Principalities and Children of Belial Are Those Who We Rebel Against

You may be a born fighter, coming by that characteristic by family dynamics, life lessons, military service, or cultural heritage. Some people are born for a fight, while others can’t imagine what good comes of that personality trait.  While the passive types avoid confrontation at all costs, the fighter engages because a battle must be won, not compromised or forfeited. If you’ve gone to a church that does not teach its congregants about the spiritual fight, this may seem silly, and you may recollect being taught various passive ideas as to the avoidance of a battle.  But biblically there is much written to the contrary.  We are to war against the devil and his brigade until we die. Some people might then argue that we are not to war against people, yet the imprecatory psalms clearly show David praying and supplicating against his enemies who were human beings, not spiritual beings.  There are people who willingly “sign on” with the devil, to do his will in exchange for something on this earth.  These misguided people are very willing to plan evil against the sons and daughters of God in exchange for some reward here on earth, and it is in our authority to stop them. 

Jesus did not leave us powerless, as the Holy Spirit now resides inside of the believer.  Therefore, our power and strength is greater than any human, and any spiritual being including the devil.  If we try to engage in spiritual battles we have to have our lives cleaned up so that there is no opening for enemy attack. We do that by repentance and replacement, repenting for wrong actions, and replacing old ways with Godly ways. Once we are mature in the Lord, it is time to push back the enemy.  But the enemy comes in many forms.  Our enemy is the devil and evil spirit beings, such as principalities, powers, rulers, wickedness, as well as humans who have sold out to the devil.  Honestly, we may never know if humans who sell out to the devil will ever renounce their ways and turn to Jesus; but in the meantime, they are waging war against us and we must fight back.  Some of us may be like the star picture of Perseus, who cut off the head of Medusa, and freed Andromeda, the captives of earth.  Some of us might be like the star picture of Hercules or Ophichus, battling two evil beings at once, both evil spiritual forces in the world today.  And still some of us may be like Orion hunting for the saved on earth, being the protector.  We may be a combination of all of those things, fighting for the unsaved, the saved, protecting people, or pushing back the spiritual enemies; but whatever our call, God will lead us.  If we were all passive regarding warfare, we will be overrun.  Squarely, I put the condition of humanity onto the shoulders of those who do not teach how to engage in a spiritual battle.  It is time for the called out to rise up and fight our enemy.  Andromeda’s mouth is not shut.

Isaiah tells us about people who intentionally make a covenant with death and hell. They made a blood covenant between hades and sheol according to the Hebrew word for covenant, and believed their lies would give them safety. Adonai Jehovah said he would give them a stone to stumble over, namely Jesus; and their covenant with death and hell won’t stand; and they will endure judgment and be trampled.  It would seem that these people were tricked into believing the devil could do something for them in eternity, but the Lord God says it won’t happen. Jesus came and exposed the future of death and hell, which both end up in the lake of fire forever.

Isa 28:14-18 Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. KJV

Who are these people that make agreements with the devil’s domain? First and foremost in the context, they are the leaders in Jerusalem.  They are probably the leaders of many different countries today. The Bible has a title for them; we mistakenly think they are offspring of someone named Belial.  However we see that this is a title for a group of people who are worthless and wicked.  It is also a title for satan. This title includes men and women; therefore the understanding is that there are people who are worthless, wicked, and unprofitable; people of satan. If we were to do a word study on sons/children/men of Belial we find 27 usages of Strong’s #1100, sometimes translated wicked, ungodly, evil, and naughty.

Belial OT:1100 beliya`al (bel-e-yah'-al); from OT:1097 and OT:3276; without profit, worthlessness; by extension, destruction, wickedness (often in connection with OT:376, OT:802, OT:1121, etc.):KJV - Belial, evil, naughty, ungodly (men), wicked.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

These evil people started idolatry, which Moses instructed should be killed by the sword in Deuteronomy 13:13-15. But evil was not dealt with properly, and therefore increased.  The story of men of Belial in Judges 19 &20 is sickening.  I will give a brief summation but I encourage a careful read of that section. Incidentally, when we read the word “folly”, Strong’s #5039, it is immoral, profane actions, not silliness as we think of today.

A Levite and his concubine had a disagreement and she left him.  He went to her father’s house to get her and eventually started traveling home.  When they got to Gibeath (Ramah), a territory of the tribe of Benjamin, an old man took them in for the night.  Some men of Belial or satan, men of perversion, came to the old man’s house and demanded the Levite be brought out so that they could rape him (Yes, like the Sodomites did as we studied from Jasher, the men of the city of Sodom took newcomers and passersby’s to a public bed to be raped).  The old man offered his virgin daughter, and the Levite offered his Concubine.  The perverted men took the Concubine and they raped her and abused her all night through to morning.  Finally the perverted men of Belial let her go at dawn; she went to the house where the Levite was staying and died on the doorstep.  The Levite took her body home, cut her into twelve pieces and mailed her body parts to the twelve tribes. Instead of turning over the evil men of Belial, all the Benjamites went to war, essentially protecting the evil satanists from death.

Because these people were not killed as Moses instructed, evil men became bolder. The sons of Eli were called sons of Belial/satan, which is amusing as Eli should have been a spiritual leader who would fight against such evil.  So the answer to the question “should we be fighting against people” is yes, spiritually. As we learn from the imprecatory Psalms, there is an occasion and a procedure for praying against evil people. I will list the imprecatory Psalms for your further study.  5,6,7,11,12,35,37,40,52,54,55,56,58,59,69,79,83,109,137,139,143. Keep in mind, many people love to sing and worship to the words of David, yet they condemn the imprecations of David.  Maybe those people are not made for warfare; therefore they should keep their opinions in perspective as God has called many people to war against evil.  This is also what some of the star pictures tell us, that some people are called into warfare, and some may not be. We humans have to stop making blanket rules for everyone, and recognize that God should be telling us what to do, not man.   

