Kingdom Principles

The Kingdom of God Versus the Government of Man

idea of earthly kingdoms gets its birth. “Kingdom” was the word used to describe the territory over which a local king, or landowner, ruled or exercised ownership right and authority. It is also important to note that because all the land was person ally owned by the landlord, then private property was not possible; thus, all the people who lived on and worked the land did so at the pleasure and mercy of the king or landlord. Everything in the land, including animals, natural resources, and all other materials, were considered the personal property of the king or lord. In many cases, where the lord or king was kind and benevolent, the people who lived, worked, and served on his land enjoyed the benefits of his kindness. And because they made his land productive and added prosperity to him, he provided, protected, and cared for them. This is why a good king tended to attract many to his king dom. Feudalism as a concept of governing was a derivative of the original government established in the Garden of Eden under the first man, Adam, who himself was made the landlord of the earth. God’s original plan was a feudal system where all men served as kings and lords of the earth, ruling not humans but the animal, plant, bird, and water kingdoms. However, in cases where the landlord or king was not kind and merciful, the result was abuse and oppression of the people by virtue of noble status. Whoever owned the land controlled those who lived on the land. Feudalism is an illustration of the danger of putting the authority that belongs to the King of heaven into the hands of ungodly and unrighteous human kings and lords. When the culture migrated away from agriculture to industry, the noble lords eventu ally lost their power. DICTATORSHIP Dictatorship is the form of government derived from the con cept of “divine authority,” which is built on the belief that certain

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