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Satan: Neither Prince nor Ruler of This World
The consummation of the kingdom of God is eschatological. However, the present reality of the kingdom is certainly not, nor is that of the present reign of Jesus Christ as King of kings.
It is a great comfort to the Church that at the right hand of God is seated He Who reigns supremely over all things – an Almighty King! Our King rules over the Church, certainly, but His reign is also a mediatorial one, extending not merely over the Church itself, but over the entire world – yes, even the universe! All this, given to the Son by the Father as the reward of His suffering and obedience even unto death.
From Scripture, we see clearly this teaching that Christ Jesus not only is the King of kings, but that “he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” I Corinthians 15:25. [emphasis mine]
As of His resurrection, all power and authority have been given to Him.
Brethren, we must love one another, yet we also must insist on the mediatorial Kingship of Jesus Christ. The Church must insist and proclaim this glorious, and most comforting truth. He reigns, now and forever more, on David’s throne, over this world and the universe. It must be so, else He is neither the Prophet, the Priest nor the King of kings.
Sadly, there are many preachers of the Gospel, and even more believers, who deny Jesus is now King, except in a spiritual sense in the hearts of men. Denied is not only the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant but also that Jesus is the Prince and ruler of this world. Instead, concerning the latter, it is believed and taught that the devil, Satan himself, is the prince and ruler of this world. Such teaching is neither comforting to Christians, nor is it true according to Scripture, the final authority on all matters.
In John 12:31, we read in reference to our Lord’s crucifixion:
Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
It is very important to note, that in this verse, the word translated ‘Now’ means present, immediate. There is no future tense, it means from here on out!
And again:
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me; – John 14:30
And yet again, in reference to the Holy Spirit:
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. – John 16:8-11
Satan has been described as “a big, ugly dog chained.” Indeed. He can do nothing apart from the permission of God.
In every instance where Scripture names Satan as “prince” of this world, it teaches more emphatically and clearly that since the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, Christ Himself has crushed, trounced and dismissed Satan as prince of this world.
Think about it brethren. If Satan were the prince of this world, no man would respond to the Gospel. If he controlled all men as prince and ruler, he would forbid even the hearing of it.
Yet, because Christ has triumphed over death and risen for our justification before the Father, through faith alone, and is now seated at His right hand as King of kings – and because, as promised, He sent His Spirit to comfort and guide His elect, Satan is no authority at all. He cannot stop the salvation of men.
Yes, the unregenerate are controlled by sin, they know of nothing else. They are sin in and of themselves. Sin is their master. Yet every time Christ Jesus is lifted up by the preaching of the Word in the Gospel, men, by the power of God the Holy Spirit, may be drawn unto Christ and be saved – and Satan has no say in the matter.
No, my dear friends, it is a false teaching that Satan is the prince and ruler of this world. He has neither power nor authority to prevent any from coming to Christ.
There is only one Ruler, Prince, King and Lord of and in this universe, and His name is Jesus.
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. – Revelation 1:5,6
Regardless of the influence Satan may have in this day and age, Christ, not Satan, rules this world.
And here is the lie many in the Church have swallowed:
Satan is now “the ruler of this world,” and until the Lord casts him out he will continue to rule. – John MacArthur
Dear John, Jesus has already cast him out.
Those who insist Satan is the prince of this world give him far too much credit and exaltation, all the while, robbing Christ of His rightful praise and glory as the only true Sovereign, King of kings, and Lord of lords. – I Timothy 6:15
Related articles
- John MacArthur’s Dispensationalism
- A Question of Gratitude (5ptsalt.com)
5 Pt. Salt 
Amen. The question is: Is the devil now chained, or only in a misty millennial future? And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Is this now, or “then”?
All premillennial and postmillennial schemes err with overly-realized eschatology.
The former is currently under-realized (as witnessed by MacArthur’s sorry comments, above), but looks for a false hope & earthly, carnal glory, while the triumphalistic Postmills obviously hold to future earthly & carnal glory, sans a rebuilt physical temple.
Both err in being pre-consummationist.
