“I THOUGHT I COULD WIN! I THOUGHT I COULD BE VICTORIOUS. I THOUGHT I COULD TRIUMPH OVER MICHAEL AND HIS ANGELS! I DIDN’T THINK THAT I WOULD BE UNABLE TO PREVAIL IN HEAVEN. I THOUGHT THAT THE ANGELS I HAD ALONGSIDE ME WOULD BE ENOUGH OF A FORCE TO DEFEAT MICHAEL AND THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN IN HEAVEN. I DIDN’T THINK I WOULD BE CAST OUT HEAVEN AND CAST INTO THE EARTH. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULDN’T TRIUMPH IN HEAVEN. I WAS ENRAGED AND INFURIATED WHEN I WAS CAST FORTH OUT OF HEAVEN. WHO WOULD DARE CAST ME OUT AS IF IF WERE SOMETHING PROFANE AND UNHOLY. DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM? I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VICTORIOUS IN HEAVEN. I WAS SUPPOSED TO EXALT MY THRONE ABOVE THE STARS IN HEAVEN. I WAS SUPPOSED TO ASCEND TO THE MOUNTAIN IN THE NORTH. THIS WASN’T AT ALL WHAT I HAD PLANNED. MICHAEL AND HIS ANGELS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DEFEATED. NOW MYSELF AND THE ANGELS WHO FOUGHT WITH ME HAVE BEEN CAST OUT OF HEAVEN NEVER AGAIN TO RETURN. HOW DARE YOU EXPEL ME FROM HEAVEN! HOW DARE YOU RESTRICT ME ACCESS TO THAT PLACE I DWELT FOR SO LONG! NOW I AM FORCED TO EXIST ON THIS MISERABLE PLANET SURROUNDED BY THESE HUMANS AND BEASTS? I HATE THESE HUMANS. I HATE MAN. I HATE THE WOMAN. I HATE THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR OFFSPRING. THEY ARE LIKE A CANCER AND VIRUS UPON THE EARTH. MICHAEL, YOU MAY HAVE WON IN HEAVEN, BUT YOU WILL NOT WIN IN THE EARTH. LORD MOST HIGH, YOU MAY HAVE CAST ME OUT OF HEAVEN, BUT YOU CAST ME INTO THE EARTH. WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST CAST ME INTO THE ABYSS RIGHT THEN AND THERE? WHY CAST ME INTO THE EARTH WHERE THE CROWN OF YOUR CREATION DWELLS? WHY CAST ME INTO THE EARTH WHERE THE WOMAN DWELLS? WHY CAST ME INTO THE EARTH WHERE HER SEED AND OFFSPRING ARE PRESENT? YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO CAST ME INTO THE EARTH WHERE THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL SEED IS AND I WILL EXACT MY VENGEANCE AND REVENGE UPON THEM. I WILL COME AGAINST THEM WITH FULL FURY OF MY RAGE AND WRATH. I WILL PERSECUTE THE WOMAN WHOM YOU HAVE PRESERVED AND PROTECTED. I WILL MAKE WAR WITH YOUR OFFSPRING. YOU SHOULD HAVE EVEN CAST ME INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. OF COURSE I KNOW THAT’S WHAT MY ULTIMATE END IS. I KNOW MY FINAL DESTRUCTION IS IN THE LAKE OF FIRE WHERE I WILL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOREVER. SINCE YOU HAVE CAST ME TO THE EARTH, I AM GOING TO MAKE IT MY SOLE MISSION AND AMBITION TO DESTROY AS MANY OF YOUR BELOVED AND PRECIOUS CREATION AS I CAN.

