Social Domination
We see above that some groups have used persecution to gain and exercise social control. Many believe it is their divine destiny to control the world.
Muslim
Catholic
Protestant
Modern Pentecostal Groups
Others
The idea that their group is to take control of society is a common teaching on the kingdom of Christ. In their minds it is their duty to control the world for Christ. Sometimes this has been through secret groups, or sometimes when the climate is right it becomes more open. One thing is for sure, they claim dominion for Christ. Their theology starts in Genesis 1 where an upright man and woman were given dominion over the world,
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
In their view man in his righteous state before the 1st sin had dominion and this was God's intention all along. Of course it says over animals not other men, etc. Yet in their view they have a right to rule and institute dominionist policies. Naturally, they have to fill in the pieces where the Bible doesn't actually confirm their theory.
It nowhere says man lost dominion over the animals. We still have it in my view. Yet many groups claim it is restored through them.
“Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ—to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness,” wrote George Grant, the former executive director of Coral Ridge Ministries, which has since changed its name to Truth in Action Ministries. “But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice ... It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time ... World conquest.”
Psa 49:14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
In this passage you see a general rule that the upright can have dominion. Yet, in this passage he shows the rich, powerful, and insolent aren't the upright. Those who use their wealth and power for social control aren't in mind here.
Psa 49:2 Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
He is warning the insolent of all classes.
Then we see a general idea of dominion perceived by some in Christ's teaching.
Luk 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Luk 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
The general idea that leaven would at some point control the world (The whole), but Christ may not be speaking of the world but the church. In Ephesians 4 for instance the gifts of the Spirit would cease after the church was brought to maturity.
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The passage doesn't say till all have faith and all christians are perfect over time,it says the faith itself will be unified, and "the knowledge" of Christ is held by the church. So, after the faith was preached, confirmed, and the general church was unified, some gifts would cease.
While some claim in pentecostal churches to be apostles in our generation, they are not.
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
While such men say it is wrong to question those Christ has sent, we have a duty and are blessed when we try such men. Anyone can claim to be sent or called when they aren't.
So, are such groups really taking control for Christ, only if their theology is actually supported by Christ. Wherever 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of you, but is this really in Christ's name or their own.
As Psalms 49 points out they call their habitations after their own names.
Jerry Falwell Ministries
The Rock Ministries
Jimmy Swaggert Ministries
The 700 Club
Focus On the Family Ministries
Truth in Action Ministries
etc
We also see in Revelation that social power doesn't mean Godliness.
Rev 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Though America was founded on a sect of Christiandom, it doesn't mean it was God's group. That is why we need to be careful when approving such groups.
Unity, agreement, and a kingdom just means God let you do it for his purpose, it doesn't mean you are God's Church just because you have present political or social control.