Authority — The Legality of Earthly Dominion

[Reading time: 21 minutes] This outline shows how Jesus restored the dominion Adam and Eve lost in the Garden of Eden to his followers, so we have spiritual authority over our earthly domains. This applies to all believers, not just spiritual leaders.

Heaven and earth belong to God

Heaven and earth belong to God by right of creation
- Gen. 1:1 (NIV), “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
- Ps. 89:11, “The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.”
Heavens, earth, everything in it are Lord God’s
- Exod. 19:5, “Although the whole earth is mine ….”
- Ps. 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
- Ps. 50:12, “If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.”
Lord God is King over all the earth
- Ps. 47:2, 7, “For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth…. For God is the King of all the earth.”
All the earth bows down to God
- Ps. 66:4, “All the earth bows down to you.”

God gave earth to mankind to rule as a domain

God gave it to mankind
- Ps. 115:16, “The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.”
- Jer. 27:5, “With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please.”
Adam was to fill earth, subdue it, rule over all living creatures
- Gen 1:28, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”
- Ps. 8:6-8, “You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.”

Adam and Eve abdicated authority to Satan (by submitting to a creature over which they had authority)

Adam and Eve ruled over all creatures
- Gen. 1:26, 28, “Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ … God blessed them and said to them … ‘Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”
Satan presented himself as a serpent and influenced them
- Gen. 3:1, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’”
Satan deceived Adam and Eve, they agreed with what he said
- Gen. 3:13, “The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’”
You become a slave to whoever you obey
- Rom. 6:16, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
- 2 Pet. 2:19, “… people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
Adam’s domain (all of creation) became cursed due to his sin, subjected to frustration, in bondage to decay
- Gen. 3:17, “To Adam he said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, “You must not eat from it,” Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat from it all the days of your life.”
- Rom. 8:20-22, “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”

The Predicament

If God were to overthrow Satan and seize possession of earth, he would violate his own nature and the legality of the system he created
A man had to legitimately redeem humanity, legally recover the earth

Son of God became and remains Son of Man: Jesus

He laid aside divine nature/form, took human nature/form
- Phil. 2:6-8, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!”
He became human in every way, suffered when tempted, was tempted as we are
- Heb. 2:14, 17-18, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil…. For this reason he had to be made like them, m fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
- Heb. 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin.”
He became the firstborn from among the dead; that is, mankind
- Col. 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
- Rev. 1:5, “… and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead.”
He called himself Son of Man
- Matt. 9:6, “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Get up, take your mat and go home.’”
- Luke 22:47-48, “Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’”
He became our brother
- Rom. 8:29, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
- Heb. 2:11-12, 17, “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.’ … For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
After resurrection, he was called by his human name, Jesus
- Rom. 1:1, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus ….”
He retains his humanity throughout eternity
- 1 Cor. 15:48-49, “As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.”
- Phil. 2:6-8, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!”
- 1 Tim. 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
He retains scars from crucifixion on earth; proof of his humanity and testimony of his sacrifice
- John 20:20, 25, 27, “After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord…. So the other disciples told [Thomas], ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ … Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’”
- Rev. 5:6, 12, “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders…. In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’”

Satan had dominion from Adam’s fall until Jesus’ crucifixion

Authority, splendor of all world kingdoms were given to him
- Luke 4:5-6, “The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.’”
Before Jesus’ crucifixion, Satan was prince of this world/cosmos
- John 12:31 (Jesus speaking), “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.”
- John 14:30 (Jesus speaking), “I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming.”
- John 16:11 (Jesus speaking), “… and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

Jesus (as a man) paid full penalty/ransom for man’s sin; legal requirement that a man die for man’s sin

One man was to die for Jewish nation, children of God
- John 11:50-52 (high priest addressing the Sanhedrin) “‘You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.’ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.”
Before his crucifixion, he received authority over all people that he might give them eternal life
- John 17:2 (Jesus praying to Father, referring to himself), “For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.”
While we were sinners, Christ died for us
- Rom. 5:6, 8, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Salvation was through a man, Jesus Christ
- Rom. 5:15, 17, But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! … For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
- 1 Tim. 2:5-6, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”
- Heb. 2:9, “But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
- Heb. 9:15, “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”
- Heb. 9:26, “But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
He took away sins of the whole world
- John 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
- 1 John 2:2, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Jesus (as a man) received all authority in heaven, on earth; regained dominion, disarmed the enemy

