The Battle between God and Satan: Part 7 – For we wrestle not against flesh and blood

Our battle here on Earth is not against flesh and blood, but rather against a powerful invisible spiritual kingdom comprised of evil principalities, powers, and rulers.

Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the whole armor 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.
 
It was God's desire to create the visible from the invisible, but before God ever created it, there already existed a vast spiritual kingdom comprised of a hierarchy of angelic celestial beings. When God created Lucifer, God created him perfectly; he was created a very beautiful, very intelligent and powerful Archangel, and Lucifer was at the top of God's celestial hierarchy. Lucifer was also there present with God when God was creating the visible Universe, which is why I believe God appointed Lucifer as the presiding guardian angel over the earthly garden named Eden. There came a time, however, when Lucifer's heart turned wicked and he rebelled against God. He was also able to convince one third of the angelic host to join him in his rebellion. According to ancient extra-Biblical manuscripts, after Lucifer and one third of the angels rebelled against God, a great celestial battle took place in the invisible spiritual dimensions (also referred to as the angel wars), which also affected and decimated God's newly created visible Universe. It was at this point when God then had to devise a plan of redemption by which God would not only be able to reclaim and restore his visible earthly garden, but also redeem His fallen children, referred to as the sons of God.
   
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Luke 20:36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
 
In God's plan to reclaim and restore the fallen visible Universe and redeem the fallen sons of God, God had to create a controlled environment, or "sandbox" if you will, in order to maintain control over the fallen, and this is when God created the firmament of the heavens. God would also find that creating the firmament was not enough to control his rebellious angels, but that they would also need to constrained, or "bound", in eternal chains reserved until the Day of Judgment".
 
2 Peter 2:4 For God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.

Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.
 
And so even though we humans cannot visibly see this vast spiritual kingdom, it is very real and very powerful. The fallen angels that are now being restrained in eternal chains until the day of judgment will also soon be unleashed into our world for a final confrontation as described in the book of Revelation. But there are, however, millions of evil spirits (or demons) that roam the world and against whom we must daily war against with our minds. This is why the Lord commands Christians to equip themselves with a special type of spiritual “armor” in order to help us in this battle.
 
Ephesians 6:13-18 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the preparation of the gospel of peace; In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
   
2 Corinthians 10 also tells us that we are not waging a war according to the physical flesh with carnal weapons, because it is a spiritual war that is fought with the thoughts of our minds, which is why it is so important to control our every thought.
 
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but are mighty through God and have divine power to demolish strongholds; casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, as we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Isaiah 54:7 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me," says the Lord.
   
Because most of us live comfortable lives and enjoy the things of the world, it is very easy to forget there is a raging spiritual battle occurring all around us that we cannot see with our physical eyes. Demon possession, although it can be subtle and is not always detectable to us, is also a very true reality, and  Jesus and the disciples spent much of their ministry on Earth casting out demons.
 
Matthew 8:28-32 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?" Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, "If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine." And He said to them, "Go." So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine and suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.

But Satan, however, still retains a great amount of authority over mankind and the world, and is referred to as "the god of this age”. I could write a long study on how Satan has been using his seed and the evil rulers of this world throughout thousands of years of the history of the world to bring down the kingdom of God. Satan is a genius at blinding people's minds and he works hard to prevent them from understanding and receiving the Gospel of Salvation.
   
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Those of us who have received the Gospel of Salvation and have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior are bitter enemies of Satan and his kingdom. Since the creation of Adam and Eve, Satan has been using all that is in his power to destroy as many of God’s children as he possibly can. I could also write a long study on how Satan came to many of the prophets pretending that he was Jehovah God and actually influenced them to unknowingly commit abominations against the true Father. The plain and true reality is that this world belongs to Satan, and is why Christians are commanded to stay apart from it. Jesus himself called Satan the “god of this age”, the “prince of this world”, the “ruler of this world”, the “prince of the power of the air”.
 
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
 
John 16:7-11 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you see me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
 
Ephesians 2:1-2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you walked according to the ways of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

Jesus preached that he was not of this world and that his kingdom was not of this world.
 
John 8:23 But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”
 
John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from here.”

The Bible refers to the world that we live in as "Babylon the Great", and when Christ returns, Babylon the Great will fall, and Christ will then command all his people to come out of her.
 
Rev 18:1-5 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues; for her sins have reached to heaven and God has remembered her evil doings.
 
 
I will end Part 7 here and continue with Part 8.

The Battle between God and Satan: Part 6 – Satan's defeat at the cross

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now has salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ come; for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down!"

In Rev 12:10 we see that Satan, the accuser of our brethren, is cast down to the Earth. There are several different interpretation of Rev chapter 12 floating around, but after I spent several weeks researching this chapter, as well as writing a long study on it, I concluded that the manchild of Rev 12 is the Bride of Christ that is Raptured 3.5 years before the end of the world, which also occurs on the same day when Satan is cast down to the Earth.

When Satan caused Adam and Eve to fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, God "legally" lost a certain amount of authority over mankind, while Satan "legally" earned a certain amount of authority of mankind. This is why after the fall of man God worked through Old Testament covenants, and then later sent His Son who was born into the world as a man, and after that continued working through the New Testament covenant. In the coming 1,000 year reign of Christ, the Bible states that God will still continue to work through a new covenant, as declared in Hebrews 8.

