Throughout history, people have realized that society needs government. Every man for himself descends into chaos. Yet human governments bring their own problems.

The major reason this world’s systems of government fail is that they are concocted and administered by human beings under the sway of Satan the devil. Not only has Satan subjected humanity to oppressive, inept, selfish governments for millenniums, he is deceiving us into hating and rejecting all forms of authority—especially God’s government.

But God’s is the only form of government that will truly work. Let’s study some of the specifics the Bible teaches us about God’s form of government.

The Author of Government

In his book Mystery of the Ages, Herbert W. Armstrong called God the “Author of government.” God is the supreme and only perfect Lawgiver (James 4:12), and “[t]he very fact of law presupposes government,” he wrote. “Government is the administration and enforcement of law by one in authority. This necessitates authoritative leadership—one in command.” Even between God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son clearly spoke of how the Father holds higher authority (e.g. John 14:28).

“The government of God is of necessity government from the top down,” Mr. Armstrong continued. “It cannot be ‘government by the consent of the governed.’ Its laws originate and are handed down from God—never legislated by the people—never dictated by the governed how the government over them shall rule them. … [T]he government of God is based on the law of God, which is the way of life of outflowing love, cooperation, concern for the good of the governed. And this law of God produces peace, happiness, cooperation through obedience.” The Bible reveals that that law can be summarized by the one word love—subdivided into love toward God and love toward neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). “Jesus magnified this law by showing how its principle expands to cover virtually every possible human infraction. … [I]t is so perfect that, by applying its principle, it is a complete law” (ibid).

The principle of God’s government is based on the fact that God is at the top. It is government for the people, but it is not by the people. The authority emanates from God, and He delegates it to whom He chooses in order to administer and enforce His law.

In Deuteronomy’s first four chapters, Moses delivered a sermon to the Israelites about their history. Deuteronomy 1:9-10 show how Moses was acting as God’s sole representative, administering His government, but the job was too big for him. God’s solution was to create an organized system of leaders working under Moses in a pyramidal structure (verses 13-15). This is the pattern for God’s government throughout the Bible. The pyramidal government structure alone doesn’t make it God’s government—plenty of worldly organizations use that. What makes it God’s government is that it has God at the top!

To implement that government, each individual in office must be a righteous person who exhibits godly character. Many people have come to believe that the character of a leader doesn’t matter—what matters is that he or she knows how to lead. To God, this notion is ludicrous.

Throughout the Bible, God concerns Himself with character most of all—not talent, not charisma, not ambition, not some magical “ability to lead” (e.g. 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9.)

When Jesus Christ was training His disciples for government positions, on at least one occasion they began to bicker politically about who should have a higher office. Jesus took the opportunity to show them how utterly different, and entirely unselfish, God’s government is. He said, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:25-27; New Living Translation). Godly leadership is service. Those who implement it live and govern according to God’s law of love. If they prioritize their own interests, they are breaking that law (Matthew 22:36-40).

In Deuteronomy 17:14-20, God gave some laws for Israel’s monarchy. Verse 15 shows that the king was to be God’s choice. God didn’t institute anything like democracy. Verse 17 underscores God’s concern with the character of the ruler. He wanted the king’s heart turned to Him, not led astray by lust for women or riches, susceptible to corruption (see also 1 Timothy 3:2-3). Such weakness disqualifies an individual to lead, in God’s eyes.

In Deuteronomy 17:18-20, God commanded that the king must be a diligent student of His law, which makes sense since God’s government is a system of administering and enforcing God’s law.

This is essentially the extent of what God’s government will do when God establishes it soon across the Earth: 1) educating people in God’s law; teaching people how to lead happy lives and to prosper and be blessed—individually, in their families, with their neighbors and in their nations; and 2) administering and enforcing God’s law, ensuring justice among the people by judging according to that law. (This involves bringing criminals to judgment and protecting the people from outside aggressors. Within God’s nation, this ultimately includes destroying any foreign aggressors.) Within a church or nation, God’s government also operates a centralized system of worship.

The purpose of God’s government is extraordinary for its beautiful simplicity.

What God’s Government Does Not Do

God warned in 1 Samuel 8 that a human-led government would be oppressive. It would introduce burdensome taxes, becoming bloated and centralized. God’s government is far more generous, far less intrusive and far more interested in the prosperity and happiness of the people. Consider some things God’s government does not do—things that become very problematic when governments do them.

God’s government does not manage people’s money—neither for health care nor retirement. God’s government does not own or run businesses that compete with businesses run by private industry. God’s government facilitates wealth creation rather than interfering with it.

God’s government does not legislate new laws. God has only about 600 laws. Man’s governments constantly create new laws. A godly administration has no legislature. In ancient Israel, if Moses needed guidance in a matter he could not discern from the existing law, he appealed to God, who gave him judgments in accordance with the existing law. That’s how God’s government works. James 4:12 says there is one Lawgiver: God. Governmental positions under the Lawgiver are administrative—administering the law of God that already exists.

God’s government is simple: It teaches the law, and it administers and enforces the law. That is why it can operate on such a limited budget. It stays out of people’s business as they strive to keep the law. In the Millennium, people will tithe and give offerings the same as God’s people do in God’s Church today. Wealth will grow. Justice, equity and peace will spread.

The Beautiful Fruits

Jesus Christ is about to return and take His place as King of kings, governing all the Earth. You can read about this in the wonderful prophecy in Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” What wonderful titles! What a wonderful picture of the blessing this government will be.

The Bible is full of beautiful prophecies describing conditions that will result when this government is restored. Mr. Armstrong describes these in inspiring detail in The Wonderful World Tomorrow—What It Will Be Like (free upon request).

“Now notice just how the new world government will function!” he wrote. “All officials will be appointed—and by the divine Christ, who reads and knows men’s hearts, their inner character, and abilities or lack of ability. You’ll find a description of Christ’s supernatural insight into the very character of others in Isaiah 11:2-5. … Think of it—no money wasted on political campaigns. No splits in political parties with quarreling and hatreds. No political parties!”

Christ and His governing Family will bring about this utopia through two basic courses of action, Mr. Armstrong continued: “1) All crime and organized rebellion will be put down by force—divine supernatural force. 2) Christ will then set His hand to reeducate and to save, or spiritually convert, the world.”

On the first point, the most important step Christ will take is to depose and imprison Satan the devil, “the god of this [present] world,” whose evil influence manifests itself in human nature in all of mankind’s interactions (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:1-2). His removal will immediately change the course of the world. But whatever of man’s stubbornness and unteachability remains, Christ will confront by ruling with a “rod of iron” (Revelation 19:15).

As for the second action, once human nature is eliminated God will be able to write His law on people’s hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16). “When God’s laws are in our hearts—when we love God’s ways, and in our hearts want to live by them, human nature will be put under subjection—people will want to live the way that is the cause of peace, happiness, abundance, joyful well-being!” (ibid).

With the Prince of Peace overseeing a government of righteous, incorruptible leaders administering a perfect law of love, with satanic broadcasts stopped and true education universal (Habakkuk 2:14), with all individuals worldwide developing a loving, personal relationship with the one and only true God, a truly utopian world will result! Scripture amply describes life brimming over with agricultural abundance, efficient economies, universal literacy, robust health, satisfying work, elegant cities, spectacular architecture, clean energy, happy families and harmonious communities. God’s government will produce all these conditions and lead all human beings to fully realize their incredible, God-given potential!