5) Divine Sovereignty: Hierarchy and Authority in the Cosmos

Aug 2

Introduction

The biblical portrayal of the cosmos is richly layered with themes of divine hierarchy and sovereignty. Through numerous scriptures, we glimpse into a meticulously structured universe under the governance of God, where He holds all things together with absolute power, authority, and dominion. These passages highlight the exaltation of Christ, who sits at the right hand of God, far above all other rule and authority, not only in the present age but also in the age to come. This divine hierarchy extends to the heavenly realms, where powers, rulers, and authorities, both angelic and demonic, operate under the overarching sovereignty of God. Through exploring these texts, we gain insight into the intricate interplay between spiritual forces and the overarching sovereignty of God over His creation.

Introduction to Divine Hierarchy and Sovereignty

Within this patterned arrangement of heaven and earth, there is also a divine hierarchy under the governance of God, by which he holds together all things with absolute power, authority, and dominion:

That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:20-21, ESV Bible)

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17, ESV Bible)

Powers and Principalities in Heavenly Places

There are "powers" (Rom. 8:38; Eph. 6:12), "rulers" (Eph. 3:10; Col. 1:16), and "authorities" (Col. 2:15; 1 Peter 3:22; Isa. 24:21; 34:4) in the "mid-heaven" (Rev. 8:13; 14:6; 19:17):

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, (Romans 8:38, ESV Bible)

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, ESV Bible)

So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:10, ESV Bible)

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Colossians 2:15, ESV Bible)

Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. (1 Peter 3:22, ESV Bible)

On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth. (Isaiah 24:21, ESV Bible)

All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree. (Isaiah 34:4, ESV Bible)

Such powers and rulers seem to be angelic and/or demonic entities, since they dwell in "heavenly places" (Eph. 3:10; 6:12; 1 Peter 3:22). Some are "ministering spirits" (Heb. 1:14) who "do his bidding" (Ps. 103:20, NRSV) and "patrol the earth" (Zech. 1:10; 6:7):

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14, ESV Bible)

Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! (Psalm 103:20, ESV Bible)

So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.’ (Zechariah 1:10, ESV Bible)

When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. (Zechariah 6:7, ESV Bible)

Others "did not stay within their own position of authority" (Jude 6), and now, following Satan, go "to and fro on the earth" (Job 1:7; 2:2) like a lion "seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8):

And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— (Jude 1:6, ESV Bible)

The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” (Job 1:7, ESV Bible)

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, ESV Bible)

Conflict and Eschatological End

In addition, there is often conflict between the two (cf. Dan. 10:20; Rev. 12:7), which presumably also takes place in the mid-heavens. Such conflict, however, will come to an end eschatologically (Isaiah 24:21-22):

Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. (Daniel 10:20, ESV Bible)

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, (Revelation 12:7, ESV Bible)

On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth. They will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished. (Isaiah 24:21-22, ESV Bible)

The Divine Council and Administration

The powers in the heavens are described in the Scriptures as divine intermediaries between God and humans:

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11, ESV Bible)

A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:10, ESV Bible)

You who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” (Acts 7:53, ESV Bible)

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. (Galatians 3:19, ESV Bible)

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14, ESV Bible)

These powers and principalities are known as the "host of heaven”:

And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; (1 Kings 22:19, ESV Bible)

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:35, ESV Bible)

Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! (Psalm 103:21, ESV Bible)

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (Luke 2:13, ESV Bible)

These powers and principalities are known as "sons of God”:

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. (Deuteronomy 32:8, ESV Bible)

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. (Job 1:6, ESV Bible)

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. (Job 2:1, ESV Bible)

When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:7, ESV Bible)

These powers and principalities are known as "heavenly beings”:

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:5, ESV Bible)

Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. (Psalm 29:1, ESV Bible)

For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, (Psalm 89:6, ESV Bible)

These powers and principalities were understood to be part of the divine council, which exists to "administer the affairs of the cosmos." In this way, "God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment”:

God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment (Psalm 82:1, ESV Bible)

This is how Micaiah would have understood "the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left" (1 Kings 22:19). Likewise, the psalmist declares:

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? (Ps. 89:5-7)

