The Kingdoms of This World
In Luke 4:5-6 we read these words, "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it."
The devil admires and administers what he has don in the kingdoms of the world. He will give it all to the man who worships him, and what a terrible day that will be, one of history's tragic defining moments.
It is true that God established human government, but sinful mankind has perverted and ruined even that. The prophet Daniel describes the world's great powers as beasts. All this world's politics and governments are little
streams flowing together into one great river, which is the kingdom
of the Antichrist, the Beast, the Man of Sin. Revelation 17:12-13 foretells, "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast."
Will this government of governments recognize the Lord and submit to Him? On the contrary, Revelation 17:14 tell us, "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." Thus will end human government.
God has something infinitely better planned for this world, but there will be no referendum or election to bring it to reality. Instead, we read in Revelation 11:15 heaven's announcement, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."
"And in the days of these kings 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." Daniel 2:44
Randy Akl gave us the following quotes about world governments, in a message he preached in May of 2015.
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Pericles, ruler of Grecian empire during the golden age of ancient Greece, in 398 B.C:
“Our nation, this most powerful, wealthy and dominant people on the face of planet Earth, shall shine on for the millennium to come.”
The next year, when Greece was at its greatest peak as a world power, he proclaimed,
“As we are a democracy, we can never fail. The people’s will is what makes us strong and we will live on forever.”
Within a year he was dead and four years later his nation was gone, completely broke, battered and ravaged.
Emperor Constantine, ruler of Rome:
“Under our watch we shall conquer and never fail.”
He spoke these words standing atop what are now the ruins of a once great empire.
Emperor Romulus Augustulus of Rome:
“Forever shall we live as a beacon of glory to the world.”
A terrorist band named “Vandals” ransacked Rome shortly thereafter and the world plummeted into the Dark Ages.
Napoleon, mid 1800's:
“We French are among the most populace of Europe, most wealthy and possess an army that has brought us virtually the whole of the continent. Viva la France! Our great nation will prosper forever as the most powerful nation on earth.”
Premier Gorbachev, USSR, 1989:
“We uphold a bold, long storied tradition. Our nation controls much of Asia, half of Europe, and our sphere of influence and power is felt on every continent of the globe.”
A couple of years later the USSR didn’t exist at all.
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“Our nation, this most powerful, wealthy and dominant people on the face of planet Earth, shall shine on for the millennium to come.”
The next year, when Greece was at its greatest peak as a world power, he proclaimed,
“As we are a democracy, we can never fail. The people’s will is what makes us strong and we will live on forever.”
Within a year he was dead and four years later his nation was gone, completely broke, battered and ravaged.
Emperor Constantine, ruler of Rome:
“Under our watch we shall conquer and never fail.”
He spoke these words standing atop what are now the ruins of a once great empire.
Emperor Romulus Augustulus of Rome:
“Forever shall we live as a beacon of glory to the world.”
A terrorist band named “Vandals” ransacked Rome shortly thereafter and the world plummeted into the Dark Ages.
Napoleon, mid 1800's:
“We French are among the most populace of Europe, most wealthy and possess an army that has brought us virtually the whole of the continent. Viva la France! Our great nation will prosper forever as the most powerful nation on earth.”
Premier Gorbachev, USSR, 1989:
“We uphold a bold, long storied tradition. Our nation controls much of Asia, half of Europe, and our sphere of influence and power is felt on every continent of the globe.”
A couple of years later the USSR didn’t exist at all.
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Instead of hoping in men, following them, campaigning and voting for them, mankind ought to turn seek the Lord, cry out to Him and follow Him, because only His kingdom is forever.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:6-7