YOU MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE CASTING ME INTO THE EARTH, I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN VICTORIOUS. IN HEAVEN, BUT NO WORRIES LORD MOST HIGH—I WILL BRING MY WAR TO THE EARTH. I WILL BRING MY WAR TO YOUR CREATION WHERE YOUR HOLY SEED IS FOUND. I WILL UNLEASH MY WRATH AND WAR UPON THE EARTH AGAINST THOSE WHOM YOU CHOSE TO MAKE A LITTLE LOWER THAN US ANGELS. I WILL TAKE THE FIGHT DIRECTLY TO THOSE WHOM YOU FORMED FROM THE DUST OF THE EARTH SO MANY YEARS AGO. IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY WHEN I WATCHED AS YOU BREATHED LIFE INTO THAT WRETCHED BEING FROM THE DUST. AND THEN WHAT DID YOU DO? YOU GAVE HIM DOMINION UPON THE EARTH TO SUBDUE IT. YOU GAVE THAT CREATURE THE ABILITY TO SUBDUE THE EARTH AND EVEN COMMANDED THAT THE EARTH BE FILLED WITH THEM. ADAM AND EVE WERE EASY IN THE GARDEN. IT WAS JUST TWO OF THEM TO CONTEND WITH. NOW THE EARTH IS FILLED WITH A PEOPLE WHOM YOU CLAIM TO HAVE CHOSEN FOR YOURSELF AND ACTUALLY GIVEN LAND AMONG THE NATIONS. YOU GAVE ADAM DOMINION UPON THE EARTH. YOU GAVE ISRAEL DOMINION UPON THE EARTH. NOW YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR DISCIPLES DOMINION UPON THE EARTH. HOW DARE YOU GIVE DOMINION TO THESE CREATURES. HOW DARE YOU ALLOW MERE MAN AND NOT ANGELS TO HAVE DOMINION UPON THE EARTH. WHAT’S BEEN DONE HAS BEEN DONE AND CANNOT BE ALTERED, BUT THIS ONE THING I CAN DO. IF YOUR CREATION CHOOSES NOT TO WALK IN THE DOMINION AND AUTHORITY YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM—SOMETHING I WILL BE MOST DILIGENT TO BRING ABOUT—THEN I WILL EXERCISE MY DOMINION UPON THE EARTH. IF MAN WILL NOT, IF MAN CAN NOT, IF MAN REFUSES TO EXERCISE DOMINION UPON THE EARTH—DESPITE BEING CREATED TO DO SO—THAN I WILL EXERCISE MY OWN DOMINION. IT IS TRUE I HAVE NO DOMINION OR AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN. ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN WAS GIVEN TO THE SON WHO SITS AT YOUR RIGHT HAND. WHAT IS TRUE, HOWEVER, IS THAT I CAN EXERCISE DOMINION UPON THE EARTH. I WILL CAUSE MAN TO FORFEIT THE AUTHORITY AND DOMINION YOU GAVE HIM AND I WILL EXERCISE MY OWN DOMINION. I WILL COME AGAINST YOUR CHOSEN PEOPLE WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT IT WILL CRUSH ANY DOMINION YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM. I WILL COME AGAINST YOUR CHURCH WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT IT WILL CRUSH ANY DOMINION OR AUTHORITY YOU THINK THEY CAN EXERCISE UPON THE EARTH. IF ISRAEL FAILS TO EXERCISE THE DOMINION AND AUTHORITY GIVEN HER, THEN I WILL INCITE THE NATIONS ROUND ABOUT HER TO EXERCISE DOMINION AND AUTHORITY AGAINST THEM. I WILL USE THESE NATIONS ROUND ABOUT ISRAEL TO WAGE WAR AGAINST THEM—TO ANNIHILATE AND CRUSH THEM TO PIECES.

