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Satan, the Super Creature |
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Satan, the Super Creature |
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Antichrists and False Teachers
World Ruler
Gnostic False Teachers
Jezebel
Gnostics tried to worm their way into the early Church to spread their false doctrine. The Gnostics were empowered by demons, who gave them their doctrine. They were Satan's cosmic evangelists.
Jude 12 Analogies from NatureThe Gnostics (apostates and false teachers) were like reefs. Reefs symbolize the danger posed by Gnostic apostasy. Just as reefs are hidden from view, the Gnostics appeared normal on the surface. Reefs can destroy a boat or ship. Similarly, Gnostics can rip apart the souls of believers by the power of the Cosmic System. Gnostics were empowered by evil spirits and espoused doctrine of demons.
These men (the Gnostics) are those who are reefs in your love feasts when they feast together with you without respect (for God), looking out for themselves; clouds without water, carried away by winds; autumn trees without fruit, dying twice, uprooted;
The Gnostics came to the "love feasts," which were social gatherings of believers who met for a communal meal and celebrated communion afterward. The Gnostic attack was outside Bible Class through social life at the love feasts. This was a Satanic counterattack rather than a direct frontal assault on the Church.
"Without respect" refers to the Gnostic lack of love and respect for God and His authority. Gnosticism was apostasy, which was contrary to Bible Doctrine. Gnostics had no respect for God or God's Word.
The Gnostics were "looking out for themselves." They were out to please themselves. They sought pleasure at the expense of others. They were users, who cared first and foremost about their own personal benefit.
They were "clouds without water." This is a metaphor in which water symbolizes the Word, Bible Doctrine in the soul. Clouds symbolize people. "Clouds without water" are people without doctrine. The Gnostic false teachers were unbeliever reversionists. They were full of hot air, but they were without Bible Doctrine.
The clouds were "carried away by winds." The Gnostics were unstable, capricious, and fleeting. They followed the prevailing flow - whichever way the wind blew. This is the same description of reversionists in Psalm 1:4 and Ephesians 4:14. Gnostics were not ruled by principles but by whichever way the political and cosmic winds blew. They were followers, not leaders. They were under the control of Satan's Cosmic System.
The Gnostics were "autumn trees without fruit." Fruit refers to production. The Gnostics did not have Divine Good production. They were unfruitful (2 Pet 1:8; Tit 3:14; Eph 5:11; 1 Cor 14:14; Matt 13:22). They were like autumn trees with dead leaves (lifeless and dried up) and no fruit - no production of Good works. Autumn trees are physically alive but lack productive life. Autumn trees symbolize the fruitlessness of the reversionist.
The Autumn trees were "dying twice." Autumn trees appear dead and have no fruit. This is a double entendre related to:
The Gnostics were "uprooted" trees. Uprooted trees are as good as dead. They are cut off from water, the source of life. When the roots dry up, the tree dies. Gnostics were spiritually dead and headed for the Second Death.
Jude 13This verse has a parallel in 2 Peter 2:17. The Gnostics were like "stormy waves of the sea." This calls attention to the emotional upheavals of reversionists (Isa 57:20). They were "foaming up their own shameful deeds." Shameful deeds are the works of reversionism, which are motivated by the lusts of the flesh (Old Sin Nature) and influence from the Cosmic System. Shameful deeds are contrary to Grace, Divine authority, and true love and respect.
Stormy waves of the sea, foaming up their own shameful deeds; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.
They were "wandering stars." Wandering stars are comets. Comets are false stars - not fixed. Stars symbolize believers. Stars are fixed points of light in the heavens. Comets wander around the heavens. Comets symbolize Reversionistic unbelievers.
"For whom the black darkness has been reserved" – "black darkness" refers to:
Revelation 2:9The Christians of Smyrna were in terrible suffering from the government, Jewish unbelievers, and Satan. They had their property seized and were about to be thrown in jail due to the influence of Satan. Unbeliever Jews turned them in to the government to receive a reward. The Jewish unbelievers claimed to be Jews but were not because in order to be a Jew a person has to be a believer (Rom 9:6). Instead, the unbeliever Jews were called "the Synagogue of Satan." Unbelievers are under slavery to Satan, and the Synagogue in Smyrna, which was full of Jewish unbelievers, belonged to Satan. The Synagogue was under the power of Ecumenical Babylon. And the members were, in effect, the Prostitute of Babylon (Jezebel).
I know your tribulation and your poverty; but you are rich. Also I know the slander from the source of those who allege themselves to be Jews and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan.
Legalistic Jews were also persecuting the Church at Philadelphia.
Revelation 3:9The Lord decreed that He would defend the Gentile Christians in the Church at Philadelphia from the attacks of the legalistic Jewish unbelievers. He would make the legalistic Jews bow down at the feet of the Christians as a gesture of defeat of Jewish unbelievers and victory of the Christians.
Behold, I will cause those from the synagogue of Satan who allege that they themselves are Jews; yet, they are not, but liars. Behold, I will cause that they will come and bow down before your feet; so they may know that I have loved you.