When we come to the New Testament, we are all very aware of the armor of God from Ephesians.  If our armor is spiritual, our battle is also spiritual.  Paul tells us what we are fighting in Ephesians 6:12.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle [3823] not against flesh and blood, but against principalities [746], against powers [1849], against the rulers [2888] of the darkness [4655] of this world, against spiritual [4152]wickedness [4189]in high places [2032].KJV

Wrestle NT:3823pale (pal'-ay); from pallo (to vibrate; another form for NT:906); wrestling: KJV -  wrestle.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

NT:906 ballo (bal'-lo); a primary verb; to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense):KJV - arise, cast (out),  dung, lay, lie, pour, put (up), send, strike, throw (down), thrust. Compare NT:4496.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Principalities NT:746 arche (ar-khay'); from NT:756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank):KJV - beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Powers NT:1849 exousia (ex-oo-see'-ah); from NT:1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: KJV - authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Rulers NT:2888 kosmokrator (kos-mok-fat'-ore); from NT:2889 and NT:2902; a world-ruler, an epithet of Satan: KJV - ruler.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Darkness NT:4655 skotos (skot'-os); from the base of NT:4639; shadiness, i.e. obscurity (literally or figuratively):KJV - darkness.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Spiritual NT:4152 pneumatikos (pnyoo-mat-ik-os'); from NT:4151; non-carnal, i.e. (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (daemoniacally) a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious:KJV - spiritual. Compare NT:5591.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Wickedness NT:4189 poneria (pon-ay-ree'-ah); from NT:4190; depravity, i.e. (specifically) malice; plural (concretely) plots, sins: KJV - iniquity, wickedness.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

High places NT:2032 epouranios (ep-oo-ran'-ee-os); from NT:1909 and NT:3772; above the sky: KJV - celestial, (in) heaven (-ly), high.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Eph 6:12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. AMP

The first word we come to for what we are wrestling against is principalities, or as the Amplified Bible says, despotisms. Despotisms are those who are tyrants, they are abusers of power, and use their power in cruel ways.  If we are looking to fight a battle, we have to understand this group first.  People may be tyrants, but if they are, they are inspired by evil principalities.  Principalities is the Greek word arche, it is an unusual word.  The majority of times it is translated beginning.  With such an unusual definition, we have to search out the word to make sense of what exactly a principality is.  Let’s look at the definitions from Strong’s and Thayer’s.

NT:746 arche (ar-khay'); from NT:756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank): KJV - beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

NT:746 archee, archees, hee1.    beginning, origin  a.used absolutely, of the beginning of all things: John 1:1 f  b.            in a relative sense, of the beginning of the thing spoken of: John 6:64  2.      the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader: Col 1:18  3.         that by which anything begins to be, the origin, active cause Rev 3:14    4.the extremity of a thing: of the corners of a sail, Acts 10:11  5.the first place, principality, rule, magistracy Luke 12:11  (from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Looking at some of the ways this word is used is helpful in studying it. John 1 uses it in reference to Jesus.

John 1:1-2 In the beginning [746] was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning [746] with God.KJV

Paul uses it with the idea of rule, as in Jesus putting down all rule, authority and power.

1 Cor 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule [746] and all authority and power.KJV

Paul is the only writer who uses this word arche for principalities in the New Testament. Jeremiah is the only Old Testament writer who uses the word, only once, and it means headship or dominion.  Paul being a scholar in Hebrew, understood the usage Jeremiah wrote, and seems to have used the same word with the same intent; for both spiritual dominion and earthly dominion. 

Rom 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities [746], nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.KJV

Paul makes a list for us of the things that cannot separate us from the love of God. He starts with angels in this line up, giving the direction of spiritual beings with the following words, principalities and powers. Paul talks about the dispensation of the mystery and again spiritualizes the word principalities meaning spiritual dominators. 

Eph 3:9-11 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities [746] and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:KJV

To gain further understanding of this word, I searched several Aramaic texts. I noted some of them, such as Ephesians 3:9-11, as we just read in the KJV.  I like the way Victor Alexander noted verse 10, “the full diversity with respect to the thrones and powers of heaven”. From Paul’s writings we see a diversity of beings; angels, principalities, powers, rulers, and so on.  

Eph 3:9-11 And that I may enlighten all people as to who is the administrator of that sermon, He who was hidden from the universe by the Allaha of all creation, 10. So that the church would come to know the wisdom of Allaha , full of diversity with respect to the thrones and powers of heaven , 11. That which was destined from the foundation of the universe and it’s fulfillment through Eashoa the Messiah, our Lord (Aramaic New Testament, translated by Victor Alexander, copyright 2012, printed Lexington , KY, 23 November 2012)

We need to look at Ephesians 6:12 more closely with respect to principalities, who they are, and who they are not. I like Darby’s translation as it is colorful.

Eph 6:12 because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual [power] of wickedness in the heavenlies. Darby

George M Lamsa translates the word principalities in Eph 6:12 as “angels”. This is not the normal word for angels and gives the impression that this class of beings are angels, but that is not what is in the text. The word is arche, so one would have to ask, if arche is translated angels here, shouldn’t it be translated angels everywhere?  Instead, Paul uses angels and principalities in the same sentence, Romans 8:38, both different Greek words, so therefore arche is not the same as angelos. Arche is never translated as angels.  It may have been Lamsa’s intent to call all spiritual beings angels, but according to Paul that would be incorrect.  Victor Alexander uses the word thrones again, and compared to Jeremiah’s, usage this is properly supplied.

Eph 6:12 Because you wrestle not with flesh and blood, except with the thrones and powers and the subjugation of this world of darkness, and with evil spirits under the sky. (Aramaic New Testament, translated by Victor Alexander, copyright 2012, printed Lexington , KY, 23 November 2012)

I like the usage of subjugation, bringing people under control by military conquest.  It certainly makes “rulers” less passive and more aggressive, militarily forcing control over others. 

Etheridge’s Aramaic translation is as follows.

