The Lord Jesus Christ testified
that there will be wars and rumors of wars until the time of the
end. He said that nations will rise against nations and kingdoms
would rise against kingdoms. All of this is done according
to his purpose in order that he might demonstrate the innate
corruption of natural men as well as the very temporary nature
of all kingdoms which occupy real estate in this earth. Why
should we be at all surprised at the corruption which is often
uncovered among those who are in places of leadership in these
earthly governments? The Lord revealed to Nebuchadnezzar
that he was pleased to put the basis, that is the lowest or
most corrupt, of men in these leadership positions. The present
situation, along with its glaring hypocrisy, among those in high
places of government in our country, simply goes to prove that the
word of God is true and every man is a liar. If a man is not
visibly corrupt in his moral character when he goes into office,
it is usually not long after serving there that we discover
he has been sure to serve himself. Those who look for righteous
government in this world are looking in the wrong place. There
are no godly nations, regardless of what motto might be printed
on the money or how well respected the Founding Fathers might have
been. When the Lord Jesus was here, he neither condemned human
governments nor commended them, since he knew what was in the
hearts of men. He ordained the powers that be
for his own purpose, for he had determined to be unjustly accused
and tried by those same powers in order to put himself in a
position to be crucified by them, in order that he might demonstrate
the establishment of his own everlasting kingdom. This kingdom,
which he has come into the world to establish, is one which flesh
and blood cannot inherit, human understanding cannot grasp, and
into which no man can gain an entrance by his own will. It
is a kingdom which is set in direct contrast to all earthly
kingdoms. Wherever there is a nation which
rises up, there will soon be a nation which is turned back
to the dust. As long as we are in this present
world, we will continue to be, in some measure, a subject of
the kingdoms of this world, which shall wax and wane and rise and
fall according to the good pleasure of him who has subjected us to
the same, and who turns the heart of the king whethersoever he
wills, just like he determines the course of a river or the
bounds of the ocean that it cannot pass. In direct contrast to these
fickle and passing empires, we see the kingdom of the Lord Jesus
Christ standing unshaken and unchanging. He testified that
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Here he describes
his unshakable and unshaken kingdom. The church of the Lord Jesus
Christ is not an organization, but is a living entity which
he inhabits and maintains his sole headship over. The kingdom
of our Lord does not occupy buildings of brick and mortar. It transcends
time and space and cannot be defined by boundaries which can
be located by land surveyors. It cannot be seen by the natural
eye, nor is it anywise hindered or prospered by anything which
is of the flesh. It is nonetheless manifested
in every generation and has as its subjects a people out of
every kindred and tribe in the earth. The people of God, who
are the sheep of his pasture, are the very substance of his
kingdom, over which he shall rule forever, and they shall
gladly rejoice therein. This is an unmovable kingdom,
because it is built upon the one foundation stone, which is
eternal and unchanging. This kingdom cannot be moved.
His word is everlasting, and his promises cannot fail. This
kingdom, therefore, cannot be moved, because it is the decreed
will of the Father to present this everlasting kingdom to the
sons of God who were made joint heirs with Christ. Jesus Christ
has been given a name which is above every name, having triumphed
openly over the enemies of God, redeeming his people. He is seated
upon the throne of his kingdom, and has shaken the earth with
his word, that those things which cannot be shaken might remain. God, who at sundry times and
in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son. Do you hear Him today?