Satans Hierarchy

Certain Of What We Do Not See, #4 obey Gods commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Satans Hierarchy
In this segment were going to discuss (Explore: Newsletter 1997-09 Church the EVIL side of the invisible reality that At War) surrounds mankind. Satan is hunting down the followers of The apostle Paul warns us of formidable Jesus to DESTROY them. Well come spiritual adversaries: a demonic hierar- back to this topic again in a later segchy of rulers, authorities, powers in this ment. dark world system, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians The governments of this world are under Satans domination. This reality is 6:12). revealed during Satans temptation of First, lets review Satans location and the Jesus: whereabouts of his dominion. Many wrongly think Satan operates from a The devil led him up to a high place home base in hell. But that mispercep- and showed him in an instant all the tion deceives many Christians into drop- kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, I will give you all their authority ping their spiritual guard! and splendor, for IT HAS BEEN GIVEN Satan and his hoards ARENT confined to TO ME, and I can give it to anyone I hell. We can learn a lot about Satans want to. So if you worship me, it will all base of operations from Revelation, be yours (Luke 4:5-7). Chapter 12. There was war in heaven. The archangel Michael led other angels No where does Jesus deny Satans asserfrom Gods armies against Satan and his tion of ownership over the governments nefarious allies. The enemy army was on earth. Nor does Jesus refute Satans overcome, and cast down from heaven. claim that he could give that governing Satan and his rebellious angels were authority to whomever he wanted. So keep this in mind as you consider the hurled to the earth. world you see around you. This is where he now leads the whole world astray through his fiendish Satan is alive on planet earth, and hes demonic spirits. The apostle John permitted BY GOD to influence the governments of this world through his records this heavenly warning: demonic hierarchy. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is The Apostle Paul takes pains to warn the filled with fury, because he knows that followers of Jesus in Ephesus about the reality of this satanic hierarchy. his time is short. (Revelation 12:12) And what is Satans particular mission on For our struggle is not against flesh and earth? To MAKE WAR against those who blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this 1
Produced by Restoration Ministries International A Gift-supported ministry (1 Cor. 9:11) www.restorationministries.org e-mail: mikedowg@aol.com

dark world and against the spiritual As for you, YOU were dead in your forces of evil in the heavenly realms transgressions and sins, in which you (Ephesians 6:12). used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the RULER of the Our struggle is NOT against any other kingdom of the air, the SPIRIT who is human being who is made in the image now at work in those who are disobediof God, and for whom Jesus died. Our ent (Ephesians 2:1,2). Father desires that we graciously REPRESENT Him to other people, not fight NOT ONE of us was good to begin AGAINST them! with! Pauls admonition to the Ephesians reminds us that OUR lives before we Paul clearly defines our opponents in repented and responded to Jesus were as this spiritual struggle: foul as theirs were. WE deserved nothing Satan but Gods wrath either. Rulers and Principalities Authorities ALL OF US also lived among them at Powers of This Dark World one time, gratifying the cravings of our Spiritual Forces of Evil sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by The terms Rulers and Principalities imply nature objects of wrath. But because of authority over large areas of the earth. his great love for us, God, who is rich in Our struggle is also against Authorities. mercy, made us alive with Christ even These are powerful spirit beings which when we were dead in transgressionsit are given their position by the rulers. is by grace you have been saved The Powers of This Dark World are spirit (Ephesians 2:3-5). beings who exercise control over earthly The Lesson of Daniel 10 domains. Lastly, Paul informs us of Spiritual Forces We can gain some insight into demonic of Evil in the heavenlies. These are principalities by examining Daniel, demonic armies in the unseen realm car- Chapter 10. A Ruler or Spirit Prince over a territory is shown in action here, rying out satanic orders. opposing Gods messenger to Daniel. Keep in mind that the Bible tells us that You may want to pause here and read one-third of the angelic hosts were Daniel Chapter 10 to refresh your memthrown out of heaven with Satan down to ory! earth (Revelation 12:4). Only God knows the precise number, but they are here on Through a vision, Daniel had been given earth all around us in the unseen reality. a message about a great war to come. The prophet was sickened by what he saw, You may not want to be reminded of and sought God earnestly for the meanthis, but each of us who now follows ing of that vision. Jesus was once a slave to demonic rule! Your fleshly desires cooperated with Three weeks after his initial prayer, demonic rule to make you a slave to sin. Daniel was along the bank of the Tigris River. As Paul reminds the Ephesians and us, 2
Produced by Restoration Ministries International A Gift-supported ministry (1 Cor. 9:11) www.restorationministries.org e-mail: mikedowg@aol.com