Eph 6:10-ff  HENCEFORTH, my brethren, be strong in our Lord, and in the power of his strength. And clothe you in all the armour of Aloha, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the accuser. For your wrestling is not with flesh and blood (only), but with princes, and with powers, and with the possessors of this dark world, and with the evil spirits who are under heaven. Wherefore clothe you with all the armour of Aloha.  http://www.aramaicpeshitta.com/AramaicNTtools/Etheridge/etheridge_eph.htm

Etheridge’s intimation is that we will fight flesh and blood; but not only flesh and blood, it is a spiritual fight also.  This also alludes to Moses’ direction to kill by sword the children of Belial/satan.  Today our laws protect the Satanists as well as the sons of God, therefore we fight the sons of the devil spiritually, even though they are flesh and blood. Etheridge calls principalities princes, which again is more so connected to Jeremiah’s usage of principalities. Incidentally the Greeks had a word for prince which is similar to arche; it is archon. That word is specifically used of first in rank or power, Strong’s #758, which we will look at shortly. It could be a more accurate rendering of principalities, # 758 rather than #746.

In Colossians, Paul makes the case that whether earthly or heavenly, all things were created by Jesus.

Col 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities [746], or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.KJV

Once again Paul attributes principalities to spiritual beings.

Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities [746] and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.KJV

Janet Magiera attributes principalities to rulers, however Paul’s word for rulers is different than this Greek word arche. Paul uses kosmokrator, Stong’s #2888 as we saw previously.  I like the obvious cosmos, of this Greek word. Yet again her idea of ruler here may more closely relate to principality as in Jeremiah. 

Col 2:15 And by putting off of his body, he exposed rulers and authorities and shamed them openly in his person. (Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation, Janet Magiera, Light of the Word Ministry, LWM Publications, Copyright 2005, 2006, 2^nd edition)

Again we have the confusion of the same word for principality used in regards to Jesus, before, or from the beginning. 

Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last (the Before [746] all and the End of all). [Isa 44:6; 48:12.] AMP

Jesus again is the beginning.

Col 1:18 He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning [746], the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]. AMP

As we wind down this word principalities, we have the usage in a slightly different way, in relation to a first place of being.

Jude 6  And the angels which kept not their first estate [746], but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.KJV

Jude 6 And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.ASV

I think what we can see from this word arche, is that it clearly has a double meaning.  However, the allusion to beginning may indicate that these rulers were the first created beings.  They may have been the heads of the spiritual order of the sons of God.  Nevertheless, the word does not mean angels, as part of an all encompassing group of spiritual beings; it obviously means a lead ruler or head officer in rank.  Another similar word, archon, is translated ruler (not as in Ephesians 6:12) and also prince.  We can think of princes as human or as spiritual beings, and this word is used for Jesus, the devil, and Beelzebub. 

NT:758 archon (ar'-khone); present participle of NT:757; a first (in rank or power):KJV - chief (ruler), magistrate, prince, ruler.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince [758] of this world be cast out.KJV

Matt 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince [758] of the devils.KJV

1 Cor 2:5-8 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:8 Which none of the princes [758] of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.KJV

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince [758] of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: KJV

From the word archon we understand that there are headships in the spiritual realm.  Jesus is one headship (Rev 1:5), the devil is another, Beelzebub is a leader over demons.  If we read the 10^th chapter of Daniel, we would understand again there is a hierarchy in the spirit realm.  The typical understanding is that there is a spiritual battle going on that holds up the angel from coming to Daniel.  Michael is the key to understanding the chapter, as Michael is the guardian over Israel.  An aspect we seem to overlook is that Babylon was taken over by Persia, and Cyrus lets the Jews go back to their homeland and rebuild, but later Alexander conquers the area.  When we see the prince of Persia and the prince of Greece being spoken of, we are given an insight to the future. In Daniel 10, Cyrus was in his 3^rd year; and about this time he took over Palestine and let the Jews go back to their homeland (around 536 BC). These are not battles narrowly won by the angels of Elohim, as it is prophesied by Isaiah that Cyrus would be the one to rebuild the temple.  Part of the battle of Daniel 10 was in relation to Cyrus conquering more land to fulfill what the Lord called him to do. Odd that the Lord chose a Persian King, a Gentile, to fulfill His will.  There would seem to be a pushing and pulling of the sons of God with the demonic leaders of satan. As soon as Daniel started to fast, the angel tried to get to him, but satan’s leaders kept him away.  Prayer and fasting break the strength of satan’s leaders.  What did Daniel want to know? The future, what did the devil not want Daniel to know? The future; the devil did not want anyone to know the Jews would rebuild Jerusalem. This example, in light of history, is not the dire spiritual battle some proclaim it to be.  Instead, in light of history, this is an example of principalities attempting to keep revelation from Daniel.  Today the Holy Spirit resides within us, and principalities cannot keep revelation from us, rather they use trickery and deception to lead us astray.

  

There are Angels that fell, not just those who came to earth to take wives from among the earth women but others also defected.  We gain this insight from the future battle of Revelation 12.  If satan is going to war against Michael and his angels, he must have an army to fight with. Revelation 12 says he is cast out of the heavens with one third of the stars.  That means that at the time of that battle, satan will have one third of the spirit beings of heaven, while Michael will have two thirds. This then tells us that even now, at best, satan has only one third of the fallen angels to help him.  Paul tells us this is our warfare.  These principalities, evil spirit rulers are not demons, they are fallen angels.  Prayer and fasting are our weapons against these beings.  And just like in Daniel, the reigning principalities may attempt to control the unsaved, they cannot control the saved.  However if the saved become deceived, the saved will willingly do the will of the principalities.  Assuming we are not deceived, we can take a look at cities and states, and countries to observe the predominant culture of the people.  It is popular to fight against Christianity today; in the public square the efforts are being made to eliminate Godliness from culture.  The spiritual beings orchestrating that are principalities, and in a ranking order they have the help of lesser spiritual beings to bring to pass the devil’s will.  But like the spiritual battle in Daniel, principalities may be attempting to stop the sons of God from intervening on earth.  This is what we have to pray against along with stopping the sons of the devil in their wickedness.    

