The Kingdom of God, Student Workbook, SW02

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T H E K I N G D O M O F G O D

Your Kingdom Come: “The Story of God’s Glory” (continued)

I. Here we cry Maranantha !: our lives are structured by the living hope of God’s future and the consummation, Rev. 22.17-21.

When Christ took his seat in the heavens, He proved conclusively that Satan’s devastation was complete, that he was utterly undone. Hell was thrown into total bankruptcy. Satan was not only stripped of his legal authority and dominion, but by an infinitely superior force he was stripped of his weapons also. But this is not all. When Jesus burst forth from that dark prison and “ascended up on high,” all believers were raised and seated together with Him “But God . . . brought us to life with Christ. . . . And in union with Christ Jesus he raised us up and enthroned us with him in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 2.4-6 NEB). ~ Paul Billheimer. Destined for the Throne. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1996. p. 87.

VII. The Already/Not Yet Kingdom (See A Schematic for a Theology of the Kingdom and the Church and Living in the Already and the Not Yet Kingdom appendices)

A. Through the Incarnation and the Passion of Christ, Satan was bound.

1. Jesus has triumphed over the devil, 1 John 3.8.

2. Jesus is crowned as Lord of all, Heb. 1.4; Phil. 2.5-11.

3. Satan is now judged, Luke 10.17-21.

4. Satan’s power has been severely curtailed, James 4.8.

5. His authority has been broken, 1 Pet. 5.8.

6. His minions are being routed, Col. 2.15.

7. His system is fading away, 1 John 2.15-17.

8. Those he enslaved are being set free, Col. 13-14.

9. His eventual doom has been secured, Rom. 16.20.

B. Although Satan has been defeated, he is still lethal and awaits his own utter destruction.

1. "Bound, but with a long rope,” 2 Cor. 10.3-5; Eph. 2.2

2. "A roaring lion, but sick, hungry, and mad,” 1 Pet. 5.8

3. Satan continues to be God’s active enemy of the Kingdom

4. Blinds the minds of those who do not believe, 2 Cor. 4.4

5. Functions through deception, lying, and accusation, John 8.44

6. Animates the affairs of nations, 1 John 5.19

7. Distracts human beings from their proper ends, cf. Gen. 3.1.ff.