|
|
 |
"PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS" EPH.3:10
"Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and THE POWER, and THE GLORY, and THE
VICTORY, and THE MAJESTY: for ALL THAT IS IN THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH
IS THINE; thine is THE KINGDOM, O Lord, and THOU ART EXALTED AS HEAD
ABOVE ALL. Both riches and honour come of Thee, and THOU REIGNEST OVER ALL;
and in thine hand is POWER and MIGHT; and in thine hand it is to make great, and
to give strength unto all." 1Chr.29:11,12.
WHAT ARE THESE THINGS?
What is a devil? What is a demon? What is an evil or unclean spirit?
What is an evil angel? (based on KJV). Are these fallen angels as men
term them? Are they individual living spiritual entities? Are they personal
human spirits of actual persons who have died? Or are they all merely
psychosomatic anomalies or aberrations of man's own personal thoughts
or imaginations? Those who believe that the Bible is the word of God can
examine this study and decide for themselves.
It should come as no surprise that the word "demon" is not found in the
English translation. Strong's Conc. translates the word "daimon" into
English as "devil". His definition is...a demonic being; a diety, devil, god.
In the Old Testament we clearly see that "gods" "strange gods" "new
gods" are also called "devils." "They provoked Him to jealousy with
strange gods, with abominations provoked they Him to anger. They
sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new
gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not." Deut.32:16,17.
"Daimon" is a supernatural spirit (of a bad nature). The word "devil"
--from diabolos--a slanderer, a traducer, false accuser.
The Bible tells us that man has his own personal "spirit" (pnuema) Nu.
16:22; 27:16; Prv.18:13; 20:27; Eccl.3:21; Zec.12:1; 1Cor.2:11; 14:32;
2Cor.7:1; Heb.12:23. Man himself has within him a distinct spirit, which
lives within His body of flesh. See study booklets.."The Spirit Within" and
"The Undividable Division" for more detailed information. See also "A Light
That Shineth In A Dark Place" and "A World Of Iniquity" for more details of
the operation of evil within both unregenerate and regenerate man.
God's word reveals man can have not only a personal human "SPIRIT" that
is unclean, but he can actually have indwelling within his own spirit-soul,
something else. This "something else" other than his own personal nature,
yet closely related to that nature...is biblically referred to as "UNCLEAN
SPIRIT." Mk.1:23,26; 7:25. There is no difference when the Bible uses the
phraseology.."A SPIRIT OF AN UNCLEAN DEVIL." Lk.4:33. Note that in Mark
7:26 and Lk.9:22, the "UNCLEAN SPIRIT" which can actually "possess"
people (Ac.8:7) was simply called "THE DEVIL."
ONE AND THE SAME
The possessed man in Mark 5:7+ had numerous "UNCLEAN SPIRITS."
Because of this, he was said to be "POSSESSED OF THE DEVIL." Mk.5:15,
16,18. So now one can see how that "UNCLEAN SPIRITS" are not really
any different than "THE SPIRITS OF DEVILS." Rev.16:13,14; Lk.4:33.
Yes, these kind of unclean "SPIRITS" and "DEVILS" are one and the same
- 1Tim.4:1.
Again, in Lk.11.20, Jesus spoke of casting out "DEVILS." In Lk.11:24
He referred to "the UNCLEAN SPIRIT" in the same context as "DEVILS."
Then in verse 26 He simply refers to them all as "SPIRITS."
These are not good spirits, nor actual human spirits but are what the Bible
terms as "EVIL SPIRITS" and the power of their evil can dwell "in" men -
Ac.19:16; Eph.2:2. It is written, "EVIL SPIRITS went OUT OF people."
Ac.19:12,13,15,16; Lk.7:21; 8:2 etc. "And DEVILS also CAME OUT OF
many, crying out and saying, thou art Christ, the Son of God." Lk.4:41.
Again we see, EVIL SPIRITS and DEVILS are the same thing.
INTO AND OUT OF
When a certain man brought his boy to Jesus for help he said to Jesus
that his child had a "DUMB SPIRIT." Mk.9:17. In Mk.9:25 Jesus referred
to this spirit more specifically addressing it as a "dumb and deaf spirit."