Who Is Hell Trying To Keep Out? Victorious Rebels At The Gates of Hell

In this life, we are, by default, ambassadors of hell, until we make the decision to sell out to Team Jesus.  There is no Switzerland; there is no neutrality, we are born into a destiny of hell unless we decide on a destiny of heaven.  There is no gray area; yet the devil is the master of deception, causing people to think there is a gray area. And while, like Andromeda, the redeemed are bound to this earth for a short time, the mission of the redeemed is to generate more redeemed.  Hell has gates because of the redeemed.  Hell does not want the redeemed to take its occupants, those who don’t even know they are destined for torment.  The redeemed are the rebel alliance. Jesus, our leader, became like us so that he could set us free and open our eyes to the world around us. Gates can hold something in or keep something out.  Gates are not offensive weapons, they are defensive structures.  The devil’s defenses are available for us to attack.  Let’s go.

There are a few words we have to look into so that we understand some of the reasons for our age of confusion.  Firstly, there is a difference between justice and fairness.  God is just.  Life is not always fair. The Creator of the Universe rules in justice, which is why the devil has not been obliterated yet. It is also the reason Adam and Eve were not wiped out after the fall. Justice is a legal upholding of terms and conditions. Fairness is equalizing the playing field for everyone.  We are born into a world system that was established prior to our arrival.  The terms and conditions were legally obtained by satan from Adam.  Satan used deceptive means to takeover Adam’s lease on the earth but there was nothing illegal about that.  While the tactics were unfair as satan had the advantage of the knowledge of good and evil and Adam did not, the transfer of lordship of the earth was just.  Adam willingly gave over his lordship to be with Eve, rather than be separated from her.  It is just for Jesus to come and redeem his bride out from the rulership of satan.  While it was not fair for satan to possess knowledge that Adam did not possess when satan used Eve to betray God’s will,  we could say it is not fair for Elohim to make a way out of eternal damnation for the innocent earth dwellers. But it is just, as each human was not given the choice himself.      

If we remember from our study of Pisces, the redeemed are not only those who believed on Jesus since Pentecost, but also those who believed on the Messiah prior to His coming.  As we know, the story of his coming was written in the heavens, long before Moses wrote the Torah.  The redeemed include anyone who accepts the Messiah, Jesus, as Lord.  There is no redemption otherwise. Yet the gates of hell were not intimidated by the redeemed before Pentecost.  Sheol, the grave, was the place of the departed spirits.  Something changed for the redeemed after Pentecost, Jesus made a new place, paradise. And when we believe on Him we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That makes us strong.

Matt 16:15-20 He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? 16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros — a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra — a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church [1577], and the gates [4439] of Hades [86] (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [2729][or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven. [Isa 22:22.] 20 Then He sternly and strictly charged and warned the disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. AMP 

Church NT:1577 ekklesia (ek-klay-see'-ah); from a compound of NT:1537 and a derivative of NT:2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):KJV - assembly, church.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Gates NT:4439 pule (poo'-lay); apparently a primary word; a gate, i.e. the leaf or wing of a folding entrance (literally or figuratively):KJV - gate.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Hell NT:86 haides (hah'-dace); from NT:1 (as negative particle) and NT:1492; properly, unseen, i.e. "Hades" or the place (state) of departed souls:KJV - grave, hell.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Overpower NT:2729 katischuo (kat-is-khoo'-o); from NT:2596 and NT:2480; to overpower:KJV - prevail (against).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Let’s look at this written a different way.

Matt 16:18 And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

The gates of Hades cannot overpower the called out!  What? That is good news; therefore we should be living it.  There is a different word for hell, Gehenna, which is eternal punishment, but this word in Matthew 16 is Hades, the grave.  Hades is the place of the dead; Gehenna is the place of everlasting punishment.  Tartaros is the deepest abyss for eternal punishment.  Hades is the place where those people go who are not in paradise.  Before Jesus came, every human went to hell, Hades/Sheol.  But Jesus took the imprisoned spirits out as we have seen in the book of Nicodemus, and as both Peter and Paul corroborate. Now people either end up in hell or paradise.  We are here to empty hell.    One day death and hell will be thrown in the lake of fire. Interesting to note is how often and to whom Jesus spoke about Gehenna, as there are times he specifically told people they were not going to escape Gehenna.    

1 Peter 4:6 For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.KJV

If we are not overpowered by hell, and hell is trying to keep us out, then how do we storm the gates? Why should we crash hell?  Jesus’ ministry and the legacy of his called out are summed up in the passage he quoted from Isaiah. 

Luke 4:17-21 And there was handed to Him [the roll of] the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened (unrolled) the book and found the place where it was written, [Isa 61:1,2.] 18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], 19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound.]  [Isa 61:1,2.] 20 Then He rolled up the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing [attentively] at Him. 21 And He began to speak to them: Today this Scripture has been fulfilled while you are present and hearing.AMP

This is Jesus’ ministry, but it is also ours. The Holy Spirit indwells us to:

·         Preach the good news to the poor

·         Announce the release of the captives

·         The recovery of sight to the blind

·         Send out the delivered to those who are oppressed

·         To proclaim the millennial kingdom

We have been set free from eternal death, therefore we are to tell others.  This is the called out, storming the gates of hell, setting free the captives who are burdened and blind, and giving them hope and new life in Christ. Let’s be real, the devil can’t make life here on earth so horrible for everyone that people who are already bound for hell can’t stand it, or else they would start to question their existence.  However the devil can make life harsh for those going to heaven, because we are the enemies of hell.  Is it fair for the church to set people free? Is it just for the devil to not tell people there will be eternal life in either the lake of fire or the new heaven and new earth? It is fair for the church to set people free to eternal life in Christ because the devil is not just in not giving people an option of heaven or hell.  Justice in this situation is for everyone to know about eternal destiny and be given a free choice, but there is no justice in the devil’s kingdom.  Since the devil is hiding the truth, it is fair to go into his domain and give people an option. The devil’s rulership is unjust to its subjects, and they don’t even know it.  Let’s take a brief look at what the Lord says about the devil going to hell.  Remember, he will be bound for 1000 years, but then will be loosed for a season, and then thrown into the lake of fire to join the beast and false prophet as well as death and Hades.   

