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| The ancient altar of Zeus (satan) taken from Pergammon, Turkey in the 1930s by the Germans and taken to Berlin |
The Scriptures reveal that
there are spiritual authorities behind the human authorities mankind recognizes
on the earth. These spiritual forces remain largely hidden, concealed even to
the knowledge of most Christian men and women. Like puppet masters in a
skillfully executed play, these angelic rulers control the drama taking place
on earth from behind the scenes. Luke, the evangelist, tells us of the
encounter between Christ and Satan in the wilderness at the very start of
Yahshua’s ministry.
Luke 4:5-8
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high
mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the
devil said to Him, "All this domain I will give You, and their glory; for
this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if
You will worship before me, all will be Yours." And Yahshua answered and
said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship
the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
It is noteworthy that Christ did not accuse
Satan of lying. He did not declare that the devil had no authority over the
nations, or that the kingdoms of this world were not his to give. Yahshua did
not dispute Satan’s power and authority over this world at all. The Son of
God’s rebuke was occasioned only by the unrighteousness of suggesting that He
should bow before the creature, rather than the Creator. In numerous places
throughout the gospels, we observe Christ affirming that Satan has been given
ruling authority over the world.
John 12:31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be
cast out.
John 14:30
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh,
and hath nothing in me.
John 16:11
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Repeatedly, Yahshua referred to Satan as “the
prince of this world.” In the Greek language in which the New Testament was
originally written, the word that appears in English as “prince” is “archon.”
This Greek word means to be first in rank, or place. Christ was testifying that
Satan occupies the chief seat of authority over this world. A question that
should be answered is “How did Satan come to receive this authority?”
Some have proposed that Satan gained this
authority over the world when Adam yielded his will in obedience to the serpent
in the garden of Eden. There is some truth to this. In the following words, the
apostle Paul declares a spiritual principle that is at work in the creation.
Romans 6:16
Do you not know that when you present yourselves
to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey...
When Adam chose to obey Satan rather than God,
he consigned himself, and all who would be born of his seed, to subjugation to
Satan. Yahweh had given to man sovereign authority over the earth. The
terrestrial world with all that grew out of its soil, all that moved upon its
surface, all that swam in the seas, and all that flew in the heavens, was
placed under the authority of man.
Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image,
according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over
the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 2:15
Then Yahweh God took the man and put him into
the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.
This world was placed under the dominion of the
man. Yet man did not keep it. By yielding himself to obey the beast, rather
than subduing the beast and ruling over it, man came to be ruled by another.
Adam’s sovereignty over this world was forfeit. Adam became a slave to sin, and
the creation fell under the curse of sin and death. The Bible tells us that
Satan holds the power of death, and by exercise of this power he has held
humanity captive through fear.
Hebrews 2:14-15
Since then the children share in flesh and
blood, [Yahshua] likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might
render powerless him who has the power of death, that is, the devil; and might
deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their
lives.
Some Bible translations render this statement in
the past tense as if to say that Satan “had” the power of death. In the Greek,
however, the word denotes a present, ongoing, action. Young’s Literal
Translation of the Bible provides the following interpretation.
Hebrews 2:14
That through death he might destroy him having
the power of death - that is, the devil...
Satan continues to yield the power of death in
this world, and by it he keeps multitudes in bondage through fear of death. The
Christian’s victory is NOT that Satan can no longer touch his/her life, for
Satan has killed untold millions of Christ’s disciples who ended their lives as
martyrs. Our victory is that we no longer have any need to fear death. The
apostle Paul declared in another place:
Philippians 1:21-24
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is
gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for
me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both
directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very
much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
The Christian who has lived their life in
obedience to God, pursuing a course of righteousness in this world, has nothing
to fear in death. Indeed, the person who has lived their life as an overcomer
in Christ has much to look forward to.
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be
revealed in us.
In Hebrews 2:14, where it speaks of Satan having
the power of
death, the Greek word translated as “power” is “kratos.” E.W. Bullinger, in The
Companion Study Bible, defines “kratos” in the following manner.
Kratos=strength (as exerted); power put forth with effect,
and in government: from which we have the English [word] theocracy, government
by God; aristocracy, government by the best; democracy, government by the
people.
The “cracy” portion of each of these English
words is derived from the Greek “kratos.” We see in each of these words there
is a relationship to government and authority. Satan has the governmental
authority of death on this planet. I do not say that he has authority of “life
and death,” for Satan is not a life-giver. He can only destroy that which God
has animated and imbued with life.
Satan’s power to enslave men is closely related
to his authority to take life away from humanity. This power is broken in
Christ, for Yahshua demonstrated that death is not an end. What Satan kills,
God is able to animate again. The Son of God though slain, rose again to
newness of life, a life that Satan can nevermore touch.
Acts 2:24
“And God raised Him up again, putting an end to
the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”
The grave could not hold the Son of God. Neither
can it hold those who are born again of Christ’s seed. Though it is appointed
to all men “once to die,” the Christian has the great hope of being raised
again to an immortal life.
I Corinthians 15:52-57
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the
imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable
will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on
immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is
swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your
sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but
thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yahshua Christ.
If Adam had not sinned in the garden, presenting
himself to obedience to Satan, he would not have known death and Satan would
not hold the power of death over mankind. Yahweh warned Adam not to eat of the
forbidden fruit:
Genesis 2:17
“For in the day that you eat from it you shall
surely die.”
There is a popular song by the singer Billy Joel
that states, “Only the good die young.” This is not true in an absolute sense,
but it does seem this way at times. In this age we see that wicked men are
given the rule, wealth, fame, and glory of this world. Satan rewards those who
are his servants by giving them those material things that pertain to this
terrestrial realm. King Solomon lamented about the unfairness of life, for it
seemed that the wicked prospered, while the righteous suffered.
Ecclesiastes 7:15
I have seen everything during my lifetime of
futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there
is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness.
Asaph, a Levite and singer in the time of King
David, also pondered this phenomena. It seemed an evil thing to him that
the wicked should prosper in this world while the righteous should be
afflicted.
Psalms 73:3-16
For I was envious of the arrogant, as I saw the
prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death; And their body
is fat. They are not in trouble as other men; Nor are they plagued like
mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers
them. Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot.
They mock, and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. They have
set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue parades through the
earth... And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge with the
Most High?" Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have
increased in wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, and washed my
hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long, and chastened every
morning... When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight.
This world is truly an unjust place, for it is
ruled over by the prince of darkness. He has corrupted all his ways. He rewards
those who are wicked while persecuting the righteous. Such is the perverted
condition of spiritual rule in this world that the apostle Paul declared, “If
we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied”
(I Corinthians 15:19). Paul knew much of suffering and injustice. He was
frequently delivered over to punishments by the rulers of the nations, men who
were given power by the prince of this world. Even as Pilate derived his
authority from Satan to crucify Christ, so too did those who beat, scourged,
and imprisoned the apostle Paul derive their authority from Satan. Yet, of this
world authority this same apostle declares an astounding truth.
Romans 13:1
Let every person be in subjection to the
governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those
which exist are established by God.
The apostle goes on to describe the purpose for
which governors are given authority by God.
Romans 13:3-4
Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do
what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of
God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not
bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings
wrath upon the one who practices evil.
Yahweh has ordained authority to encourage the
righteous and to punish the wicked. We know, however, that the rulers of this
world frequently do just the opposite. Each ruler will give an account for the
manner in which he exercised his authority. If they have upheld justice and
righteousness they will receive praise from Yahweh. If they have acted
corruptly, they will be punished. Nevertheless, they remain God’s authority
until such a time as Yahweh deposes them.
Accepting that these words of the apostle are
true, it must be conceded that Satan’s authority over this world is established
by God. This is what I testified in an earlier chapter when I compared the career
of King Saul to that of Satan. It was Yahweh who instructed the prophet Samuel
to pour the oil of anointing over the head of Saul and declare him to be the
first king of Israel. Saul was established by God. His authority existed
because Yahweh had ordained it.
We observed that Saul’s authority did not end
when he began to act wickedly. Out of jealousy Saul attempted to kill David on
multiple occasions. Saul slaughtered an entire village of priests. Saul took
the wife of David and gave her to another man. Saul consulted with a medium.
