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Judgment Seat of Christ

Arlen L. Chitwood

www.lampbroadcast.org

 

Chapter 8

 

Power over the Nations

 

 

And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations —

 

He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potters vessels — as I also have received from My Father;

 

and I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:26-28)

 

Remaining within the thought that each of the seven epistles in Revelation chapters two and three possibly points, in a particular sense, to a different period in Church history, the message to the church in Thyatira would seemingly have to point to that period following the days of Constantine.  In this respect, it would show a continued description of deteriorating conditions in Christendom following the time when the Church became wed to the world during the days of Constantine, depicted in the preceding message to the church in Pergamos.

 

(The manner in which the Church both began and will end during the 2,000-year dispensation can clearly be seen in Revelation chapters two and three in the messages to the churches in Ephesus [the first church dealt with] and Laodicea [the last church dealt with].  But to contend for that which is revealed about any one of the seven churches to fit completely into a particular period of Church history rather than covering, at least to some degree, an overall scope of Church history would not be a correct way to view matters.

 

Even remnants of that which is seen in both the church in Ephesus and the church in Laodicea can be seen in Christendom throughout the dispensation.  The thougt inherent in that which is said about these two churches, in the light of related Scripture, has to do with Christendom becoming less like that seen in Ephesus and more like that seen in Laodicea as the dispensation progresses.  Then, near the end of the dispensation, after “the whole” has been leavened [Mathew 13:33], only that which is seen in the Laodicean church, for all practical purposes, will remain — a completely leavened Christendom that, relative to any proclamation of the Word of the Kingdom, can only be described as “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” [Revelation 3:17b].

 

And a sad part of the matter is that the Church in that day — which appears very much to be the present-day Church — will not even recognize that they occupy this completely leavened position.

 

In the same preceding respect, messages to the remaining five churches seemingly fit into different periods of Church history [though each, after at least some fashion, would have to cover the whole scope of Church history].  Attention will be called to these different periods into which these different churches seemingly fit [more so at particular times than at other times during the dispensation], but doing this is as far as the matter will be taken.) 

 

Once the door had been opened and the world welcomed within, as seen in the Church in the Roman world during the fourth century, the working of the leaven producing corruption in the true biblical message could only have dramatically increased.  And any remaining remnants of pristine Christian doctrine and worship could only have begun to gradually be corrupted by the incorporated ways and practices of the world, a corruption that would eventually encompass such proportions that all Christendom would ultimately be affected.

 

That which continued to occur following the time when the Church became wed to the world, seemingly described in the message to the church in Thyatira in Revelation chapter two, is simply another facet of the working of the leaven which the woman placed in the three measures of meal in Matthew 13:33 — “. . . until the whole was leavened.

 

The message to the church in Thyatira, in this respect, would actually present the far-reaching results of that which was introduced during the days of Constantine.  The world had been invited within, providing added fuel for the leaven which was already working; and this message would present the depths to which the world ultimately carried Christianity.

 

Regardless of how one views matters in relation to Church history, one fact cannot be denied.  The false teaching being accepted and practiced by Christians in Thyatira was of such a degenerate nature that the Spirit of God reached back hundreds of years in time and associated the entire matter with one of the darkest periods in Israeli history — the days of Jezebel.  And to properly understand conditions among Christians as they existed in Thyatira, one must understand conditions in the camp of Israel during that time.

 

(The false doctrine being taught, accepted, and practiced in Thyatira emanated from “that woman Jezebel.”

 

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. [Revelation 2:20]

 

Calling the woman teaching false doctrine in Thyatira by the name “Jezebel” can only be an allusion, through association, to Jezebel in the Old Testament, rather than to the actual name of the person [even though, conceivably, this could also have been the actual name of the person teaching in this church].

 

The false doctrine being promulgated by this person [with its attendant results] apparently so closely approximated the beliefs and practices of Jezebel in the Old Testament [with their attendant results] that the person teaching these things in the church in Thyatira was referred to by the name of her counterpart from the Old Testament.)

