Who Rules the World?

Who rules the world? Jesus does. When does he rule it? Now. Why do we care? It impacts most of the rest of our Christian experience.

The Question of the Age

One of the most important questions that must be answered before the Bible can be properly related to world headlines is this:

Who rules the world?

The simple answer is that Jesus rules, and he does so now.

In the Old Testament he was known by several names, the most prevalent was יהוה (YHVH) commonly translitterated as Yahweh. (Perhaps more accurately, Yahveh.)

Hebrew is a picto-gramatic language, each letter has meaning and in this case the letters carry well the meaning. The י is an arm. The ה which occurs 2 times means "revealed" and is the root for the English words "hey" and "the." ("Hey" means look here, or pay attention. The root meaning is revealed. The english word "the" also means specificity, or look here, or at the most general the same ideal of revealing. The ו is a pictogram of a nail.

Thus, when litterally translated YHVH (or more accureately YHVH) means "arm, revealed, nail, revealed." A direct reference to Jesus' crucifixion.

The Book of John dwells on the fact that this God, YHVH, became flesh and dwelt amoungst us. The Old Testament name Yahveh, is now known to most of the English speaking world by the name Jesus.

The Controversy

That this Jesus, the Old Testament YHVH incarnate, is the world's ruler, is incredibly controversial. Most non-Christians would never think to acknowledge Jesus as a current world ruler. Allah, budah, or others would not, nor, unfortunately, would many supposed Christians.

We need not deal with non-Christian reasons for denying Jesus' rulership here, but the rest of this article deals with the key scriptures usually called on by Christians in this debate to show Jesus' rulership.

These are the verses were we learn the Bible says Jesus rules the world now.

So, who rules the world?

Conspiratists believe a small cabal of evil men control most of the world. The supposed rulers are the "Free Masons" or "Illuminati" or any of their associated ilk. Many Christians run around in fear of these men.

The Bible paints a different picture.

13 Isaiah 8:12-13 12לֹא־ תֹאמְר֣וּן קֶ֔שֶׁר לְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־ יֹאמַ֛ר הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה קָ֑שֶׁר וְאֶת־ מוֹרָא֥וֹ לֹֽא־ תִֽירְא֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תַעֲרִֽיצוּ׃ 13אֶת־ יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֹת֣וֹ תַקְדִּ֑ישׁוּ וְה֥וּא מוֹרַאֲכֶ֖ם וְה֥וּא מַֽעֲרִֽצְכֶֽם׃ (WLC)

13 Isaiah 8:12-13 12Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (KJV)

13 Isaiah 8:12-13 12Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (KJV/NC)

13 Isaiah 8:12-13 12Say ye not, A conspiracy, concerning all whereof this people shall say, A conspiracy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be in dread thereof. 13Jehovah of hosts, him shall ye sanctify; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (ASV)

13 Isaiah 8:12-13 12Do not say, A conspiracy, as this people has said conspiracy, neither shall you worship their idols nor be afraid of them. 13Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; he is your God and he is your helper. (LAM)

13 Isaiah 8:12-13 12"Do not call conspiracy all that this people call conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (RSV)

13 Isaiah 8:12-13 12"Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. 13The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, (NIV)

13 Isaiah 8:12-13 12'Don'tP say, 'A conspiracy!' concerning all about which this people say, 'A conspiracy!' neither fearP their threats, nor be terrorized. 13Yahweh of Armies is who youP must regard as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread. (WEB)

13 Isaiah 8:12-13 12'Don't say, 'A conspiracy!' concerning all about which this people say, 'A conspiracy!' neither fear their threats, nor be terrorized. 13The LORD of Hosts is who you must regard as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread. (WEB/HNV)

13 Isaiah 8:12-13 12Do not say, A conspiracy, as this people has said conspiracy. You will not worship their idols nor be afraid of them. 13Sanctify Yahvah of hosts himself; he is your God and he is your helper. (BRB)

Christians are not to call conspiracy what the world calls conspiracy. The one to be feared, above all others, is God himself. The reason is simple: he is all powerful and despite what things may look like, he really is in control.

