Biblical View of Satan’s Kingdom
Religious symbols.
Satan was originally known as Lucifer and was called a guardian cherub who walked among the fiery stones (Ek 28:14). While the number of stones are not mentioned, I indicate in my book Rebellion in the Stones of Fire that there are nine because that would be a symbol of perfection, just as the motion of the cherubim under the LORD’s throne also forms a cube which is known as a symbol of perfection. Nine is considered a number of perfection because it is Trinity multiplied by itself. Although Lucifer is called a cherub, it would seem that he was different than the four cherubim under the LORD’s throne as he was adorned with precious stones and was able to stand before him (Ek 28:13-14). Pride was the sin that became Lucifer’s downfall (Ek 28:17) and so he was expelled from God’s presence and was cast to Earth (Ek 28:16-17) and he became known as Satan (whose name means Adversary).
It seems Satan either possessed or influenced the serpent to deceive Eve into eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. She then gave it to Adam to eat. Their rebellion against God’s instructions led to the kingdom that Adam and Eve was supposed to rule now going to Satan. It is unclear how this actually occurred. It may be that the severed relationship between Adam and the Creator that occurred because of this act of rebellion caused this to happen. Perhaps this was the default of such action. It could be that since Adam and Eve were to be rulers upon the Earth, the default after their rebellion against God’s instructions to them then fell to Satan as he was cast to Earth by God and would thereby be the next in line to receive such a kingdom. This is just conjecture on my part, but while we do know that this occurred, we don’t know the exact mechanism by which this occurred. We do know that Jesus called Satan “the prince of this world” at least three different times (Jn 12:31, 14:30, 16:11) and the apostle Paul called him “the ruler of the kingdom of the air” (Ep 2:2). We also know that when Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness, he offered all the kingdoms of the world to be given to Jesus by him and Jesus did not contradict the validity of Satan’s offer (Mt 4:8-10). From this, we can surmise that Satan had this position and authority.
We are also told that Satan has the keys to death and Sheol because when Christ died on the cross and went to Sheol, he recovered these (Ep 4:9) and now has possession of them (Rv 1:18). Why would Satan have control of them? Well, with the relationship between mankind and God severed, when a person died, either sinful or righteous, they went to Sheol and their relationship with God was still severed. It was not until Jesus Christ died on the cross and became our substitutionary trespass offering that the sins of all were atoned for and he could then take the righteous out of Sheol (taking the captivity captive; Ep 4:8) and bring them to heaven. Because he now has the keys, the righteous go to be with him immediately rather than to in a transitory place like Sheol (2Co 5:8).
While Christ won this victory for us, it doesn’t preclude the effect of Satan and his kingdom working on the earth even now (Lk 4:6). We are told that he has charge over rulers, authorities, powers, and spiritual forces (Ep 6:12). Scripture indicates that he can have control over national rulers as the example of the demon called the prince of the Persian kingdom delaying a message from an angel sent to the prophet Daniel, but the archangel Michael helped this angel get God’s message through to Daniel (Da 10:13). And Satan has power over individuals as the example of Satan entering Judas at the Lord’s Supper (Lk 22:3). So, although he has much power on this Earth, he does not have ultimate power. Only God has that.
Daniel also speaks of a time when a succession of powers through Satan’s influence will rule the Earth for a time and will seem to be winning against God’s people, but God will intervene and have his righteous ones overcome and rule for a time when his Spirit will flood the nations and turn to him (Da 7:27). This is not the end, mind you, but he will once again try and take over the world, as ruling like God is one of his main ambitions (Is 14:13-14). While Satan has much influence over the people of the Earth (1Jn 5:19), he has not yet reached his goal of ultimate authority. That will come, however, through a man that has been called the Antichrist. While many are antichrist in spirit (2Jn 1:7), there is one to come who will be revealed as the ultimate version of this spirit of antichrist (2Th 2:8). While he has tried to change the time of his appearing (Da 7:25), he has been held back until the time that God chooses (2Th 2:6). He will eventually come forth and take over the Earth (Rv 13:7-8). Yet, Christ will return before all is lost and will destroy the Antichrist and his followers (Rv 19:19-21), and he will bind Satan (Rv 20:2). Although there will be a time when Satan will be released again (Rv 20:7-8) and wage war against Christ, he will be ultimately defeated for all time (Rv 20:9-10).
That is why even when things look their darkest, we can rest in the assurance of God’s ultimate plan for us, which is not only good, it is very good. Just remember what the Apostle Paul said: as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Sprit (1Co 2:9). And his plan can never be thwarted. Hallelujah!
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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens