The term “kingdom” describes the realm (and hence people) over which a king exercises his authority. Upon his ascension into heaven, the whole world has become the kingdom of Jesus Christ because God gave Christ authority over his entire world (Revelation 5:1–14; Ephesians 1:22). Many people in Christ’s world, however, reject Christ’s lordship and acknowledge Satan as god instead (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19). These rebels, scattered across the face of the earth, constitute the beast’s kingdom.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish