"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." (1Pe 5:8-9)

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience." (Eph 2:1-2)

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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."
(Eph 6:11-12)

If we are to take the scriptures seriously, then we must believe that demons are at work amongst us. We are in a war, whether we believe in it or not or whether we like it or not. In the last passage, Eph. 6:11-12, we see a reference to rulers, powers and world forces. These are all references to demonic rulers, demonic powers and demonic world forces. We see this most clearly in Daniel 10, where the angel Gabriel is delayed 21 days in bringing an answer to Daniel's prayers because he is intercepted by and engaged in battle with the "Prince of Persia." Clearly this was not a human prince Gabriel was fighting with. Nations have human rulers, but they also have demonic rulers that govern certain regions and work havoc in the territory allotted to them.

What about America? Do we have a demonic prince assigned to our country? Perhaps more than one? Perhaps a hoard of demonic princes? Paul is clear. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the demonic rulers and forces. We like to think that our problem is President Obama and Senator Harry Reid, et al, and the answer is to get more Republicans in office and especially a new Republican president. While that may improve a few things, it won't solve the main problem. Demons. No, our struggle is against demonic princes that rule our rulers and deceive them and tempt them and corrupt them. We have perhaps the worst ruler we've ever had. He is lawless. He has no regard for a balance of powers. He does whatever he wants. He seems to hate Christians, indeed he seems to hate America, and favor Muslims. He uses the IRS and EPA to attack those he dislikes. Our country is crumbling underneath us as a thousand termites eat away at the trunk. Many of the problems facing us are insurmountable. How can the immigration problems be solved? How will we ever pay back 17 trillion in debt? How do we get rid of Obamacare and if we do, how do we solve dramatically rising health care costs? Crime problems? Lunatics or demon-possessed people who shoot our children in schools? Rampant sexual immorality? The bullying homosexual activists? Rogue justices who legislate from the bench? Corrupting lobbyists and special interest groups? Muslim terrorists?

We are not dealing with human problems. Our problems are demonic and until we start calling on God above to come to our aid and have mercy, there will be no end in sight and no solutions. Things will get worse and worse until we are completely destroyed. Elections will not fix what ails us. Better policies will not avail us. We need God, and until we humble ourselves before Him and beg His mercies and repent of our sins, God will continue to let us drown as we continue to make futile attempts at being our own saviors. Most elected officials seem to be clueless as to the real problem and the real enemy. When asked how they would fix the problems, they all have their great ideas, but repentance and calling on God for mercy is not one of them.

Paul told us we should pray for our leaders. Are we?

"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." (1 Tim. 2:1-2)