 

Jezebel

 

Jezebel appeared in Israeli history during Old Testament days at a time when wickedness was reaching a pinnacle through the unlawful deeds of a succession of Israeli kings.  The kingdom had been divided following Solomon’s death, and the kings reigning over the northern ten tribes (the kingdom of Israel, beginning with the reign of Jeroboam) not only themselves “did evil in the sight of the Lord” but they also caused the people of Israel “to sin” (cf. 1 Kings 15:25, 26, 33, 34; 16:18, 19).

 

This wickedness began to reach a pinnacle during the days of Omri (the sixth king following Jeroboam), and it reached a pinnacle during the reign of his son, Ahab.  It is recorded of Omri that he “did worse than all that were before him”; and it is recorded of Ahab that he, in turn, “did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.”

 

It was during the dark days of Ahab’s reign in Israel that Jezebel appeared, with Baal worship subsequently being introduced.  Jezebel was the daughter of an idolatrous priest-king whom Ahab had married, a follower of the ways of her father and the one responsible for Baal worship being brought over into the camp of Israel.  It was after Ahab’s marriage to Jezebel that he “went and served Baal, and worshipped him”; and it was during this time that he “reared up an altar for Baal” and “made a grove” (also connected with idolatry), doing “more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him” (1 Kings 16:25, 30-33).

 

Also, during the reign of Ahab, Jericho was rebuilt; and for centuries a curse had rested upon the person who rose up and rebuilt this city (1 Kings 16:34; cf. Joshua 6:26).

 

Jezebel was responsible for the death of numerous prophets of the Lord, and she sought Elijah’s life after he had destroyed the prophets of Baal, following the declaration of the one true and living God by fire on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:4, 17-40; 19:1, 2).  But the act that appeared to be the final straw, bringing iniquity to a point where God could no longer stay His hand (cf. Genesis 15:16), was Jezebel’s acquisition of Naboth’s vineyard for Ahab.  Jezebel, through forged letters, brought about Naboth’s death in order that Ahab might possess his vineyard; and Ahab himself became a partaker of this deed by subsequently possessing the vineyard.

 

And because of this, judgment of a nature befitting this sin was pronounced upon both Ahab and Jezebel.  The Lord said of Ahab, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood, even yours”; and the Lord said of Jezebel, “The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel” (1 Kings 21:1-23; cf. 1 Kings 22:35-38; 2 Kings 9:30-37).

 

Following this pronouncement of judgment upon both Ahab and Jezebel, Scripture provides a summary statement concerning the lives of these two individuals:

 

But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.

 

And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

(1 Kings 21:25, 26)

 

Jezebel in the Old Testament sets forth the epitome of corruption, and there was a woman teaching in the church in Thyatira whose influence and corrupt teachings were compared to those of Jezebel.

 

During Jezebel’s day in the Old Testament, corruption was produced by bringing the things of the world over into the camp of Israel; and during the day of her counterpart in the New Testament, corruption was produced through the same means — bringing the things of the world over into the Church.

 

A terrible judgment was pronounced upon Jezebel in the Old Testament (1 Kings 21:23; cf. 2 Kings 9:30-37), and a similar judgment was pronounced upon her counterpart and those who followed her ways in the New Testament (Revelation 2:21-23).  The message concerning Jezebel in Revelation chapter two, along with the Old Testament counterpart, is clearly stated for all to behold:  God will not tolerate Christians entering into an unholy relationship with the world.  Such a relationship is associated with fornication, idolatry, and adultery.  And a relationship with the world of this nature, according to Scripture, can end only one way.  It can end only in death (vv. 20-23; cf. Romans 8:13).

 

Doctrine, Deep Things

 

Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths [deep things] of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 

 

But hold fast what you have till I come. (Revelation 2:24, 25)

 

The teachings of the woman called “Jezebel” in the church in Thyatira are referred to in a twofold, synonymous respect: 

 

1)      The “doctrine” of Jezebel.

 

2)      The “the depths [deep things] of Satan.” 

 

That is, what is referred to as “the doctrine of Jezebel” had to do with “the depths [deep things] of Satan.”

 

God has His “deep things,” and Satan has his “deep things” (1 Corinthians 2:10; Revelation 2:24).

 

The deep things of God are associated with that which is separate from the present world kingdom under Satan, the coming world kingdom under Christ.  Such is evident from the context of 1 Corinthians 2:10.

