But you say the Bible says that Satan goes about like a roaring lion! And you are right. We all know it in our personal lives. But we also read, “…the ruler of this world is judged” (John 16:11).

Philip Ryken, in his book on the Lord’s Prayer, described the situation by comparing it to how the Allies defeated Nazi Germany in the 1940s:

For all intents and purposes, World War II was over on D-Day when British and American troops established a beachhead in France. There were still battles to be fought, of course, and lives would be lost. But from that point on, the Nazis were fighting a losing battle. All that remains was for the Allies to liberate Europe.3

At the cross the devil was defeated. Battles still rage across the earth and in the hearts of men and women and boys and girls, but Christ is the victor. The war is won. The enemy is exposed and is losing ground, and Christ is gaining. The enemy will at last be vanquished.

The whole book of Revelation could be summed up in three words: Jesus always wins. He won at Eden when victory was declared by God but had yet to be worked out. He won at Calvary when Satan’s domain was given its fatal blow. Jesus won in the early church when Rome, the tool of Satan, became the instrument God used to advance His kingdom throughout the world. He won the day you surrendered to the grace and love of Jesus Christ and welcomed King Jesus to sit on the throne of your life.

One by one the kingdom of God tears down the wall erected by the devil and his demons. Your prayer is being answered.

The Kingdom of God Is Progressing

The kingdom of God is going to burst forth in a new heaven and a new earth.

When we pray “Your kingdom come,” we are also praying for the fulfillment of the kingdom by the return of Christ and the restoration of all things. The Lord said, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea” (Rev. 21:1, NIV).

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Rev. 21:5, NIV).

And Paul wrote of that day,

“Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power” (1 Cor. 15:24).

Men of good will differ on how this will play out. I only say that He came once and He is coming again. He will appear in the heavens and bring with Him all those who have died in Christ. Their very bodies will be raised from the dead, and body and soul, they will be caught up with Christ forever. Those living, likewise, shall be transformed. Christ shall judge all men in that day, and the kingdom will come in its fullest as all men name Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings. Then, says Paul, Jesus shall hand over the kingdom to the Father that God may be all in all. This is the consummation of the kingdom.

I do not understand the fullness of what this means any more than I can fully comprehend Eden. But I know that when I pray “Your kingdom come,” I am praying for the realization of the kingdom of God so that I will see my daddy again. I am praying to see my Aunt Eva again. I am praying to stand with my predecessors here — with Dr. McCallie and Dr. Venable and Dr. Fowle and all the saints who have gone before. Since I am your pastor and I stand with you when you lose your loved ones, I am praying for you to see them, too.