Hebrews 2:7> Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels, Thou crownedst Him with glory and honor, and did set Him over the works of Thy hands.
Here we see Christ has been given all authority by his Father. But not all is as it seems. When God speaks, we need to recognize that He isn't always talking about immediate conditions..what He often does is generalize. For what God is speaking of here is the end result. That is, when all that is coming is completed, indeed, his Son will then at that point have all authority assuredly...just not yet. And whenever we read our Lords Word, as we continue through the verses, we always find extra insight to His generalizations. Sometimes obscured, sometimes obvious. And this is what we find for the above scripture also...when we read on.
For in Gods eyes, since He knows the end of all things, it is to Him as though all things have already happened, for He knows the end result, so therefore, He CAN generalize...and does. So we can not take single statements, or even clusters of verses and form doctrines without first seeking ALL related scriptures on any and all declarations/subjects. And this is also true for the above scripture that when taken as is, it is from here conflicting doctrines can form...like the doctrine that says Christ is ruling all things even now...which can create doctrines like the millennium is already underway...which of course is error...and conflicts with what we are soon to read...so we read on for clarification...
Hebrews 2:8> Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him....
Again, sounds certain that Christ is indeed reigning over all things even now, especially: He left nothing that is not put under Him !!! Sounds very definite doesn't it !! BUT....but look now at how that verse 8 ends...
v8> But now we see not yet all things put under Him !!!!!!!
Now this Hebrews, as we all know, was written after Christ ascended to His Father. And here we have another proof that indeed, not yet all things are under His control. So we see from the opening of this subject, God generalized, for it was said that all things were put under Christ, giving the impression Christ certainly does right now this moment rule all things...but as we continued on, we found that not all was as it seemed. So since not all things are yet put under Him, then there are by necessity, from that declared truth, things that are even now free of His rule, that is, not under Christ. Now we do find in Hebrews, amongst others, the reason why not yet all things are put under Christ. But it is not openly declared, but instead, it is left to be found by diligent seeking in sincerity.
However, we Christians understand through scripture that all things heavenly are indeed put under Christ, as so many scriptures attest, and not only that, but all earthly followers of His are also under Him. Just not yet all other things are under Him. So since that is true, that all things SPIRITUAL are under Him, besides the fallen angels, well then, what is left that is not under Him? Well, it is obvious now is it not? That only one other state/condition, that must, and can only be, the one and only thing left, the one thing that is not yet put under Him...and that can only be...the physical plane. Which means, that His kingdom is not yet manifested. For when it is...THEN all things will indeed be under Him.
And if we look to the world, and the spirit in the peoples of the world, we see the majority of humans are definitely not under Christ...but instead, they are under something else...and besides, men rule the nations free of Godly conscience...And since we also know that God has revealed that this world has a god who rules a kingdom...it can then ONLY be this worldly kingdom that is not yet under Christ..this kingdom of man under Satan. What else is left that it can be that is not yet put under Christ? Logic screams the obvious does it not? Again, this rules out any possibility that the millennium has already commenced. Emphatically so.
Now, we need consider something extremely important, And that is this, When Satan contradicted Gods command to Adam & Eve, what he was actually doing, was saying that there was another way to live. A different lifestyle Adam & Eve could choose. And since God allowed this to happen, for God knows the end at the beginning, for all things consist by His will, and for his will, and all things unfold as He foreknew, what God was allowing, was for evil to be born so He could expose it, and eventually destroy it once its purpose is fulfilled. This is uncomfortable for many.
And since He is letting man seek out all manner of lifestyles and choices without Him in the mix, even the fallen angels too, this serves a very important purpose that cannot be underestimated. And that is this, since man has pursued all forms of political and religious based lifestyles, no man, nor even angel, can ever accuse God of being a dictator nor question His unquestionable rule henceforth into eternity. For in all of mans self serving pursuits, having tried all manner of lifestyles and systems, it has been proved beyond doubt, that all systems without Gods guidance, have failed. So once all is eventually completed, never again for all eternity will Gods rule be questioned ever again. Here is one reason for all manner of cultures and the like...it is as a witness to an indisputable truth, that Gods way is indeed the only way...and His Word the only Word to heed. And that He rules and guides us out of His love for us...nothing more, nothing less.
And this leads to why God generalizes when He speaks. For God also knew that many would use His Name as though they were His people for various pernicious reasons. And from here, many of these types would abuse his Word for self gain and notoriety in all manner of aspects. This is why God generalizes, He is catching these sorts out. He is sifting His people by allowing these types to gain prominent positions of leaderships and respect from men, and from these positions highly regarded by those beneath, doctrines are formed through academic postulations in pride and self confidence through their own wisdom and envies and competitive pride for eminence within their competing "fields". And within their/these doctrines, mistakes abound. For Gods wisdom is not "learned" by diligent study through ones own wisdom alone, but it is instead granted wisdom/knowledge for diligently "living" that way Christ showed us.
And these doctrinal mistakes are MEANT and DESIGNED to be there, allowed and ordained by God Himself. And all believers under these various doctrines, are having levels of sincerity exposed and confirmed to God as to what manner of disciple they are . And what becomes evident to God in this exposure, is just how diligently His people are seeking Him, which reveals the depth of ones love for Him, which determines which doctrine each disciple will be bound by. And each doctrine shares one common factor...that is, all doctrines have a measure of truth, some more, some less, and the other common factor these share is one immutable truth, that is, they all lack the complete truth.
And within the peoples continued support for these various doctrines, two things are revealed, either deep personal seeking within the follower, which will inevitably/eventually lead that type away from erroneous doctrines, for people learn and grow after all, and to grow means to eventually become more aware to doctrines,Or the half seekers, that is, those letting others seek for them (priests/scholars etc)....which ultimately keeps one captive to the various conflicting doctrines. Yet there is still hope for this group in the end. It is just that they will suffer loss in the resurrection as certain scripture alludes to. But God still loves these followers, these are still brethren. And He has promised to save these followers from the various shepherds soon. But not all can hold high positions, so this is why it is so...our station to come is being determined NOW.
And here is why the Christian world is so divided and contradictory to each other...unworthy types have "crept" in as teachers, not unknown by God, but unknown by men, hence: crept in. And these types are everywhere in mainstream religion, these shepherds, not all, but most...MOST.. And it is allowed and designed by God. And this will also decide just how accurate ones understanding of Gods written Word will be also. For the more sincere, the greater the measure of Spirit is given. And it is ONLY that Spirit which reveals truth in the written Word clearly. The more Spirit, the less error..the less Spirit...the more error abounds...and if left in this erroneous state too long..IF a haughty spirit is indwelling, these types, we find, that these eventually, which truth they may have...even that truth will be taken away.
And no matter how much these last types may be shown truth...they will never be able to see it. NEVER. They will only see what they think they see. And stranger and stranger doctrines will dominate their hearts and minds...as a witness. And God determines their end.
So in conclusion, we see that not all things are yet under Christ..but when they are finally subject to Him entirely...THEN and only then will the complete truth cover the earth. And THEN all of us can be one. I look forward to that day. Amen.