A supernatural messenger of appeared to him and told him,

God

angelic messenger battles through the demonic opposition. Stay repentant, and dont give up praying! From the tenth chapter in Daniel we get deeper insight into the INTERNATIONAL extent of the spiritual warfare being waged. Listen to the words of Gods messenger: Soon I will return to fight against the PRINCE OF PERSIA, and when I go, the PRINCE OF GREECE will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. No one supports me against them except Michael, YOUR prince. (Daniel 10:20,21)

Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come. (Daniel 10:12-14)

Lets consider whats happening here. As Daniel sought God in earnest, humble Gods messenger wasnt referring to prayer, he was heard in heaven IMMEDI- earthly kings here, for no mere man ATELY. could stand against a mighty angel. Yet it took three weeks for the angel to break through the principality of Persia against someONE or someTHING who had sufficient power to detain him. Only when the angelic prince, Michael, helped him was the angel able to complete his assignment and deliver Gods message to Daniel. Do you recognize the angelic and demonic hierarchy in operation here? You certainly get a clear picture of whats going on in the invisible realm around you! Principalities and powers try to hinder and thwart Gods angelic agents so that well give up interceding in prayer. These evil beings intend for us to doubt that our Father even CARES about our situation. Just a Note: Prayer Is Spiritual Warfare We mentioned earlier about staying repentant and keeping on praying! Lets go into this a little deeper. From Daniel, Chapter 10 we can glean some discernment about the nature of your prayers and the spiritual warfare that surrounds you receiving Gods answer. First, the apostle Peter repeats from Psalm 34 the heart condition of someone whose prayer God is willing to answer: For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil (1 Peter 3: 12).

James continues the theme that connects Let this lesson encourage you. While the a clean heart with answered prayer: The prayers of a righteous person ARE effec- prayer of a RIGHTEOUS man is powerful tive, there may be a time lag until the and effective (James 5:16b-18).

The righteousness that brings about answered prayers can be seen from two perspectives. Most importantly, is the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of our sinless Lord Jesus. That righteousness becomes ours through our repentance and loving trust in His substitutionary death on our behalf. Second, we LIVE in RIGHTEOUS RESPONSIVENESS when we choose the path of obedient trust, walking according to Gods Spirit and His Word.

In essence, through prayer youre engaging Satans hierarchy. And, theyll do everything they can to keep you from a grateful testimony to our Fathers glory. Remember, your life purpose as a follower of Jesus is to bring glory and praise to our Father. And, that goal is where the spiritual battle line is drawn. The hierarchy of Satan is ferocious in their schemes to make sure you stumble and fall, and that your life reflects NOTHING of Jesus.

When we DO miss the mark of holy living, our Lord has given us the means to YOUR part in this battle is your restoring full fellowship with Him. Our UNCEASING PRAYER and your determilives must be PURIFIED from the pollution nation to LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY. of our sin. Confession makes this possible. Whenever we sin, we must confess so If we confess our sins, he is faithful and that were restored in righteous fellowjust and will forgive us our sins and puri- ship before God. Then we know that He fy us from ALL unrighteousness (1 John WILL hear and answer our prayers 1:9). according to His will and purpose. Righteousness and unceasing prayer are the means for us to receive our Fathers answer. Remember these two components and make them your way of life. Theyll ignite your joyful effectiveness in But the angelic messenger who is deliver- bringing glory to our Father. ing Gods answer must fight through a host of demonic forces. And this may The demons recognize all too well the life take some time. This is why our Lord that pleases our Lord and brings about Jesus encourages us with the parable of answered prayer. Its grievous that so many the widow who continually goes to the BELIEVERS dont live to please our Father. judge to seek justice (Luke 18:1-6). Jesus is urging us to keep on praying until the The demons love to agitate you so that answer is received from on high. you doubt that God will answer. Then you begin living with unconfessed sin as (Explore: Newsletter: 1997/05 Taking A you make choices from the flesh rather City) than the spirit, and you give up praying. When we pray, we become participants Dont forget: If you fail to repent when in the spiritual battle thats raging you sin, youre CHOOSING unrighteousaround us in the unseen reality. ness. And the answer youre seeking doesnt arrive. If youve confessed your sins and are walking in the righteousness of obedient trust in Jesus, then God hears your prayers the moment you call out to Him.

