Spiritual Warfare and the Great Commission

The Apostle Paul's teachings on spiritual warfare and the Great Commission are deeply intertwined and essential to understanding the broader biblical narrative. In Romans 15:8-13, we see Paul articulating a vision for how the Gospel's advance among the Gentiles is tied to the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel:

"For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, 'Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.' And again it is said, 'Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.' And again, 'Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.' And again Isaiah says, 'The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.'" (Romans 15:8-12, ESV)

Here, we see Paul tying the inclusion of the Gentiles into God's people to the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. The Gentiles are to "glorify God for his mercy" and "praise the Lord" alongside God's people in Israel. Ultimately, it is the "root of Jesse" - the Messiah, Jesus Christ - who will rise to "rule the Gentiles" and in whom "the Gentiles will hope." 

This vision of the Gentiles being grafted into God's people through faith in Christ is a key part of Paul's understanding of the Great Commission—the mandate to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). From Paul's perspective, spiritual warfare is directly tied to the progress of the Gospel and the fulfillment of this Great Commission.

Several key passages in the Old Testament, specifically in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures), shed light on this connection between spiritual warfare, the resurrection, and the rule of the Gentiles. For example, in Psalm 82 in the Septuagint, the verb and noun of "resurrection" are linked to the "rule of Gentile territory." This concept informed Paul's theology, as he was deeply steeped in the Old Testament.

When Paul contemplates Christ's resurrection and ascension, he sees these events as the key to "diminishing" and "stripping away" the authority of the "rulers" and "principalities and powers" that hold sway over the Gentile nations (Colossians 2). The risen and ascended Christ has been exalted "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion" (Ephesians 1:21) and has "disarmed the rulers and authorities" (Colossians 2:15).

Ultimately, as the kingdom of God progresses, this "disarming" will give way to the outright "destruction" of the spiritual forces of evil. As 1 Corinthians 15 indicates, when the Great Commission has been fully accomplished and "all the people are gathered," then "comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father" - and at that time, Christ "will destroy" all the remaining enemies (1 Corinthians 15:24).

This idea is the heart of Paul's understanding of spiritual warfare. It is not about "shouting at demons" or engaging in Hollywood-style exorcisms, as is sometimes popularly portrayed. Instead, actual spiritual warfare is the ongoing battle to advance the Gospel and fulfill the Great Commission. The forces of darkness know that their ultimate defeat hinges on the success of this mission, so they will fight tooth and nail to blind people to the Gospel, to keep the nations in darkness, and to delay the return of Christ and the establishment of his eternal kingdom.

Missionaries and evangelists on the frontlines of gospel work often have vivid encounters with spiritual opposition, and there is undoubtedly a place for spiritual discernment and even deliverance ministry. But these are not the endgame. They are skirmishes in a larger war, the outcome of which is inevitable. The ultimate victory will come when the Great Commission has been accomplished, and Christ returns to destroy the last enemy - death itself (1 Corinthians 15:26).

This explains why Paul's ministry was so "tough."  he knew the spiritual powers were fighting desperately to maintain their grip on the nations, even as their ultimate defeat was assured. They would do all they could to "blind the people who live under their charge to the gospel" and prevent them from turning to the true King. The powers of darkness "hate Yahweh" and "hate God's people," and they will not surrender their subjects without a fight.

But their game plan is doomed to fail. They know it because passages like Psalm 82 foretell their coming destruction. Their only hope is to delay the Gospel's progress for as long as possible, to "blind people to the gospel" and "keep the nations in darkness." As long as the Great Commission remains incomplete, they can cling to the illusion that they might prevail.

This is the essence of spiritual warfare from a biblical theological perspective. It is not about personal exorcisms or dramatic encounters but about the overall advance of the kingdom of God. Everything hinges on the success of the Great Commission - the inclusion of the Gentiles, the eventual awakening of Israel, and the return of Christ to destroy the last enemy.

So, when we think about spiritual warfare, we should not get sidetracked by the sensational or the supernatural. The real battle is for the souls, hearts, and minds of people trapped under the dominion of the evil one. Our task is to faithfully proclaim the Gospel, make disciples of all nations, and trust in the ultimate victory that Christ has already secured through his death, resurrection, and ascension.

The principalities and powers know their time is running short. They are desperate to delay the progress of the Gospel, to blind people to the truth, and to maintain their grip on the nations. But their defeat is assured, for Christ has already disarmed them, and he will ultimately destroy them when the Great Commission has been accomplished.

This understanding of spiritual warfare should shape our actions and give us a clear sense of priority. The highlight of our day should not be an encounter with a demon but the privilege of leading someone to faith in Christ. That is the actual battlefront and the only path to final victory.

Of course, this does not mean we should ignore or downplay the reality of spiritual opposition. The Bible is clear that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). We must be vigilant, discerning, and prepared to engage in spiritual warfare as needed.

But our primary focus must be on advancing the Gospel and fulfilling the Great Commission. Fulfilling God's redemptive plan for all creation is the key to diminishing the authority of the powers of darkness and ultimately to their final destruction. As we faithfully proclaim Christ, make disciples, and send workers into the harvest, we participate in the unfolding of God's eternal plan - a plan that will culminate in the return of the King, the judgment of his enemies, and the establishment of his everlasting kingdom.

In Romans 15, Paul ties the inclusion of the Gentiles into God's people to the future restoration of Israel. "And in this way Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26), he declares. The Gospel's advance among the nations is directly linked to the "fullness of the Gentiles" being reached, after which "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:25-26).

This sweeping Biblical-theological vision must shape our understanding of spiritual warfare. It is not about individual exorcisms or confrontations but about the overall progress of God's kingdom. The powers of darkness know their time is short, and they will fight viciously to maintain their grip. But their ultimate defeat is assured, for Christ has already won the victory.

Our task, then, is to be faithful witnesses, bold proclaimers of the Gospel, and tireless workers in the harvest. As we advance the Great Commission, we participate in unfolding God's eternal plan - a plan that will culminate in the return of the King, the judgment of his enemies, and the establishment of his everlasting kingdom. This is the true nature of spiritual warfare and the highest calling we can fulfill.

So let us labor on with unwavering faith, steadfast hope, and unquenchable love. The battle may be fierce, but the victory is assured. Christ will return, the powers of darkness will be destroyed, and the nations will be gathered into his eternal kingdom. Until that day, may we be found faithful, standing firm in the armor of God, and pressing onward in the Great Commission.

The movie Nefarious puts this concept into a modern context that makes it understandable to believers today. The movie which is available on Amazon Prime and elsewhere explains the goals of demonic activity on earth and how it expresses itself.