SATAN'S KINGDOM

 by Dr. Hank Lindstrom

     Satan is presently called the "god of this world" in II Corinthians 4:4.  Jesus referred to Satan's Kingdom in Matthew 12:26 when He said, "And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?"  This world and this world's kingdoms are under the domain of Satan.  When Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan, "...the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said unto him, 'All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.  If thou wilt worship me all shalt be thine.' (Luke 4:5-7)."  Was this a bona fide offer?  Could Satan offer all this world's kingdoms to Jesus Christ?  The answer is yes!

     One day Jesus Christ will take away the kingdoms of this world from Satan and they will become His.  The book of Revelation tells us, "...The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15)."  But, presently, Satan has control.

     Satan is known by many different names in the Bible.  Some of Satan's names are:


(1) Satan     II Corinthians 2:11
(2) the tempter     Matthew 4:3
(3) the devil     Matthew 4:5
(4) the enemy     Matthew 13:25,39
(5) the wicked one     Matthew 13:38
(6) the dragon     Revelation 12:9
(7) the old serpent     Revelation 12:9
(8) that crooked serpent     Isaiah 27:1
(9) the accuser     Revelation 12:10
(10) the piercing serpent     Isaiah 27:1
(11) the deceiver     Revelation 12:9
(12) the adversary     I Peter 5:8
(13) the liar     John 8:44
(14) the father of lies     John 8:44
(15) the murderer     John 8:44
(16) the oppressor     Isaiah 14:4
(17) the day-star     Isaiah 14:12
(18) Lucifer     Isaiah 14:2
(19) the son of the morning     Isaiah 14:12
(20) the one that laid low the nations     Isaiah 14:12
(21) leviathan     Isaiah 27:1
(22) the dragon that is in the sea     Isaiah 27:1
(23) the anointed cherub     Ezekiel 28:14
(24) Beelzebub     Matthew 12:24
(25) Belial (which means "wickedness"     II Corinthians 6:15
(26) Apollyon (Greek for "destroyer")     Revelation 9:11
(27) Abaddon (Hebrew for "destruction")     Revelation 9:11
(28) angel of the bottomless pit     Revelation 9:11
(29) the prince of the world     John 14:30
(30) the prince of the power of the air     Ephesians 2:2
(31) the prince of the demons     Matthew 12:24
(32) the god of this world     II Corinthians 4:4
(33) an angel of light     II Corinthians 11:14
(34) the strong man     Luke 11:21
(35) the thief     John 10:10
(36) the wolf     John 10:12
(37) the roaring lion     I Peter 5:8
(38) the spoiler     Isaiah 16:4
(39) the extortioner     Isaiah 16:4

Each of the above names describes something of Satan's character.

     Satan often makes himself appear so laughable and absurd that people do not fear him.  Or he persuades them that he does not exist so that people are incapable of resisting his assaults.  Satan appears as "an angel of light" according to II Corinthians 11:14.  He often appears as having the truth and deceives many.

     Satan's primary objective is to prevent people from understanding the gospel message so that they might be saved.  "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them (I Corinthians 4:4)."  Satan often blinds the lost by giving them a heavenly way to go to hell.  In other words religion is Satan's substitute for the gospel.

     Jesus Christ's major objective is to reach a lost world with the gospel.  "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:17)."  And again in Luke 19:10 we read, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

     Satan's major objective is to prevent people from becoming saved.  One objection given by the lost more than any other to the true gospel is that "It is too simple!"  Satan uses that very objection to cause people to not believe the gospel.  Notice II Corinthians 11:3, "But I fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."  The message of salvation is not based on human works or merit but on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, least any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9)."  Therefore, the true message is simple.  God has done all the hard part.  Our part is simply to receive Jesus Christ by faith!

Satan is a counterfeiter!  He has his imitations:


(1) false Christ, the Antichrist     Revelation 13:2
(2) synagogues (his church)     Revelation 2:9
(3) doctrine     I Timothy 4:1
(4) mysteries (the depth of Satan)     Revelation 2:24
(5) throne     Revelation 13:2
(6) kingdom     Luke 4:6
(7) power     Revelation 13:2
(8) worshippers     Revelation 13:4
(9) diabolical trinity     Revelation 16:13
(10) angels     Revelation 12:7
(11) ministers     II Corinthians 11:15
(12) miracles     II Thessalonians 2:9
(13) sons          John 8:44
(14) sacrifices     I Corinthians 10:20
(15) communion     I Corinthians 10:20
(16) table     I Corinthians 10:21
(17) Satan's cup*     II Corinthians 10:21
(18) glory          Jude 8,9
(19) armies     Isaiah 24:21
(20) gospel     Galatians 1:6-9
(21) spirit     II Corinthians 11:4
     and more.

     Satan counterfeits the gospel by offering people religion instead of salvation.  All religions are based on man's works for salvation, whereas God's salvation is based solely on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The word "religion" comes from two Latin words "re" and "ligio" which mean to do something of self to bind back to God.  Religions are therefore man's efforts to bind himself back to God.  God says in the Bible that it is impossible for man of his own efforts to bind himself to God.  Satan delights himself in blinding man into thinking that he could earn eternal life through his works.  God's plan of salvation is the exact opposite of religion.  Notice Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him (Jesus Christ) that justifieth the ungodly (human race), his faith is counted for righteousness."

     The person who wholly trusts Jesus Christ as his only hope for heaven will be saved.  All others will perish.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)."

Satan's kingdom truly is this world and Jesus Christ came to save (rescue) us from it.