The early Church at Pergamon in the Roman province of Asia was also under attack from Satan and false teachers. Pergamon was the headquarters of Satan and the center for idolatry and Ecumenical Babylon in Roman Asia. Satan's throne was in Pergamon (Rev 2:13). The Lord reprimanded the Church at Pergamon because some in the church held to the same kind of false teaching as Balaam.
Revelation 2:14The prophet Balaam was called by King Balak to curse Israel.3 Balaam agreed because of his desire for money. When the Lord would not let Balaam curse Israel, Balaam became a false teacher and taught King Balak how to trap Israel through prostitution. He brought in Moabite and Midianite women to lure the men of Israel into fornication and the worship of Baal of Peor (Nu 25:1-6). The women were the Prostitutes of Babylon. They had the spirit of Baal. The attack against Israel was threefold:
But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a baited trap before the sons of Israel, to eat meat sacrificed to idols, and to practice prostitution.
The problem was compounded for Christians because those who engaged in business were expected to join the trade guilds. Each trade guild had its own deity, and members were expected to attend annual feasts in honor of the deity. Roman citizens were also expected to worship the emperor deity. Thus, Christians in the Pergamon Church who participated in worship of these deities were engaging in idolatry and were themselves the Prostitute of Babylon. They were worshipping Satan when they should be worshipping God.
Another attack from false teaching came from the Nicolaitans. The type of false teaching from the Nicolaitans is not known, but it was contrary to the Word, and therefore unacceptable to the Lord. The Ephesian congregation had rejected the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6).Revelation 2:20The Church at Thyatira was reprimanded for tolerating Jezebel in the church. The woman was called Jezebel to identify her with the historic Jezebel and the Prostitute of Babylon. Jezebel was a false teacher, who claimed to be a prophetess and speak from God. She was, however, the Prostitute of Babylon under the influence of demons. She led the bondservants of Christ away from Him into reversionism. She taught that it was acceptable to practice prostitution and eat things sacrificed to idols. "Practice prostitution" is the Greek porneuvw (porneuo), which means to practice sexual promiscuity or prostitution, to fornicate. It refers to the ritual sex associated with idolatry.
But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray, so that they practice prostitution and eat things sacrificed to idols.
Here again, Jezebel probably taught the Christians at Thyatira to join the trade guilds, which would in turn require them to attend annual feasts to worship the patron deity.
Revelation 2:21Jezebel was given time to change her mind and Rebound. Here the Greek metanoevw (metanoeo) means to change the mind. It does not mean to repent, which involves penance. It means Rebound. However, she refused to Rebound out from her prostitution. She was engaged in the ritual prostitution of the Prostitute of Babylon.
And I gave her a period of time in order to change her mind (Rebound); however, she does not want to change her mind (Rebound) out from her prostitution.
Revelation 2:22Jezebel's punishment would be throwing her into a sick bed. And those who committed adultery with her would have severe suffering if they did not change their minds and Rebound.
Behold, I will throw her into a sick bed, and those committing adultery with her into great tribulation (severe suffering) unless they change their minds from her deeds.
Revelation 2:23Jezebel's followers are called her children. Her followers would be executed. They would be delivered into the Sin Leading to Death. The Lord reminds the listeners that He tests (analyzes) "the kidneys and the hearts." Testing the kidneys and the heart together is a test for Emotional Revolt of the Soul.2 Those in Emotional Revolt of the Soul have failed the test. They lack integrity and stability from the Edification Complex of the Soul.
And I will execute her children (followers) by the death penalty; and all the churches will know that I am He who analyzes the kidneys and the hearts; and I will give to every one of you according to your deeds.
World Ruler
Attack on Marriage
Tower of Babel
Angelic Hierarchy
Satan's Rule Over the World
World Powers of Darkness
Spiritual Warfare
Satan's World Power
God of the World
Filling of the Spirit
Satan became the ruler of the world when Adam sinned. Up until then, Adam was the world ruler. When Adam sinned, he became the slave to sin and to Satan. Sin spelled the doom of the man. He fell under the curse of sin – "dying (spiritually) you shall die (physically)" (Gen 2:17). Satan was the author of sin, and sin led to death. Even after the man accepted Salvation, he lacked the power to defeat Satan and win back the world. That will not happen until the Lord Jesus Christ defeats Satan at the Second Advent.
Even though Satan ruled the world after The Fall, God had established Divine Institutions to preserve human freedom. The first Divine Institution was volition. Every human being had a free will with the freedom to make his own decisions. He had the right to chose to obey or disobey God. The second Divine Institution was Marriage. Man was free to marry and live together. After The Fall the Divine Institution of Family was added. After Satan inspired the murder of Abel, the Lord established the Fourth Divine Institution, the Establishment, or Laws of Establishment, to protect individuals from criminality. Then at the Tower of Babel the Divine Institution of Nationalism was established to protect human freedom from the one-world government that Satan sought to establish.
Thus, even though Satan ruled the world, there were limits of his power that God had established to preserve human freedom. The Divine Institutions were upheld by the Supreme Court of Heaven. They were supported by the supreme Authority of God, and Satan would not be allowed to overturn them. Satan could try to work around them and establish his own power systems, but the Divine Institutions were permanent.
