the hierarchy of the demonic

​If you have studied the New Testament at length, you have noticed that the Apostle Paul uses a lot of military terminology to describe the believer’s assignment here on earth. Have you ever wondered why he chose military terminology to describe our walk of faith?
 
I attend a weekly Bible study where we are studying Genesis from the vantage point of the original Hebrew language. I want to call your attention to the following verse:
 
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. (Genesis 2:1, ESV)
Have you ever really looked at this verse, or did you do what I have done all these years – just skim over it and go on to the seventh day?  Because of this Bible study which is being taught by two scientists who are also Biblical scholars, one of whom has studied both Hebrew and Greek, and both of whom are PhDs, I am seeing God’s work of creation in a whole new light.
In this verse, what does “the host of them” refer to?  Is it referring back to the heavens and the earth or to something else? The Hebrew word translated as “the host of them” is tsaba and it means “an organized body of angels (host) trained for war”. (Strong’s 6635)
I want you to get this. God has just finished his work of creation and now He is telling us that an integral part of His creation is an army! Why, you might ask, is God talking about an army here in Genesis 2:1? He just set everything in place and in motion, called it good, and before He rests from all His work, He tells us that His creation includes a standing army. What is the purpose of this army? Why do we need an army? We are not at war, are we?
The purpose of this army is to guard the creation – sun, moon, stars, heavens, atmospheres, earth, land, seas, fish, birds, animals and man. All that God created was so valuable to Him that He set tsaba, an organized body of angels (host) trained for war, in place to watch over His creation to keep it safe. Why was that necessary? Isn’t God able to do that for us? And from what or whom was the creation to be protected?
All this establishes the principle that God’s love for His creation – and the highest form of His creation is man – includes God’s protection of His creation. That is why God set all sorts of boundaries in place as protective coverings over every phase of His creation – including mankind, and now He tells us He has also raised up an army to stand watch!  What an awesome God we serve!
In my previous blog, I introduced you to the “who” we are being protected from. His name is Satan. When God created everything, He did so with the full knowledge that an enemy was already planning his operations against all that matters to God. God established His army because He knew we would face an opposing army in this life on earth and we would need their help.
Why didn’t He just take care of this opposing army? After all, He is God and He is All-Powerful. I believe He did it because it mattered to Him that we be in relationship with Him, and that our character be fully formed through difficulty, conflict and testings so that we would be made strong and so that we would properly reflect His nature. He did this for you.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4, NIV)
The careful attention to order God demonstrated through the process of creation is replicated in the order in which He established His army. If you are familiar with earthly armies, you know what I am talking about. Everything about an army has to do with precision training, strategic assignments, and unflinching loyalty to the Commander in Chief. God’s army is such an army.
Satan cannot create; he can only copy; and everything he attempts to copy becomes corrupted because he doesn’t have the key. He doesn’t know the code. So all he can do is what we would call a reasonable facsimile thereof. Just as God set up His army in rank, territory and assignments, so also Satan has set up his army in rank, territory, and assignments.
Just as an earthly army has rank (generals to privates), territory (theaters of operation), and assignments (air force, navy, armored divisions, marines, foot soldiers, etc.), all of which allow for orderly and effective battle operations, so also the spirit realm is set up in the same way. We need to appropriate the truth that we presently live in a Kingdom realm with God as the Highest Authority, and that satan operates over the demonic realm as its highest authority. Literally, there are two armies (two kingdoms) drawn up against each other: satan and his forces (the kingdom of darkness) are opposing God and His Kingdom (the Kingdom of Light).
Who are the commanding officers of these spiritual forces in the kingdom of darkness? 
Ephesians 1:21 – all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given.
The rank, territory, and assignments of the demonic realm are clearly identified in this verse (as well as in Ephesians 6:12 and Colossians 2:15). Let’s look at what the words used to describe the spiritual forces of the demonic realm actually mean.

• Rule – The Greek word is arches and it means: what comes first and therefore is chief (first in order, first in time, first in place or first in rank); pre-eminent; holding dominions entrusted to them (Strong’s 746)
• Authority – The Greek word is exousias and it means: delegated empowerment; operating in a designated jurisdiction (Strong’s 1849)
• Power – The Greek word is dynameos and it means: physical power, ability to perform powerful deeds (Strong’s 1411)
• Dominion – The Greek word is kyriotetos and it means: a power exerting itself in a particular jurisdiction; government (Strong’s 2963)
• Title (Name) – The Greek word is onomatos and it means: authority, cause; the manifestation or revelation of someone’s character (Strong’s 3686)

The description of the spiritual forces against whom the Kingdom of God is arrayed fall into the three categories of rank, territory, and assignment. In the inner healing ministry, we refer to these demonic powers as:

• ancestrals (rulers) – correlates with rank
• territorials (authorities and dominion) – correlates with territory, and
• lifestyles (powers and names) – correlates with assignment

 
Ancestrals
Ancestral demons gain access to human beings at conception because of the iniquities that have been passed down through the bloodline. Ancestral demons transfer from generation to generation through the bloodline. Their goal is to steal the identity of the individual. The ancestral demon carries the name of the person’s bloodline and begins reprogramming in the womb. Lies are the weapon of choice. His goal is to thwart the God-given destiny of the child.
In the inner healing session, having completed our work of identifying and dealing with all the iniquities which were passed down through the bloodline, we bind all of the demonic influences that had access through those iniquities and blood link them (by the blood of Jesus) to the ancestral demon that carries the family name (because the ancestral is first in order, first in time, first in place and he holds the jurisdictions in his power), and then we send them all to the pit. In that way, we strategically cut off the head of the snake as well as the tail, and that stops all retaliation.
 
Territorials
Territorial demons have authority over regions, cities, and objects from certain places or people.  When a person travels, they may become influenced by a territorial demon through people they encounter, or through the culture, or through the acquisition of objects related to that culture. Many seemingly harmless trinkets purchased as souvenirs are actually linked to occultic practices and these objects are the tools used by this group of demons to gain access to unsuspecting travelers.
 
In the inner healing session, we identify these cultural influences and the effect they have had on the client. If the Holy Spirit so directs, the client will be advised to get rid of these objects, destroying them by fire, if possible. If the Holy Spirit does not direct the utter destruction of the objects, then the client may choose to submit those things to the Lord, and follow His guidance as to how to sanctify them. In that way, all influences of territorial demons may be cut off and have no further force or effect.
 
Lifestyles
Remember, our soul is the access point through which the demonic has influence. Lifestyle demons have authority -

• through offenses – unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, rage, murder;
• through traumatic events;
• through sexual encounters;
• through abortion – murder;
• through teachers, employers or people who were in authority over the individual that were abusive (sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, or religious abuse);
• through drug-dealing, alcohol abuse, anger, lying.

In the inner healing ministry session, the effects of lifestyle demonic activity are the most frequent of the influences encountered because every one of us has engaged in or been victimized by at least one of these lifestyle choices. The curse of the illegitimate child, the presence of unclean spirits, and soul ties are just a few of the powerful and continuing effects that result from the activity of lifestyle demonic influences. Each one of these must be properly  dealt  with  so  that  the client  is free  from the bondage incurred through trauma, through their own sinful behavior, through victimization or through the iniquities passed down through their bloodline.
 
The Curse of the Illegitimate Child
Deuteronomy 23:2 (AMP) – A person begotten out of wedlock shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall his descendants not enter into the congregation of the Lord.
The child so conceived carries a curse which is then passed down for ten generations. Such a curse produces a pattern of behavior – the illegitimate child gives birth to another illegitimate child, and so on, the pattern often being repeated in multiple generations. Another pattern of behavior may be a resistance to anything connected with authority including the authority of God. The gatekeeper here is rejection.
The curse must be broken through forgiveness and repentance so that the effects of the curse may be declared null and void having no further force or effect on the bloodline.
Numbers 16:48 – He (Phinehas) stood (up) between the living and the dead (and intervened), and the plague stopped (was checked where he stood).
God has made His grace available to all who repent; and He has provided a loving way for the generational curse of the illegitimate child to be dealt with and broken once and for all. He offers us the opportunity to partner with Him in the process. When we do, the “plague” stops where we take our stand and agree with God.
 
Unclean Spirits
Unclean spirits are simply disembodied spirits. In the New Testament, the Greek pneuma is translated “spirit” and the modifier, akatharton means "impure, not purified." Commonly the unclean spirit refers to spirits of deceased persons who were not laid to rest.
A miscarriage or an abortion may result in removing the body of the baby from the womb, but often the spirit/soul of that baby remains in the womb until it is properly dealt with through the compassionate process of inner healing. If another pregnancy begins soon thereafter – without the intervention of inner healing, the second baby so conceived may absorb the spirit of the baby whose body was removed.
In the case of twins, where one twin dies in utero, the surviving twin may absorb the spirit of the deceased twin. If the sex of the baby that died or was removed through miscarriage or abortion is different from the sex of the succeeding or surviving baby, the result may be that sexual identity issues will manifest in the succeeding or surviving baby.
During an inner healing session, when the client’s interview reveals the possible presence of an unclean spirit, the facilitator and the client ask the Holy Spirit to allow the truth and the light of Jesus Christ to bring healing, forgive the trauma of the miscarriage or abortion or the death in utero that resulted in the unclean spirit, repent of any sin that may have been committed, and then release the unclean spirit back to God.
 