 

The deep things of Satan, on the other hand, are associated with that which is diametrically opposed to the coming kingdom of Christ, the present kingdom under Satan.  Such is evident from the context of Revelation 2:24.

 

1)  As These Things Affect Israel

 

Israel’s standing among the nations is that of firstborn.  When God instructed Moses to say to Pharaoh, “Israel is my son, even my firstborn” (Exodus 4:22), God was announcing the proper place that Israel had been called to occupy in relation to the Gentile nations of the earth.  Israel, as God’s firstborn son, was the nation in possession of the birthright; and no Gentile nation has ever or will ever come into such a position.  Among the nations of the earth, a firstborn status is reserved for Israel alone.

 

God has stated concerning Israel, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.”  God has chosen Israel to be “a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; Amos 3:2; cf. Psalm 147:19, 20; Romans 9:4, 5).

 

During the days of Jezebel in the Old Testament, one of the world’s false religions was brought over into the camp of Israel, into the worship of the one true and living God.

 

This was done under the direction and leadership of Satan in an effort to thwart the plans and purposes of God concerning Israel, God’s firstborn son, the nation in possession of the rights of primogeniture.

 

Israel had previously been called out of Egypt to ultimately realize these rights in the land covenanted to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The introduction of Baal worship into the camp of Israel, through Jezebel, was nothing more than Satan’s attempt to prevent Israel from assuming her God-ordained position as “a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).

 

The birthright possessed by Israel consisted of three things:

 

1)      Ruler of the household, under and for the Father.

 

2)      Exercising the office of priest in the family.

 

3)      The reception of a double portion of all the Fathers goods.

 

The first segment of the birthright placed the firstborn in the position of “heir” with respect to a rule of the Father’s house, under and for the Father.  “Sonship” implies rulership and carries the thought of supremacy.  In this respect, Israel, a national power, was to be the supreme nation and rule over all the other nations — all the Gentile nations of the earth.

 

This earth, a province in the kingdom of God, constitutes the Fathers house when the birthright with respect to nations is in view; and Israel, as Gods firstborn son, was to bear rule over all the nations in this house, under and for the Father. 

 

Israel occupied the standing as firstborn among all nations while still in Egypt, but Israel would not actually realize these rights until the nation had been removed from Egypt and established in the land covenanted to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

 

The second segment of the birthright would place Israel in a priestly position with respect to both God and the nations.  Israel was to be a “kingdom of priests” in the midst of the nations (Exodus 19:6), resulting in the nations being blessed by and through Israel in accord with Genesis 12:1-3.

 

A first-mention principle relating to these blessings had previously been established in Genesis 9:25-27.  “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6) was firstthe God of Shem” (Genesis 9:26).  Neither Ham nor Japheth had a God, and the only way either could receive spiritual blessings was by and through Shem and his God. 

 

Or, to say it another way, the descendants of Ham and Japheth (the Gentile nations) are “without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12) and can receive spiritual blessings only through the descendants of Shem (the nation of Israel) and their God.  Although the lineage of Shem also, among others, includes the descendants of Ishmael and the sons of Keturah, spiritual blessings for nations emanating from these lines are derived through the same means as those for the Gentile nations (for, in this respect, these nations are looked upon as Gentile nations [Genesis 17:18-21; 21:5-12; 22:2; 25:1-6]).

 

The third segment of the birthright placed Israel in a position to receive the double portion of all the Father’s goods.  This segment of the birthright, as the first two segments, also had to do with Israel’s position among the nations.  There are two spheres of governmental power and authority in a rule over the Gentile nations — earthly and heavenly — and the double portion of the birthright pertained to Israel ultimately coming into possession of both (cf. Genesis 22:17, 18).

 

The way was opened under the leadership of Moses at Kadesh-Barnea, and later under Joshua on the east side of Jordan, for Israel to go into the land and realize the earthly portion of this inheritance; but the heavenly portion of the inheritance was not to be opened to the nation until almost fifteen hundred years later.  It was necessary that both be extended to Israel at some point in the corridors of time, for Israel, as the firstborn, was the appointed heir.

 

Under Moses and Joshua, when the earthly portion of the inheritance was in the offing, God Himself dwelt in the midst of the nation; some fifteen hundred years later, when the heavenly portion of the inheritance was in the offing, God Himself once again (in the person of His Son) dwelt in the midst of the nation.

