Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition

LESSON 4 | THE NT WITNESS TO CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM: THE MESSIAH OPPOSED / 159

4. The kingdom of the devil and the Kingdom of God are in mortal conflict and combat with each other.

a. God is reasserting his right to rule over his creation, and the kingdom of the devil resists this effort with all its fury and energy.

b. At issue in this battle is this: who will possess the absolute right to rule and reign over creation and humankind .

D. Israel’s special vision of the Kingdom related to its identity. The idea of the Kingdom affected the Jewish view of spiritual opposition in regard to the forces of the material world, human affairs, and Israel’s place as a nation.

1. Israel as a nation is wrapped up in this struggle between God and Satan for the control of the world.

a. They are God’s special people because of the Covenant, Gen. 12-17.

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b. Though called as God’s special people, they live in a milieu (situation) that is dominated by the kingdom of Satan . (1) Political, governmental, and other social forces which were hostile to Israel are in fact under Satan’s control. (2) God used these systems for his purposes (even though they were not aware of it).

B i b l i ca l S tud i e s

2. The Kingdom of God would come in power through the Messiah and would bring an end to Satan’s control and influence over the world and humankind.