Two Invisible Kingdoms
You won’t find this in your science books. They don’t even have it on their radar. What science reveals to us, however, is the presence of invisible realities we never knew existed. Things like bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, and radioactive emissions threaten our lives even though we cannot see them. It’s time to gain eyes to see what science is blind to. Two invisible kingdoms are at war all around you; sometimes you even feel the “tug of war” going on within you. It really helps to know what you are up against.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14
All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.
What We Didn’t Know
Before the revelation of Jesus opened our spiritually blinded eyes, there were many things that we didn’t know because we absolutely couldn’t get a confirming sense for them through our 
go-to gateway to external realities: taste, touch, smell, hearing or sight. This “common sense” dependence blocks out the immense spiritual realities surrounding us which can only be revealed to us by God. That doesn’t make them less real. In fact they are far more real than this world—more real in the sense of being everlasting, not passing; more real also in the sense of having far greater power to affect our lives than the material realm.
Prior to conversion, we didn’t know that Jesus lives and that He is the Creator of the universe and Redeemer of our world. We didn’t know that we were born in an “unnatural” condition—that we should have been born knowing exactly who our God is through a visible fellowship with Him just as Adam and Eve enjoyed before the Fall. We didn’t know, therefore, that we were spiritually dead from birth.
We may have been told, but prior to being born again, we didn’t know how absolutely real are heaven and hell, the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of God, angels and demons, and the Enemy of our souls—to say nothing of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. No wonder so much of life failed to “makes sense.” We were out of touch with huge chunks of reality!
The Kingdom of God
Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God more than anything else He taught. It is the subject of the majority of His parables and a major theme of His preaching. Clearly, He wanted to “open our eyes” to see something that is all around us, within us, coming in greater power, a primary thing for us to seek, and a reality already fully enjoyed by little children.[1] That’s just for starters. See the Scripture section to explore more, but even that list is only a partial collection of His teaching. Ironically, however, it was Paul who gives us the most practical insight into the present reality of God’s kingdom on earth:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
With this description of Paul’s we can begin to identify our own penetration of God’s kingdom in daily life. If we are following the leading of the Spirit in doing “the next right thing” and if we are trusting our God with what He is allowing and asking of us, then the Kingdom’s righteousness, peace and joy become a river of life for us, sustained by the Holy Spirit.[2] That’s our inheritance in Christ and it is a way of living worth seeking at all costs.[3] Just as Jesus taught, however, we will have to seek first the King and His kingdom to experience life on this plane. But it is worth it! As we “press in” to the Kingdom we not only enter the river of peace, we become far more fruit-filled from within and fruitful in outward work and ministry.[4] Everything goes better under the Lord’s leadership and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Advancing this Kingdom with Power
There is yet another dimension of life in the Kingdom: empowerment for the supernatural operations of the Holy Spirit.[5] The “re-birth” of this dimension of the Kingdom, so much a part of the Early Church’s experience came about through the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements of the 20th Century with the re-introduction of the baptism of the Spirit. Healings, miracles and demonic deliverance are genuine Biblical signs that the Kingdom has come with power.[6]
Advancing into the Kingdom of God might be difficult enough—it is unfamiliar and invisible “territory” to us, especially in the beginning—but our task is rendered far more difficult by the invisible opposition that surrounds us. The Kingdom of Light isn’t the only kingdom out there—there are two invisible kingdoms! There is that other realm filled with creatures who hate God and us. They work in relentless opposition to any attempt to advance of God’s kingdom into our world.
The Kingdom of Darkness
Before we pull the lid back on this can of worms, let’s think for a moment about what it means to live in a world with germs. For a long time, we didn’t know that they were there and that often proved fatal, especially since we didn’t have the medical arsenal to combat them. Now we all know they exist and are “on guard” when someone who is sniffling and sneezing gets too close.
