In chapter 37, This Means War, Heiser moves from the inauguration of the kingdom of God by Jesus, to the resistance of evil unseen powers who would continue to fight Him to delay His kingdom and their judgment. The Bible is somewhat ambiguous on how they are organized, but it is clear that there is some kind of hierarchy of power and authority among them. Satan is, at least, one of the leaders and one of these powerful ruling elohim that are fighting to hang on to the nations that Christ is reclaiming. Believers are the "holy space" in the battle, indwelt by the Spirit, fighting in the battle in God's power along with the angels (also organized with some kind of hierarchy of power and authority). We extend "holy space" as we meet together and live out and share God's good news.
Satan is leader of at least some of the powers of darkness. As the original rebel, he likely ranked first (or worst) in terms of example in the minds of ancient readers. The fact that he is the one who confronted Jesus in the desert, an account we considered earlier, and offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world suggests as much. The lack of a clearly delineated hierarchy leaves the possibility that there are competing agendas in the unseen world, even where there exists the common goal of opposition to Yahweh and his people. 331
If we could see with spiritual eyes, we would see a world of darkness peppered with the lights of Yahweh’s presence (believers), spreading out to meet each other, inexorably pressing and spreading out to take back the ground of the disinherited nations from the enemy. Of course we would also see those lights surrounded by darkness. 333
Chapter 38, Choosing Sides, closes the section on the inaugurated kingdom. Heiser explains how baptism and communion are important acts in the spiritual battle that rages in this age. Baptism is a loyalty oath in which the believer publically chooses sides with Christ in the battle of good and evil. Communion is a covenant ceremony in which believers both celebrate and renew commitment to the New Covenant. Any time believers gather together, their presence creates sacred space in which God acts. This is why Paul calls being expelled from the church being "handed over to Satan (1 Corinthians 5.9-13). There is no neutrality in this battle.
Baptism, then, is not what produces salvation. It “saves” in that it reflects a heart decision: a pledge of loyalty to the risen Savior. In effect, baptism in New Testament theology is a loyalty oath, a public avowal of who is on the Lord’s side in the cosmic war between good and evil. But in addition to that, it is also a visceral reminder to the defeated fallen angels. Every baptism is a reiteration of their doom in the wake of the gospel and the kingdom of God. 338, 1 Peter 3.14-22
For Paul there was no middle ground. Participation at the Lord’s Table meant solidarity with and loyalty to Yahweh. The Lord’s Table commemorated not only Jesus’ death (1 Cor 11: 23– 26) but the covenant relationship Yahweh had with the participants. Violating that relationship by participating in sacrifices to other gods was tantamount to siding with the gods of the nations. 342
The kingdom spreads slowly but relentlessly, one new believer at a time. Every church is a new pocket of resistance, every baptism another pledge of allegiance to the Most High, every celebration of the Lord’s Supper a denial of fellowship with lesser masters and a proclamation of the success of Yahweh’s mysterious plan. 346
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