Who Really Rules the Nations?

     At the present time in history we are still in the extended sixth world kingdom, but quickly approaching the seventh and final kingdom which will consist of ten nations.

     All nations are called by almighty God to either bless or chastise His chosen nation of Israel.  In which way is God using America today?

     Biblical history is very clear on the sovereignty of the nations.  Let’s review a bit of Israel’s history to confirm that truth.

     The second world kingdom, following the Egyptian Kingdom, was Assyria.  They were called on to chastise the Israelites for their disobedience.  The following example took place around 725 BC.

     “Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel…and the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel…until the LORD removed Israel out of His sight as He had said by all His servants the prophets…”  2 Kings 17:18, 20, 23

     God had warned the Israelites in advance of the consequences of their disobedience.  He acted on His word (as He always does) and sent the king of Assyria to plunder Israel.

     “In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria…carried Israel away…”   2 Kings 17:6

     The king of Israel had no voice in their punishment and the king of Assyria had no voice in his assignment.

     Jeremiah described Israel’s punishment under Assyria and their subsequent chastisement by the third world kingdom, i.e. Babylon.

     “Israel is like scattered sheep…First the king of Assyria devoured him; now…Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.”  Jeremiah 50:17

     God is totally sovereign over the kings of the nations.  He assigns their actions and then punishes them for their mistreatment of Israel.

     “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; ‘Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.’” Jeremiah 50:18

     God had forewarned southern Judah of her punishment at the hands of Babylon many years before northern Israel fell to Assyria. 

     “And the LORD of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers…But they mocked the messengers of God…and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.  Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans (Babylon)…”  2 Chronicles 36:15-17

     Once again the king of Judah had no voice in their punishment, and at the same time God ‘brought against them the king of Babylon.’

     Seventy years before Judah was deported to Babylon, God had already announced that the future king of Persia would free the Jews from Babylonian captivity.

     “Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus…to subdue nations before him…to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut…for Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name…though you have not know Me.”  Isaiah 45:1, 4

     Cyrus, the Persian king, was called by name 140 years before He was born and at the exact time in predetermined history, God sent Him on his mission to free the Jews from the king of Babylon.

     “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD…might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia…”  2 Chronicles 36:22

     Jeremiah again expounded on God’s sovereignty relative to the king of Persia defeating the king of Babylon.

     “…The LORD has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes (and Persians).  For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it, because it is the vengeance of the LORD…”  Jeremiah 51:11

     Now, recall present Syria was part of the Assyrian kingdom; Babylon was the present Iraq; and Persia was the present Iran.

     President Obama as a professed Christian must be well aware of God’s sovereignty over the nations considering even geopolitical matters.

     Following are several of the president’s statements relative to the ‘world.’

     “We have the power to make the world we seek…the people of the world can live together in peace.”

     “…American leadership is the one constant in an uncertain world.”

     “America is better positioned today to seize the future than any other nation of earth.”

     Is he right?

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