Page 5 - Imprecatory Prayer

Jim Hodges
Identifying Institutional Evil

1. The Prophets. Read Daniel 7:1-7; 15-18 and Ezekiel 28:2,11.

Daniel documents the working of evil through four successive world
empires: Babylon (the lion); Medo-Persia (the bear); Greece (the
leopard) and the Roman Empire (the ten-horned beast). (Historical
note: the Roman Empire had ten Caesars rule in it).

This corresponds to Daniel’s interpretation of King
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter two of his book: Daniel 2:31-
35; 44-47. Here the four empires are presented as a four-fold
metallic statue—gold, silver, bronze, and iron.

The point of these prophetic dreams and visions is governmental
structures which promote the devil’s agenda are beast-like and very
strong. Evil is institutionalized and embedded in them!

Ezekiel addresses the historical king of Tyre and the demonic
principality working through him.

2. The Psalms. Read Ps. 2:12; 5:10; 10:2,15; 31:17-18; 58:6-8;
69:22-25; 83:9-18; 94:1-2.

A review of the book of Psalms will clearly show the various
categories of the enemies of God: (1) the foes of God; (2) The
Wicked; (3) God-haters; (4) God-opposers; (5) Those who contend
with the righteous and war against their assignment in the earth.

Notice in Psalm 2, it is the kings of the earth, i. e., governmental
people and structures who stand against the Lord and His anointed
Son.

3. The Gospels. Read Matthew 23:33-38.

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