God Rules in the Kingdoms of Men

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the mighty Babylonian Empire, learned a hard lesson about pride. While walking on the roof of his palace, he looked out and boasted:

“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30)

Immediately after, God humbled the great king. Just as the prophet Daniel had warned in a dream, Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind and lived like a wild beast.

He stayed in this state until he recognized a fundamental truth: the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills.

God Raises and Destroys Kingdoms

This central idea—that God is in complete control of human governments—is found throughout the Bible. We see it in the visions of Daniel, which predicted the rise and fall of the Persian, Greek, and Roman empires.

The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah also wrote detailed predictions about the rise and fall of many nations, including:

• Assyria
• Babylon
• Moab
• Ammon
• Ethiopia
• Egypt

When God divided the nation of Israel, He chose the leaders, set the tribal borders, and ensured that King David’s family continued to rule in Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:30-36).

Later, God used the Assyrians to punish the northern tribes of Israel. He also brought the Babylonian Empire to power to subjugate (bring under control) Judah.

Even in these difficult times, God remained in control. He limited Judah’s captivity to exactly 70 years and raised up the Persian king Cyrus to let the Jews return home (Jeremiah 29:4, 10-14; Isaiah 44:28-45:7).

Both Paul and Peter remind us that earthly authorities exist because of God, and He uses them to accomplish His purposes. (Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14).

Why Does God Allow Evil Kingdoms?

Even though God establishes governments, this does not mean Christians will always enjoy peace. The early church faced severe persecution from local and national leaders.

Jesus Himself was handed over to political authorities to be crucified. When Jesus stood before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, He made this clear:

“You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.” (John 19:11)

If God is in control, why does He allow wicked or oppressive rulers to exist? The Bible offers two key reasons:

1. Oppression provides opportunities for the Gospel

Jesus warned His disciples that they would be brought before kings and rulers. However, He explained that this would give them a chance to share the Gospel (Luke 21:10-19).

Paul stood trial before several high-ranking Roman officials and shared the message of Christ with people he would otherwise never have met (Acts 22-26).

While in prison, Paul preached to the entire palace guard (Philippians 1:12-13), and some members of Caesar’s household became believers (Philippians 4:22).

Similarly, when early persecution scattered the church in Jerusalem, believers traveled to new regions and spread the Gospel everywhere they went (Acts 8:4).

2. Evil governments expose the depth of human sin

When people reject God, their minds become darkened, leading to cruelty and oppression (Romans 1).

Wicked regimes, like Nazi Germany, show what happens when a society worships power and embraces hatred or eugenics (the practice of trying to control reproduction to breed “desirable” traits).

Even political movements claiming to represent God, like the medieval Inquisition (a historical campaign of trials and punishments by the Catholic Church), were actually struggles for political power.

Earthly kingdoms rely on force, but Jesus explained that His kingdom is different. His power does not come from human weapons (Matthew 20:25-28; John 18:36). Evil nations show us our need for Christ’s message of salvation.

The Christian’s Role in Earthly Nations

When opponents tried to trap Jesus with a question about taxes, He gave a famous reply:

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:17)

Peter echoed this exhortation (strong encouragement) by telling Christians to obey and honor government leaders for God’s glory (1 Peter 2:13-17).

Even though the Roman Caesar claimed to be a god, early Christians still had to respect his office and obey the law.

Paul warned that resisting lawful authority is like resisting God Himself (Romans 13:1-7). We respect and obey leaders not because we agree with all their policies, but because we trust the God who placed them there.

The Exception to the Rule

There is only one limit to our submission: we must not obey the government if it commands us to disobey God.

When the Jewish Sanhedrin (the high council of religious leaders) ordered Peter and John to stop preaching, the apostles refused.

“We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

When Roman emperors demanded that Christians worship them, believers had to refuse, even though they continued to obey all other laws.

A Witness to the World

Our respect for authority is a powerful testimony to unbelievers. People watch how we behave.

They notice when we obey laws that are inconvenient or pay taxes honestly. They also notice whether we speak respectfully of our leaders (“Honor the king”) or if we spew anger and insults when we disagree.

Our goal should be to display the fruit of the Spirit in our roles as citizens.

Our Greatest Citizenship Is in Heaven

While we should love our home countries, we must remember that our primary citizenship is in heaven. (Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 11:13-16; Ephesians 2:19-22).

We are temporary travelers, exiles, and foreigners in this world. The nations of this earth will eventually fall, but the kingdom of God will stand forever.

Let your deepest loyalty belong to the King of Kings. Be more concerned with sharing the Gospel than with promoting a political agenda.

It is fine to participate in elections, but do not make politics your god. A political party cannot bring about the moral change that only the Gospel can produce.

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