Digest of Biblical Civil Law

Since a world government would have no check, and there is a great potential for tyrannical abuse of world government since rulers are sinful, God divided the world into nations:  Gen. 10:5.  In Gen. 11 we have an attempt to build the first "united nations" building (Gen. 11:4), which kept the people together in a one-world government instead of spreading them out as national entities as God had intended.  In Gen. 11:5-9, God frustrated the building of the tower by causing them to speak different languages, and then reaffirmed nationalism:  Gen. 11:9.  God further reaffirms nationalism in Deut. 32:8 and Acts 17:26.  National entities will continue even during Christ's millennial rule on earth (Isa. 2:4; 66:18; Rev. 12:5; 20:3,8), and perhaps even in heaven (Rev. 21:24, 26).  Nationalism is God's order for the human race.  Satan tries to unite the world under himself during the Tribulation (Rev. 13:1f.).  This does not mean that some forms of international dialogue and cooperation should not be encouraged, so long as they do not infringe on national sovereignty.
- John Eidsmoe, God & Caesar:  Political Faith & Political Action 211-12 (1984).