Daniel 4: 34 And 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 lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 And 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?
There are certain distinctive prerogatives which are naturally incidental to the office of a king, or in our case a president. These powers and authorities can be exercised, with or without the consent of those who are under their jurisdiction. And, even though the underlings may clamor for a reason why, or some other explanation, it remains the sole right of the king or president in question, to offer fine details to the populace, for he may choose to do so, or he can choose not to, it’s all up to him.
For instance, presidents Obama, Biden, and Trump have all issued executive orders, which some people agreed with while others became quite infuriated at their courses of action taken. However, in their sole capacity as president, they did it anyway, whether some folks would agree, or whether some would be upset. Again, a lot of people have become infuriated over the pardon president Biden gave to his son Hunter. Some on the left are crying foul, while some on the right have become emboldened in their belief that the justice system is rigged and corrupt.
While we are not hear to take sides, or to say yea or nay, the basic fact remains that the president or king in question retains the prerogative to do things that his subjects might not necessarily agree with even if the majority, or minority may sound an alarm. Their prerogatives all come with their territory, and no doubt, when the changing of the guards will take place in January of next year, we can expect some of those executive orders, and pardons to be issued on a large scale, and again, as it was in bygone years, some will agree, while others would become upset.
The same scenario often takes place with what God does, or what He permits, for there are those who will agree, and there are those who will object, but God reserves the sovereign prerogative to do as He pleases, which is a truth we as mortals will have to be reconciled to. In many instances God may offer us an explanation, as He has done numerous times in the Scripture and through His chosen prophets. But God is not duty- bound to give any reasons for doing such and such.
There have been times, and there will be occasions where God may see fit not to reveal any fine details, or explanations about some situation or incident so as to procure the very best outcome in the interest of all concerned. Therefore, as we study the sovereign prerogatives of God, let us do so with a humble heart and teachable spirit, so that the relation of the creature to the one and only Creator might be clearly understood.
The following therefore are some of The Lord’s sole prerogatives in His singular capacity as Sovereign of the universe, including our world.
[1] It is His sovereign prerogative to issue executive orders, with, or without any explanations, as He sees fit. Let’s read:
Daniel 4:13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven;
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 a 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 rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom-soever he will and sets up over it the basest of men.
Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
[2] It is God’s sole prerogative to execute judgments against sin.
At times it may seem to finite minds that The God of heaven is missing in action, and, as a result of this it might seem as if folks are getting away with murder, as the saying goes. Untold suffering, the barrage of lies and corruptions engulfing nations, so many children and adults dying daily by violence without cause in several war-torn countries.
Nations invade other nations, and wreak havoc on the citizenry, whilst fraud, and the daily travesty of justice seems to go unrebuked. And because of the seeming inaction on God’s part, persons take more unwarranted liberties by continuing their heaven- daring iniquities. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.
13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he fears not before God.
But, this seeming inaction by God is really a gross misinterpretation of His mercies, which some poor mortals take for granted, during the interim period that God has given them to repent, and to turn from their wicked ways. This is the reason why so many things across the land have now taken a decided turn for the worse, and yet it may seem to many that God isn’t going to intervene. We have news for you! God reserves the sovereign prerogative to execute judgments when He sees fit.
And in the fullness of time, persons may be assured that He absolutely will. Several passages of Scripture when taken together give us the correct perspective of the balance between God’s justice and mercy, so that we will understand His sovereign prerogative to execute judgement. Let’s read:
Genesis 15: 13 And he said unto Abram, know for 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.
2nd Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind therefore I have hope. 22 It’s because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
[The Great Controversy pp 627] To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked,” [Ezekiel 33:11.] The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet he will “by no means clear the guilty.” “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” [Exodus 34:6, 7; Nahum 1:3.]
By terrible things in righteousness, he will vindicate the authority of his downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord's reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which he bears long, and which he will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God's account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy.
[3] It is The Lord’s prerogative to save any person He deems fit, to be a candidate for heaven.
Heaven will be a place of great surprises, because persons who many expect to be there may not be present, and some persons who may not have the perfect rap-sheet will be there in the kingdom. It is not for us to make any determinations about who should and should not be saved. Thus, we are encouraged to sow beside all waters, and let the chips fall where they may, because man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.
The Lord made manifest His sovereign prerogative to save any person He deems fit, when against the seeming logical, finite reasoning of men, He chose Saul, who later became Paul. When God chose him for his role in the early church there was definite remonstrance on the part of folks who not only knew what Saul had been doing to the saints but were themselves aware that they were on the menu daily.
At that time, he seemed to everyone concerned, to be the most unlikely candidate, as was Mary, out of whom Christ had cast out seven sex demons, and the thief on the cross who never had an opportunity at restitution, for all the items he had stolen over his lifetime. Therefore, in all of our interactions with persons, of high or low degree, we should always bear in mind this fact, that God reserves the right to save to the uttermost, anyone, who, in His foreknowledge, and wisdom, He sees fit. Let’s read:
Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly, there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.
