In America there are three distinct branches of government, i.e. the executive branch, the legislative branch (the house and senate), and the judicial branch (federal courts and Supreme Court.)
All three functions will also be present in the millennial kingdom; however, the king Himself will fulfill all three functions.
“For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us.” Isaiah 33:22
America is considered to be a constitutional republic which is defined as a state where the officials are elected as representatives of the people and must govern according to an existing constitution.
In a pure democracy the majority of citizens have nearly direct rule with fewer restrictions than found in a republic where the people’s voice is expressed through elected representatives.
In stark contrast, the government of the millennial kingdom will be a monarchy where there is undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person; a government having one hereditary chief of state with life tenure.
The psalmist describes the government and ruler of the future kingdom. The LORD God says:
“I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.” Psalm 2:8
The King replies:
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Psalm 2:7-9
The above passage fits the definition of a textbook monarchy.
There will be no appeals, there will be no need for senate or house majority votes, and there will be no need for the chief executive to sign proposed legislation. There will be no special prosecutors or grand jury investigations.
Israel was predestined to produce the King, and it was also predestined that He would rule with a rod of iron.
“She (Israel) gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.” Revelation 12:5
That authority was confirmed later in the Book of Revelation where John saw the return of the King.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron…” Revelation 19:11, 15
The Greek meaning of ‘rod’ means ‘scepter.’
To rule them ‘with a rod of iron’ takes us back to Jacob’s proclamation cited earlier in this series concerning the future of his son Judah.
“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s (lawgiver’s) staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.” Genesis 49:10
The word ‘scepter’ in the Hebrew likewise means ‘rod,’ while ‘lawgiver’ has several relative synonyms including ‘decree’ and ‘rule.’
The Bible reveals that there will be shared rule in the approaching kingdom.
For example, those who prevailed from the church at Thyatira were also promised the power to rule nations with a rod of iron.
“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations – He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery – just as I have received authority form my Father.” Revelation 2:26-27
That’s not all; recall, Paul revealed that much power would be given to saints.
“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world…Do you not know that we will judge angels?”
1 Corinthians 6:2-3
The Greek word for ‘judge’ in the present context means to discern or discriminate between good and evil, upon examining the law.
It is unimaginable to consider the approaching government compared with the present government, not only in America, but all nations.