Isa 14:15-21 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.KJV

Satan is brought down to hell (Sheol, the grave the same as the Greek word Hades), and the occupants of hell will look at him.  There is consciousness in the grave. Satan made the earth tremble, he disrupted kingdoms, caused some parts of earth to become a wilderness, and he destroyed cities. He also did not open the prison cells.  He kept people captive without them even knowing.  Instead of a nice burial like well respected people have, satan will be thrown in the common pit with multiple dead bodies, then covered up and walked over.  Satan destroyed his land, and killed his people.  Now it’s one thing to take over the earth from Adam and become the ruler here, but it is quite another to intentionally destroy the earth and the inhabitants.  Those who sided with the devil, will also be utterly destroyed in the lake of fire.  Let’s also read this in the Message Bible, as the language is a little more colorful.

Isa 14:15-21 But you didn't make it, did you? Instead of climbing up, you came down — Down with the underground dead, down to the abyss of the Pit. 16 People will stare and muse:"Can this be the one Who terrorized earth and its kingdoms, 17 turned earth to a moonscape, Wasted its cities, shut up his prisoners to a living death?" 18 Other kings get a decent burial, honored with eulogies and placed in a tomb. 19 But you're dumped in a ditch unburied, like a stray dog or cat, Covered with rotting bodies, murdered and indigent corpses. Your dead body desecrated, mutilated —  20 no state funeral for you! You've left your land in ruins, left a legacy of massacre. The progeny of your evil life will never be named. Oblivion! 21 Get a place ready to slaughter the sons of the wicked and wipe out their father's line.(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

The devil shut people into prison, to a living death.  That is the state of everyone born onto earth.  But it is not our end.  We will have eternal life, and new bodies that will never decay.  Sometimes it seems we are fighting against people, and clearly we see here that the devil has offspring.  Remember Jesus’ words to the Pharisees that they were of their father the devil?  Those people have been tricked into thinking the devil can do something for them here and now, as it is clear that the devil has no future power in the millennial kingdom and is thrown into the lake of fire.  This is the choice we all can make, either the devil’s line which will be wiped out, or Jesus’ kingdom.  It seems simple to those who have made the choice but the devil has blown so much smoke around the issue, people can hardly see.  Jesus made us free by being the sacrifice for us.  We couldn’t do it for ourselves or anyone else but he intentionally left his home on high to be beaten and crucified for us, so that we could live with Him.  Just as Adam had to make a choice, to disobey Elohim, or lose Eve forever; he chose to join his bride, and Jesus chooses to join his bride by his decision.  He redeems the souls of his servants. This is why we should stay faithful to Him.

Ps 34:11-22 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.KJV

Who we choose to serve is very clear cut; it is black and white with no gray areas.  Jesus redeems those who are on his team. Again Peter reiterates the point and adds to it.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer [1162]. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them]. [Ps 34:12-16.] AMP

Prayer NT:1162 deesis (deh'-ay-sis); from NT:1189; a petition:KJV - prayer, request, supplication.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Again, the Lord is against those who do the evil of the devil, but he is faithful to his own. He hears our prayers.  Now, how are we to storm the gates of hell?  It’s not as if there is a physical gate on earth that we can take a battering ram to.  Because the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual, we have to look at and recognize the spiritual battle around us.  Andromeda may be bound to earth, but at her disposal are the angel armies of heaven, and at her direction they are dispatched.  Is it just to bind the called out assembly to a living hell? No, as we did not have a choice, but it is fair that the devil forgot to tape the mouths of the congregation so that the congregation can wage war against the gates of hell? Prayer is a weapon.

2 Cor 10:3-4 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, AMP

Our words are mighty to the destruction of strongholds.  Prayer and intercession work in tearing down the enemy’s fortress. Because our weapons are not carnal, they are spiritual; we have to look at what Jesus did to understand this.  If we read the whole chapter of Isaiah 53 we will see Jesus’ terms of death, prophesized by Isaiah. But in verse 12 we see that Jesus was counted among the rebels. 

Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. KJV

Intercession OT:6293 paga` (paw-gah'); a primitive root; to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity: KJV - come (betwixt), cause to entreat, fall (upon), make intercession, intercessor, intreat, lay, light [upon], meet (together), pray, reach, run.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Jesus took his place among all those apart from God, took on all our sin, and then invaded the rebels’ camp (our camp), becoming the leader of the rebel army. This is why we look to Him as our example and we can storm the gates of hell.  Jesus changed the dynamic of our mission.  And if you thought your prayers simply don’t amount to anything, we (the redeemed) will one day see our prayers and the bowls they are in when the Lamb is about to open the seals. Your prayers are collected in heaven and will be burnt as incense at the altar, then thrown to earth. 

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers [4335] of saints.KJV

Prayers NT:4335 proseuche (pros-yoo-khay'); from NT:4336; prayer (worship); by implication, an oratory (chapel):KJV -  pray earnestly, prayer.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

This seems like a really odd thing as to why our prayers are collected.  This does not imply they are not heard, or fulfilled now.  This does imply that there is a connection to our communication into the spiritual realms that will affect the future.  This also implies that our heavenly connection, while we are on earth, has some importance, not only at this time, at the opening of the seals, but also later at the opening of the seventh seal as well.  So let’s look at that practically for a moment.  We are on earth, a place where time slows down according to the theory of relativity, and the understanding of the ancients who counted our 8,000 year time frame for our story as a very short time.  Remember we looked at a thousand years being one day in the heavenly realms. Heaven time is faster than earth time.  When we breach the perimeters of heaven with our communications, prayers, fellowship, worship, praise, it is an attestation of the spiritual realities of our God and Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.  The very blindness that came over Adam and Eve, and everyone since the fall is now opened and revealed to every human who believes.  The Holy Spirit indwells us in that reality and gives us the connection we need.  This is recovery of sight to the blind.  Not simply physical eyes being healed, but regaining sight that was lost at the time of the fall.  This is what recovery is.  Where Elohim visited Adam, and Adam had fellowship with Elohim in the garden, we now have the recovery of fellowship with Elohim and the entire spiritual realm.  A spiritual void is the sad state that we are born into, and the glorious rescue mission of our Lord.  So he entered our camp, and showed us the spiritual realms we were unaware of, and then showed us that hell is trying to keep us from its people by putting up gates.  Our prayers have an effect on the captives.  Our prayers are our most important weaponry.  Our prayers are not forgotten but utilized in the future time of the tribulation as an offering. Here is the seventh seal being opened.

