God is in Control?

Jesus hasn't replaced Lucifer/Satan as ruler yet. These things must be done according to the rules. Jesus is heir but not yet inheritor.

Darren Brown said:

• Hey everybody, the pastor at my church said something interesting yesterday, He said we often pray God is in control, which I have done myself, but there is no where in the Bible does that says God is in control of this world. He said that actually the devil is in control down here. He quoted "I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me." John 14:30 and " Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out." John 12:31. Just wondering your thoughts. Wondering if you guys agree and if not is there anywhere in the Bible that says God is in control of the world? Thanks.

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It says the He knows the beginning and the end....He spoke through His Prophets of events that would take place (kinda sounds like He is in control), He sends calamity upon our enemies, He orders our footsteps, He knows our coming and going....
What it means is that Satan still has "power" here on earth to kill, steal and destroy. But it does not mean that God just idly sits by and watches until he is cast out. God is and always will be "in control" .
We do have to call upon Him to help us....exercises our faith to trust Him in all things.

Darren Brown said:

• Hey everybody, the pastor at my church said something interesting yesterday, He said we often pray God is in control, which I have done myself, but there is no where in the Bible does that says God is in control of this world. He said that actually the devil is in control down here. He quoted "I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me." John 14:30 and " Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out." John 12:31. Just wondering your thoughts. Wondering if you guys agree and if not is there anywhere in the Bible that says God is in control of the world? Thanks.

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We (humans) are in a war (spiritual war) .... some battles won ... some battles lost. The war has in deed been won through Jesus ... when He returns He will take all the survivors home to heaven ... in the meantime we battle every day and He helps us to win more and more battles if we remain in Him.

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

1 Corinthians 15:26

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 John 5:4-5

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?


1 John 3:8

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Satan Always Asks Permission: Seven Ways God Reigns over Evil

Some reassuring points.

Darren Brown said:

in the Bible that says God is in control of the world?

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The world, all society, is pernicious (death dealing, attempting to drag down everyone into rebellion apart from and opposed to Yahuweh).

Does that "sound like" "God is in control of the world" ?

< smile >

But, even the very very very bad evil wicked things of the society, EVERY DAY,

which happen everywhere, every day,

Yahuweh CAUSES/ ORCHESTRATES Himself causing it to WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

for EVERYONE WHO LOVES GOD, who (also) is CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE,

every molecule, every atom, every thought, every weapon, every disease,

every action, every wind, every earthquake, every volcano, every anti-christ,

every false teaching,

as well as all the good stuff (the righteous do),

everything , without exception, God causes to work together for good to those who

love Him, who are called according to His Purpose.....

The bad stuff , an unbelievable amount of evil and wickednesses, occurs all the time,

seemingly without end, and seemingly without justice,

but nothing escapes God's Notice - He Sees Everything - from all of heaven, to the beast system on earth, to all that is under the earth,
and nothing surprises Him.

Darren Brown said:

• Hey everybody, the pastor at my church said something interesting yesterday, He said we often pray God is in control, which I have done myself, but there is no where in the Bible does that says God is in control of this world. He said that actually the devil is in control down here. He quoted "I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me." John 14:30 and " Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out." John 12:31. Just wondering your thoughts. Wondering if you guys agree and if not is there anywhere in the Bible that says God is in control of the world? Thanks.

Click to expand...

While God allows some bad things to happen, even to Christians, we're told in Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

I believe that "all" in this verse really means all. It's difficult for us to understand how God could possibly use the horrible things that happen, but He does. No tragedy is wasted, but God will bring good out of it for those who love Him.

yeshuaslavejeff said:

The world, all society, is pernicious (death dealing, attempting to drag down everyone into rebellion apart from and opposed to Yahuweh).

Does that "sound like" "God is in control of the world" ?

< smile >

But, even the very very very bad evil wicked things of the society, EVERY DAY,

which happen everywhere, every day,

Yahuweh CAUSES/ ORCHESTRATES Himself causing it to WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

for EVERYONE WHO LOVES GOD, who (also) is CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE,

every molecule, every atom, every thought, every weapon, every disease,

every action, every wind, every earthquake, every volcano, every anti-christ,

every false teaching,

as well as all the good stuff (the righteous do),

everything , without exception, God causes to work together for good to those who

love Him, who are called according to His Purpose.....

The bad stuff , an unbelievable amount of evil and wickednesses, occurs all the time,

seemingly without end, and seemingly without justice,

but nothing escapes God's Notice - He Sees Everything - from all of heaven, to the beast system on earth, to all that is under the earth,
and nothing surprises Him.

Click to expand...

The Bible prophesied that in the last days evil will wax worse and worse...even worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. It is all necessary for the fulfillment of prophesy. Everything has a reason and a purpose. Just like 9-11....after that devastating event thousands flocked back to church and there was a surge of new converts.

Heart2Soul said:

The Bible prophesied that in the last days evil will wax worse and worse...even worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. It is all necessary for the fulfillment of prophesy. Everything has a reason and a purpose. Just like 9-11....after that devastating event thousands flocked back to church and there was a surge of new converts.

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hmmm....

were there MORE new converts TO Christianity-Truth-to serve Yahuweh in His Kingdom,

or to muslim-islam-to serve a false god ?

Were there MORE new converts TO Christianity than those who fell away ?

Darren Brown said:

• Hey everybody, the pastor at my church said something interesting yesterday, He said we often pray God is in control, which I have done myself, but there is no where in the Bible does that says God is in control of this world. He said that actually the devil is in control down here. He quoted "I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me." John 14:30 and " Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out." John 12:31. Just wondering your thoughts. Wondering if you guys agree and if not is there anywhere in the Bible that says God is in control of the world? Thanks.

