The question I have put as the subject of this paper has been asked of me several times of late. Invariably I have answered, "No." I have been told, " It is being taught that the power to dispose of the kingdoms of the world is in the hands of Satan." To this I have replied, "He, no doubt, claims to have the power, but God never gave it to him." This has been answered by replying:"In Luke 4:5-8, Satan told our Lord that the power and glory of this world had been delivered to him, and that he had the power to dispose of it as he willed. And, further, the Lord did not deny it." But it will not do to argue that because the Lord did not deny what Satan said, therefore what he said is the truth. In vers. 9-12 we find Satan apparently quoting a scripture, but he really misquotes it; and yet the Lord does not tell him, "You have misquoted the scripture. " In misquoting, he perverted it; yet the Lord does not say, '' You are perverting the scripture." It surely will not do to argue from this that Satan was not misquoting or perverting the scripture. The answer to this has been, "Yes, but Satan can tell the truth when it suits him to do so; and when he tells the Lord that the power and glory of all the kingdoms of this world have been delivered to him, and that he gives it all to whomsoever he wills, he is not telling one of his lies."To this I answer:Is not this putting over-much confidence in Satan ? Is it ever safe to believe him? Can we trust him at any time ? Is it not our confidence he desires ? If we believe him at any time, or as to anything, have we not put ourselves in his power? Is it not better and wiser to trust implicitly what our Lord said about him? In John 8:44 He says, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:for he is a liar, and the father of it."There is then no truth in him- no truth at all. Surely then we may safely conclude he did not tell the truth when he claimed to have power to give to whomsoever he would all the power and glory of the kingdoms of this world.

But it is said, " Our Lord acknowledged him to be 'the prince of this world' (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11); and he is also said to be ' the god of this world' in 2 Cor. 4:4." True; but in what sense? Is it in the sense that this world has been, legally and authoritatively delivered to him ? Surely not. Is it in the sense that the kingdoms of this world have been legally and authoritatively put into his hands? No. In what sense then? Let Scripture tell us.

In Gen. i:28 we are told that God put this world -the air, the sea and the land, and all things in them-into the hand of man. In chap. 3 we find man selling out to Satan; but was God a party to the transaction ? In no wise. The delivering of the world into man's hands in chap, i was simply giving it to him as a trust. When man sold himself to Satan, could he sell God's rights? Surely not. What is it then that actually took place when man surrendered to Satan ? This :A moral state, or sphere, was introduced into this world to which Satan gave character, and of which he then became prince and god. Of this moral age which then began, Satan has continued to be prince and god. He is still its prince and god. But as regards the things which God gave to Adam as a trust, however much Satan is able to usurp them through having got man into his power, they are God's things. They belong absolutely to God, and He has absolute control. Satan's usurpation of them is only as far as God permits it.

But further :The kingdoms of this world were not formed when Adam surrendered to Satan. They were not formed until after the flood. Now in considering this matter, we must remember that government is a divine institution. God has authorized it. The kingdoms of this world exist as having, not the authority of Satan, but of God, for their existence. Rulers are, in character and principle, ministers of God. Faithful or unfaithful, they are directly accountable to Him. See Rom. 13:1-4.

It is true that Satan has to a great extent usurped these kingdoms, but only as far as God has permitted it. God is still at the helm, and it is He who is in fact overruling. He says, in Ezek. 21:27, "I" will overturn, overturn, overturn it:and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it to Him." So it is God, not Satan, who puts down one kingdom and raises up another. Satan, then, can give the power and glory of the kingdoms of this world to none unless God permit. They are not in his hands at all, save to the extent he is permitted to usurp them. Whatever designs he may have, he is limited as to the extent to which he can carry them out. He is under restraint. There is what withholds (2 Thess. 2:6).The development of evil is limited. It will develop only so far as God suffers it. Satan will never succeed in promoting the wrath of man beyond the limit of what God can turn to His own glory. The rest, whatever may be purposed by Satan, will be restrained (Ps. 76:10).

Before closing, I wish to touch on another point. It has been represented that Satan is disappointed at his inability to control man and keep him from the depths of degradation to which in many cases he has fallen; that his effort has been, and is, "not to drag men down, but to lift them up." What confidence in Satan's good motives! The simple truth is, Satan is Christ's arch enemy; and such is his antagonism to Christ, that he will go to any lengths in opposing Him, regardless of how men may be affected. In Eph. 2:a we learn that in past times, as well as now, men walked according to the course, or age, of this world. It was then the prince of the power of the air that led men. It is the same spirit that is working now in the children of disobedience. Now verse 3 shows that whether then or now, Satan's. control over men is through pride and the lusts of the flesh. These have a twofold character-"the desires of the flesh, and of the mind."Satan will satiate men in gratifying either, to lure them on in antagonism to Christ. There is nothing to show that he cares one bit what the results to men are, whether present or future. He is not moved by any feelings of pity or consideration for men. In some men "the lusts of the mind" predominate; in others, "the lusts of the flesh"; but Satan will use either, according as he sees which will best serve his purpose. This, we know, is to keep men in the blindness of their unbelief.

Satan is not a philanthropist, though he seeks to pervert the philanthropy of men. He is in no sense the friend of men, though he may assume the role of "an angel of light."He is a murderer-the murderer of man. He is the liar-the source of all lies. These being his character, his names, he is
never to be believed.

What audacity in the murderer and the liar to tell the "Heir of all things" that the power and glory of the kingdoms of this world were in his hands, to dispose of as he willed! The very statement shows to what lengths his desperation had driven him! Think of lying thus to the very "possessor of heaven and earth "! C. Crain