Not only does unrepentance keep you Hes returning for a spotless bride, not out of fellowship with the Father and His one who is committing spiritual adultery Son, Jesus. Youve made yourself more with demonic lovers. vulnerable to Satans hierarchy. (Explore: Newsletter: 2001-05 Jesus verLight has no fellowship with darkness (1 sus the Queen of Heaven) John 1:5,6). The apostle John was writing to believers when he warned: Youre In 1 Kings, Chapter 19, the great and either light or darkness, and unconfessed powerful prophet Elijah is so frightened sin leaves you in darkness. by the power of Queen Jezebels threats that he flees in terror. This man of God We ask you to seriously consider the was so disheartened that he asked God to unseen battle going on around you. take his life! Examine with care the condition of your heart as you seek our Father for answered The spirit of Jezebel TODAY terrorizes, prayer. especially men who yearn to be true to God. I remember an instance during our If you have ongoing testimonies to our time at the retreat center. When we had Fathers faithfulness in response to your the opportunity, wed visit local congregaprayers, these are His affirmation that tions that used our center. There was one youre walking in the light. in particular whose fellowship we really enjoyed, and we visited it when we could. Let me ask you this question: One weekend following a mens retreat, Can you name several recent answers there was a time for sharing. So many to prayer that reflect our Fathers won- men stood up and shared wonderful testiderful intervention? monies about our Fathers faithfulness. Queen of Heaven, Spirit of Jezebel, Spirit of Anti-Christ, Spirit of Lawlessness The Bible offers a few other insights about spiritual principalities and powers. In the Book of Jeremiah. the prophet soundly chastises the Jewish people who choose to worship the demonic Queen of Heaven ALONGSIDE their worship of God. Venerating or praying to ANYONE alongside God is an abomination to Him one that continues in segments of Christianity today. About two months later we visited that congregation again. NOT ONE MAN stood up with a testimony. I bowed my head and prayed, Lord, whats going on here? Why is there no testimony from the men? I heard the Holy Spirit respond, Two women with the spirit of Jezebel have come here to inspire fear in the men. Look to your left and youll see them. As I looked, about five people away I saw these two women sitting together. Lord, do I have the power to bind their influence here? He answered, Our Lord calls Himself a JEALOUS God Yes, you do. As I prayed in my spirit, because He tolerates the worship or ado- binding their influence in the name and ration of NO ONE or NOTHING besides authority of Jesus, I turned toward the two women. They were grimacing at me Himself. and gnashing their teeth!

After the service I went to the elders of the congregation and told them what had happened. One elder told me that the women had begun attending about three weeks earlier. He then admitted that that was when the testimonies from the men ceased.

Many in mega-congregations and liberal denominations have succumbed to this powerful principality. Theyre taught that Gods laws and commands no longer apply, and that grace covers over their lawlessness.

But the Apostle John reiterates that, The Apostle John warns about a power- Everyone who sins breaks the law; and, ful spirit that stands up even against sin IS lawlessness (1 John 3:4) Jesus: We hope that what youve gathered so This is the spirit of the antichrist, which far in this segment is that Satan IS in you have heard is coming and even now operation here on earth. He has a hieraris ALREADY IN THE WORLD (1 John chy under him to carry out his evil goals. 4:3). For some reason known only to God, That demonic anti-Christ spirit traps Satan has authority over the governments many into believing that Jesus is only a of the world. With the help of the demongreat teacher, or that Hes one of many ic principalities and powers under him, created underling gods. That demons Satan is doing everything he can to hinpurpose is to deny the divinity of Jesus der or destroy ANYONE who keep Gods and His unique role as Lord of our lives. commands and bears testimony to Jesus. Mormons, Jehovahs Witnesses, Buddhists, As weve shown, one demonic tactic is to Muslims, and many others have been interfere with Gods angelic messengers seduced by this deceiving spirit. in their service to followers of Jesus. Another demonic spirit that well discuss Because of the reality of this unseen war, in a later segment bears mention: the we whove put our trust in Jesus need to spirit of LAWLESSNESS. recognize Satans schemes and strategies against us. The lawless spirit has deeply penetrated the Christian community in the US Then we can avoid his traps and resist today. But thats no surprise. Paul him. In the following segments well diswarned us of this long ago: cuss this topic more fully. Please continue on with us! He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in Gods temple, proclaiming himself to be God. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work... (2 Thessalonians 2:4,7a)