 

Satan is the “god of this world [age].”  He is the “anointed cherub [messianic angel],” the one created to rule and reign (Ezekiel 28:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4).  Satan and his angels presently rule the earth through the Gentile nations.  They rule from the heavens through counterparts among the Gentile nations upon the earth (note Daniel 10:12ff: the “prince of the kingdom of Persia,” and the “kings of Persia” [v. 13] are heavenly beings [angels in the kingdom of Satan] who rule through counterparts in the kingdom of Persia [Iran today] on earth.  And it is the same with the Grecian kingdom [v. 20] and all other Gentile powers, past and present).

 

The nation of Israel though has been placed in an entirely separate and distinct position from that which are occupied by the Gentile nations.  Israel is not to be “reckoned among the nations” (Numbers 23:9).  Israel is not a nation through which Satan and his angels rule, as they do through the Gentile nations.  The angelic prince of Israel in Daniel chapter ten (where the princes of Gentile nations are mentioned) is Michael (vv. 13, 21); and Michael is not one of the princes ruling under Satan.

 

Thus, the deep things of Satan in relation to Israel and her calling in the Old Testament involved taking things from his kingdom, from the Gentile nations of the earth, and placing them among a separate and distinct people who were not to be reckoned among those nations. 

 

In the case of his work through Jezebel, it was Baal worship that was transferred from the Gentile nations into the camp of Israel.  And the Israelites, following Baal, associated themselves with Gentile idolatry and could, under no circumstances, realize their calling as firstborn while in this condition.

 

Rather than Israel ruling over the Gentile nations of the earth, Satan’s rule over these same nations would continue unabated, with Israel uprooted from her land and scattered among these nations.  And rather than Israel realizing national blessings, with the Gentile nations in turn being blessed, Israel would incur God’s wrath.  It was to this end that Satan vented his wrath against Israel throughout the Old Testament, and it is to this end that he continues to vent his wrath against this same nation today.

 

(God’s dealings with Israel on a national basis have been interrupted and temporarily discontinued.  Israel has been set aside for a dispensation, during which time God is removing from the Gentiles a people for His name.

 

But Satan knows that God’s discontinuance of His dealings with Israel in this manner is only temporary.  He knows that God will once again turn to and deal with Israel relative to the nation’s standing as firstborn [else the complete, revealed program of God — that Satan knows all too well — would remain unfulfilled].  Satan knows that Israel is yet to be placed at the head of the nations upon the earth, with the Gentile nations being blessed through Israel; and he continues to do all within his power to prevent this from happening.)

 

2)  As These Things Affect Christians

 

A part of that which was being made known to “the principalities and powers in heavenly places” in time past through Israel is now being made known through the Church (Ephesians 3:9-11; cf. 6:11ff).  In time past, Israel was in possession of both earthly and heavenly promises and blessings, having to do with both earthly and heavenly spheres of power and authority in the kingdom (Genesis 22:17, 18; Hebrews 11:8-16).  However, at the time of Christ’s first advent, Israel forfeited the heavenly portion of the kingdom; and an entirely new creation, the one new manin Christ,” was called into existence to be the recipient of the proffered positions of power and authority with Christ from the heavens (Matthew 21:43; 1 Peter 2:9, 10).

 

The calling possessed by the Church is to ultimately inhabit, with Christ, the very realm that Satan and his angels presently inhabit.  The incumbent rulers (Satan and his angels) have forfeited their right to continue exercising power and authority from this realm, and Israel has forfeited her right to one day supplant these rulers.  Thus, within God’s plan for the ages, the Church was brought into existence to ultimately occupy this heavenly realm (cf. Ephesians 6:11, 12; Hebrews 3:1).  Although Israel still retains her earthly calling and will yet be removed from the nations of the earth to fulfill this calling, the Church will fulfill God’s plans and purposes for the heavenly portion of the kingdom (along with certain Old Testament saints who looked beyond an earthly calling to a heavenly [cf. Matthew 8:11, 12; Luke 13:28, 29; Hebrews 11:8-16]).

