As we are addressing ways that we can help build the highway for our God and the coming of His kingdom, and that a kingdom is fundamentally a government, we should expect the coming government of God to be born out of the church, His body, through which He will shine His light to the world. However, there are presently many different forms of church government, some of which seem to be in opposition to one another. Even so, as we proceed toward that time, we will instead start seeing them complement one another.

The kingdom is much bigger, grander, and diverse than we have been able to see because even the most gifted still only see in part and know in part, just as the different tribes of Israel each had their own inheritance, different callings, and different prophecies, but they all fit together to make them one nation. We need to see how the different parts of the body of Christ fit together to form the one holy nation.

It is also understandable that many would believe that a kingdom and a democracy would be in opposition to one another, but this is not necessarily the case. Though the foundational authority of the kingdom will obviously be the King's ultimate authority over everything, and His delegated authority through those who have overcome in this life to rule and reign with Him, there are ways in which some democratic principles will also have a part in His rule. These are important to see if we are going to build a highway that goes to the right place. A highway goes both ways. It is a way for the King to come to His people, and it is a way for the people to go to Him. In prophetic symbolism, a highway often represents a "higher way."

Democracy was born out of one of the greatest moves of God in the church age, and the one which has most impacted the modern world—the Protestant Reformation. Anything that is so obviously and powerfully born out of a move of God should get our attention. It is not perfect, and it has taken a long time to mature, but wherever it has been given a place, its fruit is so good, and it will bring unprecedented freedom and prosperity.

The Puritans, who helped colonize America, believed that it was their purpose to establish the new world as the kingdom of God on earth. Even though they felt they were laying the groundwork for the kingdom, it is interesting how devoted they were to basic democratic principles. It was because of this vision that they were able to impart many godly principles into the government and constitution of the United States.

So, were the Puritans right? Obviously, America is not the kingdom of God, but it is at least a few steps on the highway. There is great blessing that comes from doing anything according to the Word and ways of God, which are righteousness and devotion to justice, the second of the two pillars of God's throne or authority. We can trace many of our blessings as a nation to having a government founded upon these godly principles.

Of course, we would be foolish to think that America is perfectly righteous, and in fact we are far from it.  Likewise, it is foolish for us to think that our system of justice is perfect, meting out perfect justice. We are far from that, too. Even so, there has not been another nation as dedicated to these or that may have done as well with them. It is right that we should appreciate, support, and defend these democratic principles. However, as remarkably wise and godly as the founding fathers were, they were not a corporate Moses bringing a new covenant from God. While being thankful for what we have, America is far from what the kingdom of God will be like.

There is a difference between being dedicated to God and having a covenant with Him. America was repeatedly dedicated to God, and the Scriptures promise God's blessing to any nation or people who seek to live righteously and justly, but there are only two nations in Scripture that the Lord has an actual covenant with—Israel and His "holy nation," the church. The church was also actually commissioned to be a nation among the nations as a representative of His coming kingdom. The covenants which God acknowledges were always initiated and established by Him in a remarkable and supernatural way, and simply cannot be found in American history or any other nation's history, except Israel's and the church.

Even so, our American founding fathers established a form of government on principles beyond human wisdom, which was done in the fear of the Lord. This has certainly brought God's favor and blessing. Something dedicated to the Lord is also holy to Him, and there are severe consequences for defiling the dedicated things of the Lord. Therefore, America will not be able to get away with the kind of debauchery and sin that other nations may be able to get away with. Watch what happens to those centers which are considered "sin cities" in the future for an important lesson.

Another primary devotion of anyone or nation considered godly is their devotion to justice, with special consideration for the widows, orphans, the poor, and the oppressed.

It is also a part of the American spiritual genetic code to love the underdog, the one with the least chance of success. The key statement in the American Declaration of Independence is that "all men are created equal," which obviously did not mean that all men were created equal intellectually, physically, or in other resources, but that they were created by God to have equal respect and consideration under the law, and equal input into the common debate.

This devotion to all being created equal was applied as the rule of "one man one vote," regardless of your station in life. Later, it became one man or woman and one vote. Finally, it matured into one man or woman from any race or culture and one vote. The Declaration of Independence was a seed that had to grow and mature so that it could bear fruit "after its kind."

Certainly there has been progress toward this ideal of equal input into the democracy. There have also been setbacks. We cannot expect any system in this world to be perfect, but there are definite inclinations toward righteousness, or what is right, and unrighteousness. Much of that progress toward righteousness in America has been terribly costly and painful, but progress has been made in many areas.

Even so, though we may all have only one vote, the reality is that those who accomplish more have more input or authority, but that is also a kingdom principle taught by the King. Those who do the best with the talents they are given will be given authority over more cities in the kingdom. This principle is already at work to some degree because those who accomplish more with what they are given do have a bigger, louder voice in the public debate.