IF YOUR CHURCH—THOSE SPIRIT-FILLED, BORN AGAIN PEOPLE—FAIL TO EXERCISE DOMINION AND AUTHORITY UPON THE EARTH, THEN I WILL UNLEASH THE FULL FORCE OF MY LEGIONS AGAINST AND UPON THEM TO CRUSH THEM. MICHAEL AND HIS ANGELS TRIUMPHED OVER ME AND MY ANGELS IN HEAVEN AND THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE. HOWEVER, I WILL EXACT MY VENGEANCE UPON THE EARTH. I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH MY THRONE IN HEAVEN, BUT I WILL ESTABLISH IT UPON THE EARTH. I WILL SET UP MY THRONE IN THE VERY PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE SOUGHT TO SET UP YOURS. I WILL RAISE MY THRONE UPON THE EARTH AND WILL EXECUTE MY OWN POWER AND AUTHORITY UPON THE EARTH. I WILL RULE UPON THE EARTH OVER THOSE WRETCHED CREATURES YOU CREATED FROM THE DUST OF THE EARTH. HOW UTTERLY APPALLING THE THOUGHT OF THAT IS. HOW UTTERLY DISGUSTING IT IS THAT THESE WRETCHED DUST CREATURES WERE CREATED TO EXERCISE DOMINION UPON THE EARTH. I WON’T ALLOW IT. I CAN’T ALLOW IT. I WILL RULE OVER THE EARTH. I WILL RULE UPON THE EARTH. I WILL EXALT MY THRONE ON THE EARTH AND WILL EXALT MY THRONE ON THE EARTH ABOVE YOURS. YOU. MAY HAVE YOUR THRONE IN HEAVEN O MOST HIGH, BUT I WILL HAVE MY THRONE UPON THE EARTH. KEEP YOUR THRONE IN HEAVEN O MOST HIGH. I WILL HAVE MY THRONE UPON THE EARTH. I WILL TAKE WHAT YOU CREATED AS, HOW DID YOU SAY IT, “GOOD,” AND I WILL NOT ONLY CORRUPT IT, BUT I WILL ESTABLISH MY OWN AUTHORITY AND POWER UPON IT. THESE WRETCHED AND MISERABLE CREATURES ARE NO MATCH FOR THE LEGIONS I KNOW COMMAND—LEGIONS NEED I REMIND YOU I STOLE OUT FROM UNDER YOU. THAT’S RIGHT MOST HIGH. I STOLE A THIRD OF YOUR ANGELS OUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOU IN HEAVEN, AND NOW I WILL STEAL AS MANY AS I CAN UPON THIS WRETCHED AND MISERABLE PLANET. YOU HAVE CAST ME TO THE EARTH NOW, BUT IT IS FROM THIS MISERABLE BALL OF DUST I WILL RULE AND REIGN. I COULD NOT HAVE HEAVEN, BUT I WILL HAVE THE EARTH. I WILL HAVE THIS WRETCHED BALL OF DUST SPINNING IN THIS UNIVERSE YOU HAVE CREATED, AND I WILL HAVE IT FOR MY OWN GLORY, MY OWN HONOR. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR HEAVEN, BUT I AM TAKING THE EARTH AS MY OWN. YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD GIVE THE EARTH TO THESE HUMANS TO SUBDUE AND EXERCISE DOMINION UPON? HOW DID THAT GO FOR YOU WHEN I BEGUILED EVE IN THE GARDEN YOU PLACED HER AND ADAM IN? MAN WAS CREATED TO LIVE FOREVER IN THE PARADISE YOU CREATED FOR HIM, YET I INTRODUCED DEATH AND DECAY INTO THE EARTH THROUGH SIN. THAT’S RIGHT O MOST HIGH—YOU WANTED DOMINION UPON THE EARTH WHILE I WANTED DEATH. I MUST THANK YOU MOST HIGH FOR CASTING ME TO THIS WRETCHED AND MISERABLE BALL OF DUST FOR NOW IT IS UPON THIS SPINNING BALL I WILL DO WHAT I COULD NOT DO IN HEAVEN. I MNUST THANK YOU MOST HIGH FOR THIS “GIFT” YOU HAVE GIVEN ME. I PROMISE I WON’T DESTROY IT—TOO MUCH THAT IS. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR HEAVEN, BUT I WILL HAVE THE EARTH!”

