The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3.4-5).
Introduction
In His most heated encounter with the Jewish authorities (John 8.44), Jesus declared that Satan was a murderer and a liar, “the father of lies.” As “the father of lies,” Satan works constantly to deceive mankind about God’s existence, God’s goodness and love, and his own existence (2 Corinthians 4.3-4). Religion is a creation of Satan as a counterfeit to God and His plan of salvation. Satan’s deception will reach its apex during the period of time known in the Bible the Day of the Lord or the Tribulation.
Satan’s lie, THE LIE, came into existence as a result of Satan’s thinking he could become God (Isaiah 14.14). Satan deceived himself with this lie and it led to his rebellion against God. He now peddles the lie to mankind. He seduces man with a message that, a) man can become God and b) Satan is God. His lie to man began in the garden of Eden.
The Beginning of THE LIE: Satan, the Anointed Cherub
God created the Shining One (הֵילֵל), his name before he became Satan, as His most beautiful and powerful of God’s creations. He was the “anointed cherub that covers” (Ezekiel 28.14). The word “covers” is סָכַךְ and means to cover as a guard or protector. We find the word describing the cherubim who covered or guarded the mercy seat (Exodus 25.20, 37.9, 1 Kings 8.7; 1 Chronicles 28.18). The mercy seat of the Ark was the earthly representation of God’s heavenly throne. Satan, before his rebellion, was its chief guardian and protector.
Satan is described having “every precious stone was your covering” (Ezekiel 28.13). As a result of rebellion, he exchanged his glorious attire of ruby, topaz, diamond, beryl, onyx, jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise, emerald, and gold for maggots and worms (Isaiah 14.11). God remembered him as he was before he rebelled:
12 “You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 “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.
14 “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.
15 “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you (Ezekiel 28.12-15).
How did Satan fall? Isaiah recorded Satan’s thought processes which led to his rebellion:
13 “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.
14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’ (Isaiah 14.13-14).
Notice the progressive nature of Satan’s pride: ascend, raise, above, sit on the mount, in the north, ascend, above. He whole attitude focused upon himself, not God. Everything was “I will” and “my.” He ended his boast with: “I will make myself like the Most High.” This is how THE LIE began.
Yet Satan’s future will be eternal humiliation:
9 “Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; It arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones.
10 “They will all respond and say to you, even you have been made weak as we, you have become like us.
11‘ Your pomp and the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you and worms are your covering.’
12 “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! (Isaiah 14.9-12 cf. Revelation 20.10)
Satan fell victim to his lie. He formed the idea in his mind that he could be God and acted on this thought. Since his rebellion, his chief labor has been to deceive other created beings: angelic and human. He deceived one-third of the angels (Revelation 12.4) and acted quickly to ensure mankind’s fall. He works assiduously to promote his lie and keep men and women from God’s love and mercy.
Satan and the Woman: Attack of THE LIE
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “ From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3.1-5).
Satan’s campaign of deceit to the human race is recorded in the opening chapters of Genesis. He is introduced as a serpent but Eve did not speak with a snake. She spoke to Satan and he appeared as a “shining one.” He seduced Eve into believing God was selfishly withholding something good from her. He deceived her into thinking that eating from the forbidden tree, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, would result in her having knowledge of good and evil and becoming like the gods, like the “sons of God.” Satan’s temptation was not that Eve could be God. That would have been a step too far. The woman had too much reverence for God to think she could be like him. Rather, the temptation was that she could become like the divine beings who attended and served at God’s throne (Psalm 82.1). Eve thought this would be wonderful and Satan was able to cause her to doubt God’s good and and He was withholding something good from her. She became convinced that if she ate she would be like these divine beings, the “sons of God” (בְנֵי־הָֽאֱלֹהִים, Job 1.6, 2.1, 38.7). This was THE LIE.
After Eve ate from the forbidden tree she realized her terrible mistake. Genesis recorded God’s conversation with the woman:
Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Genesis 3.13 cf. 2 Corinthians 11.3; 1 Timothy 2.14).
