Yes — God is absolutely in control, and humans still have genuine free will.
Les Feldick teaches that both truths stand at the same time. God set the whole system of humanity in motion and gave men and nations their free will, yet everything they do still brings about the end He has planned. He admits that how God does this without making people robots is beyond human comprehension, but he says it is factual and visible throughout history.
Romans 13:1 — This verse directly answers the question by showing that every civil government exists because God has ordained it, even while human rulers exercise their own powers.
Daniel 2:44 — This verse shows that human kingdoms run their free-will course, but the God of heaven then sets up His own eternal kingdom, proving He is in control of history.
Scripture presents God as sovereign over human affairs without removing human choice. Romans 13:1 says, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." This verse grounds civil government in God's ordination. In Daniel 2:44 the prophet declares, after describing human kings and their kingdoms, "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Human rulers run their course, but God's kingdom is the final result. Scripture also tells believers how to live while trusting God's control. Romans 12:18–21 says, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men... Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord... Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
Les Feldick says this is one of the hardest truths to put together. He doesn't try to fully explain it: "How God can set this whole system of humanity in motion back there in Genesis, gave men and nations their free will, and yet everything they do is according to His plan... is hard to comprehend, but God is able, He's sovereign, and He's omniscient, and He is absolutely in control of everything" (clip 2). He repeats the idea throughout his teaching: God had everything blueprinted before creation, and yet men and nations genuinely operate under free will — governments make decisions, invade other nations, build navies and air forces — without becoming robots (clips 1, 3).
No. Les says God, before anything was created, had everything blueprinted. Men and nations have operated under free will, making decisions and even invading other nations, yet everything is still bringing about the end that God has planned. He points to fulfilled prophecy as proof: everything prophesied about Christ's first coming was fulfilled to the last jot, and end-time prophecy is now falling into place according to God's timetable.
Romans 13:1 says every power is ordained of God, and Les takes this literally. He says there is no power except God puts it there, and examples such as Hitler were ordained by God because certain things had to happen. This is not approval of their evil — it is God's sovereign appointment at work in history.
No. In Romans 12:19 God says, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." Les teaches that because God is in control, believers can leave retaliation to Him. He says giving place to wrath is better than getting even, because God will square the matter in His own time. Believers are told to live peaceably as much as possible and to overcome evil with good.
Les uses World War II as an example: some of the great battles in the Pacific and Europe hinged on a change of weather, and that wasn't accident — that was a sovereign God. Men were operating under free will and had no idea God was involved, but God had everything to do with it. This shows divine control over history while human actors still make free decisions.
Believers Leave Vengeance to God
Les teaches that since God is in control, a believer does not need to get even. God says "Vengeance is mine; I will repay," and God will square the matter.
Free Will Within God's Timetable
Les points out that God lets men and nations exercise free will, yet after nearly 6,000 years everything has fallen right into place according to God's timetable, without turning humans into robots.
Foreknowledge and Divine Control
Les says God set the whole system in motion, gave men and nations free will, and yet everything they do is according to His plan and foreknowledge; God is absolutely in control.
Blueprinted Before Creation
Before anything was created, the triune God had everything blueprinted; governments and men make decisions under free will, but God's plan for the ages is still being fulfilled.
Sovereign God in History
Using World War II weather changes as an example, Les says men operate under free will without realizing it, but a sovereign God has everything to do with what happens.
Daily Choices Under God's Control
Les teaches that even though God is sovereign and in total control, the exercise of free will is still ours — people face real choices, such as whether to keep God in their thinking.
God's Hand in World Events (Repeated)
Les repeats that the weather changes in World War II were not accident but a sovereign God, while men acted under free will unaware of His involvement.
Government Is Ordained by God
Les applies Romans 13:1 to every government: no power exists unless God puts it there, and even a ruler like Hitler was ordained by God because certain things had to happen.
Romans 13:1: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
This is the key verse Les uses to show that God ordains every civil government.
Daniel 2:44: And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
This verse shows that human kingdoms run their course before God sets up His own eternal kingdom.
Romans 12:18: If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
This instructs believers to live peaceably instead of trying to take matters into their own hands.
Romans 12:19: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
This verse says God reserves vengeance for Himself, which Les applies to trusting God's control.
Romans 12:21: Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
This is the practical outcome of leaving control with God.
Les Feldick teaches that both are true. He says God is sovereign and absolutely in control, yet the exercise of free will is still ours. He admits the exact way this works is beyond human comprehension, but he says the evidence is factual — prophecies have been fulfilled and history is on God's timetable.
Les teaches that every government is placed there by God. He cites Romans 13:1: "the powers that be are ordained of God," and goes so far as to say even Hitler was ordained of God because certain things had to happen. This is about sovereign appointment, not moral approval.
No. Les points to Romans 12:19, where God says "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." Because God is in control, believers can leave retaliation to Him; as much as possible, they should live peaceably and overcome evil with good.
Les says God had everything blueprinted before creation and gave men and nations their free will. Governments make decisions and even go to war under free will, but everything still brings about the end He has planned. He uses fulfilled prophecy as proof that God's purpose is never derailed.
Watch the Teaching: What Does the Bible Really Say About Obeying Government?