Authority in Christ

            Let’s take a moment to put ourselves in Satan’s shoes. If man was created to subdue you, would you want him to know it? Wouldn’t you do everything in your power to convince him that he has no special purpose? Of course!
            Now we can see why the theory of evolution is presented as fact by the world. Now we can see why so-called enlightened philosophers declared that God is dead.  Now we can see why egocentric theologians in the last century worked so hard to push their “higher criticism” agenda in an effort to undermine how we view the Bible. And now we can see why woke educators are working overtime to disconnect us from our true history.
            Now we can understand how Satan will be able to offer the Antichrist all authority over the earth. Unlike Jesus Christ, the Antichrist will accept the offer. In doing so, he seals his fate. It’s the same fate that awaits his benefactor, Satan.
            It’s important to realize that mankind’s original mandate was not changed after the Fall. We are still held accountable for the assigned task to take dominion. But since our spiritual DNA has been corrupted, how can we possibly complete it? We can’t.
            There was only one solution. God would provide Himself to be that Man. Hence, the Seed planted into this world as prophesied in Genesis 3.  The Apostle Paul explains, “And so it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.’ The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor. 15:45, 47).
            This would require keeping certain aspects of the plan a secret until the trap could be sprung. This is why various elements of the mystery are hidden in the Old Testament and not revealed until it is the appointed time. “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2:7-8).
            Yes, Satan bruised Jesus’ heel as prophesied, but he had no idea what it meant that Jesus would bruise his head. Interestingly, while Jesus hung on the cross, His bruised heel stood over the place where the head of Goliath had been buried (1 Samuel 7-54). This is where Golgotha got its name—the place of the skull. By the way, Jesus is a descendant of David, the giant slayer.
            By going to the cross, Jesus paid the price for sin on behalf of mankind. By being resurrected on the third day, He overcame death. This is why Jesus is the only Way. He is the only One who could remedy mankind’s disobedience by living a perfect life in obedience to God and paying the price of sin on our behalf 
            He made a way for those who accept Him as their Savior to be released from the bondage of sin through forgiveness, and to eventually overcome death through resurrection on the 3rd Day, at the rapture. No wonder Satan is working overtime to keep this part of the plan hidden within the context of man-made views of the end-times that don’t match the scriptural record.
            The Chronos Lesson: Jesus’ 3rd day resurrection must have shaken Satan to his core. A portion of God’s chronos plan was no longer hidden. In Ephesians 3, the Apostle Paul makes sure we: (1) see when a significant portion of the mystery of God’s will was no longer hidden; (2) see the purpose of the mystery; and (3) appreciate our part in the mystery. The New Covenant Church has been commissioned to reveal the “manifold wisdom” of His plan.
            It’s also important to understand that even though Satan’s power and authority has been defeated, he still operates in this world until the end of this age (the end of the 6th great Day). In effect, he has been sentenced, but not yet incarcerated. He can still influence those in the earth who reject God. Of course, we know there is coming an appointed time for his incarceration, and we have a part to play in it!
            For now, new rules of engagement are in effect. Those who are in Christ now have authority over Satan in their lives. But since our faith is personal, we don’t have this same level of authority over others.
            Furthermore, since so many of our race have chosen to reject God’s authority, we cannot pull down the wicked authorities in the heavenlies or the rulers of darkness over the nations. Even if we could somehow pull them down, unbelievers could simply choose to let those spiritual beings back into their place of influence and authority.
            We have to use wisdom from above in such matters. As born-again believers, our spirit has been reborn, but our soul and body has not been made new. At least not yet. That is what the Bible calls our blessed hope. That transformation is slated to be accomplished at the rapture.
            So for now we operate on this earth seeing in part, as if through a glass darkly. We are not pure reflections of Jesus yet. We are not fully conformed to His image yet. So why do we think that imperfect people—though forgiven and righteous in God’s sight—can pull down the evil angelic hierarchy before its time?
           Daniel 10:20 teaches that the removal of an empire here on earth first requires a confrontation between the spiritual forces in the unseen realm above. So, yes, there is an appointed time. It comes after the rapture. In fact, it is the first ruling judgment we make as the perfected, immortal government of Heaven. Only when the evil spiritual hierarchy is permanently cast down out of the heavenlies can the evil influences over the nations be addressed.