26 Psalms 111:10 10רֵ֘אשִׁ֤ית חָכְמָ֨ה׀ יִרְאַ֬ת יְהוָ֗ה שֵׂ֣כֶל ט֖וֹב לְכָל־ עֹשֵׂיהֶ֑ם תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃ (WLC)

26 Psalms 111:10 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.(KJV)

26 Psalms 111:10 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.(KJV/NC)

26 Psalms 111:10 10The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom;(ASV)

26 Psalms 111:10 10The reverence of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments; his praise endures for ever. (LAM)

26 Psalms 111:10 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise endures for ever! (RSV)

26 Psalms 111:10 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.(NIV)

26 Psalms 111:10 10The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
All those who do his work have a good understanding.(WEB)

26 Psalms 111:10 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
All those who do his work have a good understanding.(WEB/HNV)

26 Psalms 111:10 10The reverence of Yahvah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do his commandments; his praise endures forever. (BRB)

Of course this does not mean life will be free of trouble, or oppression. Jesus warned quite specifically:

40 John 16:33 33ܗܠܝܢ ܐܡܪܬ ܠܟܘܢ ܕܒܝ ܢܗܘܐ ܠܟܘܢ ܫܠܡܐ ܒܥܠܡܐ ܗܘܐ ܠܟܘܢ ܐܘܠܨܢܐ ܐܠܐ ܐܬܠܒܒܘ ܐܢܐ ܙܟܝܬܗ ܠܥܠܡܐ ܀ (SYP)

40 John 16:33 33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.(KJV)

40 John 16:33 33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.(KJV/NC)

40 John 16:33 33These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.(ASV)

40 John 16:33 33These things I have said to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but have courage, I have conquered the world. (LAM)

40 John 16:33 33I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."(RSV)

40 John 16:33 33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."(NIV)

40 John 16:33 33I have told youP these things, that in me youP may have peace. In the world youP have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.'(WEB)

40 John 16:33 33I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.'(WEB/HNV)

40 John 16:33 33These things I have said to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but have courage, I have conquered the world. (BRB)

Through a walk with Jesus we have peace within. That peace gives the strength to deal with the troubles around.

Yes, but, who really rules the world?

Revelation begins with this stated fact:

66 Revelation 1:5 5ܘܡܢ ܝܫܘܥ ܡܫܝܚܐ ܤܗܕܐ ܡܗܝܡܢܐ ܒܘܟܪܐ ܕܡܝܬܐ ܘܪܫܐ ܕܡܠܟܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܗܘ ܕܡܚܒ ܠܢ ܘܫܪܐ ܠܢ ܡܢ ܚܛܗܝܢ ܒܕܡܗ ܀ (SYP)

66 Revelation 1:5 5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (KJV)

66 Revelation 1:5 5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (KJV/NC)

66 Revelation 1:5 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood; (ASV)

66 Revelation 1:5 5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first to arise from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (LAM)

66 Revelation 1:5 5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. (RSV)

66 Revelation 1:5 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, (NIV)

66 Revelation 1:5 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood; (WEB)

66 Revelation 1:5 5and from Yeshua the Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood; (WEB/HNV)

66 Revelation 1:5 5And from Jesus Messiah, who is the faithful witness, and the first to arise from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (BRB)

It is Jesus who rules over the kings of the world, despite rebelleous people who believe or suggest otherwise.

Even people ruling many mainline Christian churches fail to ascribe rulership over the kings of the world to Jesus. This belief, when we find it, is revealing more about those who hold it, than it is anything about the earth's kings nor Jesus.

Yes, but, doesn't Satan (or Lucifer) rule the world?

This theology usually starts with some fanciful fiction that says the earth is now ruled by Satan who was a fancy angel in the throneroom in heaven. He sinned, got cast out to earth and now rules here.

Of course this sounds an awful lot like Adam's history, being in heaven, sinning and then being cast to earth, and the fundamental scriptures, when correctly understood, are telling Adam's story, not a second story.

Here is a sample of the key passages that are worth committing to memory, both the text and the addresses, since it is so commonly mis-quoted.

The first verse to look at is the only passage in the Bible that uses the word, "Lucifer." Note that this term is only translated to the name in the King James traditions of Bibles. Recent translations translate the word by meaning, and end up with something like "son of the dawn" or similar.