Saul failed to carry out the commandments of Yahweh when he was instructed to
destroy a wicked people and all they possessed. Nevertheless, in the very midst
of Saul’s career of evil, David refused to lift his hand against Saul, for he
recognized him as God’s anointed.
This is a profound matter, and one that few
Christians understand today. Satan occupies a position of authority that is not
only recognized by God, but that was granted to him by God. Satan’s authority
is not solely the result of Adam bowing to him. Satan has been from the beginning
an anointed cherub. He was created to occupy a very high office and has been
entrusted with great authority. I do not doubt that the specific authority
Yahweh entrusted to Satan pertained to his rule over the earth long before the
time of Adam. (I will provide some scriptural evidence of this momentarily.)
Mankind knows very little of Satan’s career
before he became conceited and fell into sin. Humanity’s first encounter with
this anointed cherub was in the garden of Eden when he approached the man and
the woman through the persona of the serpent. At that time Satan had already
corrupted his ways. He came to tempt the man and woman to turn away from
obedience to God and to transgress Yahweh’s commandment.
Although Satan seeks to masquerade as an angel
of light, and his human servants disguise themselves as workers of
righteousness, his rule is one of darkness and evil. Nevertheless, Satan’s rule
and authority continues by the will of God. Like King Saul after judgment was
pronounced upon him by the prophet Samuel, Satan stands condemned and the just
reward for his evil deeds is assured. At this time the judgment has not
yet been executed. Satan continues in his evil reign, promoting rebellion
against God, rewarding wickedness, and persecuting the righteous. He knows,
however, that the day of judgment is fast approaching. Seeing that his time is
shortened, Satan’s vehemence is stirred to a greater rebellion against Yahweh,
and his wrath is directed toward those who are servants of righteousness.
Revelation 12:12, 17
Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil
has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short
time... And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war
with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and hold to
the testimony of Yahshua.
Do we not see in the governments of this world
that the righteous are oppressed? Even in America, there is a growing antipathy
toward those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of
Yahshua. We are seeing Christian business owners characterized as bigots, and
haters, because they agree with God that marriage is to be between a man and a
woman and that homosexuality is sin. Similarly, those who defend life in the
womb are labeled as radicals and placed on government watch lists.
Most Christians are blind to the ruling power
behind the wicked policies of human governments. Many in America see nothing
beyond the man who sits in the White House. They do not perceive that this man
is the chosen servant of Satan, for it is Satan who gives the nations of the
world to those whom he pleases.
Revelation 13:2 And the dragon (Satan, the devil) gave him his power and his throne and
great authority.
In the series Dragon
Flood it was shown that
America was founded by men under the inspiration of Lucifer. These men were
predominantly Freemasons. The Headquarters of the American Revolution was the
Green Dragon Tavern in Boston, owned by Freemasons. A Masonic lodge occupied
the upper story of this building. The men who planned and carried out The
Boston Tea Party were members of St. Andrew’s Lodge of Freemasonry which met at
the Green Dragon.
It was shown in that writing that every
government building in Washington, D.C. was initiated with a Masonic
cornerstone laying ceremony. This involved, in every instance as far back as
George Washington, the offering of corn, oil, and wine, following the pattern
of the Baal offerings of the Old Testament.
Hosea 2:8
For she did not know that I gave her corn, and
wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for
Baal.
George Washington in
Masonic Attire at the Cornerstone Laying Ceremony for the U.S. Capitol
The capital of the nation, Washington, D.C., was
laid out according to occult designs by Freemasons. The White House, the home
of the President, is located with specific design to show forth the Luciferian
control of the nation and the influence of Freemasonry as its guiding light.
Note that the bottom point
of the pentagram rests upon the White House. Thirteen blocks above the White
House is the House of the Temple, the headquarters of Freemasonry in all of
North America. When one sees that this pentagram is actually a representation
of Satan, they can discern the darkness of the governmental system in America. There
has always been a duality to the governments of this world. There are the human
rulers that men recognize, and there are the spiritual forces of wickedness in
high places that remain unseen. When we come to discern this duality, we are
better able to understand why certain passages of Scripture speak at one moment
of a human ruler, and at the next moment of an angelic authority. The two
passages from Scripture that have traditionally been understood to be
references to Satan (Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14) manifest this dual nature.
