The Bible Storyline – Lesson 7 – May 31, 2026

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War & Worship

Part of The Bible Storyline series — God’s unstoppable plan to defeat evil, restore creation and establish His Kingdom on earth.

 

Three Questions That Reveal How Well You Understand the Bible Storyline

1.    Does the Bible teach that God’s primary goal is to save us from hell and take us to Heaven when we die?   2.    Does the Bible teach that Satan’s primary goal is to keep us from heaven and take us to hell when we die?   3.    Does the Bible teach that God rules over heaven and earth while Satan rules over hell?

 

How you answer these questions reveals how well you understand the Bible Storyline, what you believe about the purpose of salvation, and whether you have a biblical understanding of Satan’s role and his ambition for a kingdom and desire for worship.

 

To answer all three questions we have to understand what each kingdom is actually fighting for, then the objectives become clear.

 

Kingdom Objectives

A kingdom consists of a King who rules, Territory — the land where the King’s authority is exercised, and Citizens — people who submit to the King’s law and worship and honor him as King. Both kingdoms in this war are fighting for all three.

 

1. Territory — The Earth

Territory is a geographic area of land under the control and authority of a ruler, kingdom or nation. Throughout history wars have been fought over territory because controlling land also means controlling the people, resources, laws and authority connected to that land. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan are engaged in a war over territory: Earth.

 

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

 

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.

 

God created the earth. God placed mankind on the earth as representatives of His Kingdom to rule over it under His authority. God then commissioned mankind to spread His image and dominion over all the earth.

 

Psalm 24:1  The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

 

God is the rightful owner and King over the earth.

 

Earth was invaded by an enemy.

 

In Isaiah 14:12-14, Satan declared his intention to replace God as the supreme ruler of the universe. He convinced one-third of the angels to join him but they failed and were cast out of Heaven.

 

Isaiah 14:12  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!

 

Revelation 12:7–9  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 

Satan was cast out of heaven and down to earth. But he never gave up his desire to rule over a kingdom. He relocated his war to earth and immediately moved to take the dominion God had given Adam.

 

“Prince of this world” — John 12:31    •    “God of this world” — 2 Corinthians 4:4    •    “Prince and power of the air” — Ephesians 2:2

 

These titles given to Satan by both Jesus and Paul describe him as having influence and power over this earth.

 

Isaiah 66:1  Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.

 

A footstool in ancient culture was a symbol of absolute dominion. To make something a footstool meant to conquer it and rule over it completely. When God calls the earth His footstool He is declaring the earth as conquered territory under His absolute authority. Satan’s objective is to seize God’s footstool and establish his own dominion in its place.

 

Conclusion #1

Earth belongs to the Kingdom of God but Satan has invaded and is currently attempting to establish his own kingdom that would rule over the physical earth.

 

2. Dominion — The Right to Rule

Dominion means the sovereign right and authority to rule over a territory and its people. Throughout history wars have been fought over territory but what the warring sides are ultimately fighting for is dominion — the right to govern that land, establish its laws and command the allegiance of its people. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan are both fighting for sovereign dominion over the physical earth.

 

Genesis 1:26–28  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.

 

God created mankind in His image and commanded them to have dominion over the earth. This was God’s dominion being exercised through His appointed representatives.

 

Psalm 103:19  The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

 

God’s dominion extends over all creation including the earth.

 

Isaiah 66:1  Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.

 

God’s dominion over the earth is absolute. The earth is His conquered territory under His sovereign rule.

 

Satan’s objective is to seize that dominion. His strategy was to get Adam to forfeit it. When Adam defied God’s authority he lost the right to rule the earth. The dominion God gave mankind did not disappear — it transferred.

 

Luke 4:5–6  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

 

Notice the word delivered. Satan did not say he created it or earned it. He said it was delivered to him. The dominion God originally gave Adam over the earth was handed over to Satan as a direct consequence of the fall. Satan now holds that dominion and exercises it over the nations of the earth.

 

Conclusion #2

God’s dominion over the earth is His by right of creation. Satan seized a measure of that dominion through deception and now holds it illegitimately. The war is being fought over who will exercise sovereign dominion over the physical earth.

 

3. Worship — The Primary Objective of Both Kingdoms

Worship is the honor, allegiance and submission given to the one recognized as King. The very word worship comes from the Old English word worth-ship — meaning to declare someone worthy. Throughout history kings and kingdoms desired more than land and power. They also desired the loyalty, devotion and honor of the people living under their rule. Worship reveals who a person recognizes as their true ruler and highest authority. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan are both fighting for the worship of mankind.

 

God alone is worthy of worship because He alone is the Creator, rightful King and sovereign ruler over all things.

 

Psalm 22:27–28  All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.

 

The nations worship God because the kingdom belongs to Him and He rules over the nations. Worship and the kingdom are directly connected.

