George H. Warnock — Angelology
b6 — Who Are You?
Spiritual Warfare — Two Panoplies
Warnock identifies two complete sets of spiritual armor in the New Testament, designated by the Greek word panoplia:
“The scriptures speak of two complete sets of armor: that of God’s people, and that of the Enemy. The Greek word is ‘panoplia,’ from which we get our seldom used English word ‘panoply.’ The word is used only twice in the New Testament: its first occurrence referring to Satan’s panoply, and its second occurrence referring to ours.”
— Ch. 3; Luke 11:22 and Eph. 6:11,13.
The three aspects of the stronger man’s victory (Luke 11:22):
- Overcoming the strong man
- Taking away the strong man’s panoply
- Dividing the spoils of the strong man
“Satan’s panoply has been taken from him; for Christ ‘spoiled’ principalities and powers, when He died on the Cross (Col. 2:15). The word ‘spoiled’ means He ‘unclothed’ them — He took away their battle dress… He denuded them.”
— Ch. 3; Col. 2:15.
Interpretive note: Warnock reads Col. 2:15 as the actual removal of Satan’s armor. What Satan deploys since the Cross is exclusively weapons of darkness and deception: fear, hatred, torment, strife, and division.
Satan — Titles, Power, and Limitations
Warnock distinguishes two biblical titles for Satan:
“The whole world lies in the grip of ‘the god of this world’ (his religious title), and ‘the prince of the power of the air’ (his political title).”
— Ch. 3; 2 Cor. 4:4 and Eph. 2:2.
On the stripping of power (dunamis) and authority (exousia) at the Cross:
“Christ fully triumphed at the Cross. There Satan was robbed not only of his power (dunamis) — his ability to perform his works of evil; but also of his authority (exousia) — his right to dominate the Adamic race, and the kingdoms of this world.”
— Ch. 3; Luke 10:19 and Luke 24:49.
On Satan’s remaining weapons after the Cross:
“His real panoply of POWER and AUTHORITY has been taken away; so now he continues to strengthen, even since the Cross, his panoply of DARKNESS; but it is all a lie, and it is only in the area of darkness and deception that he can do this.”
— Ch. 3.
Origin of Evil — Lucifer and the Fallen Angels
Warnock rejects the notion that God created Satan as he now is. He identifies Lucifer with the king of Babylon (Isa. 14):
“Lucifer is clearly identified in the Bible as the king of Babylon: ‘How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer…’ (See Isa. 14).”
— Ch. 5.
Warnock approvingly quotes Calvin (Institutes, Vol. I, Ch. XVI) on the origin of the devil:
“But since the devil was created by God, we must remark, that this wickedness which we attribute to his nature is not from creation, but from corruption. For whatever evil quality he has, he has acquired by his defection and fall. […] Let us be content with this concise information respecting the nature of devils; that at their creation they were originally angels of God, but by degenerating have ruined themselves, and become the instruments of perdition to others.”
— Ch. 5 (quoting Calvin, Institutes I.XVI).
Warnock formulates the origin of evil as the exclusion of God:
“EVIL is simply DARKNESS in all its various forms and intensities. And darkness is simply the absence of light. […] Exclude Light, and you have Darkness. Exclude Good, and you have Evil. Exclude Mercy, and you have Cruelty. Exclude Truth, and you have Deception. Exclude Love, and you have Hatred. IT IS JUST AS SIMPLE AS THAT, AND JUST AS AWESOME.”
— Ch. 5.
Principalities and Powers — Heavenly Counterparts of Earthly Rulers
Warnock teaches that principalities and powers in the heavenlies are the heavenly counterparts of earthly rulers:
“There are ‘principalities and powers’ in the heavenlies that are counterparts of kings, dictators, presidents, prime ministers… whatever they may be designated down here; and these heavenly powers are not at all favorable to any kind of law or decree that will help the cause of God’s people in the earth.”
— Ch. 5; Dan. 10:13.
On Michael the archangel warring against the Prince of Persia:
“Michael therefore stood up on behalf of God’s people, and warred against the heavenly Prince of Persia (See Dan. 10:13).”
— Ch. 5.
On the intention of the apostolic proclamation (Eph. 3:10):
“‘To the intent that NOW unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by (or THROUGH) the Church the manifold wisdom of God’ (Eph. 3:10).”
— Ch. 6.
Interpretive note: Warnock links the threefold apostolic task of Eph. 3:8-10 to heavenly penetration: God’s wisdom must pierce the heavens so that the powers of darkness are dislodged and blinded eyes are opened.
War in Heaven — The Manchild and the Dragon
Warnock treats Rev. 12 as the decisive heavenly battle of the end-time:
“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up to God, and to His throne… AND THERE WAS WAR IN HEAVEN (Rev. 12:5, 7). Notice this, beloved! When this corporate SON comes forth, it is a declaration of WAR IN HEAVEN!”
— Ch. 4; Rev. 12:5,7.
“When Michael the archangel (who is in charge of the angelic forces) wars against the Dragon, the Dragon (Satan) is cast out of his heavenly stronghold… that place of dominion in the heavens from which he would harass, and captivate, and torment the people of God and the inhabitants of the earth. And now that he relinquishes those high places of dominance to the victorious sons of God, he comes down to earth, ‘having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time’ (Rev. 12:12).”
— Ch. 4; Rev. 12:12.
Heavenly Armies — Stars and Angels in Battle
On the heavenly troops at Megiddo (Judg. 5:20):
“‘They fought from Heaven; The stars in their courses Fought against Sisera’ (Judg. 5:20).”
— Ch. 4.
Warnock connects this to the end-time Armageddon:
“Barak’s battle was the first Battle of Armageddon. The last one is just on ahead. Barak’s battle was the first of the Star Wars. The last Star Wars are about to take place.”
— Ch. 4.
On the angel that struck 185,000 Assyrians (2 Kgs. 19:34,35):
“‘And it came to pass that night, that the Angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand’ (2 Kgs. 19:34,35).”
— Ch. 4.
On the heavenly armies at the Second Coming (Rev. 19:14):
“‘And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean’ (Rev. 19:14).”
— Ch. 1.
Demons — Gathering to Armageddon
“God tells us that these unclean spirits that come forth from the mouth of the Dragon, ‘are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great Day of God Almighty’ (Rev. 16:14).”
— Ch. 4; Rev. 16:14.
The Sons of Sceva — Exorcism and Demonic Recognition
Warnock treats the sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-16) as a paradigm for unauthorized exorcism:
“‘Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. […] And the evil spirit answered and said, JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YE? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded’ (Acts 19:13-16).”
— Ch. 7; Acts 19:13-16.
Interpretive note: For Warnock this passage is a paradigm for the distinction between those who are ‘known in heavenly places’ (those walking the way of the Cross) and those who use the formula without walking that way. The demonic powers recognize the difference.
“The forces of Evil know nothing about honor and truth; and though they will cooperate with evil men for a season, they will eventually destroy them. When the Lamb on the throne is worshipped and adored by a redeemed and holy people, the powers of evil are terrified. They cannot harm those who are walking in the Light, but they are going to lash out against those who are playing Church, and experimenting with holy things.”
— Ch. 7.
Satan Resisting Joshua — Zechariah 3
On Satan standing to oppose Joshua the high priest:
“Michael the Archangel fully approved, and rebuked Satan in the Name of the Lord (See Zech. 3:1, 2).”
— Ch. 7; Zech. 3:1,2.