Rules of Engagement

Lesson 10

Rules of Engagement

(Revelation 12, 1 Corinthians 10, Daniel 10)

Copr. 2025, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.

Introduction: In Lesson 7 of this series we discussed how the two trees of Eden and the test of Job were agreed-upon contests between God and Satan. They had “rules of engagement.” What does that mean for us? Are Satan and his fallen angels allowed to directly engage us? If so, are we in denial about this? One of my best friends in law school was a Methodist minister. It was a delight to discuss the Bible with him. Decades later he read something I wrote about those who are enemies of the gospel. I might have mentioned “demonic.” He thought I had gone too far. I should not label those who disagree “enemies” or “demonic.” My old friend is a very smart man, and he is not the only one to suggest caution to me. But is he in denial? How should we view the opposition? This week our study of the Bible takes us behind the curtain to reveal the true nature of the cosmic conflict. Let’s dive into our study and see what the Bible teaches!

1. Tossed Out of Heaven
   
   1. Read Revelation 12:7-8. Do you think this was a physical war? (It sure sounds like it.)
   2. Read Revelation 12:9. Where are Satan and his fallen angels now? (On earth with us.)
   3. Read Revelation 12:12. What is the bad news for us? (Woe! We have an angry Satan who is motivated by the short time he has available for his work.)
   4. Read Revelation 12:17. Who is the target of the work of Satan and his demons? (Those in the church who take the Bible and their relationship with Jesus seriously.)
   5. Is it fair to call our opponents “demonic?”
2. Understanding the True Nature of the Conflict
   
   1. Read 1 Corinthians 10:19-21. Paul has been discussing the Christian life, and he turns to the topic of pagan sacrifices to idols. What does Paul say is the nature of idols? (He says that they are nothing and that sacrificing to them is nothing.)
      1. Why then does Paul even discuss the topic? (Because the real issue is participating “with demons.”)
   2. Let’s discuss this. If an opponent of the gospel promotes something you know is wrong or perhaps merely silly, is that promotion “demonic?” (Yes. The person is not a demon (those are fallen angels), but their position promotes the demonic side of the cosmic conflict.)
3. Wrestling
   
   1. Read Ephesians 6:10-12. What does this tell us that Christians are up against? (“Cosmic powers.” “Spiritual forces of evil.” Once again Paul wants us to know the dangerous nature of our opponents.)
      1. How can we possibly stand against demons (fallen angels)? (Read again Ephesians 6:10. We stand in the strength of God.)
   2. Read Ephesians 6:17-18, what specific steps can we take to fight against such fearsome opponents? (The Bible, the Holy Spirit, and prayer.)
4. Celestial Travel
   
   1. Read Daniel 10:1-3. Has Daniel received a positive message in his vision? (No. He understood the vision and it made him mourn.)
   2. Read Daniel 10:4-5. When did this vision begin? (It began on the 24^th day of the month. That means for more than three weeks Daniel was fasting and in mourning because of the message of the vision. And after those three weeks Daniel saw another vision.)
   3. Skip down to Daniel 10:8-11. We will skip the content of the second vision because it is not our focus, but Daniel has a negative reaction to the second vision as well. What is happening to encourage Daniel? (Someone has been “sent” to speak with Daniel because he is “greatly beloved.”)
   4. Read Daniel 10:12. Who is hearing Daniel’s words? (The suggestion is that God heard Daniel’s words and sent this messenger from heaven.)
   5. Skip down and read Daniel 10:18. What does this tell us about the messenger that is giving Daniel strength? (He was not a human. But he had the “appearance of a man.” His mere touch was able to strengthen Daniel.)
   6. Now let’s turn to this supernatural messenger’s trip to see Daniel. Read Daniel 10:13-14. How long has the messenger been delayed? (Three weeks. Heaven immediately dispatched this messenger to come to Daniel, but the trip was delayed for three weeks because the “prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood” the messenger.)
      1. Who is this heavenly messenger? (Read Daniel 9:20-23. In the previous chapter the messenger is identified as the angel Gabriel. While Daniel 10 does not specifically identify the one bringing the message to Daniel, it is reasonable to conclude this is still Gabriel.)
      2. Who is the prince of the kingdom of Persia who has “withstood” Gabriel for three weeks? (Read again Daniel 10:1 This tells us that Cyrus was the King of Persia.)
   7. Let’s go back to Daniel 10:13. Is it possible that an earthly king could delay a heavenly messenger on a trip from heaven to see Daniel? Could a human wrestle Gabriel for three weeks?(The answer to both questions is “No.” My original draft of this study explored in detail Bible texts on who is the Persian Prince and who is Michael. We do not have the space for that complicated discussion, so I will simply recite my conclusion that the Persian Prince is either Satan or one of his chief lieutenants and Michael is either Jesus or an archangel.)
   8. What does the identification of the cast of characters tell us about the “rules of engagement” when it comes to helping out poor old Daniel? (It tells us that the supernatural is heavily involved in human struggles. Just like us Daniel needed help. This account shows that Satan has the ability to slow aid coming to God’s followers.)
5. Human Limitations
   
   1. Read Job 1:9-12. In Lesson 7 we studied this part of the story of Job. What is the impact of the supernatural on Job’s life? (Devastating. And the worst part is that Job has no idea that Satan is his immediate foe. Job is standing as God’s hero, Satan is trying to take Job down, and Job does not understand the “rules of engagement.”)
      1. How would Job’s reaction have been different if he understood that Satan was attacking him because of his righteousness? What if Job understood that he was God’s champion in this battle? (It would have completely reversed Job’s attitude. He would have known that Satan was his enemy, not God. He would have taken courage in the obvious importance of God’s trust in him.)
   2. Read Mark 6:1-3. What is the attitude of the people who lived in Jesus’ hometown? (They are not only skeptical, they take offense because they believe He is falsely claiming access to the power of God.)
   3. Read Mark 6:4-6. To what degree did the attitude of the local people tie Jesus’ hands in performing supernatural miracles?
   4. What does Job’s lack of knowledge and the unbelief of the hometown locals teach us? (It is critical to understand the nature of the players and the rules of engagement. If we think that the opposition is simply ignorant, bigoted pagans, we badly misunderstand the rules of engagement.)
   5. Read Matthew 5:43-45. How then should we treat those who are agents for demons? (This is another critical rule of engagement. We cannot defeat demons on our own. Only God has that power. We should show “common grace” love(rain and sun on the good and bad) to our enemies, but we should not for a minute believe that the opposition is, like offerings to idols, nothing. The opposition is not benign.)
   6. Friend, will you trust that the power of heaven is supporting you and that your opposition is the angry and terrible Satan and his fallen angels? If you do, then you will take seriously the cosmic conflict of which we are a part. Choose wisely!
6. Next week: What More could I Have Done?