#;; translation: In the name of our God Satan Lucifer exalted

[vivienneyoungx]

There was an old record playing in the background, the vinyl disc turning in circles as soft music filled the room. A mixture of musical sounds and the dark choir calling for his unholiness. The special room was lit with hundreds of candles, quietly simmering in the darkness.

Vivienne was standing in the middle of the light; standing, never kneeling, with her red silk dress which hardly covered anything at all and a hood draped over her head.

In nomine Dei nostri Satanas Luciferi excelsi.

Her voice was quiet, yet echoed clear in the mids of all the sounds coming from the record player. It was her time for her prayer; it was her time to talk to the one her entirety belonged to.

Akephalos, Shine through me, Come forth in war, Come forth in peace. Bring down the sun; Extinguish all the stars; Let me remain; In splendor of thy light.

In her hands, she held her sacrificial knife, and only her lips were seen as moving. Her breathing hitched as she closed her eyes, repeating the incantations she had a million times before. There was an old drawing if him in front of her, the unholy beast, the one who had always been in the centre of all her desires.

Bornless One; As darkness bright; Found not in tongues; Found not in light. Bring down the rain; Drain waters of Styx; Faustian luminary; Redeem; Blaspheme.

The knife lifted in the air before meeting the palm of her hand, the sharp edges cutting across her skin like butter, her hot blood seeping from her wound. Vivienne's eye's opened, as excitement shone through them. She felt alive, she felt as if his presence was there with her with each drop to the floor.

Like a day without the dawn; Like a ray void of the sun; Like a storm that brings no calm; I’m most complete, yet so undone.

The hand which was dripping with her blood now lifted to her face, as she smeared her fresh blood over her features; across her forehead, across her eyes, her nose, lips, and neck.

Agathos Daimon; Of plague and fever; Thy name is Nowhere; Thy name is Never. Liberate me; Ignite the seeds; Bind not to guilt; Ignis Gehennalis.

Her tongue traced the blood from her lips, as she dropped the knife to the floor. Then a chuckle left her as she spun around, walking through the candles as if she held the power within.

Hear me, and make all Spirits subject unto Me; so that every Spirit of the Firmament and of the Ether: upon the Earth and under the Earth, on dry land and in the water; of Whirling Air, and of rushing Fire, and every spell and scourge of God may be obedient unto Me.

It was the thing she was muttering as she made way through the halls, as she echoed through the statues of her beloved. Vivienne knew where she was, she knew where she was going. If the other girls weren't doing the same, if the other girls feared her, as they should have, this was no place for them. They didn't deserve the gifts bestowed upon them.

She stopped when she heard Serephina, curious about what the woman's offer was. "A gift?" Vivienne stepped out of the shadows, smiling at the woman in her own sacrificial state. "I'm not hiding." She noted as she walked up to the Supreme, and traced her bloodied fingers across the other witch's face.

"What's his gift?"

FOR: @vivienneyoungx WHEN: 27th of May, 1989. WHERE: Flashback. The school for Young Witches.

Dawn's first light, where Serephina's prayer was most important — the earth element had always made sure of that. She woke, when the world woke, and by the world she meant the birds, and the grass, and the roots. Her lungs expanded, feeling it rush through her like it was embedded in her skin. They were as one. With each step, she dropped crumbs on the floor. It was an old superstition that she'd been told as a child about leaving a path to guide their divine to where they needed them most.

A gift, an offering. Light filtered through towering pines, colours bursting everywhere she looked, but as Sere walked further away from the main building, towards the dappled silhouettes, the secluded gardens which saw statues sprung high and mighty...beautiful.

She smiled. "All hail Satan," she intoned, aware that she must pledge her allegiance every morning, afternoon and evening. The way in which each witch did it was personal. Some kept it quiet, some did it in groups and others, like Serephina, completed old rituals, brought around long before the current supremes had ever existed. "And follow this gift — I ask for — " a sound...enough for eyes to narrow.

She knew those footsteps.

"I can hear you, Vivienne."

[dailydemonspotlight]

The God you cravenly revere is dead...

DAY 100

Race: Tyrant

Arcana: Devil

Alignment: Dark-CHAOS

The prince of darkness needs no introduction. The Morning Star, the Devil, the Fallen Angel who brought about so much to our demon-focused blog. Sure, I may be jumping the gun a bit by covering him only on day 100, but given that his closest compatriot, Beelzebub, was covered on day 50, I feel it's warranted. Lucifer is iconic to the SMT series, a legendary figure who serves a major role in many games in the series, being the perfect representative of one of the three major alignments: Chaos. In most games throughout the series, Lucifer plays a part, even in ones disconnected from mainline- if there is chaos, there will be the dying light of the morning star. Even in Persona, a series mostly concerned with Jungian psychology, Lucifer commonly appears as a late-game persona, and even a form of him in Satanael is the final form of Joker's persona in Persona 5, being a representation of freedom and rebellion- after all, what else is more rebellious and free than rebelling against God himself?

I digress, however. Lucifer is as important to SMT as he is to Biblical history itself, after all, and this is a blog about the stories of demons, right? Lucifer himself is a major character in the Bible, appearing for certain first in the Book of Isaiah, though his overall relevance spreads beyond that. Even in the Book of Genesis, the very first story in the Bible, it's believed that the serpent that tricked Eve into eating the apple of knowledge was Lucifer, cast down from heaven. This interpretation is supported by Paradise Lost, a story I'll likely be referencing a lot here, but its importance to Lucifer and his interpretations throughout not just SMT, but history itself, cannot go understated.

The Devil's conniving ways are depicted throughout the bible in several verses, especially in the New Testament, wherein he's seen as a figure analogous to the Buddhist demon Mara, a being tempting humanity away from their rightful path of sin/good karma to partake in their desire. However, this isn't to spell a connection between the two, as Lucifer himself is given a far different story than Mara, as he is with many other tempters in religion, even including some other biblical figures such as Mastema. Instead, what we should be focusing on is Lucifer's existence as a fallen angel.

Lucifer's existence in the Bible is strange, as the name Lucifer is a translation from the original Latin Helel, meaning 'Light-bearer.' His first reference in one of the most prevalent translations of the Bible, the King James Bible, goes as follows:

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

This immediately points to Lucifer being an angel who fell for his own hype, so to speak- one who believed himself to be as strong, if not stronger than God, which led to him being cut down by the forces of Heaven. However, in Paradise Lost, it's shown that Lucifer was more than just vain- he held a rebellion, and when it fell, and he fell with it, he became Satan. I know, that's strange, but it's not really canon to the SMT interpretations of both characters- it just helps to shape Lucifer's characterization in the series as a rebellious figure who stood even against God himself. Strangely, adding on to this odd maze of interpretation, Lucifer was also commonly interpreted as the king of Babylon, the famously sinful city of evil described in the Bible. What I think all of this adds to is less a solid character of his and rather a general interpretation and idea that surrounds Lucifer- that of him being the embodiment of rebellion, chaos, and standing against the mold of society in order to partake in sin. There's a reason that his deadly sin, after all, is one of the most dangerous- that being Pride.

Lucifer's role in the Bible is strange, however, and many interpretations differ completely, whether they be him as Satan, him as the Devil, or even him as a tragic hero. However, as for SMT's purposes, it takes a very unique take, combining several aspects from several interpretations to make the Morning Star into a perfect prince of darkness. For one, it pulls a lot from Paradise Lost, giving Lucifer the role of a rebellious figure who rules over scores of demons, though it separates him from Satan in opposition to the poem. His sin of pride is intact, as he's shown to be a very individualistic figure throughout, valuing freedom and one's own strength above all else, tying very well into the purveying themes of individualism and might-makes-right that are constant in the Chaos ideology.

In terms of design, what is there really to say? Lucifer's design is utterly iconic- the six split wings, the gorgeous plays on the angelic aspects of his character, the great horns reaching sky-high, there's a reason so many were disappointed with his weird redesign in IV. Like, what were they doing? I get that he was meant to look offputting, but turning him into a skinhead was not the right way to go about it- well, whatever. Every design of Lucifer throughout the series has its merits, and I love how several games even have different human disguises for him- my personal favorite has to be Louis Cyphre, but I adore how each human disguise including Louis plays on the traditionally angelic traits of pale skin and blonde hair, though twists that on its head due to him commonly wearing all black.

Thank you all for tagging along with this series, and it is so ridiculously lucky that day 100 was placed perfectly on my birthday. There's gonna be more, for sure, coming soon, don't worry- but for now, I love you all, and goodnight. Or good morning. Whichever works.

You didn't even mention his role in Gnosticism!

Jack, I'm not touching on Gnosticism with a ten foot pole for the time being. I don't even know what's going with that half the time. Wait for the Demiurge analysis.

Coward.

[saaraofthesand]

The "Unholy Trinity" and Other Catholic Imagery in Jujutsu Kaisen

First, everyone's all "Kenjaku this" and "Kenjaku that," but we're all forgetting that Kenjaku isn't our endgame villain. Sukuna is.

Anyway,

Akutami has tricked me. I was so focused on the Buddhist imagery that I didn’t notice all the Catholic themes. Well played, Gege.

Akutami was born in Iwate, but moved to Sendai in the fifth grade. Sendai has a notable Catholic population, and Catholicism has been associated with it since 1613.

The Soul

The way that Mahito describes the correlation between body and soul during the Vs. Mahito Arc is distinctly Catholic. It pulls away from the Buddhist ideology we see a lot of in JJK.

In Catholicism, the body and soul are one. The shape of one influences the other. It's the same in JJK.

This ideology is very different from the Buddhist idea of Dharma. That's why the concept of reincarnation doesn't work from a Catholic perspective. Because if your body and soul are one, how can your soul reincarnate into another body?

In Catholicism, your body is not just "worldly flesh" that you can/should ignore or discard. It's sacred, just like your soul. 

The Unholy Trinity

According to Christian tradition, the "Unholy Trinity" is made up of Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet. It contrasts the "Holy Trinity" made up of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Stigmata

While I was watching D. Gray-Man, the Noah Clan's forehead scars stood out to me. They reminded me of Kenjaku's. I did some digging to see if they had a distinct meaning or purpose. And guess what? They're Stigmata!

I should have noticed earlier, as I'm nothing without my religious trauma.

In Catholicism, Stigmata are the appearance of bodily wounds in locations corresponding to the wounds of Jesus Christ. These wounds can appear on the hands, wrists, feet, and forehead. Kenjaku's forehead scar may be a reference to Stigmata. The placement correlates to Christ's wound from the Crown of Thorns, which Pontius Pilate meant to symbolize a false prophet.

Kenjaku's curse technique may be a reference to Christ. He "resurrects" when he takes over a new body.

If this is the case, these are the conditions I theorize his technique requires:

He must reach the body within six hours (the amount of time Christ spent on the cross) of the infliction of a mortal wound. 

He must have three days (the number of days until Christ rose from the dead) to take over the new body.

The binding vow that the technique rides on requires the Stigmata. Stigmata are known to disappear after a person dies, so previous bodies would be unmarked.

I think it’s probably that Kenjaku is the False Prophet.

Daten (堕天 / "The Fallen One")

Okay, the official translation has Angel call Sukuna the "Disgraced" One, but "Fallen" is another way you can translate it. I choose the "Fallen" because in the context of Catholic/Christian angels, it has a specific meaning. It refers to demons or fallen angels, and, by extension, Satan himself.

Daten (堕天) is the word used by Japanese Christians to describe demons (i.e. fallen angels).

Sukuna has fire related powers, a reference to his namesake, but it could double as a reference to how angels are born from fire or the name Lucifer meaning light.

So, Sukuna is Satan. Therefore, he’s our ultimate enemy.

The Antichrist and Christ

I love Geto too, but he’s the only figure in JJK who checks a lot of boxes for being the Antichrist. He’s also Gojo’s antithesis, and I think that Gojo is symbolically Christ.

“The Antichrist will not be so called; otherwise he would have no followers... he will come disguised as the Great Humanitarian;”

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

“3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

“9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,”

2 Thessalonians 2:9

“8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.”

2 Thessalonians 2:8

The primary example of displays of power are when Geto frees people from cursed spirits. Geto amasses a following by posing as a sort of savior. Then, Gojo kills Geto, cementing his role as Christ.

Conclusion

So, in this analogy, Kenjaku is the False Prophet, Geto is the Antichrist, and Sukuna is Satan.

This theory might be nothing, but I wanted to throw it out there just in case.

[timhatchlive]

God Humbles Us Because Pride doesn't Suit Us

Isaiah 14:1–2 (ESV) For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the LORD’s land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.

What is the point of God's punishment toward His people? I believe Isaiah illustrates this here in chapter 14. He is humbling them so that He may once again exalt them and accomplish His purposes in the nations. 

The purpose of Israel was always to influence the nations, bringing God's truth and light to the dark corners of the world. If necessary, judgment came to bring them back to Himself so that they may do it more fully hereafter. 

Isaiah promises that Israel will be the final nation laughing at those who oppress them. And what God promises means even more for us who believe in Christ. 

Isaiah 14:3–4 (ESV) When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: “How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!

So they will taunt the King of Babylon, right? The next few verses offer us a glimpse of that taunt.

Isaiah 14:4–5 (ESV) you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: “How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased! 5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers,

But notice what happens in verse 12. The emphasis moves to a cosmic reality that poses a far darker threat. 

Isaiah 14:12–14 (ESV) “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

Virtually all commentators see this passage as an allusion to Satan's fall from heaven after seeking to take the place of God - a temptation he continues to put in our own hearts as well. The name "Lucifer" comes from the Latin translation of "Day Star". We do well to note the several "I will" statements of Lucifer. "I will ascend... I will set my throne... I will set on the mount... I will ascend above... I will make myself like the Most High." Six times - a number he represents well throughout scripture - he seeks to go higher in his position and usurp God's authority. But he did none of it. 

Isaiah 14:15–17 (ESV) But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. 16 Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, 17 who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’

Lucifer was struck down. And since then has sought to do one thing - discourage God's people from worshipping and serving Him in the position He's placed them. He does this by tapping into the things that bring us pride, feeding our ego, and stimulating our selfishness. When we get proud, we get demonic. And God will not allow His people to act the way of Lucifer. His judgment on our sins is proof His plan through us will be accomplished. For in humility, there is wisdom and the likeness of Christ.

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[spinallyspiraling]

Kristus Lucifer Pt:1

“He that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations [Goyim גוים]... And I will give him [the glorified son of the dawn - Hillel Ben Shachar - הילל בן��שחר] the morning star.” -

~ Revelation 2: 26, 28

“We must destroy Babylon the Great, the mother of all fornication and abominations of the Earth. Obviously, Babylon is our psychological city, populated by the psychic aggregates (the goyim גוים) that we carry within our interior.”

~ The Gnostic Bible, The Pistis Sophia Unveiled by Samael Aun Weor

“And יהוה said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

And יהוה said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it (the serpent) by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that יהוה אלהים Jehovah Elohim of their fathers, the Elohim אלהים of Abraham, the Elohim אלהים of Isaac, and the Elohim אלהים of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.”

~ Exodus 4: 2-5

“This (serpent) refers to the rod of Elohim that was delivered into his hand. As it is written:

“And Moses said unto Yoshuah, `Choose for us Anashim אנשים, and go out, fight against Amalek עמלק: to-morrow I am standing on the top of the hill, and the rod (serpent) of Elohim אלהים in my hand.” - Exodus 17: 9

“And this (serpent) is the same rod that was created (when the sun rose for the first time in his spine) at the twilight of the Shabbat eve and was engraved with the Holy Name by a Divine Shaping.”

So, “The rod of Moses symbolizes also the serpent or tempter, who (as Satan) was the cause of the captivity of (the archetypes of) Israel (because of the bestial orgasm).”

~ Zohar

“How art thou fallen from heaven, (Hillel Ben Shachar - הילל בן־שחר) O glorified, son of the dawn! how art thou cut down to the earth (Malkuth), which didst weaken the nations (Goyim גוים)!

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God (El אל, Chesed): I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High (Elion עליון).

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the abyss.”

~ Isaiah 14: 12-15

Hillel הילל, “glorified,” is translated into Lucifer which is a Latin word that relates to the light. “Luce” is light and “fer” means carrier. From that word “fer” comes the English word “ferry.” So, when you say “Lucifer,” you are addressing the carrier of the light, which is something very profound. This word is not addressing, as people think, a certain personage or angel that fell from heaven and that is controlling all the nations of the Earth; because as was stated, the staff of Moses represents that serpent or tempter who unleashed all of the plagues upon the people of the Earth—which is symbolized in the bible by Egypt, or Mizrahim [מצרים] in Hebrew—that we need to comprehend.

In the graphic above, you again find Christ, crucified upon the Tree of Life. In the first triangle of the Tree of Life, you find the three letters of the tetragrammaton, the sacred name of Elohim: Iod-Hei-Vav [יהו]. The last Hei ה of the tetragrammaton is placed in the Ain Soph. This is to show you how these letters,Iod-Hei-Vav-Hei [יהוה] are related with the light, because Ain Soph Aur means “the limitless light” and Eros-Lucifer is the carrier of such light. Sometimes, we state that this carrier is fire; it is logical that the carrier of the light is the fire. Fire and light are two phenomena from the same thing (דבר Dabar, the Logos), that is why we can also translate Lucifer as Luci, light and Fer, fire.

As you can see, we are addressing the first triangle of the Tree of Life together with the Ain Soph. It is very remarkable to see that the tetragrammaton, the holy name of Elohim, Iod-Hei-Vav-Hei [יהוה], is also hidden in the word Jehudah [יהודה], which is related to the solar light. If, before the last Hei [ה] of the tetragrammaton, you add the letter Daleth [ד], then you find that it is no longer Iod-Hei-Vav-Hei [יהוה] but is now Iod-Hei-Vav-Daleth-Hei [יהודה], the word Jehudah or Judah. This Jehudah is precisely that tribe of Israel related to the constellation of Leo, the solar logos, the king star, which Samael Aun Weor addresses as follows:

“Authentic Jews are only the children of the lion from the tribe of Judah [יהודה], meaning, the Christified Ones.”

~ Samael Aun Weor

This is why, on top of the cross of the crucifixion, above the star of David in Daath, is written INRI, which is Latin for: Ignis Natura Renovatur Integra, the fire renews nature integrally. The Bible translates this as “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum” which in English means, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of Judah.” We did not say “King of the Jews (Christified Ones)” but “King of Judah” because that tribe of Judah is related precisely to the crown or first triangle of the Tree of Life, to the Ain Soph Aur, which is above the first triangle, related with the Absolute. The letters Hei and Daleth at the end of the word Jehudah [יהודה] hide a certain meaning related with the light of the Ain Soph Aur and Daath, that we have to comprehend and understand.

When we talk about the light, it is good, as the Zohar explains, for us to imagine the light of a candle. When you observe the light of a candle, you’ll see that at the very bottom of the flame there is a dark-bluish color. This is that dark fire, which is consuming the candle. The dark fire is melting the wax, while the white flame above does not consume anything, but only gives light.

In that blue, yellow, white flame we see the symbol of the trinity that we call Father-Son-Holy Spirit, Kether-Chokmah-Binah, which are represented by the first three letters of the holy name Iod-Hei-Vav-Hei [יהוה]; the dark flame is represented by the final Hei. This four-lettered name, translated as Jehovah but which we call Iod-Havah, is the Glorian. The Glorian is formed precisely by the dark-blue, yellow and bright-white of the flame. Moses addressed the Israelites in the Bible and said:

“For Jehovah Elohim (כי יהוה אלהים) is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”

~ Deuteronomy 4: 24

Daleth. Daleth is the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which is the letter that we use in order to write Daath [דעת] knowledge, the mystery of the Tree of Good and Evil.

In the Gnostic Bible, Master Aberamentho addresses the three primary forces as the word Yew. You can say Yew or Jew [יהו], it is same thing. This word refers to the tribe of Judah. What we need to grasp from this is that those monads that reach the realization of the light within themselves are monads that belong to the tribe of Judah. In Kabbalah, we study many tribes or hierarchies related with the flame of the Lord. but we have to understand that the highest tribe of all the hierarchies, which is represented by the 12 zodiacal signs or 12 tribes of Israel, is the tribe of Judah (Leo) which is placed on top. This is because those beings are, as explained in the previous lecture, related with the Dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, and Nirmanakyaya bodies, even with the Adikaya bodies. Bodies that are built related with light that allows them to dwell within the absolute abstract space. In other words, to allow them to dwell within the dark light. That light that consumes sinners in hell.

If you imagine that light, you will see that it is consuming matter of any type in Klipoth, which is called Saul or Sheol [שאול] in Hebrew. That is why when religions speak about hell, inferno, describing a place with fire, we have to understand that it is addressing the black fire that consumes, that melts any type of matter. The white flame, that white light of the Lord is the one that gives life and rises and transforms the entirety of the Tree of Life in each one of us.

The golden cross behind the Tree of Life is the Greek Orthodox Cross; it relates to the 10 Sephiroth. At the very bottom is Malkuth, which is at the base of the cross. You see that Christ is crucified and has his feet on Yesod, which is the Sephirah of sex, the sexual force. When someone is working in the christification of himself with the fire of Lucifer—with the staff of Moses, which is fire and light—they find that the most difficult step in this process is the stigmata of the feet on the cross. You see that the right foot is over the left on the cross. That signifies that you have to control the left side of the Tree of Life, related with evil, with the right. That is only possible with the sexual fire.

In many lectures we have stated that Lucifer is related with Eros, the sexual potency. Now, the stigmata related with the hands are not easy, but they are easier than the ones of the feet, because the one in the hands are related with Gedulah and Geburah. These are the two superior aspects of the monad. While, those of the feet are related with the inferior aspects of that monad, which is ourselves; our three brains, namely, intellect, emotion, sex, and our physicality. That is why it is only on the cross that you can ask for annihilation, because God is the consuming fire at the bottom of the flame. This relates to the four bodies of sin.

When you observe the orthodox cross, you see that the last, lowest horizontal beam is always unbalanced, crooked. People wonder, “why did the Greeks or Orthodoxs make the first horizontal beam of the cross on top very well balanced, then the bigger one in the middle related with the monad also horizontal and very well balanced, but the one on the bottom crooked?” When you know Alchemy and Kabbalah, you understand that the most difficult work that we need to perform is related with the kidneys. Of course Hod and Netzach are related with Jezebel, the inferior emotional center and the mind, respectively, but these two Sephiroth also relate to the kidneys, which are those organs that give sexual strength to Yesod.

"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols [the goyim or egos of the mind]. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he [the glorified son of the dawn - Hillel Ben Shachar - הילל בן־שחר] which searcheth the kidneys and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your (sexual) works."

~ Revelation 2: 20-23"

The kidneys, in relation to Yesod, are related with the cross of Saint Andrew, which is an “X”; it is upon this cross that you have to suffer all the karma related with lust in order to annihilate it: Kamaduro and Karmasaya. That is why balancing the crooked horizontal line of the Orthodox cross is the most difficult part of the work for any alchemist, because here in the bottom is Hod, Netzach, Yesod, Malkuth, which together are called the four bodies of sin, where we have the ego very strong. This is precisely what all of us are working with, trying to make that beam even, but it takes a lot work.

The last work that the initiate does on the cross is precisely the stigmata of the feet. When those stigmata are received in the astral plane in the internal planes, the initiates are already balanced in Hod and Netzach, which is the most difficult part. This is what the Greek cross symbolizes. Beneath Malkuth is Klipoth, or Sheol.

Pe’er [פאר], in relation with glory or splendor.

Tiphereth [תפארת], in the middle of the tree of life is also related with splendor, with glory, with light.

Hod [הוד] The Sephirah Hod is also related with the light, the glorious light.

Hadar [הדר] Another Hebrew word with the same meaning

Zohar [זוהר] Splendor

All of these words are synonymous, and are used in the Bible in different ways to specify the different aspects of the light. That is why each part of us as we are, physically speaking, have within the different forces that come from the top of the Tree of Life and mix in Malkuth. Here we wrote along side the seven lower Sephiroth the seven fluids related with such light in our organism:

Water of Gedulah

Wine of Geburah

Milk of Netzach

Blood of Tiphereth

Dew of Hod

Olive Oil of Yesod

Honey of Malkuth

Water is related with the spirit, or Gedulah in Kabbalah; it is that water in which the brain and spinal medulla are floating, the cerebro-spinal fluid where the forces of spirit are floating, or hovering within us. The wine of Geburah is related with fire. The blood of Tiphereth. Both wine and blood or fire and blood are interrelated. In other lectures we have said that Geburah relates with the force of the systole and diastole of the circulatory system, and that Tiphereth relates with the heart that circulates the blood. Both are related with what we call the monad. In Netzach we find what the Bible calls the milk, which is the secretion of all the glands that we have in our organism, the totality of the endocrine glands. The immune system, the lymphatic fluid are related with the dew of Hod. Then we have the olive oil which is that fluid related with our semen or shemen that the Bible refers to; it is the oil with which we have to be anointed. And the last fluid is honey, related with Malkuth.

All of those fluids are rivers or forces that are mixing in the physical body and giving us different types of energies from the Tree of Life. That is why the book of Ecclesiastes 1: 7 says:

“All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; To the source where the rivers flow, there they flow again.

~ Ecclesiastes 1: 7

You need to understand that all those rivers that we are talking about also relate to all the fluids that we have in our organism, which come from the Glorian, that light that we are pointing as the Ain Soph Aur. All of us are connected to that. Here, we have to understand that all of those fluids or forces that enter our organisms are related with what we call Lucifer, because all of them carry the light in different modalities. That is why the Zohar states:

“As the light passes from one to the other throne through the various channels between them, it becomes more powerful and stronger in its circulatory course, similar to the blood in the veins of the body. Such is the region on high that gives rise to the seven different colors which, in their totality and blending, constitute the great mystery of that unknown something termed light. There are also seven other different colored lights, which, on flowing together and thus becoming blended, form one great ocean of light which then streams forth from its seven different outlets.”

~ Zohar

The following is quoted from Isaiah:

“And Iod-Havah shall lay waste the tongue of the sea of Egypt (mitzrahim - מצרים), and shall lift up his hand over the river in the strength of his spirit: and he shall strike it in the seven rivers, so that men may pass through it in their shoes.”

~ Isaiah 11: 15

Isaiah is talking about those alchemists that are working always with all of these fluids or rivers which the master Solomon addresses in Ecclesiastes. The Zohar continues:

“Each of the seven outlets or streams becomes divided and forms into seven reservoirs, and each of these into the source or fount of seven rivers and which subdivide again and form seven brooklets; thus forming a vast circulatory system by which the waters of each separate and then meet again and become blended together."

~ Zohar

When you read this passage of the Zohar, if you do not know Alchemy, you might wonder “what is all of this?” When it is said “from one to the other throne through the various channels between them it becomes more powerful and stronger in its circulatory course”; What is that? What throne is the Zohar speaking about? When you study Alchemy and Kabbalah, you understand that the throne of Chesed, the spirit, which is also called Gedulah, is the cerebrospinal or central nervous system, the brain and the medulla. That is why also the Zohar states that when genesis says “and a river came out of Eden and parted into four heads” all of those four heads and the river are related with the Sephirah Chesed or Gedulah. If you analyze this alchemically, you understand that the throne of God is the cerebrospinal nervous system, and our physical body. And when you are united, sexually speaking, with another throne—that is, when husband and wife are united, because it is only through the sexual organs that the two thrones can unite—then you understand what the Zohar says. As the light passes from one to the other throne, it is an interchanging in the sexual act of the forces of the rivers that the physical body has, in both men and women.

The only channel that can interchange that is Yesod, the sexual organ, and all the plexuses that we have in the body. As the sexual act increases, then you find that it becomes stronger in its circulatory course, similar to the blood in the veins of the body. When you know Alchemy and the mystery of Daath, it is easy to understand that the scripture is speaking about the sexual act; that is the only way to interchange the forces between man and woman.

In the former graphic we also wrote, “vanities of vanities, vanity of vanities, the temple is vanity.” The physical body is the vanity that holds all the vanities. That vanity is the breath, because Habel which is translated as Abel, is also that breath. The one that is performing all of this work, interchanging all of this light, is Lucifer, because in the sexual act, he is one that is carrying all of this in our circulatory system, in all the fluids that we have. Lucifer is not what people think, a particular individual; if we say “spirit” from the point of view of the English language, that “spirit” is a fluid that circulates throughout our physicality. That is why that we always state that Lucifer is always tempting people, but people do not know how they are being tempted by Lucifer. So, how does Lucifer tempt people? Behold, Isaiah explains us how; let us read:

“How did you come down from (Iod-Hei הי) heaven, O glorified son of the dawn [הילל בן־שחר Hillel Ben Shahar]…”

~ Isaiah 14: 12

And Jesus said:

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he [הילל בן־שחר Hillel Ben Shahar] that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man [הילל בן־שחר Hillel Ben Shahar] be lifted up"

~ John 3: 13, 14

Hillel הילל contains half of the four-lettered holy name of God (Iod-Hei-Vav-Hei יהוה); namely, Iod-Hei (הי), which is father-mother, the two thrones (Lameds לל) in heaven. Hallelujah (הללויה) contains all four letters, Iod-Hei-Vav-Hei יהוה, which together are father-mother and man-woman, which are the two thrones (Lameds לל) on heaven and earth. This is showing us, alchemically speaking, that Hillel הילל becomes the Son of man, the Son of Vav-Hei (וה), man-woman on earth.

Hillel הילל is translated as Lucifer by Jerome of Stridon who was a Latin priest, because in Latin, Lucifer means carrier of the light. It is the same glorified son of the dawn [Hillel Ben Shahar הילל בן־שחר ] or Son of man. How did the glorified son of the dawn (Hillel Ben Shahar הילל בן־שחר) come down from heaven?

Let us explained how. The Tree of Life, from the Ain Soph Aur does glorify one because, as we explained in other lectures, the first emanation of the absolute, of the Ain Soph, is the Ain Soph Aur, the limitless light, which in Greek is called Christ and in Latin, Lucifer. That is why the title of this lecture is “Kristus Lucifer.” But in Hebrew, they call it neither Christ nor Lucifer, but Hillel [הילל], which means “glorified one”; it is the light.

This myth about the descent of Lucifer or Christ into matter has many meanings, one of which, and most commonly understood, relates with the falling of the angels, but this is a separate meaning from that which we are discussing here. The meaning of this symbolism, for the purposes of this lecture, relates with the descent of the light in the initiate, in us.

“How did you come down from heaven, O glorified son of the dawn [הילל בן־שחר Hillel Ben Shahar]. How art thou hacked down (Nag’daath נגדעת) to the earth,”

The earth, as a symbol, represents out physicality, as well as the planet itself; that light we are talking about emerges from the Absolute, and that is “hacked down” into the ninth sphere, the center of any planet, and any individual physicality, our sex.

“to dominate the Goyim [גוים]!”

The goyim, as we stated, are related with our egos, because if we rearrange the letters of the word goy, we find the word ego (יגו). In this day and age, the word Goyim [גוים] is interpreted as being related with gentiles, in other words, people that do not belong to the Hebrew race. People have this interpretation because they do not know anything about Kabbalah or Alchemy. People think this word is related to race, just as in India where they think that the Brahmans relate to certain sects that follow Brahmanism. This is something different, related to the archetypes. Do not fall into the mistake of thinking that when the Bible speaks about the goyim, it is addressing the “gentiles” as we understand it in today’s terminology. People that do not know anything about esotericism think of the goyim as those who do not belong to the Hebrew race; however, we explain that the goyim that the Bible speaks about are nothing other than our egos.

Only Lucifer can control the ego. When Lucifer enters into our own psyche, a psyche that is filled with lust, pride, anger, vanity, laziness, gluttony, avarice, etc., he becomes Satan. He becomes black like the consuming fire. He is glorified on heaven, but when he enters inside of us, he becomes black. This is what people do not understand.

Some people confuse Lucifer with Satan: they are two different things. Lucifer is pure light when not mingled with our goyim (egos); but, when he enters within, in order to dominate the goyim in any initiate, he becomes black, dark light, like charcoal. That is why Isaiah continues:

“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God [אל].”

El [אל] is the name of God in Chesed. Above our spirit, the monad, is Iod-Hei-Vav-Hei [יהוה]; Lucifer or Hillel [הילל] comes from that height. He exalted himself there, but when he enters into us, he goes down. Isaiah continues:

“I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north”

We always talk about the north, which is above the head in the superior dimensions, the Absolute.

“I will ascend above the Heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Now, thou shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the abyss.”

~ Isaiah 14: 12-15

Here we find a passage in which Isaiah is addressing the King of Babylon. You might say “Was Sadam Hussain the king of Babylon in past lives?” No. The King of Babylon is somebody that has reached the 5th initiation of major mysteries and become one of the malachim, but yet who still remains with the ego very fat, very alive. When we enter into this path, we become a melek (king), the plural of which is malachim; in other words, a king of Babylon. What Babylon? Our own particular, individual Babylon, Babel. In the book of Isaiah it does not say Babylon but rather Babel בבל. Babel is a tower, the spinal nervous system, where the king is seated, but unfortunately, we have too many goyim within; too many egos.

So, this scripture is addressing an initiate of the 5th initiation of the major mysteries, one who took the direct path and wants to annihilate all the goyim within. Such an individual wants to become an inhabitant of the tribe of Judah, because it is from that height that Lucifer descends. Lucifer or Hillel or Christ belongs to that area of the Tree of Life, the first triangle and the Absolute. It is that very purified light, which for us is dark for us because we cannot see it, but for the Paramarthasatya is radiant. This is precisely what we have to understand.

When that light wants to help any initiate, where does that light enter? Sheol. In many lectures we have explained that the word Sheol [שאול] contains the same letters needed to write the name Saul, the first king of Israel. The symbol of the first king of Israel is the first king that all the archetypes of Israel had when they reached the 5th initiation of major mysteries, which is Saul, Sheol, שאול, Hell.

So, when we understand Kabbalah and Alchemy, we understand that Hillel, Christ, or Lucifer, descends into Sheol, into Saul, because he wants to transform him into David. Sheol or Saul, David, and Solomon represent three processes or transformations that the alchemists passes through when entering into the mysteries of the cross.

If you read the Bible you will see how Saul had many problems with Samuel. Samuel anointed him. Samuel, Shemuel, is related with the name. The word Shem [שם] means, “the name.” Shemuel anointed him and he received the help of Jehovah. Who is Jehovah? That is Iod-Hei-Vav-Hei above. That light that enters from above in order to help, but because he has the ego very alive, he is in trouble and becomes an enemy of David, who is the one that kills Goliath, and destroyed many enemies, alchemically speaking. It is Lucifer who is helping David, helping Samuel and also Solomon. The one that shows us how to do it is Moses, with his staff: when Moses is working with the staff, bringing the plagues of Egypt (or Babylon, same symbol), he is doing it with Lucifer, the serpent, which is that very staff.

“Now, thou shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the abyss.”

This abyss is us, in other words. That is why, when this Lucifer appears to the initiate, to Saul, he appears with a terrible aspect. Why? Because Saul has the ego very alive, and thus that beautiful Lucifer is now Satan. That Satan wants to transform Saul into pure gold and for that he has to tempt him; thus, though in himself he is pure, hebecomes impure, in order to help the initiate. This is why the book of Job explains how Satan is always doing the impossible in order to tempt you because he knows that if you triumph over temptation, he becomes glorious again within you. That process is called the resurrection.

In the graphic below, you find Shiva, Binah in Kabbalah, and above him is his wife, which is the river. In Hebrew, river is Naher [נהר]; sometimes in other verses of the Bible it is called Nahera [נהרה]. When we read the book of the Master Samael Aun Weor, Igneous Rose, we find in it that he explains that Najera-Nahera is the name of the angel that controls the fig tree, which relates to the feminine sexual forces. This is the only way to understand what Naher, the river that comes from Eden, means. In Genesis 2: 10-15 we read:

“And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.' These four heads or channels are symbolized by Chesed (mercy) on the right shoulder of the sephirotic tree of life.”

~ Zohar

That river is the feminine aspect of the Divine Mother, Binah, that descends from Daath, from heaven, and goes down into Chesed. As the Zohar states “Chesed represents the four rivers of Eden.” In synthesis, in the previous graphic we explained the 7 fluids in the physical body, but now we are going to synthesize them in the four rivers of Eden. The Zohar says “Chesed, the spirit, relates to these four rivers.”

Genesis continues:

“The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

The Zohar states:

“These are the four heads of the living creatures that carry (in Malkuth) the holy throne - Central Nervous System - and perspire because of the physical exertion (sexual alchemy). The sweat because of the (light and fire) load they carry becomes Naher Di Nur נהר די־נור (lit. river of fire), as it is written: "A fiery stream (Naher Di Nur נהר די־נור) issued and came forth from before him; (Aleph Alephim אלף אלפים) a thousand thousands served him" (Daniel 7:10)” - Zohar

Again, when the man and the woman are united sexually, the first river, Pison, relates to the cerebrospinal fluid in the man and the second river, Gihon, to the fluid of his genitalia. Two rivers, two fluids: the cerebrospinal fluid and the genitalia. These are Pison and Gihon in the man. The other two rivers, Hiddekel and Euphrates, are related with these same two polarities, but in the feminine body. All of these rivers are related to the cerebrospinal nervous system and the genitalia; the fluid that comes from heaven, that river, controls the sexual organs and the spinal column and the brain in both sexes. So, when united in the sexual act, those forces, those energies of the man and woman that descend from heaven intermingle. The one that is giving and taking the fire from heaven, that is stealing the fire from heaven in that sexual act is called Lucifer.

Unfortunately, people ignore who Lucifer is and in the very sexual act, all that fire that Prometheus-Lucifer steals from heaven is spilled in the orgasm, and the couple remains in darkness. But, if you know how to take advantage of the forces of that river, you know that Binah, the Holy Spirit, is the one that controls the waters along with Chesed, the spirit that floats upon the waters of Genesis. This is how you have to see that river, divided in 4 ways in the sexual act, alchemically and kabbalistically.

