Eschatology

 

 

20. What are the powers of the heavens, which will be shaken (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:25; Luke 21:26)?

 

 

They are wicked spiritual entities which are in the heavenly places. The apostle Peter speaks of them when he says that Jesus has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers in submission to Him (1 Peter 3:22). Paul also speaks of them when he says: “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15 – NIV), and when he says that we wrestle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

The fact that the Scripture says that these powers will be shaken means that they will be cast to the earth and this will increase the anguish of men’s hearts. In the book of Revelation it is mentioned an event that will take place a short time before the coming of Christ, which shows very clearly what will happen when the powers of the heavens are shaken. Here is what John says: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 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. 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. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:7-12)

 

 

 

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