The jurisdiction of God has to do with not only His Sovereignty and Creatorship, but also His dominion over which He holds sway. His dominion stretches from one end of heaven to the other, it includes the earth and the entire universe. His dominion is also to be reckoned in the hearts of those who serve and obey Him, as well as those who do not, for it is not necessary to love God, to come under His authority.
These statements about the jurisdiction of God are to be understood by all nations and individuals and includes all of the inhabitants of other worlds. The scriptures declare God’s sovereignty over everyone and everything, a fact that is highlighted in the first angels’ message, having very special pertinence to our day, where multitudes have been deceived into believing that we are accountable to no one.
There are nations that are averse to anything that pertains to Christ and there are others that foster religions that are man-made, but this does not stop God from having entire control of the worlds He has created. Whether persons believe in God or not is actually besides the point, as far as His jurisdiction is concerned, and the quicker we understand this, the better it will be for all.
Thus, the Bible teaches us, in both the old and new testaments, that God is The Sovereign King, and in a multitude of passages, it covers the various aspects of His jurisdiction, ranging from taking care of the planets He created, to providing food, raiment, and shelter, and security in a generic sense, to our world because of the problem of disobedience which we have on this planet.
The inhabitants of other worlds are 100% protected by God, but sin has produced some loopholes in our world, thus making us vulnerable to some extent to the assaults of the evil one, and his agencies, as was evidenced once again by the horrific crime recently in New Zealand. This is one of the reasons why the prophet John calls on earth’s inhabitants to worship Him, who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of waters.
In other words, if you’re Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or Christian, you need to listen, and if you’re Buddhist, Atheist, Hindu, Evangelical or a New-ager, you also need to listen too. And even if you are a professed satanist, you would also need to listen to what God is saying to earth’s inhabitants, through the prophet John, because His jurisdiction ultimately engulfs the entire planet. Let’s read:
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
The following therefore are just some of the texts which address the sovereignty, and jurisdiction of God, and they are given with the hope that we will be humble and willing enough to let God be God in everything, for it is too often the case that we don’t realize how much we need God, until we need Him. Let’s read:
[1] His Jurisdiction over all the earth, and the entire universe.
Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Isaiah 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance.
17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
[2] His Jurisdiction over every intelligent being, men, angels and “Others”
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Psalms 103:20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.
Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said,
For we are also his offspring.
[3] His jurisdiction over the day to day operations on earth.
Psalms 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty.
3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind.
4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.
5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever.
6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10 He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; (Maple syrup)
18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21 The young lions roar after their prey and seek their meat from God. (The discovery channel)
23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
[4] His jurisdiction over the rise and fall of nations.
Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
This passage and others like it are very important to our study today, because Egypt, being a professedly atheistic nation had declared that they didn’t know, or care to know about The God of heaven. Thus, the declaration made by pharaoh to Moses represented a callous disregard for God, yet Egypt was a subject of God’s jurisdiction, as He later demonstrated in real time. Let’s read:
Exodus 5:2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
Exodus 6:1 Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord.
3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.
Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.
32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his.
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
Nebuchadnezzar who had a problem with pride and who was in the habit of taking the glory to himself, had to learn his lessons the hard way, because even though he was not a Christian or a godly person, yet he was made to understand that the jurisdiction of God extends to, and over those peoples and nations who have never entered into any formal agreement with God, for that is beside the point in the context of which we are speaking.
Nebuchadnezzar took the credit for his building skills, and his architectural work, not considering that these were gifts given him by The Most-High. He reveled in the fact that the nations were made subject to him, but he did not stop to consider that it was Jesus, working behind the scenes to bring to pass His good purposes. Therefore, he was forced to be a vegetarian for seven years, until he understood that God rules in the kingdoms of men. Let’s read:
Daniel 4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches.
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the Most-High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
Isaiah 45:1 Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.