Satan's first attack after The Fall was on believers. He inspired Cain to murder his brother Abel. Satan's plan was obvious. He was trying to wipe out all believers on the Earth in order to claim victory in his Appeal Trial. However, that plan failed because after the birth of Seth, "men began to call on the name of the LORD" (Gen 4:25, 26).
After
trying to kill all believers, Satan next attacked the Divine Institution
of Marriage. His demons married women and produced a race of supermen.
Genesis 6:1-2"Good-looking" is the Hebrew bof, (tob), for good-looking or pulchritudinous. The "sons of God" refer to angels (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Dan 3:25; Psa 29:1; 89:6). The angels involved were demons. Angels are not allowed to marry (Matt 22:30; Mark 12:25; Luke 20:34).
1 It came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the ground and daughters were born to them,
2 The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were good-looking. They took for themselves wives from them whom they chose.
Genesis 6:3Because of the widespread corruption of mankind, the Lord issued a warning that His Spirit would "not rule in men for ever." "Spirit" refers to the Spirit of Life from the Control Room in Heaven.4 This is the Spirit from God that gives soul-life to man. "Wandering astray" is taken to be the infinitive of hg*v*, (shagah), meaning to err; go astray. The people on the Earth had wandered astray into Reversionism. "His days shall be 120 years." This means there will be 120 years left before the Flood. Noah would be 480 years old at the time of the Flood.
The LORD said: "My Spirit shall not rule in men for ever; in their wandering astray, they are flesh. Nevertheless, his days shall be 120 years."
Genesis 6:4Nephilim is a transliteration of the Hebrew <yl!yp!n+Ò (Nephilim), which means fallen ones, referring to giants (Num. 13:33); from lp*n*(naphal), to fall upon, i.e. the attackers, invaders (Job 1:15; Josh 11:7). The fallen angels had sex with women and bore children that were a new race of supermen. They were the "mighty men (heroes)" of ancient mythology. These were races of giants as documented in history (Num 13:33). They were "men of renown," whose exploits were glorified in history. Since the DNA of man was altered, the Lord was obligated to destroy the evil ones before the entire human race was corrupted.
The Nephilim (giants) were on the Earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God (fallen angels) came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men (heroes) who from ancient times were the men of renown.
Genesis 6:5Man was doing evil, not living under Grace and producing Divine Good. The human race was full of evil, which comes from Satan.
The LORD saw the evil of man was great on the Earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil the whole day.
Genesis 6:6"Changed His mind" is the Hebrew <j^n* (nacham). This is an anthropopathism to explain God's disapproval of man's corruption in violating the Divine Institution of Marriage. God does not change His mind, but He strongly disapproves of evil.
The LORD changed His mind that He had made man on the Earth, and He was grieved to His heart.
Genesis 6:7The Lord decreed that He would destroy man along with the animals because of the evil on the Earth from the violation of Marriage Culture. Even the animals were affected by the sin and demon possession. Nature had been upset and corrupted (Gen 6:11-12), and the evil must be exterminated (Gen 6:13). "Changed My mind" is the Hebrew <j^n* (nacham), which is another anthropopathism to express the Lord's strong disapproval of the evil of man.
The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the ground, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I have changed My mind that I have made them.
Genesis 6:8In the midst of all the evil, Noah was a believer who lived by Grace. So, the Lord extended His Grace to Noah to deliver Him from the Judgment that was decreed upon all mankind. The Lord would deliver Noah and his family from the Flood that He would bring in 120 years.
But Noah found Grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Genesis 6:9
These are the genealogical records of Noah. Noah, a Righteous Right Man, his integrity was complete in his generation. Noah walked with God.
Noah
was Righteous. As a believer He had the Righteousness of God.
Here, the Hebrew vya!
('ish) means man as a noble man or Right Man. Because Noah
was a Righteous Right Man, his wife and family were also delivered.
Noah's integrity was complete. He had a completed Edification Complex
of the Soul. He "walked with God." He executed the Spiritual
life that was available to him. In the midst of all the evil, Noah
was the one man who, with God's Grace, thwarted Satan's attack on Marriage
to destroy his generation and the human race.
By
the time the Flood struck, there were only eight members of the human race
who were believers and not corrupted by evil (2 Pet 2:5). Noah and
his wife and his three sons and their wives, were the only ones left to
propagate the human race in its original genetic form. So Noah
built the ark in which eight souls and pairs of animals were delivered
from the Flood that came upon the entire Earth. The number, 8, stands
for the new birth, salvation. The pairs of animals symbolized Marriage
Culture.
After
the Flood, Satan's next attack upon human freedom came at the Tower of
Babel. Satan wanted a one-world government with the Antichrist as
the dictator. He wanted all mankind to be his slaves. So, he
concocted another scheme. He would build the first great city of
Babylon with a tower as a temple for worshipping him.
Genesis 11:1There was only one language spoken on the Earth and no dialects. "One" is the Hebrew dj*a# ('echad), which interestingly sounds the same as the root of Akkadian (the ancient language), although it is spelled differently.