As the students of the Scriptures read over
these two passages they observe that some things are plainly written of a human
ruler. Other things are written of an angelic power. Then there are statements
that apply equally to both. Some have erred by focusing on the statements that
pertain to man and concluding that these passages have nothing to say of Satan.
Others err in the other direction. As Christians we are admonished to “rightly
divide the word of truth.”
It is actually a common feature of Hebrew poetry
for a single passage to alternate between the subjects of its speech without
giving any notice that a change has taken place. We find this occurring in some
of the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament, such as the following.
Psalms 22:1-18
My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why
are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? O My God, I
cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not
silent. But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers
trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and
were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed. But I am a worm, and
no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me
ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted
in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in
Him!” But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My
mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb
you have been My God. Be not far from Me, for trouble is near; For there is
none to help. Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have
encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring
lion. I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart
is like wax; It has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For
dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They
pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at
Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.
There are portions of this Psalm of David that
stand as the testimony of David. When David writes, “Our fathers trusted you;
They trusted, and you delivered them,” he is writing that which is true of his
own experience and that of his forebears. Yet this Psalm switches back and forth
between that which pertains to David, and that which pertains to the promised
Messiah who would one day appear. There are things in this Psalm that David
never experienced, but which pertain clearly to the Son of God. It was on the
cross that Yahshua uttered the words, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken
Me!” While Yahshua was being crucified, the priests and rulers of the people
jeered and said, “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver
Him, since He delights in Him!” The Roman soldiers divided Christ’s garments
between them, and for His clothing they cast lots. These are things that David
never experienced.
At the same time, there are portions of this
Psalm that apply equally to David and to the Messiah. It could be truly stated
of both that they were “A reproach of men, and despised by the people.” Both
experienced times when the congregation of the wicked surrounded them. The man
or woman who would correctly understand this Psalm must distinguish between
those words that pertain to a man; those that pertain to the Messiah; and those
that pertain to both.
When reading the passages from Ezekiel 28 and
Isaiah 14 we must make similar distinctions. Some parts pertain to a man, some
to Satan, and some can be applied equally to both. It should not be surprising
that even as David was King in Jerusalem and served as a type of Christ, that
the King of Babylon should serve as a type of Satan. Zion and Babylon have
always stood as opposites. The former represents the rule of God while the
latter the rule of Satan. Even as David patiently endured much suffering while
looking forward in faith to the promises of God, demonstrating much of the
character of the Son of God, so too did the proud, cruel rulers of Tyre and
Babylon demonstrate much of the character of Satan.
As you read through the following passage of
Scripture, see if you can identify that which pertains to man, that which
pertains to an angelic being, and those statements that might equally apply to
both.
Ezekiel 28:1-19
The word of Yahweh came again to me saying, “Son
of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says Yahweh God, “Because your heart
is lifted up and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, in the
heart of the seas’; Yet you are a man and not God, although you make your heart
like the heart of God - Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; There is no secret
that is a match for you. By your wisdom and understanding you have acquired
riches for yourself, and have acquired gold and silver for your treasuries. By
your great wisdom, by your trade you have increased your riches, and your heart
is lifted up because of your riches - Therefore, thus says Yahweh God, ‘Because
you have made your heart like the heart of God, therefore, behold, I will bring
strangers upon you, the most ruthless of the nations. And they will draw their
swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor. They will
bring you down to the pit, and you will die the death of those who are slain in
the heart of the seas. Will you still say, “I am a god,” in the presence of
your slayer, although you are a man and not God, in the hands of those who
wound you? You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of
strangers, for I have spoken!’ declares Yahweh God!”’”
Again the word of Yahweh came to me saying, “Son
of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says
Yahweh God, “You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in
beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your
covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the
jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the
workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were
created they were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I
placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst
of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were
created, until unrighteousness was found in you. By the abundance of your trade
(or slander) you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned;
Therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God. And I have
destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your
heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason
of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, that they
may see you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of
your trade (or slander), you profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have
brought fire from the midst of you; It has consumed you, and I have turned you
to ashes on the earth in the eyes of all who see you. All who know you among
the peoples are appalled at you; You have become terrified, and you will be no
more.”’”
