February 5, 2005

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

The Kingdom of Satan

 

Introduction

 

Last Sunday, we mentioned the Kingdom of Satan briefly in our discussion of the Kingdom of God.  It is important that we, first of all, believe that the Kingdom of God exists among men.  Then, we should seek to understand the qualities and traits of that kingdom.  We noted passages like Romans 14:17 which described the kingdom in spiritual terms—righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.  It is not about food and drinks according to the Jewish dietary laws.  We could say today that the kingdom of God is not about fellowship halls.  It involves greater themes and truths than that.  His Kingdom is different from the kingdoms among the Gentiles in the world where each seeks to rule over the other.  (Matt. 20:25-28.)  The greatest in the Lord’s Kingdom is the servant.

 

Our Lord was once accused by some Jews of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the chief of the demons.  Jesus replied, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against itself falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?”  (Luke 11:17-18.)  Jesus referred to the kingdom of Satan.  We often discuss the Kingdom of God, but not as often the Kingdom of Satan.  What is it?  What are its traits?  Who are its citizens? 

 

The Kingdom of Satan and demonology have often run to extremes in the minds of men and doctrines of some religions.  But it receives a balanced and sane treatment in Scripture, acknowledging the existence of Satan and his kingdom (as Jesus said) but avoiding the fanciful notions and doctrines taught by men.  (1) C. S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters express a vivid imagination of a talented writer, but one which goes well beyond Scripture into fictional and imaginary stories.  (2) Other false ideas include men making alliances with Satan and serving him.  In return they receive some of his demonic powers.  Satan does not make alliances with men, but deceives and destroys everyone making them victims.  (3) It is also false to think of Satan as a being equal to and opposite of God.  This is the old view of dualism.  But this system falls also because the Bible nowhere describes Satan as having any of the omni traits of God.  That is, Satan is not omnipresent or everywhere at the same time.  He is not omnipotent, having all power.  He is not omniscient, knowing all things.  Satan is not an evil god.  He is greater than man, but much less than God.  Satan is not an eternal being; he was created.

 

Some liberal theologians are embarrassed by the words of the Bible about Satan.  They think that we have reached such a high level of human understanding that it is time to cast off the old teachings about Satan.  But we cannot do that without denying the Bible in the process.  Jesus believed that Satan was real; he spoke of the kingdom of Satan.  Jesus is greater than the Devil and has defeated him.  Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.  (1 John 3:8.)

 

I believe it is helpful for us to think about the qualities and traits of Satan’s kingdom so that we might know our adversary.  Here are some of the things the Bible says about the kingdom of Satan.

 

Its Identifying Trait

 

We do not have to look long to find the primary trait of the Kingdom of Satan.  The controlling attribute of Satan and his kingdom is moral evil.

 

You are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father you will do.  He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own; for he is a liar and the father of it.  (John 8:44.)

 

He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil.  (1 John 3:8.)

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against. . .spiritual wickedness in high places.  (Eph. 6:12.)  “Spiritual wickedness” may mean wicked spirits.

 

It is obvious from all that is said about Satan and his kingdom that evil, sin and wickedness are the dominant traits.  All sin is of the devil.

 

The Names of Satan

 

There are several names given in the Bible which identifies this evil one further.  1) Satan (Gr. Satanas) means adversary; to lie in wait; 2) Devil (Gr. Diabolos) means slanderer or false accuser.  He is called the accuser of the brethren.  (Rev. 12:10.) 3) the old or ancient serpent (Gr. Ophis), an artful malicious person (Gen. 3.);  4) the red dragon in Revelation 12.

 

Appearances of Satan

 

His names or titles all speak of evil and malicious intent.  His deeds throughout the Bible reveal his nature.  Though he is mentioned often in the Bible, there are three major places where he appears and speaks.  They are: 1) In the Garden during the temptation of man (Gen. 3), 2) Before the Lord considering Job and his faithfulness (Job 1), and 3) tempting the Lord in the wilderness (Matt. 4).

 

Notice what he did in each of these appearances.  1) The serpent tempted man to sin against God and caused him to be expelled from the presence of God.   That fall has affected all of us today.  (See Romans 5:12.)  2) Satan challenged the faithfulness of Job and God allowed Satan to prove him.  Though other great themes are involved in the story, like innocent suffering, we should not forget that the purpose of the challenge was to see if Job would curse God after all the hedges of comfort were removed from him.  Job’s wife urged him to do just that—curse God and die.  If he had done that, Satan would have been right and the Lord wrong about this servant of God.  But Job passed the test.  He questioned why all those things were happening to him; his friends believe that it was because Job had done some great sin against God.  The old religious view that sufferers caused their own problems was shown to be wrong.  That view persisted even to Jesus’ day. He was asked, Who did sin?  This man or his parents that he was born blind?  Jesus said, Neither one.  (John 9:1-3.)  3) The Devil tempted our Lord in the wilderness after his baptism.  The purpose was to see if Jesus could withstand the fierce temptations and be our Savior.  The Bible says that he was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15.)  Jesus was tempted to bypass the cross by worshipping the Devil.  This was a real temptation.  Yet Jesus refused.

 

It is interesting that he appears as the serpent in Genesis 3.  He is called Satan in Job 1 and the Devil in Matthew 4.  Notice also who he opposed.  In Genesis 3, it was Adam and Eve.  In the story of Job, he challenged Job’s faithfulness.  In Matthew 4, he tempted the Lord.

 

Who Does Satan Oppose?

 

A popular idea over the years has been that Satan opposes man because of his intense hatred of and opposition to God.  There is some evidence of that in Scripture.  Jesus told a parable about a field and tares.  (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43.)  When Jesus explained the story, he said, He that sowed the good seed is the Son of man.  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.  The enemy that sowed them is the devil.  The harvest is the end of the world; the tares will be gathered together and burned.  Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father.

 

In this parable, the Devil is called the enemy of the Son of man.  (Matt. 13:25.)  The Devil has set himself against the will of God.  The story of Job seems to confirm that Satan appears in heaven to oppose God himself.  But in the same story, Satan has been going to and fro in the earth deceiving man.  So, he is the enemy of man as well.  He tempted Eve to sin saying that they would not die as God said.  It seems that he opposes both man and God.  Since the Bible opens with Satan already going about his work, it may be that this antagonism originated in heaven among angels.  We know that some angels fell because of their rebellion.  “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell.”  (2 Peter 2:4.)  The Bible does not give a clear origin of Satan, but presents him as an evil, sinful being that is more powerful than man.

 

Principalities and Powers

 

When Paul named the things that we wrestle against, he named principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places.  (Eph. 6:12.)  But what are principalities and powers?

The words mean rulers and their power, but who are they?

 

Paul wrote that Jesus conquered these rulers and powers when he died on the  cross.  “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”  (Col. 2:14.)  Whatever they are, our Lord defeated them and triumphed over them openly.

 

It is much simpler to think about Jesus dying for our sins on the cross and that he nailed the handwriting of ordinances which were contrary to us to the cross.  But it is much more challenging to think about his conquering the rulers and powers of darkness. One thing for sure that we can say is that Jesus defeated the Kingdom of Satan by his life and now completely by his death.  Jesus went into the Hadean world and conquered Satan with all of his powers.  He overcame death and now has provided redemption for all of us.

 

There is a struggle going on all through the Scriptures between the seed of woman and the serpent.  (Gen. 3:16.)  The serpent would bruise his heel, but Jesus would bruise his head.  Bruise means to crush; it is not like our word for something minor.  Satan bruised our Lord, but only his heel.  It was not fatal, but Jesus bruised his head.  It was a fatal blow.

 

Jesus’ ministry involved five major areas: 1) Teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15).  2) Forgiving those who repented and followed Him (Mark 2:10).  3) Demonstrating his power over nature by calming the storm and walking on water.  4) Healing those who were sick and dying.  5) Casting out demons, fighting evil spirits, and defeating Satan.  This is the great spiritual struggle that is going on in the Bible.  “Jesus went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil.”  (Acts 10:38.)

 

Before going to the cross, Jesus said, “This is your hour and the power of darkness.”  (Luke 22:53.) Some translations say the dominion of darkness or Kingdom of darkness.

 

Jesus conquered the evil world as a Roman Emperor entering Rome in triumphant procession with a train of discredited enemies behind the chariot.  Jesus made an exhibition of the powers, celebrating a public triumph over them.

 

Conclusion

 

Far from this topic about the Kingdom of Satan being an embarrassment to Christians, it is at the very heart of the Gospel and the cross of Jesus Christ.  That is what Jesus came to conquer for our redemption.  Jesus not only made it possible for us to be forgiven, but he destroyed the one who reigned in sin and death.