Believing THE LIE, “you will be like the gods” has but one end: death.
THE LIE and the End of the Age
1 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” 3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age”(Matthew 24.1-3)?
Jesus’ statement about the Temple shocked the Twelve. His distressing statement created many questions among them. They asked Him when these things would occur and when would He return and end the age. They were especially interested to learn when the age would end and when He would establish the Messianic kingdom because Jesus had promised they would rule in it (Matthew 19.28).
In Jesus’ explanation of the events that would occur He emphasized one point repeatedly: do not be deceived. Thus, we read in the passage:
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many (Matthew 24.4-5).
The word translated “mislead” is πλανάω (from which we get our word “planet,” i.e., “wandering star.)” It means “to cause to stray,” “to lead astray,” “to go astray, wander, roam about,” and metaphorically “to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive.” Two more times in this passage Jesus warned about future deception:
Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many (Matthew 24.11).
For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24.24).
The greatest deception the world will experience will occur at the end of this age. The prophets called this time the Day of the Lord (cf. Joel 2.30-32; Zephaniah 1.14-18). Jesus called it the Tribulation (Matthew 24.15-22). During this period Jesus warned of the “abomination of desolation” of Daniel’s prophesy (Daniel 9.27). It is a time when God will pour out his wrath and judge a disbelieving, Christ-rejecting world. These events will occur after God has completed and removed the Church, the body of Christ. How do we know this? We know it because the Scripture explicitly states it. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about the Day of the Lord:
| 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11 | |
| You, We, Us, Our | They, Them, Those |
| 1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. | 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. |
| 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. | 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. |
| 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing | |
Paul always wrote to believers, not to unbelievers. He distinguished between “they,” “them,” i.e., unbelievers (verse 3) and “you,” “we,” “us,” i.e., believers (verses 1-2, 4-6, 8-11). Members of the body of Christ will not, indeed, cannot experience God’s wrath, i.e., the Day of the Lord (Tribulation) because “God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 9, cf.. 1 Thessalonians 1.10). The salvation Paul wrote of was salvation from the day of the Lord through resurrection, i.e., the Rapture. Paul had written about it earlier in the letter (1 Thessalonians 4.13-18, cf. 1 Corinthians 15.51-53).1 It should be obvious to even a dull theologian that the wrath Paul wrote of was not hell but God’s future judgment of the earth: the Day of the Lord. In Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, he corrected the false teaching that had come to the Thessalonicans that members of the body of Christ would go through the Tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2.1-2). The reason Church age believers cannot go through the Tribulation, the Day of the Lord, is because Paul explicitly stated God will remove His Church prior to His wrath.
Paul’s letter of 2 Thessalonians elaborated on doctrine he had written in his first letter. In that letter, he made it clear that God would remove the Church, the body of Christ before the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4.13-18). He had began his first letter with a word of assurance that they would not experience the day of the Lord, i.e., “the wrath to come.” Paul wrote:
9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1.9-10).
Paul expected the Lord to return soon and that He would rescue believers from the day of the Lord.
The Coming Antichrist: Personification of THE LIE
Following His healing of a man at the pool by the sheep market Jesus declared, to Jerusalem’s Jews:
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from men; 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him (John 5.39-43).
Jesus warned the nation that while they had rejected Him, another would come whom they would receive. Jesus told them He had come in His Father’s name but that an impostor would come in his own name. This individual will be the Antichrist or Beast of Revelation. In his second letter to the Thessalonians Paul provided additional information about the deception with the coming Antichrist which he had received from the Lord. He wrote,
8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness (2 Thessalonians 2.8-12).
The Greek text of verse 11 reads:
“καὶ διὰ τοῦτο πέμπει αὐτοῖς ὁ θεὸς ἐνέργειαν πλάνης εἰς τὸ πιστεῦσαι αὐτοὺς τῷ ψεύδει.”
