2002-01-01
Good Morning Fellow Believers,
In coming to a better understanding of Satan's origin, we must examine how he became the enemy of God and mankind. Spiritual warfare is real and personal. Every believer must join in this battle, but does not do so alone or unequipped. Once again, I must begin with the verse that helps us best to understand who we are asked to fight. EPH 6: 12, a verse that one should commit to memory. "For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age." We have already seen that GN 3: 15, the Protevangelium, God's judgment against the serpent for deceiving Adam and Eve, announces the conflict that will go on between mankind and evil. It is the first illumination on this subject offered in the Scriptures. "I [God] will make you [the serpent] and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite their heel." REV 12: 9 makes clear exactly who the serpent is. "The huge dragon was thrown out-that ancient serpent, named the devil or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him." With all this in mind, lets examine more of what God tells us in the Scriptures about Satan as the adversary of God and man alike.
God inspired the prophet Isaiah to say quite a bit in IS 14. As I have said before, evil in general is symbolized by Mystery Babylon, the prostitute (the great mother of all harlots) in REV 17 and 18. Satan is referred to as the "king of Babylon, bright morning star, who has fallen from heaven" in IS 14: 11. Look at the way the situation is described in IS 14: 9-11, "The world of the dead is getting ready to welcome the king of Babylon. The ghosts of those who were powerful on earth are stirring about. The ghosts of kings are rising from their thrones. They all call out to him, 'Now you are as weak as we are! You are one of us! You used to be honored with the music of harps, but now here you are in the world of the dead. You lie on a bed of maggots and are covered with a blanket of worms.'" Kinda creepy language, isn't it? But it's appropriate to the circumstances. I was brought to think about the words "the ghosts of kings are rising from their thrones. They call out to him..." Who were these kings? I believe Isaiah was talking about the nineteen evil kings who ruled in the northern kingdom of Israel, those kings who were evil and ruled in the southern kingdom of Judah, but my idea didn't stop there. Look at kings like Saul, the evil kings of Philistia, and all the evil kings of Egypt, Syria, Moab, Edom, etc. who have plagued their subjects and the Jews for era after era. Let's not forget Belteshazzar, the evil king of Babylonia who was conquered by the Medo-Persians the night the handwriting appeared on the wall at a banquet using purloined Jewish temple treasures from which to eat and drink [DN 5]. Why could Isaiah who wrote in 739-690 BC write about this? He was a prophet and was being allowed to see things by God that didn't all occur during his lifetime.
When one reads REV 17 and 18, it is clear that all these evil-doers, even the very devil himself, will be rendered weak and helpless once God delivers His judgment on them. They are not allowed to do their evil for more than a limited time. Two citations really make this clear. Christ spoke of this in MT 24: 22, part of the Olivet discourse regarding the Tribulation. "But God has already reduced the number of days; had He not done so, nobody would survive. For the sake of His chosen people, however, God will reduce the days." Once again, it is brought up in REV 12: 12, "And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left."
In limiting the time that Satan has to do his dirty work, God demonstrates His compassion. But, some might ask, why put mankind to this pain and suffering at all? We must consider that our own sinfulness has made it necessary for God to perfect us. Many of us even refuse to listen to God's commands until we are brought to brokenness by the pain and suffering we face at the hand of Satan and his followers. The other matter of our need to build spiritual endurance and have a way to gain strength is revealed in RO 5: 3-4. "We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance brings God's approval, and His approval creates hope." If it seems on first inspection that God is being cruel for allowing us to suffer, think again. In His infinite wisdom, He knows that our working through these challenges to our faith is the best, most efficient way to strengthen us and give us hope. He inspired Peter to write in 1 PET 3: 17-18, "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be God's will, than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good Man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually..." Once we are given that perspective on our suffering, we can combine it with what we are told in RO 8: 17 and 29 and come out with a picture of our loving Abba that is magnificent. We are promised a share of God's glory, to be joint-heirs with Christ to His Kingdom, and are told that Christ is the "first among many brothers," meaning we can have the hope of being raised from death to life just as He was. Now that, Dear Ones, should light our fire!
PRAYER: O Lord, there are questions You have raised and answered throughout the Scriptures. You are the eternal King. PS 93: 1-2 announced this for us to contemplate. "The Lord is King. He is clothed with majesty and strength. The earth is set firmly in place and cannot be moved. Your throne, O Lord, has been firm from the beginning, and You existed before time began." The question of just how much power the devil has to bring us suffering is answered in PS 93: 4-5, "The Lord rules supreme in heaven, greater than the roar of the ocean, more powerful than the waves of the sea. Your laws are eternal, Lord, and Your Temple is holy indeed, forever and ever." More of our questions are asked and answered in PS 94: 3-5, 9-10, & 22-23, "How much longer will the wicked be glad? How much longer, Lord? How much longer will criminals be proud and boast about their crimes? They crush Your people, Lord; they oppress those who belong to You...God made our ears-can He not hear? He made our eyes-can He not see? He is in charge of the nations-will he not punish them? He is the Teacher of all men-has He any knowledge?.. But the Lord defends me; my God protects me. He will punish them for their iniquity and destroy them for their sins; the Lord our God will destroy them." We acknowledge Your wisdom, compassion, and righteousness. You are sovereign and supreme. It is You Who limits the time Satan has to do his evil and have provided us with relief from slavery to sin through the death of Your Son on the cross. You inspire Peter and others to help us have Your perspective on our suffering, Dearest Abba, and give us Your word and prayer to keep us in touch with You. We confess our sin, and in humility, offer You our adoration, worship, loyalty, diligence, trust, obedience, honor, glory, praise, and heartfelt thanksgiving. In Christ's name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will examine the issue of arrogance and pride as the devil practices them and tries to tempt us to do the same. All of this helps to add to our understanding of why Satan is God's and our enemy. It is also God's way of asking us to examine our own lives for any practice of these evil traits in them. Only a God Who adores His children would take the time, compassionately and patiently to command us to examine whatever sin might still be in our lives and get rid of it. He knows that it's our only way to eternal life, a life of blissful joy and closeness to Him forever. Peter and I join our Abba in sending you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn