THEME: THE CONFLICT OF SOVEREIGNTY: DISMANTLING HUMAN DEIFICATION TO ESTABLISH THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM 

My heart is overflowing with a good theme.  I speak of things which I have heard from the King. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer (Psalm 45:1) 

I speak as an Apostle-Prophet to the church and nations commissioned by Jesus Christ and the Father. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, among others to lead the Church to revisit the foundation of the church and church mission and through the church to present Jesus Christ back to the church and nations, and creation as a whole. In this regard, we are engaged in proclaiming, discipling, and equipping the Church for the Gospel of Christ and the Kingdom of God on earth.  In the ultimate, we blow the trumpet heralding the second coming of Jesus Christ—Preparing the way of the Lord.  

In this article, we call attention to the spiritual foundation, objective, and goal of Christ’s redemption and kingdom missions according as He directed the Church on the matter, declaring: 

“And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”. (Matthew 16:18-19 – KJV). 

It is common knowledge in this regard that the direction of and reference to Apostle Peter as ‘the rock’ by the LORD stands essentially for the Church Belief, Faith, Confession, and Witness of Jesus as Christ, Son of the Living God to the world. This is the platform of conversion and mission set in place by the Father Himself through spirit unction upon the Apostle, for the benefit of all who believe and trust Him Jehovah as God. 

The conversion platform makes belief, acceptance, and confession of Jesus as Christ, Son of God the foundational ‘spirit power rock’ and steppingstone of the Christian Faith and Church Mission (John 3:16; 1:12-13, 16; 2 Peter 1:1-4; Romans 10:9-13).  Men and the world must know who Jesus is (Matthew 16:13). 

It goes without saying that the Christian Faith is built upon Trust in God through Faith in Jesus Christ and the Truth of the Scriptures, as administered by the Holy Spirit. And that they that worship God the Creator must worship Him in spirit and in truth. The Christian faith is not an angelic nor human spirit system. The church is not a human creation, nor is it of earthly origin or disposition. Faith in Christ is the door and key to the Father and heaven—specifically the Heavenly Court, the Throne Room, and Presence of God (Matthew 11:27; John 10:9; 14:6-7, 21-23; Matthew 16:19). 

Now, Jesus Christ knowing the spirit and power system controlling the world and the spirit and mindset of men running the worldly systems and the kingdoms of the world—assured the Church that He Jesus the Christ will build His Church and the Heavenly Kingdom or His Messianic Kingdom order on earth, and the gates or powers of hell (darkness) in the world cannot prevail against it. 

Furthermore, He granted the church authority and power to confront powers, subdue dominions, thrones, and kingdoms, binding, loosing, and establishing the heavenly kingdom order and God’s will on earth (Matthew 16:18-19; Luke 10:18-19; Matthew 28:18-20; Rev. 11:15). 

In this article, we address the nature, structure, and operations of the powers of darkness—the ‘Gates of Hell’—for the benefit of church, the peoples, as well as governments and nations of the world. 

THE NATURE OF THE GATES OF HELL 

As we stated in the opening statement, we write as a result of the Lord’s revelation, direction, and unction from the Spirit of God. We humbly beseech readers therefore to read us with this understanding, that it is Jehovah God who wills that men be saved from sin, delivered, and set free from captivity and dominion of the ‘Sin World’ and kingdom order, and redeemed from the oppression and control of Satan and wicked powers. 

Essentially, the “Gates of Hell” refer to the reigning and ruling powers, systems, and structures of the world that stand against God. They oppose His dominion, reign, and rule of the earth, His Worship, Honour, and Glory as God, Creator, and Father and which hurl people into eternal damnation and destruction. 

Consequently, there has arisen as a result a reigning and ruling spirit in the world of the rejection of God and the knowledge, fear, obedience, and honor of Him as God, Creator, and King (Psalm 2). Satan and men have instead projected themselves as God who must be worshipped, obeyed, and honored as God and Father, Redeemer, and Hope of peoples, tribes, and nations, indeed the human race and creation as a whole. 

While some claim that there is no God—simply to make room to assert themselves as God or gods, others declare that all who project themselves and claim to be Gods whether men or spirits deserve equal honor and obedience as the creator. It follows that the gods of the tribes and nations are “God” themselves in their own rights.  At least they derive their powers and mandate to reign, rule, and control peoples and tribes, creation, and territories from the One God Creator.  (If there is no God and no creator, everybody, everything is god unto himself/herself/itself). 

Thus, not only do they reign, rule, and control peoples and affairs with terror, wickedness, and without restraint, they reject Jesus Christ as Son of the Living God and One Sent with full authority and power, right and mandate to represent the fullness of the Godhead, Creator, and to  order the affairs of men and creation, the world, and universe according to the will, bidding, and pleasure of the Father Creator. 