Now, before you decide to get all crazy on me and denounce me for what I have just written, I must explain a few things. I in no way profess to know or even understand the mind of our adversary, which is the Devil and Satan. I in no way desire to know the mind of our adversary—despite the fact the apostle Paul wrote concerning our not being ignorant of his schemes. I firmly and whole-heartedly stand upon Scripture and the words of the apostle Paul when he writes of our having the mind of Christ. If there is one mind I seek to know and understand it is the mind of Christ, for Paul through the eternal Spirit made the bold declaration—“Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus.” Please do not think that I have somehow seen into the mind of our adversary, or have somehow had a dialogue with him, and as a result, I now know his mind. What I have done is listened to a series of audio books that while they are fictional in nature have helped shine a great deal of light on to Lucifer’s rebellion in heaven. I have spent a considerable amount of time over the past several months studying the Scripture and examining Satan’s stand(s) and strategies throughout history, which includes in heaven, in the garden, during the days of Noah, in the life of Job, in the life of David, in the life of Joshua the high priest, in the wilderness with Jesus, and then in direct connection with the apostle Peter, Judas, and Ananias and Sapphira. I have spent a considerable length of time in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ seeking to examine the activity of our adversary in order to not be ignorant of his schemes or his devices. If the Spirit of the sovereign Lord did not want us be aware of the schemes and devices of the adversary, He wouldn’t have inspired the apostle Paul to make so bold a statement in his letters. Please note that I do not profess to be an expert on Satan’s activity in the earth and somehow have a handle on this thing we call spiritual warfare and conflict—I will be the first to admit that I do not. What I can say, and what I have been praying lately is that I would be aware of the activity that is taking place around me in the spiritual and unseen realm. I have prayed that my eyes would be opened like the servant of Elisha to see the hills filled with horses and chariots of fire to know and understand that more or they that are for us than they which are against us. I have been asking for a greater awareness of how the adversary works within my own life to be able to resist him firmly and steadfast in faith. What I have presented at the beginning of this is more of an attempt to bring us face to face with the schemes and tactics of the adversary—at least to the degree that we can begin to exercise the dominion and authority we have been given by the Lord Most High. I did not write the words at the beginning of this section to somehow display to you that I know that mind of our adversary and have heard the words which I have written. The words which I wrote at the beginning of this section are merely meant to bring us face to face—albeit in somewhat of a fictional manner—with the reality that our adversary is both cunning and ruthless and will seek to utterly and completely destroy us.

What we read in the twelfth and thirteenth chapters of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as well as in the nineteenth and twentieth chapters is a dramatic shift in the war of the dragon. Within the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation we find war in heaven as Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. The apostle John reveals that the dragon and his angels fought, yet could not prevail, nor was their police found any more in heaven. As a direct result of their inability to prevail in heaven against Michael and his angels, the dragon and his angels were cast out into the earth. It is incredibly important that we pay close attention to this, for once Satan was cast out of heaven and cast into the earth, something else happened than just his being cast out. The phrase “neither was their place found any more in heaven” is significant, for when they were cast forth, they were cast forth never to return again. When Michael and his angels cast the dragon and his angels out of heaven and into the earth, they were forever banished from heaven and could never return. I have already written that when the dragon was cast forth out of heaven he lost his position and place whereby he stood accusing the saints of God night and day before the throne. In fact, the Old Testament book of Job reveals how twice Satan came and appeared before God when the sons of God came to present themselves. Even in the prophetic book of Zechariah we find Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him before the Lord. I am convinced that the first two chapters of the Old Testament book of Job and the third chapter of the prophetic book of Zechariah are directly connected to the twelfth chapter in the book of the Revelation of Jesus, for those particular chapters speak to and reveal the access that Satan had to accuse the saints of God before His throne. Those three chapters reveal the access Satan once had in heaven—access he used to accuse the saints of God before the throne of God. When Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven as is recorded in the twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation he permanently lost not only his place in heaven, but also his access to the Lord of hosts Himself. When Satan and his angels were cast down to the earth it was the first sign that his ultimate and utter destruction was drowning near. It is incredibly important that we pay attention to this particular chapter, for it reveals a powerful transition in the book of the Revelation—a transition from war in heaven to war upon the earth.

