The Leader of the World

     In the political arena, there is often compromise between the liberal agenda and the conservative agenda.  Neither side likes to cave, but each feels compromise is necessary to promote their respective ideology in the long run.

     Such strategy is not an option between the world and the kingdom.  The world is under the rule of the devil himself, while the kingdom (manifested by the church) is headed by Christ.

     A person is sold out to one or the other, there is no in between.  And if we think there is bad blood between liberalism and conservatism; that is nothing compared to the hatred the world has for the kingdom.

     Ultimately only one can prevail, and it is absolutely certain who that will be.  The winner was announced by Christ Himself while speaking to Peter.

     “…and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”  Matthew 16:18

     That is one of the major absolutes in the Bible.  Christ is the corner stone and foundation of the church.

     Recall Jesus’ prayer for His disciples before His departure to the Father.

      “…I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.”  John 17:15

     The evil one is the devil himself, as the ‘ruler of this world.’

     The devil’s authority has been granted, or given to him, by God to fulfill His plan.  The devil is nothing more than a puppet of the Almighty.  The devil acknowledged that truth.  Remember when the devil tempted Jesus.

     “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world…and the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me…Therefore, if you will worship before me, all will be Yours.’”  Luke 4:5-7

     ‘Delivered’ does in fact mean ‘granted’ in the Greek.

     Such granted authority will prevail through the imminent great tribulation.

     John saw a great ‘beast rising up out of the sea.’  The beast is the anti-Christ who will rule over the final world kingdom.

     “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.  And authority was given him over every tribe (people)…All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life…”  Revelation 13:7-8

     The anti-Christ will be granted/given temporary authority to fulfill God’s plan which was devised ‘from the foundation of the world.’  Note again the division of all mankind, i.e. those written in the Book of Life, and all others.

     Paul spoke of the leader of the world having blinded the minds of those of the world.

     “…whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe…”

2 Corinthians 4:4

     The devil deludes the world to believe they are self sufficient, not needing anything other than their worldly wisdom to profit.

     Paul also taught that the purpose of Christ was to deliver them from the present age and its ruler.

     “…who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father…”  Galatians 1:4

     Likewise John confirmed the purpose of Christ.

     “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned 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

     John also explained the vast difference between the kingdom of God and the god of the world.

     “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”  1 John 5:19

     In God’s perfect timing, immediately after the millennial kingdom, the god of this world will be released from the bottomless pit to make one last attempt to deceive the survivors born during the tribulation, and their seed, during the thousand year kingdom.

     “…And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them (the devil and his army).  The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire…”  Revelation 20:9b-10a