07. The Wrath of the Dragon | Chapter 07: The Chains of Darkness
Choosing to sin was the reason for the fall of Lucifer, and eventually, the fall of man. Sin is everything that is opposite to who God is. The Bible says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die…” Ezekiel 18:20 “For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23. “…you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Romans 6:16.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3. The sun if the main source of light on planet earth, but it was created on the fourth day. What is the nature of this light that God unleashed on the first day?
The Bible answers, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4.
Job provides additional information: “…I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved. God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.” Job 33:17-18.
Job provides additional information: “…I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved. God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.” Job 33:17-18.
The physical form of the life of God is light:
- Light = Life
- Darkness = Death
The Bible says, “Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?” Job 38:17. “…the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned…to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Matthew 4:16, Luke 1:79.
Sin leads to death. Therefore, sin leads to darkness. Jesus said, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:19-20.
Man was made was made “…in the image of God, after…” His likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). There was another thing that God gave man: “…let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Sin leads to death. Therefore, sin leads to darkness. Jesus said, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:19-20.
Man was made was made “…in the image of God, after…” His likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). There was another thing that God gave man: “…let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
The Psalmist said God made man “…a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou hast made him to have dominion over the works of his hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.” Psalms 8:5-6. Adam was created to be the crowned ruler of planet Earth, to manage earth and its creatures for God. What a privilege!
However, when Adam chose to disobey God, his dominion was taken away. This is evident today in that we can no longer control wild animals e.g. tigers, lions, sharks, etc. If man no longer has dominion over the earth, who does?
The Bible says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16. The NIV translation says, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey…” Romans 6:16.
The Bible says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16. The NIV translation says, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey…” Romans 6:16.
Let us apply this principle to Genesis chapter 3 where Adam and Eve sinned. People disobey God because they choose to do something other than what He tells them to do. Adam and Eve sinned because they chose to listen to what the Devil suggested “Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day that you eat of it, your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods.” Genesis 3:4-5. Adam and Eve disobeyed God because they fell under Satan’s deception and became his servants. He now occupies their position as ruler of the earth because he took it from them by deception.
In fact, Jesus does refer to the Devil as “…the prince of this world…” John 14:30. He said, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” John 12:11-13. Can we find more scriptural evidence to prove that the Devil really is the ruler of this world?
Paul stated, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 2:1-2. Paul also said, “…if our gospel be hidden, it is hid from them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.
There is only one other creature in Bible history that wanted to take over the throne of God – it was Lucifer (Satan). After the 40 day fast of Jesus in the wilderness, the Devil came to make war against Him with three temptations. At the third temptation, “…the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them and said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9. Here stands the god of this world, tempting Christ to worship him.
“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. Who are these sons of God? The Bible says that “…Adam...was the son of God.” Luke 3:38. Adam was also created to be the ruler of planet earth. That means that in the language of the book of Job, a “son of God” is the ruler of a planet.
In fact, Jesus does refer to the Devil as “…the prince of this world…” John 14:30. He said, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.” John 12:11-13. Can we find more scriptural evidence to prove that the Devil really is the ruler of this world?
Paul stated, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 2:1-2. Paul also said, “…if our gospel be hidden, it is hid from them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.
There is only one other creature in Bible history that wanted to take over the throne of God – it was Lucifer (Satan). After the 40 day fast of Jesus in the wilderness, the Devil came to make war against Him with three temptations. At the third temptation, “…the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them and said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9. Here stands the god of this world, tempting Christ to worship him.
“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. Who are these sons of God? The Bible says that “…Adam...was the son of God.” Luke 3:38. Adam was also created to be the ruler of planet earth. That means that in the language of the book of Job, a “son of God” is the ruler of a planet.
Moreover, the Bible says, “…sons of God…” which means that these are the rulers of other worlds. Did God create other worlds too? The Bible says, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds (plural).” Hebrews 1:1-2.
In Job chapter 1, God was calling together a Council Meeting of all the Princes of the worlds he created. Adam was supposed to be part of this Council, but the Devil was now the ruler of planet Earth and was there attending the council.
We have now gathered enough evidence that Satan took over the planet and became ruler of this world. Nobody wants to be part of the Devil’s kingdom! Certainly not! Satan is a very cunning and secretive being, doing a lot of things by deception. We therefore would have to answer a few questions:
We have now gathered enough evidence that Satan took over the planet and became ruler of this world. Nobody wants to be part of the Devil’s kingdom! Certainly not! Satan is a very cunning and secretive being, doing a lot of things by deception. We therefore would have to answer a few questions:
- What is the Power of Satan?
The Bible says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death, that is, The Devil.” Hebrews 2:9,14.
The Devil’s motive is to bring suffering and death to the people under His rule. “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion fails not. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentation 2:22-23.
Ellen White writes, “We cannot know how much we owe to Christ for the peace and protection, which we enjoy. It is the restraining power of God that prevents mankind from passing fully under the control of Satan. The disobedient and unthankful have great reason for gratitude for God's mercy and long-suffering in holding in check the cruel, malignant power of the evil one. Should God withdraw this restraining power from the earth, none would stand alive against the enemy of souls.” The Great Controversy, chapter 1. - How does one come under Satan’s rule?
We have clearly seen that the Devil has the “power (Greek: “kratos” – dominion)” of death. When death rules over you, Satan has dominion over you. How does the Devil design his dominion over man? The Bible says, “…the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23. In order for him to bring death to men, he leads them into sin. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. Therefore, Satan will lead men to disobey the laws and instructions set by God just like he led Adam and Eve to disobey God in Genesis 3. The result of this is death and the Devil’s attack is complete!
God says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die…But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die…For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:20, 22, 32.
Comments
Post a Comment