‘Transfer of power,’ is a term used in politics to describe what happens on January 20th when one person or party vacates the White House - and another moves in. We see it every election cycle at the Federal level, when the current president is either unable to run again, or voted out and replaced by a new incoming president. Thankfully, in the White House we have enjoyed a peaceful ‘transfer of power’ for almost 250 years! But that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been any animus between incoming and outgoing presidents. In the year 1800, John Adams did not attend the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson, who had defeated him in the election. President Trump did not attend President Biden’s inaugural in January of 2021, because of suspicion of election results. In 1932 Herbert Hoover only reluctantly rode in the motorcade with Franklin Delano Roosevelt to his inauguration, not saying a word to him - then - or ever again.
But we also see ‘the transfer of power’ in the business world when a corporation is struggling, and the corporate Board parts with the current CEO and transfers power of operations to a new CEO. In fact, we see a ‘transfer of power’ every time there’s a ‘changing of the guard’ in a union, school, or church.
What does your Bible say about ‘transfer of power'? Are there any examples of it occurring in the Old or New Testaments? What’s the greatest ‘transfer of power’ forecast to happen in the future by God Almighty?
The books of Samuel, Kings & Chronicles are much about the ‘transfer of power’ between kings of Judah and Israel. Abner was ‘commander in chief’ of King Saul’s army. But the king’s son, Ish-Bosheth accused Abner of sleeping with one of King Saul’s concubines. Abner was so incensed with the accusation that he said to the King’s son: “May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him— to TRANSFER the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” (II SAMUEL 3:9,10) Sometimes the ‘transfer of power’ between kings of Israel was peaceful, but several times it involved a violent Coup D’ ‘Etat.
The first ‘transfer of power’ in Human History is recorded in the book of Genesis. God put the whole earth in subjection to Adam & Eve, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (GENESIS 1:28) But after Adam & Eve sinned by disobeying God and listening to Satan, a ‘transfer of power’ over earth took place from Mankind to Satan: “ But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds THE GOD OF THIS AGE has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (II CORINTHIANS 4:3,4) Since Man put more stock in what Satan said to Eve than what God commanded, God gave dominion over the earth to Satan. This is made crystal clear in a statement by Satan to Jesus: “And the devil said to Him (Jesus), “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for THIS HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO ME, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” (LUKE 4:6,7) But the 2nd Adam (Christ), refused Satan’s offer, and quoted Scripture to the Devil: “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” (LUKE 4:8) Unfortunately, even most Christians are not fully aware of this ‘transfer of power’ and that Satan has deceived the whole world (REVELATION 12:9).
A second ‘transfer of power’ occurred when Israel supplanted the Canaanite kingdom of the Levant, with this reality check from God: “It is not because of your (Israel’s) righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go into possess their (Canaanite) land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (DEUTERONOMY 9:5)
Showing the equity and fairness of God, a third ‘transfer of power’ took place hundreds of years later, when Israel’s wickedness in the land matched that of their predecessors: “And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers (Prophets), rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they (Israel) mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets… And those who escaped from the sword he (Nebuchadnezzar) carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah.” (II CHRONICLES 36:15-21)
Such ‘transfer of power’ takes place whenever God perceives that a nation is deserving of punishment: “The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.” (JEREMIAH 18:7,8) This actually happened when the prophet Jonah was sent to Ninevah, and the people repented from the King himself to the common people, and much to Jonah’s disappointment, God spared the city. But a century later, when the prophet Nahum was sent to warn Ninevah, which had fallen back into wickedness, this time the leader and the people ignored the warning - and a ‘transfer of power’ took place from Assyrian rule, to Babylonian rule over Ninevah.
In the New Testament, the coming of the promised Messiah (Jesus) brought about a ‘transfer of power’ in the priesthood: “If it be possible to bring men to spiritual maturity through the Levitical priestly system (for that is the system under which the people were given the Law), why does the necessity arise for another priest to make his appearance after the order of Melchizedek, instead of following the normal priestly calling of Aaron? For if there is a TRANSFERENCE OF PRIESTLY POWERS, there will necessarily follow an alteration of the Law regarding priesthood. He who is described as our High Priest belongs to another tribe (Judah), no member of which had ever attended the altar! For it is a matter of history that our Lord was a descendant of Judah, and Moses made no mention of priesthood in connection with that tribe.” (HEBREWS 7:12 PHILLIPS). Jesus is now High Priest, instead of a descendant of Aaron, and makes intercession for us we the saints (HEBREWS 5:9,10). It should be comforting to know that Jesus can empathize and sympathize with our struggles in the flesh, since He was subjected to the same experience - being both ‘Son of Man’ and ‘Son of God.’
According to the prophetic portrait outlined in the pages of your Bible, there is coming a ‘transfer of power’ on this earth like none before: “And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority… It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” (REVELATION 13:1,2,7) The Beast will be the first kingdom in history to rule over every nation and people. Jesus referred to the reign of the Beast as the greatest time of trouble in Human History (MATTHEW 24: 21,22) To learn the identity of the Beast, go to our YOUTUBE channel ORIGINAL CHRISTIANITY - and watch our programs on ‘The Beast,’ ‘The Great Harlot,’ and ‘The False Prophet.’
Thankfully, the reign of the Beast over all the nations of the earth will be brief (42 months - REV. 11:2), then another ‘transfer of power’ will take place: “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because YOU HAVE TAKEN YOUR GREAT POWER AND REIGNED.“ (REV.11:15-) Isaiah was inspired to write about this FINAL ‘transfer of power’ on this earth: “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 (nations), and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people 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 shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (ISAIAH 2:1-4) What a glorious ‘transfer of power’ this will be! There will be one system of Law for all nations - God’s Law. There will be one pure language that all will speak (ZEPHANIAH 3:9). There will be one religion on earth - God’s religion as spelled out in the Bible!
Jesus will rule over all nations to their great blessing - if they cooperate. Who will make up Christ’s cabinet? We don’t have to guess, God tells us: “So Jesus said to them (Disciples), “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (MATTHEW 19:28) So the 12 disciples will make up the inner circle of Christ’s cabinet. But we’re also told that we, the saints, will also assist Jesus in the rule of all the nations (REVELATION 20:4). And according to a parable given by Jesus Himself, some of us will be over 2 cities, some 5 cities, and some even up to 10 cities (LUKE 19: 11-19)
Another ‘transfer of power’ will take place at this time: “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years…” (REVELATION 20:1,2) Jesus said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (MATTHEW 28:18)
The final ‘transfer of power’ will take place at the end of the thousand-year reign of Christ over the nations, when the Father descends to a new heaven and earth: “Then comes the end, when He (Jesus) delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.” (I COR 15:24)
King David was inspired to write: “God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.” (PSALM 62:11) When you consider the corrupt and violent world we live in today - it’s easy to look forward to this final ‘transfer of power’ from Satan and Man’s rule over Man - back to God Almighty - THY KINGDOM COME!