TWO KINGDOMS IN CONTRAST
By W. G. Guy
This article is a comparison of two kingdoms that mankind can live in. In one kingdom all of mankind is naturally born into; the other kingdom is purposely and deliberately chosen to be re-born into. Each kingdom has a different ruler as well as a different outcome. Obviously this refers the kingdom Satan compared to the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of Satan, (the devil), is the kingdom of sin, wickedness, rebellion, darkness and everything that is vile and evil; it exists in total opposition to God. The kingdom of God is the realm of love, light, righteousness, peace, joy and abundant life for eternity.
When God remade the earth in six days, He made it for man, whom God fashioned after Himself, and purposed for man to have dominion over. Thus the entire earth, as that time, was part of God’s Kingdom; the realm in which He put man to be in charge.
Genesis 1:26-27 – And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
(Note: God made us male and female, not convertible. LGBTQ and homosexuality is a product of Satan’s domain and influence in effort to further destroy mankind.)
Ever since Satan beguiled Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit in the Garden the human race has been under the influence of Satan, to whom the first humans submitted to his treachery; (as recorded in Genesis Chapter 3.) Thus the devil gained control over the earth which was now his domain –it became his kingdom. Satan himself testified to this fact when he was tempting Jesus in the wilderness.
Luke 4:5-7 – And 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 therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine
Who delivered this power and glory to Satan? It was Mr. and Mrs. Adam when they transgressed God’s command which brought sin into this world. Thus the world became corrupted, and every human being born since was born into this corrupt kingdom of Satan and subject to his evil ways.
However, God knowing in advance the evil and corruption that Satan would employ, had already prepared a plan to restore what the devil initiated. As stated in the Bible, this plan God was established “before the foundation of the world”: before mankind was formed and put into position to have dominion over the entire earth, (that Satan was jealous of and sought to take over to exalt himself over God’s creation.)
John 17:24 – Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
(Note: “world “ refers to social order, or mankind, and not the physical planet.)
Ephesians 1:3-5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
God already had a divine plan in place because He knew the corruption of the devil, so God made a plan of redemption. Note: redemption means to restore to the original state, as when He first placed man in the Garden. This plan requires the death of an innocent being to atone for the sins of another. Note that is was God that shed the first blood for the atonement of sin. This occurred when God made skins to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness. (Their nakedness was the result of losing the righteous garment of God character and nature which they lost by yielding to Satan’s treachery.
Genesis 3:21 – Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
This shedding of innocent blood was a foreshadow of what God instituted for Israel in the Passover which was a further foreshadow of Jesus Christ becoming our universal sacrificial lamb for all of humanity. The offering of Jesus as that sacrificial lamb was even told to the devil when God pronounced the curse on the serpent which Satan used as his emissary.
Genesis 3:15 – and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel, (as Jesus was crucified on the cross).
As Jesus declared, He is the only way into the kingdom of God, our Heavenly Father, and the only access to His presence.
John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
So now it is that through faith in Jesus Christ mankind can be totally redeemed (restored) into the divine life that God had planned for man to have. That faith in what Jesus did on the cross as our Passover sacrifice is the means of being re-born and entering into the kingdom of God. This means that, as we choose Jesus Christ as our redeemer, and make Him LORD of our life, we are spiritually taken out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness and brought into God’s kingdom of light.
1 Peter 2:9-10 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Notice “we are spiritually taken out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness”. This is because, physically we are currently living in this world that is still under the devil’s control and influence. This is why bad things happen to good people; why we still experience sickness, disease, afflictions of various sorts, and death. It is why we still see evil, wickedness and corruption of all sorts all over the entire earth.
Having your spiritual life centered in the kingdom of God does put you at odds with this world because the majority of the world’s population is still under the influence and control of Satan.
Matthew 10:22 – And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
This darkness will continue until Jesus returns and yanks Satan out and imprisons him. That is when Jesus takes over as King of kings and LORD of lords to rule on this earth for a thousand years.
Revelation 11:15 – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
And that is not the end, because He then leads us into eternity to be with Him forever. This transition from Satan’s kingdom to God’s kingdom requires a specific action on the part of each one of us: accepting and believing in Jesus Christ, as is made known by His Word.
Romans 10:8-10 – But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
We have to make a deliberate and purposeful choice to accept the sacrificial work that Jesus did on the cross to atone for our sins; acknowledge our sins and turn from living or practicing sin; and being conformed to Hs divine image; to be and live like Him. He even gives us the ability to do so by providing the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thus we are presented with two entirely different paths to walk. One leads to destruction on the journey in Satan’s kingdom; the other pathway leads to abundant and eternal life of the kingdom of Christ, and God our Heavenly Father.
Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Which kingdom are you in? Which one do you want to be in? Which path are you on? Do you need to change paths? Jesus makes it possible because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, and His kingdom, but only though Jesus Christ!