Not only that but this same scripture refers to it as "a FOUL SPIRIT." It
is revealed that this vicious spirit CAME INTO this boy when he was a child
(Mk.9:21) and caused this boy's mouth to foam and teeth to gnash when it
tried to tear him (Mk.9:18,20) and ofttimes cast him "into the fire and into
the waters to destroy" (Mk.9:22) the boy. Jesus then rebuked this spirit in
the boy, charging the foul spirit to "COME OUT of him, and enter no more
into him. And THE SPIRIT cried, and rent him sore, and CAME OUT OF
HIM.." Mk.9:25.
By the foregoing passages and others, we see that Jesus believed there
were actual supernatural intelligent beings called "SPIRITS" that were
able to enter into people and were also able to come out of people. The
Bible refers to these spirits specifically, both as "UNCLEAN SPIRITS" and
"DEVILS." Jesus spoke to them and they to Him.
INTELLIGENT BUT UNCLEAN
These obviously were intelligent supernatural beings. "And He rebuking
them suffered them not to speak: for they knew He was Christ - Lk.4:41b.
The devils believe Jesus is the Son of God and do not take it lightly - Jas.
2:19. The devils were not deceived as were the people of Samaria who
referred to Simon the sorcerer in proudly proclaiming "This man is THE
GREAT POWER OF GOD" (Ac.8:10), not knowing that this was befitting of
Jesus only.
Even in the Old Testament, DEVILS (Deut.32:17) or EVIL SPIRITS were
totally subordinate to God - 1Sam.16:14,16,23; 18:10;19:9; Judg.9:23
and these "SPIRITS" also had the ability to speak intelligently - 2Chr.18:
18-22; 1Kgs.11:19-23. See out study booklet titled "The Lord Killeth And
Maketh Alive" for further understanding on this.
There is no clearer picture of these things than in the story of the man
possessed with a legion of devils in Mark chptr.5. There were numerous
UNCLEAN SPIRITS that were in this man and that went out of this man
and entered into a herd of swine. Among other good examples of Jesus
speaking to "UNCLEAN SPIRITS" and they also to Him, is the passage in
Mark 1:23-26. Just as in Mark 5:9, one devil spoke for many using the
word "we." The indwelling spirits also referred to themselves as "us."
Up to this point, it can be plainly seen that "DEVILS", "UNCLEAN DEVILS",
"SPIRITS of DEVILS", "UNCLEAN SPIRITS" and "SPIRITS" are all nothing
more than "FOUL", "EVIL SPIRITS." They are all one and the same thing.
But fear not for all evil spirits are under the sovereign control of God and
no one else - Judg.9:23; 1Sam.16:14,15,16,23; 18:10;19:9. Truly our
holy "God is KING of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. GOD
REIGNETH over the heathen: God sitteth upon the THRONE of his holiness."
Psa.47:7,8.
HOLY ANGELS, EVIL ANGELS
Now just in case any are not convinced that these are separate inanimate
supernatural spirit beings that can somehow enter into human beings, the
Bible has one more name for them all that sheds even more light on this
often controversial subject. We have not yet brought "ANGELS" into this
equation.
"HOLY ANGELS" (Matt.25:31; Mk.8:38; Lk.9:26; Rev.14:10), or "ANGELS
OF GOD" (Gen.28:12; 32:1; Matt.22:30; Lk.12:8,9 etc.) or "ANGELS OF
HEAVEN" (Matt.24:36) or "OF THE LORD" (Matt.28:2; Ac.12:23 etc.) as
they are also called, are mentioned numerous times in scripture. God's
ANGELS are also called "SPIRITS." Psa.104:4; Heb.1:7. These are all "HIS
ANGELS" (Matt.16:27; 24:31; Psa.91:11; 103:20) which are "MIGHTY
ANGELS" (2Ths.1:7) or messengers and are in direct contrast to "THE DEVIL
and HIS ANGELS." Matt.25:41.
Not so often, is found the usage of the phrase "EVIL ANGELS." In fact that
specific terminology is used just once in the KJV in Psa.78:49. Now as we
continue on in study it should not be at all surprising to discover that "EVIL
ANGELS" are really just wicked "EVIL SPIRITS", "UNCLEAN SPIRITS" etc.
We are told that ANGELS have a "nature" of their own (Heb.2:16), whether
they be holy or evil. And men by their human fleshly minds, are by nature
the children of wrath - Eph.2:3. God's word also tells us that both men and
angels are a separate and different kind of being - 1Cor.13:9; 4:9. Man is
in a realm of creation just "a little lower than the angels." Heb.2:5-9.
