Divine Sovereignty Over Heavens Earth and Hell

Divine sovereignty refers to God's ultimate authority and control over all creation. The Bible consistently presents God as the supreme ruler whose dominion extends over the heavens, the earth, and all spiritual realms. The Psalmist declares, "The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all" ^[1]. This comprehensive rule is not limited to a specific part of creation but encompasses the entire universe ^[4].

The concept of God's sovereignty over the heavens is evident in biblical descriptions of heaven as God's dwelling place and throne ^[3]. Isaiah 66:1 and Acts 7:49 both state that heaven is God's throne, while Matthew 6:9 refers to God as "Our Father in heaven" ^[3]. God is described as the "Lord of" heaven and reigns within it, filling it with His presence ^[3]. His power is absolute in heaven and on earth, as Daniel 4:35 states, "He does as he pleases" ^[12].

God's sovereignty over the earth is equally emphasized. The phrase "heaven and earth" is used in Scripture to denote the entirety of the universe, indicating that nothing exists outside of God's creative and governing power ^[4]. God created the heavens and the earth, and His rule extends over all things within them ^{[3, 10]}. This includes His control over nature, as seen in Psalms 18:9-11, where His sovereignty is depicted as extending over natural phenomena ^[9]. God's dominion is so complete that He does "whatever pleases him" throughout the created order ^[10].

The scope of divine sovereignty also includes spiritual realms, often referred to as "hell" or "under the earth" in theological discussions. Charles Hodge explains that when Philippians 2:9-10 speaks of "things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" bowing the knee to Jesus, it is an "exhaustive statement" encompassing "all rational creatures" ^[11]. This indicates that even those in the spiritual realm "under the earth" are subject to God's ultimate authority. Adam Clarke, commenting on 1 Peter 5:11, interprets "dominion" as the "government of heaven, earth, and hell, for ever" ^[7].

Theologians like Thomas Aquinas argue that God's governance extends to all things because He is the cause of all being. As God is the creator of the "whole universal being," nothing can exist that is not subject to His rule ^[5]. Similarly, Charles Hodge asserts that "no creature therefore is excepted" from God's dominion, citing Matthew 28:18 where Jesus states, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" ^[6]. This "all power" signifies Christ's "kingdom of power" as Mediator, where all authority in heaven and on earth has been committed to Him ^[13]. John Calvin further elaborates that the Father has conferred all power in heaven and earth upon Christ, enabling Him to protect the Church, curb enemies, and ultimately complete His kingdom ^[14].

The absolute nature of God's sovereignty means that He is not impressed by human power or influence and shows no partiality ^[8]. The phrase "God of gods" in Deuteronomy 10:17 does not imply the existence of other deities but rather affirms God's supreme authority over all powers, including angels or other powerful beings ^[8]. This comprehensive sovereignty ensures that God's kingdom is an "everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him" ^[2].

Sources

Psalms “Psalms 103:19 (NASB) — The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.”
Daniel “Daniel 7:27 (BSB) — Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heaven — Created by God -- Ge 1:1; Re 10:6. Everlasting -- Ps 89:29; 2Co 5:1. Immeasurable -- Jer 31:37. High -- Ps 103:11; Isa 57:15. Holy -- De 26:15; Ps 20:6; Isa 57:15. God's dwelling-place -- 1Ki 8:30; Mt 6:9. God's throne -- Isa 66:1; Ac 7:49. God Is the Lord of. -- Da 5:23; Mt 11:25. Reigns in. -- Ps 11:4; 135:6; Da 4:35. Fills. -- 1Ki 8:27; Jer 23:24. Answers his people from. -- 1Ch 21:26; 2Ch 7:14; Ne 9:27; Ps 20:6. Sends his judgments from. -- Ge 19:24; 1Sa 2:10; Da 4:13,14; Ro 1:18. Christ As Mediator, entered into. -- Ac 3:21; Heb 6:20; 9:12,24. Is all-po”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Heaven — (1.) Definitions. The phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Gen. 1:1; Jer. 23:24; Acts 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) The firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Gen. 2:19; 7:3, 23; Ps. 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (Lam. 4:19), etc. (b) The starry heavens (Deut. 17:3; Jer. 8:2; Matt. 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (Deut. 10:14; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 115:16; 148:4; 2 Cor. 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, (a) The usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part (Prima Pars), Of the Government of Things in General, Art. 5: Article: Whether all things are subject to the Divine government? I answer that, For the same reason is God the ruler of things as He is their cause, because the same gives existence as gives perfection; and this belongs to government. Now God is the cause not indeed only of some particular kind of being, but of the whole universal being, as proved above (Question [44], Articles [1],2). Wherefore, as there can be nothing which is not created by God, so there can be nothing which is not subject t”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 134: Corinthians xv. 27 , when it is said, “All things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.” No creature therefore is excepted. This also is what our Lord Himself teaches. when He says, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” ( Matt. xxviii. 18 .) Heaven and earth in Scriptural language, is the whole universe. In 1 Peter iii. 22 , it is said, “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers ( i.e ., all rational creatures) being made”
1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 5:11: To him - The God of all grace, be glory - l honor and praise be ascribed, and dominion - e government of heaven, earth, and hell, for ever - rough time, and ever - rough eternity. Amen - be it, so let it be, and so it shall be. Amen and Amen!”
Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 10:17: 10:17 The phrase God of gods does not affirm the existence of other gods; rather, it affirms God’s absolute sovereignty over all powers in heaven and earth. The Hebrew ’elohim, translated gods, can also refer to angels or other powerful beings (see Ps 82:1). • shows no partiality: God is not impressed with people who hold power and influence, and therefore he offers them no privileged consideration (see Deut 1:17).”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 18:9: 18:9-11 The Lord’s sovereignty extends over all of nature (see 104:2-4; 148:5-6).”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 135:6: 135:6 God is sovereign over the whole created order—he does whatever pleases him him. • The phrase heaven and earth refers to all of creation.”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 123: of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” ( Phil. ii. 9, 10 .) This is a perfectly exhaustive statement. All in heaven, all in earth, and all under the earth, include all rational creatures. The person to whom they are to bow the knee is Jesus, not the Logos, but the God-man. And the acknowledgment which they are to make is, that He is Lord, i.e ., their Lord, their absolute proprietor and Sovereign. It is in this sense also, that the Apostle says ( Heb. i. 2 ), that God hath a”
Daniel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Daniel 4:35: 4:35 He does as he pleases: God has absolute power in heaven and on earth.”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 123: Messianic kingdom; that kingdom which the Messiah came into the world to establish. That kingdom, however, is presented in different aspects, or, in other words, Christ exercises his royal authority, so to speak, in different spheres. 600 Christ’s Dominion over the Universe. Christ has what theologians are accustomed to call his kingdom of power. As Theanthropos and as Mediator, all power in heaven and upon earth has been committed to his hands. ( Matt. xxviii. 18 .) In Psalm viii. 6 , it is declared to be the purpose of God that all thi”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 52: may quicken us to spiritual life, sanctify us by his Spirit, and adorn his Church with various graces, by his protection preserve it safe from all harm, and by the strength of his hand curb the enemies raging against his cross and our salvation; in fine, that he may possess all power in heaven and earth, until he have utterly routed all his foes, who are also ours and completed the structure of his Church. Such is the true nature of the kingdom, such the power which the Father has conferred upon him, until he arrive to complete the”

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