Spiritual war In ancient times and in the last days

JanEgil Gulbrandsen

April - 2014

Updated March 2015

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 26:12

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Cor. 11:14

The history of Satanand the fallen angels

To tell the history of Satan (first called Lucifer),we have to go back all the way to the beginning of time and God’s creation of the angels.There are several “types” of angels.We are going to take a quick look at 4 of these “levels” in the divine hierarchy

1) SeraphsThey are the highest ranking angels, and closest to God, (Is. 6:2)

guarding God and God’s throne.They have six wings – more then any other.Due to their closeness to God they resemble “fire” (Heb. 12:29 – Dan. 7:9 – Ex. 24:17 – Ps. 103:4)

We don’t know their names because they are always in heaven where God the father is.They call out: “Holy-holy-holy”

2) CherubsThey guarded the way to the tree of life and the ark of the covenant.They are involved in the worship of God.They have 4 wings.We don’t know their name except for Lucifer (Ez. 28:14-15)

LuciferHis Hebrew name is Heylei.His name means “light bearer”He was “the brightest in the sky”- The Morning Star.As you can see Lucifer had very high status and authority with God. So Lucifer was a respected name but thing were to change dramatically… We will get back to that.

3) The ArchangelsThese are the operative angel leaders.God – Yahweh – presides over the “divine council” – also called in Genesis “the sons of God” (with small s) and by Job “the children of God”In modern terms we could say that God (the trinity) is the president and CEO, and the archangels are the board

There are a number of archangels. The bible mentions 3 (Ezekiel)and the book of the prophet Enoch mentions 4 more.All angels have specific responsibilities and job descriptions.Let’s look at their names:

A) MichaelAlso called: “The Angel of the Lord”He is the Chief prince – God’s warrior and the defender of the church.He is the strongest in the universe after God himself. He was created first.

b) GabrielGod’s messenger and strength.He is the helper of the Saints.When the church calls out to God, it is Gabriel and his under-angels that come to our rescueHe will also call the dead to life to judgment one day

c) RaphaelMeans: God’s healer and God’s goodnessHe is the gentle one that can comfort, cure and heal.He can show up in human form(change into a real human) and while visiting the earth take a human name

4) “Regular” Angels (workers)

An angel is a pure spirit created by God. The Old Testament theology included the belief in angels: the name applied to

certain spiritual beings or intelligences of heavenly residence, employed by God as the ministers of His will.

The English word "angel" comes from the Greek angelos, which means 'messenger.‘ Angels are pure intellects that do not have physical form. Indeed, angels do not reproduce at

all; God created each of them out of nothing before the dawn of creation.

They are numerous, immaterial, and immortal, so they don’t

need to reproduce. (But some of them did. Gen. 6)

Job tells us that angels were created before the earth (Job 38:4-7)

Lucifer was one of God’s most powerful and beautiful creations. His job description was overseer of the earth.Lucifer and the other archangels worshipped the Lord.But one day Lucifer became full of pride and wanted to be worshiped himself –and to be equal with God. He wanted to “be God” instead of worshipping Him.

Ezekiel 28:14-15 (NIV)”You were anointed as a guardian cherub,

for so I ordained you.You were on the holy mount of God;

you walked among the fiery stones.You were blameless in your ways

from the day you were createdtill wickedness was found in you.”

That day war broke out in heaven.

Michael and his angels fought with Lucifer and his angels. Lucifer lost.This is the day he got his new name.Satan.The name comes from the verb: to oppose.

Satan was cast down to earth and his angels with him. They made up a total of 1/3 of all the angels of heaven. (Rev. 12:3-9, Is. 14:15 – Ez. 28:16-17)

“Falling angels”

Satan – fallen angel – but still “angel” – in charge of “thousands” of fallen Angels- Demons – here on earth “right now” in 2014 – trying to bring people down.

Jesus himself witnesses the battle take place.He say’s in Luke 10:18,“I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning”Later Satan is successful in tempting Adam and Eve in the garden. (Gen. 3:1-14)

This had as we know huge consequences for mankind's life on earth…

The prophet Enoch in “the book of Enoch” mentions 4 more “sons of God” or archangels.Their names were Uriel, Raguel, Sariel and Jeremiel.

They were attracted by early woman – came down to earth - put on human flesh - and slept with them.(and another 200 angels – 19 of them mentioned by name)

According to Jude 1:6 ,(referring to the angels in Genesis 6 and based on info from Enoch 12:4) they were in Heaven at the time of “falling in lust”.

