Our age makes an interesting one due to the relation that has been over time between the Christian Church and the political governance of the state. Let us here consider both spiritual and physical leadership that has existed, as these two powers expand and explore the dilemma, which exists since the Church was established by Christ.
The book of Daniel offers insight into the spiritual atmosphere that pertains immediately after the Kingdom of God is established on the earth. ...
2:31 ... This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.2:32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,2:33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. Daniel
Interpretation:
2:38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. Daniel
That time of the inception of the Kingdom of God over the Principalities of our current age came through the immaculate birth of Christ....the prince of the principality of peace, in a world of which He severally confessed - is under the sway of the wicked one. He was quick to explain to His followers that His Kingdom was unique, not according to what they were used to. It was not "of this world." He had ushered in a new Kingdom, one that would grow, flourish, expand, right in the presence of the principalities and powers of this world, and as we see in Daniels interpretation of the King of Babylon's dream, and to break apart the powers of the age - in one hour.
You see, Christ's birth came under the reign of a Principality, physically, a Roman captivity, Spiritually, an outgoing age for which purpose God had prepared men before Him to destroy - People like John the Baptist, among others. People who prayed and dedicated their lives to the coming of the Kingdom as had been prophesied. Christ ascended, after His inception of His fathers Kingdom upon the rule of men, at which point he spoke of the principality that was coming immediately afterwards. There was a vacancy, filled by another power.... That he, that came thereafter was the god - the power of the next age, this age, when the Kingdom of God thrives in the presence of darkness all over the earth.
The effect of the presence of the Kingdom of God has had effect on the glory of the powers and principalities, as can be seen by the demonstrative dream: But not that as the glory fades, strength increased to Iron, then to a more fragile consistency, but with bits of strength. This is our age, inconsistent, but with bits of streghth that surpass the preceding ones. Less glamourouss but do not be fooled, for the strength in it is more destructive to men than even the preceding...
2:31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.2:32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,2:33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
Note that the power of the Church grows..
2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
The powers of the age have to acknowledge the new power over the earth, Christ's, and the Kingdom of God. As it grows, the splendor of the lords of the age decrease, and the powers of the age have to accommodate it. That is when the clash, sometimes suspicious marriages between the church and the state begins. But these two have diverse foundations. One is born of the pride of man, the other is against the flesh, the pride of man. This is why successive powers of this age have tried to absorb the church or to usurp its powers, and it ended up bringing destruction of their Kingdoms.
The two - church and state - are based on contrary laws, and one is fashioned to destroy the other. And the kingdom of God shall be the coming age. This is the dilemma. As those at the helm have to acknowledge the kingdom of God, they are aware of its growing power and politics have changed gradually since its inception. It is the struggle to remain relevant in an age where the coming King is already seated in His throne, waiting. And we all wait with Him.
This is how the Kingdom of God works in a practical example; If you find yourself before any power\ ruler, speak in gentleness, as Christ would, of the word of God, in love, kindness, Godliness, righteousness ....and see Christ's power triumph over evil, because this age, is poised to give way to the age of the righteous Kingdom of God.
