Gospel

Who is The Prince of the World and The Prince of the Air?

by Eyvonne Black
05/05/25
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In this article, I will use God's name and the universal name Jesus interchangeably, with God as the Most High God, Almighty God, Abba, Heavenly Father and Jesus as Ye'shua, the Messiah and Saviour.

I can vividly remember confidently singing in Sunday school, 'He's Got the Whole World in His Hands,' and then thinking, 'Only when we get to Heaven will we be in His hands.' Even as a child, I couldn't understand why people went through painful situations when Jesus had the whole world in His hands.

Growing up made me question that song even more, seeing innocent children born healthy then dying of terminal illnesses or living with deformities. Young people become overwhelmed with their issues, finding the only way out by committing suicide. Others become mentally affected by their problems, leading to physical ill-health.

Has God really got the whole world in His hands, and if so, why is he allowing all this pain and suffering?

It was not until I began to attend a strictly Bible-based congregation that I realised, 'What a load of Cobblers.' You may say, 'No, it's not nonsense; King David said in (Psalms 24:1), 'The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.'

King David ruled the Kingdom of Israel, dedicated himself to it, and led the people to worship the God of Israel. He brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, made it a customary place of worship (2 Samuel 6:11-15), and communicated directly with Almighty God (1 Samuel 23:1-5). God spoke to him, revealing responsibilities and instructions governing the Kingdom of Israel (2 Samuel 7:8-11). So, it stands to reason why King David would have suggested that the earth and the world (those dwelling within) belonged to God.
In the first centuries, the 'world' in the biblical context had a broader perspective. It would commonly be recognised as the universe: the heavens, the earth and the underworld.

King David ruled roughly 30 centuries ago. During that period, God's people continued in disobedience, idol worship and wrongdoings. King Solomon (King David's son), who ruled after him, became engaged in idolatry. At first, King Solomon, known as the wisest King to rule (1 Kings 3:12), was a true worshipper of Almighty God (1 Kings 3:3), and throughout his reign, peace prevailed. Still, that peace came with a price, as all his alliances with other kingdoms, the influence of his wives and concubines drove him to the displeasure of Almighty God (1 Kings 11:9-10). 

However, before King David died, the Most High promised him that from his lineage, there 'would be a King whose Kingdom would last forever' (2 Samuel 7:12-17). This is known to be the Messiah, Ye'shua, who walked the earth 20 centuries ago, and by that time, it was well established that the world needed a Saviour due to the vast number of demonic and evil influences filling the earth. Ye'shua told His disciples before His crucifixion that conditions would worsen. He said in John 14:30 (NLT), 'I don't have much more time to talk to you because the ruler of this world approaches [and he] has no power over me.' How do you know Ye'shua was talking about Satan? He had already shared with His disciples in John 12:31, 'Now is the judgement of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.'

When you think of the monstrosities that have occurred just over the past century, you can attest that the devil, Satan, is undoubtedly the one ruling this world. Let's not forget that when he was kicked out of Heaven, he swept a third of the angels down to the earth (Revelations 12:4). This was the vision that John the Apostle, 'the beloved,' saw.

Other prophetic writings by the prophet Isaiah and Ezekiel indicate a proud authority 'falling from grace' Isaiah 14:12 and Ezekiel 28:14-18. Still, John's vision in Revelation was after Ye'shua's ascension into Heaven and specifically stated Satan's downfall to the earth. Revelation 7:9 clearly states, '… satan the deceiver of the whole world – he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.' Can there be anything more concrete to show Satan is now ruling this world?

The Apostle Paul illustrates how Satan's influence permeates the world by stating that he is the 'Prince of the Power of the Air' (Ephesians 2:2). When you analyse what he meant by this, you can assume he is saying that his influence is so subtle that his invisible evil power is everywhere, and you can be deceived without noticing. Some examples are when people accept lying as 'their truth', and deception is considered trivial. Some people doing evil or have committed a crime genuinely say, 'I don't know what led me to do that.' 

As Kingdom Citizens, you have to fight mentally and spiritually not to be drawn into Satan's world. This spiritual deception is powerful. For Ye'shua to pray to Abba, Heavenly Father, fervently, just before his crucifixion, asking God to protect his disciples from being a part of the world is evidence of this powerful influence (John 17:14-16).

After the Apostle Paul (Ye'shua's Ambassador) revealed Satan as the 'Prince of the Power of the Air' in Ephesians 2:2, he encouraged the Messianic congregations to spiritually protect themselves by putting on God's armour (Ephesians 6:13-18) to ward off Satan's powerful evil forces. Let's examine this armour in brief detail:

The Complete Armour Ephesians 6:13-18 

The complete armour represents God's protection and spiritual fortitude to resist Satan, the devil, and stand firm:

The Belt of Truth shows a commitment to living a life of integrity, sincerity, and honesty, regardless of the pitfalls one faces.

The Breastplate of Righteousness signifies standing firm, protecting your heart, and being committed to maintaining a pure and upright attitude. You are free from wrongdoing and reproof. 

Shoes of Readiness for the Gospel of Peace: being willing to share the Good News, the message of Ye'shua, your salvation, and to live by his standards, values and principles. 

The Helmet of Salvation is the assurance that God's Word is Truth; it protects your mind from doubt and fear and brings you deliverance and forgiveness.

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Which can be used to defend your Faith and hope. It can also be used as an offensive weapon to ward off spiritual warfare. The scriptures speak of God's protection and promises. Jesus showed how this worked when the devil led him to the 'Mount of Temptation' in the Judean desert (Matthew 4:1-11). Also, Hebrews 4:12 shows how powerful God's Word is, calling it 'living and active.'

Shield of Faith: This armour is crucial and most important. Why? Without Faith, you cannot fight; without Faith, there is nothing to ward off the fiery darts of the evil one because you don't believe that the unseen God will protect you, and without belief, you will fall.

When you see the evil of this world continuously rising, it must leave you without a doubt that Satan is the Prince of this World and the Prince of Power in the Air. God has and will allow evil to continue, and you must accept that; nevertheless, be assured Ye'shua said, 'He has conquered the world' (John 16:33), so you will be saved if you endure to the end (Matthew 24:13).

So, what must you do in the meantime? You must look up with assurance and pray for the deliverance of the innocent, God's people, and those willing to listen. Cultivate peace of mind by wearing the complete suit of armour that enables you to endure, battle, and triumph over the evil forces of this world because you can be sure it will attempt to draw you into its mould (Romans 12:2).

References
Biblical Scriptures - various sighted in the article
Bible Study Tools - World Meaning - Bible Definition and References  
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