In politics, as in many other fields of activity, human beings continually strive for promotion. Yet we don’t ask ourselves where promotion comes from or the power that exalts men to positions of authority or removes them from such positions. The Psalmist tells us that every promotion comes from God. He is the one Who both raises men up and puts them down (Psalm 75:4-7).
The record of the men who have held office as president of the most powerful nation is a remarkable confirmation that the source of political power is outside the men who themselves exercise it. From the writings of murdered President John F. Kennedy comes this well-illustrated passage:
This insight into the nature of governing affirms the lesson of our history that there is no program of vocational training for the presidency; no specific area of knowledge that is peculiarly relevant. Nor are qualities of great leadership drawn from any particular section of the country or section of society. Nine of our Presidents, among them some of the most brilliant in office, did not attend college; whereas Thomas Jefferson was one of the great scholars of the age and Woodrow Wilson the president of Princeton University.
We have had Presidents who were lawyers and soldiers and teachers. One was an engineer and another journalist. They had been drawn from the wealthiest and most distinguished families of the nation, and have come from poor and anonymous beginnings. Some, seemingly well endowed with great abilities and fine qualities, were unable to cope with demands of the office, while others rose to greatness far beyond any expectation.
When we turn to the records of the kings of Israel, we find none other than David who rose to greatness. Unlike other men who have achieved political greatness, David recognized the source of his greatness. In a prayer to God uttered near the end of his life, he acknowledged the true source of his power and ascribed his greatness solely to God:
Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hands are power and might; in Your hands, it is to make great and to give strength to all (1 Chronicles 29:12).
Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel is another great prophet who discovered the true source of political power. Challenged by King Nebuchadnezzar to reveal both the king’s dream and interpretation, he and his companions sought God in earnest prayer and received the answer by direct revelation (Daniel 2:17-19). In response, Daniel offered his prayer of gratitude and acknowledgment:
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever! For wisdom and might are His! He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding! (Daniel 2:20-21).
In the fourth chapter of Daniel, the prophet is again called to interpret a dream for King Nebuchadnezzar. Concerning this dream, Daniel told the king:
This sentence is by the decree of the heavenly watchers and the decision is by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whomever He will and sets over it the humblest and lowliest of men (Daniel 4:17 AMP).
God Uses Human Rulers as Instruments of Judgment
Why should God raise up base men as rulers? The answer is supplied by the case of Nebuchadnezzar. The Jewish nation had persistently offended God by religious backsliding and social injustice. After many warnings, God set over them a cruel and idolatrous king Nebuchadnezzar.
In a series of judgments that progressively increased in severity, Nebuchadnezzar first removed many of the Jews as captives to Babylon and brought the nation under tribute. Finally, he destroyed the city of Jerusalem, together with the temple, and uprooted the whole nation out of their own land.
When Daniel and his companions sought God in earnest prayer, God changed the heart of Nebuchadnezzar. On the account of the special wisdom given by God to Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar raised him and his companions to positions of highest power. Daniel’s three companions became rulers of the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself became the prime minister of the entire Babylonian empire with power only to that of Nebuchadnezzar himself.
The book of Daniel has a powerful message to offer about God’s sovereignty in human history. Israel is the specific focus of his dealings as he intervenes in the lives of the kings, dispensing blessing and punishment, open to their cries for help. We see how, on the whole, good kings last longer than bad ones.
In the same way, God rules over all nations. He chooses leaders and rulers and decides how much time and space each has. He can act in justice, giving the people the ruler they deserve, or in mercy, giving them the ruler they need. He still has the casting vote even in democratic elections.
His ability to overrule in no way reduces human responsibility. He can use even those who have no knowledge of him – a bad ruler like Nebuchadnezzar to take his people into Babylonian exile and a good ruler like the Persian Cyrus to restore them to their own land again.
Are Political Leaders Selected?
I understand many credible analysts point out in their publications that U.S. Presidents are not elected, they are chosen by the New World Order planners, but what we need to know is that the Lord raised up the most savage warriors on earth- the Chaldeans.
He told the prophet Habakkuk that they were going to sweep through the nation of Israel like a wind and destroy the people and the temple. “I am going to use the Chaldeans as a sword of my judgment” (Habakkuk 1:5-11).
When Habakkuk became concerned how justice could prevail when the wicked Chaldeans who were actually worse than the wicked Jews, are allowed by God to bring judgment upon God’s chosen people; God’s reply is that the just shall live by faith in God and have confidence that God is doing what is right. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John records:
And the angel further said to me, the waters that you observed, where the harlot is seated, are races and multitudes and nations and dialects (languages). (Does this description sounds familiar?) And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfil His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which dominates and controls the rulers and leaders of the earth. (Revelation 17:16-17).
The woman cited in these verses rides a ‘beast’ with seven heads and ten horns, which clearly represent a federation of political figures. We are not told who they are, nor are we given many details about them. They are powerful men but without territory to rule. Their authority derives from the ‘beast’, presumably the antichrist, to whom they will devote absolute allegiance.
The woman riding the beast on the backs of kings which is a reversal of gender contrary to creation, means that economics will rule politics, and the power of money will override other authority. Since the year 2000 the bulk of the world’s business was in the hands of 300 corporations, most of them in America, therefore this scenario is not difficult to imagine. The rules are:
- Controlling energy they can control nations; by controlling food they can control individuals. By excessive rates, regulations and taxes destroy all small businesses.
- Merge all big business until about 6 companies control the commerce of each country. This is called centralization of control. Thus merge, merge, merge is the name of the game.
One ambitious politician hungry for power will resent this financial monopoly. He and other leaders will be prepared to bring about economic disaster if that will enable them to gain power. Remember the corporations used Hitler to destroy the Jews who controlled many Banks in Germany.
We are told that the ‘kings’ will be jealous of the ‘woman’ who rides them and will resolve to destroy her Revelation 17:16). The city will be razed by fire. It will be the biggest economic disaster the world will have seen.
Many, many people will ‘weep and mourn’ over the ruins. God will have caused the catastrophe, but not by any physical action. Keep in mind that God is sovereign and He is the source of all political power, even those ten kings mentioned in the Book of Revelation who are yet to receive power and authority as rulers for a single hour along with the beast (Revelation 17:12; Daniel 7:20-24).
He will have ‘put it into their hearts to accomplish His purpose’ (Revelation 17:17). He will have encouraged them to make an alliance with the beast against the city. The anti-Christ will have political control and the false prophet religious control; the ‘kings’ will now offer them economic control in return for delegated powers for themselves. But their enjoyment of such privileges will be extremely brief.
Those who are tied to the world’s system will lose everything when Mystery Babylon collapses. What they have worked for a lifetime to build will be destroyed in one hour. Those who work only for material rewards will have nothing when they die or when their possessions are destroyed.
Various corporations today are often based on greed, money, and power. But Christians are warned not to take part in Babylon’s sins (Revelation 18:4-5), or to love this world or the things that are in the world:
Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh (craving for sensual gratification) and the lust of the eyes (greedy longings of the mind) and the pride of life (assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things)—these do not come from the Father but are from the world itself. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever (1 John 2:15-17 AMP).
No matter what happens, we must trust that God is still in control. He overrules all the plans and intrigues of the evil one, and God’s plans will happen just as He says. God even uses people opposed to Him as tools to execute His will. Although he allows evil to permeate this present world, He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though He is surrounded by light (Daniel 2:21-22).
