The Gentile Times Reconsidered Chronology Christ

The “Seven Times” of Daniel 269
In the New Testament, however, the attention is turned from
the visible enemies to the hostile powers of the spiritual world.
Undoubtedly, the reason for this is that destruction of earthly kings
and nations hostile to Christ’s kingdom will not free the universe
from the real enemies―the spiritual powers, who by means of sin
and its consequence, death, keep men in slavery. As Paul explains,
our wrestling is “not against blood and flesh, but against the
governments, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness,
against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places.”―Ephesians 6:12,
NW.
It is these spiritual powers that the New Testament writers, at 1
Corinthians 15:24–26 and elsewhere, identify as Christ’s primary
enemies, which he has been combatting and finally will bring “to
nothing.” 60
Empowered with “all authority in heaven and on earth” it
would, of course, have been an easy matter for Christ to instantly
bring to nothing all these hostile powers. Some Bible passages
actually present the warfare as already won at Christ’s resurrection
and exaltation, and the powers as already conquered and subjected.
(Colossians 2:15; 1 Peter 3:22) Such language, however, is evidently
used to describe Christ’s all-embracing power and elevated position
since his resurrection, “far above every government and authority
and power.” (Ephesians 1:21–22) As the author of the letter to the
Hebrews clarifies, there is more involved, as “we do not yet see all
things in subjection to him.”―Hebrews 2:8, NW.
If Christ’s principal enemies are the hostile spiritual powers, his
“subduing” in amidst them can hardly mean that he is subjugating
them in a protracted physical or literal warfare. As explained by the
apostle Paul, Satan, “the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit
that now operates in the sons of disobedience,” is able to hold men
in slavery only because of their trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1–
2, NW) Through Christ’s death, however, God provided a “release
by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins,” by which it was made
possible for man to be “delivered . . . from the authority of the
darkness and transferred . . . into the kingdom of the Son of his
love.”―Colossians 1:13–14, NW.
Throughout the centuries, millions upon millions of people, by
their faith in Christ have been delivered from the “authority of
60 According to Colossians 1:15–16, the spiritual powers were originally created by
means of Christ. Later a number of them, headed by Satan, “the ruler of the
authority of the air,” “did not keep their original position” but became enemies of
God. (Judea, verse 6)—Compare Dr. G. Delling’s discussion of these powers in G.
Kittel (ed.), Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Wm.
B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., 1964), pp. 482–84.