We began in saying natural MAN HAS "A SPIRIT." So also are all ANGELS
"SPIRITS." Ac.23:8,9; Psa.104:4; Heb.1:7. And "devils" as has been show are
also called SPIRITS." Lk.8:2; Matt.8:16; 1Tim.4:1; Rev.16:4. In actuality,
they are also called false gods - 1Cor.10:20,21; Deut.32:17.
Unregenerate human spirits are also unholy and evil, but men's own
individual but yet unregenerate personal "spirits" are not what the Bible
refers to as "EVIL ANGELS." So you still might ask, how do we know that
"EVIL ANGELS" are also the same as "EVIL SPIRITS?"
Paul speaks of "the PRINCIPALITIES and POWERS in HEAVENLY PLACES."
Eph.3:10. "And having spoiled PRINCIPALITIES and POWERS, He made a
show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Col.2:15; 1Ptr.3:22.
I am persuaded as was the apostle Paul that "neither ANGELS, nor [evil -
Col.2:15; Eph.3:10] PRINCIPALITIES, nor POWERS...shall be able to
separate us from the love of God..." Ro.8:38. It is obviously not those
"HOLY ANGELS" that separate us from God's love. It is the "EVIL ANGELS."
PRINCIPALITIES, AUTHORITIES, POWERS AND DOMINIONS
In Eph.6:11,12 we find here again Paul is speaking of the same evil angelic
"PRINCIPALITIES and POWERS." Here he says we battle against the wiles
of "THE DEVIL"...against "THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS of this world,
against SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS [evil] in HIGH PLACES." Gal.5:17. This is
"his KINGDOM" (Matt.12:26) a wicked principality and KINGDOM "FULL OF
DARKNESS." (Rev.16:10; Col.1:13) ruling in the "kingdoms of the heathen."
Hag.2:22.
The scriptures further make it very clear that this high realm of wickedness
includes UNCLEAN SPIRITS that are WICKED (Matt.12:43-45), even dark
"ANGELS and AUTHORITIES and POWERS" 1Ptr.3:22. Would it surprise
you to know that these things are also referred to as "the POWERS OF the
HEAVENS" (Matt.24:29) that are being shaken and "STRONG HOLDS" that
are being pulled down - 2Cor.10:4. Truly, there is "WAR IN HEAVEN." Rev.
12:7. Who is preparing himself to the battle? 1Cor.14:8.
And when the final battle is finished, "the KINGDOM and DOMINION, and
the greatness of THE KINGDOM under the whole heaven, shall be given to
the people of the saints of the most High, whose KINGDOM is an everlasting
KINGDOM, and ALL DOMINIONS shall serve and obey Him." Da.7:27.
"Behold, one like the Son of man..(Da.7:13; Gen.1:26-28)..and there was
given him DOMINION, and glory, and A KINGDOM, that all people, nations,
and languages, should serve him: his DOMINION is an EVERLASTING
DOMINION, which shall not pass away, and his KINGDOM that which shall
not be destroyed." Da.7:14.
"By Him were ALL THINGS created, that are in HEAVEN and in EARTH,
visible and invisible, whether they be THRONES, or DOMINIONS, or
PRINCIPALITIES or POWERS: ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM AND
FOR HIM..." (Col.1:16) "whose DOMINION is AN EVERLASTING DOMINION,
and HIS KINGDOM is from generation to generation." Da.4:34. In every
generation "THY GOD REIGNETH." Isa.52:7.
"He is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and His kingdom that which
shall not be destroyed, and HIS DOMINION shall be even unto the end."
Da.6:26b. "Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up THE
KINGDOM to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down ALL
RULE and ALL AUTHORITY and POWER. For HE MUST REIGN, till He hath
put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is
death." 1Cor.15:24-26
THE POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINED
In fulness of truth and in "upholding all things by the word of HIS POWER"
(Heb.1:3) there is actually "NO POWER BUT OF GOD: THE POWERS THAT
BE ARE ORDAINED OF GOD." Ro.13:1. "..Death hath no more DOMINION
over Him." Ro.6:9. "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and
majesty, DOMINION AND POWER, both now and forever." Jude 1:25;
Rev.1:6.
"DOMINION and fear are with Him, He maketh peace in His high places."