13 Isaiah 14:12 12אֵ֛יךְ נָפַ֥לְתָּ מִשָּׁמַ֖יִם הֵילֵ֣ל בֶּן־ שָׁ֑חַר נִגְדַּ֣עְתָּ לָאָ֔רֶץ חוֹלֵ֖שׁ עַל־ גּוֹיִֽם׃ (WLC)

13 Isaiah 14:12 12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (KJV)

13 Isaiah 14:12 12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (KJV/NC)

13 Isaiah 14:12 12How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! (ASV)

13 Isaiah 14:12 12How are you fallen from heaven! howl in the morning! for you have fallen down to the ground, O reviler of the nations. (LAM)

13 Isaiah 14:12 12"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! (RSV)

13 Isaiah 14:12 12How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! (NIV)

13 Isaiah 14:12 12How you have fallen from Heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! (WEB)

13 Isaiah 14:12 12How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! (WEB/HNV)

13 Isaiah 14:12 12How you are fallen from heaven. Howl in the morning, For you have fallen down to the ground, oh reviler of the nations. (BRB)

Many take this as the foundation verse for thinking that Lucifer was in the throne room and rebelled. The problem is the context. This verse is part of a much larger prophecy against the nation of Babylon. That context starts at Isaiah 13:1 and runs through Isaiah 14:23 and includes this, singular Lucifer verse.

The first problem is this is a prophecy to and about a nation not about an angel. The passage is thus using the term, "Lucifer" to describe some aspect of this nation, this people group.

The second problem, and perhaps the most severe, is that the passage actually explains tha the sin of this group was an attempt to ascend to heaven. This is not a sin committed in a throne room, nor is it committed off of planet earth somewhere.

To claim this supports Lucifer's fall to earth from somewhere off the planet, is simply impossible using the text. Review the charges against the Babylonians here...

13 Isaiah 14:3-7 3וְהָיָ֗ה בְּי֨וֹם הָנִ֤יחַ יְהוָה֙ לְךָ֔ מֵֽעָצְבְּךָ֖ וּמֵרָגְזֶ֑ךָ וּמִן־ הָעֲבֹדָ֥ה הַקָּשָׁ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֻבַּד־ בָּֽךְ׃ 4וְנָשָׂ֜אתָ הַמָּשָׁ֥ל הַזֶּ֛ה עַל־ מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל וְאָמָ֑רְתָּ אֵ֚יךְ שָׁבַ֣ת נֹגֵ֔שׂ שָׁבְתָ֖ה מַדְהֵבָֽה׃ 5שָׁבַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה מַטֵּ֣ה רְשָׁעִ֑ים שֵׁ֖בֶט מֹשְׁלִֽים׃ 6מַכֶּ֤ה עַמִּים֙ בְּעֶבְרָ֔ה מַכַּ֖ת בִּלְתִּ֣י סָרָ֑ה רֹדֶ֤ה בָאַף֙ גּוֹיִ֔ם מֻרְדָּ֖ף בְּלִ֥י חָשָֽׂךְ׃ 7נָ֥חָה שָׁקְטָ֖ה כָּל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ פָּצְח֖וּ רִנָּֽה׃ (WLC)

13 Isaiah 14:3-7 3And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,

4That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 5The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. 6He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. 7The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. (KJV)

13 Isaiah 14:3-7 3And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,

4That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 5The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. 6He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. 7The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. (KJV/NC)

13 Isaiah 14:3-7 3And it shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy trouble, and from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve, 4that thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 5Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers; 6that smote the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, that ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained. 7The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. (ASV)

13 Isaiah 14:3-7 3And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow and from your anger and from the hard bondage wherein you were made to serve.

4¶ You shall take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How has the ruler ceased! the zealous one ceased! 5The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked and the sceptre of the rulers. 6He who smote the peoples in wrath, smiting without instruction, who chastised the peoples in anger and persecuted them without pity. 7The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; they break forth into singing. (LAM)

13 Isaiah 14:3-7 3When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, 4you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: "How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased! 5The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers, 6that smote the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows, that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution. 7The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing. (RSV)

13 Isaiah 14:3-7 3On the day the LORD gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage, 4you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended! 5The LORD has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, 6which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression. 7All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing. (NIV)

13 Isaiah 14:3-7 3It will happen in the day that Yahweh will give you rest from your sorrow, from your trouble, and from the hard service in which you were made to serve, 4that you will take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, 'How the oppressor has ceased! The golden city has ceased!' 5Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, 6who struck the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained. 7The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet. They break out song. (WEB)

13 Isaiah 14:3-7 3It will happen in the day that the LORD will give you rest from your sorrow, from your trouble, and from the hard service in which you were made to serve, 4that you will take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, 'How the oppressor has ceased! The golden city has ceased!' 5The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, 6who struck the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained. 7The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet. They break out song. (WEB/HNV)

13 Isaiah 14:3-7 3And it will come to pass in the day that Yahvah will give you rest from your sorrow and from your anger and from the hard bondage in which you were made to serve.

