The Battleground, Past, Present, and Future

If I’m A Soldier, Where’s the War?—Part 5

Thus far in this series, we’ve learned that Spiritual Warfare is real. It’s not something made up by preachers to scare us into falling in line. God has a purpose for us and all of life is geared to making it happen. Satan, on the other hand (along with his demons) is opposed to Him and actively working to abort His plan.

The Past
We might now ask, “When did all this ‘warfare’ begin? How did it all start? Is there any record of what was going on?” The good news is that yes, there are answers, and they are available to us in the Bible.

First, we must recognize that the Bible’s first mention of Satan shows him at some time after his rebellion. When Genesis first pictures him in the form of a serpent, tempting Eve, he is already a fallen, rebellious creature. Therefore, we must turn elsewhere for indications about the past.

In the last issue, we looked at the records found in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. These show only some of the information we need to understand these early circumstances. More is found in Revelation 12, where many commentators believe that the references found here allude to this important time.

“Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child” (Rev. 12:3-4).

Most Bible commentators believe that the occurrence described here was a record of the actual rebellion and fall of Satan and the other angels that followed him (the demons). If this is true, then one-third of the angels went with Lucifer, and it is those beings who lend themselves to the harassment of the saints.

The next logical questions might be, “Do I need to be afraid of them?” and “Can these demons affect me?” The answer to the first of these questions is both yes and no. There are two answers because there are two categories of demons. One ought to concern us and the other should not.

To clarify this we need to turn to two key Scripture references. They give us some important information: “For if God did not spare the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment” (2 Pet. 2:4). “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6).

So then, we ought to be aware from all that has been said so far, that there are fallen angels that are loose and purposefully seeking to bring havoc on the Christian population. By the mere fact that these are loose, we realize that the previous scriptural passages are not speaking of them, but of another group of fallen angels.

Apparently, this second group of angels participated in some special activity of sin that deserved a special punishment, but not merely punishment (for the most part of that is still to come), but banishment. In their place of reserve they are strongly held, and there they will stay until that prescribed “day of judgment.” What their sin was, I will not go into here, for that is another, much debated subject that would draw us away from the current study.

Now we know that the angels are divided into two categories: fallen (demons) and un-fallen (angels). We also know that the fallen angels are classified in two groups: chained and loose.

Just as there is no biblical record of Lucifer’s appearance changing when he fell, there is also no record of a change in the outward appearance of demons. Typically, people think of demons as ugly little goons, but there is no biblical basis for such a picture. Just as Satan is still beautiful and “angelic” looking, so are the demons still in whatever state God originally made them. The only difference in the demons and angels are their purposes and to whom they give their allegiance. In a sense, angels and demons are alike except they are on opposite sides of a great spiritual battle.

Understanding this, it is easier to comprehend how we can be deceived by Satan, false teachers and demons, and how it is that they can appear to them as an “angels of light.” “For such are false prophets, deceitful works, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed, as the ministers of righteousness” (1 Cor. 11:13-15).

It is obvious that we have no need to fear the ones in chains, for God has reserved them there until the Day of Judgment. But the other group of unknown number, which is loose, still has the ability to inflict pressure and influence upon the Body of Christ. It is THIS group we will face in spiritual combat on a regular basis.

When we face them, will it be a knock-down drag-out kind of thing? Will it look like something from a horror movie with heads spinning, vomiting, and subsonic voices speaking or is it more subtle? That’s what we’ll discuss in the next installment.

Gerald Robison is co-founder of UnveilinGlory, a seminar and resource ministry dedicated to unveiling the glory of God in all areas of life and taking it to all peoples of the world. UnveilinGlory is best known for the book and seminar Cat and Dog Theology. Gerald has pastored churches in the U.S., Australia, and the Netherlands, and he continues to lead national seminars for Walk Thru the Bible Ministries.