Ephesians 6:12

[Whyme]

Who are the rulers, authorities, powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms? 

 

Ephesians 6:12 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.

[Whyme]

This scripture might be helpful too.

 

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

[Riverwalker]

To be honest with you, on Ephesians 6 I don't know.  I have heard  a lot of preachers speculate on it and the hierarchy of demonic forces, but the older I get the more I fall back on, "if the bible doesn't say anything more on it, than neither do I"

that being said

Since the rulers, authorities and powers are not flesh and blood I think we can safely assume that we are talking about evil spiritual forces, aka the devil and his demons" but I do not think it is direct action on their part, but rather on their influencing the leaders of the day, which we can see with the leaders, media and entertainment of today.

2nd Corinthians adds a dimension to these that leads me to believe that our fight is to secure our soul (Mind Will and Emotions) purity. To keep ourselves safe.  We can have little impact on the rulers of this world except by shining our light, and keeping our light pure.....our minds pure and fixed on the things of God, is the best that we can do.

 

taking us to God's admonition, "Be Holy for I am Holy"

[Whyme]

12 minutes ago, Riverwalker said:

To be honest with you, on Ephesians 6 I don't know.  I have heard  a lot of preachers speculate on it and the hierarchy of demonic forces, but the older I get the more I fall back on, "if the bible doesn't say anything more on it, than neither do I"

that being said

Since the rulers, authorities and powers are not flesh and blood I think we can safely assume that we are talking about evil spiritual forces, aka the devil and his demons" but I do not think it is direct action on their part, but rather on their influencing the leaders of the day, which we can see with the leaders, media and entertainment of today.

2nd Corinthians adds a dimension to these that leads me to believe that our fight is to secure our soul (Mind Will and Emotions) purity. To keep ourselves safe.  We can have little impact on the rulers of this world except by shining our light, and keeping our light pure.....our minds pure and fixed on the things of God, is the best that we can do.

 

taking us to God's admonition, "Be Holy for I am Holy"

Thank you for the input. 

[johnthebaptist]

2 hours ago, Whyme said:

Who are the rulers, authorities, powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms? 

 

Ephesians 6:12 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.

I think Satan enjoys infiltrating church and goverment leadership with people he has led astray. 

[Michael37]

2 hours ago, Whyme said:

Who are the rulers, authorities, powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms? 

 

Ephesians 6:12 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 6:12  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.

Hi Whyme.  I hope you are doing well and continue to come up with interesting threads like this.

I wonder if you have ever heard the rhetoric that Christians should only speak of the things they are for, instead of the things they are against?  I have heard this pop-psychology preached and expressed as if taking a stand against corruption, deception, and exploitation brought on by the above mentioned evil hierarchy, is a sin, but Scripture instructs us to stand against the wiles of the devil so into the dustbin goes anything contrary.

The discerning of spirits is a gift, to be used for the benefit of the body of Christ, and it is still in operation today in spite of what ceasationists believe. Paul discerned a messenger from Satan sent to buffet him, and God told him how to respond.

More later maybe . . .

[Whyme]

8 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

Eph 6:12  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.

Hi Whyme.  I hope you are doing well and continue to come up with interesting threads like this.

I wonder if you have ever heard the rhetoric that Christians should only speak of the things they are for, instead of the things they are against?  I have heard this pop-psychology preached and expressed as if taking a stand against corruption, deception, and exploitation brought on by the above mentioned evil hierarchy, is a sin, but Scripture instructs us to stand against the wiles of the devil so into the dustbin goes anything contrary.

The discerning of spirits is a gift, to be used for the benefit of the body of Christ, and it is still in operation today in spite of what ceasationists believe. Paul discerned a messenger from Satan sent to buffet him, and God told him how to respond.

More later maybe . . .

No never heard of that, but i have heard people say any command that tells you not to do something is wrong. Basically the thou shall not commands are wrong to them.

[Sower]

3 hours ago, Whyme said:

Who are the rulers, authorities, powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms? 

Ephesians 6:12 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.

Quote;

What does Paul understand the “powers” to be in Ephesians? He has several ways of describing them. They are “the rulers,… the authorities,… the cosmic powers over this present darkness,… the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (6:12). Paul mentions them in the same breath as “the devil” (6:11; cf. 4:27) and expressly sets them apart from “flesh and blood” (6:12), that is, human beings (cf. Gal. 1:16). We are therefore to regard these powers as unseen and angelic beings in league with and under the authority of Satan (cf. Eph. 2:2). They are not impersonal but personal. Paul locates them and their activities “in the heavenly places” (6:12; cf. 3:10), even as he documents their unceasing activity in the affairs of humanity.

Paul describes these powers in three ways.

• First, they are malevolent (“evil”) and therefore hostile to Christ and his people.
• Second, they possess an authority or power that is not localized but is universal (“cosmic”). The word “darkness” indicates a demonic authority that extends to all unbelieving persons, whether Jew or Gentile. “‘Darkness’ is the sphere in which these believers formerly belonged (Eph. 5:8)… and from which they were rescued by the Lord (Col 1:13).” It is, therefore, an authority that Paul associates with “this age” (Eph. 1:21; cf. 5:16; 6:13), the present Adamic order characterized by sin, corruption, curse, and death.
• Third, the plurality of these demonic powers and their designation by terms of rank (“rulers,” “authorities”) suggests a gradation within their numbers. Earlier in the letter, Paul stresses that the “prince of the power of the air” is “the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh” (Eph. 2:2–3). Satan therefore stands at the head of a host of demonic powers who govern and influence all those who are in Adam (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4).

The “powers” constitute a genuine threat to believers’ well-being (Eph. 6:11–12). Even so, Paul is insistent that the Ephesians understand that these demonic authorities have been brought into subjugation to Jesus Christ. In his exaltation, the second Adam, Jesus Christ, was “seated… far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet” The cosmic, mediatorial dominion of Jesus Christ encompasses “all things,” even the Devil and his angelic allies.

The “rulers and authorities in the heavenly places,” furthermore, are perpetually reminded of their defeat and subjugation (3:10). The “manifold wisdom of God,” which denotes the eternal purpose of God to redeem sinners by the death and resurrection of Christ and to gather the redeemed into a united people under the benevolent reign of the Lord Jesus, is ever proclaimed to them. The instrument through which God makes this wisdom known to the powers is “the church.” The very existence of the church, in other words, is standing testimony to the powers’ defeat and subjugation to the Lord Jesus Christ. “Ephesians” in A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament: The Gospel Revealed (ed. Michael J. Kruger; Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), 272–73. Formatting mine.

Ever wonder why the church is under constant attack from devil and his minions? It reminds them of Christ’s Lordship, their defeat, and coming destruction. Hence, the church which is loved by God is hated by Satan. For that reason we must press into the Lord and the power of his Spirit.

I would suggest that we be very careful when talking about God's church, of which we are all members.

[Whyme]

I wonder if this scripture is relevant?

1 Co 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? 

[Whyme]

Heavenly realms may refer to the air. Not sure what that means, i dont think paul actually thought angels are in the air working disobedience in people. So its symbolic i assume.

 

Ephesians 2:2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Ephesians 6:12 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.