4You will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How has the ruler ceased, The zealous one ceased. 5Yahvah has broken the staff of the wicked and the scepter of the rulers; 6He who struck the peoples in wrath, striking without instruction, who chastised the peoples in anger and persecuted them without pity. 7The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; they break forth into singing. (BRB)

This should sound a lot like the Tower of Babel. Why? Because it is the same sin. The Genesis version is a prophetic match to this passage in Isaiah and it helps to frame the sin of anyone who is Babylonian. Babylonians want to build up to heaven, making themselves like God. For that sin the nation gets punished by dispursion to the nations. This is simply not about a guardian angel.

So, why the vocabulary word, "Lucifer?" The answer is elegant and simple. There are 2 men in scripture who are documented "sons of the dawn." They are the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh. Their mother was the daughter of Egypt's high, sun worshipping, priest. These men are who are being reference by the word "Lucifer."

These 2 sons of Joseph became tribes, tribes that ruled the northern kingdom of ancient Israel. These tribes were hauled away from ancient Israel by the Assyrians who planted them in Babylon.

So, the prophecy directed to Babylon is using a sinners title for this lost tribe. Note that Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon would start a succession of kingdoms that would become ancient Rome and the modern European, American and Russian powers. These Babylonians still build towers to the sky, and they moved the only modern place-name "Babylon" to a suburb of New York City. Their pagan religion, Free Masonry and friends, is a Luciferian religion that was responsible, in part, for inserting this word into the King James editions of the Bible, and twisting it to introduce a theology that references themselves. We'll get to them below.

Throughout the world, in many places, through many media, there are people who believe that either Satan, Lucifer, or a small group of people rule the world. This belief even pervades many Churches and is carried around like Gospel by many otherwise sound Christians.

I believe: this belief is as far as the conspiracy actually goes. If you believe such a group exists and rules the world, then guess what, they've got you.

This belief also pervades how we pray. If God is impotent, at the mercy of a few hidden rulers, then prayer becomes ineffective. Jesus repeatedly warned that if you don't believe he can answer prayer, then he cannot answer your prayer. (So increase our faith, Lord Jesus.)

If you run around thinking that men alone are in control then they are and your prayers in this area will not be answered.

Who sets up national borders? Who causes the wars that change borders?

Paul addressed this question in nearly so many words. The following is the relevant passage:

44 Acts 17:22-27 22ܘܟܕ ܩܡ ܦܘܠܘܤ ܒܐܪܝܘܤ ܦܓܘܤ ܐܡܪ ܓܒܪܐ ܐܬܢܝܐ ܚܙܐ ܐܢܐ ܠܟܘܢ ܕܒܟܠܗܝܢ ܝܬܝܪܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܒܕܚܠܬ ܫܐܕܐ ܀ 23ܟܕ ܓܝܪ ܡܬܟܪܟ ܗܘܝܬ ܘܚܙܐ ܗܘܝܬ ܒܝܬ ܕܚܠܬܟܘܢ ܐܫܟܚܬ ܥܠܬܐ ܚܕܐ ܕܟܬܝܒ ܗܘܐ ܥܠܝܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܓܢܝܙܐ ܗܘ ܗܟܝܠ ܕܟܕ ܠܐ ܝܕܥܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܕܚܠܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܠܗ ܠܗ ܠܗܢܐ ܐܢܐ ܡܤܒܪ ܐܢܐ ܠܟܘܢ ܀ 24ܐܠܗܐ ܓܝܪ ܕܥܒܕ ܥܠܡܐ ܘܟܠ ܡܐ ܕܐܝܬ ܒܗ ܘܗܘܝܘ ܡܪܐ ܕܫܡܝܐ ܘܕܐܪܥܐ ܒܗܝܟܠܐ ܕܥܒܕ ܐܝܕܝܐ ܠܐ ܫܪܐ ܀ 25ܘܠܐ ܡܫܬܡܫ ܡܢ ܐܝܕܝ ܒܢܝܢܫܐ ܘܥܠ ܡܕܡ ܠܐ ܤܢܝܩ ܡܛܠ ܕܗܘ ܝܗܒ ܠܟܠܢܫ ܚܝܐ ܘܢܦܫܐ ܀ 26ܘܡܢ ܚܕ ܕܡ ܥܒܕ ܥܠܡܐ ܟܠܗ ܕܒܢܝܢܫܐ ܕܢܗܘܘܢ ܥܡܪܝܢ ܥܠ ܐܦܝ ܐܪܥܐ ܟܠܗ ܘܦܪܫ ܙܒܢܐ ܒܦܘܩܕܢܗ ܘܤܡ ܬܚܘܡܐ ܕܥܘܡܪܐ ܕܒܢܝܢܫܐ ܀ 27ܕܢܗܘܘܢ ܒܥܝܢ ܠܐܠܗܐ ܘܡܥܩܒܝܢ ܘܡܢ ܒܪܝܬܗ ܡܫܟܚܝܢ ܠܗ ܡܛܠ ܕܐܦ ܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܪܚܝܩ ܡܢ ܟܠ ܡܢܢ ܀ (SYP)

44 Acts 17:22-27 22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And 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; 27That 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: (KJV)

44 Acts 17:22-27 22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And hath made of 1 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; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every 1 of us: (KJV/NC)

44 Acts 17:22-27 22And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things, I perceive that ye are very religious. 23For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you. 24The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; 27that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us: (ASV)

44 Acts 17:22-27 22¶ When Paul stood in the court at Areopagus, he said, Men of Athens, I see that above all things you are extravagant in the worship of idols. 23For as I walked about, and viewed the house of your idols, I found an altar with this inscription: THIS IS THE ALTAR OF THE UNKNOWN GOD. He therefore, while you know him not but yet worship him, is the very one I am preaching to you. 24For the God who made the world and all things therein, and who is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25Neither is he ministered to by human hands, nor is he in need of anything, for it is he who gave life and breath to all men. 26And he has made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and he has appointed seasons by his command, and has set limits to the age of men; 27So that they should seek and search after God, and find him by means of his creations, because he is not far from any one of us; (LAM)

44 Acts 17:22-27 22So Paul, standing in the middle of the Are-op'agus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, `To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, 25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. 26And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, 27that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, (RSV)

44 Acts 17:22-27 22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. (NIV)

44 Acts 17:22-27 22Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, 'YouP men of Athens, I perceive that youP are very religious in all things. 23For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What therefore youP worship in ignorance, this I announce to you. 24The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, 25neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things. 26He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. (WEB)

44 Acts 17:22-27 22Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, 'You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things. 23For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you. 24The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, 25neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things. 26He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. (WEB/HNV)

44 Acts 17:22-27 22When Paul stood in the court at Areopagus, he said, Men of Athens, I see that above all things you are extravagant in the worship of idols. 23For as I walked about, and viewed the house of your idols, I found an altar with this inscription: THIS IS THE ALTAR OF THE UNKNOWN GOD. He therefore, while you do not know him, but yet worship him, is the very one I am preaching to you. 24For the God who made the world and all things in it, and who is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made with hands; 25Neither is he ministered to by human hands, nor is he in need of anything, for it is he who gave life and breath to all men. 26And he has made of one blood all nations of men to live on all the face of the earth, and he has appointed seasons by his command, and has set limits to the age of men; 27So that they should seek and search after God, and find him by means of his creations, because he is not far from anyone of us; (BRB)

God sets up the seasons, or times, when we each live, he sets up the dwellings, or borders, where we each live. He alone is the one who has separated each nation and set in place over those nations all authorities. This includes both authorities who seek him and even authorities that don't.

In the Old Testament a pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar, the closest Bible character to a Hitler, explained the same thing.

