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Not flesh and blood, but . . . . . spiritual wickedness.
Where our feet touch earth we are shod with peace, and while flesh and blood will
often be bitterly opposed to us, we do not take up the armour of God against such. The
only use of the armour against the flesh is found in Rom. 13: 12-14:--
"Put on the armour of light . . . . . put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no
provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
The foes against whom we wrestle are spiritual. The title "world-holder" is
significant. Kosmokrator should be considered with the title of the Lord, pantokrator,
"omnipotent" and "almighty". We may obtain a glimpse at the extent of the power and
authority of these "world-holders of this darkness" by reading Dan. 10: There we read of
a messenger sent from heaven (5, 6), whose appearance was so glorious that at the sight
Daniel's comeliness turned to corruption (8), yet this mighty messenger was successfully
withstood for twenty-one days by "the prince of Persia", whose opposition was only
overcome by the advent of Michael the archangel (13). Reference is made in verse 20 to
another prince, "the prince of Grecia", and yet again in verse 21 to "Michael your
prince". Now Dan. 12: 1 tells us that Michael is "the great prince which standeth for
the children of thy people (Israel)". It appears therefore that with the exception of Israel,
the nations of the earth were under the authority of one of the "world-holders of this
darkness", and these facts cast light upon the present conflict. It is to be observes that the
cause of the opposition in Dan. 10: was that the heavenly messenger was sent to show
Daniel what was noted in "the Scripture of truth". These principalities, powers and
world-holders are summed up as "spiritual things (or forces) of wickedness in the
heavenlies".
Were it not that we can say with the Apostle that we are persuaded "that neither death,
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers . . . . . shall be able to separate us from
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8: 38, 39), we should
doubtless quail before these mighty opponents and sink lower than Daniel did, but Christ
is risen and we are "more than conquerors through Him that loved us", and strong in the
Lord and in the power of His might, we shall both stand and withstand, knowing that "the
God of peace shall bruise Satan under our feet shortly" (Rom. 16: 20).
(Mystery16, pp.121-125).
The threefold conflict (6: 12).
(Mystery16, pp.138-143)
1. How far are we warranted in speaking of "war" against principalities and
powers in the heavenlies, now?
2. Are these several phases of this conflict?
3. Can we learn anything from O.T. typical history?
We believe the answer is that the conflict is threefold: