Here are six verses from the Bible that refer to Satan as the ruler of the world or nations:
John 12:31: "Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world [Satan] be cast out."
2 Corinthians 4:4: "In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
Ephesians 2:2: "in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air [Satan], the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience."
1 John 5:19: "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one [Satan]."
Revelation 12:9: "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him."
Luke 4:5-6: "And the devil took him [Jesus] up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, 'To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.'"
These verses emphasize the biblical belief that Satan has a temporary dominion over the world or certain nations, but it is ultimately subject to God's sovereignty and will be overcome through His power at a predetermined time in the (very) near future..
Thanks for taking the time for a most thorough response, however... one unarguable fact that you must acknowledge here. Mathew, Mark, Luke and John were NOT written by Mathew, Mark, Luke or John. Each of these were constructed from many different authors to create each Gospel narrative and even more profound... we don't know who these writers actually were that authored the sourced documents to construct these final bible gospels. We speculate... but we don't know. But we do know it could not have been Mathew, Mark, Luke or John. I know! I was equally shocked when I discovered this knowledge as well.
If you are unaware of this fact please check with the Scholars at any Christian University (Duke is a good source).
So I am not sure I would be ascribing anything to God that came from these sources. Please don't attack me or call me names here. I'm not anti-Christian. Far from it. I am only telling you the truth and in my prior comment... I was only asking you obvious questions from your post.
I appreciate the mutual respect and healthy dialogue.
While it is true that the authorship of the Gospels has been a subject of scholarly discussion, it is important to approach this topic with a balanced perspective. The traditional attributions of the Gospels to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have been widely accepted within the Christian tradition for centuries.
Even though the Gospels were written anonymously and the names associated with them were assigned later, this does not undermine their reliability or the message they convey. The early Christian community, guided by the Holy Spirit, recognized the significance of these texts and attributed them to individuals who played crucial roles in the life of Jesus and the development of the early Church.
Additionally, there is internal and external evidence supporting the connection between the Gospels and the traditional authors. The writing styles, themes, and content of each Gospel align with the personalities and perspectives of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as known from other biblical texts and historical accounts.
It is essential to remember that the primary focus of the Gospels is not the personal identity of the authors, but rather the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospels provide a comprehensive and harmonious account of Jesus' ministry, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and offering a foundation for Christian faith.
Ultimately, Christians believe that the Gospels are inspired by God and carry spiritual authority, regardless of the specific identities of the human authors. The transformative power and historical reliability of the Gospel message remain compelling, leading countless individuals to encounter the person of Jesus Christ and find salvation in Him."
Man gave his obedience to Satan in the Garden.
Here are six verses from the Bible that refer to Satan as the ruler of the world or nations:
John 12:31: "Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world [Satan] be cast out."
2 Corinthians 4:4: "In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
Ephesians 2:2: "in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air [Satan], the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience."
1 John 5:19: "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one [Satan]."
Revelation 12:9: "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him."
Luke 4:5-6: "And the devil took him [Jesus] up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, 'To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.'"
These verses emphasize the biblical belief that Satan has a temporary dominion over the world or certain nations, but it is ultimately subject to God's sovereignty and will be overcome through His power at a predetermined time in the (very) near future..
Thanks for taking the time for a most thorough response, however... one unarguable fact that you must acknowledge here. Mathew, Mark, Luke and John were NOT written by Mathew, Mark, Luke or John. Each of these were constructed from many different authors to create each Gospel narrative and even more profound... we don't know who these writers actually were that authored the sourced documents to construct these final bible gospels. We speculate... but we don't know. But we do know it could not have been Mathew, Mark, Luke or John. I know! I was equally shocked when I discovered this knowledge as well.
If you are unaware of this fact please check with the Scholars at any Christian University (Duke is a good source).
So I am not sure I would be ascribing anything to God that came from these sources. Please don't attack me or call me names here. I'm not anti-Christian. Far from it. I am only telling you the truth and in my prior comment... I was only asking you obvious questions from your post.
Peace is the endgame. Question everything.
I appreciate the mutual respect and healthy dialogue.
While it is true that the authorship of the Gospels has been a subject of scholarly discussion, it is important to approach this topic with a balanced perspective. The traditional attributions of the Gospels to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have been widely accepted within the Christian tradition for centuries.
Even though the Gospels were written anonymously and the names associated with them were assigned later, this does not undermine their reliability or the message they convey. The early Christian community, guided by the Holy Spirit, recognized the significance of these texts and attributed them to individuals who played crucial roles in the life of Jesus and the development of the early Church.
Additionally, there is internal and external evidence supporting the connection between the Gospels and the traditional authors. The writing styles, themes, and content of each Gospel align with the personalities and perspectives of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as known from other biblical texts and historical accounts.
It is essential to remember that the primary focus of the Gospels is not the personal identity of the authors, but rather the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospels provide a comprehensive and harmonious account of Jesus' ministry, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and offering a foundation for Christian faith.
Ultimately, Christians believe that the Gospels are inspired by God and carry spiritual authority, regardless of the specific identities of the human authors. The transformative power and historical reliability of the Gospel message remain compelling, leading countless individuals to encounter the person of Jesus Christ and find salvation in Him."