The Glory of Christ in the Angelic Conflict (Colossians 1:15-20).

Class Outline:

Wednesday September 30, 2026

 

Intro:

 

Angelic authorities were created perfect, but for the reason of pride these powers (and their infamous leader) rebelled against God.

 

Christ Himself through His incarnation ascended to these positions and now becomes your very ruler.  

 

COL 1:15-16

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.

 

Angelic Authorities.

 

Thrones: “a seat of authority.” by metonymy for angelic powers COL 1:16; of Satan (REV 2:13); of the beast, the final and federal head of the revived Roman Empire (REV 13:2; REV 16:10).

 

REV 2:13

'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is

 

REV 13:2

And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority

 

“Dominions” (kuriotetes):  "Power or position as lord." Class of angels, COL 1:16, EPH 1:20 in the plural.

 

EPH 1:20-21

raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,  21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

 

“Rulers” (archai, plural): always signifies “primacy” whether in time (beginning) or in rank (power, dominion, office).

 

Often it is used in reference to time and translated “beginning.” It can be used of the governments and of God. It is the Lord in COL 1:18 (of course singular).

 

EPH 1:20-21

raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,  21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

 

EPH 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 

Christ used the word in terms of time by describing the devil as a murderer from the beginning (JOH 8:44).

 

In reference to these angelic beings, it is always associated with the next word “authorities.”

 

“Authorities” (exousia): ability to perform an action. Generally “authority” but authority without power is illusory.

 

COL 1:13

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness,

 

LUK 4:6

And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

 

EPH 1:20-21

raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,  21 far above all rule [arche] and authority and power and dominion [kuriotetos], and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

 

EPH 2:2

you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air

 

Not only does the antichrist have a throne during the Tribulation, but he is given exousia (in fact, “great” authority), essentially by God.

 

REV 13:2

And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

 

Christ through the cross and resurrection ascends:

 

Jesus has:

Throne: HEB 1:8; REV 3:21; REV 22:3; His seat of authority in the Millennium (MAT 19:28, which is David’s throne).

 

HEB 1:8

But of the Son He says,

"Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever,

And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.”

 

MAT 19:28

in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne,

 

Jesus has:

“Dominion” The second word (kuriotetes = lordship) about 700 times Christ is designated as Lord (kurios).

 

Jesus has primacy:

Arche -  It has been prophesied of Him:

 

DAN 7:14

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

 

DAN 7:27

'Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One;

 

JOH 1:1

In the beginning was the Word

 

1JO 1:1

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life.

 

COL 1:18

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

 

Jesus has:

Exousia was used by Christ on the cross.

 

JOH 10:18

I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.

 

And the same exousia was used to rise again as the firstborn from the dead.

 

In Christ’s case, He had a power that the enemy did not even possess: love, and obedience to the Father He knew.

 

COL 2:15

When He had disarmed the rulers (archai) and authorities (exousias), He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

 

God alone knows how to defeat an enemy.

 

COL 1:11

strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience

 

Conclusion:

 

We, who are mankind, who cannot approach any great authority on earth.

 

Christ took over all thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. He did so publicly.

 

EPH 3:10

the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

 

It will not be until the second coming that these nefarious authorities are removed, but the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit gave us themselves before they removed the rebellious powers.

 

God displays His own power in us, weak, fallen, without power of the kind they lust for, but fully equipped with the power that flows from the nature of God.

 

ROM 8:37-39

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

This is why Paul is so concerned for the Colossians. False doctrines will make you convinced that something can separate you from the love of God.

 

The rulers and authorities are constantly proclaiming that human power.

 

The only solution to the rebellion has ever been the cross of Christ - His death and resurrection.

 

Put all your faith and desires in Him and you will never be disappointed but exceedingly surprised.

 

When you see wrong in the world, don’t fret.