“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Tyranny: N. Cruel and oppressive government or rule

The “rulers of the darkness of this world,” the “spiritual wickedness in high places” are plotting, scheming, devising nefarious ways to kill, steal and destroy the people of God, the saints in the Kingdom of Righteousness; the saints who serve under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

We all at one time had our part with these powers of darkness as the Apostle declared in his Epistle to the Ephesians: “In time past we all walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). Thank God He “has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the Kingdom of His Dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).

The contrast between these two Kingdoms is stark. One is a tyrant, cruel and oppressive, seeking to control every aspect of our being; the other is a loving LORD and Savior, setting us free from slavery and bondage to the liberating “inheritance of the saints in light” (Ephesians 1:12b). One is a Kingdom of wickedness and evil; the other is a Kingdom of righteousness, justice, freedom and peace.

“Stand fast, therefore in the liberty wherein Christ has made you free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). Take your stand, resist the evil, “be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). “Stand in the evil day, and having done all, keep standing” (Ephesians 6:13b).

Always remember, our wrestling is not against flesh and blood. Christ and the Apostles did not wrestle against Roman Caesars, not Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Nero, Galba, Vespasian, Domitian, Antoninus Pius, Hadrian or Marcus Aurelius. None. As cruel and oppressive as they were, no; the wrestling was not against flesh and blood. There was a spirit working in them that was a tyrant of evil power that oppressed the Spirit of Christ and made war with God and the saints.

Set in this worldview, we can have a clear perspective. We can live separate from this evil system in this evil day. We can live in a separate Kingdom that shall overcome the present evil because we have already overcome by faith through the finished work of Jesus on the Cross, with His triumphant Resurrection and Ascension into the heavens “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” (Ephesians 1:21).

“Far above. . .every name that is named.” Pick any name of any tyrant in the history of the world, from any era, or age up to our present day; Jesus has been given a greater name. Jesus has been given a “name above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the Glory of God the Father” (Philippians 9b-11).

Oh, what a wonderful salvation, deliverance, and liberation we have from the tyranny of evil powers. It truly is as Jesus declared it to be: “If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Hallelujah!

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