Does the Devil Rule the World?
This old world is a frightfully bad place and
it is bad because there are so man\ creatures, both
human and spirit beings, that are insatiably wicked. Among the spoilers and accountable
for much of their conduct is the Prince of Darkness, the devil. It is quite beyond our power to estimate or describe
his influence or ability, but of one thing we can be sure, his power is
greater than we realize.
The Word of God identifies the devil by the
use of several very suggestive names or titles. He is called The prince of
this world', (John 12:31 & 14:30) 'The god of this world', (2 Cor. 4:4) 'A murrderer', (John 8:44) The prince of
devils' (Matt. 12:24) The prince of the power of the air', (Eph. 2:2)
The ruler of darkness', (Eph. 6:12) and The
king of destruction', (Rev. 9:11). Some at least of the unsaved among men are said to be his children, (1 John 3:10 &
Matt. 13:38) The Lord Jesus referred to the devil's kingdom, (Matt. 12:26)
and Satan claimed to be able to deliver all the kingdoms of the world and all thheir glory to the Lord Jesus, if He
would only bow down in worship before
the Tempter. He takes away the truth from hearers who hear it but do not
truly desire or try to understand it. (Matt. 13:19) He plants his evil children
side by side with the Lord's servants throughout the whole world. (Matt. 13:38 & 39) He goes about the whole earth
seeking whom he may devour. (1 Pet. 5:8 & Rev. 2:10) He changes
himself also into the likeness of an angel of light (2 Cor. 11;] 4) and he has a vast arrmy of mighty followers which constitute
principalities, or rulers of the
darkness of this world and the terrible forces of spiritual wickedness in
high or heavenly places. (Eph. 6:12).
When we take all these facts, and many others like them, all
together, we see that our arch-enemy is a truly terrifying monster. When we
look at the evil works he accomplished in the past and the pictures of what God
says he will yet do, we can see why MANY BELIEVE THAT THE DEVIL ACTUALLY RULES
THIS PRESENT WORLD. This is undoubtedly an
impression which he would like to foster and it may well be true to a deggree which we do not rightly realize. We
must remember that the greatest systems of evil politicians and false
religions are both said to be energised and directed by the devil, (see Rev.
13) and, as such, God says that they have almost unlimited power over the lives
of men and women. He has the ability to control and misuse the mighty forces of
nature and disease, as we see in Job 1 & 2, or Luke 13:16 when he kept a
woman bound for eighteen years and again in Paul's
life, when a torturous and uncured affliction is said to have been, 'A
messenger of Satan.
Yet, in spite of all the dark inclinations
of the devil's power and influences, we can say with firm assurance that HE AND
HIS EVIL CONFEDERATES DO NOT RULE THE WORLD. We confidently hurl
this truth in his face and proclaim it gladly to God's people, because we have
two distinct lines of evidence to prove it.
It may surprise some pessimistic souls to
hear this, but WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE CONDITIONS IN THE WORLD CLEARLY
INDICATE THAT THE DEVIL IS UNDER DIVINE RESTRAINT AND CANNOT DO
AS HE VATURALLY WANTS TO DO. The Bible gives us a
few well-described examples )f the devil's work when he was given more liberty than
usual. If we study these we can see what this sinister destroyer is by nature
and what he would do to all if he were free to do so. If Satan ruled the world
with even as much freedom as he had over Job for a little while, there would be
fewer profitable businesses, fewer sane minds, fewer helpful circles of friends
and fewer healthy and comfortable bodies. Hell is expressive of the devil's
ideas. That condition of unceasing agony, of utter friendlessness and complete
frustration is what Satan wants men to experience in their bodies, souls and
spirits. Every degree by which the world is better than hell is a testimony to
the presence and gracious sovereignty of Christ here and of His restraining
control over all the forces of destruction.
The devil was allowed to gain effective influence in David's life
when God took down the fence at one point and as he did the leader of the
Lord's people took steps that led to the destruction of seventy thousand of
them. (2 Sam. 24:15) He was given control of Judas and that poor, blinded fool
went and served him well; but see how the devil treated him. See how soon and
how brutily he rushed him to his gory end and his plunge to hell. Every picture
we have of the devil in his exercise of limited power in the affairs of men and
women is a picture of destructiveness and a clear proof that this world would
be a second hell if the adversary were allowed to rule it even for a day. You
compliment the devil much too highly, you show a frightful ignorance of hell
and a shameful lack of appreciation for the present restraining work of Christ,
when you say or infer that this world is ruled by Satan. Society is in a bad
state, sin certainly abounds and the insane wrath of men is causing much
trouble and woe; but Christ still reigns. He regulates the extent to which evil
can go and the measure of liberty that Satan will have both against the Lord's
people and in use of his own evil agents. Many of the depraved dupes of sin
would do worse than they do now, if they could, but they are checked, not by
their master, the devil; but by our Saviour, the reigning Lord of Glory. The
picture in the last part of Revelation 12 is a present reality. The dragon is
filled with great rage, he is persecuting the kingdom of God, which is
represented there by the women; but God's people are still in a prepared place
of protection and even the wicked world still shows some respect for us and
still gives many favours which the devil strongly resents.
