(1.3) ANGELIC AUTHORITIES AND POST-RESURRECTION COMMISSIONS

FALLEN ADMINISTRATION

The apostle Paul speaks of evil authorities to which he and the saints contend with by sharing the gospel.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, ESV)

I believe that the forces of evil mentioned in Ephesians 6:12 are the same administration God rebukes in Psalm 82.

When attempting to study the motives of Satan and the host of Ephesians 6:12, there are several things which should be considered.

NOTE: In Daniel 10, nations have supernatural princes who sometimes contend with other supernatural beings (see Daniel 10:13, Daniel 10:20).

REPLACEMENT ADMINISTRATION

In Luke 3, a genealogy is provided. Adam is listed as a “son of God” because he is a direct creation of God—there is no human lineage between Adam and God. After Adam sins, his fallen nature is carried down through the generations. Adam’s sin corrupts the entire human race (see Romans 5:12-19).

When Jesus, the Son of God (capital S), enters creation as the Son of Man, He tells Nicodemus that in order to see the kingdom of God one must be born again. The Greek rendered “again” in English is ambiguous and can also mean “from above.” Jesus goes on to make several other statements.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:6-7, ESV)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15, ESV)

The Bible is saying that in order to escape the corrupt lineage and fallen nature of this world (e.g., Ephesians 2:1-3), one must be born again, spiritually, through Jesus Christ. Those who are genuinely born again through faith in Christ become “sons of God.”

“for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” (Galatians 3:26, ESV)

“he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5, ESV)

“And Jesus said to them, ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:34-36, ESV)

Just as Jesus replaces Satan as the Emperor of the world (see Isaiah 9:6-7), the Bible seems to suggest that, after the resurrection, Christian “sons of God” will replace the current angelic “sons of God” in both a managerial and filial context.

“if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;” (2 Timothy 2:12, ESV)

“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,” (Revelation 2:26, ESV)

“Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3, ESV)

“And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’” (Daniel 7:27, ESV)

“And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’” (Revelation 5:9-10, ESV)

CONCLUSION

The Psalm 82 gods, whom I believe are the same host described in Ephesians 6:12, are told that their demise is inevitable. The Bible suggests that they will be replaced by Christians. With this in view, an ancient Near East Christian may have come to the following conclusion: The gods saturate the world with pseudo-enlightenment schemes and false religious systems to try and postpone or circumvent their inevitable end—replacement and destruction.

The gods will deceive people into thinking that they can merit their own salvation through good deeds, rituals, and point systems, to try and prevent the replacement quota from being reached. However, according to ancient biblical interpretation, people can only be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13, ESV)

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14, ESV)

NOTE: For more information about atonement and predestination, see “Salvation and Predestination” in the “(1.5) Christian Doctrine” section.

The Bible does not say that non-Christians are satanic or purposely in league with various forms of spiritual deception (although the Bible does testify to the existence of satanism as well as those who knowingly engage with spiritual deception). The Bible acknowledges that there are noble non-Christian men and women (see Luke 10:25-37). King Cyrus of Persia, a pagan king, was a great man who is highly esteemed throughout the Bible.

The message the Bible sends is that all men and women, no matter how prominent or obscure they may be, are guilty of something. Everyone requires atonement to be restored to immortality and to be accepted into the next age.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 3:23-24, ESV)

The Bible is saying that those who believe in the literal death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as it was recorded in the Bible, for the forgiveness of their sins, will be saved. Those who do not will perish.

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26, ESV)

“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, ESV)

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)

PAUL’S WARNING

Paul warns about the deceit of fallen angels and men. Do not be deceived by those who misrepresent or distort the literal history, meaning, and nature of Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice, as it was recorded in the Bible.

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8, ESV)

Paul talks about human philosophy and wisdom. A very clear distinction is made between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God.

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8, ESV)

“O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge,’” (1 Timothy 6:20, ESV)

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17, ESV)

“Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20, ESV)

According to the Bible, Satan masquerades as an angel of light. In many cases, Satan will present himself as a supporter of Jesus while attempting to undermine His salvific mission (e.g., Matthew 4:2-4, Mark 14:43-46, etc.).

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14, ESV)