The Kingdom of Satan by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 28, 1911

The Kingdom of Satan

By H. A. St. John

I. First Phase of Satan's Kingdom

IN the Word of God, Satan's kingdom is presented to us, in three distinct phases. Under the third and last, it will come to an utter extinction and annihilation. Said the Lord Jesus, "And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?" Matt. 12: 26. Jesus recognized the fact of the existence of Satan's kingdom. This first phase of Satan's kingdom will cover a period of about six thousand years, beginning with the fall of man in Paradise, when Satan usurped the dominion given to Adam, introduced sin into the world, and brought death and the curse upon the heavens, earth, and sea, and all that in them is.

But this period of Satan's reign is not one of unmixed evil. At no time during this long period does Satan have his own way completely. The great majority of the human race, sad to say, are led captive by Satan at his will, and do his bidding, are the children of the wicked one, and subjects of his kingdom. But praise be to our God for His infinite love and mercy! He has provided a way, through Jesus, whereby any of the subjects of Satan, if they so choose, may renounce the service and kingdom of Satan, be delivered from their allegiance to the prince of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son. Col. 1: 13.

Even here, and now, we may transfer our citizenship to the kingdom of Christ, and have our names recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life. Satan is bitterly opposed to all loyalty to God, manifested in loving obedience to His holy law; but he is powerless to pluck such out of the loving Father's hands, yet their presence here in his kingdom is a cause of constant irritation, friction, and war.

If Satan could have his way, for which he so desperately struggles, harder and harder, unmixed evil would bear uninterrupted sway everywhere, and all the time.

But this warfare between light and darkness, truth and error, sin and holiness, will continue through the entire period of the first phase of Satan's kingdom. At the end thereof, Jesus will come in power and great glory, and gather out of Satan's kingdom all the good who are so offensive to him, and leave all the evil behind with Satan. All the good are forever delivered from Satan's kingdom and power. And thus will terminate the first phase of Satan's kingdom.

H. A. ST. JOHN.