heareth them” (I Jno. 4:5, R.V.).  All the sorrow of this order is without hope:  “For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret:  But the sorrow of the world (Satanic system) worketh death” (II Cor. 7:10, R.V.).  And, finally, the whole order is temporal and passing:  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (II Pet. 3:10).  “And the world (Satanic system) passeth away and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (I Jno. 2:17).

Chapter V.

The Satanic Host.

Christ inferred, in one of His controversies with the Pharisees (Matt. 12:22-30), that Satan is a King; and as such is in authority over a kingdom.  This particular discussion was in regard to the fact that Christ had healed one “possessed with a demon, blind and dumb.”  The Pharisees claimed that the demon had been cast out by Beelzebub the prince of demons, or the one whom Jesus, later in the narrative, calls Satan.  The passage is as follows:  “Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb; and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.  And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:  and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?  And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.  But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come unto you.  Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.  He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

By this Scripture it may be seen that the kingdom of Satan is a host of bodiless spirits.  Although their origin cannot be definitely traced, it is probable that they were created as subjects of Satan in the primal glory, as he, also, was created as their prince and king.  Satan, being in authority over these beings, doubtless drew them after him in his sinful attempt to thrust himself into the place of God.