Jude 1:6 “And angels who did not keep their own domain (their first estate), but abandoned their proper abode (abandoned their own home)”…

Jude could only have known this info from readingthe book of Enoch

And this is “sensational” information unknown to most of the western church that are not familiar with Enoch’s writings.

This was the second time angels fell and became “fallen Angels”After the flood they were locked up in Shoal in preparation for judgment day.

Sariel Jeremiel

God has a special judgment for the 4 archangels (and the other 200) that fell “for the woman”(Gen. 6)

“For if God spared not the angels that sinned (with the woman), but cast them down to “hell” (shoal –the holding place), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah (and his family); a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; should live” (2 Pet 2:4-5)

• What did we just learn:

• The angels “abandoned their proper abode (heaven)” - came down to earth – took on bodies of flesh – and slept with the woman

• Now they were “fallen angels.”

• This was the second time angels fell “in sin”.

• They were killed in the flood.

• Their demon spirits where then “locked up” in shoal (the holding place for all spirits) for the final judgment day (still ahead in time) (2 Peter 2:4)

• where they “again” will be locked up – this time in hell (the lake of fire) – for ever – for never to be released

• According to the book of Enoch; being before God’s throne, they were pleading with God for “forgiveness”, but their sin was “so severe” that forgiveness was out of the question

• Their offspring (with the woman) became evil giants –meaning demon possessed by demons (fallen angels) from the first fall.

• These demons were “released” when the giants died

• (all demons that possesses people on earth, are released when the person dies, free to move on to “another person” –but only if they are allowed or invited in)

• That’s how demons live forever – and can move from person to person through the generations.

• But their final fait is the same as for all demons: Judgment and the lake of fire for eternal punishment

This is the story of Satan and his demons and other fallen angels in enchant times

But is there a connection to our time?

We know we are saved by graceand nothing can separate us from the love and relationship with Christ

Praise the Lord for that…

But is life now “easy sailing” all the way to glory?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.…” Ephesians 6:12

This is what Paul says to the church – many years after Jesus’ victorious triumph:

Yes, Satan was defeated on the cross. Totally! Sin can no longer separate us from God.Jesus is our rescuer… We are safe in him.

But sorry to say:Satan is still alive. He has not gone away. And now he and his demons are working overtime… Because he know his end is getting closer…

“Keep you friends close – and your enemies even closer”

This is not about being friendly with- or spending time together with your enemy. It’s about knowing as much as possible about your enemy (which is Satan) - his every move, his strategies and what he is thinking and doing. You must be prepared, in case he attack. And he will. You must also know his weak spot (remind him that he is defeated) and command him to flee in the name of Jesus.

You have heard the saying:

These spiritual forces of wickedness (demons) know that they were concurred by Jesus on the cross. They know that Jesus died for our sins and our sicknesses.But still they attack people in their body.But we as believers have the right and authority to “speak to them and tell them to flee”. “Sickness – I speak to you: In Jesus name go”. And they will flee… And the sick will be set free… Praise the Lord! We must stop being afraid of exercising our authority!

But this is not only a personal issue how youshould deal with the enemy.Satan and his fallen demon brothers are working overtime to bring down every people…In many cases “good people” that don’t know the Lord… (yet…)They are very often totally without understanding or defence of what the evil forces are doing to them and to the world

So what can we expect this world to look like – spiritually speaking, in the future? How can we live this grace life of peace and rest

in a world where Satan is still the “prince” -walking around to find an easy target?

He knows his time is running out – and he is working not only as an accuser of the brethren but as a liar, tempter and seducer to make life as miserable as possible for as many as possible, and to bring as many as he can with him to hell…

Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the signs of thy coming and of the end of the world ?

The disciples asked Jesus this question in Matt. 24:3

“…as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man (Jesus’ second coming)”

NB. The rapture of the Saint has by this time already taken place.

(for pre-trib’ers 7 years earlier – for mid-trib’ers 3,5 years earlier and for post –trib’ers only a short time earlier)

Jesus gave them many signs – including this one in Matt. 24:37-38

“…for in the days before the flood they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.…”

Matt. 24:38 – Jesus say’s:

Does God want us to understand his plans for the future?

Yes,he want us to intrepid and understand the signs given in his word and trough spiritual revelation for those who ask…

• Listen to what the scriptures says:

• “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

• Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you” (Hos. 4:6)

• The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense. (Proverbs 10:21)

• So let us not be spiritual fools…

The End

“Spiritual war – the history of Satan”JanEgil Gulbrandsen – April 2014

gulbrandsen@islandnet.com

Thank you for listening!