Charlie Kirk and America’s Spiritual War

After conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated, many in the media began speaking about not just a war, but a spiritual war. They likely do not realize how right they are.

“I thought, ‘This has to be more than a cultural war?’” Tim Stanely wrote for Britain’s Telegraph. “It’s spiritual. Consider that damaged soul who shot all those kids at the Annunciation Catholic School or the man who stabbed a woman on a train in North Carolina: Whatever manifesto they stood on or medications they’d missed, they exuded the sulphuric air of someone oppressed by demons, as if an evil spirit is abroad in the land.”

“The battle lines have been drawn,” Jesse Watters said on his program. “Utah was a spiritual attack. This is about good versus evil. … An evil has to be confronted, because evil hasn’t been confronted in this country for far too long.”

The American Spectator headlined “The Age of Spiritual Warfare Is Here. Will You Rise or Fall?” Regarding Kirk’s death, John Mac Ghlionn wrote: “This is what spiritual war looks like when it pierces the surface of politics. One side clings to eternal truths, to the God who gives life meaning, to the dignity of the human soul. The other side has surrendered to nihilism. They deny transcendence, they scorn faith, they sanctify power. … The Bible warns that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers of darkness. That warning is no longer distant. It is here.”

Mac Ghlionn referenced Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places” (Amplified Bible). To the Apostle Paul, this spiritual war was real. It is more real than the physical bullet that hit Mr. Kirk’s neck.

How real is it to you?

God of This World

2 Corinthians 4:4 calls Satan the devil “the god of this world.” What does that mean? To say that he is this world’s god means he rules—and people in this world worship him! It means this evil spirit being has frightening power—power we can hardly imagine. This might sound extreme, but in these extreme and confusing times, doesn’t it at least warrant consideration? There is a lot at stake for America and for you personally.

An especially relevant passage is in the book of Daniel. Daniel 12:4 shows that Daniel’s prophecies were written for “the time of the end.” In verse 9, the angel speaking to the prophet says, “Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

Daniel 8 is an end-time prophecy about a deceptive leader who attacks God’s people and wreaks terrible destruction. “And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land” (verse 9). Virtually all commentaries agree this is a prophecy of Antiochus iv Epiphanes. This man was a wicked Greek king who obtained rule in Palestine in 176 b.c. through deceit and flattery. He attacked the Jews in a despicable way. He killed many men, women and children, and he enjoyed it. He did everything he could to destroy the Jewish faith itself!

This man was possessed by the devil! The devil knows God’s plan for the Jews and the other tribes of Israel—even if they themselves have forgotten.

What the commentaries don’t understand, however, is that what happened in the second century b.c. was only a type of more important fulfillments of this prophecy in the end time. That is what the end-time book of Daniel is most concerned about. Satan used the same blueprint within America today! He brought to power an Antiochus figure who destroys the nation from within! (My free book America Under Attack proves this thoroughly.)

“And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them” (verse 10). “The host of the stars” means the angels of God! “Host” can refer to an army of angels, demons or men. This is describing violent spiritual warfare between demons and angels! This evil power wreaks enormous destruction, including casting down the truth to the ground (verses 10-12).

This prophecy is discussing real spiritual war between angels and demons! We can’t see angels and demons clashing with each other. But if you believe your Bible, you know these wars are going on right now! Sometimes, like with Charlie Kirk’s assassination, you can see their effects. These moments are going to get more visible—and hit closer to home.

Ephesians 2:2 calls Satan “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” This perfectly describes what motivates somebody to murder a man like Charlie Kirk. The devil stirs up people’s emotions, moods and attitudes. When people get into a negative emotion or bad attitude, he works on those people even more. He has power to influence those wrong emotions; he has deceived the world through them! People don’t understand God’s Word—they lack spiritual depth—so they simply follow along emotionally, and Satan deceives them.

The devil’s fingerprints are all over what is happening to America today. Still, many people scoff about there even being a devil—while he is tearing them apart! They know little or nothing about their Bibles. They don’t understand anything about God, nor do they know the devil. Until they do, the problems will only intensify.

