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Daily Devotions

Ephesians

Ephesians 
Day 
Day 328

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Text: Ephesians 6:12

REVEALED KNOWLEDGE OF SATAN’S ARMY

Paul’s understanding of the army of Satan must have come to him as a revelation from the Spirit of God (Cf. Ephesians 3:3,5). His description of a well-organised army should come as no surprise to us at all.

A GLIMPSE OF SATAN’S EVIL ARMY

Paul made a short list of the commanders of Satan’s host. Let us take time to ponder the following considerations:-

1. “Principalities” (“tas archas”)

a) The lexical idea

There is a suggestion that these demons were “rulers”.

b) Application

Perhaps these ruled over lower-ranking demons.

2. “Powers” (“tas exousias”)

a) Lexical idea

The suggestion is that these demons exercised “authority”.

b) Application: These demons may well exercise authority over other demons.

3. “Rulers (“tous kosmokratoras”) of the darkness of this age”

a) Lexical idea

There is strong suggestion that these are rulers of might. The idea conveyed is that these are “world rulers”.

b) Application

It is possible that these world rulers have an influence on the cosmos.

4. “Spiritual hosts” (“ta pneumatika tes poneros”)

a) Lexical idea

The thought suggested is that these forces are essentially “spirit”.

b) Application

These spiritual beings are essentially evil in nature.