“…rising black, blacker and darker than the vast shades amid which it stood, the cruel pinnacles and iron crown of the topmost tower of Barad-dûr.” -J.R.R. Tolkien: Return of the King

Barad-dûr is the Middle-earth Elvish word for Dark Tower and it is described in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Barad-dûr was Dark Lord Sauron’s chief stronghold and mighty fortress. It was built by Sauron himself using the magical powers of the “One Ring.” Its height (4,500+ ft) and strength made it almost surreal.

Located at the topmost part of the tower was the Window of the Eye, which held the Eye of Sauron. Not necessarily referring to his literal eye, since he was described as having an actual human form, but to his overwhelming spiritual presence and his ability to keep watch throughout Middle-earth.

Barad-dûr is described as, “…that vast fortress, armory, prison, furnace of great power…”^[1] Barad-dûr typifies the kingdom of darkness. The world of spiritual bondage and death. Sin is like a fortified citadel that immures its victims while slowly consuming them in the furnace of its delight. If living without Christ as Lord and Savior is much like being in prison, imagine how much deeper in bondage are those who are trapped in the dungeons of addiction, immorality, false religion, and the occult.

There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still. -Corrie Tem Boom

But no matter how deep one may be buried in sin, the Light of Christ has the power to find and set free all who are held captive in the fortress of darkness. Corrie Ten Boom could not have said it better, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.” When Jesus is invited into the heart, he is that 4th man (Daniel 3:18-28) who rescues the sinner from the fiery pit of deception. And once Christ sets prisoners free nothing or no one can imprison them ever again. Because when you are set free by the Lord of the Light, you are free indeed!

Barad-dûr is said to be, “…wall upon wall, battlement upon battlement, black, immeasurably strong, mountain of iron, gate of steel, tower of adamant…”^[2] The powers of darkness are incredibly strong. More than what most of us can imagine. Oh, we know that the devil is bad, that temptation can be strong, that habitual sin is very hard to break, and that evil can be pretty much, evil. But from what I’ve gathered after talking to believers I realize that far too many Christians have no idea how immeasurably strong spiritual bondage can actually be. Adamant is a legendary mineral that is impenetrable (think Wolverine’s bones‘, Hercules’ golden mace, Satan’s Chains in Paradise Lost). There are spiritual strongholds that are truly impenetrable by any earthly medium. No therapy, advice, drug, or even religion can break through their grasps. That’s because when sin reigns in the life of a man it commands from the throne of his very heart (soul).

There is no sin too great that God’s grace is not greater still.

But there is no darkness that the light of Christ cannot pierce through. And not only can it break the chains, shackles, and bars that imprison the soul but it destroys them and renders them useless against those that have been delivered! There is no greater power under heaven than the saving grace of God. For there is no sin too great that his grace is not greater still. I am certainly not against psychotherapy or counseling when it comes to helping people battle with personal issues, but when these methods are used without faith in the power of Christ the most they can accomplish is scratch the surface. The only thing that can cut through the walls of immorality, violence, oppression and depression is the power of the Lord of the Light!

Barad-dûr is also said to stand, “… tall as hills, founded upon a mighty mountain-throne above immeasurable pits; great courts and dungeons, eyeless prisons sheer as cliffs…”^[3]
According to Scriptures, the evil forces of the spiritual world are set high in the heavenly realms. However, they are operating all around us in and through men and women who follow the corrupt desires of their unregenerate hearts. It is common to hear phrases like, “there is still goodness in the world.” But apart from Christ, the goodness of this world is conditional and self-seeking. Furthermore, the seemingly “good” pleasures of life, like Barad-dûr, are built over immeasurable pits. Pits of insatiable passion and selfish lust.

But the powers of darkness that operate in high places have already been struck down by a wooden cross! Almost 2,000 years ago, on a hill ironically known as “the place of the skull,” a stake was raised 7 feet off the ground. Miniscule in size compared to Barad-dûr, but mightier than all the powers of the universe combined because of Who rested on it. Perhaps Satan may have thought that he was still in control once Jesus had died and was buried, but 3 days following his crucifixion, Jesus rose from the grave to become the victor over sin and death! Jesus is the light of the world. The light that still overpowers all the forces of hell and continues to shatter the chains of spiritual darkness. He rose to be the Lord of the Light!

Barad-Dûr is a fictional tower, but Calvary’s cross was real. The Dark Lord Sauron and his magical evil powers are also fictional, but Satan and the powers of darkness are real. If you have read or seen the movie The Lord of the Rings you know that Barad-Dûr finally crumbled once the “One Ring” was destroyed. The powers of darkness have also been destroyed by the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

If you know Jesus as Lord and Savior you are not only protected by his light but you are empowered by it as well. This is the light that you and I are called to shine in this dark and sinful world. The light that will continue to rescue those trapped in Satan’s mighty fortress. However, if you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ then it is time to break free from the powers of darkness and come into the kingdom of light which offers life eternal. Click/tap HERE if you want to dethrone Satan from your heart and allow King Jesus to reign.

Prayer: Oh mighty God, I stand in awe of your power and grace! I thank you for the glorious light of your salvation which has delivered me from the strongholds of sin and darkness, but there are still so many who are trapped in that fortress. So please help me to continue to shine brightly in this dark and tenebrous world so they may be set free and know you as King of kings and Lord of lords. In your powerful name, I pray, Amen. 

SCRIPTURES
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.“ – John 8:36

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.” -Titus 2:11 (NLT)

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.”-Psalm 53:1 (ESV)

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”-Colossians 2:15

-ALL SCRIPTURE IS QUOTED FROM THE NIV EXCEPT WHERE SPECIFIED.

i. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954), “The Road to Isengard,” The Two Towers, (p. 161)
ii. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954). “The Breaking of the Fellowship”. The Fellowship of the Ring  (p. 417)
iii. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1955), “Mount Doom,” The Return of the King (p. 224)