King of Pastors?

This essay is about that nature and extent of Christ's authority and God's kingdom on the earth today. Many Christians know that the Bible calls Jesus the "King of Kings," but really believe that he is only the "King of Pastors" (ruling the church but not in the world) until his second coming. Only then, we are told, will Christ defeat Satan, depose him as ruler of the world, and then usher in His kingdom. If this is the correct way to interpret the Bible's view of history, then we must answer some important questions: 1) What was the significance of Jesus' first coming? 2) Why was Jesus constantly speaking of God's kingdom being imminent and having arrived during his earthly ministry? 3) Was Jesus enthroned as King of Kings after his resurrection and ascension? 4) If so, what is the scope of Satan's power on the earth today? These issues and more will be covered in the forthcoming essay.

What the Bible Says about Christ's Authority on the Earth Today

If you surveyed a group of Christians from around the world and asked them whether Jesus or Satan rules the earth today, Satan would probably be the more popular answer. After all, they could argue that in light of the troubling world scene we face, the Devil and his evil forces control world events and will do so until Christ returns at the end of history to "set things straight." It is true that the Bible clearly portrays Satan as a power to be recognized and resisted, but it is also possible for Christians to give too much credit to the "evil one" in light of what Christ accomplished during his first coming. Moreover, when we consider Jesus' own declaration of having "all authority in heaven and on earth" after his resurrection and the Bible's later pronouncement of Christ to be "King of Kings," we may have to reconsider our view of His rulership and God's kingdom not applying to the present age.

Does Satan Rule Planet Earth?

One argument for Satan having primary authority on the earth today stems from the idea that Adam forfeited his possession of the created order at the fall of mankind into sin as recorded in Genesis. Because Adam and Eve listened to the serpent's lies about God, they were supposedly seduced into passing the planet's ownership onto Satan. Now that sin had thrown the creation into corruption, the Devil would control the earth and wouldn't lose that power until sin was completely eradicated from mankind and the universe. And we all know that this will not be a completed process until Christ comes back to end history. Supposedly, only then He will "set up" His kingdom.

Evidence of Satan's having possessed the earth and its nations was also ostensibly demonstrated during Jesus' famous temptation scene as portrayed by St. Matthew in the following excerpt:

Matthew 4:8-9 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

The rationale behind the Satan-rulership theory now becomes clearer. If the Devil had the authority to offer Christ the nations of the world, he must have been in control of the earth at that time. However, long before this episode we have evidence that God the Father already had possession of the earth and all nations -- even after the fall of man.

God Was Always King of the Earth and the Nations

Most Christians are familiar with Bible passages from the Old Testament that acknowledge God (aka Jehovah/Yahweh) to be the ultimate sovereign over every aspect of the created order including men and nations and Satan himself. Yet they seem to overlook this evidence in deference to the Devil's more limited powers. Let's consider just a small sample of verses from the Hebrew Scriptures to investigate how God was always described as ruler of the planet from the beginning of history.

The Exodus story provides us with rife evidence that Jehovah has always ruled the planet and the peoples within. Consider how God completely humbled Pharaoh and the mighty Egyptian nation that dominated the earth during its day. During one episode in which Moses mediated the Lord's Word to Pharaoh (who was seen as "god incarnate" in Egypt), Moses reveals the identity of the true God:

Exodus 9:29 Moses said to him, "As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is the LORD'S.

We know how this narrative ultimately ended, testifying to God's rulership over all earthly forces and all pagan nations. This reality was reinforced after the law was presented a second time as recorded in Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.

If this line sounds familiar to readers of the Gospels, it is because Jesus used very similar language after his resurrection -- declaring his absolute authority in heaven and on earth. More will be discussed along these lines later.

A second instance that demonstrates God's total rule over the world can be seen in the Book of Daniel. After Jehovah reduces King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to insanity for his arrogance and restores him afterwards, the King testifies to God's power on the earth:

Daniel 4:34 "But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride."

Here we have a pagan king admitting that Jehovah -- the God of Israel, Isaac, and Jacob -- had absolute authority on the earth. This rulership is characterized as an "everlasting dominion," and a "kingdom that endures from generation to generation." Nebuchadnezzar's description raises a relevant question: At what point was authority over the planet taken from God and forfeited to Satan?

It is probable that no such transaction ever took place but that Satan more accurately is a subordinate power on the earth whom God uses for his own ends among the nations. (The Book of Job testifies to this doctrine when Satan has to get permission from God to afflict Job.) Looking at the Devil in these terms, we can assert that although Adam may have had his dominion on the earth corrupted after his fall into sin, God did not lose any claim to the planet or its nations and kings.

More confirmation of this thesis is clear from 2 Chronicles 20. In this narrative, righteous King Jehoshaphat of Judah is surrounded by foreign armies ready for war. In Jehoshaphat's earnest prayer to the Lord, we hear his assessment of Jehovah's status over the nations:

2 Chronicles 20:6 "O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You."

Keep in mind that this pronouncement was made well after the Book of Genesis where man compromised his authority over the earth. It is clear once again that despite whatever influence Satan had at his point, God was the one who had "power and might" and who was "ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations."

The Book of Psalms is another convincing biblical source that speaks profoundly of God's rulership over the earth and its kingdoms and nations. Here are some examples:

Psalm 10:16 The LORD is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land.

Psalm 22:27-28 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will worship before You. For the kingdom is the LORD’S And He rules over the nations.

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.

Psalm 47:2,6-8 For the LORD Most High is to be feared, A great King over all the earth.... Sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.

Psalm 72:8-9,11 May he also rule from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. Let the nomads of the desert bow before him, And his enemies lick the dust.... And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him.

Psalm 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

That God the Father was already King of Kings before he bestowed Christ with this authority is clear from these passages. In particular, God's kingly rule has been constant throughout history, continues into eternity, and encompasses everything including all people, nations, the world, and the earth. Notice also that the location of God's throne in heaven does not negate his reign over the earth. This is the nature of His kingdom -- he does not have to be physically present in order to rule the planet (and similarly, as we shall see, Christ does not have to be physically present to rule during the New Covenant administration.)

The New Testament Book of Acts gives us further evidence of God's control over the nations. Barnabas and Paul delivered the following message to the crowds at Lystra:

Acts 14:15-17 We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.

That God "permitted" the nations to "go their own ways" is proof that God controls the affairs of pagan lands as well as those inhabited by God's people. Moreover, Paul's mention that God created all things in "heaven and the earth" indicates that the Creator of all things has the power to control His creation.

God Judges All Nations According to His Law

Further evidence that God has always ruled the nations and the world can be seen in the way He determines events in heathen lands and presides over them just as He did in Israel.

1 Samuel 2:10 “Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered; Against them He will thunder in the heavens, The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Jonah 1:1-2 The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

Samaria

Assyria

Babylon

Egypt

Edom

Ammon

Moab

Philistia

Tyre

Sidon

Damascus

Gaza

Hittites

Girgashites

Amorites

Canaan

Perizzites

Hivites

Jebusites.

Satan Was Always God's Pawn

Going back to the beginning of history in the Garden of Eden, it is clear that even after the serpent's temptation of Adam and Eve and man's subsequent fall into sin, Satan's cursed condition placed him even lower than he already was. Here is the passage illustrating this reality:

Genesis 3:14-15 The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

God's humiliating judgment of the serpent emphatically displayed His sovereignty over the devil and Satan's subordinate status. And the prophesied bruising (or crushing) of Satan's head that would be ultimately fulfilled at the cross further emphasized the tempter's impotence at the hands of Christ. Overall, this passage shows us that Satan never had power anything near God's total dominion and that when Christ came, what little he had would be stripped from him.