Click to expand...

God is in Charge. That is not the same as being in control. I know people say that God is in control to comfort, but I'm too logical.... God is not controlling evil. He's allowing it for a time, which is not the same thing at all.

yeshuaslavejeff said:

hmmm....

were there MORE new converts TO Christianity-Truth-to serve Yahuweh in His Kingdom,

or to muslim-islam-to serve a false god ?

Were there MORE new converts TO Christianity than those who fell away ?

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The fence straddlers became born again Christians. The Great Apostasy is what we are beginning to witness with the new generation.

renniks said:

God is in Charge. That is not the same as being in control. I know people say that God is in control to comfort, but I'm too logical.... God is not controlling evil. He's allowing it for a time, which is not the same thing at all.

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God reigns over all the earth and nothing happens that He hasn't already allowed to happen. Did Satan cast himself out of heaven? Who gave Satan rule over the earth?

Heart2Soul said:

The fence straddlers became born again Christians. The Great Apostasy is what we are beginning to witness with the new generation.

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Not many of the fence straddlers became born again Christians. In fact, not many ever.

What if , as written in Scripture, the falling away happened in the first few centuries ?

Of course, it might have happened during the Boxer Rebellion also, when a large number of Christians gave up their testimony in Jesus in order to save their earthly life.

And it might happen again, already, or soon .....

Heart2Soul said:

God reigns over all the earth and nothing happens that He hasn't already allowed to happen. Did Satan cast himself out of heaven? Who gave Satan rule over the earth?

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Is God controlling Satan's actions? Not according to the Bible. God says it never entered his mind that his people would sacrifice their kids to idols. Jesus said Satan is prince of this world. Really, man gave Satan rule, God only allowed free choices. Allowed and caused are very difference. Allow and control are worlds apart.

renniks said:

Is God controlling Satan's actions? Not according to the Bible. God says it never entered his mind that his people would sacrifice their kids to idols. Jesus said Satan is prince of this world. Really, man gave Satan rule, God only allowed free choices. Allowed and caused are very difference. Allow and control are worlds apart.

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Whatever floats your boat. Jesus died, descended down to hades, freed the captives, and holds the keys to hades and death. And upon His ressurrection all authority over heaven and earth was given to Him. Jesus has ALL authority, even over Satan. But He is still bound by God's prophesies and cannot remove Satan's presence until the appointed time.
God is a Sovereign God and even He will not break His Covenants nor change what is already written.
Adam was given dominion over all the earth, Satan is Prince of the Air/world....But Jesus is the King and Satan has to bow to Him.

renniks said:

Is God controlling Satan's actions? Not according to the Bible. God says it never entered his mind that his people would sacrifice their kids to idols. Jesus said Satan is prince of this world. Really, man gave Satan rule, God only allowed free choices. Allowed and caused are very difference. Allow and control are worlds apart.

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Satan is doing exactly what God has purposed him to do after the fall of Adam and Eve. God cursed the serpent, cursed mankind, and thus began the curse of sin and death that God appointed unto Satan.

Heart2Soul said:

Satan is doing exactly what God has purposed him to do after the fall of Adam and Eve. God cursed the serpent, cursed mankind, and thus began the curse of sin and death that God appointed unto Satan.

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Apparently, you have a different definition of "control" If I control someone, I am the one causing his actions. Do you really mean to say that God is causing rape, murder and every other sin? That would make God the only real sinner.

renniks said:

Apparently, you have a different definition of "control" If I control someone, I am the one causing his actions. Do you really mean to say that God is causing rape, murder and every other sin? That would make God the only real sinner.

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You are too hung up on the word control. The Bible says He created everything and does the created rule over the creator? If you dont understand the Sovereignty/Authority that God alone has then you are ignorant of who and what He is. He gave Satan his power, Satan didn't get it for himself. God created good and evil for His purpose. Satan has no choice but to fulfill his destiny. Does that make God evil? Not at all...but evil can only manifest it's power through man's free will to choose to give in to his temptations. Satan cannot manifest any power except through man. His only power is to tempt mankind into committing sins against God's Commandments. Even Christians have authority over Satan and his demons through Christ.

renniks said:

Apparently, you have a different definition of "control" If I control someone, I am the one causing his actions. Do you really mean to say that God is causing rape, murder and every other sin? That would make God the only real sinner.

Click to expand...

You are too hung up on the word control. The Bible says He created everything and does the created rule over the creator? If you dont understand the Sovereignty/Authority that God alone has then you are ignorant of who and what He is. He gave Satan his power, Satan didn't get it for himself. God created good and evil for His purpose. Satan has no choice but to fulfill his destiny. Does that make God evil? Not at all...but evil can only manifest it's power through man's free will to choose to give in to his temptations. Satan cannot manifest any power except through man. His only power is to tempt mankind into committing sins against God's Commandments. Even Christians have authority over Satan and his demons through Christ.

Heart2Soul said:

You are too hung up on the word control. The Bible says He created everything and does the created rule over the creator? If you dont understand the Sovereignty/Authority that God alone has then you are ignorant of who and what He is. He gave Satan his power, Satan didn't get it for himself. God created good and evil for His purpose. Satan has no choice but to fulfill his destiny. Does that make God evil? Not at all...but evil can only manifest it's power through man's free will to choose to give in to his temptations. Satan cannot manifest any power except through man. His only power is to tempt mankind into committing sins against God's Commandments. Even Christians have authority over Satan and his demons through Christ.

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So, we agree that sovereignty does not equal control? I said from the start, God is in charge, that is not the same as controlling man or satan's actions.