The Bible reveals that life for members of the Christian brotherhood began in heaven. Their origin is termed ‘from the foundation of the world.
“… And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world…” Revelation 17:8b
‘Those’ in the above verse are earth dwellers without saving faith, i.e. their names have not been written in the Book of Life.
Inasmuch as life for the Christian began in heaven, their citizenship is likewise in heaven and the time the Christian spends on earth is as a sojourn, where the earth is but a temporary dwelling place.
“…For many…whose end is destruction…who set their mind on earthly things. For (however) our citizenship is in heaven…” Philippians 3:18-20
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul…” I Peter 2:11
“…conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning, dwelling as resident aliens in fear…” I Peter 1:17
“These…confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13
Due to the difference in origin of the Christian and those who are not, there is tremendous conflict between those whose citizenship is in heaven and just passing through, and those who claim the earth as their permanent residence. The latter category is classified as being in and of the world.
The authority over those of the world is substantially different than the authority over those with heavenly citizenship. There will be no reconciliation between the two and there will be war until the last days.
“I (Jesus) have given them (disciples) Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world…I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world…As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world…” John 17:14-18
Jesus confirmed that the disciples were aliens in the world. He asked His Father to keep (preserve) and protect them from the ruler of the world, i.e. Satan while they went about the Father’s business of sharing the gospel message. The ruler of the world will be defeated in God’s timing.
“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” John 12:31
The ruler of the world has been given his authority from God. He can only do as allowed by his Creator. He does, however, cause much trouble for the Christian aliens while they are on earth, but his time is marked and his destruction sure. Christians are reminded of the enemy’s limited power.
“You are of God… and have overcome them (false teachers), because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world…We are of God…” I John 4:4-6a
Therefore, there is great conflict between those of heavenly origin and those of the world. Christians are told to obey their heavenly Father, sojourn on the earth for a time, but not conform to the world’s norms.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” I John 2:15-17
Note the similarity of the above with the temptation Eve had in the Garden, i.e. ‘So when the woman saw…that it was pleasant to the eyes…’
Thus according to the Bible, those whose names were written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, and those who were not, once again define the two categories of all mankind.
The present world war will continue to the end of the age at the final separation of the warring parties.