We may say that this should not be the case, and liberal politicians are constantly trying to rein in the power of the rich or successful to ensure that "the little guy" has the power. There are certainly times, especially when power has been abused and becomes oppressive, that this is a noble cause. However, this devotion unchecked can lead to a worse tyranny, which was witnessed in a most dramatic way in the French Revolution. This tyranny of the oppressed becoming worse oppressors led to Napoleon's reign, and to the Bolshevik Revolution, which led to the terrible and cruel oppression of communism, and can be seen in a host of other revolutions that quickly broke down into an even more terrible oppression of anarchy. The balance of power between "the little guy," and the little guys who become big guys by their initiative, is a delicate balance for any democracy to keep.

Even so, though every person should have a vote, it is a basic kingdom principle that authority, which is influence, must be earned. The ideal is that an equal place is given for anyone to earn it.

We may consider that everyone has not been gifted by God in ways that really give us all an equal opportunity to earn authority, and that is where God's election comes in. Like it or not, there are callings and elections from God that are not all equal. That may not seem fair in this age when authority is used mostly for self-promotion, but in the kingdom those who are given more will be the greater servants, not the ones who lord it over the rest.

In the kingdom, all authority is for service. In feudal times, this ideal was called the noblesse oblige, or "the obligation of the nobility." The original purpose of the nobility was to be a truly noble class, and to rule over their domains with righteousness and justice. These domains were usually a county, which is where the title "count" or "countess" originated. But such ideals are hard to maintain in a privileged class, and often the worse forms of tyranny were exerted by the nobility over their subjects. In our Declaration of Independence, the term "all men are created equal" was intended to be a final dissolution of such a ruling class for America.   

Democracy also gave a whole new impetus to free enterprise, and free enterprise did flourish under the new freedoms of democracy as they never had before. For the last five hundred plus years, the nations that established a lasting prosperity were the ones where Protestant Christianity was the dominate faith. This is to some degree because of "the Protestant work ethic." An industrious people are far more crucial for a lasting prosperity than even the most abundant natural resources. There can be a big difference between riches and wealth. Wealth, which is lasting, is always the result of hard work and endurance. However, even more than this "work ethic," it was the Protestant devotion to the Scriptures that released the truth that set men free.

Christian truths helped to set the course of modern civilization and defined what was to be considered civil, even among those who are not Christians. It was Christian truth which also helped to set men free to the degree that they can be free in this age. Christian truth helped give definition to the most noble and effective government in this age—democracy. However, you can have the best form of government and still have bad government if you have bad people in it. God is seeking to write His laws on the hearts of people. The form of government is the scaffolding, but the character of the people is the real government.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne or authority (see Psalm 89:14). Righteousness is married to justice because for things to be done right, people must be treated fairly. Where there is justice that can be counted on, economies tend to flourish because people will be more prone to take the initiative knowing their rewards will be protected. Where there is righteousness, there will be honesty and integrity, also necessary for lasting prosperity. If either righteousness or justice begins to erode, the foundations for prosperity and peace have begun to crumble, and there will be a meltdown of that society.

Likewise, where righteousness and justice are being established, it can be a highway for the kingdom. This is the church's mandate. This is where we are called to be salt and light. Of course, preaching the gospel of salvation is fundamental to this, leading individuals to the righteous King, and most just Judge, who will change them into His image. Redemption, reconciliation to God, and restoration of what we were created to be is fundamental. However, "The Great Commission" was to make disciples of all nations, not just individuals, and His church is called to be a light to the nations, not just individuals. We have a calling and responsibility to both.

Armageddon is a valley of decisions for all nations. Though there may well be a literal battle in this literal valley at the end of this age, that will only be the consummation of the decisions those nations have made for or against God and His kingdom. We are told that when the Lord returns He is going to divide the nations as sheep from goats. It is being determined right now which nations will be "sheep," and which will be "goats."

We were put in our nation as salt and light. What is happening in our nation, on our watch, will determine which category it will be in. What are we doing to help it be a "sheep nation," which the Lord defined as the ones that received Him by receiving and taking care of His people? Only a nation devoted to righteousness and justice will do that. This begins at home. This is why the Lord said that He called Abraham "the father of faith," as we read in Genesis 18:18-19:
 

Abraham was not only to become a nation, but to be a blessing to "all the nations of the earth." He was to do this by teaching his own children about righteousness and justice. It has been often said that the strength of any nation will be determined by the strength of its families, and this is true of the "holy nation" as well. Upon the strength of our families we build the church, and upon the strength of the church we build a highway to the kingdom that the nations will be able to travel.