In this prophecy of Ezekiel there is a line of
demarcation that occurs at the phrase “Again the word of Yahweh came to me
saying.” That which precedes this line is obviously written of a human
ruler, while that which follows this line is written of an angelic ruler. There
are portions of both passages that could apply to man and angel, for the
character of these rulers was the same. Nevertheless, we see that the first
portion of the prophecy identifies a man.
“you are a man and not God... Will you still say, “I am a god,” in
the presence of your slayer, although you are a man and not God?”
In the latter portion of this passage we see
that a heavenly being is the focus of the prophecy.
“You were the anointed cherub who covers... I have
destroyed you, O covering cherub,
from the midst of the stones of fire.”
There are statements recorded in the latter
passage that cause some to stumble, for there are things spoken of this
anointed cherub that we see recorded nowhere else in the Bible. When was Satan
cast to the ground and put before kings? When did God turn Satan to ashes in
the eyes of all who see him, and when were the people appalled upon seeing
Satan judged? From the time of Adam’s creation we do not find any record of
Satan being judged in this manner.
There are some Bible scholars who believe these
phrases refer to Satan’s appearance upon the original earth that pre-dated
Adam. Some have suggested that the first earth was in many ways like the
re-created earth in which Adam was placed. There was on the earth a pre-Adamic
race. There was a wide variety of animals that dwelt on the land, in the seas,
and flew in the air, among which were the dinosaurs whose fossils are found
throughout the planet. There was even a garden of Eden on that original earth.
All of these things perished when Satan rebelled against Yahweh and warfare
ensued in the heavens. It is further suggested that Satan subverted some
members of this pre-Adamic race, while conquering others. This would
explain statements such as the following lines from Isaiah 14.
How the oppressor has ceased, and how fury
has ceased!
Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers which used to
strike the peoples in fury with unceasing strokes, which subdued the nations in
anger with unrestrained persecution.
You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations!
Those who see you will gaze at you, they will ponder over you, saying, “Is this
the one who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like
a wilderness and overthrew its cities, who did not allow his prisoners to go
home?”
This passage from Isaiah is addressed to “the
king of Babylon,” yet there are portions of it that could not be applied to a
human ruler. In the midst of this prophecy we find the following words:
How you have fallen from heaven, O star of
the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have
weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I
will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of
assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the
clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
I do not believe it is wise to be dogmatic about
these matters, for when we make mention of the pre-Adamic earth we find that
the Bible does not speak explicitly, or in great depth, of these things. We are
left to discern what we can from the often enigmatic proclamations of prophets
and seers. Nevertheless, there are some things that we can accurately deduce
from the testimony of the Scriptures. We know that the angels were created
prior to the earth being formed, for we are told that “the morning stars sang
together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” when God laid its
foundations (Job 38:7). We know that Satan fell prior to mankind being created,
for his first appearance to man in the garden of Eden is as a cunning deceiver.
It is also right to reconsider some orthodox
beliefs. We should ask where demons, or unclean spirits come from. It is often
assumed by Christians that demons are fallen angels, but we must ask whether
this is true. Watchman Nee in The Mystery of Creation, and G.H.
Pember in Earth’s Earliest Ages, suggest that demons are members of
a pre-Adamic race on the original earth who joined with Satan in his rebellion.
When Yahweh judged these rebellious creatures, their punishment was that they
were disembodied. That is to say, their flesh was destroyed and they were left
as wandering spirits without a home. This is a great source of vexation to
these creatures, which explains why demons are always seeking another body to
inhabit.
Matthew 12:43-45
“Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man,
it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it
says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it
finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes, and takes along
with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live
there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”
When Christ cast out the legion of demons from
the man at Gadara, the demons begged permission to enter into a herd of swine.
To be left without a body to inhabit is unbearable to them.