Some cite the fact that Adam sold out to the devil in Eden as
evidence that Satan has controlling authority. This is an interesting point and
one on which we need to give what truth we can. Adam had great power while he
was in his original state of innocentcy; but HE NEVER HAD THE RIGHT TO TRANSFER
HIS GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS TO AN IMPOSTER. The fact that God came and condemned both
Adam and the devil for what they had done, showed man's high privileges were
contingent upon his obedience to God and were not transferrable to a more
guilty rebel. It was not Satan's authority that was asserted in the garden, in
cursing the ground and expelling the fallen occupants, but God's Ownership
powers. Adam lost his innocence, his high privileges, his controlling authority
and blessed enjoyment of fellowship with God, but the devil did not
automatically get the rights of the former, innocent ruler. So far as man's
ability to resist the devil's devices was concerned the old serpent gained
advantage by deceiving and defeating Eve and Adam, but he did not get the lease
which the first man had from God transferred to himself. Jehovah was quick to
show that He was still both Owner and Sovereign. Satan acquired the ability to
tempt and deceive men, to torture and punish as God allows; but he was then,
and still is, limited by the bounds that Christ sets and never could do
anything except by Divine mandate. God foresees every move that the devil will
ever make and allows only such actions as will in some way serve His Own
righteous purposes of grace or judgment. Neither guilty devils nor guilty men
can seize or sever either the rights of the innocent or the title benefits of
the justified.
Scriptural Teachings About
Christ's Kingship Preclude The Devil's Kingship
Regardless of how badly many brands of erroneous teachings have ed
this theme, the Bible remains unchanged and clear in its declarations about the
absolute and universal scope and effectiveness of Christ's kingship and power.
He plainly taught that 'all authority', 'all judgment', or rights to decide
issues was 'entrusted to Him'. He said again that He had and has 'all authority
in heaven and in earth'. He says that 'He saves according to the counsel of His
Own Will,' that 'He makes even the wrath of man to praise him and the
remainder,' or whatever will not bring honour in some way to Him, 'He
restrains'. He not only rules all things as He sees fit, but He gives authority
and power to His people against all forms of satanic evils. He commands us 'to
resist the devil,' and He promises that as we do, 'he will flee' from us. Even
the worst pictures of the devil's destructiveness, either in history or in
prophetic Scriptures, show that he can go only as far and as long as the Lord
allows He could impoverish and torture Job, but he could not by any means kill
him. Hi can kill the bodies of God's people, but he never will get one of the
covenant-covered or blood-bought to hell. He can make war with the saints, but
he cannot nullify o frustrate the covenant of Christ or the promises He has
made about our security He can scourge the wandering sheep, can make fools out
of God's children, who like Peter, get too self-confident, but he never can
undo the benefits of Christ's prayer on behalf of His Own. Within the bounds
that God's justice allows, the devil ca deceive, diminish, destroy and torture
Christ-rejecters; but even toward these, hi deluded and willing dupes, he can
go only as far as the righteousness and sovereign judgment of Christ decrees.
It is still true that the 'Lord sitteth upon the flood; ye; the Lord sitteth King
forever.' (Ps. 29:10) He still declares the decrees of God, < Psalm 2:7
promises. He has not abdicated nor ceased to fulfil the Holy Spirit's won which
says that Christ 'must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet.' I
Cor. 15:25) No matter what mistaken followers of the so-called Jehovah's
Witnesses or of the Scofield schools may say about a future, earthly kingdom;
let this be clear to all that CHRIST WILL NEVER BE MORE TRULY KING THAN HE IS
NOV He could not be an effective or trustworthy Saviour if it were otherwise.
He could not be the Mediator or Guarantor of the new covenant, if His control
were n absolutely sure over every scheme, every move and every agent of the dev
Saviourhood demands a Sovereign, security for trusting, heaven-bound pilgrim
require a Protector that has no limits to His power. Promised rewards for
faith: servants would be dazzling devices for mocking, if the Giver of Grace
were not constant and complete control of all needed grace and all necessary
channels for getting that grace to hard-pressed warriors on every front and in
every fray, while life's lo warfare rages. But He is present, He is committed
to the job and, with the hymn writer we can say;
'Let all the hosts of death
And powers of hell unknown,
Put their most dreadful forms
Of rage and mischief on;
I shall be safe,
For Christ displays, superior power
And sovereign grace.'
Or with another we can say; 'And were this world all devils O'er,
Each watching to devour us, We lay it not to heart so sore, They cannot
overpower us. So let the prince of ill Look grim as e'er he will, He harms not
one whit; For why? His doom is writ; Christ's word shall quickly slay him.
God's word, for all their craft and force, One moment will not linger, But,
spite of hell, shall have its course; 'Tis written by His finger. Yes, though
they take our life, Goods, honour, children, wife, Yet is their profit small;
These things shall vanish all, The grace of God remaineth.'
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