“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
If you have wondered in the past year or so just what is going on in this world I can assure you that you are not alone. Not a day goes by now where I don’t receive a question along those lines as virtually everyone is wondering the same thing. From the common individual all the way up to world leaders, we see decisions being made which many believe could be described as delusional to outright insanity. While the world may wonder how this could all occur, as believers we should have no doubt about who is behind it, and especially how it is being orchestrated.
The apostle Paul makes it very clear in this passage from the book of Ephesians that our adversary in this life is not of this world that we can see, but the angelic world which surrounds us yet is invisible to our eyes. Notice too that Paul informs us that there are numerous types of adversaries as well. He says our struggle is, “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts.” Yet in this passage Paul also explains why we are seeing our world fall apart all around us but we need to read between the lines to understand.
Paul’s warning is directed to us as believers, indwelt by the Holy Spirit when we made the choice to accept the free gift of salvation by accepting the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, as payment for our sins. As a result, we enter a struggle against the forces of darkness in this world, and the plan that Satan has to eventually conquer it. The point I think Paul is also making here is that while believers struggle, unbelievers do not. In fact, the point can easily be made that Satan is using unbelievers to push his agenda in ways we may not even imagine.
Now to some, that might seem to be a rather harsh accusation, but let’s not forget the list of adversaries Paul gave us. In other places in the Word of God we are given a glimpse of just how high and to what extent these powers can go. Isaiah 14:3, Daniel 12:1, Ezekiel 28:12, all are examples of this. Notice too, this passage from Daniel which I am sure many of you are familiar with.
“Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel 10:12,13 NKJV
In the scriptures, when these supernatural powers are said to be “kings”, it is Satan to which God is referring to. When these powers are called “princes”, the Bible is talking about one of Satan’s fallen angels. So if we accept what we are being told here, the logical assumption is that Satan has angels called princes which exercise power and influence over every country and government in this world. Their job, obviously, is to advance Satan’s evil plans in any way that they can, and that includes influencing the decisions of those in power who are not believers and are easily “deceived” into thinking they are doing good.
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 NKJV
Now if that seems a little hard to believe, for the sake of an intellectual exercise consider just the headlines of this past week and ask yourselves if there are any examples of evil being called good? I personally was shocked to see how many could easily be labeled in just that way. What I find even more shocking is how those who are deceived into thinking evil is good are so fast to label anyone who disagrees as the ones being evil. Am I the only one who wonders how those who once demanded tolerance and respect are now so unwilling to practice what they preached? Of even greater concern is how swiftly this world moving in the direction of being forced to do that with which we disagree.
One of the signs we are told to watch for which heralds the return of Jesus for His Church is the increase in persecution members of the body will suffer. While most of us would tend to focus on governmental persecution of the organized church, we should all be aware that individual persecution by those who disagree with our beliefs will become even more prevalent as we approach the end of our time on this earth. Every week I read stories of persecution and suffering being visited upon true believers, not only from strangers, but even from friends and family. As painful as it is to contemplate, Satan will use anyone and anything, even those closest to us, to attack the faithful as we approach the rapture of the Church.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV
Obviously what Paul makes clear is that the source of our comfort comes from God the Father, and we are responsible to pass that comfort along to others around us who are also in need. Yet now that we know the source of our comfort, and the responsibility which comes with it, what do we know about the nature of that comfort? As believers, is there a certain type of reassurance which we can use which we find is more effective than the sort of comfort the world might have to offer? Again Paul comes to our rescue by telling the Thessalonians, and us as well, exactly what we need to hear to find comfort in the difficult times we find ourselves living in today.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NKJV
There is an angelic battle taking place all around us and we are feeling the effects of it to a greater degree every day. These battles stretch from the lowest of us all to those who reside in the pinnacles of government power. Looking and watching for the rapture of the Church is where I find my comfort in these distressing times, and I hope by sharing these words with you that you will also find comfort. If you have never made the decision to accept the salvation offered by the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I suggest you do that today so you too can experience the comfort that comes from knowing you will spend eternity with our Father in Heaven. All you need to do is simply pray a prayer like this and ask God the Father to make you one of His own.
Jesus I know I am a sinner. I have sinned against you, but I know you loved me enough to send your Son, Jesus Christ to die for my sins and then rise from the dead so that I may live forever with You. Lord forgive me of my sins and come into my life and help me to begin to live for You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
By doing so, you will have the assurance and promise from the God of this universe that you are saved from the judgment to come, and that He will be with you in your time of need. Then you too can pass along to others the comfort which comes from knowing He is coming soon to take us home.
Keep watching.
