Bob Cassell, Messenger
When the Anointed Cherub (Lucifer) rebelled against God, he blindly proclaimed he would set himself above the stars of God (the angels) and be like the Most High. In common vernacular he wanted to take over. He was ambitious and full of zeal, but here is the problem; he was more impressed with himself than he was with the Lord God who created him. His eyes were on himself, and he had lost his objectivity. When we lose our objective thinking we switch to another kind of inferior reasoning which is subjectivity.
Subjectivity is a form of perception that focuses on a personal view of a particular subject. An objective view focuses on relevant facts. Lucifer had lost his head and became blinded by his own personal and insatiable desire for unlimited power and control. Lucifer didn’t just want a better position, he wanted to set himself above all angels (he already had this position) but Gabriel and Michael had similar and most powerful positions. This was a problem for Satan. He wanted them out of the way so that none in Heaven were above him, but he went further… He wanted to be LIKE the Most High God. This could never happen; therefore, his role as the Anointed Cherub was set aside. In the unfathomable wisdom of God, he was permitted to set up a kingdom of his own over which he became the supreme ruler. It was a kingdom (small k) that he ruled over which was in opposition to God; then something happened… what was it?
The earth, which was Lucifers kingdom, became empty and void. He lost the beauty and symmetry of this original kingdom (he was set aside again) and looked for another opportunity. Thereafter, God restored the chaotic earth, reshaped, replenished, and eventually placed man on it. The creation we read about in Genesis one is, in reality, a progressive restoration and not an original creation. At this point in creation history, Satan was displaced but still had access to the third heaven. However, he had been in charge of the original earth before it became without form and void. The original earth was beautiful, and Satan ruled it for an unknown period of time… but he fell.
Miracle of all miracles; God looked far beyond the original restored earth and added a new creature to his domain. Man! This new creation was the supreme subject of God’s government. God gave to this created man the power to rule over this new restored earth and subdue it to himself. This newly created being (man) was subject to God exclusively. The earth could have well been considered a province of God’s extended domain, the universe.
These matters seem very good, and they were, but only for an undetermined period of time…. Man at first, remained in a state of innocence and allegiance to God. Then all Hell broke loose; the dam broke, and He too rebelled. The cunningness of Satan set forth a strategy for man to fall, and he wisely used the woman as the enticer. Eve was deceived and disobeyed God. Adam was enticed but not deceived. Eve was separated from Adam as a result of her disobedience. Adam had become dependent on the woman and could not tolerate the dark distance and loss of closeness from the woman. She was the most beautiful of all that God had created, and it is difficult to imagine that Adam would willingly want to separate himself from her. So, he joined her and willingly disobeyed.
In the end both Eve and Adam disobeyed God’s command and by their disobedience declared their independence of God and their dependence upon self. All the while, applauding and cheering from the sidelines is the deceiver and liar from the beginning his majesty, Satan.
This one act by Adam and Eve represented humanity’s rebellion and rejection against this beautiful environment and the controlling government of God. In deception and blindness, by listening to Satan, these no longer innocent humans yielded themselves to his influence and were enveloped by his power and rulership. They shifted their allegiance from God to Satan. Tragically, in so doing man surrendered to Satan the entire earth over which God had assigned to him complete dominion. Since this tragic event, man has been a part of this opposition government that opposes the will and plan of God.
Satan’s rule over the kingdoms of this world cannot be denied. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan offered Him all of these kingdoms and all of their glory, if He would only fall down and worship him (Matthew 4:8). Jesus did not contradict these claims of Satan to surrender possession of the kingdoms of the world. They became his when man yielded himself to him. This is the reason John could write “… the whole world lieth in the evil one” (1 John 5:19).
Satan’s realm is sadly characterized by falsehood. Jesus had said of him, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from himself; for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). He was not just a deceiver and a perpetual liar; he was and is the originator and father of lies.
It seems to work for him to some degree, as he won the allegiance of man who blindly listened to him and turned his and our whole world upside-down. From light to darkness! Satan’s realm is consistently referred to as darkness. (John 1:5, Acts 26:18, 2 Cor. 4:6, Eph. 6:12) and even more. The best performance and behaviors of mankind, as a subject of Satan’s kingdom, are called the works of darkness (Eph. 5:11).
Humans, because they are subjects of Satan’s realm, are called children of disobedience and wrath (Eph. 2:2-3). This title is well deserved because they are the children of Adam, who, in the garden of Eden, listened to and obeyed Satan and unwisely, disobeyed the living God. This term, children of wrath, is applied to all who are in Satan ‘s kingdom and under his malicious power. These terms apply to the highest the best, the lowest and the least of humankind. Jesus spoke thusly to the highly respected, hypocritical, and falsely honored Pharisees, “You are of your father, the devil” (John 8:44).
Contrary to an erroneous conception, Satan is an extremely beautiful and accomplished created being. He is many things, but he does not have divine attributes such as omnipresence. He is not everywhere at the same time. The Devil is not chasing everyone. He can’t because he is isolated to points and places in time. He does have a vast army of fallen angels, and their activity may appear as though Satan is everywhere at the same time, but in his current status he personally, is not! He is limited, but the God he wanted to be like is not. Therefore, he continues to want to be something he is not. Have you ever met a person that has this unrealistic viewpoint? They are called dreamers. It’s one thing to want to be important; it’s another to pretend you are something you are not; it’s quite another to believe you are in reality the something you are not.