My translation is, “And on account of this, God will send them a supernatural operation of error so that they believe the lie.” The word ἐνέργεια is used 8x in the New Testament, only by Paul. He always used it of supernatural power.
THE LIE during the day of the Lord, the Tribulation, will be that Satan is God (Isaiah 14.14) in the person of the Antichrist. Revelation’s title is, “Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,” “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” but the book also reveals Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet, the infernal trinity. These three will perform supernatural signs and deceive the world with THE LIE that Satan is God and that men can become like the “gods,” the powerful divine creatures that attend God.
The Warnings in Revelation
In Revelation, Jesus appeared to the apostle John and gave specific instructions to seven Jewish assemblies. John sent the book of Revelation to these assemblies to strengthen them in the tribulation they were experiencing (cf. Revelation 1.9). The interpretation of the events depicted in the book remains future, however. In the future, a generation of Jews will study these words as they experience the Day of the Lord. Jesus’ words are words of salvation for that future generation as they face the pressure to worship Satan’s man, the Beast. The Lord’s instructions to them were an extension of His teachings to the Jews in Matthew 24. John wrote that the things he witnessed in the Spirit were “on the Lord’s Day.” This was John’s reference to the Day of the Lord, not, of course, Sunday (Zephaniah 1.7-18; Joel 2.1-17).
The world of Revelation is wholly different world from the world we experience in our Age of Grace. Miracles, prophecy, signs, wonders have returned. They will be reestablished because the time of Revelation is the last seven years of Israel’s history according to Daniel’s 70 weeks (Daniel 9.24). Signs and miracles occurred regularly in God’s dealing with Israel. Paul wrote, “For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1.22). While the Day of the Lord will affect the entire world, in terms of prophecy, the nation of Israel is primarily in view. It is the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30.7). Jesus warned of the great deception of the Antichrist. He will claim he is the Messiah, God incarnate, and produce miraculous signs to back his claim. Through him Satan will attempt to fulfill his boast, “I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14.14) and maintain his rule of the earth (Ezekiel 28.13; cf. Matthew 4.8-9; 2 Corinthians 4.4).
The warnings Jesus gave to these future Jewish churches have two key elements. The first is the admonition, “he who has an ear, let him hear.” The second is Jesus’ refrain about “overcoming.” The language of “overcoming” is clearly associated with salvation in terms of eternal life, e.g., “paradise of God,” “not hurt by the second death,” “not erase his name from the book of life,” etc. What “overcoming” means for an individual during the years in view in Revelation is remaining faithful to Christ. One “overcomes” during this period by 1) death for refusing to worship the beast, worship his image, and take his mark (Revelation 13.3-4, 7-10, 15-17, 20.4) or 2) surviving until the Lord returns. The vast majority will die (Revelation 6.9-11, 9.13-14, 17.6).
| The Seven Assemblies | Jesus’ Warnings To the Seven Jewish Assemblies | |
| 1 | Ephesus | He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God |
| 2 | Smyrna | He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death’ (Revelation 2.11). |
| 3 | Pergamum | He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it’ (Revelation 2.17). |
| 4 | Thyatira | He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ (Revelation 2.26-29). |
| 5 | Sardis | He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ (Revelation 3.5-6). |
| 6 | Philadelphia | He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’ (Revelation 3.12-13). |
| 7 | Laodicea | He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’” (Revelation 3.21-22). |
Noteworthy is the fact that Jesus’ warning phrase, “he who has an ear” to the seven Jewish churches is found in only one other place in Revelation beyond the verses above. This is in the description of the deception of the Beast and the False Prophet (Revelation 16.13, 19.20, 20.10) who deceive the world by signs and miracles. There, the warning is to not worship the Antichrist. This passage echoes Jesus’ warning to the Jews of His day that they would reject Him but would receive a counterfeit messiah (John 5.43 cf. 1 Corinthians 1.22). Thus,
7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13.7-10).
