'We'll rule with Satan!'--fuhgeddaboudit!

In the heavens are many different levels of government and a hierarchy similar to what’s found in human government, only with angels and archangels, seraphim and cherubim.

Michael the archangel’s position of authority is on display in Daniel 10: [13] But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia . . . [21] But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

“When Satan is fomenting his rebellion, obviously what he would do is focus on those angels who are more powerful and hold more responsibility,” reasons Columbus preacher David Reid.

“We know from other passages there are more than 100 million elect angels (who did not follow Satan), but we also know from Daniel 10:21 that a bunch of these leading folks are on the wrong team. So heaven has a bunch of guys in high places who have sinned and then a bunch of angels who are lower.

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“Paul says in I Corinthians 6:3, ‘Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?’ This is amazing to consider; the Body of Christ is going to judge angels, exercising authority over them.

“Let me suggest this, nature abhors a vacuum. Do you remember in Job 1 there was a time when ‘when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them’?

“Who came with them? Satan. God could have destroyed Satan and the fallen angels at any time but He didn’t. What He did is He left them in those places because He wanted those positions to be filled.

“Revelation 12: 7-9 says, [7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
[8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
[9] And 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.

“What that’s telling you is that in the midst of the 70^th week there’s war in heaven. Daniel and his angels fight with the dragon and his angels, and Satan and his angels are cast down to the earth. By the way, don’t you think when Jehovah God gives that command to Michael he’s going to be like, ‘Yes, sir, I’ll make it so!’ He’s been waiting for that command for 6,000 years!

“Tell me what happens just before that? God allows Satan and his angels to remain until He’s formed their replacement. At the catching up of the Body of Christ, we’re given new bodies to function in spiritual places. We then go through the Judgment Seat of Christ and God assigns responsibilities for those different places. All those seats occupied by Satan’s bad guys are now occupied by the Body of Christ. That’s how the Body of Christ judges angels.

"Basically, what God says to Satan is, 'So you got some of the archangels to follow you; you think that's something?! I'll just form your replacement out of the dust of the earth.'

“Doesn’t that tell you why Satan hates ‘the mystery’?! You see how inferior Satan’s wisdom is to God the Father’s? If joy is the expectation of future good, think about what that means! God is forming a government in the heavens to reign for eternity to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and manifest His will to the universe. That’s what He’s doing and you are a part of that purpose! Isn’t that just mind-boggling?! You are a joint-heir with Christ!

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"Paul says in Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

“When God reconciles that future system of government, and that’s what Paul’s talking about in verse 20, He’s going to reconcile them in two ways,” explains Preacher Richard Jordan of Shorewood Bible Church. “No. 1, in Revelation 12, we learn He’s going to go up there and throw Satan and his angels out. It says that ‘neither was their place, their position, found anymore in heaven.’ They no longer have authority. They no longer have any right to fill the positions in heaven.

“That’s one way He’s going to change the status of those positions and the other way He’s going to do it is by putting some new people in the positions, and you know who the new people are going to be? That’s what He formed the Body of Christ for, folks!

“When you think about Revelation 12, it isn’t enough just to throw the bad guys out. In government, it isn’t enough just to get rid of the bad apples; you got to get the good guys in. You think about in an election year and changing the president and congress.

“If you don’t get the right guy to take the places, it’s going to be more of the same, so it isn’t enough just to throw Satan and his angels out. You got to put the right guys in and that’s what God does, and you and I are the right guys and gals; the right new creatures in Christ.

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“Ephesians 2:4-6 says, [4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

“Look at that passage carefully because most of the time we don’t really seem to understand what it’s really talking about. I’ve heard people say for years, ‘Well, I’m seated in heavenly places with Christ; I’m down here but I’m really up there,’ and I used to try and understand that. Am I not in my position down here? I’ve got some space I occupy. What is that?

“The answer is that those kind of ideas about your position is not what Paul’s talking about in the sense of you being positionally UP there but practically DOWN here. What he’s talking about is just like in Ephesians 1:20-21: [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
[21] Far 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.

“What did God do? He gave Jesus Christ a position of authority over the heavenly government. You and I sit together in heavenly places in Christ. We participate in the authority of Jesus Christ in the government in the heavens. That’s what that’s talking about. I’m a participant in His heavenly government by virtue of being in the Body of Christ.

*****

“When Satan and his angels are cast out and salvation in the kingdom of God comes to the heavenly places, it’s going to be exercised and carried out through the Church the Body of Christ. II Timothy 4:18 says the Lord ‘will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.’

“You see, we are kingdom saints, we’re just not the earthly kingdom saints; we’re with the heavenlies. That’s why Paul would preach the kingdom of God but he didn’t preach the earthly establishment of the kingdom of God.

“When those elect angels out there, the seraphim and the cherubim and all the other creatures in the heavens . . . You understand, only about a third of the angelic host follow Satan, so the vast majority of the angelic creation are those who have chosen to stay with God and be on God’s side.

“They’re not saved because they never were lost but they’re called the ‘elect angels.’ They made the choice of staying with God and not going with Satan and they’re up there functioning.

“They’re not in the upper echelon of the government right now, but they will be one day when we’re placed up there. They’re going to cry that cry in Revelation 12: ‘Now is come salvation and the kingdom of our god,’ and when they do, they’re going to look at us as we occupy those positions of governmental authority out there and they’re going to see us as trophies of the super-abounding, riches of God’s matchless marvelous grace.

“You see, folks, the whole issue of the Body of Christ today, and I keep saying to you, the issue is that the life, the glory of Jesus Christ is manifested through us, and the reason that’s important now is because that’s what He’s going to do through us through all eternity. I mean, you’re just getting a little practice today in what’s going to happen perfectly out there in that day.

“If there’s anywhere in the Book of Revelation you and I show up, and are at least between the lines, there we are in Revelation 12:8-9 and especially verse 10: [10] And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

“They angelic host is going to look out there and see us shine forth the ‘manifold wisdom of God’ and the exceeding riches of His grace toward us in Christ, and that’s going to be their cry and response to seeing us occupy those positions.”

(new article tomorrow)