We began to study the kingdom of
God. We studied some basic facts about
the kingdom of God.Today we will study the Kingdom of God in the angelic
realm. From the beginning, the place
where God ruled was in heaven. The
subjects (పాలితులు)of His rule were the
angels. Those who dwelt in God’s kingdom
were called to praise the Lord. Psalm
103:20-22.
I. First, we will study the
administration of angels in the Kingdom of God.
Angels were created to be subjects of God’s king.dom and administrators
in God’s kingdom. They are characterized
by wisdom, strength and beauty. It is
clear from the Bible that the angelic realm was divided into different ranks of
angels. Each angel had an individual
position and function. Ephesians 3:10
mentions the “the principalities and powers in heavenly places.”
A. Angels were created to
minister. In Psalm 104:4 they are called
God’s ministers. In Hebrews 1:14 says
that they are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall
be heirs of salvation.” “వీరందరు రక్షణయను స్వాస్థ్యము పొందబోవువారికి
పరి చారము చేయుటకై పంపబడిన సేవకులైన ఆత్మల”. As ministers they are administrators of God’s
kingdom. They accomplish God’s will
according to His sovereign authority.
B. Angel were also created to
worship. Isaiah 6:1-3. The word seraphim means “burning ones.” That might be referring to the reflected
glory of God seen in them. The seraphim
surround and overshadow the throne of God.
They are crying out, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts”. Ezekiel tells about the 4 living creatures,
which are later identified as cherubim.
These same creatures appear in revelation before the throne of God. Revelation 4:8 says that, “they rest not day
and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and
is to come.”“అవిభూతవర్తమాన భవిష్యత్కాలములలో ఉండు
సర్వాధికారియు దేవుడునగు ప్రభువు పరిశుద్ధుడు, పరిశుద్ధుడు, పరిశుద్ధుడు, అని మానక రాత్రింబగళ్లు
చెప్పుచుండును”. The
cherubim and the seraphim are different, but they both are worshippers before
the throne of God. In Ezekiel the
cherubim are seen as protectors and stewards of the glory of God.
C. So, we see that in the
development of His kingdom, God established a kingdom in the realm of heaven. This kingdom was made up of angels divided
into different ranks with different privileges and responsibilities. All angels were created to serve and worship
God. All of them were submitted to the sovereign
authority of the one who ruled as king.
Because of that, there was perfect harmony within the kingdom.
II. Second we will study the
angelic opposition to the kingdom. The
first opposition and rebellion against the sovereign authority of God is
recorded in 2 passages in the Bible.
Ezekiel 28:1-19 and Isaiah 14:12-15.
These 2 passages must be studied in order to understand the developing
program of the Kingdom of God.
A. In Ezekiel 28:1-10, the prophet Ezekiel
addressed a message to an earthly king who was ruling the city of Tyre. This ruler claimed for himself a right that
belongs only to God. He claimed the
right to rule over Israel. He was the
enemy of God’s covenant people. Because
of his pride and conceit, the king of Tyre thought he could bring Israel under
his power. He tried to take to himself
responsibilities that belong only to God so Ezekiel announced God’s judgement
on him.
1. But in Ezekiel 28:12 the prophet looked
beyond the limits of earthly authority.
He wrote a message to someone who was using this earthly king to
accomplish his purpose. The message of
verses 12-19 were addressed to Satan who was working his purposes through the
earthly king of Tyre. Ezekiel
28:12-19. We see from verse 14 that the
one called the king of Tyre in verse 12 was an angel. He was one of the cherubim. Verses 13 and 15 say that he was a created
being who had been appointed to minister in “Eden the garden of God.” His position is made even more clear in verse
14. “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so:
thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the
midst of the stones of fire.” We see
that this angel ministered in the presence of God’s throne. He personally witnessed the glory that
belonged to God as sovereign.
2. He was also one of the wisest of God’s
created angelic beings. He was
characterized with exceptional beauty.
It was not even necessary for him to take up a musical instrument to
bring glory to God. His beauty itself
accomplished that. He was perfect in all
his ways. V.15 “Thou wast perfect
in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in
thee.” He was created perfect, without
sin, but he did not remain that way.
Because of his beauty, his wisdom and his glorified position before God’s
throne, he became filled with pride.
Although he was responsible for none of these traits he acted like he
was the creator of them all. His pride
led to his rebellion against God. God
immediately exercised his sovereignty over the rebel by announcing judgment upon
him.
3. In Ezekiel we see that Satan was the wisest
and most beautiful of God’s created angelic beings. He was appointed to the privilege of ministry
in the presence of God’s throne and glory.
But, because of his pride Satan rebelled against God who had created
him. As a result of that God judged him.
