a series of blog posts<\/a>, we\u2019re looking at different key points in this presentation. Today: God’s kingdom of light has overcome the kingdom of darkness.<\/p>\nWhen we look around the world today, it seems as if the kingdom of darkness is thriving: The earthquake in Nepal kills thousands and leaves tens of thousands more homeless. Hunger, oppression, and disease are the order of the day in many countries. Billions remain in rebellion against God.<\/p>\n
Indeed, Jesus Himself assures us, \u201cIn this world you will have tribulation\u201d (John 16:33). Elsewhere He says that until He comes there will be wars, famines, earthquakes, persecutions, deceptions, and betrayals (Matthew 24:4-12).<\/p>\n
But Scripture is explicit: Not only will <\/i>Christ reign over His Kingdom forever and ever (Revelation 11:15); already <\/i>our Lord has overcome Satan\u2019s kingdom.<\/p>\n
Consider John 16:33. We quoted part of it above: Jesus promises us tribulation. But He goes on to say: \u201cBut take heart; I have overcome (or \u2018conquered\u2019) the world.\u201d He has <\/i>done it. The decisive battle is won. So Jesus, on the cross, can say, \u201cIt is finished,\u201d bow His head and give up His spirit (John 19:30). The work is done. Redemption is accomplished. Satan is defeated. So Paul writes that God has \u201cdisarmed the [spiritual] rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them\u201d (Colossians 2:15).<\/p>\n
So we live in a world in which evil and rebellion are abundant; yet Scripture tells us Satan is defeated. How do both of these statements hold?<\/p>\n
Biblical theologian George Eldon Ladd provides us with helpful language on this point: The Kingdom is already <\/i>here, but it has not yet <\/i>come in its fullness. The decisive battle is already <\/i>won, but final victory is not yet <\/i>completed. The Kingdom already <\/i>has invaded this \u201cpresent evil age\u201d (Galatians 1:4), but every knee has not yet<\/i> bowed to Lord Jesus (Philippians 2:10). Like yeast in bread dough, the Kingdom today may seem insignificant; indeed it may seem invisible. But it will multiply and spread until it permeates the entire batch (Matthew 13:33).<\/p>\n
Much of the book of Revelation reflects these already\/not yet truths. In the seven letters to the churches in chapters 2 and 3, the Lord Jesus finds serious error in five of them, and the others are suffering persecution. But in chapters 4 and 5, God reigns in His throne room, and \u201cevery creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them\u201d worship the One Who sits on the throne and the Lamb (Revelation 5:13). Then in chapter six, those who have been killed because of their proclamation of God\u2019s Word ask when God will execute justice and avenge their blood \u2013 that judgment is not yet. <\/i>They are told that the judgment is indeed coming \u2013 it is certain, it is already <\/i>confirmed \u2013 but they are to wait a little while.<\/p>\n
So today we live in this in between time. Jesus has won the victory; He is King of the Kingdom of Light; He deserves all honor and praise; He has all authority. He has already <\/i>accomplished all of that. But rebellion against Him continues. Death and destruction wreak their horrors. Pain and suffering are not yet <\/i>over.<\/p>\n
But the yeast spreads. This Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached as a testimony to all nations (Matthew 24:14). Then Jesus will return – and the \u201cnot yet\u201d will become the \u201calready:\u201d Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:11) . God\u2019s glory will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). God Himself will wipe every tear from the eyes of His children. There will be no more death, no more suffering, no more crying, no more pain, for the old order will have passed away (Revelation 21:4).<\/p>\n
God\u2019s kingdom of light has overcome the kingdom of darkness. Already. And soon, the Kingdom will come in all its fullness. Amen. Your Kingdom come, O Lord.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Consider the Gospel presentation, \u201cTwo Kingdoms:\u201d Here is a truth I have come to know.\u00a0 God created the world as His Kingdom, and all was very good. But Satan rebelled,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,15,16],"tags":[130,482,596,660,882,886,887,1082,1290,1343,1344,1409,1632],"class_list":["post-1330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-devotions","category-evangelism-blog","tag-already","tag-evangelism","tag-george-eldon-ladd","tag-gospel-presentation","tag-kingdom-of-darkness","tag-kingdom-of-light","tag-kingdom-of-this-world","tag-not-yet","tag-rebellion","tag-revelation-1115","tag-revelation-21","tag-second-coming","tag-two-kingdoms"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1330"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1330\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}