At least through 62 AD (the writing of Ephesians), Satan had authority over this world
- All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. (Luke 4:6)
- The ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. (John 14:30).
- According to the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2).
- Satan was active on the earth:
- Tempting Jesus (Matthew 4, Luke 4)
- Orchestrating demon possession (numerous places in the gospels and in Acts)
- Taking away the Word to prevent belief (Luke 8:12)
- Blinding the perishing (2 Corinthians 4:4)
- Having the power of death (Hebrews 2:14)
- Seeking those whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)
- Deceiving (Revelation 12:9)
- Accusing (Revelation 12:10)
- The best efforts of Satan could be overcome by believers (Ephesians 6:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, James 4:7, 1 John 3:8)
Jesus received a kingdom
- Jesus applied Daniel 7:13 – 14 to Himself (Matthew 24:30, Luke 21:27, Luke 22:69, Matthew 26:64), “the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory,” which describes Jesus returning to heaven and being presented before the Ancient of Days at which time He received an everlasting Kingdom.
- He will return that Kingdom to the Father when Death is destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:24 – 26).
- Death is destroyed at Judgment (Revelation 20:14).
- Jesus connects His “coming on the clouds” with “gathering together the elect from the four winds” (Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27).
- Jesus was careful to specify that this was not the end of time (Matthew 24:34, Mark 13:30). Jesus, Paul, and Peter specified that the end of heaven and earth would not have any signs (Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32, 1 Thessalonians 5:2 – 3, 2 Peter 3:10), yet Jesus gave several signs of His “coming on the clouds.”
Jesus is King of the Earth now
- Psalm 2:8 – 9 He shall rule the nations with a rod of iron.
- This is applied to Jesus
- Revelation 2:27 The faithful will reign with Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)
- Revelation 12:5
- Revelation 19:15
- This is not Judgment. People survive until 20:11.
- Jesus is dispensing wrath
- Jesus defeats all with the Word
- Those empowered by the devil were disposed
- Psalm 2:7 is applied to Jesus in Hebrews 1:5 and 5:5
- What application can we make of Psalm 2 to “the nations” today?
- This is applied to Jesus
- Psalm 89:24 – 37 I will make Him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth
- Allowances are made for unfaithful descendants between David and Jesus (v 30 – 37)
- Revelation 1:5 Jesus is described as ruler of the earth when John wrote this.
- Revelation 11:15
- The kingdoms of this world will not last forever and ever, but He shall reign forever,
- The nations were angry with being taken over, so they must be alive on earth.
- At this time, the dead are judged. V19 reveals that these are the faithful dead.
- Those in the first resurrection (20:6) reign with Jesus before Judgment
- The rest (the unfaithful dead) must wait for Judgment.
- The Temple in heaven was opened to the faithful (Hebrews 10:19)