Let us meditate upon a familiar scripture so often read at this season of the year: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) As we know, it focuses on Christ’s birth and looks forward to His glorious reign on earth. This week God directed me to do a study on the word “prince” in scripture in order to embrace the true significance of this passage and the divine perspective. A prince denotes ruling power or authority and in the Bible is applied to God and Christ, the angels and the devil.
Psalm 148: 11-14 sets the context of this study: “Praise the LORD kings of the earth and all peoples and princes and all rulers of earth, both young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the Name of the LORD for His Name alone is exalted, His glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for His people, a praise for all His righteous holy ones.” In Psalms 18:2, the power of the horn is described as “[t]he Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Through this Scripture, we are able to see God’s stability and strength to protect: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:68-69). This is God’s plan and order for the ages but as we know there has been and continues to be an assault launched against it from eternity past by the rebellion of Lucifer and renegade angels. God brought the word “renegade” to mind and it appropriately describes the dilemma which occurred in heaven. Renegade denotes one who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another—they were deserters of God and His authority!
Before we can rightfully give exaltation to God’s Prince—the eminent position and the peaceful reign of the Messianic King, we must examine the struggle being played out between Him and the powers of darkness. Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2. He is the “ruler of this world” in John 12: 31. In Corinthians 4:4 he is called the “god of this world.” These titles indicate that Satan is the major influence on the ideals, opinions, goals, hopes and views of the majority of people. His influence also encompasses the world’s philosophies, education, commerce and government. The thoughts, ideas, speculations and false religions of the world are under his control and have sprung from his lies and deceptions. In Isaiah 40: 23-25 we read the fate of the wicked princes of this world: “That bringeth the princes to nothing, he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted, yea, they shall not be sown; yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth; and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? Saith the Holy One.” Paul reiterates this truth in 1 Cor. 2: 6-7 as the wisdom of this world and the princes of this world will come to nought and that the wisdom of God ordained before the world will prevail. God is still sovereign but in His infinite wisdom has allowed Satan to operate in this world with the boundaries He has set for him. When the Bible says Satan has power over the world, we must remember that God has given him domain over unbelievers only. Believers are no longer under the rule of Satan but have been transferred into the Kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1: 13). So, when the Bible says that Satan is the “god of this world,” is not saying that he has ultimate authority but he has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. (2 Cor. 4:4)
Let’s look at some of the examples in scripture that give insight into the princes of the world and angels that are called princes—in Chapters 10 and 11 of Daniel both are addressed. In 10: 13 we see the conflict between holy and unholy angels and princes over nations: “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.” The prince of the kingdom of Persia (Iran) is a demonic spirit or god over that empire. We see the angel Michael designated as the chief prince of God assigned to help Daniel. In verses 20-21 we read: “Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? And now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come. 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.” The intimation is clear that, as the holy angels are sent forth on behalf of the heirs of salvation, so demonic spirits are concerned on behalf of the world system of Satan.
God reveals to Daniel in 9: 25-26 the prophecy of the chronological frame for Messianic prediction from Daniel to the establishment of His kingdom on earth which is yet future following the “prince that shall come”—the Antichrist. In Acts 3:15 we read: “And [they] killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” And in 5:31 we read: “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” In Colossians 2: 15 we have the assurance of the victory of God’s Prince: “After disarming the principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them in the cross.” Yes, we have the assurance that these powers and principalities—rulers of this world will soon reach their expiration date! Romans 16:20 says: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” Daniel describes the times when this will occur in Chapter 12: 1 when Michael—the great prince stands and judgment begins for all whose name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Duncan Campbell said: “To me it has been a source of great comfort and strength in the day of battle just to remember that the secret of steadfastness, and indeed, of victory is the recognition that ‘The Lord is at hand.”
The announcement to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth still rings true after 2000 years: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14) Let’s return to the words of Isaiah 9: “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.” (v 7) The prince of the powers of the air and his demonic forces will not win—the zeal of the LORD of heavenly and earthly hosts will rule and reign forever! Let us go to the words of Revelation 1: 5-8 to see the rest of the story: “And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the PRINCE OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. AMEN”
Isaiah characterized the coming Messiah as Prince of Peace because of His birthright. As the Father’s Son, Jesus has the right to reign over the earth. While many nations have been burdened by the tyrannical rule under the god of this world, this will all come to an end when the King of Glory comes and judges the world of sin and unrighteousness. Ezekiel 21: 26-27 looks to Messiah who comes to reign: “Thus said the LORD GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.”
We must return to a supernatural, Bible-based, world view. It is time for us to wake up and understand that we are in the midst of a spiritual battle and we must not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Cor. 2;5) Paul instructs us in Ephesians 6: 10-11: “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” He makes it clear who the enemy is in verse 12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the worldly forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” The most effective way to resist evil is to draw near to Jesus—God’s Prince. Our demonstration of trust weakens principalities and powers of darkness! “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” — 1 John 4:4, ESV.
“Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. AMEN.” (Ephesians 6: 23-24)