Religion is Satan’s system to blind humanity about God. Religious deception will reach its apex during the Tribulation. John witnessed the advent of the great false religious leader who corresponds to the Holy Spirit in the false trinity. The Holy Spirit draws men and women to Christ. The False Prophet will draw men and women to the Antichrist. John recorded:
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform [k]in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. (Revelation 13:11-14).
At the mid-point of the Tribulation, deception will intensify greatly upon earth since God will remove Satan from heaven onto the earth. Satan will recognize he has but a short time to accomplish his goals (Revelation 12.12).
The following verses reveal the DECEPTION Jesus warned about:
and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery (Revelation 18:23).
And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone (Revelation 19:20).
and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time (Revelation 20:3).
The Final Deceit: THE LIE Reprised
God will release Satan to work his deception one last time after his incarceration of 1,000 years. Why would He do this? We cannot understand fully the answer to this question. It seems likely, however, that God will make one final demonstration to His creation of man’s hopelessness apart from Himself. Only God is good (Matthew 19.17). All that can be good depends upon Him and we can only become like God when we depend (trusting Him) upon Him (Romans 8.28-30).
For 1,000 years the world will have enjoyed perfect environment. The planet will have no poverty, no pollution, no want, no need, almost no crime, no war, extremely long lifespans, and almost no disease (Isaiah 2.2-4, 11.1-5, 65.20). The animal kingdom will be at peace. Wolves will lie down with lambs; lions will eat straw (Isaiah 11.6-9). Despite this utopian world, despite the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ will personally reign in Jerusalem, despite the fact that this golden era will be the direct result of the Messiah, some will refuse to believe in Him.
All who enter the Messianic (Millennial) Kingdom will be believers. They will have children. In the course of time, some of the children will not be believers. After 1,000 years with extremely long lifespans, the earth’s population will again number in the billions (Revelation 20.8). This will be the world Satan will enter after his temporary incarceration (Revelation 20.7).
7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 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; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20.7-10).
Satan will come forth from his prison and follow his nature. As the “father of lies” he will present THE LIE, that man can be like the gods. How will this be possible? Paul wrote that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and uses religion to deceive (2 Corinthians 11.13-15). Consider the past. Eve lived in paradise, a utopian world. She had a perfect world with a perfect husband. But Satan convinced her that something was missing: she could become like the gods. After 1,000 years of paradise, Satan will convince men again that while things have been good, they could be better: they can be like gods. Some will rebel again God and follow Satan. God will make short work of their evil. He will destroy them and cast Satan into his permanent abode: the Lake of Fire.
Conclusion
Satan is “the father of lies” who proclaims THE LIE. He is the master confidence artist. His pitch can be appealing but it always leads to sorrow, loss, and death. Only one path to life exists: the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14.6). God never disappoints. He is faithful and true (Revelation 3.14, 19.11). Trusting and following Him leads to joy, honor, and life. The first step to remove Satan’s cloak of deception is to believe the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4).
1 See the author’s study on the Day of Christ vs. the Day of the Lord.
©2012 Don Samdahl. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold.
