David Diga Hernandez - The Ranks of Hell

All the Bible gives us clear insight into the rankings of hell, but it gives us even clearer insight into who ultimately rules all things. The Bible says this in Ephesians chapter 1, beginning at verse 19: «I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe in Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now He is far above any ruler, authority, power, leader, or anything else, not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. The church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself.» The book of Ephesians begins this first chapter by telling us of the ultimate sovereignty of Christ.

Now, there are some believers who are afraid to engage in topics regarding demonic beings, hell, or spiritual warfare because they take a superstitious approach. They’re afraid that if they talk about demons, it opens a door; they’re anxious that reading scriptures about demonic beings will open a spiritual door. I’ve heard of people who walk into stores so fearful of having a demonic being attached to them that they are constantly praying in paranoia against any demonic being that might potentially attach itself to them simply by touching an item shipped from another country, where they believe more demonic beings may come from.

But the truth is that believers are not to fear demonic beings, simply because we are the body of Christ. Christ is our head, and He is over all things. He is the ultimate sovereignty, the ultimate ruler; He is God, and He rules it all. Make no mistake: demonic beings are powerful, and we are not to be frivolous in our approach to spiritual warfare. We are not to be casual or laid back in our approach to spiritual warfare; we are to approach it filled with the Holy Spirit, empowered by the Word and authority of Christ, and we are to approach it with a sense of reverence. However, we are not to fear demonic beings. You have power over every demonic being that would ever try to attack you. You possess more power in your body because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; there is more power in my hand than in all of the power of hell combined, and the same goes for you. The Holy Spirit, who raised Christ from the dead, dwells in you. The scripture says, «Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.» Demonic beings certainly dwell upon the earth, as we discussed in last week’s teaching on the origin of demonic beings. We talked about the fall of Satan and the origins of demons and now we are examining the ranks of hell.

However, I wanted to begin this lesson by making it absolutely clear that in no way are we to become superstitious and fearful of demonic beings. In fact, I pray that you become emboldened as you hear these teachings, knowing that you are filled with the authority of Christ and that no demon in hell has any power over you. He is Christ Jesus Himself, the ruler over all things, and He fills everything with Himself. Now, this is not to say that demonic beings don’t have some form of influence. In fact, the scripture says in Ephesians chapter 2, verse 2, which is the next chapter: «Wherein, in time past, you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.»

Notice there is a distinction here between what we read in Ephesians 1:19–23 and Ephesians 2:2. In Ephesians chapter 1, we read of Christ’s rule, which is ultimate, sovereign, and over all things. However, in Ephesians chapter 2:2, we see that demonic beings, the devil, and the kingdom of hell do have a rank over those who walk in disobedience. Those who walk in disobedience are subject to the dominion of Satan. So, to some capacity, Satan has rule in the sub-dominion of the earth. Satan rules the power of the air; the power of the air is not a description of Satan—rather, it is a description of his domain. Thus, Satan is the prince of the power of the air, not the prince and the power of the air. This is a common misconception, as many misquote the scripture by stating that Satan is the prince and the power of the air. But Satan is not the prince and the power; he is the prince of the power, and the power of the air refers to that influence, that space—a geographic location, if you will.

Now, Satan may be the prince of the power of the air, but Jesus is the ruler of heavenly realms. So, that is the distinction being made in Ephesians chapter 1 and Ephesians chapter 2. Yet, as I mentioned earlier, this does not mean that demonic beings or Satan do not have some type of influence or dominion in the earth. In fact, the scripture describes in Genesis chapter 1 that, «In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.» Now, when I read that, I found it interesting that God created the heavens and the earth; the use of plural terms is significant.