The next example of Satan's subservient position -- seen in the Book of Job -- is a classic demonstration of God's control over the devil. When Job is described, Satan appears before God and explains that he has been roaming the earth, after which the Lord responds:

Job 1:8-12 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

Obviously, we can deduce from this scene that Satan does not have free reign on the earth. He has to "report" before God's throne in a sense and must seek permission from the Lord to act against a righteous man. Interestingly, Satan provokes God against Job to "touch all that he has," and God responds by giving Satan the power to act in this manner. God had His reasons for granting this authorization, and even though Satan carries out the affliction, God has ultimate responsibility. If God had denied Satan's request, the devil never could have attacked Job's possessions and family.

A fitting parallel to this account appears in the New Testament during the Last Supper narration in Luke 22. Speaking to Peter, Jesus comments as follows:

Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Just as in the Book of Job, Satan's inferior rank once again forces him to seek permission to oppress a man of God. We know that Jesus did grant that allowance but also that Christ's intercession carried Peter through the trial. In this case, God was using Satan to test Simon and to strengthen his faith. That God uses Satan to do His bidding is the overall point we can observe in this example.

Another instance of God’s control of Satan and the lower rank of Satan and his minions comes with Israel’s King Saul, who after being rejected by God as a disobedient king, is tormented by an evil spirit. But who sent that evil spirit, you may ask? Here is the answer:

1 Samuel 16:14-16 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him. Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well”

The Saul episode clearly demonstrates how an evil spirit was sent by God to terrorize the king for his rebellion. This means that God uses Satan's angels to do His bidding and therefore indicates that God rules over Satan's kingdom.Satan had some influence, but just as with the Job episode, God ruled over Satan from the beginning and used him for His purposes.

A further example of this phenomenon can be seen in the Book of Judges as God avenges the sons of Jerubbaal against King Abimelech:

Judges 9:22-24 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.

Once again, an evil spirit is used by God to do His bidding and bring about His justice on the earth. Far from advancing Satan's counterfeit kingdom, God uses Satan and his evil spirits to sovereignly bring about His own immutable purposes.

In 1 Kings, Micaiah the prophet depicts a vision that reinforces the reality of divine control over evil forces:

1 Kings 22:19-23 Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. The LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ The LORD said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.’ Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you.”

In this episode, the deceiving spirit expresses his intentions to God. God subsequently endorses his plan as one that will succeed and commissions him to act. This is why Micaiah credits God with putting the lying spirit in the mouths of the prophets. God was administering justice by punishing Ahab for his wickedness, and he used the spirit as part of this plan. It is interesting to note that the evil spirit had a desire to carry out this scheme but had to get God's approval to do so.

Christ Had Authority over Satan and his Demons Before the Cross

If we look at the New Testament Scriptures, Christ's total authority over Satan and his demons is in full evidence, even before Jesus' ultimate victory at the cross and after His resurrection. One instance is described in Matthew 8:

Matthew 8:28-32 When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. And they cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them. The demons began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters.

Just as with Jehovah in the Old Testament, Satan's powers were unquestionably subject to Christ as God incarnate. Numerous other examples could be cited of Christ casting demons out of people and asserting His authority over them. This list would include Matthew 9:32, 12:22, 17:18, Mark 1:23, 7:25, 9:17, Luke 4:33, 11:14, and 13:11.

Jesus' First Coming Was All about God's Kingdom

Further evidence that God has always ruled the nations and the world can be seen in the way He determines events in heathen lands and presides over them just as He did in Israel.

Satan's Power Further Diminished After the Cross

Colossians 2:15 also speaks of Christ’s victory over Satan’s spiritual kingdom:

“When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through him.”

1 Peter 3:22 Christ “who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”

I will further add that in his letters, the Apostle John had other things to say about the Devil and the power of Christians over the “evil one.” For example, he wrote the following lines:

“I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (I John 2:14),

“The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8),

“…but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:3-4),

“for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5),

“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them” (1 John 5:18).

Jesus Enthroned as King of Kings after His Resurrection and His Ascension

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

1 Timothy 6:14-16 [T]hat you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

Psalm 2:1-12 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His angerAnd terrify them in His fury, saying, “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’” Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Revelation 1:5-6 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 17:14 These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.

Revelation 19:15-16 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Not Creating, but Advancing God's Kingdom