When you take these symbols superficially, as people do, you will start thinking these rivers are the literal ones found in Asia, and that the garden of Eden was also in Asia. The word Eden means voluptuousness, bliss. That bliss is felt in the very sexual act. That is Eden. But remember that in the moment that you are performing that act, Lucifer, the giver of light, is present. He wants to make of you a radiant being, but in order to become that, you have to overcome temptation. That is why it is written:

“And Iod-Havah Elohim took Adam, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” - Genesis 2: 10-15

From where did Iod-Havah Elohim take Adam—Adam represents the true man, the true human being ? He took him from the rivers, from the four rivers. This is how you have to create the solar bodies, the Christic bodies, the electronic bodies, which are pure energy. It is through these bodies that you can rise and approach God, because God is a consuming fire down but not up.

[imustbeamermaidrango]

The Optimism of Satan

by Mitch Horowitz

See article at: https://medium.com/s/radical-spirits/the-optimism-of-satan-eea5a1a24550

A friend of mine once had the opportunity to ask the Dalai Lama a single question.

“Who was your greatest teacher?” he asked.

The exiled leader replied, “Mao Zedong.”

I once felt provoked in my own sphere by a similarly unlikely teacher — Donald Trump.

Years ago, Trump the Developer asked an interviewer: “What good is something if you can’t put your name on it?” His comment is indelibly stamped on my memory, though I confess I cannot find a source for it. Did I imagine it? The sentiment, while coarse and easily rebutted, came to haunt me.

Did Trump, the showy conman obsessed with naming rights, capture a nagging truth of human nature — a side none of us can deny or push away, other than by an act of self-regarding hypocrisy? And did I, hopefully in a more integral way, share a kernel of his outlook? Was the voice even his — or something within me?

Soon after hearing Trump’s remark, I received what struck me as a bit of ridiculous advice from the editor of an academic spiritual journal. I told him in candor that I wanted to find greater exposure for my byline. “You don’t have to put your name on everything you write,” he replied. Such a principle could ring true only in the world of abstraction.

Trump’s statement about self-exaltation, however ugly, captured half a truth. The whole truth is that our lives, as vessels for various influences — some physical, some perhaps beyond — are bound up with the world and circumstances in which we find ourselves; and within that world we must, at the stake of personal happiness, create, expand, and aspire. Whatever higher influences we feel or great thoughts we think, or are experienced by us through the influence of others, are like heat dissipated in the vacuum of space unless those thoughts are directed into a structure or receptacle. Our purpose is to be generative. Questions of attachment and non-attachment, identification and non-identification, are incidental to that larger fact.

I came to feel strongly about this several years ago when I found that my spiritual search, a path of radical ecumenism with a dedication to esoteric interests, was failing to satisfy me. I began to suspect that I was not acknowledging what I was really looking for, either in spirituality — by which I mean a search for the extra-physical — or therapy. I came face-to-face with an instinct that few people acknowledge, and would deny if they heard it spoken. But they should linger on it. Because what I discovered captures what I believe is a basic if discomforting human truth: The ethical or spiritual search, not as idealized but as actually lived, is a search for power. That is, for the ability to possess personal agency. We pray, “Thy will be done.” We mean “my will be done” — hoping that the two comport. This is why, at least in my observations after thirty years as a publisher, seeker, and historian of alternative spirituality, many seekers in both traditional and alternative faiths are ill at ease, fitful in their progress, and apt to slide from faith to faith, or to harbor multiple, sometimes conflicting, practices at once.

Power is supposed to be the craving of the corrupt. Is it? The novelist Isaac Bashevis Singer, surveying the modern occult scene, wrote in 1967: “We are all black magicians in our dreams, in our fantasies, perversions, and phobias.” And to this I would add, in pursuit of our highest ideals. As Singer detected, we are not very different from the classical magician when we strive, morally and materially, to carry forth our plans in the world — to ensure the betterment of ourselves and our loved ones; to heal sickness; to create, sustain, and, above all, to generate things which bear our markings, ideals, and likenesses. All of this is the expenditure of power, the striving to actualize our drives and images.

I do not view the search for individual power, including through supernatural means (a topic I will clarify and expand on), as necessarily maleficent. Historically and psychologically, it is a fundamental human trait to evaluate, adopt, or avoid an idea based upon whether it builds or depletes our sense of personal agency. “A living thing,” Nietzsche wrote in Beyond Good and Evil, “seeks above all to discharge its strength — life itself is will to power…” The difficulty is in making our choices wisely, and ethically.

I know how far I’m extending my chin by quoting Nietzsche. I sound like a dorm-room libertine. A critic once accused me of harboring an adolescent wish to power. To that, I plead guilty — but with a catch. I do believe in universal reciprocity, an indelible oneness of existence, and I operate from a ground rule of nonviolence. By that, I do not mean abstention from self-defense but rather an unwillingness to violate the sanctity of another’s search, to knowingly do anything that would deprive another of his or her own pursuit of highest potential. And since the political question is never far away, I’ll note that my policy preferences run to a mildly redistributive social democratic state with single-payer healthcare, labor unions, and consumer protections with teeth.

As alluded, sensitive people often deny or overlook their power-seeking impulse, associating it with the tragic fate of Faust or Lady Macbeth. It can be argued, however, that all of our neuroses and feelings of chronic despair, aside from those with identifiably biological causes, grow from the frustrated expression of personal power. We may spend a lifetime (and countless therapy sessions) ascribing our problems to other, more secondary phenomena — without realizing that, as naturally as a bird is drawn to the dips and flows of air currents, we are in the perpetual act of trying to forge, create, and sustain, much like the ancient alchemist or wizard.

The ultimate frustration of life is that, while we seem to be granted godlike powers — giving birth, creating beauty, spanning space and time, devising machines of incredible might — we are bound to physical forms that quickly decay. “Ye are gods,” wrote the psalmist, adding “but yet shall die as princes.” Immortality and the reversal of bodily decline is the one magic no one has ever mastered. The wish to surpass the boundaries of our physicality is behind some of our most haunting myths and parables, from the Trojan prince Tithonus, to whom the gods granted immortality but trapped in a shell of misery and decay for failing to request eternal youth, to the doomed scientist Victor Frankenstein, who sought the ultimate alchemy of creating life only to bring destruction on everyone around him.

We live in a sphere of limitations. But we cannot desist from pushing against its limits. It is our heritage.

Many of us grew up learning the story of humanity’s fall from grace in the biblical parable of the garden of paradise, where the serpent — long associated with the Great Adversary (a guest who’ll soon be arriving) — seduces Eve, and then she Adam, into eating forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But take a fresh reading, or a first reading, of the sparsely detailed chapter three of Genesis. When revisiting this familiar story in virtually any translation, you’ll see not only that the serpent’s argument is based in truth — the couple does not perish for eating the apple, and their eyes are, in fact, opened to good and evil (indeed, some scholars contend that the garden’s two trees, the tree of knowledge and the tree of life, are the same)— but also that Eve, contrary to a shibboleth about feminine nature, does not seduce Adam, who requires little coaxing. The serpent even suggests, as augmented in other texts, that Yahweh displays cruel hypocrisy by forbidding intellectual illumination, even as its availability sits in the garden’s midst.

We’re taught, too, that the denouement of Eve’s misstep was her son Cain slaying his brother Abel. But Cain’s tragic act of fratricide may reflect, in discomforting realism, the unavoidable consequence of creativity: friction. Competing ideologies and the wish to measure and evaluate may be the inevitable cost of awareness. But without the rebel, the malcontent, the usurper — the snake in the garden — how could humanity claim sentience?

Lord Byron used his 1821 drama, Cain, one of the dramatist’s most alluring and under-appreciated works, to take the marked brother’s side. And to introduce the most jarring literary re-conception of Lucifer next to Milton’s. Byron’s antihero, who befriends the rebellious Cain, is persuasive and penetrating in his denial that he was the serpent in the garden, yet he points out that the serpent greeted Eve as a sexual and political emancipator — an outlook embraced by many proto-feminists and political radicals of that century and the next. Byron’s dark lord is a fiery optimist on the side of the malcontents: “I know the thoughts/Of dust, and feel for it, and with you.”

I began to question whether the forces of creation with which I most identified — whether parabolic or metaphysical — were these same forces of Promethean defiance. Forces of aspiration who rallied to the cry of the demon Moloch in Paradise Lost: “Hard liberty before the easy yoke.”

Now, one could ask: why think of any of this other than in material terms? Why not put away my Bhagavad Gita in favor of Atlas Shrugged? Because, as noted, I believe that truth is not contained within flesh and bone alone. I think we participate in an existence that goes beyond the five senses. And I believe that our ancient ancestors were correct in deifying certain energies and understanding oneself in relation to them; they gave them names like Thoth, Hermes, Minerva, and Set. Hence, I began to take a long and considered look at such an energy, to which I have been alluding, but which I have not yet named: Satan. This term has its own complicated past, it has gotten me cast out of a garden or two myself, but I employ it both to acknowledge its colloquial primacy and as a bow to bluntness.

There exists a rich and underappreciated counter narrative of humanity’s encounter with what is called “Satanic” in Western life particularly, but not only, in the literature of the Romantics. This countercurrent of spiritual, political, and cultural history — and present — has been insufficiently understood, historically confused, and blurred by entertainment, conspiracy theorists, sensationalism, and fraud (such as the “Satanic Panic” of the 1980s).

My wish then, is to encourage a second look where we’re not supposed to be looking — that is, to take a more unadorned, elucidating, and even hopeful perspective on the Satanic. Milton has Satan say: “The mind is its own place, and in it self/Can make a Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n.” Again, Satan is an optimist. Me too. No cards under the table: my journey — and perhaps yours — includes constructively wondering whether my own search for a personal, spiritual, and ethical philosophy (I have one — and it’s vital to me) lies east of Eden, or within what is popularly but incompletely called the “dark side.” That’s what I’ve been describing.

Darkness is not a void; it’s a womb. And in the territory of truth and consensual experiment, there exist no boundaries of exploration.

[frederickwiddowson]

The writings of Luke the physician starting with his version of the gospel - Luke 22:47-53 comments: Jesus is arrested

Luke 22:47 ¶  And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48  But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 49  When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 50  And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51  And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 52  Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? 53  When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

 Judas, the informer and traitor, arrives with a crowd to arrest Jesus. Peter attacked the servant of the high priest with a sword but Jesus healed the wounded man. The verses in John make you wonder if perhaps that servant became a Christian later as one reason his name is mentioned.

 John 18:10  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

 Paul uses the phrase the power of darkness, as well.

 Colossians 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

 Jesus is the light of this world and while He was walking in the flesh in the world there was light in the world.

 John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 John 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 Christ’s presence illuminates the spiritual world of men as the light of day illuminates the physical world.

 John 11:9  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

 This illumination of God the Creator’s standard and purpose of redeeming mankind back to Himself from the spiritual ignorance or darkness in man’s soul would soon, with Christ’s departure, be shrouded by night.

 John 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

 Romans 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

 Through the last two thousand years of false churches, religious murder, and wicked kingdoms and nation-states propped up by falsely saying they were God’s special vehicles to do His work on earth a glimmer of light has shined through the darkness in Christ’s body on earth. As Jesus said to His followers;

 Matthew 5:13 ¶  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 2Corinthians 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 The darkness which like light can have two meanings, I believe, one purely physical and one spiritual, which God separated from the light in the beginning;

 Genesis 1:4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

 …that darkness which could not comprehend, which at one time could also mean besides understand to contain, repress, conquer, or overpower, the light…

   John 1:1 ¶  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

     5 ¶  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

 …has its moment here. We know who the ultimate author of this betrayal is, even though it works against him in the end. Satan entered Judas, the traitor.

 Luke 22:3  Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

 We know that the religious elite that sponsored Judas, denying Christ’s authority over them as their Messiah, was unknowingly answering to Satan.

 John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 I think it might be helpful now to review who or what Satan is and what might be his purpose.

 If the majority interpretation is correct, Satan is first mentioned as a serpent in the Garden of Eden. A serpent or worm in English has also traditionally been a term for a dragon in historical mythology.

 Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

 Satan is also said to be a dragon.

 Revelation 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

 How was Satan found to be in the Garden of Eden? Judging by his appearance he filled some kind of role of priest as Aaron and his sons would eventually do. He is said to be a cherub, an animal type of creature, with cherubs as perhaps the spiritual prototypes of all creatures, with Satan described in Job 41 as reptilian. See Ezekiel, chapters 1 and 10 for descriptions of cherubs. The Bible often does double and triple duty, describing one person or one event while also describing others prophetically. Here, in this passage, the King of Tyre is addressed but, as he is likened to Satan, Satan is described.

 Ezekiel 28:11 ¶  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

 Although many modern, evangelical and fundamentalist commentators have Satan falling from grace in some mystical, unexplained time between verses 1 and 2 of the first chapter of Genesis we only have evidence of his attempting to subvert God’s order starting in Genesis, chapter 3. Of course, God knew his heart even though his iniquity was not made apparent until then. His pride led him.

 In another prophecy against the King of Babylon this time, Satan, under another title of his, Lucifer, is described by way of his thinking.

 Isaiah 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

 And yet, we know from reading the first two chapters of Job that he cannot go beyond what God allows and we know that he can be used by God, unleashed, if you will, for a purpose.

 2Sa 24:1  And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

 1Ch 21:1  And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

 It is clear from reading Job and these two verses and contexts that a human being will likely not be able to tell if a thing is done directly by God or if it is a matter of Satan’s hatred and rage being used or allowed for a purpose.

 Satan tried to divert Christ from His mission by tempting Him to take the crown first, before the cross. Christ resists being crowned a king by the Jews until it was time.

 Luke 4:1 ¶  And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2  Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9  And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10  For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11  And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12  And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

 John 6:15  When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

 By now, at this point, Satan appears to have decided to simply try to destroy Christ. Perhaps it is from desperation, or rage, or pride alone but Satan is out on a very weak limb here. As John the Baptist had asked if there would be another Messiah to come in Luke 7, as there may have been a belief in more than one Messiah, a conqueror and a sufferer at least, Satan also does not have 100% understanding of God’s purpose. God keeps quite a lot close and only reveals things when He is ready.

 Deuteronomy 29:29  The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 So, whatever Satan’s motivation here, we know he is doomed. Only immense pride can blind someone so completely to reality. For human examples see Adolf Hitler in his invasion of Russia or any number of organized crime figures who eventually end up murdered or imprisoned for life.

[kingdomskeys-blog]

THE LIGHT BRINGER

The word lucifer we read in English is translated from two Latin root words: The first-word being 'lux' which means light and the second is 'ferre' meaning to carry. In Latin lucifer means “light bearer” or “light bringer,” it was not originally used in connection with the devil nor initially translated to render the common modern-day interpretation. "Lucifer" as an English word has come to mean Satan through ignorance carried by tradition.

The 1611 King James Version of the Bible is translated from Latin which was translated from both Hebrew and Greek and this process made the common word a proper noun. That's how Lucifer got his capital L and the intended description became an identity. In turn, Isaiah's parable became an origin story and the lesson the prophet taught was lost. While today lucifer is used as the proper name of the devil before his fall from grace, its because the Latin word was kept in place and not translated by its proper definition. The King James translation turned what was originally an adjective (in reference to a Babylonian king) into Satan's name by allusion.

In Isaiah chapter 14, the prophet is using a parable to describe how one can fall due to their spiritual understanding and becoming "puffed up" in the pride of their own knowledge. "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." - Isaiah 14:12-15 KJV

Within the King James Bible, this is the only time the word lucifer is written. The Hebrew word Isaiah used is 'helel' (pronounced hay-lale') which simply means 'shining one.' Have you ever heard someone say "let me shed some light on this"...? It's like that. Now picture such in relation to the revelations of God's word.

The Apostle Paul reiterates the same thing in the New Testament as was in the Old, "lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 KJV

Both Isaiah and Paul are writing the same message of God's chastisement for inappropriately behaving, lacking humility and meekness in their presentation, lacking spiritual maturity in how-to handle heavenly wisdom, the Glory of the Lord upon one who's unbecoming of such, misrepresenting God's character before those they've enlightened; And while Isaiah describes such from the 3rd person's point of view, Paul does so from the 1st person's perspective.

Ultimately both passages serve as warnings of the consequences of erroring into spiritual pride and the chastisement from the Lord to follow because of such; That's really all there is to it. If you can receive it you'll do well to take away the fear of the devil which is your power through the resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord. May his everlasting grace and mercy be with you all, God bless and take care.

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." - Isaiah 60:1-2 KJV

kingdomskeys.com

[readingbank-blog]

Twenty Ways to Know Your Enemy so You Can Defeat Him

In order to defeat your enemy you must know as much as you can about him. This is one of the most common rules of war. This is why secular armies engage in reconnaissance and intelligence work. Reconnaissance is the art of discovering the strengths, weaknesses, plans and location of the enemy. Without this you cannot even start your war.

One of the ways by which we can know our enemy is to do a quick analysis of his names and titles. After all, a name speaks volumes about a person. Study the following twenty names or titles of Satan and you will know what you are dealing with.

1.Devil

Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a DEVIL?

John 6:70

The word 'devil' comes from the Greek word diabolos. This is where the English word diabolical comes from. Diabolos reveals the essential nature of this evil being. It means to be inhumanly cruel or wicked. It also means to be outrageous or disgracefully bad.

2. Satan

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and SATAN came also among them.

Job 1:6

This comes from a Hebrew word Satan, which literally means adversary. It speaks of being diabolical or hellish. This name was first used in the Book of Job. It described a very wicked being who murdered the entire household of Job and destroyed his business.

Satan is the archenemy of both God and man. In this interesting passage, Satan is spoken of as a real person who seemed to have access to heaven. He also seemed to have power to accuse the brethren and to seek their destruction.

3. Accuser of the brethren

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Revelation 12:10

This title explains the relentless accusations and slander that are hurled against God's servants.

4. Adversary

Be sober, be vigilant; because your ADVERSARY the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1 Peter 5:8

This name reveals the antagonistic nature of Satan as he fights against everything we do. No wonder there is such resistance, hostility and unfriendliness to the Gospel.

Satan's agents, the unbelievers, are often in tune with the spirit of opposition to the church and its leaders. Many nations have laws that are hostile to the establishment of churches. Even though churches have brought so much health and educational benefits to nations, political leaders have no choice but to oppose the church.

5. Angel of the bottomless pit

And they had a king over them, which is the ANGEL OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Revelation 9:11

This name reveals the final destination of Satan and his cohorts. This can explain the frantic efforts of the devil to capture every corner of this earth. We must rise up now and counteract this desperate devil at every turn.

6. Belial

And what concord hath Christ with BELIAL? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

2 Corinthians 6:15

Belial means worthless. Satan is out to degrade you. Just observe someone who is under the influence of the devil. You will notice how worthless he becomes.

The devil degrades young men into becoming drug addicts, school dropouts, smugglers, etc. Belial turns young ladies into prostitutes with no sense of worth.

7. Beelzebub

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by BEELZEBUB the prince of the devils.

Matthew 12:24

This means the "Lord of the flies". A lord of flies is obviously a supervisor of disease and death. Satan is the author of the famine, disease and death that plague millions today.

8. God of this world

In whom the GOD OF THIS WORLD hath 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 Corinthians 4:4

"He's got the whole world in His hands." That's the song we all learnt in Sunday school, but is that really the case? If He's got the whole world in His hands, then why are there so many wars and famines everywhere? Why is there such unhappiness in the world? Why is half of the world very rich and the other half very poor?

Certainly, this would not happen under the management and leadership of Jehovah. You see, Satan is actually the god of this world. Where Jehovah is in full control (heaven), the streets are made of gold and the people live in absolute bliss.

One day when the Lord takes over the rulership of this world, there will be a different kind of earth with love, peace, and joy.

9. Murderer

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a MURDERER FROM THE BEGINNING, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

John 8:44

This is an appropriate title for the devil. He is a murderer. He is a killer and the author of all the bloodshed in this world. When he possesses a head of state this president may lead his nation into senseless wars which achieve nothing.

As the fathers, husbands and brothers of multitudes are slaughtered, the murderer is living up to his reputation.

10. Prince of devils

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the PRINCE OF THE DEVILS.

Matthew 12:24

This title shows us the organised nature of the forces of darkness. Demons are organised into armies. They have an overall commander who is known as the prince of devils. As we move into spiritual warfare we are battling against an organized and intelligent enemy.

11. Prince of the power of the air

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 2:2

This reveals Satan's control over the atmosphere and airwaves in any nation. Look closely at the radio and television waves of any nation. You will notice how Satan has dominated these fields. It is important for Christians to fight for the control of the airwaves. We must fight for the control of the arts, culture and the music of our nations. This is the domain of the prince of the power of the air and it is our duty is to dislodge him.

12. Prince of the world

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the PRINCE OF THIS WORLD cometh, and hath nothing in me.

John 14:30

This reveals Satan's rulership of the world and the systems of the world. As the world develops everything becomes more and more godless. I recently told a friend; "when I am in Europe I feel as though I am in Sodom." I said to him, "Europe is Pergamos revived!" Pergamos was the seat of Satan and the headquarters of demonic activity

(Revelations 2:13).

13. The old serpent

And THE SERPENT said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Genesis 3:4

And the great dragon was cast out, that OLD SERPENT, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:9

In the beginning, he was described as a serpent. In the end, he was described as a serpent. Snakes are some of the most dangerous creatures we know about. With one stroke, they can kill a human being. Yet, snakes manage to live near human beings without being detected. This is exactly how Satan works.

He is in the church and the people don't even know it. He is nearby causing damage and yet he is unseen.

As we battle against the devil, we must be constantly aware that even though he is invisible, he is real. Anytime I walk through tall grass I am conscious of the fact that there may be dangerous snakes nearby. Every pastor must be conscious of the fact that there may be invisible demonic activity nearby.

14. The tempter

And when THE TEMPTER came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Matthew 4:3

Satan is the author of temptation! He creates situations that test our resolve to obey God. He tempted Jesus and he will tempt you and I. But God will come to your rescue. He will provide a way of escape for every temptation.

15. Unclean spirit

When the UNCLEAN SPIRIT is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Matthew 12:43

The word unclean is used to describe the devil many times. This is because that is what the devil is. We are fighting a being that has a contagious nature that wants to make you unclean.

The word unclean is translated from the Greek word akarthartos. It means impure, lewd, foul and unclean. It is a general term for Satan since his presence makes everything impure. Pure relationships are described as impure when unclean spirits get involved. Pure friendships become impure when the accuser points his finger at them.

16. The wicked one

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the WICKED ONE, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Matthew 13:19

The wickedness of the devil is unparalleled. Occasionally, human beings who have been greatly influenced by Satan display flashes of this hellish character. The wars of Sierra Leone, the genocide of Rwanda and Kosovo testify to the wickedness of Satan. This is the enemy we seek to dislodge and weaken. In the name of Jesus we will defeat the wicked one.

17. Lucifer

How art thou fallen from heaven, O LUCIFER, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Isaiah 14:12-15

Lucifer is the name given to the angelic being that fell from grace. Lucifer is described in great detail in the Book of Ezekiel.

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Ezekiel 28:13-15

You can see that he was an awesome being! The descriptions of his glory show us the kind of creature he is. If such a being is corrupted, you can understand the kind of monster that would be unleashed.

Satan's ability in the field of music (pipes and tabrets) is described in this passage. No wonder he has captivated millions through the power of unwholesome music.

18. Father of lies

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for HE IS A LIAR, AND THE FATHER OF IT.

John 8:44

When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and declared war against the rest of the world, he frightened America by saying, "We're going to have the mother of all battles." When someone is described as a "mother" or "father", it tells us something important. If Satan is the father of lies then he is the parent and creator of all forms of deception. Satan's power to deceive is unparalled.

19. Abaddon

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless PIT, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is ABADDON, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Revelation 9:11

This is the angel of the abyss. In the Book of Job this word is translated destruction. If you can't have it - destroy it! This is the very nature of the devil. Some heads of state that cannot have power any longer, delight in destroying the entire nation through war. They get this idea from their master Abaddon.

20. Principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, wicked spirits

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12

In this Scripture, Paul groups the four main agents of Satan's outreach. Principalities represent spirits that dominate geographical areas. It is obvious that different kinds of spirits occupy different geographical areas. Amsterdam, for instance, has a principality of immorality. There is a saying that good boys go to heaven and bad boys go to Amsterdam.

Powers are beings that exert control over individuals. Another name you could give to them is "spirits that influence". Wicked spirits in high places speak of wicked entities that exist in the heavenlies. It was such a being that opposed the angel who was returning to Daniel with an answer to prayer (Daniel 10:13).

Rulers of the darkness speak of the spiritual beings that control the darkness in the world. The underworld and the unbelievers are all under influence without even knowing it.

by Dag Heward-Mills

[fevie168]

Saturday (October 6): "Your names are written in heaven"

Scripture: Luke 10:17-24

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" 18 And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

Meditation: Do you know and experience in your personal life the joy of the Lord? The Scriptures tell us that "the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Why does Jesus tell his disciples to not take joy in their own successes, even spiritual ones? Jesus makes clear that the true source of our joy is God himself, and God alone. Regardless of the circumstances, in good times and bad times, in success or loss, God always assures us of victory in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus assures his disciples that he has all power over all evil, including the power of Satan and the evil spirits (demons) - the fallen angels who rebelled against God and who hate men and women who have been created in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1:29). Jesus told his disciples that he came into the world to overthrow the evil one (John 12:31). That is why Jesus gave his disciples power over Satan and his legion of demons (rebellious angels). We, too, as disciples of Jesus have been given spiritual authority and power for overcoming the works of darkness and evil (1 John 2:13-14).

Self-centered pride closes the mind to God's revelation and wisdom Jesus thanks the Father in heaven for revealing to his disciples the wisdom and knowledge of God. What does Jesus' prayer tell us about God and about ourselves? First, it tells us that God is both Father and Lord of earth as well as heaven. He is both Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything and transcendent authority, and at the same time, goodness and loving care for all his children. All fatherhood and motherhood is derived from him (Ephesians 3:14-15).

Jesus' prayer also contains a warning that pride can keep us from the love and knowledge of God. What makes us ignorant and blind to the things of God? Sinful pride springs from being self-centered and holding an exaggerated view of oneself. Pride closes the mind to God's truth and wisdom for our lives. Lucifer, who was once the prince of angels, fell into pride because he did not want to serve God but wanted to be equal with God. Through his arrogant pride he led a whole host of angels to rebel against God. That is why the rebellious angels (whom Scripture calls evil spirits, devils, and demons) were cast out of heaven and thrown down to the earth. They seek to lead us away from God through pride and rebellion.

How can we guard our hearts from sinful pride and rebellion? The virtue of humility teaches us to put our trust in God and not in ourselves. God gives strength and help to those who put their trust in him. Humility is the only true remedy against sinful pride. True humility, which is very different from the feelings of inferiority or low self-esteem, leads us to a true recognition of who we are in the sight of God and of our dependence on God.

Humility is the only soil where God's grace and truth can take root Jesus contrasts intellectual pride with child-like simplicity and humility. The simple of heart are like "babes" or "little children" in the sense that they see purely without pretense or falsehood and acknowledge their dependence and trust in one who is greater, wiser, and more trustworthy. They seek one thing - the "summum bonum" or "greatest good" who is God himself. Simplicity of heart is wedded with humility, the queen of virtues, because humility inclines the heart towards grace and truth.

Just as pride is the root of every sin and evil inclination, so humility is the only soil in which the grace of God can take root. It alone takes the right attitude before God and allows him as God to do all. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6). The grace of Christ-like humility inclines us towards God and disposes us to receive God's wisdom and help. Allow the Lord Jesus to heal the wounds of pride in your heart and to fill you with the joy of the Holy Spirit who transforms us into the likeness of Christ himself - who is meek and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29).

Nothing can give us greater joy than the knowledge that we are God's beloved and that our names are written in heaven. The Lord Jesus has ransomed us from slavery to sin, Satan, and death and has adopted us as God's beloved sons and daughters. That is why we no longer belong to ourselves - but to God alone. Do you seek to be like Jesus Christ in humility and simplicity of heart?

The Lord Jesus wants us to know him personally - experientially Jesus makes a claim which no one would have dared to make: He is the perfect revelation of God - he and the Father are perfectly united in a bond of unbreakable love and fidelity. One of the greatest truths of the Christian faith is that we can know the living God. Our knowledge of God is not simply limited to knowing something about God, but we can know God personally. The essence of Christianity, and what makes it distinct from Judaism and other religions, is the knowledge of God as our Father. Jesus makes it possible for each of us to personally know God as our Father. Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote: "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us to love."

Seek God with expectant faith and trust To see Jesus is to see what God is like. In Jesus we see the perfect love of God - a God who yearns over men and women, who cares intensely for them and who shows them unceasing kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. That is why the Father sent his only begotten Son who laid down his life for us on the cross. Jesus taught his followers to confidently pray to the Father with expectant faith, "Our Father who art in heaven ...give us this day our daily bread." Do you believe in your heavenly Father's care and love for you and do you pray with confident trust and hope that he will give you what you need to live as his son or daughter?

"Most High and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of our hearts and give us a true faith, a certain hope and a perfect love. Give us a sense of the divine and knowledge of yourself, so that we may do everything in fulfillment of your holy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Prayer of Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226)

Psalm 69:32-36

32 Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. 33 For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds. 34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves therein. 35 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah;  and his servants shall dwell there and possess it; 36 the children of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The power of the Kingdom of God, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"He also gave the holy apostles power and might even to raise the dead, cleanse lepers, heal the sick, and by the laying on of hands to call down from heaven the Holy Spirit on anyone they wanted. He gave them power to bind and to loose people's sins. His words are 'I say to you, whatever you will bind on earth, will be bound in heaven (Matthew 18:18). Whatever you will loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven.' These are the things we see ourselves possessing. Blessed are our eyes and the eyes of those of all who love him. We have heard his wonderful teaching. He has given us the knowledge of God the Father, and he has shown him to us in his own nature. The things that were by Moses were only types and symbols. Christ has revealed the truth to us. He has taught us that not by blood and smoke, but rather by spiritual sacrifices, we must honor him who is spiritual, immaterial and above all understanding." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 67)

Friday (October 5): "He who hears you hears me"

Scripture: Luke 10:13-16  

13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it shall be more tolerable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. 16 "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

Meditation: If Jesus were to visit your community today, what would he say? Would he issue a warning like the one he gave to Chorazin and Bethsaida? And how would you respond? Wherever Jesus went he did mighty works to show the people how much God had for them. Chorazin and Bethsaida had been blessed with the visitation of God. They heard the good news and experienced the wonderful works which Jesus did for them. Why was Jesus upset with these communities? The word woe is also translated as alas. It is as much an expression of sorrowful pity as it is of anger.

Jesus calls us to walk in the way of truth and freedom - justice and holiness Why does Jesus lament and issue a stern warning? The people who heard the Gospel here very likely responded with indifference. Jesus upbraids them for doing nothing! Repentance demands change - a change of heart and way of life. God's word is life-giving and it saves us from destruction - the destruction of soul as well as body. Jesus' anger is directed toward sin and everything which hinders us from doing the will of God and receiving his blessing. In love he calls us to walk in his way of truth and freedom, grace and mercy, justice and holiness. Do you receive his word with faith and submission or with doubt and indifference?

"Lord Jesus, give me the child-like simplicity and purity of faith to gaze upon your face with joy and confidence in your all-merciful love. Remove every doubt, fear, and proud thought which would hinder me from receiving your word with trust and humble submission."

Psalm 79:1-5,8-9

1 O God, the heathen have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple;  they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them. 4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those round about us. 5 How long, O LORD? Will you be angry for ever? Will your jealous wrath burn like fire? 8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name;  deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake!

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Christ speaks through the disciples, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"Christ gives those who love instruction the assurance that whatever is said concerning him by the holy apostles or evangelists is to be received necessarily without any doubt and to be crowned with the words of truth. He who hears them, hears Christ. For the blessed Paul also said, 'You desire proof that Christ is speaking in me' (2 Corinthians 13:3). Christ himself somewhere also said to the holy disciples, 'For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you' (Matthew 10:20). Christ speaks in them by the consubstantial Spirit. If it is true, and plainly it is, that they speak by Christ, how can they err? He affirms that he who does not hear them, does not hear Christ, and that he who rejects them rejects Christ, and with him the Father." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 63)

[pamphletstoinspire]

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE, FROM THE LATIN VULGATE BIBLE

Chapter 10 - Part 1

PREFACE.

St. Luke was a physician, a native of Antioch, the metropolis of Syria, and well skilled in the Greek language. In some ancient manuscripts, he is called Lucius, and Lucanus. Some conjecture that he was at first a Gentile and a pagan, and was converted by the preaching of St. Paul, at Antioch; others, that he was originally a Jew, and one of the seventy-two disciples. Sts. Hippolitus and Epiphanius say, that hearing from our Lord these words, he that eateth not my flesh, and drinketh not my blood, is not worthy of me, he withdrew, and quitted our Saviour, but returned to the faith at the preaching of St. Paul. But, to leave what is uncertain, St. Luke was the disciple, travelling companion, and fellow-labourer of St. Paul. Of him St. Paul is supposed to speak: (2 Corinthians viii. 18.) We have sent also with him (Titus) the brother, whose praise is in the gospel, through all churches: and again, Luke, the most dear physician, saluteth you: (Colossians iv.) and, only Luke is with me. (2 Timothy iv.) Some are of opinion that as often as St. Paul, in his Epistles, says according to my gospel, he speaks of the Gospel of St. Luke. This evangelist did not learn his gospel from St. Paul only, (who had never been with our Lord in the flesh) but from the other apostles also, as himself informs us in the beginning of his gospel, when he says, according as they have delivered them unto us; who, from the beginning, were eye-witnesses, (Greek: autoptai) and ministers of the word. His gospel, therefore, he wrote as he heard it; but the Acts of the Apostles, from his own observations; and both, as some believe, about the same time in which his history of the Acts finishes, towards the year of Christ 63. But the received opinion now is, that St. Luke wrote his gospel in Achaia, in the year 53, ten years previously to his writing of the Acts, purposely to counteract the fabulous relations concerning Jesus Christ, which several persons had endeavoured to palm upon the world.

There is a plenary indulgence attached to those who study scripture for at least a half-hour per day under the usual conditions.

Chapter 10 - Part 1

Christ sends forth, and instructs his seventy-two disciples. The good Samaritan.

1 And after these things the Lord appointed also other seventy-two: and he sent them two and two before his face, into every city and place, whither he himself was to come.

Notes & Commentary:

Ver. 1. Other seventy-two. Most Greek copies, and the Syriac version, have seventy, as in the Protestant translation. Yet there seems no doubt but the true number was seventy-two. For seventy-two may be called seventy; but had they been only seventy, they could never have been called seventy-two. This was also the exact number of the judges chosen to assist Moses; (Exodus xxiv. 1.) though called seventy, (Numbers xi. 16.) as it is evident, because there were six chosen out of every one of the twelve tribes. In like manner the exact number of the interpreters called the Septuagint must have been seventy-two; and also the just number of the Sanhedrim. --- Two and two, that one might be a help and comfort to the other; as also a witness of the carriage and behaviour of his companion. (Witham)

2 And he said to them: *The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest.

Ver. 2. No explanation given.

3 Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves.

Ver. 3. No explanation given.

4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way.

Ver. 4. As Moses formerly chose twelve elders as princes and fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel, and afterwards gave to each of these elders six others, to assist them in the arduous work of governing the people, so our divine Saviour chose twelve apostles to govern his Church. He likewise afterwards gave six disciples to each apostle, which makes 72, to serve as priests, and assist in governing the Church. (Tirinus) --- Salute no man, i.e. go forwards promptly, and do not stay to amuse yourselves with vain compliments and useless civilities towards those whom you meet. This was a proverb. Eliseus said the same to Giezi, when he sent him to restore life to the child of the widow of Sunamis. If any man meet you, salute him not; think of nothing but of executing the orders I give you. (Calmet)

5 Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house:

Ver. 5. No explanation given.

6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall return to you.

Ver. 6. No explanation given.

7 And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house.

Ver. 7. No explanation given.

8 And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you;

Ver. 8. No explanation given.

9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Ver. 9. No explanation given.

10 But into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, going forth into the streets thereof, say:

Ver. 10. No explanation given.

11 Even the very dust of your city that cleaveth to us, we wipe off against you: yet know this that the kingdom of God is at hand.

Ver. 11. No explanation given.

12 I say to you, it shall be more tolerable at that day for Sodom, than for that city.

Ver. 12. No explanation given.

13 Wo to thee, Corozain, wo to thee, Bethsaida: for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the mighty works, that have been wrought in you, they would have done penance long ago, sitting in sack-cloth and ashes.

Ver. 13. No explanation given.

14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, at the judgment, than for you.

Ver. 14. No explanation given.

15 And thou, Capharnaum, which art exalted unto heaven: thou shalt be thrust down to hell.

Ver. 15. And thou, Capharnaum, &c. Capharnaum is situated on the western coast of the sea of Tiberias. Christ having left Nazareth, made the former city the usual place of his abode. There was no city in which he had preached so much, or wrought so many miracles. On this account, he said it was exalted to the heavens; but for its incredulity he threatens it shall be cast down even unto hell. (Calmet)

16 He that heareth you, heareth me: and he that despiseth you, despiseth me. And he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.

Ver. 16. No explanation given.

17 And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying: Lord, the devils, also, are subject to us in thy name.

Ver. 17. No explanation given.

