DOMINION

Why did the Son of God come to die?

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation taking the form of a servant and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11 NKJ).

WAR IN HEAVEN

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:7-9 NKJ).

Lucifer was one of the very highest angels in heaven. He was the covering cherub. He rebelled against God the Father, taking one third of the angels of heaven with him (Revelation 12:4). For an understanding of Michael see the study The Mediator at this web site. I believe that Michael was the preincarnate, literal, Son of God. Lucifer on the other hand was/is a created being.

You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you (Ezekiel 28:14-15 NKJ).

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:12-14 NKJ).

DOMINION OF EARTH - GIVEN TO MAN

Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth (Genesis 1:26-28 NKJ).

dominion - meaning sovereignty or lordship

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit (care for) him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, and sheep and oxen the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas (Psalm 8:3-8 NKJ).

STOLEN DOMINION

Satan had lost the war in heaven, but he did not give up. He looked for a place to set up a rival kingdom.

When Satan came to earth he assumed a disguise. He appeared in the form of a tree snake, speaking subtle accusations against the Creator and His law. Eve listened to the snake, then Adam listened to Eve. They entered into open rebellion against God. And the rest is history. Satan now claimed dominion of the earth, and of the human race.

Satan is called "the prince of this world (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11), "The ruler of the darkness of this world (Eph 6:12), "the god of this world (2 Co. 4:4), and the price and power of the air (Eph. 2:2).

SATANS POWER LIMITED

Satan had stolen the dominion by deception, and because of this mankind was to be given a way out. If they would turn to God for help, Satans power over them would be limited. I can hear Satan ranting, Unfair interference! Manipulation! Earth belongs to me!!! Mankind is in rebellion! You cannot bless men and punish me!! When they sin, they belong to me!!!

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, 'The lord rebuke you! (Jude 1:9 NKJ).

Michael (the Son of God) wanted to resurrect Moses and take him to heaven. Satan claimed Moses as his prize, contending that Moses should remain dead, because he had sinned.

In the next passage, Zechariah the prophet is shown how Satan lays claim to the remnant of Israel, and just as surely to each one of us, because of our sins. He claims the right to destroy us.

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, 'The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments (a symbol of unrighteousness) and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, 'Take away the filthy garments from him. And to him He said, 'See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes (Zechariah 3:1-4).

In ancient Israel, the accuser stood at the right hand of the accused. Satan is called the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). Fallen man is Satans legal captive, until set free by Christ.

THE PERFECT MAN

Adam and Eve were given dominion of the earth.

Satan stole the dominion by deception.

God allowed Satan a limited dominion because some men cried out to him for help, asking for forgiveness.

Because all men are born with a carnal (selfish) nature, they are hopelessly lost in sin.

How was God to wrest the control of earth from Satan?

If God could find even one perfect human being, one who committed no sin whatsoever, one who never entered into rebellion, He could take the dominion from Satan and give it to that man. But all have sinned. There was no perfect human being ------ until Christ.

The Son of God became a man - and lived a life of perfect loyalty to God His father. He did not sin. There was no sin in Christ, which Satan could point to as a reason why God should not give to Him the dominion.

SATANS DOMINION CHALLENGED

We see the confrontation over and over. Satan insinuated his dominion - Christ challenged that dominion. Satan caused a storm (Mark 4, Luke 8). Christ said peace be still Satan caused disease. Christ said come out of Him (Mark 1, Mark 9, Luke 4) - you are made whole(John 5:14) - take up your bed (Matt. 9, Mark 2, John 5). Satan said this is my kingdom. Christ said, all authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18).

DOMINION GIVEN TO THE SON OF MAN

I was watching I the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him hear before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7: 13-14).

But the court shall be seated and they shall take away his (Satans) dominion to consume and destroy it forever. Then the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions (kingdoms within a kingdom) shall serve and obey Him (Daniel 7:26-27).

The dominion is given to Christ, who then shares that dominion with mankind, just as it was in the beginning. Some believe this heavenly scene took place shortly after the ascension of Christ, but I do not agree. In the vision given to Daniel, the little horn (anti-Christ is at the height of his power, speaking pompous words. The saints of the Most high are persecuted by this evil power for three and a half years just before the court sits in heaven (Daniel 7:21-22). These things have not yet taken place.

For in that He (God) put all in subjection under Him (Christ), He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him (Hebrews 2:8).

God speaks of what will be, as if it already is.

The betrothal is legally binding even though the marriage has not yet taken place.

WHY THEN DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE????

The story of Job holds the key:

God held a council meeting and Satan came to that meeting as the self proclaimed ruler of earth. God pointed out that He still had a few loyal humans living on earth. Have you considered My servant Job, He said, a blameless and upright men, one who fears God and shuns evil (Job 1:6-8).

So Satan answered the Lord and said, 'Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has and he will surely curse You to Your face! (Job 1:9-11).

We know the story. His children, his flock, his herds everything of value, everything Job held dear everything was taken within a day. If Jobs wife had been anything but discouraging, the Devil would have slain her too.

But you have not let me touch his flesh.

Once again the council met. And the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.

So Satan answered the Lord and said, 'Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face! (Job 2:3-5).

Can you see the scene in Gethsemane??

'Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life, God said to Satan regarding Job.

This time God said, He is in your hand - period. No limit to the torment. Do your worst - physically, and mentally. My Son will remain loyal to me.

In Gethsemane, on that cross - Christ was given into the hand of Satan. Every angel of Hell was there to torment Him. He had no protection. He was completely alone. For you, and for me.

IF THE FATHER HAD SPARED HIS SON IN ANY WAY

- IT WOULD HAVE LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY OF DOUBT.

I can just hear Satan. Well, how do we really know? How can we know that in the final darkness, eternal death coming upon his soul how can we know that in that last moment, He would not have rejected this death, opted out, rebelled against the expressed will of God His Father? How can we know???

THANK GOD WE KNOW. HE WAS OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH.

There was not one tiny particle of rebellion in the Son of God. Satan had no claim upon his soul. The Father can now legally give to His Son the dominion of earth.

As the ruler of those who love His Father, Christ can now stand at the throne of God as our advocate. He can offer our prayers to His Father as if they were His own. Satan cannot point to any sin in Christ as a reason why the Father should not immediately grant every petition.

When Christ says, I want Rachel Cory for My kingdom, the Father says, Granted.

All authority has been given to Me, in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).

All judgment is committed to the Son (John 5:22).

Why? Because the dominion of earth, and every human being on it has been committed to the Son.

The Father loves us. He wanted to restore this earth to men, but He could not do so without leaving doubts about His justice which would tear apart His kingdom in heaven. So His Son became a man, and lived a life of absolute loyalty. The Father could then give the earth into the hand of His Son - who became a man - a human being. As our human brother Christ won the right to give us power against our enemy. And in the process Satan revealed himself as a murderer, liar, and thief.

Christ has dominion - over you, and over me - if we want Him as our Lord. The Father has put all things under His feet (Psalm 8:6; I Corinthians 15:25,27).

Give the king thy judgments, O God,

and thy righteousness unto the kings son.

He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

He shall judge the poor of the people,

He shall save the children of the needy,

and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations,

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth.

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth" (Psalm 72:1-8 KJV).

He was obedient unto death - so that He could reclaim this earth and become our everlasting King. I want a part in that everlasting kingdom. Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 4:9