B. Isaiah 14:12-14. Ezekiel 28 describes the fall of Satan. In the same way Isaiah describes the actual
sin that led to that fall. The same
person who was addressed as the king of Tyre, in Isaiah is addressed as
Lucifer, “son of the morning”. That name
tells of the glory and beauty associated with this angelic being. In his message Isaiah tells the 5 times that
the will of Lucifer was set against the will of God. The 5 “I wills” show Lucifer’s
rebellion.
1. First he said “I will ascend into
heaven.” Lucifer already had the
privilege of ministering in heaven. Here
heaven refers to the dwelling place of the sovereign God. Lucifer wanted to take over that dwelling
place that belonged to God and make it his own.
He wanted to occupy heaven not as a servant, but as sovereign.
2. Second he said, “I will exalt my throne above
the stars of God.” Here the stars of God
refer to the host of heavenly angels. God
was the creator of all the angels. Only
He had the right to rule over a kingdom in which the angels were his subjects.However,
Lucifer decided to take over the authority that belonged only to God. He wanted to be the ruler of all of God’s
kingdom.
3. Third he said. “I will sit also upon the
mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.” The assembly refers again to the created
angelic realm, where Lucifer planned to take authority. The sacred mountain in the Bible is often
associated with the seat of God’s authority.
So, Lucifer was showing his desire to take over the authority of God.
4. Fourth, he said, “I
will ascend above the heights of the clouds.”
Often in the Bible the clouds refer to the dwelling place of God. Lucifer wanted to exalt himself above God and
all created angelic beings. That means,
he wanted to bring God under subjection to himself.
5. Fifth, he said, “I will be like the most
High.” God is sovereign and God is
responsible to no one outside of Himself.
Lucifer was expressing his desire to be independent of any authority
outside of himself. Only God is
sovereign and possesses eternal, uncreated life. Therefore, Lucifer could not hope to obtain
the sovereignty or the life that belongs only to God. The creature has the responsibility to be in
subjection to the creator. In the same
way it is the responsibility of those who are in the kingdom of God to
acknowledge His authority to rule. But
Lucifer rejected God and rebelled against His sovereign authority. He rejected his responsibility remain in
subjection to the king. Instead he
offered himself as a king who had a superior right to rule.
III. Now there are 2
kingdoms. Satan’s rebellion created a
challenge to God’s sovereignty. And it
continues today in active rebellion against the kingdom of God. Satan once had the glorious name Lucifer, son
of the morning. But because of his
rebellion now he is known as, “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan”
A. When Satan rebelled, he established his own imitation
of God’s kingdom. It is a program that
is completely opposed to God’s authority and right to rule. To do this Satan enticed the angels of God to
follow him in his rebellion. The result
was that an innumerable multitude of angels followed him in rebellion. Revelation 12:4 seems to indicate that a
third of the created angelic host followed him in rebellion.
B. In the false kingdom that Satan created by
his rebellion he is “the god of this world”.
He has taken to himself sovereign authority. Ephesians 2:2 says that he is the “the prince
of the power of the air”. Satan is the
authority behind the kingdom program that he established against God.
C. Satan’s kingdom was established by
lawlessness and rebellion. Therefore,
its main characteristics are lawless and rebellion. All who are in Satan’s kingdom oppose
God. They lift up themselves above Him
who alone has the right to be worshiped.
Satan’s kingdom is characterized by darkness rather than light. Since Satan is a liar and the father of lies,
his kingdom is characterized by deceit.
Satan’s kingdom is also characterized by ungodliness, disobedience and
death.
D. The Bible makes it clear that
the realm of Satan is in heaven. For
that reason, Satan’s kingdom operates in the same realm that God’s kingdom
operates. All the angels that followed
Satan in his rebellion are the subjects of this kingdom. When he organized his kingdom, he patterned
it after God’s form of administration.
Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” “ఏలయనగా
మనము పోరాడునది శరీరులతో కాదు, గాని
ప్రధానులతోను, అధికారులతోను, ప్రస్తుత అంధకారసంబంధులగు లోక
నాథులతోను, ఆకాశమండలమందున్న
దురాత్మల సమూహ ములతోను పోరాడుచున్నాము.”Paul mentionsfour different ranks of
demons that are under the authority of Satan.
Those fourranks that Satan instituted are very similar to the ranks that
God had instituted. Those are mentioned
in Col. 1:16. Satan is not omnipresent
so he can’t be in more than one place at a time. He must do accomplish the work of his kingdom
through demons who are the subjects of that kingdom.
Conc. The Bible teaches that
there are two kingdoms in heaven. The
first is the kingdom of the God of heaven with the angels as its subjects. The second is the kingdom of Satan with
demons as its subjects. God’s kingdom is
eternal, but Satan’s kingdom began with his rebellion. God has judged Satan and his kingdom. One day Satan will surely be brought under God
power. Since that has not yet happened
there are two kingdoms in the heaven.
The kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.
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