These same men argue that angels, including
fallen ones, have their own bodies and do not need to inhabit others. They may
do so on special occasions at need, such as when Satan entered Judas, or when
he appeared to Adam and Eve in the form of the serpent, but we read elsewhere
that Satan and his angels have their own ethereal bodies. The fallen angels are
able to take on human form and cohabit with women as recorded in the sixth
chapter of Genesis. That angels can assume human form is revealed in numerous
places throughout the Bible. In Genesis we read of the angels Yahweh sent to Sodom
and Gomorrah, and how they were mistaken as men so that the Sodomites wanted to
have sexual relations with them. In the New Testament the apostle Paul writes:
Hebrews 13:2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
The angel Gabriel spoke of angelic members of
Satan’s forces withstanding him in the book of Daniel. We read of Satan
appearing before Christ in the wilderness and tempting Him. We also read of
Satan and his angels warring with the archangel Michael and his angels in the
book of Revelation. Satan and his angels have their own bodies, and are able to
appear as men in the same way as the holy angels. A case could be made that
demons, also referred to as unclean spirits, are quite distinct from fallen
angels.
Where many have likely become confused in
conflating Satan and his fallen angels with demons is that in many of our
popular English Bibles, the Greek words “diabolos” and “daimon” are both
translated as “devil” or their plural form as “devils.” These are very
different Greek words. A careful study of these words will also show that
diabolos is ALWAYS used as a reference to Satan, and is NEVER used as a
reference to an unclean spirit. Similarly “daimon” is ALWAYS used as a reference
to a demon, or unclean spirit, and is NEVER used as a reference to Satan, or to
a fallen angel. By rendering both of these words into English as “devil(s)”
confusion has resulted.
I have tested the claim that angels and demons
are separate entities. I have looked up every reference to the Greek words for
angels, devils, demons, and unclean spirits and I have not found a single
instance that would demonstrate that fallen angels and demons are the same
thing. Furthermore, the Bible speaks much of the appearance of angels, both in
the heavens and on earth, but it never speaks of demons as being visible.
Demons are always described as spirits whose presence can be discerned only
through their activity.
These facts lend credibility to the suggestion that
demons are members of a pre-Adamic race that were disembodied as punishment for
their rebellion against God. Nevertheless, there is very little evidence to
substantiate this matter, and I do not deem it prudent to speak dogmatically
about such things.
There is other evidence and additional arguments
presented in favor of the view that Satan was originally given dominion of the
first earth, and it was here that he appeared in his glorious array as a holy
angel before his fall.
“Thus says Yahweh God, ‘You had the seal of
perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden
of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the
diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and
the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in
you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were the anointed
cherub who covers, and I placed you there.’”
Satan’s first appearance to Adam and Eve in the garden
is as the serpent. He had already fallen into sin and taken on a heart of
rebellion at that time. It is therefore the conclusion of some that the
description above given by the prophet Ezekiel pertains to the original earth
and the original garden, both of which were made “formless and void and covered
in darkness” when Yahweh judged the first rebels. The earth lay in this
calamitous state for an unspecified period of time until God began to re-create
that which had been destroyed.
Some do not understand why God would permit
Satan to be loosed after he had already proven himself to be a rebel. Yet, the
Bible tells us that God will do so again in the future. He will cast Satan down
and imprison him for a season, but then the devil will be loosed again
whereupon he will immediately set about leading the nations in rebellion
against Yahweh.
Revelation 20:7-8
And when the thousand years are completed, Satan
will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations
which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them
together for the war.
Although it may be inexplicable to man why God
would let this rebel angel loose, and why Satan would be permitted so many
opportunities to foment rebellion among Yahweh’s creation, we must concede that
since he will be imprisoned and released in the future, he may well have been
imprisoned and released in the past. Solomon declared:
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11
That which has been is that which will be, and
that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new
under the sun. Is there anything of which one might say, "See this, it is
new"? Already it has existed for ages which were before us. There is no
remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur,
there will be for them no remembrance among those who will come later still.
At the beginning of this chapter we asked how
Satan came to gain authority over this earth. Why does this “anointed cherub”
have authority over the kingdoms of this earth? It seems probable that this
world was placed under Satan’s dominion from ages long past, before he fell
into sin. Even as Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel, it is possible
that Satan was appointed as the first regent of the earth, and that like Saul,
his appointment preceded his transgression.
