When we were last together in this new series we revealed that Lucifer was created by God, described in the Bible as...the anointed cherub who covers...Ez. 28:14. Lucifer was perfect from the day he was created...till iniquity was found in you (him)...Ez. 28:15. What is iniquity? The Bible defines iniquity as perverseness, unrighteousness and wickedness.
When iniquity was found in Lucifer he lost his favored position in Heaven and was cast to the earth. How you are fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground...you who weakened the nations...for you have said in your heart: I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High...Is. 14:12-14.
When Lucifer, the created angel, said he would become like God, what did God say to him? ...you became filled with violence within, and you sinned, therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub from the midst of the fiery stones...your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor...Ez. 28:16-17. Pride is an ugly liability!
God continued...you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit...Is. 14:15. It is obvious that God had given Lucifer a kingdom to oversee, but the scriptures do not give is more detail. Because of his beauty and splendor, somewhere along his path of power and authority given to him by God, he became deceived into believing he could become God and overthrow the throne of his Creator!
And war broke out in Heaven; Michael and his angels fought with the dragon (Lucifer); and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in Heaven any longer...so the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him...Rev. 12:7-9.
God had one last thing to say to Lucifer, now referred to as Satan, as he cast him into the Pit in the earth...you shall be a terror...Ez. 28:19. As we look around at our modern godless society, we can see how Satan is continuing to terrorize our world. But when God told Satan he would be a terror on the earth, He also prophesied...and you shall be no more forever. When God is finished allowing Satan to test mankind, he will be cast into the Lake of Fire, away from God's family forever...Rev. 20:10.
Jesus anointed 70 of His disciples with His power and authority and sent them into the communities to cast out demons and heal the sick. When they returned they shared with Jesus how astonished they were that the demons were subject to them in the Name of Jesus! Jesus said to them...I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven...Luke 10:17-18. Another time Jesus was explaining to them about Hell when He said...the everlasting fire (was) prepared for the devil and his angels...Matt. 25:41.
Jesus saw Satan fall like lightning out of Heaven, as God cast him to the earth to become a terror. The Apostle Peter warned human beings about Satan when he said...be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour...I Pet. 5:8. If Satan isn't real I wonder why Jesus and His disciples talked about him in the first person?
After Jesus told His disciples that He saw Satan fall to the earth - a terror - He told them not to fear. He assured them when He said...I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you...Luke 10:19. Serpents and scorpions is symbolism for demons and their poisonous darts of destruction directed toward God's kids.
Is it becoming a bit clearer that Satan is a real living being, who lives in the invisible world, but his works are clearly visible in our physical world? He once was a bright and shinning star in God's heavenly kingdom, but he rebelled against God. God had no choice but to cast Satan from His presence - sin cannot live in the presence of God's holiness - His purity.
Since Satan no longer reflected the light and brilliance of the anointing of God, he took on the persona of wickedness, reflecting his nefarious activity hidden in the darkness of the sins of men. He was angry at God, so would relentlessly seek to kidnap God's family and take them to Hell with him. Well...how could that be since Jesus said that Hell was created for the devil and his angels?
I remember a conversation with my Dad who claimed he had read the whole Bible twelve times, so felt rather scholarly. He was telling me there is no Hell. Hell is the life you have to live on the earth. I usually don't challenge someone's emphatic statements, but I may ask a thought-provoking question. So I asked him, "If there is no Hell how does it enlarge itself?" After a brief silence, he snapped, "Where is that in the Bible?" I said, "Isaiah 5:14."
I explained that no human being is forced to follow God and His commandments, because He made human beings with a mind, will and emotions - they can choose whom they will follow. If they choose God, He will usher them into His heavenly kingdom - but - if they choose Satan, Hell will enlarge itself to accommodate their choice to follow him.
Why don't people believe that Satan is real? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
We are still searching the scriptures and observing our 21st century society for signs of the times that point to the fact that the end of the world is near. One of the major signs is the work of Satan in every nation on the planet. Is Satan merely a myth? Is he a figment of one's imagination? Is he merely someone to blame for our own evil thoughts and violent actions, so we don't have to take responsibility for the harm we have done to others --- the devil made me do it?
Since the Bible has so much to say about Satan, we needed to begin a new series to reveal all the evidence of his existence -- and his plans to separate mankind from their Creator. Down through the decades we have seen various cartoons depicting a human being with a caricature of an angel on one shoulder and a caricature of a devil on the other, influencing him to do good or to do evil. This image reveals the truth about the influence of the invisible spiritual world of God's angels and Satan's demons in the affairs of mankind on the earth.
