[ All scripture references are from the New Living Translation — NLT ]
It is safe to say we live in perilous times. Jesus’ commentary about “wars and rumors of wars” is playing out on the world stage before our eyes on the nightly news. And this can certainly be frightening to much of the population and troubling to most of us, but it is important to listen to Jesus’ words on the subject,
“And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come”. (Matthew 24:6-8)
For Jesus-followers there is valid reason to remain calm and carry on! None of this is a surprise to God!
The history of human governance is a long, often blood-stained chronicle of rising and falling empires, each promising stability but ultimately succumbing to the weight of its own imperfection. In the book of 2 Kings, we see a stark reflection of this cycle. The text traces the agonizing decline and eventual collapse of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. While some leaders flickered with a brief light of righteousness, the majority fell tragically short of the divine ideal. Again, this disappointment was not a surprise to God; it was a predicted consequence of humanity’s desire to find salvation in earthly structures rather than divine sovereignty.
The root of this systemic failure can be traced back to the era of the Judges. When the people of Israel demanded a king to be "like all the other nations," they were not merely seeking a political shift; they were rejecting God’s direct rule. The prophet Samuel was deeply grieved by this, but God clarified the situation:
"Do as they say," the LORD replied to Samuel, "for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer" (1 Samuel 8:7).
Samuel warned the people that an earthly king would bring conscription, heavy taxation, and the loss of personal liberty, and concluded with a somber reality check:
"At that time you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day" (1 Samuel 8:18).
Despite this, governing authorities still remain a part of God’s provisional plan for a fallen world. Scripture acknowledges that some form of order is necessary to restrain chaos. Paul instructs the church in Rome,
"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God" (Romans 13:1). Peter echoes this, urging believers to "Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king" (1 Peter 2:17).
The biblical tension lies in the fact that while we respect the office, we must never worship the officer. Even the best rulers are flawed, and many choose to govern by values that are diametrically opposed to the Kingdom of God.
When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, the representative of the greatest earthly power of that age, the definition of "kingship" was put on trial. Pilate, thinking in terms of borders and battalions, asked if Jesus was the King of the Jews. Jesus responded by redefining the very nature of his authority:
"My Kingdom is not of an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36).
That phrase "but my Kingdom is not from here”, signals a temporary state of affairs. We currently live in the tension of the "already but not yet." While Jesus’ kingdom is not sourced in the world’s power structures, it is destined to eventually overwhelm them. This is why Jesus taught his disciples to pray for a specific type of intervention:
"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).
This prayer is a recognition of the truth found in the Psalms:
"The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him" (Psalm 24:1).
We are not praying for a better version of human government; we are petitioning for a total "regime change" administered by the Creator himself.
The ultimate regime change will not be won through a ballot box, a grassroots movement, or a military coup. It will be an act of divine intrusion. The current era is characterized by a "divided kingdom" where Christians often find themselves at odds with the spirit of the age. Jesus was candid about the cost of this dual citizenship, warning that
"you will be dragged into courts and flogged in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me" (Matthew 10:17–18).
Despite the looming threat of persecution, the believer’s posture is one of radical hope. We are told that when the world’s systems begin to crumble under the weight of their own corruption, we should not cower. As Luke records,
"So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!" (Luke 21:28).
The climax of human history won’t be a slow evolution toward peace, but a sudden, glorious takeover. The Book of Revelation captures the finality of this moment:
"The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever" (Revelation 11:15).
This will be the ultimate regime change. Every earthly ruler, from the kings of 2 Kings to the presidents and prime ministers of today, is merely a placeholder. The flawed governance of man is a temporary bridge to the perfect governance of the King of kings. Until that day, we live as ambassadors of a distant country, working for the good of our current neighbors while keeping our eyes fixed on the horizon, waiting for the King who will finally make all things right.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org