If not acutely aware and going around in a fog as the overwhelming majority are, and this includes many with shiny jewelry crosses around their necks professing to be Christians, that every person is in the midst of an escalating spiritual war the likes of which the world has never witnessed it’s time to wake up.

How can I write a spiritual war the likes of which the world has never witnessed if knowing any world history if knowing the great spiritual war eras in the Bible? Because there has never been a time when so many people all around the world were in such rebellion. In which foundations that have been established for millennia are being torn asunder and cast aside. So many people, so many places, in every institution and creation of man. Permeated in everything. Including the church. The family or what remains of the family. The darkness, the evil is within everything and almost everyone.

Overly dramatic? A fear-monger? Reactionary?

No Scriptural. All the people in the world who are not truly transformed by the power of the Spirit of God who have not confessed their sin, have not repented [not mere remorse or saying sorry], not turned to God and placed their faith in and commitment to obey and follow the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ? Every single person without exception in that massive heap ARE darkness. NO light within them. They are the enemies of God. Unrighteous. Lost. Condemned to eternity in hell. They are not just in darkness as we may think, they ARE darkness. As were we, prior to every single person who has been transformed by the Spirit of God to be made anew, regenerated, made into a new changed person. A true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Not because I say so. I’m not smart enough to come up with something like that on my own. No, because God says so;

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:6-16 — English Standard Version

“the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

Is there anything in those words difficult to understand? Let’s read them slowly. Let them sink deep into the heart and spirit. And believe them. Then live them.

Satan is real. Evil is real. Every word within the Word of God is true.

We’re all in this escalating spiritual war hurtling towards the last sentence in the last paragraph of the last chapter in the book of human history on earth as it has been known. Closer to the end and the Lord’s return than any other time in world history. Satan is putting in overtime as a consequence. Thus the far-reaching mayhem and destruction of every foundation that existed — or the attempt to remove every foundation after decades of constant erosion and so many clueless, refusing to pay attention, refusing to believe.

The greatest event in world history that changed the world forever unlike anything else has or could was Jesus, fully truly God, truly fully man here on earth. In the flesh. Spotless. Blameless. Sinless. And He was murdered. Killed. Sacrificed. The only true and acceptable sacrifice for the forgiveness of a person’s sin and the only way to salvation and eternal life. He lived. He died. And He arose from the dead on the Third Day after being hung on the cross of ultimate shame. He was resurrected from the dead! To never die. Ever. To ascend to heaven. The firstfruits. The promise of eternal life was exhibited and fulfilled!

It was, it is all real. World history. The greatest world history event.

Next to His return. If unfamiliar? If you relegate Jesus and God to appearing like some relatives of yours to sit out on the deck sipping lemonade on a hot August day, and you approach God as if He was some really old uncle of yours, and Jesus an older cousin? Time to face reality. Time to grow up. Time to mature. Time to read Revelation 19.

But don’t only start there to stop there.

If a true believer? Time to stop all the distractions, the self-indulgences, the allowing the world to consume and suck the marrow from the bones. Time to put on the full armour [see Ephesians 6]and stand boldly and firmly and engage in this spiritual war. Being light. Once darkness but now light.

Expose and overcome the darkness. Not arrogantly, not self-righteously, not imagining it is any of us doing anything — overcome the darkness with the Truth. With the Lord Jesus Christ. With the Holy Spirit. With the Word of God. Only those three things can and will conquer and defeat the Enemy, Satan, the evil that is consuming the people of the world.

Idle? You’re going to get devoured.

Otherwise occupied? You’re going to be of no service and God and Jesus will deal with AWOL soldiers in this spiritual war. There are no excuses. No exceptions or exemptions.

Cocksure and leaving it to others? I mean, you do go to a church on Sunday occasionally… Yeah, see how that works out for you.

Believe in part but not in whole? See above.

It’s spiritually bloody, it’s hot, it’s fatiguing, it can get frustrating, and it can seem a losing battle at times.

Stop. Pause. Lift your head up, lift your eyes up, lift your heart up and see Jesus. TRULY SEE JESUS! He has defeated sin. He has defeated the devil. He is our Lord, our King in this war. And no created entity, no human being, no created being, no ideology, no government, no political agenda, no evil can or will defeat the King of kings and Lord of lords.

If you don’t believe this? Get off this site and get your face, your heart, your spirit, your mind, and your soul deeply in the Word of God!

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

Ephesians 5:1-17 — English Standard Version

It’s very clear and very easy to understand. Anyone can. It’s whether or not they believe and then what are they going to do. See, look here — very clear, very easy to understand. A child can so I know everyone can’

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:36 — English Standard Version

Believe and OBEY and be truly TRANSFORMED. To merely believe does not save. For even the devil knows and believes Jesus is the Son of God. One needs to believe, obey, and demonstrate in the living of their life how the Spirit of God worked in them to truly change them. Not of any person’s effort or doing. Not because they read some self-help book. But only when allowing the power of the Spirit of God to work in them reside in them, change them — radically.

To come from BEING darkness to BEING light. That radical a change. A palpable change. An apparent change.

To go from certain condemnation and eternity in hell to eternal life in salvation by faith and obedience in and to Christ.

For the days are evil and only going to become eviler by the day.

And this spiritual war will not end with two governments signing a treaty, no truce. This spiritual war ends at the end. Of everything that has been known.

Every person is on one side or the other.

And you know one of the amazing aspects of this spiritual war? The side with the least number of soldiers wins an incredible victory. The greatest ever victory.

Heaven. Forever. And that’s a long time and the only place to spend that long a time.

Think about it. Do more than think about it. This to those professing belief who are not demonstrating such in their daily lives, those who are lukewarm and have been coasting, following false teachers, and so on — and to those who do not believe. And to myself and every true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is no time to become lax. Relax. Sit down and put your feet up.