 

Christians are the ones who will be called forth to dwell in the heavens and reign as co-heirs with Christ in the kingdom.  Satan, knowing these things (things that very few Christians seem to have any understanding of at all [cf. 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4]), presently not only directs his wrath against Israel but against the Church as well.

 

The reason Satan placed “that woman Jezebel” in the church in Thyatira is the same reason that he placed “Jezebel” in the camp of Israel during Old Testament days.  The deep things of Satan, introduced into the camp of Israel in the Old Testament and into the church in Thyatira in the New Testament, have to do with the incumbent ruler’s (Satan’s) efforts to thwart God’s plans and purposes concerning others moving into regal positions of power and authority presently under his (Satan’s) dominion and control.

 

Satan has done, is doing, and will continue to do all within his power to prevent either Israel or the Church from realizing their respective calling.  And the intensification of his efforts during the closing days of the dispensation in which we presently live is something that Christians who aspire to be overcomers and realize their calling must be keenly aware of and understand.

 

Satan’s efforts in his warfare against Christians today has one primary goal in view:  to overcome Christians rather than seeing Christians overcome him, resulting in their disqualification to occupy proffered positions in the coming kingdom of Christ.

 

The deep things of Satan introduced into the Church today, as in the camp of Israel during Elijah’s day, have to do with the things of the world brought over into the things of God — the world in the Church — resulting in Christians (as the Israelites) being led astray, into the things of the world.  And, in the light of the Old Testament counterpart, this is what is involved in Jezebel’s seduction of the Lord’s servants “to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:20); and those Christians, defiled after this fashion, through her efforts, who fail to repent of their deeds, will suffer “death” (vv. 21-23; cf. Romans 8:13), which is undoubtedly an allusion to the previously mentioned “second death” (v. 11).

 

Christians, as the Israelites, possess a birthright; and this birthright consists of the same three things as the one possessed by Israel:

 

1)  Ruler of the household, under and for the Father.

 

2)  Exercising the office of priest in the family.

 

3)  The reception of a double portion of all the Fathers goods.

 

Overcoming Christians will realize the first aspect of the birthright by and through ruling as “joint-heirs” with Christ in the kingdom (Romans 8:17), the second by and through ruling as “kings and priests” (Revelation 5:10), and the third by and through coming into possession of both earthly and heavenly aspects of the inheritance with Christ — ruling from the heavens over the earth (Psalm 2:8, 9; 1 Peter 1:4; cf. Genesis 24:10, 36, 53; John 16:13-15).

 

Non-overcoming Christians though will have forfeited their rights of primogeniture, realizing no aspect of the birthright.  They will not be among the “many sons” Christ is bringing into glory to rule “the world [inhabited world] to come” (Hebrews 2:5, 10).  The deep things of Satan will have accomplished their purpose in the lives of such Christians; and they, as Esau, when they realize that which could have been theirs, will lift up their voices and weep (Hebrews 12:14-17; cf. Genesis 25:27-34; 27:26-38).

 

Kingly Power

 

One day the Lord Jesus Christ is going to receive a kingdom.  “The kingdoms of this world” will become “the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15, ASV; cf. Psalm 2:1ff; 110:1ff; Daniel 7:9-14).  Satan and his angels are to be put down; then Christ and His co-heirs (forming His bride) are to move in and take over the government.  This is the time in which the overcomer’s promise given to Christians in the church in Thyatira will be fulfilled.

 

The main thrust of the matter leading into and including the overcomer’s promise centers on and in two world kingdoms — the present kingdom of Satan, and the coming kingdom of Christ.  The overcomer’s promise then revolves around being victorious over the things of the present kingdom (introduced into the Church by Satan through “that woman Jezebel”). 

 

A Christian allowing himself to be overcome by the things of the present kingdom will be denied participation in the coming kingdom, but a Christian overcoming the things of the present kingdom will be given “power over the nations” in the coming kingdom.

 

Concerning the Christians’ present activities in relation to one kingdom or the other, there is a specific promise concerning recompense:  “I will give to each one of you according to your works” (Revelation 2:23b). 

 

Christians involving themselves with the present kingdom of Satan will be recompensed accordingly.

 

Christians looking out ahead toward the coming kingdom of Christ, refusing to involve themselves with the present kingdom, will also be recompensed accordingly.