Last but not least, and so critically important for the here and now, and also for eternity, is the following sovereign prerogative of God, which so many folks have difficulty grappling with.
[4] It is God’s prerogative to keep certain secrets private, and to withhold specific types of sensitive information from us as mortals.
In every government on earth, and especially in the U.S. you have what is called classified information. It comes in varying degrees, from information that will not cause any serious harm to those highly classified secrets, which only the chosen, trusted few will ever have access to. These highly classified secrets, if exposed to wrong people, can jeopardize national security, and could seriously compromise the nation’s ability to protect its citizens, and could put several people at risk of harm, and even death.
This is what Edward Snowden did when he decided to release a treasure trove of sensitive, classified information which greatly compromised America’s intelligence, and sources. This is what also took place when Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange released online, very sensitive, top- secret information, which, according to government officials, jeopardized the U.S military operations and planning on many levels.
That is why, before one can be trusted with handling very sensitive information, that person has to pass several security screening tests initially, and then he or she will be granted one of five levels of security clearances, as those in authority may see fit.
Tiers one, and two apply to low risk, non-sensitive positions. Persons applying for a position of public trust are required to have a background check, and criminal records examined. Together with finger- printing, credit checks etc, they are to be duly scrutinized.
That is under normal circumstances. But we are no longer living under normal circumstances, if you can understand dark sentences. The days of normal are now relics of the past, and the Remnant people of God who know what’s coming must be prepared for the new abnormal.
Tiers three and four pertain to the Secret Security Clearances, and High-Risk Public Trusts which means that persons who will be granted these clearances would have access to sensitive information that can cause grave danger and harm to the United States.
In recent memory there have been a few individuals who have violated public trust, for they were found sharing America’s sensitive information with foreign adversaries, online and in person. So yes, tiers three and four can be pretty serious as far as our national security goes.
Then you have the highest security clearance which is tier five also designated as the Top-Secret Security clearance, in which the relevant authorities will do a deep dive into every aspect of your life, including interviews with your friends and neighbors and your co-workers, together with polygraph tests etc.
This Top-Secret clearance is what Lucifer didn’t have because the info was so sensitive that it could have put the entire universe at risk. And therefore, God in His wisdom and foreknowledge saw it fit to keep the highly classified information between the members of the God-Head alone.
But now that it has been revealed in the Scriptures, we must observe how God went about unfolding it in due season, and in increments, so that we would have a much clearer understanding of the Sovereign prerogatives of God, and how they relate to, and do interface with our freedom of choice. Let’s read:
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.
The secret has to do with the contract between God the Father and Jesus Christ, when He would come to this world, and give Himself as a sacrifice to save us from our sins. The decision was made and sealed long before man was created. Let’s read:
Revelation 13: 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
1st Peter 1: 18 Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by the tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.
Ephesians 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
Therefore, according to what is written in the Bible we can decisively conclude that the plan of salvation was not a reaction to some emerging threat but was a well thought out plan made well in advance, to be implemented when it would become necessary. We use the word “When” because as the Scripture says unequivocally, God reads the future accurately, and therefore it was not a matter of if, but a matter of when man would fall. Let’s read:
Isaiah 46: 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
[D.A. pp 22] The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of “the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal.” From the beginning, God and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through the deceptive power of the apostate. God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency.
So great was His love for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten Son, “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Thus, God goes to work with His good plan in mind and He creates Adam, and Eve with the freedom of choice. They could use their freedom to be aligned with God’s will, as it pertains to not eating of the forbidden tree, or they could use their freedom of choice to misalign themselves with His will. Let’s read:
Genesis 3:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden you may freely eat. 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof thou shalt surely die.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 49] God might have created man without the power to transgress His law; He might have withheld the hand of Adam from touching the forbidden fruit; but in that case man would have been, not a free moral agent, but a mere automaton. Without freedom of choice, his obedience would not have been voluntary, but forced. There could have been no development of character. Such a course would have been contrary to God's plan in dealing with the inhabitants of other worlds. It would’ve been unworthy of man as an intelligent being, and would have sustained Satan's charge of God's arbitrary rule.
Thus, you have a situation where man’s freedom of choice, and God’s perfect foreknowledge will meet at a crossroads, with Adam and Eve choosing not to align themselves with the will of God.
God’s foreknowledge of future events never forces anyone to do evil, but we have to come to grips with the fact that His foreknowledge is perfect, and thus, for our own good, and the entire universe as well, it is necessary that the Sovereign prerogative of God, to withhold classified information, be understood.
Not only must it be understood thoroughly, but the human agents must also be willing to let God’s plan for our salvation run its course even though at times it might include situations that are not cute, to say the least.