Now the whole Earth had one language and one type of words.
Genesis 11:2-3The state of the art for architecture was to use brick cemented together with bitumen, or asphalt.
2 And it came about as they migrated east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
3 And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used bitumen for mortar.
Genesis 11:4The people decided to build a great city so they would not be scattered abroad over the Earth. This was an attempt to solve their problems with architecture. It came from Political Babylon. Satan gave the people fear of separation. This was regression because the Lord had decreed in the Noahic Covenant that man should populate the Earth (Gen 9:1, 7).
They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower with its top reaching into heaven and let us make for ourselves a name, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole Earth."
They would also build "a tower with its top reaching into heaven." The top of this tower is significant because it identifies with or reaches high into heaven. The tower was a huge ziggurat for worshipping Satan through idolatry. This was Ecumenical Babylon. Satan named the Sun, Moon, and stars after himself and established a system for worshipping him.
"Let us make for ourselves a name." This was the
desire for celebrityship - the ultimate goal of human good. It was
like Satan's "I will be like the Most High" (Isa 14:14). This arrogance
came from Cosmic Babylon.
The three parts of Cosmic, Political, and Ecumenical
Babylon indicate that this city was under Satan's power. The city
was the pattern for future city-states such as Babylon, Rome, the Vatican,
and Babylon the Great in the Tribulation (Rev 16:19; 17:18; 18:10, 16,
18, 19, 21). One city with everyone under one government would make
it easy for Satan to control. Everyone would live in the one city
or be an outcast. And everyone would be Satan's slave.
Genesis 11:5This is an anthropomorphism. The Lord could see the city from Heaven. "Had built" means the construction was finished up to a point.
The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
Genesis 11:6The Lord noted that the people were one united people with one language; therefore, there was nothing to restrain them from continuing their foolhardy solution of living in the City of Babel (Babylon) under Satan's power.
And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one (united) people, and they all have one language. This is only the beginning of what they will do; therefore, nothing will be impossible for them of all that they devise to do."
Genesis 11:7The Lord Judged them by confounding their language. "Confound" is the Hebrew ll^B*, (balal), meaning to confound or confuse. He made the people speak different languages. This was a miracle - not a result of natural separation of tribes with different dialects.
Come, we will go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
Genesis 11:8 NationalismThen the Lord scattered the people over the entire Earth. They left Babel and didn't finish their project. They went into different lands. The Divine Institution of Nationalism was established. There would no longer be only one city under the power of Satan, but nations would have a choice to be free, rather than be enslaved. Nations would be able to defend their freedom from other nations who wished to enslave them.
So the LORD scattered them abroad out from there over the face of the entire Earth, and they abandoned building the city.
Genesis 11:9The city was named Babel, which is the Hebrew lb#B*, (Babel), meaning gate of God, from Assyrian Bab-ili. Babel is a contracted form of the Hebrew lB#l+B* (balebel) from the Hebrew ll^B*, (balal), to confuse. Peleg was born 100 years after the Flood, and "in his days the Earth was divided" (Gen 10:25).
Therefore, its name was called Babel because there the LORD confounded the language of all the Earth, and from there, the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the Earth.
Colossians 1:16The four categories of angels according to authority and power are:
For by agency of Him all things were created in the heavens and on Earth, visible (mankind) and invisible (angels), whether thrones (Throne Angels), or Angelic Powers, or Commanders, or authorities (Managers) -- all things through Him and for the purpose of Him have been created.
There are 24 Elect Throne Angels who sit around the Throne of God – called "elders" (Rev 4:4). Michael is the Archangel, who is over the angelic Kings of Arms, and Gabriel is the angelic chief of the College of Heralds.
Wings symbolize angelic power and rank. The highest ranking angels, called seraphs, have six wings (Isa 6:2, 6), called living creatures (Rev 4:8), corresponding to the angels who stand before God (Rev 8:2). Living creatures (cherubs) with four wings fly the Lord's spaceship (Ezek 1:6, 11, 23).4
Angelic Powers are powerful angels over lordships or domains. They correspond to lords and nobility on the Earth. Included in this class are demon World Powers of darkness (Greek kosmokravtwr (kosmokrator)) (Eph 6:12).
Commanders are angelic generals, who command armies. This is translated "principalities" (Rom 8:38). Baalzebub is a Commander of the demons (Matt 12:24; Lk 11:15). Baal could also be considered a Commander. "Rulers" (Greek archon) in Ephesians 6:12 refers to Commanders.
Managers have authority to oversee the lowest tier of angels and Creation. Symbols of angelic Managers on the Earth include doves and locusts.
The Lord determines the course of history. He creates witnesses and gives them life. He protects people and the Divine Institutions to give everyone a fair shake. He insures that everyone who desires will have an opportunity to be saved. He doesn't allow Satan to destroy people out of hand. Human history is an orderly process of the Appeal Trial of Satan.
