The incredible events of 9/11/01 - damaging the Pentagon and destroying the Twin Trade Towers, symbols of America's military might and economic power, and killing several thousand civilians including many foreigners by Muslim terrorists - have shocked this world. How can humans become so deceived and evil as to turn themselves into bombs and blow up themselves and others - often killing and maiming many innocent children and civilians who pose no threat nor harbor any hatred towards them?
This may seem like an extreme, but such is the world of the 21st century we live in. Evil and terror appear in many forms. Within just the last 100 years alone the world has suffered two world wars - the two worst woes known in all human history - wreaking unimaginable destruction with the torture, killing and maiming of many multiple millions of people like you and me.
World War I in 1914-18 - once called the war to end all wars - resulted in the death of over 8,500,000 military personal and an additional 21,000,000 wounded, many maimed for life. Civilian deaths mounted to over 5,000,000 - with about 80 percent due to starvation, disease and exposure. At least 20,000,000 more died in 1918-19 following the war of an influenza pandemic - an aftermath of war.
World War II from 1939-45 was even more devastating. Total military and civilian causalities mounted to over 22,000,000 deaths and 34,000,000 wounded. Nearly 6,000,000 European Jews alone died in German concentration (extermination) camps. The war left millions in Europe and Asia without adequate food, shelter or clothing. Farms and factories lay devastated. Millions had fled their homes because of their race, religion or political beliefs, or were sent to isolated areas as slave laborers. Many became refuges or displaced persons (DP's). World War II cost America about 10 times what all previous U.S. wars had cost put together and the U.S. national debt rose from $43 billion in 1940 to about $270 billion in 1946.
Civil and international strife and wars have only continued since these two major events and international terrorism has been increasing steadily. Seemimngly less dramatic perhaps, unless it occurs to you, is all the domestic and civil strife and crime that occurs daily in cities and households worldwide. Local and national news seems to be continually filled with heart rending reports of such incidents as the abduction, rape and gruesome murder of innocent little girls.
Why can't humans live together in peace, cooperation and care for one another? What causes people to turn to such evils? Sociologists, psychologists, philosophers, scientists and politicians have all sought to understand and explain the causes and find workable solutions. The League of Nations, the United Nations, the World Court and World Health Organization (of the UN), World Council of Churches and many other organizations have come into being to tackle the problems at the international and local levels, but none have been able to get a handle on the real cause, let alone lasting solutions. What is behind these seemingly unsolvable evils?
The Bible reveals there is an unseen power at work! It explains,
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world (age), against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavens" (Eph 6:12).
Who are these unseen powers, these rulers of the darkness of our world, these spiritual hosts of wickedness?
Satan is a Hebrew word meaning "Adversary." Who and what is this Satan, this Adversary? And what and who are the demons ?
Satan is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 3 as "the serpent."
"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Gen 3:1).
This serpent was not one of the beasts of the field, which God had made, he was more cunning than any of them. Snakes or serpents are sly and crafty at seeking their prey, but this serpent, mentioned in the Book of Revelation, is also called,
"...the great dragon [that] 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 (demons) were cast out with him" (Rev 12:9).
His Hebrew name was "Heylel," from "halal" meaning to shine, make a show or boast, mistranslated in the Latin as "Lucifer" (Isa 14:12). He is one of three great angelic spirit beings called "cherubim," and "archangels" or chief angels with Michael (Jude 9; Rev 12:7) and Gabriel (Lk 1:19,26) along with the millions of angels mentioned in Scriptures. The angelic beings were created before Genesis 1:1 before God created the earth. God revealed to Job, "...when I laid the foundation of the earth... the morning stars (angels) sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"
(Job 38:4,7). They were there when the earth was being formed, helping God.
This cherub was placed on the earth to prepare it for man while it was still a hot molten planet. Thus says the Lord God about him,
"You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
"You were in Eden (Hebrew meaning pleasure or paradise), the garden of God (the earth)...
"You were [an] anointed cherub [Hebrew "kerub," meaning protector]; I [placed] you to be upon the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire (on the molten earth).