39 Daniel 4:34-34 34כְּעַ֞ן אֲנָ֣ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר מְשַׁבַּ֨ח וּמְרוֹמֵ֤ם וּמְהַדַּר֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ שְׁמַיָּ֔א דִּ֤י כָל־ מַעֲבָד֙וֹהִי֙ קְשֹׁ֔ט וְאֹרְחָתֵ֖הּ דִּ֑ין וְדִי֙ מַהְלְכִ֣ין בְּגֵוָ֔ה יָכִ֖ל לְהַשְׁפָּלָֽה׃

39 Daniel 4:34-37 34And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.(KJV)

39 Daniel 4:34-37 34And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.(KJV/NC)

39 Daniel 4:34-37 34And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation. 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.(ASV)

39 Daniel 4:34-37 34¶ And when the days were fulfilled, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sense was restored to me, and I blessed the Most High and I praised and glorified him who lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and whose kingdom is from generation to generation; 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reckoned as nothing in his presence; and he does as he pleases with the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can resist his hand or say to him, What doest thou? 36At the same time my sense returned to me, and my princes and my generals sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are true and his ways just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (LAM)

39 Daniel 4:34-37 34At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnez'zar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing; and he does according to his will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What doest thou?" 36At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnez'zar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.(RSV)

39 Daniel 4:34-37 34At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"

36At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.(NIV)

39 Daniel 4:34-37 34At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation. 35All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or tell him, What do you? 36At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.(WEB)

39 Daniel 4:34-37 34At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation. 35All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or tell him, What do you? 36At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.(WEB/HNV)

39 Daniel 4:34-37 34And when the days were fulfilled, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sense was restored to me, and I blessed the Most High and I praised and glorified him who lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and whose kingdom is from generation to generation; 35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reckoned as nothing in his presence; and he does as he pleases with the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can resist his hand nor say to him, What do you do? 36At the same time my sense returned to me, and my princes and my generals sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are true and his ways just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (BRB)

This witness is important because who Nebuchadnezzar is. He is not one of the kings of ancient Israel under the Davidic covenant. If he were his witness would be less important. Here, as an arbitrarily reigning king, one who reigns at the whim of God himself, we see the testimony of how this process works.

The people of the earth are nothing. God will and does whatever he pleases with the nations of men. No one can talk back to him or stop him from moving exactly as he alone pleases.

But doesn't Satan Rule?

This question is usually asked from a reference in Matthew.

41 Matthew 4:8-10 8ܬܘܒ ܕܒܪܗ ܐܟܠܩܪܨܐ ܠܛܘܪܐ ܕܛܒ ܪܡ ܘܚܘܝܗ ܟܠܗܝܢ ܡܠܟܘܬܐ ܕܥܠܡܐ ܘܫܘܒܚܗܝܢ ܀ 9ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܗܠܝܢ ܟܠܗܝܢ ܠܟ ܐܬܠ ܐܢ ܬܦܠ ܬܤܓܘܕ ܠܝ ܀ 10ܗܝܕܝܢ ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܝܫܘܥ ܙܠ ܠܟ ܤܛܢܐ ܟܬܝܒ ܓܝܪ ܕܠܡܪܝܐ ܐܠܗܟ ܬܤܓܘܕ ܘܠܗ ܒܠܚܘܕܘܗܝ ܬܦܠܘܚ ܀ (SYP)

41 Matthew 4:8-10 8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (KJV)

41 Matthew 4:8-10 8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (KJV/NC)

41 Matthew 4:8-10 8Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (ASV)

41 Matthew 4:8-10 8Again the adversary took him to a very high mountain, and he showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to him, All of these I will give to you, if you will fall down and worship me. 10Then Jesus said to him, Go away, Satan, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. (LAM)

41 Matthew 4:8-10 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; 9and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! for it is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" (RSV)

41 Matthew 4:8-10 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"(NIV)

41 Matthew 4:8-10 8Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9He said to him, 'I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.'

10Then Jesus said to him, ' Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.''(WEB)

41 Matthew 4:8-10 8Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9He said to him, 'I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.'

10Then Yeshua said to him, ' Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.''(WEB/HNV)

41 Matthew 4:8-10 8Again the adversary took him to a very high mountain, and he showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to him, All of these I will give to you, if you will fall down and worship me. 10Then Jesus said to him, Go away, Satan, for it is written, You will worship the Lord your God, and you will serve him only. (BRB)

The standard logic goes like this: 1) Satan is offering the kingdoms of the world to Jesus if only Jesus would bow down and worship Satan. So 2) those kingdoms must be Satan's to give.

