Spiritual Warfare
Many of us in the Israel Truth movement believe we are in the last days before the return of Jesus Christ. I am not referring to the definition of the last days given in the Bible. The Bible refers to the period between the first and second coming of Christ as the last days. I am talking about the last few years before the Lord returns. If that is correct, then I believe the scripture in Peter’s first epistle is a warning to us. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8,9.
Satan was cast out of heaven when Jesus ascended into heaven. (Revelation 12:5-12. Since then, Satan has lived on the earth with his demons, causing death, destruction, and chaos. He hates Christians and sends demons against them every chance he gets. Christians have been at war with the demons throughout the last two thousand years. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:11,12. The pyramid of evil has Satan as the capstone; next under him are the principalities; next row down are the powers; next down are the rulers; then below that are common wicked spirits. Below them is a row of powerful human rulers, and levels of humans in descending order of influence down to common human beings addicted to sin at the bottom. Satan rules and crushes everyone below him. They are all in bondage to him and to sin. Only Jesus Christ can liberate anybody from this pyramid of evil.
The house of God is different. Jesus is the corner stone on the bottom, and the New Testament apostles and the Old Testament prophets form the foundation. Above them are strong stones such as Silas, Mark, and Timothy in the New Testament, and Joshua, Zadok, and Nehemiah in the Old Testament. Above them are levels of people of God throughout the last six thousand years up to the levels of weaker stones who need more help from the stronger stones. In the house of God, the strong support the weak. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” 1 Peter 2:5-6.
Christians need to stand together against Satan and his demons. Do not neglect fellowship, Bible study, and worship with other Christians. Israelite Christians are especially powerful at wrestling with spiritual beings. Our ancestor Jacob even wrestled with God. (Genesis 32:24-28). Demons have come into the Israelite nations with the people that have come in with witchcraft, occult practices, and alien religions. We can stand against spiritual oppression because the Holy Spirit in us is stronger than any demon.
Though we stand together with our Christian brothers and sisters, we are not always with them. When we are alone demons sometimes come after us to tempt us to sin. Sin brings torment, which is what they want for us. Sin begins as thoughts. In Matthew chapter four Satan tempted Jesus by trying to put evil thoughts into his mind. Satan spoke to Jesus, but demons do not need to speak to us. They can try to inject thoughts into our minds straight from their minds. Jesus spoke to Satan to rebuke him, and we can speak to demons to rebuke them. As soon as evil thoughts come into our minds, we can rebuke the demons and tell them to leave in the name of Jesus. They will leave, though sometimes it takes time, depending on how powerful the demons are. We are tempted by the desires of our flesh, but the temptations are magnified by demons. We must resist them and turn our minds to other things. Demons cannot force us to sin. We have free will. The more we obey God’s commandments, the more power we will have to rebuke and expel demons. We must always be on guard and avoid sliding into sin.