Jb.24:2. Paul reveals this realm of spiritual wickedness in high places of
the heavens, even of men's prideful minds, is presided over by one called
"the PRINCE (Jn.14:30; 16:11) of THE POWER of the AIR" (Eph.2:2) who
has only interim glory and subjugated power and authority (Lk.4:6) in "the
POWER of DARKNESS" (Col.1:13) and "the POWER of DEATH." Heb.2:14.
All these powers are "the POWER of the ENEMY" (Lk.10:19), also called
"the POWER of SATAN." Ac.26:18. This god of the power of the air has
temporary authority and control over the nature of the beast (Rev.13:2),
but always our Most High Almighty "LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH."
Rev.19:6.
BOUND IN CHAINS OF DARKNESS
And once again we see they have an ability to "enter in and dwell" in man.
The fact that they can enter in and go out is proof enough that they are
separate entities from man's own nature. Heb.2:7,9,16 clearly indicates
that ANGELS have a nature higher and other than man's. And Jesus has
a nature "so much better than THE ANGELS." Heb.1:4.
Many of the preceeding passages speak of all that is keeping man from the
love of God. These reveal not only EVIL ANGELS but encompass all manner
and form of spiritual wickedness such as human sin and iniquity which has
its power source in our own carnal hearts and minds. These same evil and
sinful angels are those also spoken of in 2Ptr.2:4 and Jude 1:6. Many are
now linked to and bound in the "darkness" of man's soul for an unspecified
period of time, even ages. Nevertheless, "THE LORD REIGNETH." Psa.93:1.
We are also told these devilish angels have lesser rulers, chiefs or kings
over them - Lk.11:14-20, verse 15 in particular. See also Rev.9:11. Look
at the other names.... "the GREAT DRAGON, that old SERPENT, called THE
DEVIL, and SATAN" and with him were "HIS ANGELS." Rev.12:9; Matt.
25:41. Satan may be "the prince" and "the god of this world" (2Cor.4:4)
but our almighty "Lord is A GREAT GOD and a GREAT KING above all gods"
(Psa.95:3; 97:9; 135:5), demon gods or otherwise. He is truly "the GOD
of gods" (Psa.136:2; Josh.22:22) and "He is A GREAT KING OVER ALL THE
EARTH." Psa.47:2.
AUTHORITY AND POWER OVER UNCLEAN SPIRITS
These evil devlish ANGELS are also known as MESSENGERS OF SATAN -
2Cor.12:7. These all...are amongst the spiritually wicked "ANGELS and
AUTHORITIES and POWERS being made subject unto" Christ - 1Ptr.3:22.
Christ alone, retains "ALL POWER..IN HEAVEN and IN EARTH" (Matt.28:18)
and it is because of Him alone who has "POWER OVER ALL FLESH" (Jn.17:2;
Ro.9:21) that His disciples also have all AUTHORITY (Mrk.13:34; Lk.9:1)
and "POWER OVER UNCLEAN SPIRITS." Mrk.6:7; Matt.10:1; Mrk.3:15,16;
6:7; Lk.10:19. Therein, "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice:
and let men say among the nations, The LORD REIGNETH." 1Chr.16:31.
In their ability to deceive, many of these unclean messengers of satan,
these evil, unseen angels individually perform their satanic duties, each
as an "ANGEL OF LIGHT." 2Cor.11:14. Therefore, if the church does not
recognize the wiles of their enemies (Matt.10:16) and remain ignorant of
his devices, it is very scriptural that satan could get "an advantage of us."
2Cor.2:11; 1Ptr.5:8; Rev.2:24. It is not enough just to know the truth of
what we are and who we are and what we have in Christ, without also
knowing the truth of what we are and who we are and what we still might
have in Adam!
DECEPTION OF THE MOST SUBTLE KIND
Christ is to always remain our central focus, (Matt.17:8) but if we remain
ignorant of who our enemies are, where they are coming from, and what
their tactics are we are ever open to attacks and/or deception. To ignore
satan, or worse yet, believe that he or the carnal old adam nature in whose
house (Matt.12:28,29) he resides...are now rendered powerless, or dead, or
illusions in our lives, or that "evil spirits" do not exist--are deceptions of the
most subtle kind. From the beginning, the old adam nature, was ignorant
to the cunning tactics of the serpent and his subtle yet deceptive powers of
suggeston. And the rest has been history.
