Premillennialists are constantly exalting the power and influence of Satan and diluting the sovereign power and influence of Christ. That is nowhere more evident than in their constant rubbishing of Christ’s current kingship over His enemies at the right hand of majesty on high. Whether they mean to or not, Premils are always highlighting what Satan is doing in our day instead of what Christ is doing. Premil portrays a BIG devil and a small god; Scripture presents a small devil and a BIG God. In Premil, Satan seems sovereign in this age and God is curtailed. Premils are always lauding the ability of Satan since the cross. In Scripture, Christ is sovereign and Satan is curtailed. Scripture is always lauding the ability of Christ since the cross. As a consequence, Premil portrays an impotent beat-down New Testament Church, whereas Scripture sees a victorious potent New Testament Church invading the nations with the good news of Christ and subjugating the powers of darkness as they do so. In Scripture Christ reigns over all creation as God and His new creation as Savior.
It is hard to watch Christians undermine the omnipotence of Christ. They deny Christ is reigning today as King of kings and Lord of lords. They deny Christ is reigning over all creation. They deny Christ is reigning over His enemies as conquering king. They have Christ operating in a vacuum as some impotent want-to-be ruler. They deny that He is sitting upon David’s throne as Israel’s Messiah. They depict Him as some kind of Prince-in-waiting desperately hoping to rule. As we have seen, that is not what Scripture depicts.
Premillennialists, believe that Christ will set up an earthly kingdom, which will be concentrated on the actual city of Jerusalem. They believe that it is only at this stage that He will finally reign over His enemies and rule over the nations. However, Christ is not coming to reign over His enemies; He is coming to destroy them.
Jesus declared in Matthew 28:18 after His resurrection,
“All power (
exousia – ex-oo-see'-ah – or
right, privilege and
authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
This is sovereign kingship! He holds this today upon His Father's throne. Him and the Father are one spiritually in authority. All heaven’s authority was deposited upon Christ through the triumph of Calvary where He triumphantly procured absolute victory over death, hell, sin, Satan and every enemy. Christ thus assumed the heavenly throne in perfect fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy and therefore reigns as Sovereign king until His last enemy is made His footstool.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18-19:
“I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys (or authority)
of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed In heaven.”
He was given us His power. The Church of Jesus Christ carries “the keys (or authority) of the kingdom of heaven” now. They operate in the authority of that victorious kingdom through Christ. The Church has been given authority over the demonic realm of Satan; they have the kingly authority to resist every spiritual attack of the evil one upon their lives. Therefore, wherever the Church advances, the work of Satan is assuredly bound. Where ever the light is shone the darkness is dispelled.
But how possibly can we exercise God’s authority when it is supreme? Surely that is ludicrous!
Jesus said in Mark 13:34:
“For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
This authority that Jesus was speaking about has been left for you and me that love Him. We are His servants and we have been given His authority. It is delegated power and authority. This is incredible!
This word interpreted
“authority” here is the exact same word that is used to describe
God’s authority and Christ authority in the New Testament. Again, like we learned last week, this is the Greek word
exousia (ex-oo-see'-ah) which means
right, privilege and
authority.
Remember, as it says in Romans 13:1:
“For there is no power (or
exousia – ex-oo-see'-ah – or
right, privilege and
authority) but of God:
That should be very gratifying, because this authority you possess and this power you exercise is the highest known or created.
While we are physically located on earth as Christians, we are spiritually located in heavenly places with Christ. Our authority could not be greater or higher.
· It is divine authority.
· It is heavenly authority.
· It is supernatural authority.
· It is spiritual authority.
But authority means nothing unless you use it. It must be enforced.
Think about that! Darkness cannot handle the light. When light shines, darkness must go. As the Church of Jesus Christ spreads the good news (or light of the Gospel) throughout the world the devil is exposed for who he is: he is stupid, he is a fool, he is a loser.
Jesus said in Luke 10:18-19:
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
We have power over Satan since the cross! If you are walking in obedience, the devil has no authority over you. But you have much power over him. Think about this we have power over Satan and all his demons! He cannot do as he pleases against the people of God. There is much Scripture that says we have power over him.
Some Christians respond, but what about 1 Peter 5:8? Let us read it:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” The very next verse 1 Peter 5:9 affirms,
“whom resist stedfast in the faith.”
The true church of Jesus Christ is a resistance movement. While Satan resists us, the Bible says we have power to resist him, and subjugate his purposes against us. We resist the lawlessness and evil encroachments of the devil around us.
In fact, James 4:7 tells us what happens when you do resist,
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
This is incredible! You resist, he must flee. This word “flee” in the original means to escape, flee away or vanish. Now think about it. When you resist, he must disappear. The conflict today for the Church is not an earthly battle to possess an earthly territory but a spiritual battle to possess spiritual territory.
1 John 2:14
14 I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
By resisting Satan, standing upon the Word of God, and staying steadfast, we have enormous individual impact upon the kingdom of darkness; we curtail the expansion of its evil designs.
Many Christians imagine power and authority to be the same thing. But as we found out last week: they are not! Scripture uses two different Greek words to describe the distinction.
Luk 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power [
dunamis]
and authority [
exousia]
over all devils, and to cure diseases.
·
Authority = exousia
·
Power = dunamis
Authority is the channel through which power operates. Authority is the legal authorization to function. Power has to do with the outworking of that authority.
According to this Satan should not have power and authority over you, but you should have power and authority over him.
1 John 5:18:
“he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
It is not just that he cannot stop us or hurt us as we operate in the Spirit but it is that we can actually hurt him. That is the good news of New Testament age we live in. Do you believe that? Why? You have authority over him. He has none over you.
