Devil, the ‘Prince of the Air’ — What Does That Imply?

Audio Transcript

Welcome again to the podcast as we start this June collectively. Pastor John, right now in our Bible studying we arrive at Ephesians 2:1–10 — an extremely necessary textual content, and one you have got talked about in your works over 1,400 occasions over the many years. It’s a mega-text in your legacy, I’d name it, one you would discuss for hours and hours on finish. But it surely features a curious little line that you simply not often discuss, particularly in comparison with the opposite superb factors Paul makes right here. I’m speaking concerning the singular title he offers to the satan — that the satan is “the prince of the ability of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).

All types of interpretations have been steered for this over the many years. Traditionally, again within the Twenties and Thirties, as gospel programming was first launched to broadcast radio, one critique stated that any try to evangelise over the airwaves was “doomed to fail” as a result of such ministry “operates within the very realm during which Devil is supreme. Is he not ‘the prince of the ability of the air’?” So, there’s like a cosmological dimension to his reign.

That argument is principally lifeless right now, however questions stay. APJ listeners need to know what that signifies that Devil is the “energy of the air”? Certainly one of our listeners, named Emon, needs to know “if this means that Devil is omnipresent or all-seeing.” Different listeners need to know the way Devil influences “the air” and the way it’s that his reign as “the prince of the ability of the air” leads him to coerce disobedience from sinners, as Paul implies right here within the broader context of Ephesians 2:1–3. What sort of energy, Pastor John, is Paul ascribing to the satan on this verse?

Nicely, first, let me counsel a precept of interpretation that I believe is basically necessary, particularly for a sure mindset that’s always fascinated with marginal, unsure issues within the Bible as a substitute of being thrilled with central, positive, superb issues within the Bible. The precept is that this: don’t let speculations about what you don’t know management or dominate the issues which are clear within the Bible that you simply do know. That’s the precept. We all know many clear, true issues about Devil and his work on this planet which are acknowledged plainly within the Bible, and it might not be smart to start out speculating about what we’re uncertain of — particularly, the which means of air in “the prince of the ability of the air” — in a method that might contradict or dominate these clear, true issues.

“Don’t let speculations about what you don’t know management or dominate the issues which are clear within the Bible.”

Students and commentators, together with me, aren’t usually assured or sure about why Devil known as “the prince of the ability of the air” in Ephesians 2:2. There are pointers — I received’t cease right here; I’ve one thing to say; we’re not left at nighttime about what this most likely signifies — however it might be unwise to place an excessive amount of emphasis on what I’m about to say, as a result of regardless that it’s necessary (it’s within the Bible), it’s not practically as necessary as different clear issues, I believe, even in these verses and elsewhere within the New Testomony. So, that’s the very first thing, a precept.

Clearing the Air

The second factor we have to do, simply by the use of preparation, is to clear away some confusion. To say that Devil is “the prince of the ability of the air” doesn’t imply we should always cease residing and respiratory and talking and looking out via the air. Air is what exists between the web page of the Bible and your eye. Air is what exists between the preacher’s mouth and your ear. To say that we shouldn’t broadcast the reality via airwaves would additionally imply you shouldn’t preach into the air or take a look at the Bible via the air. That’s nonsense.

There’s a battle to be fought with the prince of the air, however you don’t struggle it by stopping listening to via the air or seeing via the air or shifting via the air. Okay, let’s simply get that out of the way in which. To assert that you simply shouldn’t do radio or Wi-Fi or one thing like that’s to over-prove what you’re making an attempt to do, as a result of it’s going to cancel out all preaching and all Bible studying, which occur via the air.

And we are able to add this: the truth that Devil has some measure of authority within the air doesn’t suggest that he’s omnipresent or omniscient. We aren’t instructed within the Bible the extent of Devil’s data or how a non-spatial actuality like a spirit — which he’s known as on this very verse, “the spirit” that’s dominating “the sons of disobedience” — with no up, down, or sideways actuality, positions himself on this planet. However he’s not God. He doesn’t share God’s omniscience and omnipresence, however we do know that he has many unclean spirits, demons, at his disposal, and they’re deployed everywhere in the world within the air. The air is the place his flaming arrows fly, in keeping with Ephesians 6:16.

