Sevenfold References To Satan And Spiritual Darkness

Sevenfold References To Satan And Spiritual Darkness

1) The Seven Pieces Of The Armour Of God:

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with the spiritual forces of darkness in this world. There are seven pieces to the Armour - and we are exhorted to put on all seven pieces - the whole armour of God - if we want victory in our daily lives and want to be protected in our spiritual battles.

Ephesians 6:14-18

Stand therefore, 

A) having your loins girt about with truth, 

B) and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

C) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

D) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

E) And take the helmet of salvation, 

F) and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

G) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

2) The word principalities is used seven times in the Bible:

A) Jeremiah 13:18 Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

B) Romans 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C) Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

D) 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.

E) Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

F) Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

G) Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 

3) Sevenfold promise to the Apostle Paul and his ministry:

This is one of my favourite sevens in the New Testament:

Acts 26:16-18

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, 

A) to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 

B) Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 

C) To open their eyes, 

D) and to turn them from darkness to light, 

E) and from the power of Satan unto God, 

F) that they may receive forgiveness of sins, 

G) and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

4) Seven verses in the book of Revelation mention the name of Satan:

A) Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

B) Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

C) Revelation 2:24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

D) Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

E) Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

F) Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

G) Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 

We all know that Satan is completely and perfectly evil, and it is also interesting to note that his nickname, the dragon, is used 13 times in the book of Revelation as well. The author of rebellion marked by the number signifying rebellion:

Revelation 12:3, 4, 7 (x2), 9, 13, 16, 17; 13:2, 4, 11; 16:13; 20:2

5) The name Abaddon is used seven times in the Bible:

Revelation 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Abaddon means “Destruction,” and is used seven times in the Bible - 6 times the Hebrew word is used in the Old Testament, translated as destruction and once in the NT as a proper name. It is interesting to note that some of these references show destruction as a place associated with death (ie. where the dead go - Hell; the Hebrew is sheol, the Greek is hades - see Matthew 16:18). The angel of the bottomless pit (which is part of Hell) is Abaddon/Apollyon. Both of these are other names for Satan/Lucifer.

A) Job 26:6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

B) Job 28:22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

C) Job 31:12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

D) Psalm 88:11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?

E) Proverbs 15:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

F) Proverbs 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

G) Revelation 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. 

6) Apollyon is used seven times in the Bible:

Apollyon means “Destroyer.”

A) Exodus 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

Note: The Destroyer (in this context) was a fallen angel. See Psalm 78:49-51 and Hebrews 11:28.

B) Judges 16:24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.

C) Job 15:21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

D) Psalm 17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

E) Proverbs 28:24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

F) Jeremiah 4:7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

G) 1 Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 

7) The seven dooms declared in Revelation chapters 17-20:

Clarence Larkins lists The Seven Dooms:

First Doom - Ecclesiastical Babylon - Revelation 17:1-8

Second Doom - Commercial Babylon - Revelation 18:1-24

Third Doom - The Antichrist And The False Prophet - Revelation 19:20

Fourth Doom - The Antichristian Nations - Revelation 19:21

Fifth Doom - Gog and Magog - Revelation 20:8-9

Sixth Doom - Satan - Revelation 20:10

Seventh Doom - The Wicked Dead - Revelation 20:11-15

If you are a born again child of God, facing spiritual warfare throughout your walk with the Lord, I think this last seven would be a tremendous encouragement and reason for rejoicing. Satan is a defeated foe. Jesus has already won the war - we are just waiting for the final skirmishes on the battlefield. It won't be much longer!

Jerry Bouey

Running sevens count: 141