Hebrew 8:6-13 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

Keeping in mind that although supreme authority cannot ever be completely taken away from the Father, because Satan is "legally" allowed to retain a great amount of authority in the world, Satan uses this authority to accuse mankind day and night.

When Christ was born into the world from a human mother, Christ then "legally" earned the right to have authority over mankind, and is why Christ almost always referred to himself as, "the Son of Man". When Christ shed his blood on the cross 2,000 years ago, Satan was dealt a death blow, and his head was bruised. How the blood sacrifice of the Son of God can atone for the sins of the billions of souls is a supernatural mystery our carnal minds cannot fully comprehend; but because God knew that mankind would fall from grace and lose their immortality, God's plan of salvation by the blood sacrifice of the Lamb of God was flawlessly planned out from before the foundation of the Earth.

Rev 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him [the beast], whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The ritual of sacrificing animals to God began in the days of Adam and Eve.

Genesis 4:2-5 Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time, it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat; and the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.

Since the fall of man and throughout the entire history of mankind, in every known civilization of the world, human and animal sacrifices have been performed as religious rituals in the worship of gods. This is because there is a supernatural occurrence that takes place in the spiritual realm surrounding a blood sacrifice. The main thing the Bible tells us about a blood sacrifice is that there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood.

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.

Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Thus for the cause of this supernatural spiritual mystery, the atonement of the sins of billions of people born into the world was carried out by the blood sacrifice of the Son of Man, and was the highest price God could ever pay for our redemption.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The crucifixion of the Son of God for the redemption of unworthy sinners was a great act of love.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us

We cannot fully comprehend the "legality" that exists in the spiritual realm regarding the blood sacrifice of the Lamb of God, but it was "legally" the only way that the Savior of the world was able to redeem God's children from the clutches of Satan and from eternal damnation. This is why all who accept this awesome and free gift of Salvation will be redeemed, and will be able return to the Father and the Son to live in paradise for all of eternity.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell, and by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross.

Hebrews 9:11-18 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.

In the passage above of Hebrews 9 we can see legal jargon used that we in modern times also use in regards to a testator's "Last Will & Testament". That a person's "Last Will & Testament" cannot be "enforced" as long as the testator lives, "for where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." Thus, the death of the Lamb of God was the "death of the testator" which was necessary in order that the "heirs" could inherit the kingdom of God as declared in the Bible, which is God's "Last Will & Testament".
 
Galatians 4:7 Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Christ also had to inherit the kingdom by his own death. If Satan had been victorious in preventing the birth and death of Jesus, Christ could not inherited the kingdom of his Father; thus, we are as brothers and sisters in Christ, and heirs along with him.
 
Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.
 
The book of Revelation has more to say about the Lamb of God.

Rev 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Rev 7:17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Rev 19:9 Then he said to me, write: "Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!"

Rev 21:23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

Rev 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.

In Rev 19 Christ is seen wearing a “vesture dipped in blood” as he rides forth into the Battle of Armageddon followed by the armies in heaven.

Rev 19:11-14 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

Although Satan was successful in gaining legal authority over man after they fell in the Garden of Eden, Christ was victorious at "the old wooden cross." Because of the incredible love of God for His children and because of He that is called Faithful and True, the Son of Man, the Savior of the world, billions of souls will join the Lamb God to become "heirs" of God's kingdom, which will be more glorious and wonderful than we could ever imagine.
 
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

The Battle between God and Satan: Part 5 – Noah’s Flood

From the creation of Adam and Eve to the birth of Noah, ten generations reproduced and populated the Earth over a span of about 1,500 years. The Bible is clear that in those days before Noah’s flood, fallen angels took human woman as wives and produced children with them.

Genesis 6:1-4 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children unto them; the same became mighty men which were of old; men of renown.

It is an archaeological and scientifically proven fact that giants once lived on the Earth, and their skeletal remains are found all around the world. Their DNA has also been tested and shows that it contains non-human DNA. To view an excellent comprehensive documentary on this and Noah’s flood, go to this URL:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lktmmd7YnD8  
 
These hybrid children of the fallen angels born to human mothers are called "Nephilim". Some of these Nephilim were giants, and some of them competed in Olympic style athletic competitions. They were what Genesis 6 refers to as "mighty men which were of old; men of renown." They were known to the Greeks as the demigods of Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, etc., and to the Romans they were known as the demigods of Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Apollo, Mars, Vulcan, Neptune, Sol, Diana, Venus, etc. Not only did fallen angels intentionally corrupt human DNA, but they also corrupted animal DNA, and I believe that mythological stories of centaurs, minotaurs, satyrs, and mermaids are not factitious, but are true in nature. Fallen angels also taught mankind forbidden practices such as war and the creation of weapons of war, the wearing of makeup, the production and consumption of mind altering drugs, and much more. The books of Enoch have much to say about this period of time. Following are chapters 9 and 10 from the Book of Enoch.