 

The time for the rendering of a “just recompense” to every Christian, according to the context and overall message of chapters one through three, will be at the future “judgment” of Christians — the judgment seat of Christ; the issue, as in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, will be “works,” with a view to every Christian being revealed as either an overcomer or a non-overcomer, on the basis of works; and the outcome of this revelation has been clearly made known:  Christians revealed as overcomers will be given power over the nations,” while those Christians revealed as non-overcomers will be denied such power.

 

That the overcomer’s promises are not only millennial in their scope of fulfillment but are also connected with regal positions as co-heirs with Christ in the kingdom is further made plain by the message to the church in Thyatira. 

 

No such scene as that which is depicted in verses twenty-six and twenty-seven exists during the present dispensation preceding the Millennium; nor will such a scene exist during the eternal ages following the Millennium.  And that which is true of the overcomer’s promise here is equally true of the overcomer’s promises throughout chapters two and three.  Christians before the judgment seat of Christ will be judged on the basis of works to determine their status relative to overcoming, with a view to regal positions in the kingdom.

 

The Morning Star

 

Not only were the overcoming Christians in Thyatira promised kingly power with Christ but they were promised “the morning star,” which is Christ Himself (Revelation 22:16).  In Revelation 2:26-28, the promise of “the morning star” appears immediately following the promise concerning “power over the nations”; and in Revelation 22:16, the identification of Christ as “the bright and morning star” immediately follows His identification as “the root and offspring of David.”  The clear implication in the latter reference, in the light of the overcomer’s promise to the church in Thyatira, is an allusion to His regal position as David’s Son.  The promise of “the morning star” to the overcoming Christian is an apparent reference to a special, peculiar relationship with Christ, which can only be connected with His reign.

 

The expressions “morning star” in Revelation 2:28 and “bright and morning star” in Revelation 22:16 are used of Christ’s relationship with His Church (anticipating His reign), as the expression “Sun of righteousness” in Malachi 4:2 is used of His relationship with Israel (anticipating His reign).

 

The morning star appears in the sky before the dawn, shortly before the sun appears on the horizon to lighten the sky.  The apparent thought is that Christ will appear as the “bright and morning star” for the Church near the close of the time of this world’s darkness; and He will appear to Israel, following the darkness, as the “Sun of righteousness . . . with healing in His wings.”

 

Christ will first complete His dealings with the Church, with overcoming Christians being brought into a special, peculiar relationship with Him, anticipating their reign as co-heirs.  Christ will then turn to Israel and deal with His brethren after the flesh in such a fashion that their future confession, as recorded in Isaiah chapter fifty-three will include the statement (in fulfillment of Malachi 4:2):

 

 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

 

Concluding Thoughts:

 

There is a battle presently being waged, it is being fought on two fronts, and the central issue involves governmental control over the earth.  This battle is being waged by Satan and his angels, and it is being waged against Israel on one front and against the Church on the other.

 

God has demonstrated and continues to demonstrate to “the principalities and powers in heavenly places,” through Israel in the Old Testament and through the Church in the New Testament, that a completely new order of rulers (sons) is about to be brought upon the scene.  And Satan with his angels, continuing to have this demonstrated to them, remain constantly at war against these two creations God has called into existence to be heirs in the coming kingdom.

 

Satan knew in the beginning when he sought governmental power and authority beyond that which had been delegated to him, seeking to be “like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13, 14), that he must be wholly successful or face eternal judgment; and he knows today that failure in his onslaughts against Israel and the Church can only bring about his long-impending, awaiting judgment.

 

Thus, the picture we presently have set before us is that of warfare being waged by a mighty fallen celestial being and his minions — the god of this age and those ruling under him — who knows that his time is short unless he can somehow thwart God’s plans and purposes concerning Israel and the Church.  That is what the warfare is about.

 

Satan knows from his own experience in the past that in failure there can be no room for mercy.  Resultantly, he placed a Jezebel in the Camp of Israel in the Old Testament, and he placed a Jezebel in the Church in the New Testament.  These two moves had to do with the deep things of Satan, he continues with his deep things today, and he will continue as long as he is allowed to remain in power.

 

Nothing has changed in his plans and methods; nor will anything change, except a progressive intensification of his efforts as the dispensation draws to a close.