John says in his Epistle, that "the whole world lieth in the power of the wicked one;" and Jesus in the gospels compares him to "a strong man armed, keeping his goods;" and himself to one stronger than he, who strippeth him of the arms in which he trusted, and spoileth his goods.

"For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the Devil."-- 1 John iii.8.And it is said, "that he came to send forth the captive into liberty, and to heal those who were oppressed of the Devil." Men are also said to have been "taken captive of the Devil, to fulfil his will."-- 2 Timothy ii.26.And we find that the Christians attributed all their sufferings to the opposition of this Being.

"Put on (says Paul) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.

For we struggle not against flesh and blood only; but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places."-- Ephesians vi.12.Christians are also said to be delivered by God from the power of darkness, and to be translated into the kingdom of his dear son.

That is, as Christians were considered as being the subjects of Jesus, and the rest of the world as being of the kingdom of Satan, when a man became a Christian he was translated from the kingdom of one, to the kingdom of the other.