 

Psalm 47:7–8  For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

 

God is worshipped because He is King over all the earth. Worship is connected to His reign, authority and throne.

 

Psalm 96:9–10  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth.

 

The earth is called to worship because the LORD reigneth. Worship is the recognition of God’s rule and authority.

 

Satan also desires worship because worship acknowledges authority and rulership.

 

Isaiah 14:13–14  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

 

Lucifer did not merely desire power. He desired the honor, position and recognition that belong only to God.

 

Luke 4:5–7  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

 

Satan connected worship directly with the kingdoms of the world. He offered Jesus earthly kingdoms in exchange for worship because worship is connected to rulership and authority.

 

Revelation 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast.

 

Near the end of the Bible storyline Satan’s kingdom reaches its highest point when the nations worship the dragon and the beast. Satan’s objective has always been worship because worship belongs to the one recognized as King.

 

Conclusion #3

The war between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan is not only over territory and dominion but also over worship. Both kingdoms seek the allegiance, loyalty and worship of mankind.

 

4. People — The Most Essential Element

A kingdom needs people. A kingdom without people has nobody to govern, nobody to obey its laws and nobody to give worship and allegiance to the king. This is why people are essential to both kingdoms in this war.

 

Genesis 1:26–28  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…

 

God created mankind in His image and placed them on the earth as citizens and representatives of His Kingdom. Adam and Eve were supposed to reflect God’s character, obey God’s authority and spread His rule throughout the earth. People were God’s plan for filling the earth with His image, establishing His dominion and receiving His worship from every nation.

 

But Satan wanted mankind for his own kingdom. This is why he targeted Adam and Eve in the garden. By deceiving them into rebellion against God, Satan was attempting to pull mankind away from God’s Kingdom and under his own influence and authority. Satan understood that whoever controls the people controls the kingdom.

 

John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.

 

Jesus described unbelieving mankind as following the desires and influence of the devil. People born outside of God’s kingdom naturally follow the one who rules the kingdom they were born into.

 

Ephesians 2:1–2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air…

 

Mankind apart from God naturally follows the course of a world system influenced and directed by Satan. Every person born into this world is born as a citizen of Satan’s kingdom — not because they chose it but because the fall placed all of mankind under his influence.

 

Colossians 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.

 

Mankind was not just spiritually lost. We were actively alienated from God — enemies of His kingdom — by our own wicked works.

 

2 Timothy 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will.

 

Satan does not just influence people. He holds them captive. He keeps them as citizens of his kingdom — worshipping him indirectly through sin and disobedience — advancing his rule on the earth he is fighting to control.

 

Romans 6:16  Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness.

 

Every person is already serving one of two kingdoms through their daily choices. Yielding to sin makes a person a servant of Satan’s kingdom. Yielding to God makes a person a servant of His. There is no neutral ground. Every choice of obedience or disobedience is a declaration of whose kingdom you are advancing.

 

Colossians 1:12–13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

 

Salvation is not described as an evacuation from earth to heaven. It is described as a transfer from one kingdom into another. God reaches into Satan’s kingdom, rescues a person and places them into His own kingdom as a citizen, a worshipper and a representative of His rule on earth.

 

People are not random bystanders in this conflict. Human beings are the citizens, worshippers and representatives both kingdoms are seeking to claim.

 

Revelation 7:9–10  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne…

 

The Bible storyline ends with redeemed people from every nation belonging to God’s Kingdom and worshipping the rightful King on earth. That is not evacuation. That is restoration.

 

Conclusion #4

The Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan are both seeking people. Both kingdoms desire citizens, allegiance and worshippers. Mankind is at the center of this war because people are the citizens and representatives of whichever kingdom they belong to.

 

Now Back to Our Opening Questions

 

Does the Bible teach that God’s primary goal is to save us from hell and take us to heaven when we die?

No. God is fighting to reclaim people as citizens of His kingdom — image bearers who worship Him, obey His authority, fill the earth with His glory and live in fellowship with Him forever on a restored earth. Salvation is how He transfers people from Satan’s kingdom into His own.

 

Does the Bible teach that Satan’s primary goal is to keep us from heaven and take us to hell when we die?

No. Satan is fighting to hold people captive as citizens of his kingdom — worshippers who advance his rule on the earth he is trying to control. Hell was never his goal. It is his punishment. His goal is people on earth serving his kingdom.

 

Does the Bible teach that God rules over heaven and earth while Satan rules over hell?

No. Satan does not rule hell. Matthew 25:41 says hell was prepared as punishment for the devil and his angels. Satan rules over the kingdom of this world — 2 Corinthians 4:4. His kingdom is here on earth and people are how he builds it. God will take that kingdom back permanently and hell will be Satan’s eternal prison not his domain.

 

This war is not about evacuation or population. It is about two kingdoms fighting for territory, dominion, worship and people — on this earth. And every person alive is already advancing one of them.