Our nation was founded on the Christian World view that "all men are created equal." This conviction affirms a Creator and the created. History's greatest governmental blessings resulted in economic, religious and personal freedom! American is truly unique on the world scene. Yet many call this the "post-Christian era." Is this true? If so, what happened?

     Could it be happening because America has left its faithful trail of seeking the one true God and going after other gods? For sure, there has been a steady descent toward witchcraft which is known as the "Old Religion" which is an ancient practice dating back to biblical times. Witchcraft can be defined as the performance of magic, forbidden by God, used for non-biblical ends. The word witchcraft is related to the old English word wiccian, which means, "practice of magical arts."

     The Bible warns, " For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.,"(1 Samuel 15:23). ⁽¹⁾

     All who reject Jesus Christ the Creator still feel a spiritual thirst, search for meaning and curiosity about an afterlife. Millions are being drawn into occultism through their seeking a reason for living. Looking for enlightenment, they are finding darkness and death. Others seek after the astrologers, psychics or new agers. One thing for sure, multitudes believe in a "higher power" as Nancy Reagan expressed it on Larry King Live. Our nation has left its Christian spiritual mores, the Genii is out of the bottle and it like Pandora's box, it's impossible to close the evil up again.

      Charles Williams wrote in Witchcraft, "It is cold, it is hungry, it is violent, it is illusory. The warm blood and intercourse at the Sabbat do not satisfy it. It wants something more. . . It wants souls." ⁽²⁾

     Believe me, God is not going to sit at the table of witchcraft while the Christians try to walk down both avenues of the supernatural. The Word says, "And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger," (II Kings 17:17).

The Kingdoms</p>

     The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the Devil is shown by Matthew's concept of these two kingdoms. His view shows a pronounced dualism that pits Satan against Jesus both as Messiah, Son of God, and as Son of man. The following is an attempt to sketch this.

     Matthew's portrait of the arch-adversary of Jesus is that of a transcendent being who stands in unmitigated opposition to the kingdom of heaven (cf., e.g., 6:10,11:12; 12:24-29; 13:13; & 13:39). A striking feature is the plethora of names by which he is known. There is, for example, the "Satan", which is a proper noun and the equivalent of the common noun "devil". In addition, Matthew also refers to Jesus' arch-adversary as the "Tempter" (4:3), "Beelzebul" (12:24,27), the "Evil One" (13:19) and the "Enemy" (13:39).

     Matthew describes Satan, in his opposition of the kingdom, as one whose power is susperseded only by God and Jesus themselves. Thus Matthew attributes to Satan a "kingdom",(12:26), which means that he, too, is looked upon as one who rules in the universe. Moreover, under his control are such supernatural beings as "angels" (cf. 25:41) and "demons" (cf. 10:8; 12:24), or "unclean spirits" (cf. 7:23; 13:41; 23:28; 24:12), that is to say, in a manner which is contrary to will of God (cf. 4:1-11; 6:13; 16:23; 27:40). For this he is called the "Tempter" (4:3) and the "Evil One" (cf. 6:13; 13:19). ⁽³⁾

     The devil or Satan is introduced to us as a person who opposes God and His work. (See Genesis 3:1; Romans 15:22.) He is the "god of this world", who blinds the minds of the people to the truths of God's Word (II Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2). Having rebelled against God, he was cast out of heaven; then he caused man's fall in paradise. Jesus calls him often as an "angel of light" (II Corinthians 11:14), seeking the ruin triumphed over him at the Cross of Calvary (I John 3:8) and in His resurrection, and he will finally be condemned and destroyed (Revelation 20). There are many kinds of demons and they afflict people in various ways (see Matthew 12:22, 17:15-18; Luke 12:16). Also, they bring false doctrine (I Timothy 4:1-4), trying to seduce the elect (Matthew 24:24), oppressing (Acts 10:38), obsessing, and possessing people. They know Jesus, and recognize His power and tremble (Matthew 8:29). For them, hell is the final destination, as it is for Satan. ⁽⁴⁾

     Jesus is shown throughout the Book of Matthew as having superior power over the Devil. But although defeated by Jesus, Satan continues to wield power in the world. Jesus is found by your free choice. Then too, Satan is received by your free choice.