Satan is being given a fair trial. He is allowed to demonstrate his powers and rule the world. He is allowed to cross examine witnesses, which may lead to severe testing, as with Job. He is even allowed to administer the Sin Leading to Death, with God's permission. He is allowed to tempt and influence mankind. He is allowed to lead people astray, to trap them, to take them into evil and criminality, and to lure them to destruction.
Satan
is enthroned as king over the world. In the time of the Roman
Empire, his throne (illustration left) was at Pergamon (Rev 2:13).
Satan rules over the fallen angels, the demons. They are highly organized
according to angelic power and authority. He has Throne Angels, Powers,
Commanders, and Managers. His demons are organized for warfare with
the Elect Angels and for ruling over mankind and animals. Ever since
Satan rebelled, the Angelic Conflict has raged, and ever since Satan took
over the world, he has ruled over mankind.
Satan's demon army deals directly with the kings of the Earth. The kings, leaders, and heads of state receive their authority from God, but Satan influences them to do his bidding.
Revelation 16:13In the Tribulation, the Dragon, Satan, will indwell the Beast (Antichrist), and False Prophet of Israel. In the vision three unclean spirits (demons) were coming out of the mouth of the Beast and False prophet. The demons were like frogs. Frogs symbolize politicians in Political Babylon. Two world leaders, the Antichrist and False Prophet, were possessed by demons.
13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs;
Revelation 16:14The demons in the Beast and False Prophet performed signs (miracles) to impress people. These demons were dispatched to the kings of the whole world to bring them back to Israel to fight the War of Armageddon. The demons will have no problem convincing all the kings of the world to come fight Israel. That is an example of Satan's power to control the kings of the world through his demon organization.
for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great Day of God, the Almighty.
During
the reign of Cyrus, King of Persia, Daniel had a vision about the last
days (Dan 10:1). He saw the vision on the 24th day of the first month,
where 24 symbolizes strategy (Dan 10:4). The strategic vision was
about the end of the Jewish Age.
Daniel 10:5 ChristophanyThis was like the appearance of Jesus transfigured (Matt 17:2; Mk 9:3; Lk 9:29).
I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a Unique Man (Jesus Christ) dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz.
Daniel 10:6This was a Christophany (Rev 1:14-15). Daniel saw a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ as He will appear in Revelation. Although Daniel was with some other men, only he saw the vision. The other men were frightened and ran away (Dan 10:7).
His body also was like beryl, His face like the appearance of lightning, His eyes like flaming torches, His arms and his feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of His words like the sound of a multitude.
Daniel 10:8Daniel turned pale and he had no strength in his body.
So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet strength was not left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength.
Daniel 10:9When Daniel heard the sound of the words, he was in a trance. He heard the voice like a multitude or an army in verse 6.
Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
The awesome vision that put him in a trance left Daniel searching for answers. So, he prayed for understanding. God heard Daniel's prayer and immediately dispatched Gabriel to explain the meaning of the vision. However, Gabriel was delayed for 21 days due to the Angelic Conflict. The number, 21, stands for providential preventative suffering.
When Gabriel arrived, he touched Daniel, which set him trembling on his hands and knees (Dan 10:10). Gabriel is a very powerful angel, and Daniel was overpowered by his presence. Gabriel asked Daniel to stand up, and he stood up trembling from fear (Dan 10:11). Gabriel told Daniel to stop being afraid (Dan 10:12). Bible Doctrine cannot be learned in a state of fear, which is sin.
Daniel 10:13Gabriel went to answer Daniel's prayer, but he was opposed for 21 days by Satan's Throne Angel to Persia, called the "Prince of Persia."
But the demon prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
Here is the description of how angels fight each other. "Withstanding me" comes from the Hebrew dm^u* (`amad), to take a stand against + Hebrew dg#n# (neged), meaning opposite to. Therefore, the two words mean "standing in opposition to me." This is how angels fight. They stand in opposition to each other with their spiritual force fields and armor of light. Since angels are spirits, they cannot be injured with swords or fire, but they can be stopped, blocked, subdued, and captured. Although Gabriel is one of the most powerful angels, he was blocked for 21 days from reaching Daniel until Michael, the Archangel helped him. The two of them overpowered Satan's Throne Angel, the Prince of Persia.
Thus, there were two Throne Angels vying for power over the human King of Persia. One of the angels was Gabriel, who was guarding the King night and day, and the other was Satan's Throne Angel, who was also guarding the King to influence him. The King of Persia was the ruler of the world with authority from God. And two Throne Angels, one Elect and the other a Demon, were guarding him. Satan's demon was trying to influence him, and the Elect Angel was trying to protect him from evil.
Gabriel told Daniel that he was there to give him understanding of what would happen to Israel in the last days of the Jewish Age, namely the Tribulation (Dan 10:14). Daniel was overcome by the power of Gabriel. To add a little insight, Gabriel has the power to influence an entire kingdom, even a superpower. Daniel was speechless (Dan 10:15). Then Gabriel touched his lips, and Daniel spoke and told him how weak he was (Dan 10:16). Angels have the power to strengthen a person with the light energy that comes from their hands. Daniel was not only weak, but the angel, Gabriel, took his breath away (Dan 10:17). This is due to pressure on the brain stem, which controls the breathing. Then Gabriel touched Daniel and strengthened him (Dan 10:18). The human body functions on the basis of light, and angels have the ability to shine their light into the body to strengthen it. Then Gabriel spoke to Daniel. He told him not to be afraid and bid him, "Shalom," and encouraged him (Dan 10:19).
