Jesus, the Ruler Over the Kings of the Earth

by Terry Wane Benton

"And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Revelation 1:5).

Jesus is “the Ruler over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5) and the Spirit wanted the disciples of Jesus to remember this fact. No matter how politics turn against Jesus’ people, Jesus is truly the One with the power to raise up and bring down any and all rulers on the earth. Jesus has “all authority (power) in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Disciples need to remember that Jesus is the same “Lord of Hosts” we saw throughout the Old Testament. He raised up Nebuchadnezzar to be His servant to bring God’s wrath on wicked nations when He so judged the need, and He brought down Nebuchadnezzar when He saw the need. That is because the Lord of Hosts (later named “Jesus”) has always been “the Ruler over the kings of the earth.” When the time was right Jesus would bring the Roman rulers into play to bring down the powers of Jerusalem, those who were oppressive of disciples of Jesus, and when the time was right He would bring down the oppressive Roman rulers just as He did the Babylonians before. The Lord Jesus Christ handles the raising up and the bringing down of kings (and Presidents).

"And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding" (Daniel 2:21 NKJV).

Therefore, we do not live in constant fear of political forces on earth. Jesus will manage them and judge them. We are to recognize Jesus as “king of kings, and Lord of lords”. He is the only One who is all-powerful and eternal. They are all mortal and temporary.

"That you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen" (I Timothy 6:14-16 NKJV).

He can make a Nebuchadnezzar go insane and eat grass, and then bring him back to sanity. The early churches needed to remember that no matter how bad things looked, their lives needed to be focused on the truth, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). All temporary injustices will be more than corrected in His time. Jesus deserves our greatest respect and honor! He is still in charge! Evil rulers will be exposed and deposed in His own time, but Everlasting honor and glory should be directed to the “Ruler over the kings of the earth!”

Let His peace rule in your heart!