"You were perfect in your ways from the [time] you were created, till iniquity was found in you." (Eze 28:12-14).
He was placed over the earth and over one third of the angels (Rev 12:3-4) to prepare it for man. God created over 100 million angelic beings, including cherubs and other types, to help Him in ministering to mankind (Rev 5:11). God says of the angels,
"Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire...
"Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" (Heb 1:7,14).
What happened to this great cherub and one third of the angels, placed on the earth to prepare it for man and protect it and man from harm, perhaps from bad weather, earthquakes, straying asteroids, etc.?
There was much to do to turn a molten glob into a paradise for man. That is another story the Scriptures, science and historical geology must reveal. But at some point this cherub, perhaps when he was ruling over the planet and the reptilian animal life (the dinosaurs) created on the earth, he became jealous that God was going to create man in God's image to rule over him and all the angels (Gen 1:26; 1 Cor 6:3). Satan is called "that serpent of old" - perhaps as a link to his past as ruler over the reptilian creation (Rev 12:9). He then began to persuade the angels under him that God was not fair and he began to foment a rebellion against God. He said in his heart,
"I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars (angels) 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" (Isa 14:13-14).
This is man's destiny. The Scriptures testify saying,
"What is man that you are mindful of him? Or the son of man, that you visit him?Man is to become spirit born sons of God (Cor 15:44-54; 1 John 3:1) and inherit all things, but first man must prove himself. God says in His written word, the Holy Scriptures,
"You made him a little lower than the angels; You crown him with glory and honor, and You set him over the works of Your hands.
"You put all things in subjection under his feet... But we see not yet all things put under him" (Heb 2:6-8; Psa 8:4-6).
God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth" (Gen 1:26).
"He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son" (Rev 21:7).Man is to become like the Most High God. God says to man,
"You shall be holy, for I am holy" (Lev 11:44; 19:2).These last two prophecies are speaking specifically of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, but He is also called the "firstborn of many brethren."
"[Become] you therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Mat 5:48).
"As many as received Him, to them He has given the power to become sons of God, even to those who believe [through] His name" (John 1:12).
"Behold what manner of Love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!...
"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
"And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:1-2).
"But to which of the angels did He ever say: 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You'?
And again: 'I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son'?" (Heb 1:5).
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn of many brethren"(Rom 8:29). Man is to become sons of God like Jesus Christ, the "firstborn of many brethren." And as such we will rule over the angelic beings.
"Know you not that we shall judge ("krino" meaning make judgments or decisions concerning) angels (including Satan)?" (1 Cor 6:3).
This cherub, who became jealous of man and became Satan - an adversary against God and man - attempted to usurp God's throne, but he was cast back down to the earth. Jesus, the Christ (Messiah), said,
"I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven" (Lk 10:18).This was a great battle (the original star wars) that brought great destruction and an end to the reptilian creation on the earth. It is briefly described in Genesis 1:2.
"The earth [became] ["tohu," desolation] and ["bohu," ruin]; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."God had to set about to restore the face of the earth in preparation for creating man (Gen 1:1-25; 2:4-8).
"You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth" (Ps 104:30).So God ("Elohim," in the Old Testament Hebrew, a collective plural noun like family meaning "Almighty Ones"; and "Theos," the equivalent of Elohim in the New Testament Greek), with the help of the holy angels, cleared up the dust and debris in the atmosphere that was shutting off light to the earth and reset the earth's orbit back in order with the greater and lessor lights (the sun and moon) to give light along with the planets and stars as a celestial calendar to keep track of times and seasons. And They pushed up plates of the earth's crust floating on molten magma above the waters to form the dry land surrounded by the seas. And God said,
"'Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear,' and it was so" (Gen 1:9).The hot volcanic magma pouring out caused some of the water to be vaporized as it cooled the lava and it formed a water vapor layer in the atmosphere. And God said,
"'Let there be [an expanse of sky (atmosphere)] [dividing] the waters...' And God made the [expanse of sky] [for dividing] of the waters, which were under the [expanse of sky] from the waters which were above the expanse of sky]; and it was so" (vs. 6-7).The water vapor layer in the upper atmosphere created a greenhouse effect on the earth and gave protection from deadly cosmic radiation, which would otherwise greatly shorten the lifespan of man and animals (Gen 1:4-10,14-19).