Temptation to do evil is very real, and if we ignore the very real source of the power and authority behind this temptation, we do so at our own peril! All have sinned and come short of the glory of God...Rom. 3:23. Many years ago God sent me to a man's hotel room in the middle of the night to share the gospel with him, for he would die soon -- he was 103 years old and very ill. This man asked me, "How can I get to Heaven? I have always wanted to know God, but no one would help me."
It is a long story, but suffice it to say that when I shared this scripture with him he recoiled at the thought. He said, "I am not a sinner for I have given away millions of dollars to the poor and needy --- I have done many good works. I once asked a priest, to whom I had just given a million dollars, how can I find God? The priest turned around and said angrily, "You are a heathen, God doesn't want you!"
Softly and gently I asked him if I could read what the Bible says about the heavenly city. He gladly welcomed my reading from Revelation chapters 21-22, then I noticed tears flow from his eyes. While he still resisted the fact that we must repent and accept Jesus into our hearts in order to enter Heaven, he said he would read the literature I left that gave all the scriptures that would explain this truth.
About 1:30 AM, as I got up to leave this precious gentlemen, he grabbed my arm before I went out the door. With clear blue eyes, revealing a longing to know more about spiritual things, he said, "Will I ever see you again?" I said with confidence, knowing God was already doing a work in his heart, "Yes...I will see you in Heaven!"
Who is Satan? Satan equates to Sin - where you have one you have the other. Satan and Sin cannot be separated. The real world is the invisible spiritual world. God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, angels, Satan, demons and devils all reside in the invisible spiritual world. The reason that most people don't believe this is because God's Church -- born again Christians -- have neglected to teach this reality. They are more interested in fitting into the world, being tolerant or politically correct, so they will be accepted, rather than ridiculed.
They have seriously forgotten the warning from James, the brother of Jesus...Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?...whosoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God...James 4:4. Why does the modern Church, not all of course, ignore this warning? It seems that the developed world, who built their countries on the foundation of Christ, have prospered so much they don't need God anymore! Subsequent generations don't know God intimately, because they no longer have examples of godly men. They enjoy the glitz and glamor offered in the world -- no spiritual responsibility -- just fun and frolic.
The modern Church, as a whole, has pretty much eliminated any teaching about Satan and the Sin factor! In fact, the average church rarely speaks about Sin! After all, if a church teaches about Sin and how it separates men from God, some radical group may find out and try to shame them in the Press in order to silence them. Teaching gospel truth will always bring persecution and rejection from the world. But today, if a certain church teaches gospel truth, it brings persecution and rejection from other churches.
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house...Luke 11:17. Look around, don't you see division in every country? This is Satan's quest -- his purpose -- and he is succeeding. Who is Satan? God revealed to the Prophet Ezekiel the answer to our question.
Satan began his spiritual life when God created him an anointed cherub, whom He called Lucifer. The word Lucifer in the Hebrew language is helel meaning: the morning-star; brightness; to shine. When he rebelled against God and was cast down to Sheol, he became known by the title: Satan. The word Satan in the original Hebrew language is satan. In the original Aramaic language it is satanas. The meaning of his title is the same in all languages: accuser, opponent, adversary, attack, the devil, enemy of good.
Have you ever been verbally attacked - accused? Or, have you ever verbally attacked or accused anyone? Now you know the source!
God described Lucifer to Ezekiel before he was known as Satan...You were 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 sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold...the workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created...Ez. 28:12-13.
God didn't stop there in describing Lucifer...You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of the fiery stones...you were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you...Ez. 28:14-15.
How did Lucifer lose his favored position in Heaven? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
The Apostle Paul advised followers of Christ to search the scriptures to see how God deals with sinful men, those who reject His provisions and protections from their arch enemy Satan. There are many dozens of examples from which we should learn, because our flesh innately desires the things of the world. When we were last together I asked, "Did you know there were Intercessors in the Old Testament - with the mark of God on their foreheads - who wept over the sins of Israel when they left God to serve other gods?"
The Prophet Ezekiel's ministry appeared after the Prophet Jerremiah, and both prophets had a message from God about a national calamity. Ezekiel warned every individual of Israel that they must take responsibility for the destruction of their temple and city. Why? Because they turned away from the provision and protection of God, and whored after foreign gods. And...it was their spiritual leaders who led them down this calamitous path.
