To review quickly what we covered last week. Jesus sits in a place of authority over the current evil powers of this world; He has not yet executed final judgment over them and they have not yet been made His footstool.
12 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.” (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)
These powers that we are in direct spiritual battle are those very powers that have “been made subject” to Jesus. In the Old Testament book of Daniel we find a very interesting story of these spiritual powers and the battles that are taking place.
2In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”
(Daniel 10:2-14 NKJV)
An answer to Daniel’s prayer, being delivered by a mighty angel, is held up for twenty-one days by an evil prince (an evil spiritual power). It is only after a chief prince named Michael assists this powerful angel that the answer to Daniel’s request is delivered. There are many things we could highlight in this scripture but let’s focus on the fact that this evil power was not quickly dismissed by the powerful angel. The angel (a messenger of God) was delayed 21 days and the help of Michael was required at that point to get the message delivered. Later in verse 20 this messenger of God tells Daniel “now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia.” God is giving us a glimpse of the spiritual warfare that goes on in the invisible spiritual world around us. We also get a look into this spiritual warfare in the New Testament book of Jude.
8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. (Jude 9-10 ESV)
It is interesting in this situation to see Michael again in a spiritual battle but this time with the devil himself. But note that even Michael, one of the great princes, does not pronounce judgment against the devil but simply says “the Lord rebuke you.” As powerful as Michael is in the spiritual realm, he understands that true power, true authority is in God Almighty alone and does not rest with himself. The great news when looking at these powers of darkness, even though it is evident that they are powerful, they have now “been made subject to” Jesus and one day will come under His wrath and judgment.