Pastor Dmitriy Leo reveals the laws, characteristics, and spheres of influence of three kingdoms existing in parallel: the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of darkness, and the kingdoms of the world. You will learn exactly how each kingdom wages war and what forces are used for this purpose. The school was held at Father’s Blessing Church.
Characteristics of the Three Kingdoms
Three kingdoms coexist in parallel on earth. There is constant conflict among these three kingdoms.
1. The Kingdom of God – continues to come and be established on earth and expands through people who receive Jesus as Lord and join the Church.
- Jesus rules this Kingdom.
- The Church – is His kings and priests, who proclaim the Good News to people, expand the Kingdom of God, and wage war against the kingdom of darkness.
2. The kingdoms of the world – live by their own rules—proud, sinful, and destroying themselves and others. These kingdoms fight against everyone and everything –against good and evil.
- Earthly kings (presidents) rule these kingdoms and have authority over specific territories.
- The people living within each state’s territory are the “assets” from which that state is made.
3. The kingdom of darkness – the devil, fallen angels, and demons. They already know about their defeat and destruction, but since they still have time on earth, they continue to do evil.
- This kingdom is ruled by the devil, and his authority extends only over those who have taken the side of darkness.
- His servants – are fallen angels, demons, and people devoted to the devil.
The main conflict is between two spiritual kingdoms over the kingdom of this world. Human souls – are the reason for this conflict.
Each of the three kingdoms operates according to specific rules and laws, whose boundaries and spheres of authority differ.
The Kingdoms of the World
Laws and Decrees
These kingdoms live by the laws and rules they have established, which differ from one another. The authority of each kingdom is different and extends within its territorial boundaries.
This means that only the laws of the country in which a Christian lives apply to that Christian. A Christian must either obey the laws of the country or change their place of residence.
Sometimes Christians' suffering is caused solely by the area where they live, and in such cases it cannot be claimed that God deliberately placed them there to test their faith.
For example, Herod's decision to kill all the infants was based on his personal fears and ambitions.
Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all that region, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men.
There was suffering in Bethlehem, but everything was peaceful in the neighboring cities. The same thing happens today.
The righteous are subject to the laws of the place where they are, but that does not mean they should put their heads under “every guillotine” set up in the city. First and foremost, a Christian must fulfill God’s will and complete his ministry.
That is why the righteous did not always face death and, in certain circumstances, avoided danger.
2 Cor. 11:32–33 In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me; but I (Paul) was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
Acts 19:30–31 When Paul wanted to enter the crowd, the disciples would not allow him. Some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, also sent word to him and urged him not to appear at the theater.
In some cases, we will have to take care of our safety and simply move to another place.
Matt. 10:23 When they persecute you in one city, flee to another. For truly I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Luke 10:10–12 But whenever you enter a city and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say: Even the dust of your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this: the Kingdom of God has come near you. I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on that day than for that city.
Thus, while residing in the territory of a particular state or city, a Christian is subject to its laws. If those laws are violated, the authorities have the power to punish the Christian according to them. Spiritually, Christians submit to the Lord, but in the state they are obliged to submit to earthly authorities.
If a particular law or decree involves a Christian in sin, the Christian must not obey it. First and foremost, we must obey God (the highest authority), and then man (earthly authority).
What will happen if a Christian does not obey a particular law or decree?
1. The Christian must be prepared to face resistance or punishment for this.
Dan. 3:15 Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, symphony, and all kinds of musical instruments, fall down and worship the image that I have made; but if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing fiery furnace, and then what god will deliver you from my hand? 18… Let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Rev. 13:16 And he (the beast) causes all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be marked on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 so that no one may buy or sell except the one who has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of its name.
2. If danger threatens, a Christian may change their place of residence and live where the laws are acceptable to them. A Christian has the right, like anyone else, to choose a place of residence where they will be better off. However, first they must receive revelation and permission from God for such a move.
Matt. 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, (Joseph) was afraid to go there; and after receiving a revelation in a dream, he went to the regions of Galilee.
Rev. 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her (the city of Babylon), My people, lest you share in her sins and receive her plagues.”
The Ideology and Propaganda of the Kingdoms of the World
A Christian must be vigilant and do everything possible not to fall under the influence of the ideology, customs, and propaganda of the country in which they live. God is cultivating a heavenly “culture” in us, through which WE must influence the world around us, rather than the other way around.
The Lord warned His people that we can fall under the influence of the country in which we live. Literally, we can LEARN from them to sin.
Ps. 105:35 but mingled with the nations and learned their works;
Deut. 20:16–18 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that they may not teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and you do not sin against the Lord your God.
What has authority over a Christian’s mind?
The Authority of Education
Secular educational institutions retrain people in HOW to live and HOW to think. Education shapes thinking for many years, and sometimes for an entire lifetime. Christians must be very attentive to “who,” “how,” and “what” teaches them.
Philosophy and religious studies are taught in all higher educational institutions as part of the state program to “drive out” everything spiritual from the minds of the country’s future leaders. Educational authority “breaks” people’s thinking and forces them to think only as ideology dictates.
Christian students in higher education and their parents must be very careful regarding such education.
What should be done in such a situation?
1) You can leave such an institution and find another field and another job. God has many places for His children. Parents should support this, remembering the Scriptures.
Prov. 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: even when he is old he will not depart from it
2) We must stand against it with the truth. We need to seriously study the Bible and обязательно lead an active Christian life. By nourishing his spiritual person, a Christian will keep himself spiritually alert and hold fast to the truth.
The Power of Information
The media – television, music, radio, the Internet, and newspapers have power over a Christian's mind just as they do over a sinner's mind.
In one study conducted in the United States in the early 1980s, 63% of convicted criminals stated that they had committed their crimes by imitating television heroes, while 22% had adopted the “technique of crime” from a television program. Of course, none of us intends to kill people, but the influence of the media on the conscious and subconscious mind has been proven.
There are many laws of “color,” “images,” “neurosimulation,” and others that are used against people through the media. Previously, these were used only for military and ideological purposes; today, these technologies are used everywhere. Social media make especially powerful use of them.
What you see and hear in the media will shape your thinking and even your actions.
Experiments with Subliminal Effects
In a movie theater in New Jersey, an advertisement for ice cream appeared on the screen while a film was being shown. The flashes were very brief, but sufficient to be noticed. As a result, ice cream sales increased sharply. After that, successful experiments were also conducted with television viewers.
On Hidden Psychological Influence
To detect “inserts” of hidden psychological influence, the Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting developed a special device –, an experimental detector of hidden inserts (EDHI), capable of continuously scanning the broadcast. Even in an ordinary music video—a short and rather pleasant song—the device immediately detected four frames advertising products and one – containing the address of a pornographic website.
As a consultant from the All-Russian Research Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting explained, it is impossible to remember the address, but if the viewer later sees it somewhere—even on a pole—the subconscious – will be activated, and the likelihood of remembering the address the first time will be high.
Of the films reviewed at the All-Russian Research Institute of Television and Radio Broadcasting, many contained “secret frames.” The device detected that one of the films featured a literally parallel narrative. The action took place in the corner of the screen. Similar techniques have already been used in election campaigns.
In short, it works as follows. A noticeable halo is added to the candidate who needs to be “boosted”—visible to the retina and subconscious, but not the conscious mind. And if antipathy toward a political opponent needs to be aroused, fangs like a vampire may be added to him in the 25th frame, or certain frames showing animal carcasses may be played in the background.
Technologies for psychologically influencing the human subconscious.
Using modern information-influence technologies, many media outlets encroach on each person’s will. For example, they show a yogurt, directing all attention to the yogurt itself, while a signal stimulating the nervous system is formed in the background or to the side. With repeated exposure, a reflex develops and is ingrained to the point of becoming automatic.
Thus, in a store, when choosing one yogurt or another, if the customer sees the yogurt with the nervous-system “stimulus,” the nervous system responds with arousal and positive motivation, and the customer chooses that yogurt.
Conclusions
1. Earthly kingdoms live according to laws and rules established by them, which differ from one another. The authority of each kingdom is different. The laws of the state in which a Christian lives apply to that Christian. A Christian must either obey these laws or move to a place where the conditions for life and ministry are better. At the same time, God must make the decision about moving.
2. Earthly kingdoms have the power to influence a Christian’s thinking, choices, and way of life through education, science, progress, ideology, governing authority, and culture. Education shapes thinking for many years. Christians must be very careful and discern “who,” “how,” and “what” they are being taught.
3. A Christian must be instructed in the truth and walk in the truth so as not to become “leavened” with the ideology of the world or the kingdom of darkness. We must stay watchful and resist false information, or change our educational institution or profession. Christian parents must take responsibility for their children’s alternative spiritual education so that they are not “leavened” and “corrupted” by this world.
4. Media–television, music, radio, the Internet, and newspapers have power over a Christian’s mind just as they do over the mind of a sinner. What you see and hear shapes your thinking and influences your actions. A Christian must recognize the influence that secular media have on them and must discipline themselves and limit their exposure to this flow of information.
End of the second lesson.
Source: Father’s Blessing Church
Author: Dmitriy Leo
