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The Most High Ruleth By Arlen L. Chitwood
Contents
FOREWORD
1. OVER THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH
2. IN THE KINGDOM OF MEN
3. FROM THE HEAVENS OVER THE EARTH
APPENDIX (CROWNED RULERS — CHRIST, CHRISTIANS)
(Book written, 1993, revised 2004)
Foreword
Scripture begins with a very brief, succinct statement concerning God’s creation of the material universe:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
God, at a point in time, brought the material universe into existence. Then God established a perfect form of universal government, allowing Him to exercise absolute, sovereign control over the whole of His creation.
God placed angels, whom He had also previously created (cf. Job 38:6, 7; Ezekiel 28:14, 15), in appointed positions to exercise delegated power and authority within His government. That would not only be true of the province upon which man presently resides (the earth) but of innumerable other provinces (undoubtedly multiplied billions) that God created, forming the innumerable galaxies (again, undoubtedly multiplied billions), which comprise a material universe of a size that can only stagger one’s imagination.
But the creation of man, though created for regal purposes, follows God’s creation of angels, the material universe, and the establishment of His universal government. Man, a latecomer within God’s creative activity, was brought into existence to replace one of God’s provincial rulers, one who had rebelled against divine power and authority. And man was created on the province (the earth) over which this ruler (Satan) had not only originally been placed but a province that he continued to govern following his fall.
(A principle of biblical government necessitates that an incumbent ruler, though disqualified, must continue holding the scepter until his replacement is not only on the scene but ready to assume the scepter [reference the account of Saul and David in the books of 1 & 2 Samuel].
In this respect, though disqualified to hold the scepter, Satan [with his angels] could only continue holding the scepter until God had not only brought forth his replacement [man] but had deemed his replacement qualified and ready to ascend the throne.)
Thus, man was created for a revealed purpose, which had to do with regality. Man was formed from a part of the earth, to rule the earth:
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion [Hebrew: radah, let them ‘rule’] . . . . (Genesis 1:26; cf. 1:28; 2:7, 8).
Then man’s fall, recorded in Genesis chapter three, was directly related to the purpose surrounding his creation. And, beyond that, God providing a means of salvation for fallen man was (and remains today) also directly related to the purpose surrounding his creation. The reason for and goal of salvation have to do with man one day occupying the position for which he was created.
That is to say, the purpose surrounding man’s fall (effected by Satan) had to do with his being brought into a position in which he could not assume the scepter, allowing the incumbent ruler to continue on the throne; and the purpose surrounding man’s redemption (effected by God) had to do with his one day being brought into a position where he could assume the scepter.
Thus, regality pervades the whole of the matter. God rules over all, angels rule under God, man was created to replace a disqualified angelic ruler, and man’s fall and redemption result from and have to do with the reason for his creation.
And, since the ultimate victory will be the Lord’s, man will one day replace the disqualified, incumbent ruler. “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance [‘without a change of mind’]” (Romans 11:29). God is not going to change His mind concerning the reason He called man into existence. Man will one day rule the earth in the stead of angels, realizing the reason for his creation in the beginning (Hebrews 2:5). |