The Lord’s instrument for complete victory over the world is a company of people who have come under Christ’s rule and who possess His life and authority. They—the body of Jesus Christ—are the tool that God uses to crush Satan’s head practically and visibly.
The ekklesia fills the gap between the ascension and the second coming.
Where is Jesus now? He’s reigning at the right hand of God the Father until the day He returns to planet earth in glory. Christ is “at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him” (1 Pet. 3:22).
For this reason, Scripture calls Him the ruler of the kings of the earth (Rev. 1:5).
But as the body of Christ wages warfare against God’s Enemy, exercising the reality of D-Day, Jesus will finally return, and His kingdom of God will fill the whole earth “as the waters cover the sea.” V-Day will be here.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Hab. 2:14)
Then comes the end, when He [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. (1 Cor. 15:24–26)
Even though he is a defeated foe, Satan repudiates the right of God to take his throne. And he is still seeking to take over all things.
But Jesus has already destroyed his power. God’s Enemy, then, is now an illegal alien roaming the earth.
One of Satan’s royal tactics is to convince humans that he doesn’t exist and to keep them ignorant of their true condition. Satan’s basic nature is selfishness. He is a liar, a thief, a killer, and a devourer. And his main tool is deception (John 8:44; 10:10–11; 1 Pet. 5:8).
By contrast, God is looking for His people to come into His kingdom and stand on this earth for His rights, making Him absolute Lord and doing warfare with His Enemy.
Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15)
The central question of the universe must be answered by us all, and it is this: Who will have your worship? Who will have your life? Who will have your allegiance?
Instead of Christians waiting for the Lord to return, God is waiting for the church to step into its role of taking the authority of Jesus and doing damage to Satan’s kingdom. Not by political or human energy and power. But by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Frank Viola Author 