Who is "the ruler of this world" in John 12:31 etc?

Jesus was talking about the devil, or evil.

Satan is the ruler of the world in terms of worldly things

Satan, Soon Jesus will come back and do his Father (Jehovahs) will and cast him in an abyss for a thousand years.

Satan, obviously.

Satan is. You can tell by the fact the text says he has no hold on Jesus. God is the head of Jesus and has great hold on him. 2 Cor. 11:3.

John 14:30 also refers to him. 2 Cor. 4:4 calls him the God of this world also and says he has blinded the minds of unbelievers. 1 John 5:19 again says the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. Luke 4:5-8 shows he rules the human governments/kingdoms.

John 12:31 KJV
31Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

God is not going to be cast out, nor Jesus. But Satan will be. Rev. 20:1-3. Abyssed, then destroyed. Ezek. 28:13-18.

Debbie

1 John 5:19 “We know we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the [power of the] wicked one.”

John 14:30 “I shall not speak much with YOU anymore, for the ruler of the world is coming. And he has no hold on me,”
John 16:11 “then concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”
Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, in order for them to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by [their] faith in me.’”
2 Corinthians 4:4 “among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.”
Ephesians 2:2 “in which YOU at one time walked according to the system of things of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit that now operates in the sons of disobedience.”
"The Bible clearly states: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) When you think about it, does that not make sense? This world reflects the personality of the invisible spirit creature who is “misleading the entire inhabited earth.” (Revelation 12:9) Satan is hateful, deceptive, and cruel. So the world, under his influence, is full of hatred, deceit, and cruelty. That is one reason why there is so much suffering." - http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/article_11.htm This leads to an online version of a book entitled What Does the Bible REALLY Teach? Millions have enjoyed this book and benefited from it, and millions more are now. For more information and to obtain one for free please visit www.watchtower.org

John is speaking about the fact that there was more evil in the world than anything else, thus the Devil was ruling most. However, I know many find this fact strange, but the devil only has as much control as God allows. For example, Job. God allowed the tormenting of Job because He knew Job's outcome and his faith. However, He limited what the devil could do to Job. Many ask why does God just get rid of the devil, thus putting away evil. All I can say is "in due time". There is a plan, a schedule you could say, and it does not change by our wishes or desires.

God is allowing satan to rule this world..

This is why there is so much ugly going on.

God don't like ugly.

Look at atheists... my mind has a hard time discerning their vulgar minds.
How can anyone's mind even go there? What a twisted way to think.
I have heard a lot in my lifetime.. been called a lot.. yet.. when it comes to
some folks... I just do not understand how some can be so ugly..
Sick thoughts cannot enter my mind.

It is satan.

The Bible says that satan is ruling for now.

Humanity

Jesus was speaking metaphorically about Satan. There is no actual physical satan, it is a metaphoric word for the word adversary.

It implies evil.

Ruler does not imply that it will be an actual person ruling over the whole world....this metaphorically means that evil and sin will rule the world....look at the world right now - there is sin and evil everywhere.

So evil does rule the world.

When Jesus returns to set up the Kingdom, evil will be destroyed.

God