Both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan, like white and black pieces on a chessboard, are at war over whose world system shall rule creation.
There's a wonderful Secret Counsel dialog from The Equalizer (2014 film) between Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a retired black ops agent, and his Millennial friend, Alina (Chloë Grace Moretz).
Alina is caught up in the dark world of crime and prostitution but dreams of being a singer.
Alina (handing McCall a homemade CD of her singing): Okay, it’s not professional. Just tell me what you think. Okay?
McCall: O wow. Alina, the singer.
Alina: You and I know what I really am.
McCall: I think you can be anything you want to be.
Alina: Maybe in your world, Robert. That doesn’t really happen that way in mine.
McCall: Change your world!
Alina knows she can’t make a change for the better in her ruined, broken world. McCall knows it too and doesn’t even suggest she try. Instead, McCall, true to his name, calls Alina to do something truly radical––change worlds.
HOPE AND CHANGE
Jesus doesn’t call us to hope and believe that the “world” can be changed for the better, but to exchange one world (kingdom) for another. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mk. 1:15). In other words, “Change your world.”
Protestants don’t need to change into Catholics, nor do Catholics need to change into Protestants. Both Catholics and Protestants need to change worlds; then we can iron out the small stuff.
Democrats don’t need to change into Republicans, nor do Republicans need to change into Democrats. Both Democrats and Republicans need to change worlds to embrace true “hope and change.”
I could go on. And I will.
Males don’t need to change into females, nor do females need to change into males. Changing gender isn’t radical enough. Both males and females need to change their world to discover their genuine, authentic selves.
You get the idea. It works for a lot of stuff.
A Big Black Bucket of Paint
One of my favorite Far Side cartoons is the one of the guy strolling the neighborhood with a big black bucket of paint. He paints the words “house” on a house, “tree” on a tree, “cat” on a cat, and so on. The caption reads, “Now...That should clear up a few things around here!”
So, if you would kindly indulge me, there are a few things that need clearing up.
At bottom, there are only two worlds, which are not the heavens and the earth.
The heavens are not a “world.” Nor is earth a “world.” The heavens and the earth are realms that together form a world. In the beginning, when God made the world, He “created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). It takes both realms to make a world.
Furthermore, a world is ruled by “powers in the heavens above” and “kings on the earth below” (Isa. 24:21, NIV). And here’s where it gets interesting: There are two entirely different sets of ruling powers and kings. There are good heavenly powers allied with good earthly kings in the world of the Kingdom of God, and there are evil heavenly powers in league with evil earthly kings in the world of the Kingdom of Satan.
Both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan, like white and black pieces on a chessboard, are at war over whose world system shall rule creation.
Properly understood, a “world” is an administration, a system of government, a kingdom. The world of the Kingdom of Satan goes by various names, including The First Heavens and the First Earth and Babylon. The world of the Kingdom of God is called The New Heavens and the New Earth, New Jerusalem, and the Church. Like two opposing teams, these worlds are in conflict. But these worlds are not equals. One is passing away. The other is ascending.
The destruction of the First Heavens and the First Earth is not the destruction of the physical heavens and earth. The physical heavens and earth is being transformed just as Jesus’ dead body was transformed in the Resurrection. The same body that went into the tomb came out of the tomb, but in a transformed way. The only thing destined for destruction is the administration of unrighteous powers in the heavens above in cahoots with wicked kings on the earth below.
Creation's destiny––the future of the physical heavens and earth––is restoration, not destruction. The destiny of the First Heavens and the First Earth––the Fallen World System––is destruction, not restoration.
There. I hope that clears up a few things.
Conclusion
Mortals set out to change the world only to spend their lives throwing hammers at the moon, for all the good it does.
Immortals change their world and sing the “song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb” (Rev. 15:3).
Listen. Do you hear that?
O wow. It’s Alina, the singer.
Boyd+
The Tenth Week after Pentecost, 2015
Boyd writes a new Secret Counsel blog every couple weeks. Click here to see the whole collection.