The Four Components of Government

Government comprises four fundamental elements: a ruler, subjects, territory and laws.

The coming Messiah is the great Ruler yet to come (Isaiah 11:1-5). "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment [compare John 12:48] and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).

His subjects will be all of humanity: "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains . . . and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Micah 4:1-2).

The territory over which Jesus Christ will rule is the entire earth: "And the LORD shall be King over all the earth" (Zechariah 14:9).

All humankind will be ruled by God's laws, spiritually applied: "Thus says the LORD GOD: . . . 'I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God'" (Ezekiel 11:17-20). GN