Satan’s fall into sin and rebellion has had a
devastating effect upon this globe. Nevertheless, Yahweh has borne patiently
with the injustice and wickedness of the prince of this world. In His mercy and
grace, God has provided for the redemption of mankind, as well as for the
creation to be set free from its slavery to corruption. Yahweh has entrusted to
His firstborn Son the responsibility of reconciling all things, whether in
heaven or on earth, back to Himself (Colossians 1:20). Yahshua came to destroy
the works of the devil (I John 3:8). Christ’s reign will be complete when He
has rectified all the evil and wickedness of Satan, restoring the creation to a
perfect harmony with its Creator (I Corinthians 15:25-28).
The rebellion of Satan against God began in
former ages, ages concerning which Yahweh has given us scant information. The
restoration of all things will not be complete until more ages have past.
Just before Christ’s crucifixion there was a
remarkable exchange of words between the Father and the Son.
John 12:27-31
“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall
I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this
hour. Father, glorify Your name.” There came therefore a voice out of heaven:
“I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The multitude therefore,
who stood by and heard it, were saying that it had thundered; others were
saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Yahshua answered and said, “This voice
has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world;
now the prince of this world shall be cast out.”
The Scriptures paint a picture of a world that
has long been under the dominion of the prince of this world. Even as Absalom,
the beautiful son of King David slandered his father in an attempt to wrest the
rule of the kingdom to himself, Satan has slandered Yahweh. Satan, as a
covering cherub should have glorified the name of Yahweh, but he has done just
the opposite. We are promised, however, that the name of Yahweh will be
glorified once again.
Perhaps in David’s reaction to the transgression
of Absalom we may gain some insight into the heart of God. David wept
grievously when it was told to him that his son had been slain. David knew that
his son was a rebel. He knew his son had defiled his wives openly. David knew
that Absalom had slandered his reputation and spoken falsely to others.
Nevertheless, David experienced deep grief at the death of his son.
The prophet Ezekiel, who has given us so much
information about this fallen cherub who rules over this world, has also
recorded for us the following words of God.
Ezekiel 33:11
“Say to them, ‘As I live!'’declares Yahweh God,
‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn
from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will
you die?’”
Surely David manifested the heart of God when it
was reported to him that King Saul, Saul’s sons, and his servants, were slain
on Mount Gilboa. Although Saul was an oppressor of the people, a persecutor of
the righteous, a man given to great selfishness and jealousy; although Yahweh
had pronounced judgment upon him, the words of the prophet Ezekiel are true.
Yahweh took no pleasure in Saul’s death. It was a righteous thing for David to
lament the fall of this once great king.
II Samuel 1:17-27
Then David chanted with this lament over Saul
and Jonathan his son, and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the song of
the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar. "Your beauty, O
Israel, is slain on your high places! How have the mighty fallen! Tell it not
in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines
rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. O mountains of Gilboa,
let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings; For there the shield of
the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. From the
blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not
turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty. Saul and Jonathan,
beloved and pleasant in their life, and in their death they were not parted;
They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. O daughters of
Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put
ornaments of gold on your apparel. How have the mighty fallen in the midst of
the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my
brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was more
wonderful than the love of women. How have the mighty fallen, and the weapons
of war perished!"
If you have ever known a son or a daughter who
once walked in righteousness, a child whose life was pleasant to you, yet this
child turned aside to wickedness and great evil, you will realize that there is
no pleasure in seeing judgment executed upon them. You may bear long with them,
hoping that they will repent. They may be beaten with many stripes in hope that
they will turn away from evil. When all attempts at reconciliation have been
exhausted, and nothing remains but to hand the child over to death, there can
be only grief in the heart of the parent. Bitterly did David weep for Absalom.
II Samuel 18:33
And the king was deeply moved and went up to the
chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son
Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my
son, my son!”
Surely it must be source of grief to Yahweh to
observe this glorious cherub, once full of wisdom and perfect in beauty, fall
into such darkness. Heaven undoubtedly mourns that one who occupied such a high
office, being blameless from the day he was created, should fall into such
great iniquity, to behave as a rebel and a slanderer toward the holy Creator.
