Principalities

[gdemoss]

Hi Sam,  if you feel the need to discuss with bopeep about the constitution and her obedience to it,  could you please pick another thread? 

Bopeep and Ezra, thank you for your comments concerning principalities.  They are helpful.

[Esther4:14]

In Ephesians 6:12 Paul teaches that believers in Christ that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities, which would seem like a contradiction because a ruler is flesh and blood.  Therefore, what I think he is saying that we are really battling against is oppression and not each other.  In James 2:6, James has rebuked the people for showing favoritism to the rich because, "Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?," and this is what Paul is saying that our struggle is against-the oppression of principalities.  

In 1 Samuel 8, we learn there is a significant difference between the authority of God and the authority of a king.  The people are warned"

"This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a kingover us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:11-20).  

This description represents the oppression of the principalities that we fight against, not each other.  We do not want to choose a principality to be our king the way Israel did, and the way that many will when the beast requires a mark demonstrating allegiance to him.   We want to fight against this coming oppression by putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13).  

 

[Ezra]

 

In Ephesians 6:12 Paul teaches that believers in Christ that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities, which would seem like a contradiction because a ruler is flesh and blood. Therefore, what I think he is saying that we are really battling against is oppression  and not each other. [The quote function is messed up]

Oppression may come from spirit beings, but the *rulers of the darkness of this world* are actual evil spirits who rule and control the evil and idolatry that exists all around us.  Who do you think is controlling ISIS or Vladimir Putin?  In the book of Daniel we see that the angel Gabriel was opposed by spirit *princes* who actually hindered him from fulfilling his mission in a timely manner.  Every nation on earth is ruled by these powerful and *exalted* (within their hierarchies) spirit rulers. So we cannot simply treat them as allegorical.

[peacemakerIND]

oh principalities?

principalities comes from word only..

Word of God is some fundamentals and right doctrine too

while we are  trying to walk according to word of God.. automatically we can found the principalities

who to have faith,. how to walk with Lord.. what is main principalities in Christian walk

Only word of God tell us.. 

[Guest Butero]

The most important thing I take from this is the knowledge that we are in a battle we cannot see with our natural eyes.  We are under constant temptations from demonic spirits and there is a real war in the heavenly realm that isn't obvious to us.  We are not warring so much against people, as the spirits influencing people.  Those who are Spirit led are helpful, and those who are being led by demonic spirits are doing us harm.  We can find ourselves being influenced by demonic spirits if we are not careful, and not even realize it.  I just look at this in light of how it effects us so we can be on guard.  It can also be helpful so we will realize our real battle isn't with the people we are warring with, but demonic influences, and if we can understand that, we may learn to be more patient.

[Marilyn C]

Hi gdemoss,

A good scripture to keep in mind is -

`For by Him (Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven & that are in earth, visible & invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him & for Him.` (Col. 1: 16)

So here we read that these are all made by the Lord for Himself. That is all those positions of authority & power will all come under His Lordship. At the moment there are the rebellious in some of those areas & in the Lord`s timing He will deal with them. Then He will put in place those He has chosen to rule there.

Lucifer had a throne in the third heaven & when sin was found in him, he was cast out of there. The position of authority, throne(s), is still there, though vacant. (see Daniel 7). The thrones & dominions refer to that realm as it is the seat of all authority & power under them. The Principalities & Powers are the authority positions that Satan now occupies (in the lower heavens) but he & his demonic angels will be cast out of there in the great Tribulation. However that authority position of P & P is the Lord`s as He made it for Himself as with all the authority positions.

The joy is to learn - who occupies which area in the new heavens & new earth.

Marilyn.

 

 

[Pamelasv]

People in old testament lusting after other gods causing big open door for satan to work in there, influencing them to go farther. Now a fallen angel who has a higher rank tells the smaller ones to go about the people doing their work on them.  A house divided against itself cannot stand, so they are working together.  The head principlality of all this is like the ring leader, as on earth there are various groups that fall apart without a leader. Gangs, churches, sports teams, etc.  Well, that has been my understanding.

[Your closest friendnt]

The bible speaks of principalities.  This week I began researching deeper into the topic and how this would affect ones worldview.

I would like to hear your understanding of Principalities and their Princes along with how you understand juristiction of such Princes as it pertains to that which they are Prince of.

Thank You!

You will find the term *principalities* used in connection with the hierarchies of angels (primary the evil angels). Christians sometimes forget that even though Satan was cast out of God's Heaven, his authority over countless evil angels was not taken away.  And even though he was defeated at the Cross when Christ conquered the power of sin, Hell, Hades, death, and Satan, his powers to continue as *the god of this world* were not taken away. Just before the Antichrist takes control of this world, all the evil angels and Satan will be cast down to earth from the first and second heavens.

As the *god of this world* and *the prince of the power of the air* he has angelic rulers under him and they are ranked just as an army has ranks, and some of these ranks have the status of *princes*.  Those ranks are shown as:

Thrones

Dominions

Principalities

Powers

Rulers of the darkness of this world

Spiritual wickedness in high places

Please tells what is that you have read in scripture and what is the fiction, I can not tell "your fiction" cause you must have like to adapt it from someone you respect and is your guide in this matter, that has been substituted by you as the guidance of the holy spirit when it is not, please we like to know, what is scripture base and what is from imaginative spirits.

[other one]

do you really consider anything besides the Bible as fiction????

[Ezra]

You will find the term *principalities* used in connection with the hierarchies of angels (primary the evil angels). Christians sometimes forget that even though Satan was cast out of God's Heaven, his authority over countless evil angels was not taken away.  And even though he was defeated at the Cross when Christ conquered the power of sin, Hell, Hades, death, and Satan, his powers to continue as *the god of this world* were not taken away. Just before the Antichrist takes control of this world, all the evil angels and Satan will be cast down to earth from the first and second heavens.

As the *god of this world* and *the prince of the power of the air* he has angelic rulers under him and they are ranked just as an army has ranks, and some of these ranks have the status of *princes*.  Those ranks are shown as:

Thrones

Dominions

Principalities

Powers

Rulers of the darkness of this world

Spiritual wickedness in high places

Please tells what is that you have read in scripture and what is the fiction, I can not tell "your fiction" cause you must have like to adapt it from someone you respect and is your guide in this matter, that has been substituted by you as the guidance of the holy spirit when it is not, please we like to know, what is scripture base and what is from imaginative spirits.

If you believe that anything above is "fiction", why don't you get a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and research the matter for yourself?  I would like to know exactly what you mean by "substituted by you"?  You are trying to say that this is not what the Bible teaches, so why don't you tell us what you believe the Bible teaches about "principalities"?