3.1 Satan: The Spirit of Disobedience:
Even though worldly kings, peoples and nations act physically, in creating regimes of bondage, they walk, under the influence of ” the prince of the power of the air, [Satan, which is] the spirit ” of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). This spirit works in those who walk in the cravings of their flesh, and indulge its desires and thoughts; or are by nature “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3).
When one is alienated from God, you can become hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds (Colossians 1:21). “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12)
These forces represent the mysterious “great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth”, the dominion of the devil, the beast, “full of names of blasphemy” (Revelation 17: 3;18; 4-8; 15); and of vanities,”abominations and filthiness” that peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues are drunken by in the earth (Revelation 17:4-8; 15).
Note that the mystery of the dominion of the beast can be perceived only by spiritual discernment (Revelation 17:3).
3.2 Christ’s Spiritual Authority
Jesus spiritual authority was often confused by Israel who was looking for a physical king that they could make with their hands and worship. He did not manifest a ‘physical’ kingship on earth, as we know kings to be with a throne and successor. In fact, “When [he] perceived that [the people] would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone” (John 6:15). Rejecting his physical authority, the High Priest said, “We have no King but Caesar” (John 19:14-15).
Jesus clearly distinguishes his spiritual authority from worldly dominion of the bondage kings and principalities in his prayer: that the “world” hated believers that have his word, “because they are not of the world even as [He, Jesus] is not of the world” (John 17:14).
So his Spiritual kingly function manifested as the “Lamb of God”, and fitting sacrifice for our salvation and deliverance from sin, the bondage of the world and evil (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Isaiah 53:7). The kings of the earth set themselves against him, but he “disarmed the rulers and authorities, [and] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Psalm 2:2; Acts 4:26; Colossians 2:15). The power of God, which is the Holy Spirit raised him from the dead and he received “all power [or authority] in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
Jesus is “he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, [he is] alive for evermore, Amen; and [has] the keys of hell and of death (Revelation 1:18). God set him in the heavenly realm “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9).
He is thus God’s Spirit that was in human flesh that represents the spirit of God as the “King”; and in comparison with earthly kings and of all rulers of darkness and other realms, he is the “King of kings”. He manifests God’s Spiritual Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven, by the power of God, which is the Holy Spirit (Matthew 6:10 &13; John 10:30 & 14:6-10).
4. KING JESUS IS GOD’S SAVING GRACE IN THE WORLD