Soul Ties
Genesis 2:24 –a man (and by implication, a woman) will leave his (her) father and mother and be united to his wife (her husband), and they will become one flesh.
With every sexual encounter – whether consensual or forced, whether married or unmarried - a soul tie is created. A soul tie is not just created by the physical act of sex but also in the entwining of a part of our soul (mind, will and emotions) with a part of the other person’s soul. Any sexual activity outside the covenant of marriage (Genesis 2:24) is unholy and leaves both parties empty because there is no commitment and therefore, no intimacy. God’s intention was that there would be holiness, commitment and intimacy – which all define what a holy covenant is.
1 Corinthians 6:16 (NIV) – Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
The word translated “prostitute” is the Greek word porne which means any woman (or, by implication, any man) indulging in unlawful (outside of marriage) sexual intercourse, whether for gain or for lust. (Strong’s 4204)
1 Corinthians 6:16 (MSG) – There’s more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, “The two become one.”
Soul ties may be created through a deep emotional attachment, even though the relationship is non-sexual in practice. A child who struggles with trust issues may develop such an attachment with one of his parents. A deep emotional attachment may also develop between siblings when one of the siblings sees themselves as responsible to protect another sibling who is weaker. When such emotional attachments result in restricting the person from living a lifestyle with normal relational development, those soul ties are unhealthy and they also need to be broken.
Soul ties may also be created through masturbation; the unhealthy attachment is to self. Self is the focus of all New Age teaching. Our bodies were created to “be fruitful and multiply” and “to be the living temple in whom the Spirit dwells”. Our bodies were created to give glory to God. Glorifying self opposes glorifying God.
The way we deal with soul ties is through forgiveness and cleansing – forgiving everyone who partnered with us by name (or forgiving ourselves if we are dealing with a soul tie created through masturbation); cutting every one of the soul ties created; and declaring the unholy covenant entered into with that individual is canceled, it is null and void, and has no further force or effect on us or on them. Then over each one who partnered with us we declare:
“I take back the part of my soul that entered into this person (by name).
 “I release back the part of that person’s (by name) soul that entered into me.”
(Source: McGinnis, Sylvia, Would You Believe? A Personal Guide to Inner Healing, Copyright © 2013, Restoration Ministries)
 
Gatekeepers
In addition to the three levels of the demonic realm previously described, there is a fourth level – that of guardian. We refer to that level as a gatekeeper. Gatekeepers are the guardians of the four gates of hell: Lies, Iniquities, Sin, and Trauma.  Their assignment is to keep the individual under their control through:

• fear
• rejection
• confusion
• anxiety
• intimidation
• pride
• unforgiveness

 
During the inner healing session, gatekeepers are also bound and removed from their duty post and placed in the holding cell with all the other demonic influences until such time as all of them are blood linked together with the ancestral demon that carries the family name and sent to the pit.
 
In addition to Ancestrals, Territorials, and Lifestyles, demonic access may also come through:
 

• the occult, spirit guides, freemasonry, New Age beliefs and practices;
• using horoscopes, tarot cards, magic 8 balls, or Ouija boards;
• visiting palm readers or practicing native or cultural religious rituals such as curandero, voo doo, or shamanism;  
• any beliefs that were acquired from studying or having any involvement, however brief, with any New Age teachings;
• self improvement programs – those that exalt the power of the individual mind apart from God;
• other religions, schools of psychology, or any occult source

There is often physical evidence that the client has engaged in one of these occultic practices. For example:

• New Age – chronic pressure around the head
• Witchcraft – usually a chronic stabbing pain in the back
• Witchcraft and voodoo – chronically ill with pains and dizziness and confusion

This does not mean that these symptoms always indicate occultic practices, but the facilitator is wise to ask the questions necessary to rule out the occultic involvement in the client’s life. Any involvement with any one of these must be renounced along with the declaration that only God is the true source of supernatural knowledge, provision and power and that He is the One True God.
 
The spiritual warfare we are engaged in while we live here on earth is real… 
1 John 4:4 – You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
but our enemy is not more powerful, better equipped, or in possession of a winning strategy. The reality is that the two powerful forces – the force for good and the force for evil - have already been locked in mortal combat at the Cross, and the force for good has already won that battle. With the first battle already decided, our part is to enforce the victory that was won for us at the Cross. We enforce the victory of the first battle by standing steadfastly on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and enduring until the end.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 - …pursue (focus on, emphasis mine) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.
Next month, I will write about our authority as a Believer and why it is vital that we understand our position in Christ as we deal with the daily onslaught coming at us from the demonic forces at work all around us. Until then, be blessed to continue fighting the good fight of faith.
Linda
©2019 Linda Sue Harper