Then God caused the earth to bring forth the plants according to their kinds and They created the sea creatures, and birds and land animals according to their kinds and when all this was done They created man, male and female, in Their Own image (Gen 1:27). And God gave them dominion over all the other living creatures that They had made (vs.28).
"And God saw that everything that [They] had made, and indeed it was very good" (Gen 1:11-13,20-30)."And the seventh day God ended [Their] work which [They] had done, and [They] rested on the seventh day from all [Their] work which [They] had done.
"Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, (made it a holy Sabbath (rest) day) because in it [They] rested from all [Their] work which God had created and made" Gen 2:2-3)."The Lord ("Jehovah," meaning Eternal) God ("Elohim," Almighty Ones) planted a garden [before] in Eden and there [They] put the man whom [They] had formed" (Gen 2:8).
"And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (vs. 9).
"And God said, 'See [We] have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
"Also, to every beast of the earth...[We] have given every green herb for food; and it was so" (Gen 1:29-30)."And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend (dress) and keep it" (vs. 15).
Tend or dress is translated from the Hebrew "avadh," meaning to work, till, make to serve. The garden was to be made to serve the man and his family and all the living creatures under his care and dominion. To keep, from "shamar," means to keep safe, guard, preserve or protect. Man was also to preserve and protect what God had made "very good."
When God gave man dominion God said,
"Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion (rule) over the fish of the sea, and the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth" (Gen 1:28).
Replenish, from the Hebrew "male," means to fill or accomplish, denoting the completion of something that was unfinished or filling something that was empty. And subdue, from "kabash," means to conquer, subdue, subjugate, bring into or keep under subjection. Man was to finish the development of the earth and keep it under his subjection, not leave it a wilderness under the forces of "nature" as some believe.
God had planted a garden ("gan," meaning a garden, hedged about, fenced, or protected area) in Eden (Hebrew meaning pleasure or delight) as an example and a training place for man to learn how to subdue and replenish or finish the whole earth. Eden was an "Eltopia" (God's place of delight or pleasure), the garden of God (Eze 28:13). Philosophers today call it "Utopia" (no place).
God then began to teach man His laws and wisdom and let them learn to apply it in the garden. Every Sabbath, God came to visit, fellowship with and teach man and then for six days man did his work applying God's instruction and learning from experience. God brought every beast of the field and every bird of the air to Adam to see what he would call them.
"And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name" (Gen 2:19).
God also commanded the man, saying,
"Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;[Note] The penalty for sin, breaking the laws of life, is death. "The soul that sins shall die" (Eze 18:4). The sentence of death is automatic when one sins and they become spiritually "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1), but physical death may not occur until much later.
and He warned him, "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, [because surely from the time] that you eat of it you shall die (Hebrew "muth" meaning to die, to kill, put to death, be dead) [and be dead] ("muth")" (Gen 2:16-17).
Afterward God made a helper and companion for man, a woman, and ordained the marriage covenant for the husband and wife to make them one family.
What an idyllic life they had in God's garden "Eltopia" with all the best of everything, and direct access to the great Eternal (Jehovah) Almighty (Elohim) Creator God, whenever they needed help or guidance or anything. They had job security as stewards of the earth, their home, and they had the whole earth to explore and develop and for their family to grow into. And if they ate of the tree of life and avoided the various fruits of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would live forever and their furture was to rule over the universe and angels! (Gen 2:17; 3:22; Heb 2:8)
But what happened?
Next we will take a look at what happened to this dream life and how Satan got his foot in the door and has since become man's primary unseen enemy, disguising himself as man's advisor in the place of God directly involved in man's society, cultures, commerce and industries, sciences, philosophies, arts, governments and religions. And we will learn how man come to have many gods and who are they?
© 9/11/02 by Serf Publishing, Inc.
Next installment: "Who are the gods of this world?" Coming Soon!
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