Last Updated on January 18, 2026 5:31 PM by herald
Review
We ended Part 1 by concluding that spiritual warfare cannot be fought with swords and spears or physical bombs and bullets because the conflict is spiritual in nature. Part 1 can be accessed here.
An important point to note is that even though physical wars are started in the spirit realm, using physical weapons does not destroy the spiritual forces that caused the physical war in the first place!
A good example of this is the war against Islam (radical or otherwise). Many military attempts have been made to eradicate this evil menace. Yet it survives. Why? Because the source does not reside in the physical dimension but in the spirit realm!
So, the 64 million dollar question we now have to speak to is this:
What exactly is the nature of that territory called “the spiritual” or “the spirit realm” that makes it so unique?
To address that question, we need to answer the following five linked questions that are associated with any kind of warfare:
- Who are the opposing armies?
- What are the goals of the opposing armies?
- Where is the battleground of the war?
- What weapons are allowed?
- What are the rules of engagement?
Opposing Armies
As noted in part 1, the opposing armies or kingdoms in spiritual warfare are the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. The Kingdom of God is made up God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, all loyal angels, loyal principalities, powers and spiritual authorities the host or army of heaven and every true believer!
The opposing side is led by Satan and consist of all the principalities, powers and spiritual authorities or other hosts (armies) that turned against God as well as every non-believer.
No Fence
Some non-believers desperately want to believe that they can sit on the fence or be neutral with respect to spiritual warfare. In other words, they want to believe that they don’t have to be in the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of darkness.
But that is an outright lie and a self-deception because Scripture clearly contradicts this position. Scripture’s position is that if you are not in the Kingdom of God you are automatically in the Kingdom of Darkness! That is not a pill prideful human nature wants to swallow but it is true.
So, if you are in the process of trying to convert an individual and that is the objection the individual is making, point him or her to these verses:
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Luke 11:23 NIV
“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. Luke 11:23 NLT
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:5
Kingdom Goals
The second dimension that defines the nature of spiritual warfare are the goals of the two kingdoms. The overarching goal of each kingdom is made very clear in scripture and packed neatly into one verse:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV
The goal of Satan, cast here as “the thief”, is to bring death. On the other hand, the goal of the Kingdom of God represented by Jesus is to bring life.
The word used by Jesus for life in this verse is “zoe”. It does not just mean being “alive” but a full abundant life here and now with a provision for eternal life. That is what the Kingdom of God offers.
The Battleground
The subject to of the battle ground of spiritual warfare requires a little more explanation so we will tackle that in part 3 which, all other things being equal, will be posted on Wednesday 21 January. Suffice it to say, that you will be very surprised to find out where that battlefield is located!
