Satan offered Jesus the power and the glory of the world itself, because these were his to give to whomever he chose. At least this was the claim Satan made. In "Christian Origins" (ed. by Richard Horsley) Warren Carter concludes from this temptation that Rome itself was thus "under Satan's direction and power (p. 147)."
Here are some issues that rise with the temptation:
1. Much of tht bible states that all the kingdoms are under God. Romans 13:1 tells us that all power is from God and therefore we should be subject to them.
2. There are several ways we can look at Satan's claim.
a. Satan was lieing to Jesus and in fact has no authority as claimed. But if that were so, then Jesus would not be tempted for he would know that all power belonged to God.
b. Satan has control under God's authority.
c. The Gospel writers believed that Satan had control, but Paul and others in the bible believed the world belonged to God.
On the surface the last option looks very promising, but Paul is able to bring the two opposing ideas together. He claims that we fight against principalities and powers, and that at one time we were all under the domination of the "Prince of the power of the air." At the same time in Romans 13 he states that all power is under God. I would conclude that Paul's theology is best summarized under the second option...Satan who has power over the world is under God's control.
Finally, notice that Jesus' ministry begins with spiritual battle with Satan and not a fight with political or religious leaders. It tells me that the early church writers believed Jesus ministry was spirtual in nature and not political.
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