Would it really help to see the germs? Suppose you had that kind of vision and you could see the mites on the sofa, the germs on your spoon, or the surface bacteria on your body. That could easily make you either paranoid or obsessed. Such vision would also completely spoil your ability to enjoy this world’s beauty, because these infernal microbes would be forever cropping up. Instead of seeing how lovely a flower looks or a child’s smile, you would be distracted by the germs crawling around on the surface.
Resisting this Kingdom with Knowledge
It does help to know that germs exist. With knowledge you can take appropriate precautions to cleanse yourself of them, especially in caring for wounds or in preparing food. Notice the spiritual parallel. Our emotional wounds can be easily “infected” by the kingdom of darkness; so can what we choose to “feed” our minds by way of education or entertainment. Like germs the devil and his demons are always nearby it seems, looking for opportunities to “infect” us with doubts or fears, blame or shame, anger or hatred, wrong desires or false ideas.
Fortunately, just as our bodies have immune systems to fend off infections, we, too, have a protective covering in the Lord. We need to understand that the Lord’s protection, as good as it is, is limited. Some things will still get past the “hedge of protection” despite our best efforts to stay united to Him. But that is nothing compared to what jumps on us when we stray away! He is a rewarder of those who seek Him and a shield to those who make being close to Him their great Reward.[7]
There Is More to This Story
We have much more on these two invisible realms at our sister site, healingstreamsusa.org.
1) Kingdoms in Conflict describes the infernal kingdom in greater detail.
2) Keys to the Kingdom reveals the keys that Jesus has give us for overcoming the enemy and advancing into the Kingdom’s peace and joy.
3) Spiritual Warfare 101 outlines the most essential elements of our daily warfare.
4) Exposing the Darkness unmasks the most dangerous and deceptive ways that spiritual darkness works to destroy lives.
4) Exploring the Spiritual Landscape lays out all of the Bible dimensions of reality left out of our science books and shows their interactions.
5) Discerning Between Flesh and Spirit gives a “heads up” for how to recognize when you may be wrestling with the enemy, not just your own emotional strongholds.
Next Double to See
Two Realms of Habitation It is hard enough learning how to live in one world, this one. Yet, our calling is to learn to live in two realms at once. It’s no good saying you can’t—God knows you can with His help. In fact you have already been “seated with Christ” in the heavenlies. You are in this world, but not of it: You are on pilgrimage through it looking for the “city not made with hands” which God is building with the new creations He is raising up.
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Kingdom of Darkness Scriptures
"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. Matthew 12:43-45
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Luke 8:11-12
Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish; in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 WEB
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:12-13
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9
Kingdom of God Scriptures
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17
Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10
But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. Matthew 6:33 AMP
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:18-19
And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. Matthew 18:3 AMP
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:31-32
Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. Luke 17:21 AMP
Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."… Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." John 3:3, 5
Endnotes
[1] Jesus often opened or closed His messages with “He who has eyes to see, let him see.” The points made about the Kingdom can be found in the Kingdom of God Scripture section. Taken in the order they are in the sentence, look for Luke 17:21, Matthew 6:9-10, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 18:3.
[2] This is the river of living water—a clear reference to life in the Holy Spirit—which Jesus proclaimed would be the experience of His followers: On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" John 7:37-38
[3] Jesus told to brief parables to illustrate how important it is to be willing to sacrifice all for the sake of something of far greater value. Whether He had in mind His sacrifice for us or our intended “sacrifice” for Him, the message of well-considered abandonment applies: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it." Matthew 13:44-46
[4] Jesus is the one who recommends that we press in to take the Kingdom “by force,” not because God doesn’t want us to enter in, but because of the enemy’s opposition: From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12
[5] For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20
[6] These same signs of the kingdom “coming with power” came to the disciples on the Day of Pentecost with their empowerment by being baptized by the Holy Spirit: And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power." Mark 8:33
[7] Consider how these two passages combine to make the point: But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Genesis 15:1 NKJV