Even today, the deceived adam nature, the son of perdition within the
temple of God (1Cor.3:16; 2Cor.6:16), sits on the throne of his prideful self
"SHOWING (and in some cases literally saying and believing in and of)
HIMSELF THAT HE IS GOD." 2Ths.2:4. Him that hath an ear O Lord, allow
him to hear what the Spirit of the Lord saith, and not what the spirit of man
nor any other deceptive spirit saith unto the church.
Now, in order to tie this back into the first half of this little study article,
we will begin to close with this. God gave the gifts of the Spirit for a good
reason, and "the discerning of spirits" (1Cor.12:10) was no exception. If
the many facets of evil in humanity are just a myth or a simple matter of
mistaken identity in our lives as some believe, then why would the church
need true godly discernment?
Whether one believes "spirits" here means the human spirit or evil angels
matters little. The fact is, we have a part of our nature that the Lord must
deal with even after we come to Christ--whether it originates from the
nature of our own carnal mind or from the nature of something extraneous
as well.
To say old things are completely passed away and all things have become
new, deny's the further need of the blood of the atonement. It bespeaks
of an instant and manifest glorification and perfection of human nature. It
does away with the experiential nature of our daily cross (Lk.9:23; 1Cor.
15:31; Matt.6:10-13) and the need of ongoing change from glory to glory
(1Cor.3:18) and from "faith to faith" Ro.1:17. There is no denying that a
new believer's former life of sin was given a clean slate in initial salvation
(2Cor.5:17), but all things in their new life merely have the beginnings of
that newness. "All things are become new" (2Cor.5:17) for him to walk
upon the highway of holiness - Isa.35:8-10.
FOLLOWING ON TO KNOW THE LORD
Full forgiveness and initial entrance into the outer court of salvation is a
gift - Ro.6:23; Eph.2:8,9. But further entrance into the inner court and
hence beyond the rent veil into the most holy place is a prize (1Cor.9:24;
Phil.3:14)...a glorious full reward - 2Jn.1:8; Col.3:24; 1Cor.38. It is a walk,
a goal, that faithful saints together with Christ must experientially strive
(Lk.13:24) for throughout life's trying experience (Ro.5:3,4) in progressively
working out their own salvation - Phil.2:12.
Hence there is ongoing need for sanctification (1Ths.4:4; 2Ths.2:13; 1Ptr.
1:2; for cleansing (Jas.4:8), for dying daily (1Cor.15;31), for overcoming
(Rev.2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; 21:7) in taking up our cross daily (Lk.9:23;
Mk.8:34) and following on to know the Lord - Hos.6:3; Jn.12:26. It is the
Christian's rightful duty to follow on to know the Lord, not in a measure
but in His fullness as the song goes...even "unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Eph.4:13.
"THEREFORE DEARLY BELOVED, LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES OF ALL
FILTHINESS OF THE FLESH AND SPIRIT PERFECTING HOLINESS IN THE
FEAR OF GOD." 2Cor.7:1; Isa.52:1. Let us learn and "teach the difference
between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the
unclean and the clean." Ezk.44:23. Still in the church today, there are
many prophets and priests that profane God's holy things. "They have put
no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed
difference between the unclean and the clean.." Ezk.22:16.
"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go
ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord."
Isa.52:11. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not." Gal.6:9. "For the Lord is great, and greatly to
be praised: He is to be feared ABOVE ALL GODS....O worship the Lord in
the beauty of His holiness: fear before Him all the earth. Say among the
heathen that THE LORD REIGNETH." Psa.96:4-10.
AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM AND DOMINION SHALL PREVAIL
The kingdoms of this world locked within the the gates of hell shall not
prevail. "All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless
thee. They shall speak of THE GLORY of Thy KINGDOM, and talk of Thy
POWER; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and THE
GLORIOUS MAJESTY of his KINGDOM. Thy KINGDOM is an everlasting
KINGDOM, and Thy DOMINION endureth throughout all generations."
Psa.145:10:13.
"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The KINGDOMS of this world are become the KINGDOMS of our
Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall REIGN for ever and ever." Rev.11:15.
"For thine is the KINGDOM, and THE POWER, and THE GLORY, for ever,
Amen." Matt.6:13; Rev.4:11; 5:12,13; 7:12; 15:8; 18:1; 19:1.
K. Ross McKay
|
|
|
|