Those who live in their own self-created fantasy world know what I am talking about. It’s one thing to want to be important; it’s another to think you are an angel. It is another thing to actually believe you are an angel. To think you are an angel is neurotic, to be an angel (in your mind) is psychotic.
Notice an actual description of Satan from someone who knows all about him. That’s God! Of Satan it is written “Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering… the workmanship of thy tabrets (a drum or cymbal) and of thy pipes was prepared in the day that thou was created” (Ezek. 28:12-13). Even in his fallen state Satan can transform himself into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).
It is not remarkable that his subjects are accomplished, refined, and appear perfect in the sight of human beings. Satan would have you to believe he is a fire breathing dragon, with a red epidermis, a pitchfork, horns, and green fire emitting eyes. But notice and review a real description in Ezekiel 28: 12-13. He is a deceiver, and you are deceived if you think Satan is unattractive and unappealing. He is the opposite and is able to transform himself in such a way that you believe things about him that are not true to be true.
The deceived of his human subjects are described in numerous ways. From them, it is said that “…the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4:4).
Notice, who is the image of God? It is Jesus Christ … “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him and he is before all things and by him all things consist (Colossians 1:15-17).
Can you imagine Satan wringing his hands when this is read? This is exactly what he wanted and could not have because these powerful words characterize our sovereign savior and not Lucifer.
Satan did not create any of these things, only God can and did. Remember, Satan is your adversary. Yes, he is very powerful, but he does not have divine attributes such as sovereignty, righteousness, justice, omnipotence, omniscience omnipresence, perfect love, and immutability. He wants these things, but they are outside of him and he will never have any of these amazing attributes. But there is one thing he will have and that is the agonizing torture in hell forever with the full realization that he never was nor could be what he so desperately and unwisely longed for, and that was to be like God… impossible!
His subjects live their own lives as Satan lives his, in opposition to God. They live “according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2).
These blind and deluded followers of Satan are called darkness, “for you were sometimes darkness,” (Eph. 5:8).
These words are God’s description of blind humans who perhaps, without realizing it, are in the domain of Satan and under his deceitful and dark power.
From this information it is clear that man’s disobedience in the garden of Eden was more than a turning away from God and a state of dependence upon Him. It was a definite turning toward Satan and acceptance of his sovereignty for himself and his posterity. Unwittingly, the entire human race became involved and thereby all people became subject to Satan’s dark realm.
Because of this hopeless condition, it became necessary for God to provide for man’s salvation from the dominion of Satan that He might save man for Himself. That which took place when man sinned in the Garden had to be reversed.
Amen, and thank you Lord God for this reversal or we would not have a savior and would be spiraling into a burning Hell throughout an everlasting eternity.
There is good news, no, there is amazing news! God promised one was to come who would crush the power of Satan. This promise is found in these words; “And I WILL put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15).
The head is the container of intelligence and authority; it is the power and capacity to dominate and rule. When the head of Satan is bruised his power is broken, and humanity may be delivered from the power of darkness. The seed of the WOMAN is the child that was born of a virgin. All others who have been born are the seed of the man. “Behold a virgin shall conceive (not a man) and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa.7:14).
When JESUS was born of the virgin Mary the promise of a deliverer from the power of Satan was fulfilled. He came (Jesus) to “give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” (Luke 1:79).
This is a reference to none other than individuals who are in darkness within the realm of Satan. Jesus declared he was “sent to preach deliverance to the captives (of Satan) and to recover the sight to the blind, (those who are in darkness) to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). Jesus did bruise (crush) the head of the serpent but as was foretold in (Gen. 3:15) the serpent would bruise his heel. This refers to the death of Jesus on the cross for it was through death that He brought “to nought him that had (past tense) the power of death, that is the devil” (Heb.2:14). Prior to his death Jesus said: “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world (Satan) be cast out” (John 12:31). “The Son of God was manifested, as the seed of the woman, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
Paul heard a voice on the road to Damascus which said “I am Jesus … I have appeared unto thee …to make you a minister and a witness… to turn the Gentiles from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26: 15-18).
In God’s amazing and so great salvation, God delivers from the power of darkness and translates those who believe in Him into the kingdom of His own Son (Col 1:13). Thereby, they are no more in darkness and ruled over by Satan, but are the children of light (1 Thess. 5:5).
What a promotion this will be for the redeemed. I can’t give you the ability to believe in Jesus Christ and to be persuaded he is the exclusive and only way to Heaven. I can only urge you to see what God says to you in Gal 3:26 “For you are the children of God by means of faith in Christ Jesus. I can only tell; you only can believe in Jesus Christ, who is the only Savior.
HE can be trusted, you can believe in Him and, if you do, you will possess eternal life. But as many as received him, to them gave HE power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12). This is for your deep consideration… BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and YOU WILL BE SAVED” (Acts 16:31). Open the bible and see for yourself!
Be it known unto YOU therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto YOU the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that BELIEVE are justified from all things, from which YOU could not be justified by the law of Moses (Acts13:38,39).
