"THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD" -- Monday:
"The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15)
The kingdoms of the world are under the administration of our adversary, the devil. However, he operates unwillingly under the government of the Living God. It is God who is really "the Governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28), fulfilling His will. As it is written, "Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps" (Psalm 135:6, NASB). However the kingdoms of the world have within them the seeds of corruption. Therefore, they are given over to Satan. He works through them in his vain attempts to thwart Divine objective. To many, this is a mystery, but it need not be so.
When our blessed Lord faced the devil in a time of concentrated temptation, the adversary sought to turn Jesus from His mission by showing Him the kingdoms of this world. "And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it" (Luke 4:5-6). Jesus did not contradict what the devil said. Nor, indeed, did the Holy Spirit provide a Divine disclaimer when He moved Luke to write his Gospel. What Satan said was true! It is, however, to viewed within the greater context of Divine power!
Because of this condition, earthly kingdoms have not been entrusted with the ministry of preparing saints for glory. The truth of the Gospel has not been committed into their trust, and they have not been appointed to be the guardians of truth. Throughout history, and in accordance with Divine objectives, some governments have protected believers, cleared the way for the spread of the truth, and opposed the spread of sin. Such governments, however, were never permanent. They eventually became corrupt, even opposing the truth they once defended. Our own nation is a case in point. The kingdoms of this world have been given to Satan, and therefore will ultimately fall. They belong to him, and he works his diabolical purposes through them. This is the case because they are temporal. Ultimately, they will all yield their power to Christ.
Eventually, Jesus will be the only recognized Governor, and His purpose will swallow up worldly empires. This is described as the time "when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power" (1 Cor 15:54). At that time, the authority of Christ will no longer be resisted in any form. There will be no aggression against the King, the truth, or His people! The revelation of Christ will spell the end of all defiance against Him. As it is written, "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed -- for our testimony to you was believed" (2 Thess 1:7-10). No enemy of Christ will be able to stand before Him, and they certainly will not resist Him. Their cry will not be "to arms!" Rather, they will cry for the rocks and mountains to hide them from the presence and wrath of the Lamb (Rev 6:16). Their destruction will be effortless--no battle, no engagement of the foe in any sense!
That is the time when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ kin an apparent and unquestioned way. He will be recognized by every personality, with no exceptions. The kingdoms of this world will all eventually fall! All of their glory will be removed, and Christ will be openly and unquestionably all in all. In the meantime, Satan rules the world with the harness of God's will upon him.
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ I thank You this is Your world, and that Satan in all of his aggression and craftiness cannot overturn Your purpose.