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Monday, January 21, 2013

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, 2nd 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 10th 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 3rd 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.