Authority: Who has it?

 How does authority work, and who has it?  Given God gave something to a man, whatever was given was between the man and God.  God may have given a vision or a prophecy.  Did God reveal himself to someone like Moses?  Given God gave something to a man, he may need to give testimony, and burden of proof may be on the man working in God's Holy Spirit.  God has a character.  Some of God's righteousness may have filtered into a man, through God's Holy Spirit.  Character is important. 

Did God give someone prophecy?  The best test of prophecy is that it happens.  Given someone was called into prophecy, God may have been giving him little prophecies that came true in a day or week or so.  This is part of how someone may have become recognized. 

God is honorable.  God doesn't lie.  Some men, they may have ended up tied to God's Honor.  God made a promise to Abraham.  Abraham was to have sons like stars in the sky.  Issac, and his offsprings, became children of God's promise by blood.  A Son of Abraham didn't necessarily have authority.  He may have been tied to God's Honor.  There may have been blessings or curses there.  

A King, like King David, may have had the Authority of Kings.  As a King there was inherent authority.  David was anointed of God.  There is authority in the anointing. (1 Samuel 24)

Prophet Elijah, he wasn't a King.  Elijah was a servant of God.  As a servant of God, Elijah may have been serving God's interests, representing God, as a man on earth.  Elijah may have been directly tied to God's Honor and had authority.  Elijah's authority came from following directions and working in God's Holy Spirit.    

A King Solomon, he had the authority of Kings, and the anointing of God.  King Solomon built God's Temple.  King Solomon was given some irrevocable gifts, like wisdom and understanding.  King Solomon was close to God.  King Solomon had his head turned from God by his foreign wives.  King Solomon becoming evil, he was still a King, still anointed of God, still built God's Temple, still was given irrevocable gifts.  Still tied to God's honor.  

After Christ, we are to pray "On earth as it is in heaven."  Who on earth was wielding authority?  The Pope is wielding the authority of Kings, similar to the Kings of Israel, and the Pope is anointed.  Authority in Catholicism is coming from the Church as an institution of God's promises.  Someone in the Church, like a Bishop, he may have been an evil person, like a fallen King Solomon, with a claim on authority.  Such people, they may be threatened by a Prophet Elijah who was following directions, and serving God, and wielding authority as a servant of God.  

This is a complex topic, that may take some reflection and prayer.  I went through a lot of concepts really fast and didn't over explain them.  Given someone is seeking understanding, they may need to take their time here.  

I also wrote on this topic, in another context, last March.  

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Addendum -  

Question:  Can God be compelled to act?  

Visualize a King like Kings Solomon the Wise. As King, Solomon may have been honor bound towards certain things.  He may have been honor bound towards performing certain rituals and traditions, like honoring the Sabbath and celebrating Passover.  There may have been expectations of honor and righteousness and justice.   Given Solomon didn't follow through on these expectations it may have hurt Solomon's legitimacy, and Solomon may have been in sin.  Bad things may have happened.  Somone who came to Solomon's court with a request, or an adviser, he may have been able to turn Solomon's head in certain ways towards certain outcomes.   

God Almighty, he is a King.  God is Honorable.  Can be compelled to act?  That is a dangerous place to be.  God is omniscient and all wise.  Someone may end up vaperized.  (Matthew 10:28)