Often, understanding comes from the simplest moments.
In some conversation the other day, I spoke the word, ‘principality’. When I spoke that word, the listener who is wise in the things of the Spiritual realm interrupted, “do you know what principality is?” I listened, eager for knowledge, awareness, Truth. This verse was spoken, Eph 6:12: “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
WOW! Talk about an eye~opening moment! This verse is telling us that we are battling against something we cannot see, smell, touch. The FIRST ‘thing’ mentioned in this verse is ‘principalities’….so, what is it?
Principalities/Princes – derived from Latin princeps (sing.) and principates (pl.). The Greek of the Septuagint Old Testament and of the New Testament is arche (sing.) and archai (pl.), from archomai, beginning or commencement. The implication is that the arche or prince is the principle of order, the ruler of a principality. The Hebrew word used is sar, and carries the same meaning.
So, a principality IS ’something’ that is ruled by a ‘prince’. That’s simple, makes sense. BUT, (and this is very insightful!), in Scripture, this word is referring to the spiritual, not physical world or realm. There alone in Eph. 6:12, it is simply and clearly emphasized that the battles we are facing TODAY, EVERYDAY, are NOT good, but EVIL. It states, the battle is against the WORLD ruler of this DARKNESS!
When that word rolled off my tongue in that simple conversation, it’s intention was ‘good’, yet unknowingly, in that moment when it was spoken, a TRUTH was revealed to me. In reference to the topic which included this one seemingly insignificant word, it was a REAL eye~opener, a revelation of what really was involved in that particular event.
So, this ‘principality’ that a battle is waged against, what is it’s weapon(s)? Confusion and deception.
When I said, ….” but based on principality, I was not going to accept a severance pay because I knew I did no wrongs”…. That whole entire situation that occurred 2 years ago was presented to me in a whole new light! I was deeply involved in a battle AGAINST a PRINCIPALITY, subjected to the weapons of the prince of ‘this’ world, confusion and deception. I was delivered safely from this battle, and I see that the ‘enemy’ was defeated.
A situation experienced, over, and now ‘clearly’ understood. As complicated as life seems, the answers lie in the simple Truth.
It is Satan’s purpose to deceive these nations and to keep them from obtaining a knowledge of God’s truth and salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. In the book of Revelation, chapter 20, Satan is depicted as a deceiver of nations. The Greek word for deceive is planaho, and according to Strong’s Greek Dictionary, this word means to “cause to roam from safety, truth or virtue, go astray, seduce, wander, and to be out of the way.”
Satan’s major success, in deceiving a nation, is due to a lack of discernment on the part of the people. The people are blind to the invisible forces of supernatural evil that are operating and influencing their visible human agents of political, social, religious and philosophical programs. Satan’s greatest victory would be to convince the world that he just doesn’t exist. However, God signifies the devil as the author of sin, sickness and death, and warns us to be alert and vigilant because the devil, as a roaring lion roams about seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).
The devil controls the kingdoms of the world and we are not to underestimate his influence and power, nor believe that this is the will of God. God is telling us to “stand” against these evil forces by equipping ourselves with the power of God, and looking unto Christ as our example.
Our Spiritual Warfare is Against “Spiritual Wickedness in Heavenly Places”
The Greek word for wickedness is ponēria and means depravity and particularly in the sense of malice and mischief, plots, sins, and iniquity (Strong’s Gk. Dict.).
Malice [A. H. Dict.] is defined as:
1. A desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite.
2. Law — The intent, without just cause or reason, to commit a wrongful act that will result in harm to another.
Satan is also depicted as the prince of the power of the air
Since Satan is the prince of the power of the air, these wicked spirits, in high places, are often understood to be the collective organization of all of Satan’s devil spirits. These malevolent spirits work evil and mischief and operate in our atmosphere. They operate as close to the very air we breathe, and reach to realms beyond. All kinds of spiritual filth are propagated , in these realms, for the purpose of humanity’s deception and subsequent destruction. Prior to becoming a Christian we too walked according to the prince of the power of the air.
Our Spiritual Warfare is Against “Powers and World Rulers of Darkness”
The Greek word for “powers” is exousia which means derived or conferred authority, the warrant or right to do something, or delegated influences of control. Although the word “powers” is left unclear as to Paul’s precise meaning in the verse, this expression is used elsewhere in scripture to infer the powers that be in authority. In keeping with the context of this verse, this would include all high-ranking, evil supernatural powers and the power of sin and evil in operation in the world. The fruits of this type of evil can probably be seen in drug cartels, gross poverty, plagues, terrorism, and other heinous crimes against humanity, even toward the animal kingdom.
Some Christian authors also associate “world rulers” with magic and demonic pagan gods such as the Ephesians’ Artemis and seems to be in line with the pagan culture of ancient times, in which temples were dedicated to these demonic pagan deities. And let us not forget “Molech,” the national god of the Ammonites’ in Old Testament history. The priests would place the sacrificial children into the brass hands of the image, in which these helpless victims would slip into the fire below. This is described in Scripture as the “abominations of the nations” (2 kings 16:3 ASV).
Eph. 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
ARMOR(?): THE WORD AND THE TRUTH!
What can we take from this? When we feel overwhelmed, confused, deceived, & hopeless…..we need to step back for a moment….take it to prayer….and seek the clarity to understand exactly what is really taking place. It is NOT the person or entity that is right there before you with whom the battle is with, but with the spiritual ‘princes’ of darkness with whom the REAL battle is against. Thus the significance of forgiveness…because that ‘one’ right there in front of you is a ‘weapon’ of the Prince of Darkness, ruler of ‘THIS’ world! They, themselves are confused, deceived and are unaware of what is REALLY taking place!
Scriptural Reference: Col. 2:15, Col. 1:16, Eph. 6:12, Eph. 3:10, Romans 8:38, Daniel 12:1,
Daniel 10:21, Daniel 10:13,