Before his crucifixion, he had authority to judge because he is the Son of Man
- John 5:27, “And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.”
Before his crucifixion, all things were under his power
- John 13:3, “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power.”
The prince of this world was driven out when Jesus died
- John 12:31-32, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
After his crucifixion, he received all authority in heaven, on earth
- Matt. 28:18, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”
God appointed him head over everything for the church
- Eph. 1:22, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.”
He has supremacy in everything
- Col. 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
He is head over every power and authority
- Col. 2:10, “[Christ] is the head over every power and authority.”
He disarmed powers and authorities by the cross
- Col. 2:15, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
He received authority when Satan was hurled to earth
- Rev. 12:9-10, “The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.”
Satan was demoted to “god of this age” (limited, temporary authority)
- 2 Cor. 4:4, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Satan is only ruler of the kingdom of the air
- Eph. 2:2, “… when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
The world/cosmos submits to Satan
- 1 John 5:19, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

Jesus (as a man) now sits on throne in heaven

Stephen saw Son of Man at right hand of God
- Acts 7:56 (Stephen speaking, as he was about to be stoned to death), “‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”
He is seated at God’s right hand in heaven, far above all rule, authority, power, dominion and title
- Eph. 1:20-21, “[… the mighty strength] he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”
- Heb. 1:3, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Exalted to the highest place, he received the name above every name
- Phil. 2:9, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.”
He’s at God’s right hand in heaven, with angels, authorities, powers submitted to him
- 1 Pet. 3:22, “[Jesus Christ] has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand — with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”

Jesus (as a man) is high priest, mediator in heaven between God and humanity

He’s at God’s right hand interceding for us
- Rom. 8:34, “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
A man is mediator of new covenant between God and men
- 1 Tim. 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
- Heb. 8:6, “But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.”
- Heb. 9:15, “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance — now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”
- Heb. 12:24, “… to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant.”
Jesus became high priest
- Heb. 2:17, “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
- Heb. 3:1, “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.”
- Heb. 4:14, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”
Our high priest is a man
- Heb. 5:1, “Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.”
- Heb. 7:28, “For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.”
He intercedes for us with God, speaks in our defense
- Rom. 8:34, “Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
- Heb. 7:25, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
- 1 John 2:1, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

We have limited authority over our earthly domains, any creatures or beings affecting those domains

We invite God to intervene in our domains
- Matt. 6:9-10, “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
We have authority to drive out demons, heal sick
- Matt. 10:1, “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
We have authority over dangerous creatures, enemy’s power; nothing will harm us
- Luke 10:19, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
We are a royal priesthood; we rule
- 1 Pet. 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
We reign (function as kings) in life
- Rom. 5:17, “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”
We take authoritative action on earth, God produces the results
- Matt. 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
- Mt 18:19, “… whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus (as a man) will return to earth, set up his kingdom

He must remain in heaven until time to restore everything
- Acts 3:21, “Heaven must receive [Jesus] until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”
Sign of the Son of Man will appear in sky, everyone will see him coming on the clouds
- Matt. 24:30, “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”
The Son of Man will come in glory with his angels
- Matt. 16:27, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”
- Matt. 25:31, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.”
The Son of Man will sit on glorious throne at renewal of all things
- Matt. 19:28, “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’”
He will destroy all dominion, authority and power opposed to God
- 1 Cor. 15:24-26, “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
Everyone will bow, confess he is Lord
- Phil. 2:10-11, “… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus (as a man) will reign; we will reign with him, serve as priests

We will reign with Christ
- Rev. 3:21, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
- Rev. 20:6, “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”
- Rev. 22:5, “And [his servants] will reign for ever and ever.”
We will judge the world and angels
- 1 Cor. 6:2-3, “Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!”
- Rev. 2:26-27, “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations — that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery.’”
We will be priests
- Rev. 1:6, “… and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father.”
- Rev. 5:10, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
- Rev. 20:6, “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”

After the millennium

After death is destroyed, Jesus will submit all things to Father
- 1 Cor. 15:26-28, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he ‘has put everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.”
God’s throne will be in Jerusalem
- Rev. 22:3, “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.”
We will reign for eternity
- Rev. 22:5, “And they will reign for ever and ever.”

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