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How Does Mamlāḵâ Connect The Primaries & Tornadoes?

How Does Mamlāḵâ Connect The Primaries & Tornadoes?

Last updated on: August 18, 2026 at 1:27 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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How Does Mamlāḵâ Connect The Primaries & Tornadoes? 2026-08-18T13:27:36-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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This week, the big news has been about the nation’s recent primaries to select more of each party’s representatives for this fall’s midterm general election. The results handed both parties a couple of surprises.

Trump’s Republican Party

On the left, there was a victory for socialists against the progressive Democrats. But conservatives weren’t spared a few surprises on the right either. The Republican Party continues to prove to be just as divided as the Democratic Party.

Trump loyalist Mike Lindell lost his bid for Minnesota’s governor. Pres. Trump’s pick for the late Lindsey Graham’s U.S. Senate seat, Graham’s own sister, failed to cross the 50% threshold to secure the legendary Senator’s seat and now must face a runoff later this month. This was in addition to President Trump-endorsed Congressman Andy Ogles and congressional candidate Amir Hassan, who both lost their races earlier this month. The Takeaway for Christians is that both parties are flawed and often focus on the wrong things:

Earthly greatness
Wealth
Power/control

As God’s people, Christians should know better because we understand all humans have a sin nature (Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 5:12). That’s why we can only serve God. God’s Word tells us what to do and how to live (Psalm 119:105, Colossians 3:16-17).

While many Christians like to talk the talk, few are willing to do what Jesus actually taught His followers to do (Luke 6:46-49, James 1:22-25). Many conservatives have forgotten God’s call for His people to be different from this fallen kingdom (Leviticus 20:26, 1 Peter 2:9-12). Too many believers are obsessed with earthly greatness and rolling a corrupt and temporary kingdom (John 5:19).

What Are Kingdoms

Most of us think of kingdoms as governments and nations in Europe or the Middle East, but the truth is kingdoms can be physical, or spiritual, or even both. Kingdom is defined as, “A politically organized community or major territorial unit having a monarchical form of government headed by a king or queen; the realm in which God’s will is fulfilled.”

Image by Pixabay

For the last couple of years, there’s been lots of controversy over President Trump’s abuse of power, and many Americans founded the No Kings Movement. Kingdoms have a shared community amongst the people (ideals, languages, beliefs, etc.).

God’s people cannot follow Jesus and another leader who does the opposite of what they claim to be their King (Matthew 6:24). We can only be permanent residents of one kingdom, and all of us must choose (Joshua 24:15).

That is why the Bible has a lot to say about kingdoms (Matthew 5:1-48, Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 12:10). While God’s people are alive on earth, we are not home, but our completing God’s will while we wait to go home (Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 3:20-21, Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 11:13-16).

This world was never meant to be God’s people’s permanent home (Hebrews 13:14, 1 Peter 2:11). God set us apart from this fallen kingdom for His specific purpose, not to rule it or become the greatest of it (Colossians 1:12-14, 2 Timothy 1:9).

God planned to use His people to spread His love and the good news about a better Kingdom (Isaiah 49:6, Matthew 24:14). We are His soldiers and the battle between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness (Romans 13:12-14, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 5:8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8, 1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 12:7-11). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about kingdoms and which one we belong.

Mamlāḵâ

The prophet Moses describes how God spoke His kingdom into existence through His divine sovereignty Genesis 1:1-31). He established the earth and placed mankind here to tend to it, until mankind wanted to rule the earth and to be great like God (Genesis 2:15; 3:1-24).

Just like the world today, mankind’s thirst for more power and tainted God’s kingdom with sin (Genesis 3:6-19). God saw the wickedness of man and turned them over to their desires in this fallen kingdom (Genesis 6:5-7).

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for kingdom is mamlāḵâ, and it can also mean “Dominion, reign, sovereignty, or realm,” depending upon the context it is used in. It was God who raised up and removed kingdoms to establish his sovereignty over the earth and mankind (Job 12:23, Psalm 75:6-7, Jeremiah 27:5-8, Daniel 4:17-35).

Because of the wickedness of mankind, God set apart Israel as a nation and kingdom devoted to His ways (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 7:6-9). Unfortunately, even Israel turned to their own ways, and God allowed His kingdom to be exiled and even divided because of their disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:36-37, 2 Kings 21-15, Jeremiah 25:4-11; 32:28-35):

Nation of Israel
Northern Kingdom
Southern Kingdom (Judah)

Jewish prophecy foretells of the Messiah coming from the tribe of Judah, and one day He will reunite the kingdoms of Israel when He establishes His Final Kingdom (Genesis 49:10, Micah 5:2, Luke 3:33, Hebrews 7:14).

Image by Pixabay

When Jesus established His earthly ministry, he kept that made it clear that His Kingdom is not of this fallen world (John 18:36). Our Lord explained that His Kingdom is not like this power-hungry fallen kingdom (Matthew 5:3-12; 20:25-28).

He makes it clear that greatness in God’s Kingdom is the opposite of greatness in this fallen kingdom (Matthew 18:1-4, Luke 22:24-27). Our Rabbi warned His followers to store up treasures in the heavenly Kingdom that will not be destroyed like this temporary one (Matthew 6:19-21).

Tornadoes

In other big news, more severe weather and natural disasters have shaken both America and the world. This week, tornadoes ripped through Chicago and Illinois. God’s sovereignty is seen through the power of nature (Psalm 91:1-16, Isaiah 32:2, Nahum 1:3).

Image by Pixabay

Another major earthquake rocked the Americas, this time in Colombia; so far, 239 people have lost their lives to the devastating quake. As I write this, there are devastating floods spreading from the Midwest across America to New England.

Why would Bible-reading believers waste so much time trying to rule a fallen and temporary kingdom that isn’t their home ( John 17:14-16, James 4:4):

Natural disasters
Disease
Pestilence

The Bible is clear that our sovereign God will destroy this temporary kingdom we are visiting now one day (Daniel 2:44, 1 Corinthians 15:24-25, Revelation 11:15).

The earth and stars will be destroyed one day to make room for God’s everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 3: 10-13). Because of mankind’s thirst for earthly greatness and power, this world and all its treasures are corrupt and cursed (Romans 8:20-22, James 5:1-3).

As God’s people will told not to seek or chase earthly power (Matthew 20:25-28). We are here to share the Good News and prepare people for God’s mamlāḵâ!

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