Sometimes the only way to achieve some permanent good is to move forward with decisions and actions that can have adverse consequences up front, as was the case on August 6, 1945 when an American B-29 bomber dropped the first atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
The explosion promptly killed an estimated 80,000 people; tens of thousands more would later die of radiation exposure. Three days later, a second B-29 dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people. Japan’s Emperor then announced his country’s unconditional surrender in World War II in a radio address on August 15, and ever since that episode, Japan has gone on to become a strong ally of the U.S. and one of its important trading partners.
Thus, it is, with God’s implementation of the plan of salvation. He also, like us, took a serious hit, for it is not like if Jesus stayed up there in heaven and just watched us being battered, bruised, and scarred. He rolled up His sleeves, and buckled up His boots, and came and died in the process of salvation. Thus, as far as suffering is concerned, He took much more of a hit than anyone of us will ever take. This solemn truth should now cause every mumbling word to be hushed, and every question of God’s goodness to be permanently laid to rest.
Now, some may argue that if The Lord had revealed the outcome in the garden of Eden, with all of the gory details and adverse consequences that would stretch millennia into the future then Adam and Eve would have chosen to do differently. That this is not necessarily the case is made clear, as when Jesus told Peter of a definite adverse outcome that would accrue, by his course of action, and yet, as the record shows, Peter still went ahead, and did exactly as God’s foreknowledge had prophesied.
Peter’s freedom of choice was left intact, but yet the perfection of God’s omniscience was made manifest when on several occasions, Peter does exactly what Jesus said he will do. Therefore, with Christ’s perfect foreknowledge, He puts a safety net in place, just as He did, before the foundation of the world when the contract between The Father and Jesus was signed, sealed, and later delivered. Let’s read:
Luke 22: 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fails not: and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren.
Matthew 26: 31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered and said unto him, though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise, also said all the disciples. 40 And he cometh unto the disciples and finds them asleep, and saith unto Peter, what, could you not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 73 And after a while came unto him, they that stood by, and said to Peter, surely, thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrays thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
The secrets about the plan of salvation were not to be made known up front, but at the time when they would be needed. If Christ had revealed the plan of salvation up front to our first parents, with all of the gory details, their obedience, and freedom of choice might have been motivated by the knowledge of consequences, and not by love, and loyalty to the Creator. The same is true of other good secrets, which God retains the prerogative to keep to Himself. Here are just a few examples:
[1] If Christ were to let Moses know of His plan to translate him to heaven, without him seeing death, Moses’ behavior could have been affected by the knowledge of his imminent translation.
[2] If Christ were to let us know up front that the former president would win against all odds, very many persons may, or may not have stayed home, and not done what they would have naturally done, through their freedom of choice.
[3] Again, if God were to reveal up front the day and the hour of His coming a lot of people might behave themselves very well, or even differently as they see the time drawing near, and no doubt, almost every person would straighten up, the night, just before Christ appeared.
Then again, our behaviors could be affected by the foreknowledge of the exact day of His coming, and thus, our freedom of choice would not be exercised entirely free of bias, in the truest sense of the word. Thus, in His wisdom God has chosen to withhold the top secret, classified information pertaining to the exact day of His return. In the fullness of time, when it becomes necessary, He will make that information known to His people, but for now, just as it was with the plan of salvation it remains highly classified info.
And, for good reason, for whenever in retrospect we observe what took place in 1844, we discover God’s wisdom in not making the day of His coming known to mortals as yet. Here are just a few snippets of the doings of persons, in relation to what they believed was an exact date for Christ’s second coming.
[The Great Controversy pp 396>374]
[1] Sinners inquired with weeping, “What must I do to be saved?” Those whose lives had been marked with dishonesty were anxious to make restitution.
[2] The hearts of parents were turned to their children, and the hearts of children to their parents.
[3] Heart-felt confessions were made, and members of the household labored for the salvation of those who were nearest and dearest.
[4] Everywhere were souls in deep anguish, pleading with God.
[5] Many wrestled all night in prayer for the assurance that their sins were pardoned.
[6] For some weeks preceding the time, worldly business was for the most part laid aside.
[7] The sincere believers carefully examined every thought and emotion of their hearts as if upon their death-beds and in a few hours to close their eyes upon earthly scenes.
[8] There were among them many who had been actuated by no higher motive than fear.
In closing, whatever might be our ideas, convictions, or beliefs, one thing is certain, and that is that we’ve turned a corner, and there will certainly be lots of collateral damages, and consequences, of which the remnant people of God may not be entirely immune from.
However, if we were to keep The Lord’s sovereign prerogatives in view, in the fullness of time it will be revealed why God permitted such and such to take place. The most important thing for us however is to make certain that our freedom of choice is aligned fully with God’s revealed will.
In this way, no matter how the tide turns, no matter the uncertainty, no matter the evil forebodings that are haunting the minds of millions globally, The Lord will take care of those who are in covenant relation with Him, for His sovereign prerogatives are always intended, and exercised with the very best good of His people in mind.
Thus, it becomes fitting for us to end with a passage of Scripture which should cheer our hearts, even as we stand on the brink of eternity, at one minute to midnight, as it were. Let’s read:
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
God Bless!