The Dominions of Earth

When God created Adam and Eve (Genesis, chapter 1), He gave them authority.  He told them, "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth".  The word for "rule", also means "manage".  This is pretty heady authority God gave to Adam and Eve. 

In Psalm 115:16 it says, "The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind."  Though everything belongs to God, He gave mankind authority to rule over it, under God's ultimate authority.  God's intent was for earth to be an extension, through Adam and Eve's rulership of His rule on earth. You can even see that playing out through the Lord's prayer; "your will be done on earth AS IT IS in Heaven." 

Then, of course, God gave Adam and Eve their instructons regarding what they could have for food and what they couldn't.  God told them they could eat of any tree in the garden, except one; the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  

God told them the day they ate of it, they would die.  What did Adam and Eve do?  They ate of the tree God told them not to. The serpent told them the lie that they wouldn't die, and that God knew if they ate of that fruit, they'd be like Him knowing good and evil.  As a result, Adam and Eve were both banished from the garden of Eden.

But, something else happened as a result of Adam and Eve both eating of the fruit God told them not to eat. For that, take a look at Luke, chapter 4.  In that chapter is recorded Jesus' temptations by Satan, after He had been baptized.  

In Luke, chapter 4, verse 5-6 we're told, "And he (Satan) led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, 'I will give you all this domain and its glory;  for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish'".  

Authority and dominion over the world, were also given to Satan.  The term "handed over" is interesting.  The Greek term "paradidōmi", means "give over into one's power use, to keep, take care of or manage.  

God gave Adam and Eve authority and power to manage planet earth.  But, by listening to and obeying Satan, they ate the fruit God told them not to eat.  As a result, they were banished from the garden, but worse of all, they handed over the authority to rule and manage the earth, God had given them to Satan. 

Satan told Jesus all the domain that was handed over to him, would be given to Jesus if He bowed down and worshipped him. The very interesting thing is Jesus didn't, not one time, deny that Satan had that authority.  

Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, in a moment of time; all the kingdoms.  This included all the systems and structures within those kingdoms. 

Satan has put demons and demonic principalities over those systems and structures.  This is what God has called His people to do.  To into those structures and systems and manifest Kingdom glory, favor and power, through love in those systems and structures.  This is the calling of the church and of those who belong to Christ.