Thus, it is in the context of God’s entire jurisdiction over all the earth, that He is also the Judge over all the earth, and to whom we all must give account one day. The nations that are averse to Christ, and persons who are deceived into believing that their lives are theirs to live, with accountability to no one will one day soon realize that this is absolutely not the case, as was clearly demonstrated in the demise of Belshazzar who misunderstood God’s jurisdiction. Let’s read:
Daniel 5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords and drank wine before the thousand.
3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet. 8 Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king.
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
18 O thou king, the Most-High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor.
19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly
throne, and they took his glory from him.
21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him;
25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.
26 This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it.
27 Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 Peres; Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
The first angel’s message addresses the jurisdiction of God, and as such His prerogative to judge nations and individuals. The message is to be sounded in our day, when the leaders of the nations are prone to thinking that God is irrelevant. God’s word, the instructions and laws He has given therein are being dragged in the dust, and as we see the deterioration of society in high and low places, it becomes even more urgent that the messages to be sounded. Let’s read:
Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Our turn is next!
The issues associated with the jurisdiction of God are not nearly understood as they should be, and it is now necessary to uncover what is at stake. Jesus Christ, who made the worlds, and who redeemed us with His precious blood, has given us the freedom of choice, with consequences. Nations and persons are free to choose Jesus, and His word, or to reject Him.
If persons be wise and choose Christ, they will come under His wise rule and will be covered when things start to go downhill rapidly. However, those folks who spurn their golden opportunity, will remain under the rule of another master, and thus, they will be powerless to escape his stranglehold, when he will be permitted to do so. The servant of The Lord puts it this way. Let’s read:
[The Desire Of Ages pp 324] When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.
But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion.
We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness.
Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome.
Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.
Which leads us to the core of our study, addressing the issue of jurisdiction. Jesus and His disciples are presently entering the country of the Gadarenes, a demon possessed man charges at them suddenly, and the disciples scatter abroad, leaving Jesus alone to deal with several issues which pertain to jurisdiction. Let’s read:
Mark 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains.
4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces neither could any man tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
The words “Besought Him much” and “Out of the country” means that they were literally begging Jesus not to displace them, for they had taken up residence, not only in the domain of the heart of the possessed man, but also in a geographical area of that country. Even though some may not be aware, there are many places on the earth where legions of evil angels have been entrenched, and hate to be displaced.
But Christ, who created this world, and who has entire jurisdiction over our planet, can, and will displace them, whenever He sees fit to do so. On the contrary, there are times when He may see fit to leave them where they reside, especially if our freedom of choice will be used in harboring their presence. Let’s read:
Mark 5:11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
Again, the words “Besought” and “Send us” denote the entire jurisdiction Christ holds over principalities and powers, as well as His sole authority to settle territorial disputes. This is one of the main reasons why we need to pay attention to what John writes in the 14th chapter of Revelation, for John makes mention of Christ’s territory, as well as the domain of the heart. Let’s read:
Revelation 14:7 Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Mark 5:13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
If as a nation, and as individuals we allow our day of grace to expire, without choosing Christ as Lord of our hearts, then He will permit evil spirits to take up permanent residence, and the rest will be history. It is the most solemn prospect before us because with all the evil we are now witnessing, The God of the universe is saying to us we haven’t seen nothing yet. Let’s read:
Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
[The Great Controversy pp 614] A single angel destroyed all the first-born of the Egyptians, and filled the land with mourning. When David offended against God by numbering the people, one angel caused that terrible destruction by which his sin was punished. The same destructive power exercised by holy angels when God commands, will be exercised by evil angels when he permits. There are forces now ready, and only waiting the divine permission, to spread desolation everywhere.
Therefore, let none who have heard or read and understood these truths, take God’s grace through Christ for granted, for it behooves us to make good on the opportunity He has provided. Let’s not wait until there’s a rush for the door, when millions will discover too late that God’s forbearance has a limit, for the time of His salvation is fast closing. We end with an appeal from Christ to us personally. Let’s read:
Hebrews 3: 7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts.
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
God Bless!