Gabriel remarked that he must return to fight against the "Prince of Persia" – i. e. Satan's Throne Angel. Then he said that the "Prince of Greece" will come (Dan 10:20). The "Prince of Greece" is Satan's Throne Angel who is with Alexander the Great, who will come to conquer the Medes and Persians.
Daniel 10:21Gabriel will tell Daniel what he is sure will be written in scripture, the Book of Truth. Then he said that only Michael stands with him against Satan's evil forces. "Stands firmly with" is the Hebrew qz^j* (chazaq), meaning to stand strongly with. Michael is the only one who joins forces with Gabriel to fight Satan's Throne Angels who are sent to the world rulers. Thus, there is a hierarchy of warfare, and Satan has deployed his strongest angels to guard his interests in the world ruler. Michael is called Daniel's prince because he is the guardian angel of Israel.
However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet, there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.
Daniel 12:1 Great TribulationThe Archangel Michael will arise to guard Israel during the Great Tribulation (Matt 24:21). Everyone whose name is recorded in the Book of Life5 (Isa 4:3; Phil 4:3) will be rescued (Matt 24:29-31).
Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress (Great Tribulation) such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the Book (of Life), will be rescued (at the Second Advent).
Ephesians 6:12"World Powers" is the Greek kosmokravtwr, (kosmokrator), from (kosmos, world) + (kratos, power), meaning world power. The Greek kravto", (kratos) means power which one has or attains; politically, it denotes legal and valid superior power; might; supremacy. Darkness refers to Political Babylon.
Because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against demon Commanders, against demon Managers, against demon World Powers of this darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies.
The "World Powers of this darkness" have power over Political Babylon. They are symbolized by rats, moles, and frogs (Lev 11:29). The demons that will come out of the mouth of the Antichrist and the False Prophet are these demon World Powers of darkness.
Revelation 16:13The evil trinity, the Dragon (Satan), the Beast (Antichrist), and False Prophet, each have unclean spirits (demons) like frogs. Frogs symbolize demon World Powers (kosmokrators), which empower politicians in Political Babylon. The demons come out of their mouths to symbolize communication in Political Babylon. The demon World Powers (kosmokrators) give the evil trinity political power.
And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs;
Revelation 16:14Satan will dispatch the demon World Powers to the kings of the whole world to bring them back to Israel to fight the War of Armageddon. This shows the great political power of the demon World Powers (kosmokrators). They will convince all the kings of the world to come fight Israel.
for they are spirits of demons, performing signs (miracles), which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great Day of God, the Almighty.
Politicians must be eloquent and persuasive in order to appeal to their audiences and secure a following. The demon World Powers (kosmokrators) are like a spiritual gift to give them their powers of oratory. So, Satan not only gives ruling power through Throne Angels (his princes) (Dan 10:13, 20), but political power through demon World Powers (kosmokrators) and ecumenical power though demon spirits of antichrists and false prophets (1 Ki 22:22-23; 2 Chron 18:21-22; 1 Jn 4:1).
World Powers of darkness can whip up an audience just as easily as they can whip up a mob and start a riot or rebellion. They operate anywhere groups are gathered – in schools, businesses, parliaments, and churches. They are effective in free countries and democracies as well as dictatorships. They can influence elections and political appointments. And they are invisible to all except believers who have their senses trained to discern good and evil (Heb 5:14).
Believers who execute the Spiritual life are able to have an impact in Spiritual Warfare against Satan and his demons. As the Lord directs the battles against Satan, Christians are allowed to participate. The Lord brings the battle to the Christian, who conquers the forces of evil by exercising his faith. After the battle scene is recognized from Divine viewpoint, a defensive position can be taken against Satan's forces. The battles are tests, and the Lord doesn't allow the believer to be tested beyond what he is able (1 Cor 10:13). The believer passes the test and overwhelmingly conquers through application of Bible Doctrine (Rom 8:37).
Ephesians 6:12The Christian soldier in Spiritual Warfare fights against Satan and his demons, but he fights in the Lord's army. He doesn't go out and pick a fight with an individual demon. He uses the arsenal of the Lord and obeys the Lord. The battle is the Lord's, and the victory belongs to Him. The Lord provides in Grace for every exigency.
Because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against demon Commanders, against demon Managers, against demon World Powers of this darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies.
The battle scene unfolds on the Stage of Life. Weather Angels, animals, people, colors, and events in the heavens can be interpreted with Divine viewpoint to understand the battle scene. The Holy Spirit provides step-by-step guidance, and Bible Doctrine lights the way. The armor of the Light provides protection at all times (Rom 13:12).
By
obeying Bible Doctrine in the battle, the forces of Satan are defeated.