18 And he said to them: I saw Satan as lightening falling from heaven.

Ver. 18. I saw Satan as lightning, &c. Many expound it in this manner: I, who am from eternity, saw Satan with all the rebellious angels, as glorious as they were, fall from heaven; fear then, and tremble, though you have received such favours from God. Others take it in this sense, that Christ, by his incarnation, hath seen the power of the devils lessened and confounded, according to what he also said, (John xii. 31.) Now shall the prince of this world be cast out. (Witham) --- What connexion have these words with what goes before? Some understand them thus: the reign of the devil is near at an end; this prince of darkness is going to be overturned; he will fall from the air, where he reigns, with the same precipitation as lightning, which cuts the clouds and presently disappears. It is almost the same thing he says in other places. "The prince of this world is already judged; behold now is the judgment of this world; behold now the prince of this world shall be cast forth! When I sent you to preach the gospel to the poor, I saw Satan fall; I saw his empire overturned. The last effort which this empire of darkness shall make is the death of our Saviour, as he himself says: This is your hour, and the power of darkness. Since his resurrection he has bound the dragon in the abyss for a thousand years; he has shut up the entrance, and sealed it with his seal." (Apocalypse xii. 9. and xx. 2.) Others think that Jesus speaks here of the fall of Lucifer, at the beginning of the creation. Wishing to give his disciples a lesson in humility, on account of the vain complacency which he saw they took in the miracles they wrought, he says to them: Beware of pride, that precipitated the first angel from heaven: I have seen him in the glory with which he was surrounded, and I have seen him hurried into the abyss. Fear, lest the same should happen to you. The former explanation appears to us more simple and literal. (Calmet)

19 Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents, and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Ver. 19. Given you power, &c. By these words our Saviour seems to insinuate, that the venom of serpents, and the other noxious qualities of some animals, proceed from the malice of the devil. These are the arms and the instruments he makes use of to kill us, being the prince of death and a murderer from the beginning, as the Scripture styles him. The Jews attributed sickness, poisons, and every thing of the same kind to evil spirits.

20 But yet rejoice not in this, that spirits are subject unto you: but rejoice in this, that your names are written in heaven.

Ver. 20. No explanation given.

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Ghost, and said: I give thanks to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little ones. Yea, Father: because so it hath pleased thee.

Ver. 21. He rejoiced in the Holy Ghost. In almost all Greek copies, we read in spirit, without holy. And it is expounded of Christ's own spirit. (Witham) --- I give thanks, &c. In this verse we see plainly refuted the heretical Marcion, and his follower Manicheus, who asserted that God was not the creator of the earth, or of any thing existing on the earth. St. Epiphanius says, that in a gospel written by Marcion, the words Father and earth were entirely omitted. Who does not here deplore the blindness of heretics, who, in order to spread their errors, do not hesitate thus to corrupt the original Scripture received by the whole Christian world!!! (Denis the Carthusian)

22 All things are delivered to me by my Father: and no one knoweth who the Son is, but the Father: and who the Father is, but the Son, and to whom the Son will reveal him.

Ver. 22. No explanation given.

23 And turning to his disciples, he said: *Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see.

Ver. 23. No explanation given.

24 For I say to you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them.

Ver. 24. No explanation given.

[timhatchlive]

God Humbles Us Because Pride doesn't Suit Us

Isaiah 14:1–2 (ESV) For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the LORD’s land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.

What is the point of God's punishment toward His people? I believe Isaiah illustrates this here in chapter 14. He is humbling them so that He may once again exalt them and accomplish His purposes in the nations. 

The purpose of Israel was always to influence the nations, bringing God's truth and light to the dark corners of the world. If necessary, judgment came to bring them back to Himself so that they may do it more fully hereafter. 

Isaiah promises that Israel will be the final nation laughing at those who oppress them. And what God promises means even more for us who believe in Christ. 

Isaiah 14:3–4 (ESV) When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: “How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!

So they will taunt the King of Babylon, right? The next few verses offer us a glimpse of that taunt.

Isaiah 14:4–5 (ESV) you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: “How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased! 5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers,

But notice what happens in verse 12. The emphasis moves to a cosmic reality that poses a far darker threat. 

Isaiah 14:12–14 (ESV) “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

Virtually all commentators see this passage as an allusion to Satan's fall from heaven after seeking to take the place of God - a temptation he continues to put in our own hearts as well. The name "Lucifer" comes from the Latin translation of "Day Star". We do well to note the several "I will" statements of Lucifer. "I will ascend... I will set my throne... I will set on the mount... I will ascend above... I will make myself like the Most High." Six times - a number he represents well throughout scripture - he seeks to go higher in his position and usurp God's authority. But he did none of it. 

Isaiah 14:15–17 (ESV) But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. 16 Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, 17 who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’

Lucifer was struck down. And since then has sought to do one thing - discourage God's people from worshipping and serving Him in the position He's placed them. He does this by tapping into the things that bring us pride, feeding our ego, and stimulating our selfishness. When we get proud, we get demonic. And God will not allow His people to act the way of Lucifer. His judgment on our sins is proof His plan through us will be accomplished. For in humility, there is wisdom and the likeness of Christ.

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[frederickwiddowson]

Revelation 12:1 ¶  And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2  And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

There are a couple of different ways to take chapter 12. One, is as a future event. The other is as historical background, a sort flashback in the events unfolding.

One take is that verse one could refer to Israel who will give birth to Christ.

Genesis 3:15  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.

Here is an interesting cross reference having to do with Joseph.

Genesis 37:9  And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

Read the prophet Hosea for Israel as an unfaithful wife.

Some historical commentators viewed the woman as the church itself while some American writers regarded the man-child as the United States, but this has been mentioned previously and is so wrong it need not be mentioned again.

Israel suffered greatly for her apostasy and Christ came into Israel as a Jew when the Roman Empire ruled them and they had lost all their former glory under David and Solomon. Not long after His resurrection, about forty years, Herod’s version of the Temple was destroyed by the Romans as the result of an insurrection against them by the Jews. Israel struggled and labored spiritually, politically, and physically before giving birth, in a manner of speaking, to Christ.

Is this coming up the Time of Jacob’s Trouble referenced in prophecy in Jeremiah, chapter 30?

12:3  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

This is clearly Satan, who is also known as Lucifer. He is, possibly, described in part physically in Job 41 as the description there is of a dragon, what we since the 1800’s have called a dinosaur. The last verse in the chapter is revealing.

[Note that leviathan references simply a large creature, just as the word whale does, and is not referring to a specific species or other taxonomic classification, which were invented after this Bible was translated and cannot be read back into it honestly.

Genesis 1:21  And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Psalm 104:26  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.]

Job 41:1 ¶  Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? 2  Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4  Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5  Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? 7  Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? 8  Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9  Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10  None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

   11 ¶  Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12  I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. 13  Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? 14  Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. 16  One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17  They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 18  By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20  Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21  His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22  In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. 23  The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. 24  His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. 25  When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26  The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. 27  He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. 28  The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 29  Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30  Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. 31  He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. 33  Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. 34  He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

Notice another cross-reference in Isaiah.

Isaiah 27:1 ¶  In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

We have his color, red, and this symbology, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

This, most likely, is a reference to his nature and ten specific kingdoms over which he exerts control. As for Red, remember the red horse of the second seal?

Revelation 6:4  And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

The crimson stain of our sin?

Isaiah 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Red is a very significant color. It was the color of baby Esau.

Genesis 25:25  And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

And, among other things, it was in the name of the sea through which God safely led the Hebrews, like the passage He makes for Christians through death and destruction.

What about the seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads?

Revelation 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

This woman, whom we will discuss later, possesses these seven heads and ten horns. Let’s not jump ahead as there are many things to review before we get to those explanations, which like chapters 11 and 12, maybe take us out of the linear exposition of events and give us background and an overview.

12:4  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Satan led the third part of the stars of heaven, which we have established as angels, and they were cast to earth. This is perhaps history and whether or not it is worthy of discussion. Evidence shows us that Satan’s rebellion began a long time ago.

As the Holy Ghost gave inspiration to the writers of the Old Testament they wove a description of Satan into their descriptions of human kings and even beasts. Here, Ezekiel starts out and ends up talking about the king of Tyre, who was the very powerful ruler of that city and Phoenicia, whose merchant navy traveled the world, including rounding Africa, working tin mines in Cornwall in England, and perhaps even reaching what are today called the Americas. But, in the description a key is given that could only apply to Satan.

Ezekiel 28:13  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

In addition, Satan, the adversary, also known as Lucifer, had his motivations exposed early on. In speaking to the king of Babylon, Isaiah gives us this;

Isaiah 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

One would think that the reference in Isaiah can be linked to these verses in Revelation 12 and that at least some of these verses by virtue of Christ’s statement in Luke 10:18 are historical events of Christ’s time and the ascension of the Roman Empire around Christ’s birth.

The evidence we have in the Bible shows the sons of God, whose visible representatives are called angels, like any visible representative of God, man on earth, or even a church, is called an angel, which we have already discussed as having in part succumbed to Satan’s pride and temptation.

The question is, do these verses following have to do with this mention in Revelation, chapter 12? Or is 12 referring to a future event?

Genesis 6:1 ¶  And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2  That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 ¶  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 ¶  There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Jude 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

In any event, Satan knew Christ was coming, and wanted to kill Him, but did not know when.

Genesis 3:15  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.

Jeremiah 31:22  How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

This gives us a spiritual reason why Israel was so deceived and spiritually buffeted about as Satan did everything in his power to destroy them both physically and spiritually. We must remember, though, that Satan could go no further than God allowed. We have that certainty from reading the book of Job. It also explains why he tested and tempted Christ to try to have Him seek a crown before a cross, thus trying to overthrow God’s plan.

Luke 4:1 ¶  And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2  Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9  And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10  For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11  And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12  And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13  And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Ruling the nations with a rod of iron will occur in the millennial reign of Christ. See this in a great chapter on the rising up of the kings of the earth as spelled out later in Revelation at the end of the millennium, Psalm 2.

Psalm 2:1 ¶  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

   7 ¶  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

   10 ¶  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

This promise is given in chapter 2 of Revelation, as well, to those who reign with Christ.

Revelation 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28  And I will give him the morning star.

Of course, Christ is the morning star (not Satan, as the NIV states in Isaiah 14:12 parroting noted 19th century Satanist Madame Blavatsky in her book The Secret Doctrine).

Revelation 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

After His ascension to Heaven  Jesus is said to be seated next to God the Father, as a symbol of His authority and place, with God, as God.

Psalm 110:1  « A Psalm of David. » The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Matthew 26:64  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mark 16:19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Luke 22:69  Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

12:6  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

If Israel is the woman then during the 3 ½ years of 360 days each as per the ancient calculation, which is 1260 days, the Jews will have to flee the most intense persecution of their entire existence. If those surviving Jews have to hide in the remote vastness of, for instance, Edom, during the Great Tribulation then who are those people living in Jerusalem? Muslims?

Matthew 24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Michael was introduced in Daniel as the specific angel representing Israel.

Daniel 10:13  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. …21  But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

Daniel 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. [Keep in mind that Daniel doesn’t see or, perhaps, understand the church age.]

Jude 1:9  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

So, when was the devil cast out? Again, is this future or past?  Remember, Satan in Eden and had a respected position there, perhaps as God’s priest, based on what he wore.

Ezekiel 28:13  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

He plotted the overthrow of God’s heavenly order in his mind.

Isaiah 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

You can see that he wished to be a god like God and this is the idea he tried to plant in Adam and Eve’s heads.

Genesis 3:5  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Is the following Godly sarcasm?

Psalm 82:1 ¶  « A Psalm of Asaph. » God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. 2  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 3  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 5  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

   6 ¶  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7  But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. 8  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

And Jesus’ reference to it in a manner of saying, perhaps, you think you are gods in the flesh and yet you say I am blaspheming when I say I am the Son of God?

John 10:30  I and my Father are one. 31  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32  Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

And when the seventy Christ sent out to Israel returned

Luke 10:17 ¶  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Again, is it future or past? Did the war in heaven happen during Christ’s time?  Or, is it a future event? Events in the spiritual world may not be linked to our timeframe, by the way. Consider that we have a very fuzzy notion of the orderly sequence of events outside of the physical world.

Here verse 9, by the way, is a link showing that Satan’s true nature is reptilian in form. See this cross-reference and then remember Job, chapter 41.

Isaiah 27:1 ¶  In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Here is a hint of when this is taking place. Satan accused the brethren night and day before God, so, as in Job, he still had access to God’s throne even after he lost his place of authority as the anointed cherub that covereth.

Job 1:6  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

And this was not just a one-time thing.

Job 2:1  Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

An important point here is that Christ’s people overcome not by war with guns and bullets but by Christ’s blood, their witness, and by being willing to die for Christ. One example of the great conflict between worldly Christianity and the faith of the Bible is the fictional work from the 1800’s entitled Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In it, in spite of the racism of the author as proved in her later relationships with black Americans, the main character dies rather than violate his submission to Christ in hurting others as it is demanded that he become a wicked overseer, prompting the salvation of his murderers at his death. The world vilifies Tom and calling someone an, “Uncle Tom,” is an insult in the black community as cooperating with whites in their presumed oppression. However, Tom is the most Christ-like character in fiction. Conservative Christians will glorify a man who goes to war and kills many people before they will glorify someone willing to die for Christ so white or black, the worldly Christian would not be able to face being killed for Christ as many martyrs have done and are doing now in other parts of the world.

So, when someone says that they would never take the Mark of the Beast it is almost laughable. A willingness to die for Christ is not a character trait of most modern day American Christians. Calling in the Marines, maybe, but not dying for Christ in a triumphant entry into eternity.

   12:12 ¶  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 13  And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

At this time, it is better to be in heaven, the abode of God and the blessed dead, than to live on the earth. This passage seems to make it clear that Satan’s final casting down will be to earth during this Great Tribulation.

