaction is more general and widespread than ever before; not because there is more oppression and injustice than ever, but because, under God’s arrangement, men’s eyes are being opened by the increase of knowledge.
This increase of knowledge among men, which is of God’s appointment, and comes to pass in His own due time, is one of the mighty influences which are now at work binding Satan. The increase of knowledge in every direction awakens a feeling of self-respect among men, and a realization of their natural and inalienable rights, which they will not long permit to be ignored or despised; rather, they will go to an opposite extreme. And the Prophets declare that because of the increase of knowledge a still more general and widespread dissatisfaction will finally express itself in a world-wide revolution, in the overthrow of all law and order; that anarchy and distress upon all classes will be the result; but that in the midst of this confusion the God of heaven will set up His Kingdom, which will satisfy the desires of all nations. Wearied and disheartened with their own failures, and finding their last and greatest efforts resulting in anarchy, men will gladly welcome and bow before the heavenly authority, and recognize its strong and just government. Thus man’s extremity will become God’s opportunity, and “the desire of all nations shall come” – the Kingdom of God, in power and great glory. (Hag. 2:7)
Knowing this to be the purpose of God, neither Jesus nor the Apostles interfered with earthly rulers in any way. On the contrary, they taught the Church to submit to these powers, even though they often suffered under their abuse of power.
The Church of God should give its entire attention and effort to preaching the Kingdom of God, and to the advancement of the interests of that Kingdom according to the plan laid down in the Scriptures. If this is faithfully done, there will be no time nor disposition to dabble in the politics of present governments.
The early Church, shortly after the death of the Apostles, fell a prey to this very temptation. The preaching of the coming Kingdom of God, which would displace all earthly kingdoms, and of the crucified Christ as the heir of that Kingdom, was unpopular, and brought with it persecution, scorn and contempt. But some thought to improve on God’s plan, and, instead of suffering, to get the Church into a position of favor with the world. By a combination with earthly powers, they succeeded. As a result, Papacy was developed, and in time became the mistress and queen of nations. (Rev. 17:3-5; Rev. 18:7)
By this policy everything was changed: instead of suffering, came honor; instead of humility, came pride; instead of truth, came error; and instead of being persecuted, she became the persecutor of all who condemned her new and illegal honors. She made all nations “drunk” with her erroneous doctrines. (Rev. 17:2) Thus it comes that the kingdoms of Europe today claim to be Christian kingdoms, and announce that their sovereigns reign “by the grace of God,” i.e., through appointment of either Papacy or some of the Protestant sects. The Reformers fell into the same error, and exercised the authority of monarchs in appointing and sanctioning governments and kings, and denominating such “Christian kingdoms,” or kingdoms of Christ.
God never approved of calling these kingdoms by the name of Christ. The claim that these imperfect kingdoms, with their imperfect laws and often selfish and vicious rulers, are the “kingdoms of our Lord and his Anointed” is a gross libel upon the true Kingdom of Christ, before which they must shortly fall, and upon its “Prince of Peace” and righteous rulers. (Isa. 32:1)
Let it be seen that the best and the worst of earth’s nations are but “kingdoms of this world,” whose lease of power from God is now about expired, that they may give place to their ordained successor, the Kingdom of Messiah, the Fifth Universal Empire of earth (Dan. 2:44; Dan. 7:14, 17, 27) – this view will do much to establish truth and to overthrow error.
The world is fast coming to realize that the “kingdoms of this world” are not Christlike, and that their claim to be of Christ’s appointment is not unquestionable. In fact, the tendency with many is to conclude that Christianity itself is an imposition without foundation, and that, leagued with civil rulers, its aim is merely to hold in check the liberties of the masses.
O that men were wise, that they would apply their hearts to understand the work and plan of the Lord! Then would the present kingdoms melt down gradually – reform would swiftly follow reform, and liberty follow liberty, and justice and truth would prevail until righteousness would be established in the earth. But they will not do this, nor can they in their present fallen state; and so, armed with selfishness, each will strive for mastery, and the kingdoms of this world will pass away with a great time of trouble, such as was not since there was a nation. Of those who will be vainly trying to hold to a dominion which has passed away, when the dominion is given to Him whose right it is, the Lord speaks, urging that they are fighting against Him – a conflict in which they are sure to fail:
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. . . . Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss [make friends with] the Son [God’s Anointed], lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psa. 2:1-6, 10-12)
(From Studies in the Scriptures, Volume I, Chapter XIII, condensed and edited.)
Write to us at: epiphanybiblestudents@gmail.com