The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! – Mk 1:15

What’s the good news that has to do with God’s kingdom? Do you know? Not just personal salvation; what’s the kingdom-level news?

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” – Mt 28:18

An authority shift! But who had the authority before?

• He raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come – Eph 1:20-21
• And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross – Col 2:15
• After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. – Heb 1:3-4
• Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him – 1 Pe 3:21-22

Rulers, authorities, powers, dominions, angels,….? It seems that before Jesus came these other entities had some sort of authority. (The book of Enoch, which gets quoted in the New Testament, describes these spiritual beings, “Watchers“, in great detail.)

And yet God was always over all the kingdoms of this world:

• you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth – 2 Ki 19:15; Is 37:16
• You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations – 2 Chr 20:6

At the same time, so was Cyrus??

• This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.” – Ezra 1:2

And the nations didn’t know?

• Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God – Is 37:20

Because God delegated authority!

• the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes – Dan 4:17; 4:25; 4:32; 5:21

But then he sent his Son to fire them all, as he had warned many times.

• “I said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.” Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance. – Ps 82:6-8

In the Old Testament, “sons of God” always referred to spiritual beings. In the New Testament, it always refers to us:

• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God – Mt 5:9
• they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection – Lk 20:36
• For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God – Ro 8:14
• For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God – Ro 8:19
• But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith – Gal 3:25-26

As Daniel prophesied:

• Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High – Dan 7:27

So let me see where this is going. God is always sovereign, but how he delegates authority seems to change:

1. Before Jesus, God delegated legitimate authority to spiritual beings
2. Through Jesus, they all got dethroned
3. And now, that authority has been given to us as Christ’s body on earth

Feels a little disjointed but I’m just going to hit [Publish] and keep working on it. 🙂