The woman, in my estimation a reference to Israel, is given supernatural power to escape as God did for the Hebrews in the Exodus.

Exodus 19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

For three and a half years, a time, times, and half a time, the remnant of Israel is protected from the wrath of Satan while the two witnesses torment Satan’s people, some of whom, as we saw, wind up giving glory to God.

Satan uses water as a flood to try to destroy Israel. This disaster is prevented by the earth absorbing the water. Is this figurative language representing something other than that which is literally stated? It doesn’t appear so considering the literal natural disasters that are listed in Revelation.

Satan goes to make war with the Israel’s remnant. Is that the 144,000 Jews of the 12 tribes, 12,000 each, that God set apart for Himself? They follow the Law given to Moses and trust in Christ. It is important to note that later the testimony of Christ is said to be the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

[frederickwiddowson]

Luke 22:47 ¶  And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48  But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 49  When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 50  And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51  And

Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 52  Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? 53  When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

 Judas, the informer and traitor, arrives with a crowd to arrest Jesus. Peter attacked the servant of the high priest with a sword but Jesus healed the wounded man.

 John 18:10  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

 Paul uses the phrase the power of darkness, as well.

 Colossians 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

 Jesus is the light of this world and while He was walking in the flesh in the world there was light in the world.

 John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 John 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 Christ’s presence illuminates the spiritual world of men as the light of day illuminates the physical world.

 John 11:9  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

 This illumination of God the Creator’s standard and purpose of redeeming mankind back to Himself from the spiritual ignorance or darkness in man’s soul would soon, with Christ’s departure, be shrouded by night.

 John 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

 Romans 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

 Through the last two thousand years of false churches, religious murder, and wicked kingdoms and nation-states propped up by falsely saying they were God’s special vehicles to do His work on earth a glimmer of light has shined through the darkness in Christ’s body on earth. As Jesus said to His followers;

 Matthew 5:13 ¶  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 2Corinthians 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 The darkness which like light can have two meanings, I believe, one purely physical and one spiritual, which God separated from the light in the beginning;

 Genesis 1:4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

 …that darkness which could not comprehend, which at one time could also mean besides understand to contain, repress, conquer, or overpower, the light…

   John 1:1 ¶  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

     5 ¶  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

 …has its moment here. We know who the ultimate author of this betrayal is, even though it works against him in the end. Satan entered Judas, the traitor.

 Luke 22:3  Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

 We know that the religious elite that sponsored Judas, denying Christ’s authority over them as their Messiah, was unknowingly answering to Satan.

 John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 I think it might be helpful now to review who or what Satan is and what might be his purpose.

 If the majority interpretation is correct, Satan is first mentioned as a serpent in the Garden of Eden. A serpent or worm in English has also traditionally been a term for a dragon in historical mythology.

 Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

 Satan is also said to be a dragon.

 Revelation 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

 How was Satan found to be in the Garden of Eden? Judging by his appearance he filled some kind of role of priest as Aaron and his sons would eventually do. He is said to be a cherub, an animal type of creature, with cherubs as perhaps the spiritual prototypes of all creatures, with Satan described in Job 41 as reptilian. See Ezekiel, chapters 1 and 10 for descriptions of cherubs. The Bible often does double and triple duty, describing one person or one event while also describing others prophetically. Here, in this passage, the King of Tyre is addressed but, as he is likened to Satan, Satan is described.

 Ezekiel 28:11 ¶  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

 Although many modern, evangelical and fundamentalist commentators have Satan falling from grace in some mystical, unexplained time between verses 1 and 2 of the first chapter of Genesis we only have evidence of his attempting to subvert God’s order starting in Genesis, chapter 3. Of course, God knew his heart even though his iniquity was not made apparent until then. His pride led him.

 In another prophecy against the King of Babylon this time, Satan, under another title of his, Lucifer, is described by way of his thinking.

 Isaiah 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

 And yet, we know from reading the first two chapters of Job that he cannot go beyond what God allows and we know that he can be used by God, unleashed, if you will, for a purpose.

 2Sa 24:1  And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

 1Ch 21:1  And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

 It is clear from reading Job and these two verses and contexts that a human being will likely not be able to tell if a thing is done directly by God or if it is a matter of Satan’s hatred and rage being used or allowed for a purpose.

 Satan tried to divert Christ from His mission by tempting Him to take the crown first, before the cross. Christ resists being crowned a king by the Jews until it was time.

 Luke 4:1 ¶  And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2  Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9  And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10  For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11  And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12  And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

 John 6:15  When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

 By now, at this point, Satan appears to have decided to simply try to destroy Christ. Perhaps it is from desperation, or rage, or pride alone but Satan is out on a very weak limb here. As John the Baptist had asked if there would be another Messiah to come in Luke 7, as there may have been a belief in more than one Messiah, a conqueror and a sufferer at least, Satan also does not have 100% understanding of God’s purpose. God keeps quite a lot close and only reveals things when He is ready.

 Deuteronomy 29:29  The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 So, whatever Satan’s motivation here, we know he is doomed. Only immense pride can blind someone so completely to reality. For human examples see Adolf Hitler in his invasion of Russia or any number of organized crime figures who eventually end up murdered or imprisoned for life.

[fevie168]

Saturday (October 7): "Your names are written in heaven"

Scripture: Luke 10:17-24

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" 18 And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

Meditation: Do you know and experience in your personal life the joy of the Lord? The Scriptures tell us that "the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). Why does Jesus tell his disciples to not take joy in their own successes, even spiritual ones? Jesus makes clear that the true source of our joy is God himself, and God alone. Regardless of the circumstances, in good times and bad times, in success or loss, God always assures us of victory in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus assures his disciples that he has all power over all evil, including the power of Satan and the evil spirits (demons) - the fallen angels who rebelled against God and who hate men and women who have been created in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1:29). Jesus told his disciples that he came into the world to overthrow the evil one (John 12:31). That is why Jesus gave his disciples power over Satan and his legion of demons (rebellious angels). We, too, as disciples of Jesus have been given spiritual authority and power for overcoming the works of darkness and evil (1 John 2:13-14).

Self-centered pride closes the mind to God's revelation and wisdom Jesus thanks the Father in heaven for revealing to his disciples the wisdom and knowledge of God. What does Jesus' prayer tell us about God and about ourselves? First, it tells us that God is both Father and Lord of earth as well as heaven. He is both Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything and transcendent authority, and at the same time, goodness and loving care for all his children. All fatherhood and motherhood is derived from him (Ephesians 3:14-15).

Jesus' prayer also contains a warning that pride can keep us from the love and knowledge of God. What makes us ignorant and blind to the things of God? Sinful pride springs from being self-centered and holding an exaggerated view of oneself. Pride closes the mind to God's truth and wisdom for our lives. Lucifer, who was once the prince of angels, fell into pride because he did not want to serve God but wanted to be equal with God. Through his arrogant pride he led a whole host of angels to rebel against God. That is why the rebellious angels (whom Scripture calls evil spirits, devils, and demons) were cast out of heaven and thrown down to the earth. They seek to lead us away from God through pride and rebellion.

How can we guard our hearts from sinful pride and rebellion? The virtue of humility teaches us to put our trust in God and not in ourselves. God gives strength and help to those who put their trust in him. Humility is the only true remedy against sinful pride. True humility, which is very different from the feelings of inferiority or low self-esteem, leads us to a true recognition of who we are in the sight of God and of our dependence on God.

Humility is the only soil where God's grace and truth can take root Jesus contrasts intellectual pride with child-like simplicity and humility. The simple of heart are like "babes" or "little children" in the sense that they see purely without pretense or falsehood and acknowledge their dependence and trust in one who is greater, wiser, and more trustworthy. They seek one thing - the "summum bonum" or "greatest good" who is God himself. Simplicity of heart is wedded with humility, the queen of virtues, because humility inclines the heart towards grace and truth.

Just as pride is the root of every sin and evil inclination, so humility is the only soil in which the grace of God can take root. It alone takes the right attitude before God and allows him as God to do all. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6). The grace of Christ-like humility inclines us towards God and disposes us to receive God's wisdom and help. Allow the Lord Jesus to heal the wounds of pride in your heart and to fill you with the joy of the Holy Spirit who transforms us into the likeness of Christ himself - who is meek and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29).

Nothing can give us greater joy than the knowledge that we are God's beloved and that our names are written in heaven. The Lord Jesus has ransomed us from slavery to sin, Satan, and death and has adopted us as God's beloved sons and daughters. That is why we no longer belong to ourselves - but to God alone. Do you seek to be like Jesus Christ in humility and simplicity of heart?

The Lord Jesus wants us to know him personally - experientially Jesus makes a claim which no one would have dared to make: He is the perfect revelation of God - he and the Father are perfectly united in a bond of unbreakable love and fidelity. One of the greatest truths of the Christian faith is that we can know the living God. Our knowledge of God is not simply limited to knowing something about God, but we can know God personally. The essence of Christianity, and what makes it distinct from Judaism and other religions, is the knowledge of God as our Father. Jesus makes it possible for each of us to personally know God as our Father. Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote: "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us to love."

Seek God with expectant faith and trust To see Jesus is to see what God is like. In Jesus we see the perfect love of God - a God who yearns over men and women, who cares intensely for them and who shows them unceasing kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. That is why the Father sent his only begotten Son who laid down his life for us on the cross. Jesus taught his followers to confidently pray to the Father with expectant faith, "Our Father who art in heaven ...give us this day our daily bread." Do you believe in your heavenly Father's care and love for you and do you pray with confident trust and hope that he will give you what you need to live as his son or daughter?

"Most High and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of our hearts and give us a true faith, a certain hope and a perfect love. Give us a sense of the divine and knowledge of yourself, so that we may do everything in fulfillment of your holy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Prayer of Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226)

Psalm 69:32-36

32 Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. 33 For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds. 34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves therein. 35 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah;  and his servants shall dwell there and possess it; 36 the children of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The power of the Kingdom of God, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"He also gave the holy apostles power and might even to raise the dead, cleanse lepers, heal the sick, and by the laying on of hands to call down from heaven the Holy Spirit on anyone they wanted. He gave them power to bind and to loose people's sins. His words are 'I say to you, whatever you will bind on earth, will be bound in heaven (Matthew 18:18). Whatever you will loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven.' These are the things we see ourselves possessing. Blessed are our eyes and the eyes of those of all who love him. We have heard his wonderful teaching. He has given us the knowledge of God the Father, and he has shown him to us in his own nature. The things that were by Moses were only types and symbols. Christ has revealed the truth to us. He has taught us that not by blood and smoke, but rather by spiritual sacrifices, we must honor him who is spiritual, immaterial and above all understanding." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 67)

Friday (October 6): "He who hears you hears me"

Scripture: Luke 10:13-16  

13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it shall be more tolerable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. 16 "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

Meditation: If Jesus were to visit your community today, what would he say? Would he issue a warning like the one he gave to Chorazin and Bethsaida? And how would you respond? Wherever Jesus went he did mighty works to show the people how much God had for them. Chorazin and Bethsaida had been blessed with the visitation of God. They heard the good news and experienced the wonderful works which Jesus did for them. Why was Jesus upset with these communities? The word woe is also translated as alas. It is as much as an expression of sorrowful pity as it is of anger.

Jesus calls us to walk in the way of truth and freedom - justice and holiness Why does Jesus lament and issue a stern warning? The people who heard the Gospel here very likely responded with indifference. Jesus upbraids them for doing nothing! Repentance demands change - a change of heart and way of life. God's word is life-giving and it saves us from destruction - the destruction of soul as well as body. Jesus' anger is directed toward sin and everything which hinders us from doing the will of God and receiving his blessing. In love he calls us to walk in his way of truth and freedom, grace and mercy, justice and holiness. Do you receive his word with faith and submission or with doubt and indifference?

"Lord Jesus, give me the child-like simplicity and purity of faith to gaze upon your face with joy and confidence in your all-merciful love. Remove every doubt, fear, and proud thought which would hinder me from receiving your word with trust and humble submission."

Psalm 79:1-5,8-9

1 O God, the heathen have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple;  they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them. 4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those round about us. 5 How long, O LORD? Will you be angry for ever? Will your jealous wrath burn like fire? 8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name;  deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake!

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Christ speaks through the disciples, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"Christ gives those who love instruction the assurance that whatever is said concerning him by the holy apostles or evangelists is to be received necessarily without any doubt and to be crowned with the words of truth. He who hears them, hears Christ. For the blessed Paul also said, 'You desire proof that Christ is speaking in me' (2 Corinthians 13:3). Christ himself somewhere also said to the holy disciples, 'For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you' (Matthew 10:20). Christ speaks in them by the consubstantial Spirit. If it is true, and plainly it is, that they speak by Christ, how can they err? He affirms that he who does not hear them, does not hear Christ, and that he who rejects them rejects Christ, and with him the Father." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 63)