Paul cautioned the people to be careful and vigilant, “[l]est Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11). In any war, ignorance of the enemy is dangerous. We are far more vulnerable to the devil if we are ignorant of his devices, designs or schemes. The more you know, the better equipped you are to resist and fight! Satan is laying a trap, and you need to recognize it!

Those who fail to see the devil behind what is happening in America today will end up being his victims.

God uses military language to describe these events. He wants us to understand that we are in a spiritual war. Most people today simply do not recognize this. All this evil is designed, and it is destroying this nation from within. We must let God show us what is happening.

By Reason of Transgression

Why is God allowing Satan to inflict such destruction? Daniel 8:12 shows that it is “by reason of transgression.” Verse 23 says in the “latter time … the transgressors are come to the full ….” God is punishing us because of the terrible sins of God’s people and of America and Britain! God blames the people for their sins, not the leaders! America is full of sins—and the whole world sees them!

An example: America will spend an estimated $43 billion this year on what is called “adult entertainment”—various forms of pornography. That is nearly double what we spend on major league baseball and basketball combined! So, this is not just ghetto pornography. This cesspool material is being consumed by mainstream America. For years America has led the world in producing pornography, though now this has spread to many other countries—to our shame.

Only a fool could fail to see how pornography rips families apart! Of course, pornography is only one problem that helps to destroy our families. Our peoples have “sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7).

Charlie Kirk lived an admirable life that was in line with the Bible in many ways. Many people took inspiration and hope from his life’s work. But is America—even many so-called conservatives—following his example in living by the Bible?

America’s problems are a direct result of America’s sins. This means that the front line for this spiritual war is in the home—your home and mine.

God’s forgiveness for sin is a free gift. But once God extends forgiveness, He gives responsibilities to the one He forgives. Like Christ said to the adulteress whom He forgave, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). God wants to empower you to live sin-free—a totally different, God-centered way, walking in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

This is the life of a true Christian. It is a life of blessings—of understanding, peace, fulfillment and joy. But it is not the broad, easy way. Jesus said that “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14; New King James Version). This way is full of challenges and trials. It requires learning God’s will and following it, even against temptation and self-desire. It demands struggle and sacrifice.

It is a life of overcoming and conquering sin. The Bible backs this up from the first chapters of Genesis to the final chapters of Revelation. Scripture frequently describes it as a struggle, a fight, a battle. Anyone who has ever stepped through that narrow gate and undertaken a journey on the difficult path to the Promised Land can identify with that description: It is a war.

Whether people realize it or not, this spiritual war is the same spiritual war that was just manifested in Utah.

The more sin is in society, the more latitude the devil has to operate— the more he can influence and even control people. This is what Daniel 8:12 is all about.

America’s spiritual war is not something only for the politicians and pundits to fight. The battle is in your home.

The inspiring truth is that as people overcome and resist sin, they are overcoming and resisting the devil! This makes for stronger individuals, stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger nation.

The Solution

Charlie Kirk’s death should wake us up to the state of the nation. And a wake-up call requires action.

After Ephesians 6:12, the Apostle Paul compares a true Christian’s battle preparation to a soldier’s armor. Notice the first pieces of armor he lists: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness” (verse 14). Wrap yourself up in the truth. Clothe yourself in the truth. Then, if somebody tries to take it from you, it would be like them trying to rip your clothes off! You would never allow somebody to strip you naked! God compares the righteousness of the saints to fine linen (Revelation 19:8). We have to fight to hang on to it.

The division in America is a sign of and a trigger for horrible times striking Americans and people from all nations. Our terrible rebellion against God is leading to terrible punishment. God is allowing us to see the results of worshiping our own will and, knowingly or unknowingly, following Satan.

Our only hope is not in a political party or a man but in God. And to truly have hope in God, you must not only believe in Him but also repent toward Him, submit to Him, and obey His law.

Respond to God. Repent toward God. He will use your life to help lift America and the whole world out of crisis.