Monarchy — Supreme Rule by One
A MONARCHIAL type of government is, in principle, rule by ONE. This form is known as an ABSOLUTE monarchy.
Another type of monarchy is known as a LIMITED (or CONSTITUTIONAL) monarchy — which may, in actual practice, be combined with democracy. This is the type of government which rules over Great Britain. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is more of a symbol, a figurehead, rather than the actual substance of British governing power! She is strictly limited by British constitution and laws.
Monarchs obtain their power in one of three ways. Some receive their power by heredity — are born to become a king or queen. Some are elected. Others assume supreme power by strong-arm methods of force!
The monarchies governing Great Britain and some other nations are hereditary. History shows there have been few stable monarchies — few ruled over by wise and benevolent kings.
Most authoritarian monarchies sooner or later have become degenerate dictatorships. Such totalitarian states are then ruled by tyrants, dictators or despots. Examples of tyranny or despotism can be found in Fascism and Communism. Fascism has also been considered as a form of aristocracy, since the elite were in control in the Fascist countries. However, the Fascist leaders Hitler and Mussolini were dictators — in complete control! So, too, former Premier Joseph Stalin, and now Khrushchev of Russia and Mao of China.
In a TOTALITARIAN state or nation, the STATE or government is considered ABOVE the individual and can regulate any and all facets of private life. In a DEMOCRATIC country, however, the INDIVIDUAL is considered ABOVE the state — his rights and liberties are generally guarded by various laws and institutions.
In Western nations the prevailing view today is that "the PEOPLE constitute the source of governmental authority" (Encyc. Brit., Vol. 13, art. "Government"). But is this God's way?
DIVINE Government — Rule From Top Down
Most people would be dumbfounded to learn that neither the democratic nor the republican system of government is God's government! They are human forms of government.
God's system of government may be compared to a PYRAMID. — It is Government from the top down. Your Bible says: "There is ONE LAWGIVER, who is able to save and to destroy" (James 4:12). God is the Supreme Authority. People do not know enough to rightly govern themselves. Neither do they know enough to wisely select the right man to govern them. God compares the masses of humanity to dumb sheep, and, as sheep always need a shepherd to watch over and govern them, so do people!
All true law and all governing power and authority comes from God Almighty. It is God the FATHER in heaven who is the Chief Executive over the whole universe. Jesus said, "My Father is greater than I" (John 14:28). Christ also affirmed, "My FATHER . . . IS GREATER THAN ALL" (John 10:29).
Jesus Christ is SECOND-in-command in God's pyramidical chain of governmental authority. Attending directly under Christ are innumerable heavenly beings — angels and other spirit creatures.
In the KINGDOM OF GOD, which Jesus Christ alone can — and soon will — establish on this earth, God the Father rules directly through Christ. Christ in turn rules through those whom He will choose or appoint to be directly under Him. Then those directly under Christ rule over others, who in turn rule over others — all the way down to the bottom of the pyramid of God's system of perfect government!
In Old Testament times, God appointed Moses to be the leader of His people. But the people of Israel did not want Moses to be their ruler (Ex. 2:14; Acts 7:27, 35). The people of Israel decided to take things into their own hands and elect their own leader who would take them back into Egypt. "And they said one to another, Let us make a CAPTAIN (or leader), and let us return into Egypt" (Num. 14:4). God stopped that insurrection by sending a plague (verses 36-37). It was very soon afterward that Korah tried to set up a democracy, saying all the congregation ought to have a voice in government (Num. 16:1-3).
Finally, after God had directly ruled over the people of Israel through prophets and judges for hundreds of years, He permitted the rebellious people a human king like the rest of the nations. Yet He forewarned them that a human monarch would oppress them with heavy taxes, military draft, forced labor, land-grabbing and favoritism (I Sam. 8).
The Bible is very clear in showing that it is always God who chooses His servants, whether prophets or kings. The people of Israel were never given so much as a single vote in the government, either in matters of STATE or RELIGION — as long as God ruled — shocking as that may seem!
Why God Must Rule
Christ said: "You (the Twelve Apostles) have not chosen me, but I have chosen You, and ordained YOU . . . (John 15:16).
Nearly two thousand long years ago, Jesus Christ came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD," the good news of the GOVERNMENT of God (Mark 1:14). Christ continually spoke of the Kingdom of God which He revealed would literally be set up on this earth.
In a few short years the nations of this earth are going to see first-hand what the wonderful government of God Almighty is like. They will be utterly amazed. There will be no more Communism, no more Fascism. His government will not be left in the hands of the ignorant masses of people (see Dan. 2:44, 7:27). God's government will be the Supreme Authority, ruled by Christ from Jerusalem, Palestine (Jer. 3:17; Joel 2:32; Zech. 2:12, 8:20-23, 14:16-19).
As an example: King David will rule over the nation of Israel (Ezek. 34:23, 37:24, 25; Jer. 30:9; Hos. 3:5). UNDER DAVID will be the TWELVE APOSTLES who will rule over the Twelve Tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:28). Under them will be the lesser rulers, the then-made-immortal Christians ruling in lesser offices of authority (see Luke 19:12-19). "And he that OVERCOMETH, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give POWER over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received [authority to rule] of my Father" (Rev. 2:26, 27. See also Rev. 5:10; Isa. 30:19-21; Psa. 149:4-9).
In the soon-coming Millennial age (the World Tomorrow) the nations will at last learn God's government! They will then learn that God Almighty rules the whole universe through His "holy," "perfect" and "royal law of liberty" (Psa. 19:7-9; Prov. 6:23; Rom. 6:12, 14; Jas. 1:25, 2:8). The Ten Commandments comprise the heart and core of God's royal law!
Result of God's Government? — Utopia!
It is only when mankind has learned to voluntarily submit to the wise government (or rule) of the Supreme Creator-Ruler of the universe, that man will at last be blessed with real peace, happiness, health, joy and overflowing goodness and abundance — beyond description! Also, this is the only way by which mankind can ever receive eternal life.
In the very near future, the righteous, all-wise, all-powerful government of Almighty God will be established on this earth. Jesus Christ will rule all nations with a rod of iron (Rev. 19:15). Then the whole earth will be at peace and will bask in indescribable prosperity (see Isa. 2, 9, 11; Zech. 14).
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house (God's Kingdom) shall be established in the top of the mountains (kingdoms), and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of HIS WAYS, and we will walk in HIS PATHS: for out of Zion shall go forth the LAW, and the WORD OF THE LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isa. 2:2-4).
Jesus Christ, the Supreme King, will rule over the Kingdom of God — over the territory of the whole earth. All the people of the world will be His subjects and the LAW of God will be His government!
"Of the increase of His [God's] government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon HIs KINGDOM (a monarchy), to order it, and to establish it WITH JUDGMENT and WITH JUSTICE from henceforth even FOR EVER" (Isa. 9:7).
"The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Isa. 11:9).
Here, at last, we see a true, soon-to-be-fulfilled utopian picture of WORLD PEACE — God's way! True PEACE, PROSPERITY and HAPPINESS through the perfect, WORLD-RULING GOVERNMENT of the SUPREME, CREATOR-RULER GOD!
When you see the sin and the wretchedness (which the governments of man have produced); and when you compare this with God's perfect government — which will at last bring about a Utopia — then you, too, will cry out "Thy KINGDOM come. Thy WILL be done IN EARTH, as it is in heaven"! (Matt. 6:10)