Problem, of course, is the verses already mentioned, but there is another problem with Satan. Satan is a liar, and the father of lies.1 In this passage Satan must be speaking falsely. Let me state this again: On the authority of the Bible itself Satan offered Jesus these kingdoms. But Satan is a liar.

Would Satan give the kingdoms of the world to Jesus? No. Are the kingdoms of the world Satan's to give? No. If Jesus were to bow down in such a way, like Adam and Eve did in the garden, then the kingdoms of the world would no longer be Jesus' to rule.

Of course Jesus is going through several steps in order to redeem the entire race at this point so he has given up, voluntarily, many of the powers he had before the earth began in order that he would be a sinless substitute for our sins. At the trial before Jesus was hung on a cross Jesus made the following point:

40 John 19:10-11 10ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܦܝܠܛܘܤ ܥܡܝ ܠܐ ܡܡܠܠ ܐܢܬ ܠܐ ܝܕܥ ܐܢܬ ܕܫܠܝܛ ܐܢܐ ܕܐܫܪܝܟ ܘܫܠܝܛ ܐܢܐ ܕܐܙܩܦܟ ܀ 11ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܝܫܘܥ ܠܝܬ ܗܘܐ ܠܟ ܥܠܝ ܫܘܠܛܢܐ ܐܦ ܠܐ ܚܕ ܐܠܘ ܠܐ ܝܗܝܒ ܗܘܐ ܠܟ ܡܢ ܠܥܠ ܡܛܠ ܗܢܐ ܗܘ ܡܢ ܕܐܫܠܡܢܝ ܠܟ ܪܒܐ ܗܝ ܚܛܝܬܗ ܡܢ ܕܝܠܟ ܀ (SYP)

40 John 19:10-11 10Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. (KJV)

40 John 19:10-11 10Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. (KJV/NC)

40 John 19:10-11 10Pilate therefore saith unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee? 11Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin. (ASV)

40 John 19:10-11 10Pilate said to him, Will you not speak even to me? Do you not know that I have the authority to release you, and I have the authority to crucify you? 11Jesus said to him, You would have no authority whatever over me if it had not been given to you from above; for this reason the sin of him who delivered me to you is greater than yours. (LAM)

40 John 19:10-11 10Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" 11Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin."(RSV)

40 John 19:10-11 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."(NIV)

40 John 19:10-11 10Pilate therefore said to him, 'Aren't you speaking to me? Don't you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?'

11Jesus answered, 'You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin.'(WEB)

40 John 19:10-11 10Pilate therefore said to him, 'Aren't you speaking to me? Don't you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?'

11Yeshua answered, 'You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin.'(WEB/HNV)

40 John 19:10-11 10Pilate said to him, Will you not speak even to me? Do you not know that I have the authority to release you, and I have the authority to crucify you? 11Jesus said to him, You would have no authority whatever over me if it had not been given to you from above; for this reason the sin of him who delivered me to you is greater than yours. (BRB)

Power on earth is assigned by God's sovereign choice, even the power to crucify Jesus was granted from heaven above. Jesus had voluntarily given up that power in order to achieve a more important purpose. When the time was right Jesus took that power back.

Won't Jesus only Rule in the Future?

The next line of argument, that attempts to diminish the power of Jesus, now, in the world, is the time argument. This argument says that Jesus will rule, but only in the future. In the millennium, after he has returned to earth. He isn't ruling now over the earth from heaven, but is waiting out some period until Satan is defeated.

Paul addresses this idea in his letter to the Ephesians.

