Our Struggle;Principalities and Powers

http://billrandles.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/our-struggle-principalities-and-powers/ ^ | 08-14-13 | Bill Randles

[pastorbillrandles]

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.(Ephesians 6:10-12)

It is becoming increasingly obvious to many of us who observe the steady assault against everything “Judeo” or “Christian” about our once great civilization, that the opposition to all that is good, transcends mere political, legal, media, cultural or financial interests. The disintegration of our moral and spiritual world is obviously being overseen by something more than human. We are currently struggling against principalities and powers, just as Paul warned us we would.

What is scripture referring to when the expression “Principalities and Powers” is used?

I used to have a simplistic understanding of this expression. I thought that “Principalities and Powers” were merely demonic entities. I was partially right, because Daniel 10 reveals that fallen Angel “Princes” are set over nations,

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.but the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia….Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.(Daniel 10:12-13,20)

Note that the “Prince of Persia” withstood the Angel Gabriel, who brought the answer to Daniel’s prayer. But the Prince of Grecia was soon to come. In history, The chosen people were under bondage to the Persians, until the Greek empire conquered them.

There are others who believe that “Principalities and powers” are human institutions, and even political rulers, such as Pilate and Herod. For example, Paul tells us, of the Princes of this world,

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.( I Corinthians 2:6-8)

God himself has ordained fundamental human institutions, such as Government. He refers to it as “the powers that be” in Romans and outlines their God appointed function.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.(Romans 13:1-2)

I am beginning to think from my study of scripture that “Principalities and Powers” is actually a reference to both the demonic and the various human institutions such as Government, Medicine, Law, Media, Education, etc. in some kind of amalgamation.

In short, in this fallen world, as a culture degenerates, it’s very institutions become, “… the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird”(Revelation 18:2) . What happens when Government or law or education are put into the service of Satan himself?

As we come closer to the end we realize that even seemingly ‘good’ institutions such as education, law, medicine are turning increasingly hostile to the former Christian consensus that they were once nurtured in the west. Watchman Nee warned of this in his book, “Love Not The World”,

Politics, education, literature, science, art, law, commerce, music-such are the things that constitute the cosmos, and these are things that we meet daily. Subtract them and the world as a coherent system ceases to be. In studying the history of mankind we have to acknowledge marked progress in each of these departments. The question however is: In what direction is this “progress” tending? What is the ultimate goal of all this development? At the end, John tells us, antichrist will arise and will set up his own kingdom in this world (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7; Rev. 13). That is the direction of this world’s advance. Satan is utilizing the material world, the men of the world, the things that are in the world, to head everything up eventually in the kingdom of antichrist. At that hour the world system will have reached its zenith; and at that hour every unit of it will be revealed to be antiChristian.( Love Not The World, Watchman Nee)

I believe that the secularization of our society, has literally fulfilled the Words of Jesus about the danger of Israel’s “House” being empty and swept clean. (The “house” for Israel was the temple, the “Holy House” of God). When the sin of Israel caused the Holy God to desolate the Temple, it didn’t remain “empty,swept and garnished”. The vacuum is soon filled with evil spirits, which put the formerly valid institution to the service of evil. The Temple itself thus became put to the service of evil!

In that way it is possible for primal institutions such as Government, law enforcement, Education, Banking, and even religion to literally become Demon Possessed and put to the service of evil.

This is the only explanation possible for the phenomenon of the radical homosexualization of our military, the utter and open pillage and corruption in our economic system (Banking,Wall Street), the openness to Islam, and consecutive hostility to Evangelical Christianity, by Government and even main stream Christianity. How else could we explain the nationally suicidal policies of our leaders?

The self-destructive , perverse, and even malignant rulings of liberal judges, such as the recent decision in California to open the restrooms of the schools to either sex, for the sake of any “transgender students and teachers” could only be categorized as ‘demonic’. Another example from California, is the recent requirement that millions and perhaps billions be spent on textbooks, which by law, must teach the ‘contributions’ of gay,lesbian,bisexual and transgender citizens in our history.

This is sheer madness! Our nation is rapidly becoming demon possessed, our institutions which formerly were for the protection of life, and the dissemination of light, are become “Powers…rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places”(Ephesians 6) , put to the service of the god of this evil age.

We should not despair, though, for the believer is both to be aware, and to don the God-given armor and the proven weapons provided by God for the “Evil Day”. More to come…

[NoLibZone]

If the Bible is true, America must be crushed.

Best is for the red states to pull out.

They have morality, food and energy.

Take what we learned from this experiment and move on.

[Salvation]

Principalies and powers are only two of the levels of angels in heaven. They are not demons.

Lists Every Catholic Should be Familiar With: The 9 Choirs of Angels

[pastorbillrandles]

Principalities and Powers are Angels, Fallen and Unfallen(Demons)- Ephesians 2:2-3Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

[johngrace]

He is talking about fallen angels. The book in Daniel is believed to be prince( fallen angel) of Persia because Arch angel Gabriel dealt with him. If he was a human The angel Gabriel would not have any problems. So it is believed to be a fallen angel. Which means many cities of the world have good or fallen angels .

[Salvation]

Some at those levels may have fallen with Lucifer.

But ALL principalities and powers are not demons with Satan.

[johngrace]

Of course not. Let me tell you when I worked in Ny I believe I could sense the “ the evil prince “ of NY city. That place was a trip for a 23 year old kid working there in the 1980’s.

[Salvation]

And according to the seer that forecast 9-11 NYC will be hit again because the government is not following the requests made for the reconstruction of Ground Zero.

[johngrace]

You mean the book by the messianic rabbi. Yes I believe that too. The Harbinger book. Fascinating read. Jonathan Cahn.

[johngrace]

Great article! Thanks pastor.