Eschatology
20. What are the powers of the heavens, which will be shaken (Matthew
24:29; Mark |
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) |