There are lies by admission and lies by omission. Everything in Gods Word is related. The woman was betrothed to Adam,a getting to know you time..I searched and searched for the reason the woman would tell the serpent a lie,that lie being,and not touch the tree…God had not told Adam to not touch the tree,for he was to tend the Garden…so what was it,where was the weak link in the Genesis story? Then I had another question,where was Adam when the woman was having the conversation with the serpent? Who told the woman not to touch the tree when she was to be his helpmeet? The bible says Adam was with her.The weak link was Adam added to God’s Word…God had not told Adam not to touch the tree but that is exactly who told the woman…she was his rib but she was the created by God. She was to be shown the garden not to have a law given to her. She saw the fruit and she wanted to be as Adam,he could touch the tree…He was with her,he had eyes to see and ears to hear and the woman ate and she didn’t die so was God a liar? The woman ate and nothing happened so the woman became the first poison taster. It doesn’t say that the woman enticed Adam to eat the fruit.To this day when a man is offered unlawful sex and a baby is the result the man will hate the woman and even the child. Does this sound like Adam blaming God,”That woman you gave me.” The woman was not Adams to rule. She had not walked or talked with God so Adam was her only connection to Him. Genesis is the begging of truth and who God is…..there is so much more…
What all was going on here is difficult. Why Eve added not to touch the fruit is unknown. Perhaps Adam had advised this and she had incorporated it into her thinking. The Hebrew has a diacritical mark, a pause, between her eating and Adam’s eating. In other words, he was not there watching while she ate. She was alone. Satan seduced her apart from Adam. Adam knew what had happened (1 Timothy 2.14) and knew the consequences but it is doubtful he understood the full implications of eating and death. The thought of blaming Eve would never have entered Adam’s heart prior to his eating. Immediately, his heart was corrupted. Paradise lost! Our hope is that the Lord Jesus Christ, the second Adam, redeemed us and opened the way of salvation. Like Job, whom God doubled his blessings, our blessing in Christ will far surpass those of Adam and Eve.
Great writings. Pretty much in agreement with your theological position especially regarding Paul and his mission. Do you ever speak publically? I would very much like to come and hear you in person. Thank you for your work. Sometimes it’s very lonely holding to a true biblical position. I look forward to your response.
Dave Greene
Dave,
Thank you I teach a Bible class at my church but have not been asked to speak elsewhere.
May I ask where your church is? I am from Long Island. Ny
Theresa,
I live in Lexington, VA.
Very clear article, as usual!
I wonder about something that you said close to the beginning of this article, that being the Ark being an earthly representation. Since you say that the Shining One’s duty was to cover the mercy seat, is it safe to say that you believe this was on our earth, as in, before the creation of man?
GraceReceiver,
The mercy seat of the Ark represented the throne of God. Apparently, one of Satan’s responsibilities was to guard God throne (Ezekiel 28.14). God has provided limited information about Satan’s position and role but this earth was his possession according to Ezekiel 28 (prior to the Eden of Adam). His statement in Isaiah 14.13 leads to many questions but he clearly wanted a higher position than he had, he wanted to be God.
Hi again, Don,
Is there any credence for supposing that Satan/Lucifer was the cover above the throne? I’ve forgotten the Hebrew word for this.
I find an apparent anomaly in the following and would appreciate your comments:
(2 Thessalonians 2.8)
8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will SLAY with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming …
(Revelation 19:20)
And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown ALIVE into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone .
In the former he is SLAIN; in the latter he cast ALIVE into the lake of fire.
Thank you.
Maranatha,
Bob
Bob,
My understanding is that Satan was responsible in orchestrating the guardianship of the throne of God. God has at least hundreds of millions of angels. All the accounts of His throne reveal tremendous activity. Satan managed the heavenly creatures guarding God’s throne. As for the Beast, one explanation is that the while word for “slay” is ἀναιρέω and usually means “kill” it can be used metaphorically for “remove” (cf. Hebrews 10.9).
I’ve always wondered why God needed a guard for His throne. What was it being guarded against?
Derek,
As long as Satan and the angelic forces remain in heaven, God and His angels must protect the throne. When Satan and the rebellious angels are removed from heaven at the midpoint of the Tribulation this need will end. That is why Matthew 25 says that Christ returns with all His angels. No need for guards since no fallen angels are in heaven.
Doctrine,
Can it be argued that humanity, and all that goes with it, is God’s answer to Satan’s question: “How can you blame me and the angels who followed me”? “After all you created me (us) the way I am”. …ie. “You are not being fair”. So as a result of that question God created man (a little lower) to show the devil that free will, if properly used by lower levels of creation and with limited abilities, applies to him and his fallen followers who possess more understanding……
Joe,
Yes, God created the human race to help resolve the angelic conflict.
Hi Don,
I just wanted to point out a typo: The warnings Jesus gave to these future Jewish churches have two key elements. The first is the admonition, “he who has and ear, let him hear.” …and ear = an ear
Gratefully,
Bob Monahan
Bob,
Thanks!