Indeed, Satan, men, spirits, and powers have established peoples, tribes, nations, empires, dominions, kingdoms, and thrones in the rejection and denial, defiance, and disobedience of God the Creator and the Son, the anointed and sent one, Jesus Christ. 

It is these powers and systems of pervasive and wicked domination, oppression, and control in the world that constitute the “Gates of Hell” in nations and among peoples. Therefore, the Church Mission involves not only in dealing with sin, quelling rebellion and disobedience but also in delivering and redeeming peoples and nations from and overthrowing the kingdoms and world order of gods, kingdoms, and thrones of rejection, rebellion, and disobedience against the Creator, His Law, Light, Ways, and His Kingdom, reign and rule and glory on earth. 

Christ has come to reconcile the world with the Creator to end this— to save from sin, deliver, and redeem peoples and nations, restore, rebuild, and establish the Creator’s Heavenly Kingdom Order in the nations on earth and the world. This is the way of Peace, Righteousness, and Joy for peoples and nations. 

THE STRUCTURE OF THE GATES OF HELL 

From the foregoing, the LORD has identified three major elements and forces of control in the Gates of Hell in the nations. 

First, there are Kings, Emperors, Chiefs, and systems of monarchy in the nations. The kings, emperors, chiefs, and such as operate as monarchs tend to take on “Divine” stance and powers, often with the connivance, assistance, and control of Satan and powers of darkness seeking worship, honor, dominion and control over peoples, tribes and nations. 

The second group consists of Politicians and Dictators of all hues, whatever the system of government. These are individuals who do not accept or honor God as creator—the Sovereign and Supreme Power whose will, commandments, law, and ways must guide the exercise of power and conduct, and to whom the ruling powers owe allegiance and account for their conduct and performance. 

In this regime, the state is considered, treated, and honored as God. Thus, the state cannot and does not share his “Divine and sovereign” powers with anyone.  Such is the spiritual underpinning for example of the modern secular state, where—in the name of human rights and pluralism—God the Creator is seen as having no right to expect honor and obedience from anyone. In that understanding and arrangement, those who exercise state power and manage the sovereign authority of the nation tend to believe and conduct themselves as they were God. The state becomes personified in the ruling head. 

Thus, the President and Head of State—whether elected or self-imposed dictator, civilian or military, cleric or religious leader—without due knowledge, respect for and humility before God the Creator can easily fall to the grandeur and majesty of office and impose himself or herself as God, supreme power and why not Life President/Head of State, reigning, and ruling, compelling obedience and honor at the peril of lives, human dignity, social progress, and national glory.  

There is a third group: The People, whose sovereign reign and rule is often described as ‘Peoples Power.’  By the standard conduct of affairs in the world today, Peoples Power—whether it be by representation, coercion, manipulation, and usurpation or by “popular” revolt— can assume Divine sovereign character.  In the absence of God and the knowledge of Him, His Will, Law, and Ways and His overall sovereign and supreme reign and rule in the affairs of peoples, nations, and the world, Peoples Power can be dark, oppressive, and confused. 

Essentially, the above three systems of governance in the nations of the world are all hooked on to the rejection of God the Creator and His Anointed, the knowledge of His Will, Law, Commandments, Light, and Ways and the Truth of the Holy Word and Spirit Power and dominion in the affairs of men and creation. 

That is to say, the reigning and ruling spirit- and mind-set in the world today is that Satan and man are gods. That either or both can serve as the GOD(S) of the human race, nations and the world.  Each and everybody and all have right therefore, to assume sovereign rights, command, and compel acceptance, obedience, and respect as God without any pretense, fear or favor. Since all are gods, no one rules anybody. Whoever can arraign, command, and compel obedience has right to whom and what he/she possesses and commands. It is not surprising there is so much confusion, commotion, insecurity, violence, wars, and rumors of wars, pain, and suffering in the world today.  Authority, law, and order have no place in modern society. Conscience has lost power. Morality has broken down.  All is dark. 

The truth, on the other hand, is that God has not abdicated or surrendered His Sovereign Power and authority, right, and dominion over men and creation, the peoples and nations of the world.  

Amidst the struggle within the ‘jungle’ and darkness of this world, the LORD God Jehovah is shaking all things— all kingdoms, all thrones. He is ensuring that no spirit nor power emerges to take over total and everlasting dominion over the world. The gods of kings, politicians, and ‘people’s power’ are at war against each other (Heb. 12:25-27).   

Meanwhile, His dominion over the heavens and the earth—over the waters, fires, the winds and land—is manifesting everywhere. The Gates of Hell are shaking. Nothing is holding. Jesus Christ is coming soon to judge the world and seal all things.  Hallelujah.  Come, Lord Jesus! 

“I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE…COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOUR… I WILL GIVE YOU REST” 

March 16, 2011