and John wrote (literally) that “the whole world lies in the lap of the evil one” in 1 John.

Amen. Believers make up the Body of Christ, of which He is the head, and so yes, as the Church prevails against the gates of hades, so individual Christians surely prevail.

In fact, the Church can go through terrible persecution, as it did through the Inquisition, and in the time of Nero, but still grew and succeeded in the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, who is the soul of the Body of Christ.

Steve, I appreciate you’re challenging me. I’m a little slow, and not that bright. I have a difficult time sharing my heart. I truly appreciate blogs like these, where I can read edifying posts, and then share my heart.

Have a great Lord’s Day.

The Lord Jesus has total authority, and all power. Amen. I agree. But how you conclude, “therefore the devil won’t prevail against any institution”, I don’t understand.

The Mormon Church is a Church of Satan, where millions of people are under his rule, though they don’t know it.
The Word of Faith and it’s millions of followers. The Catholic Church is under his rule.
The Jews who reject Christ are under his rule, and in His domain.

Paul handed Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

They were in the Church, where Satan has no authority. I’m seeing this as the Apostle turning these two out into Satan’s domain, the world.
Satan is the ruler of the world. He has been judged, and will shortly be crushed under our feet, and cast out, but until the Lord returns, this world is his–(though the world has always been God’s, even before Christ died on the Cross, and rose from the dead), “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”.

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air”, Eph. 2:1-2

The devil is God’s devil. And God has judged him, and his time is short. But he is the prince of this world, and he prevails in all the institutions. But he shall never, ever, prevail against Christ, and His Church. In fact, The Church shall prevail against the gates of hell, and Christ shall build His Church, and nothing will stop Him. Not the devil, and all his host of demons, and all his lies in the world, and even when he, by stealth, comes into the Church, and clothes himself in sheep’s clothing, he will be revealed for who he is, to the genuine sheep of the Good Shepherd. For His sheep will not listen to Satan and his ministers of righteousness, but we shall only hear the voice of our Lord and Savior.

Just because the devil is worshipped by those who are lost doesn’t mean that he has domain over anything. “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” Col 2:15. Jesus is Lord over all, so therefore the devil won’t prevail against any institution at all. All institutions will be victorious in Christ. “And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” 1 John 5:4

“But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Cor. 4:3-4

The Church is the only safe haven in this world. All other religions, and all unbelievers have the devil as their father.
God is our Father, those who have come to trust Christ alone, and who love the Son.

Huh? Do you believe this?

Very well put.

Amen to that. Good words in this post. I hope the Church gets it some day, and then we may see another Great Awakening. By His grace I pray for it, and hope for it.
However, before a revival, methinks we need a Reformation, and a return to the deep things of God in His Word. Man is dead spiritually, and this world is the devil’s domain, and the gates of hell shall prevail against every institution, except the Church. And the Lord shall crush Satan under His people’s feet shortly.