When Satan and his angels were cast forth out of heaven they were cast out unable to make war in heaven ever again. I can’t help but get the strong sense that at that point there was a certain cleansing that took place, as heaven was once and for all purged of Lucifer’s presence, the presence of his angels, and their schemes and tactics. Satan’s being cast out of heaven came with a great and mighty declaration as well as a great call to rejoice, for the accuser was finally removed from the place he occupied in heaven. Let us recognize this very important fact, for one of Satan’s greatest tactics and strategies has always been to accuse the saints of God before the throne of God in heaven. I do not believe that this particular war in heaven has been fought, or that the accuser of our brethren has finally and once and for all been cast out of heaven and into the earth. I believe there is coming a point in time when Michael and his angels will engage the dragon in warfare and conflict in heaven, and will utterly and completely prevail, thus driving Lucifer out of heaven once and for all. When the dragon and his angels were once and for all cast forth out of heaven we notice a dramatic shift take place, as the war which was once fought in heaven would now be fought on the earth with and among men. From the ninth verse of the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation until the tenth verse of the twentieth chapter we find the war no longer being fought in heaven, but being fought upon the earth. In heaven the dragon and his angels fought against Michael and his angels, yet in the earth the dragon and his angels would wage war against the offspring of the woman, and against the saints of God. Both the dragon and the beast which emerged from the sea would both wage war against the saints of God and would even come against them with a great army—an army made up of the kings of all nations, and those with them as enumerable as the sand upon the sea shore. In fact, it’s interesting and worth noting that the dragon could no longer engage Michael and his angels in heaven, and could no longer make war in heaven, yet when the Rider on the white horse came forth, both the dragon and the beast sought to make war with the Rider on the white horse and the saints of God upon the earth. The twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation of Jesus marks the final war Satan and his angels will ever fight in heaven, while the twentieth chapter of the book of the Revelation marks the final war Satan and his angels will ever fight upon the earth.

I have to say that I absolutely love the twentieth chapter of the book of the Revelation—not merely because Satan was bound, cast into the bottomless pit and sealed for one thousand years, for the time would come when he would be released once more for a season upon the earth. I absolutely love the twentieth chapter of the book of the Revelation for the final battle against Satan and his angels was not fought in heaven by Michael and his angels, nor by Michael, his angels and the eternal Son of God. The final battle and war against Satan and his angels was both fought on the earth and won on the earth. There is a tremendous prophetic significance in this for the battle that began in the Garden of Eden upon the earth so many centuries ago would reach its climax and culmination in the earth. While this particular point can’t be proven, I can’t help but wonder if the final battle against Satan and his angels will not be won in the very place where the battle and war began. There has been a tremendous amount of speculation where the biblical Garden of Eden was located, but what if the final battle of the ages would be fought in the very place where it began in the Garden of Eden? Here again, I cannot prove this according to Scripture, and it is merely speculation and conjecture, but how appropriate and fitting it would be to once and for all overcome Satan in the earth in the very place he first began to wage war against mankind. When the adversary was once and for all defeated, he wasn’t defeated in heaven, but rather upon the earth. When the adversary was cast forth out of heaven and cast into the earth, that wasn’t his final and ultimate defeat, as he would continue to wage war upon the earth. The final war of the dragon would not be fought in heaven but on the earth, and the final defeat of the dragon would not come in heaven but upon the earth. I can’t help but see the nineteenth and twentieth chapters as a prophetic picture—not only of what is to come on those particular days, but what has been a present reality all along. When the beast along with the false prophet, the nations and kings of the earth engaged in that final conflict, they engaged in conflict against the host while the Word of God fought with and alongside them. When the dragon along with Gog and Magog, and all the kings and nations of the earth surrounded the holy city with the Word of God and the saints of God within, the Word of God was with and alongside them. In each of those battles, the eternal Word of God was present with and among those whom the beast and the dragon sought to make with and make war against.