The ranks of Satan's army are defeated in order like the army of an invading
king.
For those who qualify for Spiritual Rapport, another level of Spiritual Warfare must be passed. This is overcoming Satan's Cosmic System. In this stage Satan is allowed to counterattack the mature believer. The attacks come from Satan, his demons, and people under demon influence. The Lord opens the door for the attacks on the believer and Satan and his demons are allowed to cross examine the witness. The tests involve intense suffering. They can only be passed by Grace (2 Cor 12:9). A complete knowledge of Bible Doctrine is required. This is where Satan, the roaring lion, must be resisted (Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8, 9). Those who are promoted to Spiritual Rapport will glorify God to the maximum and receive rewards and decorations for the Uniform of Glory of their Resurrection body.
As the time drew near for His Crucifixion, the Lord had a premonition of His death while He was speaking to a crowd.
John 12:27The soul of Jesus was troubled. This was the Holy Spirit raising an alarm. He prayed to the Father to deliver Him. This indicates His revulsion facing the sins of the world. Then He understood and accepted the Father's will. He said, "Because of this I have come to this hour." This was His purpose in the First Advent.
Now, My soul has become troubled, and what should I say? Father, deliver Me from this hour, but because of this I have come to this hour.
John 12:28 Father GlorifiedJesus Christ glorified the Father, and the Father's Plan to send Him to the Cross. The Father spoke from Heaven. Only Jesus understood the voice. The Gentiles (Jn 12:20) didn't have a clue, and the Jews thought it was an angel. The Father said that He had glorified His name (meaning in eternity past when He planned for Jesus Christ to go to the Cross). And the Father said, "I will glorify it again." He would be glorified when Jesus Christ paid for the sins of the world.
Father, glorify Your name. Then a voice came from Heaven, "I have glorified it (eternity past), and I will glorify it again."
The crowd heard the sound but did not understand what was spoken. Some thought it was thunder and others thought an angel had spoken (Jn 12:29).
John 12:30-31Jesus explained that the voice was made audible so the people would know the gravity of the situation. This was a harbinger of doom. Divine Judgment was coming upon the world. "World" is the Greek kovsmo" (kosmos). It means the Earth and all that is in it, including Satan's Cosmic System. The Judgment that is coming upon the world is the Judgment of the sin in the world. Jesus Christ will go to the Cross and be Judged for the sins of the world.
30 Jesus answered and said, "This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes.
31 Now Judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out.
"Now the ruler of the world (Satan) shall be cast out." The payment for sins will defeat Satan, who rules the world through the power of sin. When the sins of the world are paid for, Satan will be defeated. He will lose His Appeal Trial, and He will be cast off the Earth at the Second Advent.
John 12:32 MediatorWhen Jesus is lifted up on the Cross between Heaven and Earth, He will be the Mediator between God and man. He will draw all people to Himself. "All" means everyone, not just the Elect. This is unlimited atonement. He will pay for the sins of everyone, so that anyone who wants to be saved can receive Eternal Life. This is the victory of the Cross and Satan's loss.
And I, if I am lifted up from the Earth, I will draw all people to Myself.
John 14:30As His time approached to go to the Cross, Jesus told His disciples that the ruler of the world (Satan) was coming. "Ruler" is the Greek archon, meaning ruler or commander. Satan is coming to arouse the conspiracy to send Jesus Christ to the Cross. Jesus says that he (Satan) has nothing in Him. This is a very strong negative in the Greek, which means he (Satan) does not have anything, absolutely nothing, in Him. This is very strong opposition between Jesus and Satan. Jesus represents the Holy God, and Satan is the evil enemy.
I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;
Jesus again mentioned Satan as the ruler of the world when He prophesied the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age.
John 16:8 Coming of the Holy SpiritAfter Jesus Christ ascends to the Father, He will send the Holy Spirit in His place. The Holy Spirit will convict the people in the world of sin, Righteousness, and Judgment. "Sin" refers to the sin of unbelief (Jn 16:9). "Righteousness" is the Greek dikaiosuvnh (dikaiosune), for Divine Righteousness (+R) or righteous-integrity. And "Judgment" refers to the Judgment of Satan and his followers.
And when He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and concerning Righteousness and concerning Judgment;
John 16:9The Holy Spirit will convict unbelievers of the sin of unbelief, which is the only unforgivable sin.
concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;
John 16:10"See" is the Greek qewrevw (theoreo), which means to see or observe with the eyes; or to perceive with the mind. Since Jesus will ascend to the Father, the disciples will no longer see Him with their eyes, although they already should have been perceiving Him with the mind. In His absence, the Holy Spirit will teach about and reveal Righteousness (Jn 16:13). The Holy Spirit will reveal Righteousness (X-axis Truth), which is the opposite of sin, because Jesus Christ will no longer be on the Earth teaching about Righteousness and being the example of it to them.
and concerning Righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;
John 16:11The Holy Spirit will convict the world of the Judgment of Satan and his followers in the Lake of Fire. This will be the fate of all who reject Jesus Christ as Savior. Satan has already been judged and sentenced to the Lake of Fire. He will be captured and locked up for a thousand years at the Second Advent. Then he will be thrown into the Lake of Fire where he will remain forever.
and concerning Judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4Even though Paul presented the Gospel accurately, it was being blocked or veiled, as if by a curtain. That was because when the Gospel went into the mind of the unbelievers, Satan, as the god of this world, blinded their minds. After they heard the Gospel, the Holy Spirit enlightened them to enable them to make a decision to believe in Jesus Christ. However, before they could think about it, Satan blanked out the Light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ. Satan put so much pressure on them that they could not perceive the Gospel. They couldn't think straight. Therefore, they could not believe in Jesus Christ.