The end of the age was supposed to have come during that first century generation according to Jesus’ own prophecies (unless of course he did not make them). Why you keep expecting the end to come as Jesus said it was is beyond me. Jesus has been proven to be one who was sincerely and honestly mistaken.
Wendell,
The end would have come had the Old Testament prophetic program continued. But God interrupted it. He saved Saul of Tarsus to become the apostle Paul. The risen Lord revealed to Paul doctrines He had not revealed in the Old Testament prophetic program. Paul called these new truths “secrets” for that is what they were. Once God completes the Church, the body of Christ, He will resume the Old Testament prophetic program. Everything fits’ one just has to keep these programs in their proper order.
Dear Sir,
Your website truly is a wealth of information. Everything is backed up scripturally. My question is: As believers, we are to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29) and that the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are Christ-like qualities. But isn’t that basically, “You can be like God”?
In other words, is there something in the autographs that is lost in translation for that part of Romans 8:29 to actually mean: Be who He made you to be in His Body? (1 Corinthians 12)
Josh,
Thank you. The temptation was that they could be “like gods knowing good and evil.” In other words, Eve was deceived into thinking God was withholding some valued knowledge from them by not eating. It wasn’t that they could be “gods” but that they could possess knowledge like the “gods,” i.e., the angelic council. God has promised that everything that is Christ’s will be ours (joint heirs) and that we will rule angels.
1.Why in Genesis 3 did not mention name of Satan’s,but mention of serpent?
2.They is different between serpent and Satan, because all the time in Revelation they say that drako(serpent) AND Satan Rev 20:2
Percy,
1. For some reason, God kept his identity veiled.
2. See Revelation 12.9.
Don, given that satan disguises himself as an angel of light to deceive humans, is it possible that he’s physically manifested himself to influence muhammad, joseph Smith, charles take russell, siddhartha guatama, etc. It may sound far fetched, but I’ve wondered if satan, or his demonic stooges, have or still do this to the various human world leaders, religious founders, movie stars, etc. I know that he’s been ‘the god of this world’ for some time now.
Brian,
All false religion (everything outside Judaism and Christianity—what used to be called paganism) has been created by Satan and the angelic host who rebelled with him. Satan’s main business is deception and he actively deceives world governments. A great Biblical example of how this works and what God allows is recorded in 1 Kings 22. Another example is that Paul warned the Thessalonians about a “spirit” who might claim that the Thessalonians were experiencing the Day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2.1-2). The Scriptures reveal that those who deny the Pre-Tribulational Rapture are spiritually deceived. God respects human will and deception is possible only when one rejects the God of the Bible and His word.
Brian, I believe that Joseph Smith was visited by satan. At first, Smith said he was visited by something dark and evil. He was in fear of his life. He begged God to save him. Next, he says he was visited by an angel and a very bright light. This looks like the work of the devil, especially when we look at Mormonism. It has many damnable heresies.
Don’t stop there. Revelation is explicitly stated as being a prophecy told to John of Patmo by an ANGEL.
Samantha,
The noun ἄγγελος means “messenger.” Specific meanings must be determined by context. Sometimes it means God Himself, “the angel of the Lord.” Sometimes it means ministering spirits, the heavenly host. Sometimes it means a man (Matthew 11.10), sometimes Satan (2 Corinthians 11.14). All depends on context.
Don and Craig, thank you for the replies. I’m also reminded of all the film and literary works such as ‘Faust’. Where humans foolishly believe they can obtain ‘greatness’ by making a deal with the devil. However, if you play with fire you’re going to get burned.