For the record, I did my best to check for “backwoods” stuff. 😉
well, y’all done did good, Pastor Joel, “to checked for” that stuff! 😉
No, see, I caught that error and corrected it before you posted, so your comment is invalid to my current English abilities. I done learned some, lol 😉
In the parlance of Southwestern VA, I think that should be “I done learnt some.”
You’re right Randy, whut wuz I thankin’?
Good catch. I still saw it up when I posted. Glad to see yer English skills are improving!
Seriously, thanks for the thought-provoking posts!
Back on point, pre-consummationism is the tend to look for and preach about an earthly, carnal (physical) manifestation of Christ’s kingdom on earth prior to his second coming.
This has obviously led to much mischief in the church in times past, from post-millennial triumphalism of either the Puritan or the popish variety, to premillennial retreatism issuing forth from the deadly dispensationalistic denial that Pastor Taylor has elaborated upon, above.
I *would* add, however, that while Satan is essentially defeated and bound, he is also walking about as a lion, seeking whom he may devour. Peter reminds us to still be watchful.The devil is still the prince of the power of the air, busily at work in the sons of disobedience.
Ha ha! MY turn: “pre-consummationism is the tendency,” etc…
I’m going to demonstrate grace here, lol.
Thank you, Joel!
“There is not a square inch in heaven or on earth or under the earth in which there is peace between Christ and Satan.” These were the words that Abraham Kuyper used to describe the warfare that exists between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan. It is this battle that we have before us in Revelation 2:12-17, the letter to the church in Pergamos.
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: ‘I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” (2:12-13).
Two times in verse 13, we are told that Pergamos was the place where Satan had his throne, the place where Satan dwells. Why would John call the city of Pergamos the throne of Satan? Why would John tell us that Satan dwelt in Pergamos? There are several reasons….
More @ http://www.trinityurc.net/articles/vosarticle_lookabove12.htm
quote
Satan is now “the ruler of this world,” and until the Lord casts him out he will continue to rule. – John MacArthur
end quote
You really got to wonder what credentials MacArthur has, the above quote is a direct contradiction of scripture.This is not an insignificant oversight on his part , this is a veiled denial that Christ has come in the flesh [2 John :7] to disarm and cast out the kingdom of darkness.I get the impression that a lot of folks believe that the wolves in sheeps clothing will still look like wolves. Not so.
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Thanks Joel, great article. We mustn’t forget that God is truly sovereign NOW, and that Jesus has fully been seated in authority over all things. This is so clear in Ephesians 1:20-23, and as you’ve said, many other places.
I would be careful, though, of going too far in disregarding Satan’s power in this world. A few of your comments didn’t quite seem to line up with Scripture’s teaching on the legitimate (although subordinate) influence that Satan DOES have in this age (even though God ultimately does prevail over that influence). In 2 Cor 4:4, for example, it’s crystal clear that Satan does have some ability to blind unbelievers to the gospel.
Also, what you were saying about John 12:31 isn’t quite correct. The phrase “will be cast out” is indeed in the future passive (ἐκβληθήσεται).
But don’t get me wrong, I do mostly agree with what you’re saying, but perhaps not as quite far as completely saying that Satan has no reign in this world.
I recently wrote a post about Satan being the prince of this world (Eph 2:2), but how this very phrase actually emphasizes the fact that Satan has only a subordinate domain and that Christ has been seated in FULL authority of Satan ALREADY (as you say).
http://bensmart92.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/the-prince-of-the-power-of-the-air/
Thanks again for the great post!
Ben, thanks for the comment. First, no one denies Satan has influence in this world, particularly in the lives of unregenerate men. Second, I never dealt with the phrase “shall be cast out” nor denied it’s tense in the Greek. I dealt with the word ‘Now’ which is not future, but present or immediate. Either way, Satan weas indeed “cast out” at the cross, and that is the point. I do most definitely deny that Satan has reign over this planet since all power and all authority has been given to Jesus Christ. Again, thanks for the comment.
Neither prince nor ruler, but “god of this world” (KJV), acc. to Paul.
“ο θεος του αιωνος τουτου” = god of this age/ eon.
Hi! If it was only the verses in John 12 and 16, I could see it. “But I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me (John 14:30)” seems to be clearly referring to Satan. Could you elaborate on this point?