According to this arrangement, it is assumed that in the beginning angels ministered to God by ascending and descending between the heavenly and Edenic temples, administrating the glory of God throughout creation:

And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! (Genesis 28:12, ESV Bible)

And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51, ESV Bible)

Divine Sovereignty Remains Apparent Despite Rebellion

Even though many powers and principalities have forsaken their positions of authority, God Most High still remains completely sovereign over his creation:

“It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, hand I give it to whomever it seems right to me. (Jeremiah 27:5, ESV Bible)

The LORD will be awesome against them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations. (Zephaniah 2:11, ESV Bible)

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8, ESV Bible)

The heavens and the earth still "belong" to the Lord :

Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. (Deuteronomy 10:14, ESV Bible)

The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, (Psalm 24:1, ESV Bible)

“If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. (Psalm 50:12, ESV Bible)

He still "does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth”:

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (Psalm 115:3, ESV Bible)

Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. (Psalm 135:6, ESV Bible)

They are still "under authority" (Matt. 8:9), and even demons are forced to beg (Matt. 8:31). Thus rebellious powers encounter a divine "hedge" (Job. 10; Isa. 5:5) and have no liberty to wreak havoc beyond their ordained limits (cf. Job 6; 1 Cor. 10:13; James 4:7). Moreover, demons are even sometimes used by God to execute divine wrath (cf. 1 Kings 22:22; Judg. 9:23; Rev. 17:17) and to test people's hearts (cf. 1 Sam. 16:14; Luke 22:31; 2 Thess. 2:11):

And the LORD said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ (1 Kings 22:22, ESV Bible)

And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, (Judges 9:23, ESV Bible)

For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. (Revelation 17:17, ESV Bible)

Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. (1 Samuel 16:14, ESV Bible)

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, (Luke 22:31, ESV Bible)

Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11, ESV Bible)

Like the powers in the heavens, all the treasonous kingdoms of men are like the "grass" that withers (Ps. 37:2; 90:5; 92:7; 103:15), like "flowers" that fade (Job 14:2; Isa. 40:7; James 1:10)-like "grass-hoppers" (Isa. 40:22), "a worm" (Job 25:6), or "a drop from a bucket" (Isa. 40:15) "they are nothing; together they are only a breath" (Ps. 62:9, NIV). The Lord simply "laughs" at them and "scoffs" at their games (cf. Ps. 2:4; 37:13; 59:8). And often, unbeknown to them, he orchestrates their rise and fall (cf. Ex. 9:16; Jer. 27:6; John 19:11; Acts 17:26). Effortlessly, "He removes kings and sets up kings" (Dan. 2:21). The idea that God is "at war" is short-sighted at best.

Therefore, "for the Lord's sake" (1 Peter 2:13) we are commanded to be "submissive to rulers" (Titus 3:1) and "subject to the governing authorities" (Rom. 13:1), since God is ultimately responsible for their positions. So Jesus said to Pilate, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above" (John 19:11). Likewise, Jesus was given all authority by the Father (cf. Matt. 28:18; John 5:22; Heb. 2:8), for God "subjected everything under his feet, and appointed him as head over everything" (Eph. 1:22). By this divine delegation of authority, Christ is "the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. ... To him be honor and eternal dominion" (1 Tim. 6:15-16). In this way, God is truly the Almighty, for "from him and through him and to him are all things" (Rom. 11:36).

Our understanding of God's kingship and governance is dramatically affected by how we view the cosmos. Divine sovereignty simply "fits" better within a biblical view of the heavens and the earth as plural, continuous, physical, and dynamic.

Summary

In conclusion, the biblical narrative paints a vivid picture of a cosmos intricately designed and meticulously governed by God. From the exaltation of Christ to the hierarchy of powers and principalities in heavenly places, the scriptures reveal a divine order that underscores the absolute sovereignty of God. Despite the existence of powers and rulers in the heavens, both angelic and rebellious, their authority is ultimately subject to the divine will. As believers, we find assurance in the knowledge that God remains in complete control, orchestrating the rise and fall of kingdoms and powers according to His divine purposes. Thus, our understanding of God's sovereignty is profoundly shaped by the biblical portrayal of the cosmos as a dynamic and interconnected reality under the divine rule of the Almighty.

Disciple X