“What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods’ – could set up on their own as if they had created themselves – be their own masters – invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history – money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery – the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” (C.S. Lewis, ‘Mere Christianity,’ pg.49)
In the news today….9-3-19
Philadelphia–
“We were released from school for religious instruction on Thursday afternoons,” and teen Camille posed a question: “If God is infinitely forgiving, I asked the nun, is it possible that at some point in the future he’ll forgive Satan?” The nun—a doctrinaire Irish Catholic without any of the “pagan residue” of Ms. Paglia’s Italian culture—“turned beet red. She was so enraged that she condemned me in front of everybody for even asking that question.”
My comment: Personally I would distinguish between created beings and those born. There is no sacrifice for beings created with freewill and w/o a sin nature.
Don, how would you address this statement by the famous feminist Camille P?
Joe,
Yes. The angelic host was all created at once. They all beheld their Creator. None were infected with sin or a sin nature. So each of them who joined Satan in his rebellion made a fully informed choice. Adam was the only human God directly created. We come into the world infected with his sin, condemned already. So, God in His mercy gives a choice.
Don,
I have some musings that I would like to share with you. Perhaps you can shed some light on these.
In Genesis Satan is depicted as a serpent. When I look up the online dictionary definition of serpent it states “a large snake or a sly or treacherous person, especially one who exploits a position of trust in order to betray it”.
I believe you indicated that “a shining enchanter” better describes Satan and I can see how that makes sense. Satan then, did not assume the form of a snake/reptile- type creature to temp Eve but something beautiful and powerful to behold.
If this is so, then I could use some understanding of how God cursed him.
For example, “he will crawl on his belly and eat dust all the days of your life.” Does Satan now actually go about crawling as opposed to standing (it would certainly be befitting for him to do so, in my opinion, but that imagery is a bit frightening)?
And, “cursed are you above all livestock and wild animals”. How/why are livestock and animals considered cursed, but to a lesser degree than how God cursed Satan? Why are these earthly creations considered cursed? It’s odd that God compares the animal’s supposed cursed condition as being less cursed than Satan’s curse?
My musings are about the form of how this shining enchanter now actually exists (and how he appears), and why the animals have this bum rap of being cursed.
Your insight is, as always, most appreciative.
Thank you,
John D.
John,
I agree and discuss it in my book, God’s Programs.
Thank you Don.
God’s Programs is far and away my favorite book. I have given your book as a gift to others.
In Chapter 1 you discuss Satan as a shining enchanter. But I did not see any reference to him crawling on his belly which was my question in my original post. Perhaps it’s just a euphemism and not to be taken literal?
John
John,
It’s a figure for defeat. Bullinger has a nice note on it. See https://doctrine.org/companion-bible-appendix-19.
That is wonderfully insightful!
Thank you.
Don, Is the apple in the Garden of Eden story really a figure of speech for something else? What does making fig leaf aprons and covering up have to do with the story There is at least one OT phrase “covering his feet’ that means something else besides covering feet. Thanks
Joe,
I doubt the fruit was an apple but it was a literal fruit as were the fig leaf clothing. They were in contrast to the coats of skin the Lord provided.
Don, Hope you are still in an answering mood. I get into many discussion on facebook. Seems like a ministry without the headaches.
Do you have anywhere in your articles a discussion of “Born again” vs “new creature”? Greatly appreciate all your work. Lots of it on Facebook. LOL
Jerry,
Thank you. No, I have not written about this.
Revelation is itself a lie! Read it carefully. Or take my word for it. What does God & Jesus do in Revelation? They condemn the world! Now what does Satan do? He is know as an Accuser. Keep these two thoughts in mind. What does John 3 say about all of this? “For the the Son of Man came not to condemn the world but to save it.” so you have someone who acts like Satan claiming to be Jesus. Now read this article. You get it yet? Revelation is Satan’s plan to convince you that God hates this world and us.
Samantha,
God loves humanity. Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead, defeating sin and death. God is love and justice. God has withheld judgment of a world that hates Him for thousands of years. During the Tribulation, most of the world will worship Satan. God finally acts as judge and shows the world that only death exists apart from Him. Jesus declared that if those days were not shortened all humanity would die. God shows the world who He is and that all others are liars and deceivers.