We through the event of identification with the cross of Christ, now enter into the great controversy, of the soon coming eternal kingdom of Christ, in its militant invasion of this eon.

We the church are enlisted into the battle, which has been raging from the time of the total victory of the Son of God, over all the hostile forces of creation, who through the weapon of militant grace at Calvary, defeated the world powers of this present age and cosmos of creation.

The coming of God in Christ, was the initial invasion of the fallen order of the cosmos of creation history, which this world is cradled in.

The real battle once entered, is in this arena called the heavenlies, which are found in Christ Jesus, against the rulers who govern this world and present age.

This is the realm of sin and death, whos the prince of this world. Who through the fall of Adam, stole the reins of power over the world systems and orders, which regulate all created events, which is the realm of the principalities and powers of this evil age.

The powers are now because of the fall of Adam, prisoners to the powers of sin and death.

Death through sin is now the governing authority in creation, which is released by the powers into this world.

This present creation and cosmos, are under the bondage of this hostile force called sin that operates through death.

This is the arena in which we wrestle, by our union with the resurrected glorified Christ.

As his advent into this world was, so also now through baptism into his life, we through him are.

This was the world of Paul and the others, who came before us.

The early Church was the initial invasion into the dominion of death.

When the Lord acceded into the heavens, and the spirit was released into the early Church, then this assault began to take shape.

This has been the experience of many through the turbulent history of the militant Church.

Jesus said to peter, on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hades will not stand against it. This is a picture of an invading force assaulting the gates of the strong hold of Hades, which is the prison house of this world and cosmos.

Behind the gates of Hades was this once impregnable fortress called sin and death.

Death is the realm of the prison house of this world. In the death of Christ this kingdom of death was initially invaded by the Kingdom of God. The light of the God of creation invaded through militant grace this realm of death.

God in Christ through his death, stripped off the kingdom of death by the death of Christ, death was assaulted and exposed.

This is the ageless, but now coming climatic event, of the invading force called the kingdom of heaven, now through the risen Christ coming in apocalyptic force, to reclaim the world and cosmos, which are governed by death.

This is what we now as the Church have been enlisted into.

We are brought into this crisis of the creation, through the crisis of the coming of the Christ.

The Church in present time is the militant reality in creation, birthed by the acceded Lord of glory, sent by the spirit into the dominion of the world powers, now proclaiming the victory of Calvary, which is Christ is Lord and King of all.

This is the proclamation of the Church triumphant, who through the physical death of their bodies now dwell in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, proclaiming to the hostile world forces, who are situated in the realm of the heavenlies, which still continue to stand against the rule and the authority of our God and his Christ, the manifold wisdom of God.

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,  and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,  so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,  in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.  So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. Ephesians 3, 7-10

This is our birthright through Christ, to share in the rule and dominion of his great eternal immortal, but soon coming, but already here, reign of the great King and Lord.