On Principalities
There is a passage in the Bible that you may have heard of or read, Ephesians 6:12, that states “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.”
Although I was told about the latest crop of atrocities that many are currently discussing many years ago, I very much think that understanding Ephesians 6:12 may shed some light on some things.
When we reread the line, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities”, we must understand what the word principalities means in context. The word is often mistaken to refer to human rulers, or earthly governments. However, what it actually means is much more pertinent to the topic at hand.
In this biblical passage, “principalities” refers to actual spiritual beings or supernatural authorities.
Yes.
Furthermore, these spiritual beings are typically understood as holding ranks or levels within the angelic realm—most commonly evil or demonic forces in the New Testament context.
So when it says that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood (one another), but against spiritual beings, supernatural authorities, evil, and demonic forces— well that means what that means.
Yes, these principalities ARE high-ranking demonic entities that influence and oppose God’s people and purposes. Yes, they may exert influence over regions, institutions, ideologies, or aspects of human society. They may oppose God, promote darkness, and battle against believers—but they are created beings, subject to Christ, and already defeated at the cross.
See, God created everything (yes even the evil demons)— but they weren’t evil demons to begin with, they CHOSE to be evil. Evil entered through free moral choice and rebellion.
God did not create evil as a substance or force. Still, many choose to blame Him or are angry at Him for the evil in the world, as he does allow it to exist.
Evil is the perversion or absence of good, and it arises from the misuse of free will.
Christ created free, intelligent beings that were not only capable of love and worship—but also capable of rebellion.
We all choose in every moment. I personally choose to be good. Maybe that makes me lame and boring, but I sleep pretty well at night. I’m kind, I cook for my family, I keep our home clean, I work honestly and faithfully on my craft that utilizes God’s creations (plants) to help people and bring them relief, I extend kindness to my neighbors— I do the right thing or at least do what I think is the right thing.
Yet, evil is still out there doing its thing. However, I can only control myself, and I am called to stand firm in spiritual armor rather than fear these principalities.
Some good news? NOTHING (including those pesky spiritual authorities) can separate us from God’s love.
STILL feeling discouraged?
You may be wondering about all of the horrible human suffering that we (or our children) must go through because of these evil forces? Is THAT just part of exalting God, too?
Suffering isn’t something that God delights in or creates directly. God is not the author of evil, even though it is a profound reality. Evil stems from the fall in Genesis 3, where sin and evil entered the world through human choice influenced by Satan.
This introduced pain, toil, death, and ongoing affliction at the hands of evil forces.
God does not need or enjoy our pain. However, our trials refine our faith like gold in fire. They produce perseverance and hope, and allow us to share in Christ’s sufferings to know Him more deeply.
Free will is the key here. God created us to be capable of genuine love. With love however, comes the possibility of rejection and evil. However without this risk, love and worship would be robotic, not glorifying (as per C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain). Humans risk a lot to love, but we do it anyway? Why?
Suffering also demonstrates God’s mercy. He could end suffering instantly but he doesn’t. He delays it for the sake of salvation (2 Peter 3:9), using even evil’s actions (like Joseph’s brothers in Genesis 50:20) for ultimate good.
This next point is critical to understand. Suffering is temporary in God’s eternal plan. The key word is ETERNITY. This isn’t the last stop, folks. At least that is what I believe.
Christ entered into our human pain Himself in order to defeat it, turning the worst evil (his crucifixion) into the greatest good (salvation).
Believers are promised that present sufferings pale compared to future glory, with evil fully eradicated in the new creation (Revelation 21:4, where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain”).
❤️
