Warring Against The Gods

Jonathan Cahn reveals the great battle of the first believers – the disciples find themselves in the midst of a mass uproar over the gods of the ancient world. You’re in the same battle.

The Jewish people were brought into this world for one divine purpose—to glorify God and make Him known. But in doing so, they were called to stand against the false gods of the world. The Apostle Paul understood this. Led by the Spirit, he determined to return to Jerusalem—even knowing it could cost him everything. And after that, he set his sights on Rome, the heart of the western empire.

At this point, Paul had already preached the gospel across the eastern parts of the Roman Empire. But now, he was preparing for his final journey—back to Jerusalem, and then on to Rome, possibly even to Spain. Yet he knew the dangers. He would be arrested. Prophets confirmed it. Still, Paul boldly declared, “I’m going no matter what.”

Before leaving, Paul sent Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia while he remained in Asia Minor—modern-day Turkey—specifically in Ephesus, a major city mentioned throughout Acts, the Epistles, and even Revelation.

Around this time, a major uproar erupted. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made shrines to the goddess Artemis (known as Diana in Rome), stirred up trouble. His livelihood, and that of many craftsmen, depended on idol-making. He said, “You know our prosperity comes from this business, and this Paul is persuading people all over Asia that man-made gods are not gods at all.”

This was powerful evidence of Paul’s effectiveness. His ministry had such an impact that the idol economy was threatened. Demetrius continued, “Not only is our trade in danger, but the temple of the great goddess Diana may be discredited—and she is worshipped across Asia and the world.”

But beneath the surface, it wasn’t just about Artemis—it was about money. Their god wasn’t just Diana; it was profit. And this parallels what we see today. In many industries—even those that appear moral or spiritual—what’s truly worshipped is money. That’s the real idol in America today: the almighty dollar.

These businesses shift with the culture. If the culture is Christian, they sell Christian things. If the culture turns apostate, they follow. They embrace whatever sells—gender ideologies, movements, anything. But not because it’s right—because it’s profitable. That’s the god they serve.

When the crowd heard this, they were furious. They shouted, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” The city was thrown into chaos. People rushed into the massive theater of Ephesus—one that could seat 24,000 people—dragging in Paul’s companions Gaius and Aristarchus.

This was more than a riot. It was a spiritual war. Paul wanted to go into the theater to preach, but the disciples and even high-ranking friends—officials of the province—begged him not to. These officials, honored by Rome, were friends of Paul and pleaded for his safety.

Inside the theater, chaos reigned. People shouted conflicting things. Most didn’t even know why they were there. This is the danger of mob mentality. People follow crowds without thinking—then and now.

We as believers must resist that. Even in Christian or conservative movements, not everything labeled “Christian” is truly of God. We don’t follow crowds—we follow Christ. Whether it’s a political leader, a movement, or a cultural shift—we must always ask: is this of God?