Rev 8:1-5 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.KJV

Our prayers thrown to earth cause quite a commotion.  Is this an “in your face” move by the angel reminding the devil of the armies of heaven, being prepared just before the start of the seven trumpets?  If we keep in mind our timing, this is still during the first half of the tribulation called the wrath of the lamb. Peter reminds us to be sober and pray.  I love Peter, he’s do dramatic.  Do you ever feel like saying “Dude two thousand years is a loooong time on this planet”

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer [4335].KJV

If the end of all things has not come yet, then the Holy Spirit will work with us. The next few verses explain intercession.  First the Holy Spirit helps us pray, then we see that the Lord, who knows our hearts and the action of prayer, whether our prayer language or earthly language, is brought before the Lord. 

Rom 8:26 So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication [5241] and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. AMP

Intercession NT:5241 huperentugchano (hoop-er-en-toong-khan'-o); from NT:5228 and NT:1793; to intercede in behalf of:KJV - make intercession for(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

This is the only place this particular word for intercession is used. Huper is over or above and Entugchano is en, in, and tugchano to bring to pass.  The Holy Spirit entreats or requests above on our behalf.  Even where there are no words, just our aching heart, the Holy Spirit pleads on our behalf.  And in a similar way Jesus intercedes for us. Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, is not sending prayers from earth to heaven as the Holy Spirit does. Therefore the words for intercession are slightly different with the preceding word Huper.

Rom 8:27 And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will. [Ps 139:1,2.] AMP

Intercession NT:1793 entugchano (en-toong-khan'-o); from NT:1722 and NT:5177; to chance upon, i.e. (by implication) confer with; by extension to entreat (in favor or against):KJV - deal with, make intercession.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Rom 8:34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes [1793] for us? AMP

Bring your words before the Lord. Bring your worship, praise, requests into the heavenly realm. Because when you do so, you prove heaven’s existence to a blind world. Remove the veil over the spiritual realm and intercede for the lost and unsaved.  This is what the gates of hell cannot stand against, breaching eternity while on earth to deliver the captives to Jesus.  Bring people to Jesus in prayer so that the veil over their eyes brings them sight.  Tactical, strategic, and direct prayer for those who haven’t heard they are born into hell, and eternal death, is the privilege of the called out assembly. But we aren’t simply warring against hell’s gates.  There are principalities, powers, rulers, and wickedness to stand against as well; that, next week.

Victorious Rebels; Andromeda

Andromeda, bound and chained, is the story of the church.  We were born into the middle of a story that started about 6,000 years ago.  We enter into a world of confusion because we are never told the back story of why the world functions the way that it does.  From 6,000 years ago until now, we have had a few interventions to help humankind, but even when humankind has been lent a hand, the swirling darkness makes us confused as to our real story.  During times of natural disaster, I hear questions being asked as to how God could let this happen.  I have some questions as well. My first question is: one, who is your God, and two, didn’t you read the book? There is a “god” of this world, and a God who is the Creator.  Which one are people attributing things to? The Creator gave us a book and wrote our story in the stars, but the one who rules the world is the one causing the problems for humans.  What is worse is that many only think there is one god and blame the Creator for the corrupt world rulers’ actions.

What’s more, the increase in bad human behavior makes the evil world ruler stronger. More people are doing his evil will, rather than the will of our Creator God. There are many stories written in fantasy form of evil strengthening over a period of time and a group of rebels working to defeat that evil.  Whether the fantasy story takes place in the outer galaxies or in the middle earth, the battle is always good versus evil, and it is patterned after our own story.  We were born into a battle that people forgot to tell us about.  Some people are lucky enough to be taught about good and evil but many are not.  That is what brings the confusion.  Adam and Eve learned about good and evil, which was not part of their original world view.  

Our world is a living hell because the devil usurped dominion from Adam in the garden.  Adam was told to tend and keep the garden before Eve was created. We have to ask, what in the garden did he have to keep in subjection; what was he to tend and guard. Eve wasn’t around, so he did not have to protect her from the garden or vice versa.  Adam was to protect the garden, but from what or who? Animals were not aggressive.  We know there were Angels, good and evil, as well as satan, who was removed from his duties in the heavens where he had sanctuaries and merchandised his followers.  He wanted to sit as a judge in the mount of the congregation which was not his job.  Adam, being given more authority on earth than satan, was to guard the garden from anything that would change it. Satan, in his jealousy, found a way to take Adam’s rule on earth.  One thing we should ponder is, if satan was merchandising people, what does that look like in our world today? How is satan merchandising human kind? Is he using humans in a financial world system that draws people to worship him in order to get ahead? Just a few things to ponder.

Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.KJV

SubdueOT:3533 kabash (kaw-bash'); a primitive root; to tread down; hence, negatively, to disregard; positively, to conquer, subjugate, violate:KJV - bring into bondage, force, keep under, subdue, bring into subjection.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Gen 2:15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.KJV

Dress OT:5647`abad (aw-bad'); a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:KJV -  be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute,  husbandman, keep, labour (-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve (-ingself,), (be, become) servant (-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

And to keep it OT:8104 shamar (shaw-mar'); a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:KJV - beward, be circumspect, take heed (toself), keep (-erself,), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Gen 2:15 And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it.AMP

Elohim, the Creator, announced hope, a recovery mission. Someone would come to rescue humans. Elohim even wrote it in the heavens; and every day and every night the heavens tell the same story. 

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel. [Gal 4:4.] AMP

After satan deceived Adam, Elohim said that Adam and Eve had become like Elohim knowing the difference between good and evil. That was not the knowledge mankind was supposed to have.  That sounds odd but if we were never exposed to evil we would not understand there was a difference between good and evil, all we would know is good, but we would understand it as the way it is. No hurt no pain, no deliberate or intentional hurtful behaviors against us. 

