Dominion

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1 John 4:17 (KJV)

In the above scripture we are told that as Christ is in heaven, so are we in this world. The word 'world' used here speaks of God’s orderly arrangement of the earth and it’s inhabitants. But it comes from a root word that refers to something being tended to or being taken care of.
In the New Testament the word world has three different definitions.

They are:
1) Kosmos; 2889: [from G2865]; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by impl. the world ( includ. its inhab.): adorning, world. 2865. komizo; a prim.: to tend, take care of; to provide for, i.e. to carry off as if from harm; bring, receive.
2) Oikoumene; 3625: land, i.e. the globe; spec. the Roman empire:--earth, world. 3611. oikeo; [from G3624]; to occupy a house, i.e. reside, inhabit, remain, inhere; to cohabit: dwell. 3624. oikos; a dwelling ; a family, home, house (-hold), temple.
3) Aion; 165: an age; by extens. perpetuity; the world; spec. (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future): age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-]ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end).

In order to understand our position as related in 1 John 4:17 , we must have an understanding of who we truly are in this world, as compared to the others that are around about us, both seen and unseen.

'Kosmos' can be defined as the primary order, arrangement, adornment that is observable in the physical realm. The observable order of things. The universe. It can also describe the condition of human affairs in alienation and in opposition to God. We can see the stars in the sky and we can see the condition of those around about us. Whereas, 'Oikoumene' is the actual inhabited earth. All of the inhabitants of this planet.
'Aion' differs from both of these words greatly. It is in this word that we can begin to realize who we are and what we have as the chosen “sons of God”. The word 'aion' can most easily be described as a season. It has no real tangible value. Nothing that can be measured in the physical realm. But in the definition we can see that it is an “age”. As in saying “the age we live in”. The times or seasons of our existence. The word also means perpetuity.

A 'perpetuity' is the condition of an estate that is limited so as to be inalienable either perpetually or longer than the period determined by law. Perpetuity speaks of a season that has within it, a set period of functional use that is determined by law and it cannot be transferred to others unless the law itself is changed.

How does this effect us?

We have been misguided by well meaning scholars who have told us that Satan has certain powers to use against the Church because he is the god of this world. Though it is true that scripture does refer to him as the god of this world, it also tells us his realm of influence is “those that believe not”. His power outside of that sphere of influence may be questionable.

But, if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (KJV)

The reference 'god of this world' is used to define a spiritual being with some type of authority. Not as one having all authority. The word used for 'world' in this scripture is 'aion'. It is telling us that the authority of this figure has a limited use and time. Also, he is god of this age, not of the earth. In fact, to take it a step further, the authority that this figure does have, has no physical realm to it.

By the Church believing and advancing a doctrine that teaches that the Devil is the “god” of the world (as in the earth), we deny the Supreme Deity of God.

The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
Psalms 89:11 (KJV)

Another scripture that is used to describe the Devils kingdom, (if in fact he actually has one) refers to him as the prince of the power of the air.

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Ephesians 2:2 (KJV)

If the Devil has a kingdom, it has no physical manifestation. It is air!

An interesting note about this particular scripture is the phrase “course of this world”. That phrase is literally translated as the aion of this kosmos. It can also be stated as the seasons that are orderly arranged. It goes on further to say that we once walked “according to prince of the power of the air”. The word 'according' has numerous definitions that can be interchanged with 'to' to describe its particular usage. A particular one is: “even or like as concerning, pertaining to, or touching” . If we use this definition in place of the word 'according', the verse then takes on a slightly different tone. It is telling us that we were walking “like” the prince of the power of the air, in disobedience to God. Not necessarily under his direct control, but looking like him in that we were disobedient and separated from God. For it was in disobedience to God that Lucifer got into his mess in the first place.

Lets look at some interesting facts about Lucifer. He is a created being.

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire,

the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship

of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee

in the day that thou wast created.
Ezekiel 28:13 (KJV)

Just in the fact that he was created puts him in an inferior place below God. There is not a created or made being that God did not create Himself. All that was made was made by Him. The creation can never be greater than the creator. Notice also that he was covered with ten different types of stone. The number ten refers to the divine order of things, nothing lacking. This is mentioned in the previous verse where it is stated, “Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty”. Lucifer was in the favor of God, he was as perfect as God had created him to be.

He has already fallen from any position of authority that he may have held.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isaiah 14:12 (KJV)

Jesus said:
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luke 10:18 (KJV)

He no longer has free access to the Father. So where is he?

Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Ezekiel 28:17 (KJV)

Ground: 776. 'erets, to be firm; the earth!
As we all are aware of, Lucifer was an angel that fell from grace with God because of rebellion. The key point to remember is that angels are created beings. They have no power unto them selves. Anything they do have, they have from God.

Notice what the Bible say’s about angels and the earth, and don’t forget that Lucifer, the Devil, is nothing more than a fallen angel.

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Hebrews 2:5 (KJV)

A more accurate rendering of that scripture is: It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.
Hebrews 2:5 (NIV)

The word world used here is oikoumene. God has not given the angels the right to place this earth in subjection, but he did give it to man! Now to say that the Devil doesn’t have influence over the Church would be a misleading statement at it’s very least. But the influence he does have, we yield to him. And usually through error or by not understanding our authority.

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Colossians 1:13 (KJV)

The first thing to be understood by this particular verse is that we were translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of His Son. We were not translated from the kingdom of darkness. So if it was not a kingdom that controlled us, what was it?

The power of darkness! What is the power of darkness?

Power: 1849. exousia; from G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subj.) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (obj.) mastery (concr. magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:--authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.
The word “exousia’ speaks of a delegated influence that is tied directly to the legal environment. Much like a police officer has the right to arrest a lawbreaker. But in this realm of existence it speaks of those who are in darkness. What is the darkness?

Darkness: 4655. skotos; from G4639; shadiness, i.e. obscurity (lit. or fig.):--darkness. 4639. skia, a prim. word; "shade" or a shadow (lit. or fig. [darkness of error or an adumbration]):--shadow.

Darkness refers back to the “darkness of error”. It is revealing to us that being in error about the things of God, opens a door for a delegated influence to effect our daily lives. This is what happened to Eve in the garden. Lucifer (the Devil) knows the truth of Gods word much more in detail than we do. And it is in the twisting of the word that he entraps many believers. Notice what happened to Eve.

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Genesis 3:2-3 (KJV)

Because of Eve's response to the Serpent, He knew that she misunderstood what the Father had said. He told them not to eat it, but she told him they weren’t allowed to even touch it! That was not true. In fact they were commanded by God to dress the trees of the garden. You cannot dress a tree without touching it! But when the Serpent realized that she did not understand the truth, he was then able to beguile her.

The power of darkness can also be seen in the life of Job. Yes he was an upright man, but he didn’t correct his children for their misdeeds, also he feared. We are told to be anxious for nothing (Phil 4:6). But in chapter three Job reveals what occurred. (vs 25)

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me,
and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
Job 3:25 (KJV)

Fear is probably one of the Devils greatest inroads to believers lives. Christ died to deliver us from fear.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Hebrews 2:14-15 (KJV)

The fear of death is at the root of all bondage’s. That is why the saints can overcome the evil one.

By the Blood of the Lamb, The word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. (Rev 12:11)

But they have to believe it and display it in their lives!
Back to the garden!
In the beginning…….

Genesis 1:27-28 (KJV) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

God, in the 1st chapter of Genesis, gave dominion to man. He told Adam to subdue the earth, have dominion.
Subdue/ Dominion: 3533. kabash; a prim. root; to tread down; hence neg. to disregard; pos. to conquer, subjugate, violate:--bring into bondage, force, keep under, subdue, bring into subjection.
But as we all know, Eve was deceived and Adam was disobedient. And because of their actions, they were forced out of the garden where they had been in the constant favor of God.
But lets look even closer at what God did…..In the beginning!

