Not always the most obvious, but of central importance..

God Has Always Ruled Over Human Affairs.

When Paul is preaching to the scholars in Athens, he says this of God’s rule, that He,

“… hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; ”
Acts 17:26 KJV

Who determines where men live, and the boundaries of their nations? Paul says that God does. And what is God’s purpose in these things?

“That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:”
Acts 17:27 WEB

How inclusive is this power?

“6 Yahweh kills, and makes alive:
He brings down to Sheol, and brings up.
7 Yahweh makes poor, and makes rich:
He brings low, he also lifts up.
8 He raises up the poor out of the dust,
He lifts up the needy from the dunghill,
To make them sit with princes,
Inherit the throne of glory:
For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s,
He has set the world on them.” 1Sam 2:6-8 WEB

There is more in that passage in 1 Samuel 2, but that should do.

This Rule Has Been Given to Jesus the Son for Our Age.

“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
Mtt 28:18 WEB

All authority in heaven and on earth? It is a theme that comes up over and over in His words.

“All things have been delivered to me by my Father.” Mtt 11:27 WEB

This is Real but Generally Unseen.

“… you gave him authority over all flesh, …” Jn 17:2 WEB

The word used here is the Greek “exousia” and is a word for the right and authority and power to act. Jesus rules over the churches in Revelation 2 and 3. He makes them stand, or removes them. Of some who commit sexual immorality, He says, “I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. …” Rev 2:23 WEB. And of this same Jesus it says,

“… Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” Rev 1:5 WEB.

A mighty war between the good and evil goes on in our age. And the forces of the beast and his armies? He rules because “Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.” Rev 13:7 WEB. Jesus is now the most powerful person in the universe, excepting the Father Himself. Of this power (the Greek is dunamis) Jesus has, it says,

“… according to the power by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.” Phil 3:21 nf.

And in the end, He wages war victoriously, 2Thes 1:8-9. The last enemy is death itself, 1Cor 15:26.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

nf is my own translation based on the WEB