Gen 3:22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us [the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit], to know [how to distinguish between] good and evil and blessing and calamity; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever —  AMP

But Elohim made man a little lower than Elohim, not angels.  Therefore mankind had more abilities and attributes of authority than angels, including satan. 

Ps 8:5 For thou hast made him but little lower than God, and crownest him with glory and honor.ASV

This tells us that spirit beings, including Elohim, all understand good and evil; yet man was created in the garden without the knowledge of good and evil.  Compare this to the millennial reign when satan has to be loosed again at the end of Jesus’ kingship to deceive the nations.  The millennial reign will be similar to the time of Adam and Eve, pre-fall; everyone’s needs will be met and Jesus, and those ruling with Him (with their new spiritual bodies), will be the ones who know of good and evil.  Yet the people on earth will only know good, which comes from King Jesus.

Adam and Eve suffered for their disobedience, as their son Abel was murdered by their oldest son Cain.  How heartbreaking; but for evil to have entered into the world through Adam and Eve’s actions must have been truly heart wrenching.  Remember, before that time they knew nothing of evil, they knew nothing of heartache. What a shock to recognize they messed up for every human being.  Now the story of Andromeda has to be told.

Every baby is born into affliction. Some people choose to side with evil, and for their time on earth, they seem set free or prosperous.  Some choose to side with the creator, yet they have to spend their time on earth in bondage because the ruler of this earth views these people as rebels.  Jesus came and gave us an option; the law was one option that gave guidance until the Messiah, and when he came he gave us power to be overcomers.  Isaiah tells us of those who suffer. 

Isa 54:11-14 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.KJV

Compare Revelation 20, the New Jerusalem, to Isaiah 54, the precious stones that decorate the city. He makes a way for us to overcome, but some did not receive Jesus as Messiah.  They suffer, struggling under the law to do what is right without the Holy Spirit.  In the new heaven and new earth evil will be abolished. This should be our life goal, to attain to the new world Elohim is creating. Job’s friend Eliphaz makes an interesting point.

Job 5:6-7 For affliction comes not forth from the dust, neither does trouble spring forth out of the ground. 7 But man is born to trouble as the sparks and the flames fly upward. AMP

Affliction OT:205 'aven (aw-ven'); from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught); strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol:KJV - affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourners (-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain vanity, wicked (-ness). Compare OT:369.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Man is born into trouble. Life seems like an effort, yet, before Jesus came people didn’t fully understand that there is an evil ruler of the earth, oppressing those who want to live for the creator. They knew there was a devil, but did not understand his plans.  They knew there was an 8,000 year time period, and one day the Messiah would reign on earth, and there would be peace.  But they may have thought the Messiah’s first coming would be his only coming, not realizing Jesus would die and come back again.

Ps 102:1-28A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. 1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee.2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

Here the afflicted cry out to Jehovah, but they remember Jehovah’s promises for the future.  Again we see stones as in Revelation, the new heaven and new earth. When Jesus reigns for one thousand years the heathen will fear him. He will appear in glory.

12 But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.16 When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

Zion is a wonderful place in the millennial kingdom, and Jesus’ people will be free from the chains of our world today.

18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;21 To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

If we remember from studying the Mazzaroth, Jesus comes as Cepheus, the King, to rule.  Perseus, the breaker, rescues Andromeda and then she becomes Cepheus’ Queen, Cassiopeia.  Jesus saved the chained and those appointed to death. 

23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.KJV

Again we see the ancients understood the eight thousand year plan, the new heaven and new earth.  The one who laid the foundation of the earth will establish a new heaven and earth, and the evil ruler satan, will be sentenced to the lake of fire forever. The idea of affliction in the New Testament is pressure or burden. 

James 4:8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.KJV

Affliction NT:2347 thlipsis (thlip'-sis); from NT:2346; pressure (literally or figuratively):KJV - afflicted (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

What is different for those who accept Jesus as Lord is that the inside of the believer changes and becomes new. Even though we are physically perishing day by day, we are looking to eternity; we are not done once our bodies die.   For this short time we are bound to living on earth as rebels with a cause.

2 Cor 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.KJV

Again our goal is to attain to the new heaven and new earth, our cause is to bring as many people with us as possible and our state, or condition, is that we are bound to earth, yet redeemed. Therefore we are rebels for our cause and we are eventually victorious. Joseph Seiss tells us of Andromeda and how this constellation represents the church.  As always the Greeks came up with their stories but the star names give this constellation its definition. 

Andromeda.

A still further representation of the Church is supplied in the third Decan of this sign. This is the picture of a beautiful woman, with fetters upon her wrists and ankles, and fastened down so as to be unable to rise. This woman in the Decan is the same as the Fishes in the sign. The change of the image argues no change in the subject. The Church is often a woman, and oftener than it is a net full of fishes ; but it is both — sometimes the one, and sometimes the other — in the representations of the Scriptures. Besides, in some of the ancient planispheres these Fishes were pictured with the heads of women, thus identifying them with the woman.

Greek mythology calls this woman Andromeda (andro-medo), man-ruler, but with what idea, or for what reason, does not appear in the myths. The name is perhaps derived from some ancient designation of similar significance, which has no meaning in the Greek fables, but which covers a most important and inspiring biblical representation respecting the Church. Here we discover the true Andromeda — the mystic woman called and appointed to rule and guardianship over men. When Peter wished to know what he and his fellow disciples should have by way of compensation for having forsaken everything for Christ, the blessed Master said : " Ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matt. 19:28). Hence Paul spoke to the Corinthians as of a well-understood fact, " Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world ?" (i Cor. 6:2). Hence the enraptured John ascribes everlasting glory and dominion to the divine Christ, not only for washing us from our sins in His own blood, but that He" hath made us kings and priests unto God" (Rev. 1 : 5, 6). The true people of God, the real Church, are the elect kings of the future ages. Even now already they are embodiments and bearers of the heavenly kingdom and dominion upon earth. Through them the word goes forth for the governing of men, and the regulation of their hearts and lives, and the bringing of them under a new spiritual dominion, so that none ever come to forgiveness and glory except as they come into submission to the truth and the teachings of the Church. The great All-Ruler has so united the Church to himself, and so embodied himself in it, that by its word, testimonies, and ordinances He rules, governs, tutors, and guards men, and brings them under His saving dominion. The Prophets, Apostles, Confessors, Pastors, and Teachers which He has raised up in the Chinch, with those associated with them in the fellowship of the same faith and work, are the true kings and guardians of men, who have been ruling from their spiritual thrones for all these ages, and will continue to rule more and more for ever as the spiritual and eternal kingdom is more and more revealed and enforced. Most significantly, therefore, may the Church be called Andromeda; and the fact that the mystic woman in this constellation is so called, with no other known reason for it, goes far to identify her as verily intended to be a prophetic picture of the Church, which she truly represents beyond anything else that has ever been in fable or in fact.

