Kingdoms in Conflict Confronting the Reality of Spiritual Warfare
Three Observations about Kingdoms in Conflict (1) As there is a kingdom of God, so, too, is there is a kingdom of Satan. And the two are in conflict. “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?… But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Mt. 12:26, 28; see also Acts 26:18 [“the dominion of Satan”]; Col. 1:13 [“the domain of darkness”]). (2) Few Christians fully realize the extent of Satan’s influence. Nor do they understand their own authority. Two texts in particular make both points clear. a. 1 John 5:19—“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” Observe the contrast. Whereas the “whole world” is in the evil one, we who are “of God” (v. 19) are in God and in his son, Jesus Christ (v. 20). The point is that everyone is in someone! “John wastes no words and blurs no issues. The uncompromising alternative is stated baldly. Everyone