The Authority (His Dark Materials)

The Authority in Philip Pullman's trilogy of novels His Dark Materials is the equivalent of God - or according to Pullman the God of the Inquisition.

The Authority was the first angel who (according to the angel Xaphania) allegedly seized power and claimed to be the creator of the multiverse. Being very old and frail, The Authority appointed the tyranical angel Metatron to act as regent of the Kingdom of Heaven. The two are opposed by Lord Asriel, for whom Xaphania will fight, who wishes to overthrow their power and replace it with a Republic of Heaven.