From the Book of Enoch:
Chapter 9: 1. Then Michael and Gabriel, Raphael, Suryal, and Uriel, looked down from heaven, and saw the quantity of blood which was shed on earth, and all the iniquity which was done upon it, and said one to another, It is the voice of their cries; 2. The earth deprived of her children has cried even to the gate of heaven. 3. And now to you, O ye holy ones of heaven, the souls of men complain, saying, Obtain Justice for us with 1 the Most High. Then they said to their Lord, the King, Thou art Lord of lords, God of gods, King of kings. The throne of thy glory is for ever and ever, and for ever and ever is thy name sanctified and glorified. Thou art blessed and glorified. 4. Thou hast made all things; thou possessest power over all things; and all things are open and manifest before thee. Thou beholdest all things, and nothing, can be concealed from thee. 5. Thou hast seen what Azazyel has done, how he as taught every species of iniquity upon earth, and has disclosed to the world all the secret things which are done in the heavens. 6. Samyaza also has taught sorcery, to whom thou hast given authority over those who are associated with him. They have gone together to the daughters of men; have lain with them; have become polluted; 7. And have discovered crimes to them. 8. The women likewise have brought forth giants. 9. Thus has the whole earth been filled with blood and with iniquity. 10. And now behold the souls of those who are dead, cry out. 11. And complain even to the gate of heaven. 12. Their groaning ascends; nor can they escape from the unrighteousness which is committed on earth. Thou knowest all things, before they exist. 13. Thou knowest these things, and what has been done by them; yet thou dost not speak to us. 14. What on account of these things ought we to do to them?

Chapter 10 1. Then the Most High, the Great and Holy One spoke, 2. And sent Arsayalalyur to the son of Lamech, 3. Saying, Say to him in my name, Conceal thyself. 4. Then explain to him the consummation which is about to take place; for all the earth shall perish; the waters of a deluge shall come over the whole earth, and all things which are in it shall be destroyed. 5. And now teach him how he may escape, and how his seed may remain in all the earth. 6. Again the Lord said to Raphael, Bind Azazyel hand and foot; cast him into darkness; and opening the desert which is in Dudael, cast him in there. 7. Throw upon him hurled and pointed stones, covering him with darkness; 8. There shall he remain for ever; cover his face, that he may not see the light. 9. And in the great day of judgment let him be cast into the fire. 10. Restore the earth, which the angels have corrupted; and announce life to it, that I may revive it. 11. All the sons of men shall not perish in consequence of every secret, by which the Watchers have destroyed, and which they have taught, their offspring. 12. All the earth has been corrupted by the effects of the teaching of Azazyel. To him therefore ascribe the whole crime. 13. To Gabriel also the Lord said, Go to the biters, to the reprobates, to the children of fornication; and destroy the children of fornication, the offspring of the Watchers, from among men; bring them forth, and excite them one against another. Let them perish by mutual slaughter; for length of days shall not be theirs. 14. They shall all entreat thee, but their fathers shall not obtain their wishes respecting them; for they shall hope for eternal life, and that they may live, each of them, five hundred years. 15. To Michael likewise the Lord said, Go and announce his crime to Samyaza, and to the others who are with him, who have been associated with women, that they might be polluted with all their impurity. And when all their sons shall be slain, when they shall see the perdition of their beloved, bind them for seventy generations underneath the earth, even to the day of judgment, and of consummation, until the judgment, the effect of which will last for ever, be completed. 16. Then shall they be taken away into the lowest depths of the fire in torments; and in confinement shall they be shut up for ever. 17. Immediately after this shall he, together with them, burn and perish; they shall be bound until the consummation of many generations. 18. Destroy all the souls addicted to dalliance, and the offspring of the Watchers, for they have tyrannized over mankind. 19. Let every oppressor perish from the face of the earth; 20. Let every evil work be destroyed.

The Bible states it grieved God in His heart that He had created mankind. Only Noah was found to be perfect in his generation, and he walked with God.

Genesis 6:5-9 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the Earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for I repent that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

In order to “undo” what the fallen angels had done to corrupt all life on the Earth, God had to make the decision to bring Judgment upon the Earth, thus the plans were set for the destruction of all living things, except for Noah and his family, and a select number of "un-corrupted" animals.

The main difference between life on Earth as it existed before the flood of Noah's day, an life on Earth as it continued to exist after the flood, is that God was able to protect the future corruption of our DNA by imprisoning the fallen angels. As quoted above in Chapter 10 of the Book of Enoch, God ordered his Archangel Raphel to bind Azazyel and imprison him in a place called Dudael, after which God would restore the Earth.

Chapter 10:6-9 Again the Lord said to Raphael, Bind Azazyel hand and foot; cast him into darkness; and opening the desert which is in Dudael, cast him in there. Throw upon him hurled and pointed stones, covering him with darkness; There shall he remain for ever; cover his face, that he may not see the light. And in the great day of judgment let him be cast into the fire. Restore the earth, which the angels have corrupted; and announce life to it, that I may revive it.

The judgment that God brought against Noah’s generation is very pertinent to the judgment God is preparing to bring upon our world here shortly. Jesus declared the following in Matthew 24.

Matthew 24:37-39 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.