Our Enemy Satan - the Adversary of Mankind
 

IV. The base of operations and the headquarters of Satan is in a portion of the heavenlies until the last days when they will be on earth.

Ephesians 6:11-12
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For 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]. (KJV)

1. The structure of the hierarchy of Satan and his spirit followers.
a. principalities
= arche (ar-khay') = chief (leader) in order, time, place;
= 1st person or thing that commences; 1st place ruler;
= the first estate. (the first being in the heavenlies)
b. powers
= exousia (ex-oo-see'-ah)
= privilege; authority; delegated influence; jurisdiction; right. (not, "dunamis') exousia is a delegated - limited authority.
c. rulers (only use)
= kosmokrator (kos-mok-rat'-ore) = a world ruler;
= an epithet of satan; prince of this age; lord of the world.
d. wickedness (wicked spirits)
= poneria (pon-ay-ree'-ah) = depravity; active exercise of a vicious disposition; evil, hurtful in effect and influence;
e. high
= epouranios (ep-oo-ran'-ee-os) = above the sky; celestial; in the heavenly regions. (note: the word, "heaven" is always plural) There are "heavens," not just one heaven! Paul was caught up to the third heaven, "paradise."(2 Cor. 12:2-3)
2. Consider these scriptures and compare with the above:

Ephesians 1:19-23
And what [is] the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (KJV)

heavenly = the same Greek word as defined above, "the heavenly regions."

Ephesians 3:10-11
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Colossians 1:16
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (KJV)

Colossians 2:10
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (KJV)

Colossians 2:15
[And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (KJV)

Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (KJV)

3. In the end of time, satan will establish his headquarters on this earth for a short while, entering into the man of sin (2 Thess. 2:3,4--8).

Revelation 12:7-9
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:12
Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Revelation 20:8
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea. (KJV)

1 Timothy 4:1-3
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (KJV)

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (KJV)

2 Thessalonians 2:8-9
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

("wicked one "= the world ruler; man of sin)

4. There appear to be certain areas or specific places where Satan has in past times had such total control that he is seen as reigning there. But not to have total control over the world as in the end time.

Revelation 2:13
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

seat = thronos {thron'-os}= a throne seat; a chair of state having a footstool; having kingly power or royalty.)

Revelation 2:9
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.

synagogue = a bringing together; a gathering {as of fruits}; an assembly.

Revelation 3:9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (KJV)

5. There appear to be certain persons that were totally controlled or under the influence of Satan, but not to the extent that the anti-Christ (man of sin) will be in the end time.
a. The King of Babylon seen as Lucifer. (Isa. 14:4-20)
b. The King-Prince of Tyrus seen as the anointed cherub in the Garden of Eden. (Ezek. 28:1-19)
c. The man, Judas Iscariot, into whom Satan entered. (Luke 22:3-6)
d. The man of sin {lawlessness}; called the anti-Christ. Seen as prophetic in the King of Babylon {symbolic for Jerusalem in the last days}.

Isaiah 14:16-20
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying, Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17[That] made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; [that] opened not the house of his prisoners? 18All the kings of the nations, [even] all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 19But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, [and as] the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. 20Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, [and] slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. (KJV)

1 John 2:22-23
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also]. = no one can believe in the true GOD, Jehovah, without also believing in the Son, Jesus. They are ONE!

 

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