The Spirit of God in a vision, took Ezekiel to the temple of God so he could see the wicked abominations - idol worship - that was being conducted by the elders of the House of Israel...Ez. 8:1-11. Ezeziel, who was invisible, heard the elders of Israel say...the Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land...Ez. 8:12.
In the temple of God, where the public cannot see, Ezekiel was shown the hypocrisy of his religious leaders. He saw women of the temple sitting around the idol Tammuz weeping for him. He saw men with their backs to the temple, faces toward the east, worshipping the Sun. The Spirit of God told Ezekiel these people of Jerusalem have filled the land with violence through their abominations - provoking Him to anger...Ez. 8:13-18.
Then Ezekiel saw six men - angels - with battle axes in their hands. One that was clothed in linen had a writer's inkhorn at his side. The Spirit of the Lord instructed this angel...go through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it...Ez. 9:1-4. Was this a visible mark on their flesh - like the word God - stamped on their forehead? Not at all.
These six angels were sent with battle axes to destroy all who participated in the wicked abominations, so they marked the forehead of the Intercessors, who wept over Jerusalem because of their sins, so they would not be included in the destruction by the angels. Why was the mark placed on their foreheads? The forehead symbolizes the mind, will and emotions. Men make their decisions with their mind - declare their allegiance to God -- or to Satan and the world.
This is why the Apostle Paul said to believers...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God...Rom. 12:2. The Intercessors in chapter 9 had their minds focused on the things of God, their allegiance to God was sure, so Ezekiel was allowed to see God's recognition of their obedience through the symbolic ink mark on their foreheads.
After the mark of God was placed on the foreheads of all the Intercesssors of Jerusalem to protect them, the fury of God was unleashed upon the city of Jerusalem -- beginning in the sanctuary where the elders of the temple had committed their abominations. When any nation turns away from God, and His eternal plans and purposes for His family on the earth, their wicked abominations must be cleansed from the land. God's judgment and punishment on sin is meant to draw men to Him. Why? He is the only one who can lead men safely and victoriously through all the traps set by Satan to ensnare them, while they make their earthly journey to His heavenly kingdom.
The Church of the 21st century has secretly done abominations against God. The judgment of God against us will be no different than in the ancient days of Israel, if we do not sincerely repent and turn from our wicked ways. Destruction and devastaation will soon come upon us -- judgment begins at the house of God, just at it did in the ancient days of Israel. Are these abominations a sign of the times that will result in the end of the world?
One night in 1974, it was late in the evening and the kids were snuggled in their beds, when I finally had a minute to myself to study the Bible. I was curled up in my comfy chair and was reading about the many supernatural experiences of the Prophet Ezekiel. I was reading about the sins of the religious leaders committed against their congregation. There were false prophets in his time and there were priests who violated the Law and profaned God's holy things. God described them as wolves tearing the prey -- innocent citizens of Israel.
As I was reading about all the secret sins of the leaders of Israel, their oppression of the poor and needy, I realized these same abominations were going on in my generation, by religious and secular leaders alike, so is there any hope for ordinary citizens against such evil governmental power & authority. Then I came to the verse that changed my spiritual direction forever. What is this transformative verse?
So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one...therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads...Ez.22:30-31. Wow... the Intercessors found in chapter 9 could no longer be found in the judgment of chapter 22. Why? Apparently every priest, prince and the people of the land had succumbed to wicked abominations by this time.
But, when I read that God was looking for someone to stand in the gap so judgment would not come to those living in sin, it sparked an immediate question to God. I asked out loud, "What does this mean to stand in the gap? Can I stand in the gap for my parents, who want nothing to do with You and hate that I am a Christian? Can You tell me how to stand in the gap for their salvation, so judgment won't come on them before they accept you as Savior? Later I stood in the gap for all relatives, friends and strangers I met along the way, including politicians & government leaders - thousands of people - intercession was my silent calling - only God got the credit!
This was a revelation to me and stirred my spirit with hope for the deliverance of my parents, especially since they did not want to hear my testimony, and wanted nothing to do with my God. So I wouldn't share anymore with them what God had done for me, but rather I would stand in the gap, bind Satan's power over their lives, and proclaim in the spirit realm that my God is not willing that any should perish but that all will come to repentance...II Peter. 3:9.
