Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, towering author and Soviet dissident, once wrote, “From the most ancient times justice has been a two-part concept: virtue triumphs, and vice is punished.” It’s a profound reminder that, while history is immensely valuable, understanding our present and future is essential for survival. Solzhenitsyn also cited an old proverb: “Dwell on the past and you’ll lose an eye. Forget the past and you’ll lose both eyes.”
We live in a moment in history when forgetting the past is increasingly tempting—and perilous. As we move closer to the end of the age and the return of Christ, Scripture warns that lawlessness will increase (Matt. 24:12). The rise of evil is not merely sociopolitical—it is spiritual. The forces of darkness are emboldened and unrestrained, but as followers of Christ, we are not called to cower on the sidelines, wringing our hands in fear.
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Too often, we see only the problem, forgetting that we are filled with the Spirit of Almighty God, empowered and commissioned to bring heaven to earth. As believers, we must not simply endure these days but engage in them as warriors of light.
Understanding the Enemy’s Strategy
An essential element of spiritual warfare is understanding the enemy’s tactics. In these last days, Satan’s strategy is threefold:
- Isolation: He seeks to isolate us from the power and presence of God.
- Distraction: He wants to diminish the moment we live in, blinding us to immediate opportunities God provides.
- Fear: He seeks to polarize us with fear.
The enemy’s schemes are uniquely tailored for each of us. The apostle Paul warns believers not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor. 2:11). As end-time warriors who carry the very presence of God, we must remain in community, support one another, and refuse to let the enemy convince us that we are weak or worthless.
We carry the divine presence of God, and our weapons are mighty for tearing down spiritual strongholds (2 Cor. 10:3-6). If we fail to stand against evil, it will grow until it overwhelms and destroys the good in us all.
A Modern Example of Courage: Ilona Tóth
Few in the West have heard the name Ilona Tóth—a brilliant student, athlete, and heroic participant in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. As Soviet tanks rolled into Hungary, Ilona saw Communism for what it was: evil. Rather than flee, she threw herself into the fight, leading medical efforts and treating the wounded.
In 1957, she was falsely charged with murdering a secret policeman. She was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to hang. Why would the Communists fear a twenty-five-year-old woman? Because she spoke truth. Lawlessness always seeks to silence the voice of truth.
Shortly before her execution, Ilona’s mother asked her in desperation, “Where is Christ, my child?” Ilona replied with remarkable faith: “Here, right next to me.” She comforted her mother with these words: “Don’t cry, mother; I will die as a brave Hungarian soldier. You know the charge is false, and they just want to besmirch the holy revolution.”
Though many young women from that era were forgotten, Ilona’s courage lived on. A 1998 documentary captured her story, and in 2001, a statue was erected in her honor at Semmelweis Medical University. She is remembered as the “Hungarian Joan of Arc.”
Ilona’s story reminds us that even under brutal regimes, courage and truth shine. When lawlessness tries to silence righteousness, those anchored in Christ stand firm.
Spiritual Warfare: Behind the Veil
Much of spiritual warfare unfolds beyond what human eyes can see. The Book of Daniel offers a glimpse into this hidden conflict. Daniel didn’t merely receive visions; he participated in them as open visions, engaging directly with the heavenly realm.
In Daniel 10, he encountered a figure “clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold… his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire.” This was no ordinary angel but a theophany—an appearance of God Himself in human form. Daniel’s companions couldn’t see the vision but sensed the power, fleeing in terror.
The angel explained that he’d been delayed 21 days because of conflict with the “prince of Persia”—a demonic territorial spirit (Dan. 10:13). Even angels sometimes require reinforcements, as Michael the archangel arrived to help overcome the resistance.
Daniel’s faithful fasting and prayer disrupted spiritual strongholds. Jesus also taught that certain breakthroughs require both prayer and fasting (Matt. 17:21). Together, they are a force hell cannot withstand.
The enemy operates through deception and delay. Like Daniel, we may feel discouraged when prayers seem unanswered. Yet often, delays reflect spiritual warfare, not divine disfavor. When we engage enemy territory, we should expect resistance.
Lawlessness in the Last Days
The Apostle John warned that the spirit of lawlessness would grow more brazen in the last days (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3). This spirit deceives many into believing lies, rejecting truth, and embracing moral confusion. Today, society increasingly celebrates self over sacrifice and pleasure over godliness.
William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, offered a chilling prophecy for the 20th century that still resonates today:
“The chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.”
These words read like a headline from modern news.
Suit Up for the Battle
We are not passive spectators in this cosmic conflict. God has given us spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). Prayer, in particular, is our strategic weapon. As Bill Johnson wisely says:
“God has chosen to work through us. We are His delegated authority on planet earth, and prayer is the vehicle that gives occasion for His invasion. Those who don’t pray allow darkness to continue ruling.”
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). As His ambassadors, we’re to bring His kingdom message into a world plagued by lawlessness. When we pray, we push back darkness.
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The enemy will try to frustrate our prayers, but perseverance is key. George Müller, who cared for thousands of orphans, testified:
“I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up… When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for the glory of God, I go on praying for it until the answer comes.”
Solzhenitsyn was right: virtue must triumph, and vice must be punished. We are called not only to remember the past but to engage the present, standing firm against lawlessness as warriors of light. Let us pray, fast, and stand—so that truth may prevail and God’s kingdom come.
This article originally appeared on American Faith, and is reposted with permission.
