Daniel 10:13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia”
We continue with our series on Who is the Prince of Persia? Let us try to find out the identity of this individual. To start with how is the word PRINCE used in the Bible? What does it stand for?
Ephesians 2:1-2
1.And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2.Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
Here we can see that it is used for the devil. This is talking about Satanic realm of authority through people as agents.
“the course of this world” – most often when you read of the word “world”, it’s not talking of the globe, but an age, “of this age”, “the age” or “the present system of things”. Like we see in Galatians 1:4 which is actually talking of the Jewish age of the law with her rulers being the Pharisees as opposed to the “age to come”
The best scripture to understand this language is Matthew 12 when they accused Jesus of using the spirit of Beelzebub in healing. He said;
Verse 32 “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in THIS WORLD, neither in THE WORLD TO COME” KJV
Verse 32 “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this AGE or in the AGE to come”NKJV.
So here we are talking of the age of the law and the age of the Holy Ghost after Pentecost. Just like John 12:31 “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out”.
Then in Ephesians 6:12 “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”
This is actually talking of Chief rulers; beings of the first rank and order in their own kingdom, which could be humans in authority.
Powers: exousiav, Authorities, derived from, and constituted by the above.
But in looking at Numbers 7:11 “And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar”
Numbers 16:12-13
12.And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:
13.Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a PRINCE over us”?
The word begins to take a new meaning. Here prince simply stands for leadership. Not just some demons.
SO WHO WERE THE PRINCES THAT KILLED JESUS?
1 Corinthians 2:7-8
7.But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory
8.Which none of the PRINCES (plural) of this world (age) knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Princes. arcwn archon, ar’-khone = a first (in rank or power): — chief (ruler), magistrate, prince, ruler, a ruler. It’s from the word.
“Sarar” = to rule, ruler..Hence you have Ceasar. “Tsar or Czar”. This is commonly rendered PRINCE in the Book of Daniel.
World = aion, “an age;” So here we are dealing with the rulers of an age and not the globe or universe.
Looking at Luke.23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” Who were they?
Again John 7:45-48
45.Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
46.The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
47.Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
48.Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?.
Jon.12:42 “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue”
Here clearly the bunch of the Pharisees were the rulers or PRINCES of the age in question. They were not spirit demons.
WHO CRUCIFIED JESUS?
Jon.19:13-16
13.When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14.And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15.But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
16.Then DELIVERED HE HIM therefore UNTO THEM to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away”
And so Peter speaking on the day of Pentecost said:
Acts 3:13-15
13.The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
14.But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15.and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses”
So, the princes that crucified Jesus were the Pharisees and leaders of the people.
The princes were human beings not spirit beings.
Therefore, when you read 1 Corinthians 2:8 “which none of the PRINCES (plural) of this world (age) knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
You are referring to the Pharisees and rulers of the Jewish people. They were the princes that killed Jesus. So, the word Prince or princes doesn’t always mean demons or spirit beings. Depending on the context, they largely speak of human beings in position of authority and power. They are mostly rulers or leaders. So, you see it stated of Saul.;
1 Samuel 10:1 “Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?”
1 Samuel 10:1 “Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because Jehovah has anointed thee prince over his inheritance?” (DARBY)
1 Samuel 10:1 “Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, and kissed him. He said, “Do you see what this means? God has anointed you prince over his people” (MSG)
So Saul was the Prince of Israel, just as we can have the prince of Persia. Looks interesting right?
To be continued.