#124: Spiritual Warfare Against Nations and Individuals

     The Old Testament Book of Daniel is full of prophecies of the secular world that were later fulfilled. Daniel, as a young Jew, in 605 B.C. was taken into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. Jerusalem fell to a Babylonian siege in 586 B.C.. The ruler of Babylon was Nebuchadnezzar, who had a dream one night, and only Daniel could interpret the dream, after which Daniel was elevated in power. Later in Daniel's life in 534 B.C. (two years after the return of some Jews in captivity to Jerusalem). Daniel was again moved to prayer in chapter 9 and in chapter 10. "God...showed some realities of the unseen world---conflicts going on between superhuman intelligences, good and bad, in their effort to control the movements of nations." (Comfort: 405). The purpose of Satan in those times was to stop the first appearance of Jesus. In today's world Satan in my opinion has a mission to keep a veil of deception over the world's people to block the propagation of the Christian faith.

     Daniel's prayers were received in Heaven immediately and an angel was sent down, but was held back and the Archangel Gabriel, guardian angel of Israel, was sent as reinforcement to join a "'...fight with the prince of Persia" (Daniel 10:20). This supernatural conflict between God's angels and a negative spirit indicates the possibility "...that Satan, who is 'the prince of the power of the air' (Eph.2:2) may well have his demons currently indwelling world rulers, attempting to thwart the plans of God for mankind. This scene should alert all believers that we are indeed in a great spiritual conflict in which we need to walk holy before God in order to enjoy his supernatural protection." (Lahaye: 915).

     As individuals we are subject to domination and infiltration by Satan's demons, if we have unconfessed sin and unforgiveness toward others. We are indeed in a massive spiritual battle for our own soul and spirit. Every day in the secular world we are engaged in a personal war of good versus evil. This battle is an actual war! "The war in which we are involved is with the demonic realm...The Bible says that we 'wrestle' against demonic forces (see Eph. 6;12)...This is a spiritual battle for your life. You aren't the enemy, but the Bible says that you have been taken captive by him (see 2 Tim. 2:26) and that Satan has blinded your mind (see 2 Cor. 4:4)." (Evidence: 1217). This is the key issue in the world for every single being. Do we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, crucified on a cross as a sacrifice for all of us, and if, we accept that, then we have won the ultimate personal battle and the earthly war and will have eternal life. 

References: Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook (NIV). Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI. 2007.

                     Lahaye, Tim. Prophecy Study Bible (KJV). Power Publishing. Korea.

                     Comfort, Ray. (Commentary). The Evidence Bible (NKJV). Bridge-Logos:Alachua, FL. 2011.

#123: "Iron Dome of Prayer" For the Nations of the World

      As a seriously wounded soldier in the Vietnam War, the conflicts and killings in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza bring back very vividly to me the horrors of war! These three locales, much less what I understand are a total of approximately thirty worldwide conflicts, are lands where combatants and families are suffering immeasurably. I remember from June 17, 1967 in Vietnam my own excruciating pain, causing both legs to be amputated, when my Special Forces camp was pounded by a North Vietnamese Communist mortar and rocket barrage. 

     I have always wondered about the Iron Dome system in Israel and how it operates. The system has a radar that very detects incoming missiles from the Hamas or Hezbollah territories and shoots up its own missile to destroy the incoming deadly missiles. 

     It is time for the Christians of our world to set up an "Iron Dome of Prayer" for the nations of the world to have peace. I know it is expected that there will always be "wars and rumors of wars," especially in the End Times, prophesied in Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation. However, we cannot just sit in our comfortable and peaceful living rooms and turn on the news and view the disgusting ravages of warfare, especially the barbaric attack on Israel by the Hamas! I feel totally powerless. However, in the Evidence Bible page 1157 there is something all of us, who believe in prayer, are capable of committing to prayer, which our Lord God taught us through the life of His Son, Jesus, when he walked, talked and ministered in today's Holy Land, embattled and besieged by enemies on every side. 

      Ezekiel 22: 30-31.

Stand in the Gap. We must stand in the gap and plead for this world. Had it not been for the prayers of the godly, the wrath of God may have already judged many nations. Never underestimate the power, influence, and authority God has given you through faith in Jesus. Through His name you have the ear of the Father in heaven. See Psa. 106:23.

E.M. Bounds wrote: "Prayer is far-reaching in its influence and worldwide in its effects. It affects all men, affects them everywhere, and affects them in all things. It touches man's interest in time and eternity. It lays hold upon God and moves Him to intervene in the affairs of earth. It moves the angels to minister to men in this life. It restrains and defeats the devil in his schemes to ruin man. Prayer goes everywhere and lays its hand upon everything."

     Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all peoples impacted by warfare, brought on by the evil forces of our adversary, constantly prowling around to bring his death and destruction to satisfy the greed and deceptions of the evil ones of this world.