Evaluting the Enemy

Right here’s what Paul stated; let’s get the textual content in entrance of us:

You have been lifeless within the trespasses and sins during which you as soon as walked, following the [age, sometimes translated “the course”] of this world, following the prince of the ability of the air, the spirit that’s now at work within the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:1–2)

So, listed here are some pointers that collectively convey some readability, I believe, to this time period “prince of the ability of the air.”

1. Air Above Us

First, the air is solely what Paul and folks in his time known as the house above the earth, they usually had no scientific consciousness of how excessive the air went. So far as they knew, it simply went on and on, so human life takes place within the decrease a part of this air the place it meets the earth. That’s the place we stay. That’s level primary. It’s only a normal assertion concerning the sphere of our life.

2. Layers of Air

Second, in Matthew 6:26, Jesus says, “[Consider] the birds of the air.” Now, the rationale that’s important is as a result of the phrase translated air is heaven. It’s translated heaven virtually all over the place. The time period heaven within the New Testomony was very broad in its utilization, referring to layers which are above the earth, generally known as the sky. Nehemiah 9:6 refers to “heaven [and] the heaven of heavens,” the place the celebrities are. And Psalm 148:4 refers back to the “highest heavens.” In 2 Corinthians 12:2, Paul refers to “the third heaven.”

“We’ve the victory over this one with whom we’re contending within the air.”

Since Jesus makes use of the phrase heaven interchangeably with air, the place the birds fly, we are able to consider numerous layers of air or heaven. There are these heavens. In truth, the phrase heaven is often used within the plural, I believe most likely as a result of it’s considered by way of these numerous layers. That is most likely why Paul refers so typically, like in chapter 6, to heavens the place the battle with Devil occurs, he says (Ephesians 6:12). So, that’s quantity two.

3. Seated in Heaven

Third, the time period “prince of the ability.” Simply take these two phrases. “Prince of the ability,” “ruler of authority” — archonta tēs exousias — is precisely the identical as these two phrases 4 verses earlier in Ephesians 1:20–21, the place it says God raised Christ “and seated him at his proper hand within the heavenly locations [the heavens], far above all rule and authority.” Now, that’s the phrase that describes the satan, “rule and authority” — “far above all rule and authority.” Far above the satan. Far above the prince of the ability, the ruler of the authority, of the air.

So Devil, although he has a measure of rule and authority within the air or the heavens, is just not God. He’s vastly beneath God. Christ is vastly superior to, over, has authority over him — so Devil’s rule within the energy of the air, or within the decrease air of the heavens, is just not supreme. He’s decisively defeated. Colossians 2:15 says, “[God] disarmed the rulers and authorities,” and that’s precisely the identical phrase as “the prince of the ability.” Ephesians 2:2: “The prince of the ability of the air” is “the rulers of the authority of the air,” and that has been decisively disarmed on the cross.

So, he’s mortally wounded. A decisive battle has been fought, and we in Christ have a victory over him. And in the case of Ephesians 6:12, the place it says, “We don’t wrestle in opposition to flesh and blood, however in opposition to the rulers, in opposition to the authorities” — identical phrase as again in Ephesians 2:2 — “within the heavenly locations,” these heavenly locations are evidently layers of heavens, the layers of the air above the earth however beneath the very best heaven, the place Christ sits supreme, governing all issues. And we’ve got the victory over this one with whom we’re contending within the air.

4. ‘God of This World’

Fourth, Paul calls Devil “the god of this world” in 2 Corinthians 4:4. I believe “god of this world” and “ruler of the authority of the air” are just about interchangeable phrases, with the world being the sphere during which we stay and the air being the sphere during which we stay. They confer with the identical factor.

Dwell with Boldness

So, listed here are 4 implications I draw from Paul’s calling Devil the prince of the ability of the air:

1. Devil is a spirit who’s invisible like air, not like flesh and blood, in keeping with Ephesians 6:12.
2. There’s no place to go whereas we breathe air the place the flaming arrows of Devil is not going to fly via the air at us (Ephesians 6:16).
3. Anyplace we go the place there’s air, heaven, sky, house, we might want to put on the armor of God and do battle with the phrase of God and the defend of religion.
4. Christ is exalted as King to the very best heaven, above all rule and authority. The prince of the ability of the air is just not sovereign. He’s on a leash.

John says, “The entire world lies within the energy of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), however those that are born of God he can not contact; he can not destroy (1 John 5:18). We should always consider that; we should always take up the armor of God and stay with that type of boldness.