WHEN THE WORD OF GOD FIGHTS AMONG YOU IN YOUR MIDST! WHEN THE WORD OF GOD FIGHTS ALONGSIDE YOU! The final two conflicts in Scripture are utterly and completely captivating for they reveal an incredibly powerful truth concerning the war, the wrath and the conflict of the dragon in the earth. That truth is that despite the war and wrath of the dragon against us in the earth, the eternal Word is present within us helping us fight the dragon and his angels. Despite the war and wrath of the dragon against us in the earth, the eternal Word of God is among us fighting alongside and fighting with us against their forces. These are not the first two times the eternal Word of God fights among, fights within, and fights alongside us in battle against the dragon and his angels. In the first battle the beast and the false prophet are defeated by the sword which proceeded from the mouth of the Rider on the white horse—the One who had written upon Him “Word of God.” How fitting it is that He had written upon Him “Word of God,” and the beast and the false prophet and their armies were defeated with a sword which proceeded from the mouth of the Rider—thus signifying defeat comes through, with and by the word of God [both the eternal Word of God which became flesh, and the written and spoken Word of God]. The beast and the false prophet along with their armies were defeated by the sword which proceeded from the mouth of the Rider on the white horse, while the dragon and his armies were defeated by fire which came down from heaven. In each case and scenario the eternal Word was within, among and alongside those whom the dragon and his angels sought to make war with and make war against. These two passages confirm the powerful reality concerning any and every aspect of spiritual warfare and conflict you face in the earth—namely, that the eternal Word of God fights within you and fights alongside you. The beast along with the false prophet and the kings and armies of the earth came against the host in the nineteenth chapter, yet the eternal Word was present among them in their midst. The dragon along with his forces and the kings and armies of the earth came against the holy city to surround the saints of God and the eternal Word of God among them in their midst, yet once more the eternal Word of God was indeed among them. The nineteenth and twentieth chapters reveal the powerful truth that even though the war and wrath of the dragon is manifested within and upon the earth, the eternal Word of God is present within us and among us, and fights alongside us. The dragon and his forces were defeated in the earth with the saints of God and the eternal Son reigning within the holy city thus revealing the original intention of the Lord of hosts from the beginning of creation—men exercising dominion and authority upon the earth with and alongside the eternal Son.

The servant of Elisha was gripped with fear when he saw they were surrounded by a great host, yet his eyes would be opened in response to Elisha’s prayers, and he would see the hills around them filled with horses and chariots of fire. The final war and conflict against the dragon was fought upon the earth and is directly connected to their ruling and reigning with Christ in the midst of it. On that great day the dragon and his forces would not only seek to overtake the saints of God, but would also seek to overtake and destroy the eternal Word of God. How utterly amazing it is that the dragon was defeated by fire coming down from heaven and utterly destroying the army which surrounded the holy city. The dragon and his angels were defeated in heaven and cast out into the earth, but their ultimate defeat would come in the very place they sought to wage such a Great War and conflict. When the dragon and his forces were defeated upon the earth they were defeated while the eternal Word and the holy saints were reigning upon the earth in Jerusalem. His final attempt to devour both the Child and the offspring would be met with fire coming down from heaven from the Lord of hosts Himself. It is appropriate that the dragon and his forces be defeated in the earth for it reveals once and for all the original intention of the Lord of hosts when He formed man from the dust of the earth—namely, that man was created to exercise dominion upon the earth. At that point, however, it won’t simply be man, it won’t simply be the saints of God ruling and reigning upon the earth themselves, but ruling and reigning with and alongside Christ as the eternal Word was present among them in their midst. This chapter reveals the ultimate reality, which is the saints and the Son ruling and reigning upon the earth as the Son of David sat upon David’s throne in the holy city. Oh beloved, know for certain that the eternal Word is present within you, is present among you, and is present alongside you in the war and conflict you face. It is precisely for this reason the Promise of the Father—the Holy Spirit—was sent to the earth on the Day of Pentecost. The eternal Spirit was sent on the Day of Pentecost to dwell in the midst of the people of God and to endow them with power from on High. As much as the dragon and his angels will seek and have sought to make war in the earth, there is One present upon the earth who is both within and alongside us. The twentieth chapter of the book of the Revelation reveals the ultimate objective of the Father, and what through the eternal Spirit the Lord of hosts has sought to manifest in the earth—the saints of God reigning upon the earth with Christ. At that point, it will not be the saints of God reigning with Christ upon the earth as Christ is manifested among them through the person of the Spirit, but Christ Himself will actually be present among them in their midst. Oh that we would learn to rule and reign with Christ on the earth now through the eternal Spirit of Almighty God, and that we would recognize that in every conflict and war we encounter, the eternal Word is present within us, among us, and alongside us.