Many verses teach that God is Lord of creation: for instance, Joshua 2:11; 3:13; II Kings 19:15; I Chronicles 16:14; 16:31; Ezra 5:11; Job 34:13; Psalm 42:2, 7; 59:13; 83:18; 96:10; 97:1, 5; 99:1; Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 54:5; Micah 4:13; Zechariah 4:14; 6:5; Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21; and Acts 17:24.
However, other verses seem to indicate that Satan is the lord of this world temporarily: for instance, Matthew 4:8-9; Luke 4:5-7; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; and II Corinthians 4:4. Additionally, the Bible says that God has given the earth to man: Psalm 115:16.
Response
Satan is the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) and “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4). However, Jesus Christ is more powerful than Satan, and so Jesus Christ is truly the lord of creation in the ultimate sense. One day, Christ will physically reclaim the earth as His kingdom.
As an example, if a king appoint a man as officer over a region, and then this officer rebel against the king, who is actually ruler of the region? Well, in a sense, the officer who rebelled is; but in reality, the king is still the ruler. The king will come and destroy the rebellious officer and reclaim his rightful kingdom. Likewise, although Satan is ruler of the earth in a sense, it is only a matter of time before the King of Kings comes and destroys him, reclaiming His rightful territory.
In another sense, Satan is god of “this world,” meaning the god of worldliness (or sinfulness). For instance, I John 2:15 commands us not to love “the world,” which obviously is not a reference to the people in the world but to the world system of sin and rebellion against God. Most people on earth serve Satan, sadly, instead of God. In this sense, Satan is god of this world; but in another sense, Christ is more powerful and will one day reclaim the earth for His literal kingdom—it is just a matter of time.
The fact that God has given the earth to the children of men (Psalm 115:16) does not mean that it is not ultimately God’s earth still.
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