When we consider the expression “world” as it is used in the Word of God, it is clear that at least three distinct meanings are attached to it. It is important to notice from the context just what meaning is intended in each scripture where we find the word.
The Material World
First of all, we have the world as a place — the physical world which God created and in which we live and move. Thus we read in John 1:1010He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (John 1:10), “The world was made by Him,” referring to the material world, as we know it. It is interesting to notice that the Greek word frequently used for “world” in the New Testament, and especially in John’s ministry, is kosmos, which has the connotation of order or beauty. When God created this world and the things in it, He could say “that it was good” (Gen. 1:2525And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:25)). In spite of the ruin sin has brought in, we still today see much in this world that is beautiful and a reflection of the order in which God created it.
The People
Second, we have the world viewed in Scripture as the people in it. Thus we have what is perhaps the most well-known verse in the Bible telling us that “God so loved the world” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)), referring, of course, to the people in the world, and not to the material world itself. As another example, the Revelation refers to “the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world” (Rev. 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)), referring to the tribulation that will come upon the people in this world.
The World System
Third, we have the world viewed as a system — a vast interconnected arrangement of things such as culture, commerce, pleasure, and even religion, which seeks to cater to man’s needs.
Thus Psalm 17:1414From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. (Psalm 17:14) refers to “men of the world, which have their portion in this life.” In the New Testament we find multiple references to the world as a system, such as, “Love not the world. ... If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:1515And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; (John 2:15)). It is with this aspect of the world that we are concerned in this article. Where did the so-called world-system start and what are its characteristics, that Scripture has so much to say about it? As always, on any moral and spiritual subject, we find the answer in the Word of God.
The Origin
The world as a system is nothing new; it is almost as old as the presence of mankind in this world. It is true that the world as an organized, coordinated scheme of things has taken on a special significance since the rejection of the Lord Jesus and is spoken of in the New Testament much more than in the Old Testament. Nevertheless, the basic character of this world-system goes all the way back to Cain, the first son of Adam and Eve.
We know the story well, how that Cain and his brother Abel brought offerings unto the Lord. The Lord respected Abel’s offering of a lamb, but rejected Cain’s offering of the fruit of the ground. As a result, Cain murdered his brother Abel and brought upon himself a twofold punishment. First of all, the ground was cursed for his sake, so that it would no longer yield to him its fullness (Gen. 4:1212When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. (Genesis 4:12)). Second, and more important, Cain was pronounced “a fugitive and a vagabond” in the earth. Cain eventually “went out from the presence of the Lord” and built himself a city; then he and his descendants surrounded themselves with everything possible to make themselves as happy as they could, on a cursed earth and away from God. There are at least four distinct characteristics of the world-system that Cain set up — characteristics that persist today. The culture, commerce, pleasures, and material goods may have changed over the millennia, but the underlying principles remain the same.
No Repentance
First of all, there was no repentance on Cain’s part, either for presenting an unacceptable sacrifice or for murdering his brother. His pride took him to envy, one of the worst of sins, and murder was the outcome. When confronted with this, he made excuses, lied (to God Himself!), and then complained about the severity of his punishment. He was upset about the results of his sin, but there was no repentance for the sin itself. Actually, Cain deserved to die, but as God had not yet instituted either government or capital punishment, this was not carried out.
Out of God’s Presence
Second, Cain definitely and deliberately “went out from the presence of the Lord” (Gen. 4:1616And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. (Genesis 4:16)). Like those of a later date, he and his family “did not like to retain God in their knowledge” (Rom. 1:2828And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28)). Job could refer to the same kind of people — those who say to God, “Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways” (Job 21:1414Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. (Job 21:14)). Cain would take all the good that God could do for him, but he wanted to have nothing to do with any knowledge of or intimacy with God.
He Built a City
Third, “he builded a city, and called the name of it after his son, Enoch” (Gen. 4:1717And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. (Genesis 4:17)). The name Enoch means “dedicated,” and it is evident that Cain dedicated his city to his son, so that all his hopes and ambitions were centered in his family, not in God. There was nothing wrong in itself in building a city, but Cain’s object in doing this was not to glorify God; rather, it was to make a name for himself and for his family. There was no place for God in that city. It is refreshing to notice that a later descendant of Adam, through the family of Seth, was also named Enoch (Gen. 5:21-2421And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:21‑24)). He too was dedicated, but in a right way, for we read that “Enoch walked with God” (Gen. 5:2424And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:24)).
Inventions for Happiness
Finally, Cain’s family proceeded to surround themselves with every invention that could minister to their comfort and happiness, while leaving God out. It took several generations for this to come about, but we read that eventually Jabal was “the father of such as dwell in tents, and have cattle” (Gen. 4:2020And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. (Genesis 4:20)). Then his brother Jubal was “the father of all such as handle the harp and organ” (vs. 21). Finally, Tubal-cain was “an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron” (vs. 22). Cattle ministered to man’s food, brass and iron ministered to man’s commerce, and the harp and organ ministered to man’s pleasure. These things were not wrong in themselves; it was the use to which they were put that was inappropriate.
All of these characteristics of Cain’s world are with us today. Man experiences remorse at the effects of sin, but there is no recognition of the seriousness of sin in God’s sight, and thus no repentance. He still does not want the knowledge of God. Likewise, man’s inventive mind seeks to make this world as comfortable as possible, gratifying his lusts and taking God’s goodness for granted. Doing his own will (which is the very essence of sin) is his code of conduct, while realizing that life must end someday. His core belief is summed up in what was said to me once by a coworker: “We are not here for a long time; just to have a good time!”
As the days grow darker and the world takes on an ever-increasing character of evil, we as believers need to seek grace from the Lord, in order to obey the injunction, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:2121Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)).
W. J. Prost