Andrpmeda's Chains.

But this woman is in chains, bound hand and foot. The names in the sign mean the Broken-down, the Weak, the Afflicted, the Chained. The fables say that she was the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, promised to her uncle Phineus in marriage, when Neptune sent a flood and a sea-monster to ravage the country in answer to the resentful clamors of his favorite nymphs against Cassiopeia, because she boasted herself fairer than Juno and the Nereides. Nor would the incensed god be pacified until, at the instance of Jupiter Ammon, the beautiful Andromeda was exposed to the sea-monster, chained to a rock near Joppa in Palestine, and left to be devoured. But Perseus, on returning from the conquest of the Gorgons, rescued her and made her his bride.

Here, then, was a case of malignant jealousy and persecution resulting in the disability, exposure, and intended destruction of an innocent person. And thus, again, we have a striking picture of the unfavorable side of the Church's condition in this world. Jealous rivals hate her and clamor against her. The world-powers in their selfishness fail to protect her, and lend themselves for her exposure and destruction. Innocently she is made to suffer. Though a lovely and influential princess, she is hindered by personal disabilities and bonds. It will not be so always. The time will come when those bonds shall be broken and that exposure ended. There is One engaged in a war with the powers of darkness and the children of hell who will presently come this way to rescue and deliver the fair maiden and to make her His glorious bride. But for the present affliction and hardship are appointed to her. She cannot move as she would, or enjoy what pertains to her royal character, her innocence, and her beauty. She is bound to the hard, cold, and ponderous rock of this earthly life,

Born to reign with her redeeming Lord, Apostles can only wish that she did reign, that they might reign with her. She is within the sacred territory, but it is as yet a place of captivity and bonds. She never can be truly herself in this mortal life. Nor is she completely free from the oppressive Phineus until the victorious Perseus comes. The whole picture is true to the life, and shows with what profound prophetic foresight and knowledge the makers of these signs were endowed.

http://archive.org/stream/gospelinstarsorp00seis/gospelinstarsorp00seis_djvu.txt

When Jesus spoke in the temple and recited part of this section in Isaiah, he stopped halfway through verse 2 because the day of vengeance would be later, not during his first time on earth. But if we look at this closely we see the picture of Andromeda.  

Isa 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.KJV

Once again preaching liberty to the captives and opening the prison to the bound.  Since Andromeda is bound, Jesus brought the understanding of hope and freedom to the redeemed. 

Gal 4:3-7 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.KJV

We are now sons, yet in a world that considers us rebels and enemies to the ruler of this world.  There is simply no easy Christianity; once we become saved we will have to overcome every day.  Our total victory is in abeyance until Jesus comes with the armies of heaven. But we ensure our place of victory being born of God the Creator.

1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? KJV

When Jesus was on earth he told his disciples that they would suffer here, but ultimately he conquered the world for us. Now that we associate with Jesus as our Lord, we have become rebels. 

John 16:33-17:3 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] 1 WHEN JESUS had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify and extol and honor and magnify You. 2 [Just as] You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent. AMP

Even though Jesus came, there are many people who either don’t believe in what he accomplished, or they don’t jump whole heartedly into life in Jesus.  Some people try to live as the world does and “say” they are followers of Jesus. What they don’t realize is that playing in the world binds them to the world and makes them slaves.  An example would be someone who uses manipulation, intimidation, or domination to get ahead in business.  That is playing with the world’s ways instead of being honest, kind, and truthful.  If someone who claims “Jesus as Lord”, dabbles in the world’s ways and uses the devil’s techniques on Christians, he then has become the slave of the devil, as Peter tells us. It is like a dog that eats his own vomit.   

2 Peter 2:19-22 They promise them liberty, when they themselves are the slaves of depravity and defilement — for by whatever anyone is made inferior or worse or is overcome, to that [person or thing] he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through [the full, personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again become entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition is worse [for them] than the first. 21 For never to have obtained a [full, personal] knowledge of the way of righteousness would have been better for them than, having obtained [such knowledge], to turn back from the holy commandment which was [verbally] delivered to them. 22 There has befallen them the thing spoken of in the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and, The sow is washed only to wallow again in the mire. [Prov 26:11.] AMP

The better way to handle ourselves in business is God’s way, especially when the alternative is compared to our last condition being worse than before we were even saved. Also, the way we behave when someone offends us exposes our allegiance to either the evil one or to the Creator God.

Rom 12:19-21 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. [Deut 32:35.] 20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. [Prov 25:21,22.] 21 Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good. AMP

Paul tells us the way we change ourselves so that we do not become like the world.

Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. AMP

Being friends with the world is being an enemy with God the Creator.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.KJV

But Jesus says if we overcome we will inherit all things.

Rev 21:6-7 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.KJV

Andromeda may be bound to the world for a season, but she is not helpless.  Some days we may feel that way, but we have offensive weapons that we can use even while chained.  Those weapons keep the devil chained, just like Cetus is bound by the fish, Pisces.  Some people may think that the devil is planning some great takeover, but he can do nothing other than what is already written.  We know his whole story from start to finish.  So what is he really trying to gain, since we can read all about it?  I think he is simply trying to get more people to deny Jesus as Lord, and send as many people to hell as possible.  Yet, it is our goal to fill up heaven and keep hell empty.  We need to look at intercession and our weapons of warfare next.