The Apostle Paul told us...for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh...for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds...casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...II Cor. 10:3-5. Who places these strongholds against human beings? Satan - man's worst enemy - places these strongholds.
Who is Satan? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
When we were last together in this series I asked, "Are there more signs of the times that point to the end of the world in our time?" Today we will begin to search the Bible for what God says to the people who forsake Him and His righteous Son, Jesus Christ, who died to provide a pathway to His heavenly kingdom. God's love is unconditional, yet He gives mankind the power to chose Him, or they can chose the pathway to Hell provided by Satan.
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. for assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled...Matt. 5:17-18. Jesus is saying that He has fulfilled the Law by His own righteousness, because mankind in his sin could never fulfill the requirements of the Law. While many fleshly requirements of the Law were done away with, such as dietary laws, feasts. & rituals, the spiritual principles of the Law stand forever.
Heaven and earth will not pass away - end of the world - until every iota (jot) and every Hebrew mark (tittle) in the Law is fulfilled - gospel and prophecy. The Ten Commandments, which represent the righteousness of God, have not been done away with, but sinful men were unable to keep them. This is why God sent His Son to pay the ransom for our sins, so we could be reconciled to Him, and His light could lead us through the dark journey on the earth. God's Word...is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path...Ps. 119:105.
The Ten Commandments are not the only commandments from our God, they are an outline - a blueprint. The first of the ten commandment tells us to serve the Lord our God, and only HIM shall we serve. Yet, Jesus said...the first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one...and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength...and the second, like it, is this: you shall love your neighbor as yourself...there is no other commandments greater than these...Mark 12:29-31.
Jesus clearly expanded the original blueprint of the Ten Commandments, which we see throughout the Bible. What happens to people who reject the Creator and His Son, thus His commandments that are meant to protect us from evil? The 28th chapter of Deuteronomy describes the blessings and curses that will come upon people who obey His commandments and those who disobey His commandments - it is our choice. The blessings are listed in verses 1-14 and the curses are listed in verses 15-68. Please read all of the blessings & curses and be educated.
If we refuse to obey the commandments of the Lord, and continue to seek foreign gods, we have signed up for the consequences. The word curse used in this chapter means: execrate. The definition of execrate: to call down evil upon us. When we reject God, His Son and His commandments, we chose to call down evil upon us.
If we forsake the Lord, evil will come upon our cities; the fruit of our body; and the produce of our land. The Lord will send confusion and rebuke all that we set our hand to do -- plagues & disease will consume us. We will be defeated by our enemies -- a nation we have not known will eat the fruit of our produce & labor and we will be oppressed and crushed.
The alien (foreigner, stranger) who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower...he shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head and you shall be the tail...moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes...Deut. 28:43-45.
I'll bet you didn't know that allowing the false gods of the aliens in our midst to take preeminence over Jesus Christ has unleashed these curses upon us! Look around the nations, including the USA, and you will see the devastation of the curses. When the developed nations, who once revered the God of the Bible, invited unlimited and unrestricted people to dwell in their lands and build altars to their foreign gods, all the curses listed in Deuteronomy have now come upon them.
Since that unconstitutional ruling by the Supreme Court in l962, the Ten Commandment have been removed from all government buildings, including government schools. The only way the name of Jesus is allowed in government venues is when it is a curse word. Traditions of the USA are considered hurtful, inconsiderate and exclusory to aliens, so citizens are made to feel ashamed of their beliefs and their favorite holidays are renamed with secular titles. Aliens have become the head and citizens have become the tail. Signs of the times.
What did God say to Solomon about serving foreign gods? But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples...I Kings 9:6-7.
Insert USA, UK, France, Germany, etc, for Israel in this reference and know this message is for any country that once walked with Jesus Christ, but turned away to welcome the foreign gods of the aliens in their midst. The curses of Deuteronomy are overtaking these nations. You can make the name of Jesus Christ & His Bible illegal, you can remove every vestige of his name on buildings, in books, or public documents, and you can remove statues that offend your pure sensibilities -- but God's words are spirit and truth, so they will live forever.
Teddy Roosevelt said that an immigrant who comes to America must assimilate, become in every facet an American -- and nothing but American -- there can be no divided allegiance. We have room for one flag, one language, and one sole loyalty -- loyalty to the American people. President Roosevelt knew and understood our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Do you?
Did you know there were intercessors in the Old Testament - with the mark of God on their foreheads - who wept over the sins of Israel when they left God to serve others gods? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
