2Ⅴ If we would possess the good land for the fulfillment of God’s purpose, we must engage in spiritual warfare to defeat the satanic forces—Josh. 6:21:
3A We need to realize the necessity of spiritual warfare—a warfare between the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God—Matt. 6:10; 7:21; 12:26, 28; Isa. 14:12-14.
4B When Israel was ready to take possession of the land of Canaan, the land was filled with demon-possessed people, idol worshippers, and the Nephilim—Num. 13:33.
5C Because the Nephilim, a mixture of fallen angels and fallen man, dwelt in the land of Canaan, God commanded the children of Israel to take over this land and to destroy every living being there so that the human race could be cleared up—Deut. 7:1-2:
61 According to the divine thought, the nations in the land of Canaan had to be exterminated because they were devilish and mingled with demons—v. 2; Josh. 11:21-22; 14:6-14.
72 The Canaanites signify not only the fallen angels but also human beings who have joined themselves to the evil spirits, to the satanic power of darkness in the air—Num. 14:45.
8D Israel’s fighting against the inhabitants of the land portrays the invisible spiritual warfare that is taking place behind the visible scene on earth—Dan. 10:10-21; Eph. 6:10-20:
91 极其重要的是,我们要看见,在景物的背后正进行着属灵的争斗,这争斗不是人的眼睛所能看见的。
91 It is crucial for us to see that behind the scene a spiritual struggle is taking place, a struggle not seen with human eyes.
11E The fighting of the children of Israel against the Canaanites that they might possess and enjoy the good land typifies the spiritual warfare of the church as a whole, including all the members, against “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies” (v. 12) that the saints may enjoy Christ as the all-inclusive land.
12F Christ is our good land, and God wants us to gain Christ, but there is a layer of devilish, demonic forces between us and the good land; if we would take possession of the good land for our enjoyment, we must defeat these satanic forces—Col. 1:12-13; 2:15; Eph. 3:18; 6:11-12:
131 There is an exceedingly real spiritual warfare in which we must engage; we must fight the battle to gain the all-inclusive Christ for the building up of the church as the Body of Christ, the new man, and the kingdom of God—vv. 10-12; 1 Tim. 6:12a; 2 Tim. 2:3-4; Col. 1:13, 18; 2:19; 3:10-11.
142 If we would take possession of Christ for our enjoyment, we must be a corporate warrior, the church as the Body of Christ, fighting against and defeating the satanic forces so that we can gain more of Christ for the building up of the Body of Christ, setting up and spreading the kingdom of God so that Christ can come back to inherit the earth—Eph. 3:8; 4:16; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 11:15.
20Further Reading: Life-study of Numbers, msgs. 21, 32; Life-study of Daniel, msg. 15; CWWL, 1963, vol. 3, “Basic Principles for the Practice of the Church Life,” ch. 6