Colossians 1:13-14 tell us that there are two kingdoms. These are the only two kingdoms in the entire universe. Behind all the political structures, cultures, and countries in this world, there are only two kingdoms. There is the Domain of Darkness and the Kingdom of the Beloved Son. Everyone in all of history has belonged to one or the other of these kingdoms.
There are only two kingdoms. We belong to one or the other. We belong to Satan in the Domain of Darkness or to Jesus in His Kingdom. There is no middle ground. To which kingdom do you belong?
In a previous post we examined the domain of darkness (see here: https://bibleliving.blog/2019/07/04/only-two-kingdoms-pt-one-the-domain-of-darkness/). We discovered that the Bible teaches that the ruler of this kingdom is Satan. He is the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world, the spirit now working in the children of disobedience (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-3). He has blinded the eyes of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We also learned that all humanity is lost in this domain of darkness from conception. Every person, except Jesus Christ, has been conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5). Our lives begin in sin. We are born dead in trespasses and sins, separated from God, deserving His wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3).
This sober reality is true because mankind has rebelled against God. Our first ancestor, Adam, disobeyed God’s command and fell into sin and death (Genesis 3:1-8; Romans 5:12-14). In Adam we all die (1 Corinthians 15:22). We are all trapped in the domain of darkness, dead in our sins, and we are perfectly happy with it. We love sin and hate God by nature (Romans 1:18-32).
Colossians 1:13-14 describes another kingdom. This is the only other kingdom. It is the ultimate kingdom – the Kingdom of the Beloved Son.
Every kingdom has a ruler. The domain of darkness has Satan as its god and ruler. The Kingdom of the Beloved Son is ruled by Jesus Christ. He is the beloved Son of God who is perfectly pleasing to the Father in every way (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7). He is the One who eternally existed with God the Father and is also God (John 1:1-2). He is the One who created all things for Himself (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-20).
He is the One who was foreknown before the foundations of the world (1 Peter 1:20). Before mankind rebelled God had a plan to save His chosen ones from sin. This plan was founded in the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 1:3-14; Romans 8:28-30). He was predetermined to be offered up for the sins of His people (Luke 22:22; Acts 4:24-28). Before we were lost in the domain of darkness, before we even existed, God had a plan to rescue His chosen ones out of darkness.
When Adam rebelled God announced to the serpent that the Seed of a woman was going to come and crush his head (Genesis 3:15). There was one coming without a human father who was going to crush Satan’s skull. This Seed came through Abraham to bless the nations (Genesis 12:1-3).
God promised David that there would be One to rule on David’s throne forever (2 Samuel 7:13, 16). This Ruler is the Messiah, the Christ. He is God’s Anointed Ruler and Savior. His name is Jesus, which means “the Lord is Salvation” (Matthew 1:21). He has saved His people from their sins through His death on the cross in our place (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 1:7-8). In His death He has blessed the nations by redeeming a people for Himself from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 5:9). In His death He has crushed Satan’s head.
He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). He is the Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:5-6). He shall reign forever, and His kingdom will have no end (Daniel 7:14; Luke 1:32-33). This is an invisible kingdom, not of this world (John 18:36). One day Jesus will return and establish this kingdom visibly on the earth in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 19:11-20:6). His reign will continue through all of eternity (Revelation 21:1-22:5).
Jesus is the Beloved Son. He is the King. He is God the Son who became man without ceasing to be God. He came to save His people from their sins. He was crucified in our place for our sins, was buried, and came back to life again on the third day. He has all authority in heaven and on earth and is with His own to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20). He has been highly exalted and given the name that is above every name. Someday every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! He is coming soon (Revelation 22:20). His kingdom will have no end!
There are only two kingdoms. The domain of darkness and the Kingdom of the Beloved Son. There is no middle ground. To which kingdom do you belong?
In a future post we will see how God the Father rescues individuals from the domain of darkness and transfers them to the Kingdom of Jesus.
May grace and peace be multiplied to you,
Bill Whittington
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