He Disarmed the Enemy - Colossians 2:15; Revelation 12:7-9
WHO ARE THEY?
They are spiritual forces of darkness and wickedness
Ephesians 6:12 “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.”
They are evil authorities in heavenly places
Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities…”
Ephesians 3:10 “to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places”
They include angels that sinned and left their proper abode
Jude 6 “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day”
2 Peter 2:4 “4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment…”
Hell is for the devil and his angels
Matthew 25:41 “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels”
WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
They are fighting against us
Ephesians 6:10-12 “10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12For 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.”
They are coming with the subtlety, craftiness and deception of false doctrine
1 Timothy 4:1 “…in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons”
2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14 “…we are no longer children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming”
Promoting darkness and ignorance of God which leads to destruction
Ephesians 4:18 “being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart”
2 Corinthians 4:4 “…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
They are coming disguised
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
THEY ARE DEFEATED IN JESUS! (Revelation 12:7-12)
They were not strong enough. (v. 8)
Colossians 2:10 “He is the head over all rule and authority”
Romans 8:38 “38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Ephesians 1:19-21 “19…in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
1 Peter 3:21-22 “21…through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”
He defeated them in His death
Hebrews 2:14-15 “14Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”
Satan and his angels have been thrown down! (v. 9)
Colossians 2:15 “15When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”
Now Salvation, Power and the Kingdom have come! (v. 10)
Colossians 1:13 “13For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
We overcome through Him; in His blood (v. 11)
1 John 2:13-14 “
1 John 4:4
Revelation 17:14
Romans 8:37
The Church makes this victory known
Ephesians 3:10-11 “10so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.”