Last time we looked a bit about Paul’s claim that Jesus was killed by the archons of this aion (rulers of this age), and this reflected the demonic spirits influencing Pilate and the Jews (eg., the crowd, the supreme council) against Jesus.  This follows the same idea as when the gospels say Satan entered Judas.

Paul thought he was the prophesied one the Old Testament talked about who would bring the Jewish God to the gentiles and then the end would come.  He says, though, that Satan was hindering him in his mission (1 Thess 2:18).  Paul’s experience shows that Satan can hinder Christians in many ways, including: Tempting people to sin, Accusing people, Trying to outwit and deceive people, and Ensnaring people.  We see the example he gives of the super apostles who were converting his followers with another gospel.  Scripture says when the word is sewn into a new believer, the devil comes to steal it away (Mark 4:15). 

Scripture talks about demonic influencers: e.g., the Prince of Persia, the Prince of the Air, the God of this world – meaning Satan.  The Prince of Persia from Daniel chapter 10, for instance, refers to a spiritual entity who pulled the strings behind the Persian empire that ruled the Jews.  Daniel 10 reveals that Satan was working behind the scenes to raise up a demonic prince who would pull the strings of the earthly kings to come.  We read “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).  In what sense was he a ruler?  Did he rule a kingdom on earth with a physical demonic army like Sauron in Lord of the Rings?  No, he was influencing people to go against God’s ways, like with the corrupt trial of Jesus.  Satan was synonymous with going against God’s will, like when Jesus said to Peter’s contrary message “get behind me Satan (Matt 16:23),” or Jesus responding to Satan’s misrepresentation of God’s word during the temptations: “Don’t test God (Matt 4; Luke 4:8).”