This is the time to engage! To enjoin the battle!

Ken Pullen

Monday, April 25th, 2022

ACP — A Crooked Path

Architect of Evil: Spiritual Murder and Deception Is Satan’s Game

Friday, April 22, 2022

By Ed Vitagliano

Reprinted from American Family Association

In the movie Patton (1970), about the famous U.S. General George S. Patton’s exploits in the Second World War, the titular character is shown overseeing a victorious battle against the Germans in North Africa in 1943. The Germans had been trained by the famous “Desert Fox,” Gen. Erwin Rommel.

“Rommel,” Patton declares while watching the victory through his binoculars, “I read your book!”

Patton was referring to Rommel’s writings about infantry tactics and tank warfare. In other words, Patton had prepared to fight Rommel by studying Rommel and his ideas.

The legendary U.S. general was successful for a reason. He knew that, in any upcoming battle, it is critical to know your enemy.

Christians are in a spiritual war against an army of darkness under the control of a malevolent entity that the Bible calls “Satan.”

We would do well to follow George Patton in the discipline of knowing one’s enemy, his purposes, and his tactics. Who is Satan? Why does he do what he does? What instruments of war does he use, and how does he use those weapons?

The Bible treats Satan as a real being, not a fairy tale. He is filled with undying hatred for God and humanity, and there is nothing but wickedness inside his evil heart.

Still, Satan is a created being. He is not like God, who is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (everywhere at once).

Satan only appears to be omni because he has a demonic army assisting him in his war against God and His people. Biblically speaking, our adversary’s power is not unlimited but controlled (Job 1:12; 2:6); it’s not lawful, but it is permitted (Romans 13:1), and it is not triumphant but doomed (Revelation 20:2-3).

Is Satan an angel?

The existence of Satan almost seems as if it is assumed in the Bible. When mankind arrives in the Garden of Eden, we see this malevolent entity slither onto the stage soon after. As spiritual beings, it is clear that we are not alone on earth. There are others here –– some good and some evil.

Still, we don’t know very much about the Devil’s origin. There are mostly hints or inferences. For example, nowhere does the Bible indisputably call Satan an angel. Instead, it is implied that this is the case.

For example, Job 1:6 states that “there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.” As the phrase “sons of God” here refers to angels, it is implied that Satan is also an angel.

Likewise, 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 says, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

The apostle Paul notes that men can disguise themselves as apostles, even though they are wicked men. In the same way, when Satan disguises himself “as an angel of light,” Paul implies that Satan is an angel – an evil angel. In other words, he doesn’t disguise himself as an angel; he disguises himself as a good angel.

In Matthew 25:41, Jesus describes hell as “the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.” Again, it is implied here that the Devil is also an angelic being. Moreover, this declaration clearly characterizes Satan as an angelic being leading other (fallen) angelic beings.

Finally, Revelation 12:7 says, “And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war….”

Here we have a conflict between similar though opposite forces. “The dragon and his angels” –– i.e., Satan and fallen angels –– are at war with “Michael and his angels.” Since we know that Michael is an archangel (Jude 9), the assumption has been made by theologians that Satan was also an archangel.

(In fact, there is only one statement in Scripture that appears to state that Satan is an angel. That is from a passage in Ezekiel 28 –– a passage which will be covered in the next blog on this topic.)

Satan’s origin story

There are a couple of additional New Testament references that hint at the Devil’s origin story. The first is in John 8:42-47, right smack in the middle of a conflict between the Jewish religious leaders and the Son of God. The Pharisees confront Jesus, and He confronts them right back.

Jesus states unequivocally that people have one father or another: either God is their Father or the Devil. The dividing line is first and foremost a person’s relationship to Jesus Christ. However, whether or not a person has a relationship with Jesus has an even deeper root: Does the person love the truth of God’s Word?

He says, “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word” (vs. 43).

This idea is a theme in the Gospel of John: A person either loves lies and deception or they love truth (John 3:18-21).

• A murderous being

Then Jesus hints at Satan’s origin story, and that story seems related to his nature as a created – though fallen – being:

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies (vs. 44).

We must start with the assumption that because God did not create anything evil, the being we now call Satan was created good and later –– although how much later, we cannot know – became evil.

Thus, the statement that the Devil “was a murderer from the beginning” must refer to his beginning as the devil, not when he was created as a good being.

What Satan eventually became seems to be connected to what he was inside before he fell: he was and is a murderer. This speaks to his destructive nature and it is ongoing. He was a murderer from the beginning (again, his beginning as the Devil) and still is a murderer.

• A deceptive being

Moreover, he was and is a liar. When Jesus says “there is no truth in him,” this is an indication that no goodness remains in Satan. There is no truth in him. Thus, all he can produce is lies, and even when what he says is (technically) a truthful statement, Satan speaks it for the purpose of deception. This is why Satan, when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, actually quoted the Bible to the Son of God. The passages quoted by the devil were true – all the Bible is true – but the passages were twisted for the purpose of tempting Christ.

• An arrogant being

In 1 Timothy 3:6, the apostle Paul issues this warning: “[An elder must not be] a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.”

Here we have an indication that the core sin that brought the Devil into the judgment of God was pride.

Moreover, it is also implied that it was his position that led to Satan’s conceit. That is the nature of Paul’s warning against assigning a leadership position (elder) to a “new convert,” because someone new to the faith might fall victim to conceit.

Why would this be so? An elevated position of leadership requires the character to handle it. In the case of Satan, before he fell into condemnation, there had begun in this angelic being a corrosive process that eventually poisoned his entire being.

And it is against that fallen, malevolent entity that Christians are at war.