Christ Overcame and Qualified to Replace Satan

Next Part Flesh and Blood Cannot Enter

Christ Overcame and Qualified to Replace Satan

Satan demonstrated he could not be governed by God. So, a successor had to qualify to replace him, because Satan’s government was still in place on earth.

Almost immediately after Christ was baptized by John the Baptist (Mark 1:9-11), He entered an extraordinary, extended battle with Satan.

Successfully resisting the devil’s temptation was the key to Christ overcoming sin and qualifying to replace and remove him at the establishing of the kingdom of God. Matthew 4:1-25 contains the account: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit…to be tempted of the devil” (Mt 4:1). Through enticement, the devil repeatedly tempted Christ, in various ways. Take time to read the account. At the end of several attempts by Satan to break Christ’s will, the account climaxes.

Notice that after being offered all the world’s kingdoms by Satan, Christ rebuked him (Mt 4:10), and commanded him to leave. The temptation ended and the devil departed. Christ had successfully resisted—and qualified!

Christ passed a very real test! He overcame the world, His flesh and the devil in defeating sin and qualifying to pay for the sins of the world.

God’s Purpose Completed Before Kingdom Can Be Established

Though Christ qualified to replace Satan almost 2,000 years ago, there are several reasons for the long delay in establishing God’s kingdom.

God’s Plan encompasses 7,000 years. Few understand this. Numerous verses describe Christ’s 1,000-year reign, which begins at His Return with the saints (Rev. 20:4-6). A few more understand this much, but know nothing of the fact that God has allotted 6,000 years, or six millennial days of a “seven-day week,” to man’s rule, prior to the seventh 1,000-year “day.” The sixth “day” is drawing to a close. Satan is soon to be bound (Rev. 20:2).

Man has been given 6,000 years to try his own ways, governments, religions, philosophies, value systems, forms of education and methods of trying to solve the world’s greatest problems. Under the sway of Satan, he has practiced sin—disobedience to God’s commands—for all this time. Then he has tried to treat all of the ill effects instead of treating the cause—breaking God’s spiritual laws. God is allowing mankind to learn bitter lessons. The vast majority, who have never known the precious truth of God, are having to learn that their own ways—and solutions to problems—do not work!

Having conquered sin, Christ qualified to replace (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13) the “god of this world.” He assured that the devil will soon no longer be able to deceive (Rev. 12:9) and confuse mankind (I Cor. 14:33). Having not yet been bound, Satan does everything within his power to thwart God’s Plan. His deceived ministers (II Cor. 11:13-15) teach, in effect, that God has failed to save the world. Yet, only by God’s permission does Satan hold sway over this “present evil world” (Gal. 1:4; I John 5:19). Recognize that God is not losing some kind of great cosmic “wrestling match” over which He has full control. He knows exactly what He is doing, and the beauty of His plan can be known. No true God would ever condemn humanity without offering salvation to all!

There are other reasons for the delay in Christ’s Return. He had to first call and train the original disciples to become apostles—to become part of the foundation of the Church (Eph. 2:20) and to take the gospel to the world. Then, throughout the New Testament period, He had to train an administrative team to rule with Him.

Christ did not establish His kingdom immediately, because He had to ascend to heaven to become High Priest of those God calls. Christians are reconciled to God by Christ’s death, but they are saved by His life (Rom. 5:10)—His Resurrection. Also, while still human, Christ could not install Himself as Satan’s replacement. Daniel showed that He had to return to heaven (also Luke 19:1-48) to be crowned with power and glory before He could return.

The master deceiver has inspired many false religions, counterfeiting the truth in endless ways. The fruit of his efforts lies everywhere. But a 1,000-year “Sabbath rest” is coming soon. Man will then be forced to rest from sin and receive rest from Satan’s relentless deceit.

Mark 2:28 states, “the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” When the Lord of the Sabbath—Jesus Christ—comes to bind Satan, his dominion will end and the world will rest from sin. The then spirit-composed saints—born of God—will rule.

It is no surprise that Satan deceives the world about the saints being “born from the dead.” He knows their first order of business will be to bind and replace him!

God’s Ruling Family Kingdom

Physical kingdoms have people, and governments over them. God is no different. John 4:24 states that “God is a Spirit.” Under the Father, Christ leads His kingdom, composed of spirit beings. At His Return, Christ, as a member of the Family of God, will have many younger “brothers and sisters” (the “many brethren” of Romans 8:29) who will have qualified to rule with Him.

There is a plant kingdom, an animal kingdom, human kingdoms and an angelic kingdom. There is also the kingdom of God.

In Genesis 1:26, “God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” When referring to themselves, the One speaking says, “Us,” “Our,” “Our.” The Hebrew word here for God is Elohim. It is a uniplural term like group, team, committee or family. All of these terms represent one entity, comprised of several members or persons.

Thus, the Bible teaches that there is one God, composed of two Persons—the Father and Christ—with many more to be added later. The first time when God will add more sons to His Family is when Christ’s kingdom is established.

At that time, “many sons shall be brought unto glory” through the “captain of our salvation” (Heb. 2:10). Heb 2:11 adds that Christ “is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Christ is called “firstborn” among these brethren.

Do you grasp this? A true Christian’s goal is to be born into the kingdom (government) of God, as a spirit being to rule under Christ. What could be more wonderful—more glorious—for a Christian to look forward to? Throughout His ministry, when Christ taught about the kingdom, He was actually teaching about the Family of God, and how humans may enter it by being born again.