Several biblical passages command believers to pray for kings and those “in authority.”

For instance, in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul writes, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. ”

This raises a question: if the moral authority of the state is death, and earthly kingdoms remain under the dominion of the Devil, why should we pray for those who lead them?  Or as theologian David Lipscomb asks the question, “Can we pray for the rulers if these kingdoms are organized in opposition to the kingdom of God and by those in rebellion against God?”

If we actively pray for government leaders, are we not participating to some extent in their activities? Are we not, at least tacitly, endorsing and affirming their positions of power over us? And as Lipscomb points out, many argue that if we are going to pray for “good rulers” we should also actively work to attain them.

But when we take a closer look at Paul’s exhortation, it becomes clear we’re not praying specifically for the success of these earthly leaders or the expansion of their kingdom. We’re praying for kings and those in authority so “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. ”

As Lipscomb puts it, we’re not praying that “their kingdoms may be blessed, prospered, strengthened or built up, but that God’s children may be blessed. The prayer is not for the good of the human ruler but of the Christian subjects.”

We find a similar command in Jeremiah 29:7.

“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Jeremiah wrote this after the Babylonians carried the Israelites into captivity. Over and over again, Babylon is described as an evil nation. God makes it clear he will eventually destroy the empire. – the most wicked and corrupt of all nations. The Babylon parable in the Book of Revelation uses that kingdom to represent every evil empire throughout history and ascribes death as the moral reality that rules nations, and all other principalities and powers in this world. (Rev 12:7-12; 13:1-8) In Revelation 17, Babylon is described as “the great, mother of whores and of earth’s abominations.”

And yet Jeremiah exhorts the exiled Jews to pray for and work toward “the prosperity of the city.”

But it wasn’t for the prosperity of the Babylonian empire. It was for the prosperity of God’s people. God allowed the evil empire to exist in its place and time to punish the unfaithful Israelites. But he eventually destroyed it, as he will destroy all of the world’s earthly kingdoms.

As Lipscomb writes, “There was no thought of good to Babylon, but destruction and ruin. Yet while you are in the wicked city seek the peace of the city because in its peace you shall have peace. In seeking the peace of the city, they were not to strengthen or build it up or identify themselves with Babylon.”

“Jeremiah the prophet warned the people to do no violence in order to be freed from the hated rule, but if they would pursue that course of submission, that will bring peace to the wicked, doomed city, while it remains, their own peace and quiet will be promoted. Again, this teaches that servants of God need not do violence to deliver themselves from the power of wicked rulers.”

With Jesus’ death and resurrection, he established a new kingdom. The church serves as the representation of God’s kingdom here on earth. It exists in the midst of numerous earthly kingdoms, or as Paul called them “principalities.” All of these earthly kingdoms ultimately operate under the dominion of the Devil. God calls us to pray for their leaders that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty,  as we wait for the time when God will crush all of those earthly kingdoms.

“Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” 1 Cor. 15:24-26

So, you’re not praying that your nation will become great again, or more powerful, or that its armies will prevail, or that its influence will spread across the globe, or that its leaders will create heaven on earth. You’re praying for its peace as you wait for its inevitable destruction.