The world has fallen into sin and rebellion against its Creator. As a result, it has come under the power of Satan.
The world is under the power of Satan
He is prince of this world
John 14:30 See also John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 4:4
I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me.
He holds the world in his grasp
1 John 5:19 See also Ephesians 2:1–4
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
The world is opposed to God
It is evil
John 7:7 See also John 3:19–20; Galatians 1:4; 1 John 2:15–16
The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.
Evil extends to the unseen world of the heavenly realms
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
It is opposed to God's wisdom
1 Corinthians 1:21 See also 1 Corinthians 1:25, 1 Corinthians 2:6–8, 1 Corinthians 3:19
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
It is opposed to the life of faith
John 15:18–19 See also John 1:10–11, John 17:6, John 17:9, John 17:14–18, John 17:25; James 2:5, James 4:4; 1 John 3:1
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
It is opposed to Jesus Christ's kingdom
John 18:36 See also Isaiah 40:23; Matthew 4:8–10 parallel Luke 4:5–8; Matthew 24:14; Luke 12:30; John 8:23, John 14:17; 2 Corinthians 10:3; Hebrews 11:38; 1 Peter 2:11
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
The world is under judgment
It is condemned
1 Corinthians 11:32 See also Genesis 6:5–7, Genesis 7:4, Genesis 7:21; Isaiah 13:11; Zephaniah 3:8; Matthew 18:7; John 12:31, John 16:11; 1 John 2:17
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
It will be judged in righteousness
Psalm 9:8 See also Psalm 96:13; Isaiah 26:9; Nahum 1:5–6; Acts 17:31; Romans 3:19
He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity.
It will be judged by the saints
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.