Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, the word "government" as used in this verse (as well as in the next verse (verse 7)) refers to the authority and rule over all nations of the earth that Jesus will exercise when He returns (although He is noted in verse 7 as being on the throne of David, since He is the Messiah who came to earth as a descendant of David, the anointed ruler of Israel).

I think that this interpretation of the extent of His rule is further reinforced by the statement in verse 7 that "of the increase of His government and of peace, there will be no end."

August 11 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Myron Robertson Supporter Seeking God's heart

All government rests on his shoulders. When we start thinking too simplistically we miss a considerable amount of what scripture tells us, and this can cause problems in our understanding when God moves on to bigger and more complex subjects unless we are willing to put away childish things (1 Cor 13:11). 

Adam was created as King of this world. His authority derived from God, and the authority of his descendants was to derive from him. We can see something of how this works in the commissioning of Joshua. Numbers 27 tells us God's instructions to Moses in this matter. In Num 27:20 God tells Moses to give Joshua SOME of his authority. In other words, Joshua''s authority could never exceed that of Moses, and any attempt to change any of the commands God gave through Moses would be proof that Joshua was in rebellion against God, not proof that Joshua had a direct revelation from God. Deuteronomy 13 gives further detail on this principle.

Adam's sin disrupted the intended hierarchy, but not the principle that all authority flows from God in this manner. In Romans 13:1-3 Paul tells us this principle still applies and that anyone in a position of authority was placed there by God, therefore, rebellion against those authorities is rebellion against God. We constantly make claims that this only applies when those authorities are being obedient to God, but nothing in this passage supports those exceptions. Looking at other texts we find biblical evidence in both directions, so one must be extremely cautious to make sure one is not defying God when claiming justification to defy those he has placed in authority over us.

Paul discusses Jesus authority and the legal basis for it in many passages--as do the other apostles, but none so thoroughly as Paul. Jesus has the right to rule by right of creation. He is the creator, therefore, he is the king; but because he passed direct authority over this world to Adam (the man) he can only have direct authority over this world through man. So in order to become the King of this world he had to become man by the very same principles that required him to become man to redeem us. This is why Paul calls him the last Adam (the last man) (1 Cor 15:45). 

Only man has authority to rule in this world, by God's own command. This is taught to us every time God calls both heaven and earth to witness something. It takes two witnesses to establish any fact (Dt 17:6, Dt 19:15, Gn 41:25, 32). This is why Jesus is referred to as the "Amen of God" (2 Cor 1:20) or the God of Amen (truth) (Is 65:16). However, if Jesus had not become man his witness would only be heaven witnessing, and would not establish fact in the earth according to God's law. According to this law an earthly witness is required. When Adam failed to be that witness by living a sinless life Jesus came to earth as a human to live that sinless life and provide the witness in the earth of God's truth. 

As I said, when Adam sinned man lost the right to rule, yet God continued to establish authority in sinful, rebellious man, to rule in the earth. This means all authority in the earth is currently in rebellion against God yet rebellion against them is defined as rebellion against God. Jesus earned the right to rule by his death and resurrection, but he still had to travel to a far country to have his kingdom established (Lk 19:12). Only when he returns according to Rev 19 will he have the full right to rule with authority given to his "body", the saints of the Most High (Dan 7:18, 22, Rev 20:4)

At that time Jesus will be the King of all the earth, and every subordinate ruler will rule only with SOME of his authority and in full submission to him, like Jesus doing only what they see the Father doing and saying only what they hear the Father saying (Jn 5:19), speaking "Amen" in the earth to what they hear in the heavens.

October 31 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report