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them.
Genesis 1:26-27 (KJV)

Image: 6754. tselem; to shade; a phantom, i.e. (fig.) illusion, resemblance; hence a representative figure, espec. an idol:--image, vain shew.
Likeness: 1823. demuwth; resemblance; concr. model, shape; adv. like:--fashion, like (-ness, as), manner, similitude.

Many theologians have used this scripture to describe man as a triune being. A spirit with a soul, within a body. While this may be true, could it also be saying that we were created to look just like God! That we were meant from the very beginning, to be His image in the earth! A man clothed in the glory of God! Could Adam have been a shadow of Christ Jesus. Could this explain why Adam and Eve were ashamed after their disobedience? Because they no longer looked as they were created to look?

It is also in this setting that we, as the “image” of God in the earth assumed our initial position as a “prophetic” people.

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Genesis 2:19 (KJV)

In God’s original plan He gave man the exclusive right to call things as he saw them. That was the foundation for mans prophetic purpose. While in favor with God, Adam’s desires were the same as God’s. So whatever Adam called it to be, that is what is was.

But after the fall, man had no real insight into the Fathers heart and began calling things incorrectly or corruptly. This was shown in the building of the Tower of Babel. This also shows the Devils influence upon “fallen” man.

And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Genesis 11:6 (KJV)

As they called it, it would have been possible for them. They were following in the Devils footsteps and didn’t even know it. “Let us = I will”.
But what did transpire in the garden?
Lets start with Eve:

Genesis 3:13 (KJV) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Genesis 3:16 (KJV) Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Eve’s punishment for her giving in to the seduction of the Serpent was :
Multiplied Sorrow: 6093.; from H6087; worrisomeness, i.e. labor or pain:--sorrow, toil. 6087; prop. to carve, i.e. fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger:--displease, grieve, hurt, make, be sorry, vex, worship, wrest.

This seems to answer the question of women being more emotionally oriented than men.

Conception: 2032; from H2029; pregnancy:--conception. 2029. harah, haw-raw'; a prim. root; to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (lit. or fig.):--been, be with child, conceive, progenitor.

She became subject to her husband! Notice in the creation that there was equality until after the fall!

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:28 (KJV)

God’s original plan was for them to be co-laborers in the garden just as we are now co-laborers in Christ! He blessed them and told them to replenish and subdue. There is no indication prior to the fall of a male superiority.

For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
1 Timothy 2:13-15 (KJV)

Adams punishment...

Genesis 3:17-19 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Adam had to till the soil in order to survive. While in the garden he had to maintain that which God had already provided. But now he had to earn his own keep by the sweat of his brow (VS19) No more “free rides”!
But what about the Serpent?
Notice that as the punishment was being meted out only two things were cursed; the earth and the Serpent. God did not curse Adam and Eve!
The Serpents curse;

Genesis 3:14, 15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Notice the curse leveled against the Serpent “thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field”.
This is key to understanding the truth of the incident. God has now placed the Serpent in a position lower than the beasts of the field, to which He gave man dominion over in Genesis 1:28 , but when the punishment was given to Adam, God did not remove that dominion status from him. Also note that the Serpent went from an upright position of authority to the base position of “upon thy belly shalt thou go”.

Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Look again at the definition of subdue/dominion and how it speaks to the “treading down” of the things of the earth. The Serpent was put under mans foot at that moment in time. We do not have to wait for a future time for the enemy to be placed under our feet...He already is!

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Ephesians 3:9-11 (KJV)

Paul speaks of a mystery that has been hidden since the beginning of the world that God wants the Church to make known to “the principalities and powers in heavenly places” that they know.

The Devil has deceived man into thinking that he lost his dominion rights given in Genesis 1:28-30, when the fact is that the curse was against the Serpent, not against man!

Ephesians 1:18-23 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 2:1-7 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

1 A political or territorial unit ruled by a sovereign.