I recently published a series of lessons about the long-term plan of the Lord to deal with the seventy spiritual beings He appointed to rule over the seventy nations found in Genesis chapter ten. These spiritual governors are sometimes called the Divine Council, not because they are godly, but because they are spiritual.
I entitled this series The Great Spiritual Battle, a title I was never happy with. Now I realize that it is not a battle, but a strategy, a plan.
Further, I have become aware of Scripture that sheds more light on the subject. As stated in The Great Spiritual Battle the plan includes the Church. This is confirmed in Ephesians 3:8-11. I will paraphrase this passage:
The Apostle Paul said that his job was to make all men see the fellowship or partnership or communion of the mystery which was hidden by the Lord from the beginning of the world. The intent of the Lord was that the mystery and His plan (the manifold wisdom of God) would be made known by the Church to the “Divine Council,” the principalities and powers in heavenly placesI urge you to read this passage and see for yourself. I have never heard this preached nor seen it written. The wonderful salvation that we Christians have received is only a part of God’s plan.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He “blotted out the ordinances” that were against us and actually were condemning us. Paul says that condemnation was “nailed to the Cross,” and then Jesus, having disarmed the principalities and powers of the spiritual realm, made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:13-15)
Jesus announced to the ranking spiritual beings that the plan was in place and would be successfully concluded. That is why Paul said, “Had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (First Corinthians 2:8) In today’s vernacular, it was a done deal!
Not only will the Lord’s plan be culminated in the “Day of the Lord’ with His victory over the disobedient spiritual beings, but as I expressed before, for millennia He has been adding new family (Christians are heirs – Romans 8:17) to replace those “angels” that rebelled against Him and “left their first estate,” or dwelling place. (Jude 6) As noted in Heaven’s Rebels, there are an estimated 40 billion souls that have received that wonderful salvation.
Give glory to God! Not only has He provided a plan for our salvation, but we continually demonstrate to the spiritual rulers in the heavenly realms that God will have the victory! Praise His wonderful name!