3 And even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 in whose case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that they might not see the Light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
This is a case of Satan playing god. He prevents unbelievers from believing in Jesus Christ in order to keep them in the dark where he is their master. Thus, Satan has the power in Ecumenical Babylon to blank out the Light of the Gospel in the mind of the unbeliever. Satan has the power to prevent the unbeliever from seeing the Light of the Gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the unbeliever cannot believe in what he cannot perceive.
Each time the unbeliever rejects the Gospel after hearing it, his heart is hardened, and he builds up more Scar Tissue of the Soul (2 Cor 3:14). So, every time Satan succeeds in blinding his mind, he builds up another layer of Scar Tissue. As his heart is hardened he goes deeper into Reversionism. The next time he hears the Gospel it will be even more difficult to believe because of the layers of Scar Tissue of the Soul, which block out the Light of God.
Ephesians 2:1-2Unbelievers, no matter how good their intentions, are spiritually dead. They live in their transgressions and sins. In spiritual death, they live according to the lifestyle of this world (the Cosmic System) under the power of Satan. Satan is called "the powerful ruler of the air." "Powerful ruler" is the Greek ejxousiva (exousia), meaning authority, power, plus the Greek a[rcwn (archon), meaning ruler, commander; from the Hebrew rs* (sar), rr^s* (sarar) = to be a prince, or a chief (Dan 10:13). Thus, Satan's name of ruler corresponds to the Hebrew name for prince, which was applied to the Throne Angels that Satan sent to Persia and Greece.
1 And although you were dead in transgressions and in your sins,
2 In which sphere (real spiritual death), you formerly walked according to the lifestyle of this world according to the powerful ruler of the air, the spirit that is now operating in the sons of disobedience.
Satan's name as "the powerful ruler of the air" means that he is associated with the air, corresponding to the spirit realm. The air also corresponds to the atmosphere around the Earth, which means he is over all the Earth. Satan is called:
Satan is "the spirit that is now operating in the sons of disobedience." Satan and his demon spirits operate in unbelievers and influence carnal believers. The outside influence of Satan and the world meet the desires of the Old Sin Nature in the soul (Rom 6:6; Eph 6:12). "The sons of disobedience" are unbelievers, who have disobeyed (or disbelieved) the Gospel (Eph 5:6). The unbeliever is wide open to the influence of Satan. The Holy Spirit is not in him to restrain. The unbeliever is at Satan's disposal to be his slave. Satan, in effect, owns his soul. The only hope for the unbeliever is to believe in Jesus Christ and be freed from the Cosmic System.
Ephesians 2:3 Former Children of WrathChristians were all formerly under Satan's power. We behaved according to the lusts of the Old Sin Nature. The desires and thoughts of the flesh (OSN) were compatible with the Cosmic System. We "were by nature children of wrath" in our natural state as the descendants of Adam. We were under the curse of sin, "dying (spiritually), you will die (physically)" (Gen 2:17).
Among whom we also all formerly behaved in the lusts of our flesh (OSN) indulging the desires of the flesh and the thinking and were, by nature, children of wrath, even as the rest.
1 John 5:18This verse is in the middle of a paragraph about the Sin Leading to Death. It is the alternative to the Sin Leading to Death, which occurs because a believer will not Rebound.
We know absolutely that everyone who has been born from God does not sin; but He who was born from God guards him, and the evil one does not touch him.
"We know absolutely" is a strong expression of the Greek perfect tense. It means we know completely, or absolutely. The principle is everyone born from God does not sin in the New Life. Sure, believers can sin. They never attain complete, or holy, sanctification in this life (1 Jn 1:8, 10). However, in the New Life after Salvation, the Filling of the Holy Spirit protects the believer from sin (1 Jn 3:9). Thus, the Filling of the Holy Spirit blocks Satan's power over believers.
"He (Jesus Christ) who was born from God guards him." Jesus Christ in His humanity was born from God (John 3:16). Jesus Christ as the High Priest of the Body of Christ guards all members of the Body. He watches over them, protects them, and intercedes for them. He is their Advocate (defense attorney) (1 Jn 2:1).
"And the evil one does not touch him." The believer cannot sin in the filling of the Holy Spirit, and the evil one (Satan) cannot touch him because there is no open door from sin. The filling of the Holy Spirit is the most powerful weapon against Satan. It is the power of God in the New Life of the believer.
Author: Larry Wood, Released - May 4, 2013 - Revised Sept. 29, 2013
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