52 Ephesians 1:18-23 18ܘܢܢܗܪܢ ܥܝܢܐ ܕܠܒܘܬܟܘܢ ܕܬܕܥܘܢ ܡܢܘ ܤܒܪܐ ܕܩܪܝܢܗ ܘܡܢܘ ܥܘܬܪܐ ܕܫܘܒܚܐ ܕܝܪܬܘܬܗ ܒܩܕܝܫܐ ܀ 19ܘܡܢܐ ܗܝ ܝܬܝܪܘܬܐ ܕܪܒܘܬܐ ܕܚܝܠܗ ܒܢ ܒܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܗܝܡܢܝܢܢ ܐܝܟ ܡܥܒܕܢܘܬܐ ܕܬܘܩܦܐ ܕܚܝܠܗ ܀ 20ܕܥܒܕ ܒܡܫܝܚܐ ܘܐܩܝܡܗ ܡܢ ܒܝܬ ܡܝܬܐ ܘܐܘܬܒܗ ܡܢ ܝܡܝܢܗ ܒܫܡܝܐ ܀ 21ܠܥܠ ܡܢ ܟܠܗܝܢ ܐܪܟܘܤ ܘܫܘܠܛܢܐ ܘܚܝܠܐ ܘܡܪܘܬܐ ܘܠܥܠ ܡܢ ܟܠ ܫܡ ܕܡܫܬܡܗ ܠܐ ܒܠܚܘܕ ܒܥܠܡܐ ܗܢܐ ܐܠܐ ܐܦ ܒܕܥܬܝܕ ܀ 22ܘܫܥܒܕ ܟܠܡܕܡ ܬܚܝܬ ܪܓܠܘܗܝ ܘܠܗ ܕܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܠܥܠ ܡܢ ܟܠ ܝܗܒܗ ܪܫܐ ܠܥܕܬܐ ܀ 23ܕܐܝܬܝܗ ܓܘܫܡܗ ܘܫܘܡܠܝܐ ܕܗܘ ܕܟܠ ܒܟܠ ܡܫܡܠܐ ܀ (SYP)

52 Ephesians 1:18-23 18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.(KJV)

52 Ephesians 1:18-23 18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.(KJV/NC)

52 Ephesians 1:18-23 18having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, 23which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.(ASV)

52 Ephesians 1:18-23 18And so that the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what are the glorious riches of his inheritance in the saints, 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power in us as the result of the things we believe, according to the skill of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought through Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in heaven, 21Far above all angels and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in the world which is to come, 22And has put all things under his feet, and made him, who is above all things, the head of the church, 23Which is his body and confirmation of him who fulfills all things and every thing. (LAM)

52 Ephesians 1:18-23 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come; 22and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.(RSV)

52 Ephesians 1:18-23 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.(NIV)

52 Ephesians 1:18-23 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that youP may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. 22He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.(WEB)

52 Ephesians 1:18-23 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the holy ones, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20which he worked in Messiah, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. 22He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.(WEB/HNV)

52 Ephesians 1:18-23 18And so that the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what are the glorious riches of his inheritance in the saints, 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power in us as the result of the things we believe, according to the skill of his mighty power, 20Which he worked through Messiah when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in heaven, 21Far above all angels and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in the world which is to come, 22And has put all things under his feet, and made him, who is above all things, the head of the church, 23Which is his body and confirmation of him who fulfills all things and everything. (BRB)

Here Paul makes the important point that Jesus' reign is in both this age and the age to come. Not just the age to come that begins at Jesus' return.

By the way, the usual way this is stated, that Jesus will only rule in a future millennium is wrong on two counts. Not only does Jesus rule now, but the supposed millennium, the "Magog" millennium2 is now over. Across that millennium Jesus was ruling from heaven. He wasn't here for that period.

Jesus hit on the same point a parable where he explains the crowning of himself as king happens in the middle of the age, not at the end. The following is the account:

43 Luke 19:11-26 11ܘܟܕ ܫܡܥܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܗܠܝܢ ܐܘܤܦ ܠܡܐܡܪ ܡܬܠܐ ܡܛܠ ܕܩܪܝܒ ܗܘܐ ܠܐܘܪܫܠܡ ܘܤܒܪܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܕܒܗܝ ܫܥܬܐ ܥܬܝܕܐ ܕܬܬܓܠܐ ܡܠܟܘܬܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܀ 12ܘܐܡܪ ܓܒܪܐ ܚܕ ܒܪ ܛܘܗܡܐ ܪܒܐ ܐܙܠ ܠܐܬܪܐ ܪܚܝܩܐ ܕܢܤܒ ܠܗ ܡܠܟܘܬܐ ܘܢܗܦܘܟ ܀ 13ܘܩܪܐ ܥܤܪܐ ܥܒܕܘܗܝ ܘܝܗܒ ܠܗܘܢ ܥܤܪܐ ܡܢܝܢ ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܐܬܬܓܪܘ