The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

John 3:19 NIV

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.

Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

Our world is dark because Satan is currently ruling.

The New Testament authors shared an understanding that enemy powers who are opposed to God exist in the unseen spiritual realm.  Their worldview credits Satan with a controlling influence over the thoughts, ideas, and beliefs of a majority of people.  That view doesn’t play much of a role in our culture, outside the church today, but it’s prevalent in the New Testament.

Paul calls Satan “the god of this age” and “the ruler of the kingdom of the air”.  He says the world is presently captive to the darkness of an evil age.  The phrase “god of this age” (or “god of this world”) indicates that many of the ideas people believe have their source in Satan’s lies and deceptions, not in truth.

Paul says that Jesus’ victory on the cross was over dark spiritual rulers and authorities.

If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.  Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

2 Corinthians 4:3,4

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

Ephesians 2:1,2 NIV

Who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Galatians 1:4

He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.  In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Colossians 2:14-15 NLT

Paul and Peter recognize Satan’s power in our world:

Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. 

Acts 26:17-18a NLT

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 

1 Peter 5:8 NLT

Jesus said that Satan is presently ruling our world

In at least three places Jesus directly called Satan “the ruler of this world”.

The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.  And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

John 12:31-32 NLT

“I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me.”

John 14:30 NLT

Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

John 16:10-11 NLT

Jesus also encouraged his disciples by telling them that even though Satan was currently in control, Jesus had come to change that.  It would not always be so.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NIV

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.  Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’”

John 15:18–20 NIV

Jesus implied that Satan is the root cause behind physical sickness and disease.

This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years.  Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”

Luke 13:16 NLT

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Acts 10:38 NLT

In two of his parables, Jesus paints pictures showing that enemy powers opposed to God’s will are at work in our world.  In the parable of the farmer planting seeds, Satan, the “evil one,” actively opposes the kingdom of God.

“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds:  The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts.

Matthew 13:18-19 NLT

And Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares illustrates the situation in our broken world today.

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

The owner’s servants came to him and said, “Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field?  Where then did the weeds come from?”

“An enemy did this,” he replied.

The servants asked him, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?”

“No”, he answered, “because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest.  At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”

Matthew 13:24-30 NIV

His servants asked, “Didn’t you sow good seed?  Why then does it have weeds?”  People are asking the same question today.  “If you’re a good God, why is there so much evil in the world?”  Jesus’ answer still applies: “An enemy has done this.”  Then he identified the enemy as Satan, who is ravaging the world.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray: 

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven…”

Matthew 6:10 NIV

When Jesus taught us to pray for the establishment of God’s will and kingdom on earth, he confirmed that God’s will isn’t yet being done here as it is in heaven, at least not perfectly.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan offered to give him authority over the kingdoms of the world, if he would join in Satan’s rebellion against God.

Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please.  I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”

Luke 4:5-7 NLT

Satan claimed to have authority over all the kingdoms of the earth.  Jesus didn’t dispute Satan’s claim, though he didn’t confirm it either.  So whether or not Satan has legitimate authority to rule, Jesus acknowledged that he has it in practice.