37. "Be watchful from the works of our enemies," (part 1) Genesis 6:1-4

 37. "Be watchful from the works of our enemies," (part 1)

Genesis 6:1-4, "When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal ; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown."

This is about the third fall of man, where the evil spirits mingled with mortals. These evil spirits are once called the sons of God for there are the fallen angels, who joined satan in his rebellion against God and became the rulers and authorities in Satan's dark kingdom. 

"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan also came with them." (Job 1:6); Also same verses in Job 2:1, "On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord , and Satan also came with them to present himself before him.

-The sons of God are the angels. The scene here in Job 1:6-8 depicts one of the two councils held in heaven concerning Job. What Job had attained in his perfection, uprightness and integrity was all together vanity. It neither fulfilled God's purpose nor satisfied God's Desire. Thus, God was lovingly concerned for Job and held two councils in heaven concerning how to deal with Job. 

In 1 Kings 22:19-23 talking about the host of the heaven and this scenario of the council in God's throne, "Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord : I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’ “One suggested this, and another that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “ ‘By what means?’ the Lord asked. “ ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “ ‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord . ‘Go and do it.’ “So now the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.”

The words of Micaiah describing a council in heaven, where God is the supreme master, and the multitude are the servants. In Psalms 89, 5-7 says, "The heavens praise your wonders, Lord , your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord ? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings? In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him."

Satan is one of the heavenly council before, but after he rebelled against God, Satan was condemned and even sentenced by God. Yet in His wisdom and sovereignty God did not execute His judgment on Satan. God still has given Satan a certain limited time to do something to meet some negative need in the fulfillment of His economy. God could not and would not ask any of His many excellent angels to do what was needed to damage Job in order to strip him of everything so that he might be full of God. Satan was the unique one in the universe who could and who would fulfill God’s intention of stripping Job of his possessions and his ethical attainment. Thus, the scene here and in chapter 2 of the book of Job shows that Satan remains free to be purposely used by God as an ugly tool to execute God’s severe dealing with his loving ones.

In the book of Isaias 14:12 the words are refering to satan, "How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!"

-This refers to Satan, who, as the morning star, son of the dawn, was one of the earliest angels (the sons of God) created by God at the “dawn” of the universe. He was appointed by God to be the head of all the angels and later became satan, which means the enemy of God, after he rebelled against God. Because of his rebellion, Lucifer as Satan was judged by God, being out casted from the heaven. 

Isaiah 14:12-15 'You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

-Satan’s rebellion against God is revealed in verses 13-14 of Isaias chapter 14 and in Ezekiel 28:15-18. Satan’s heart was lifted up because of his beauty, and he corrupted his wisdom by reason of his brightness. In his arrogance Satan declared five times, “I will…,” indicating that his intention in his rebellion was to overthrow God’s authority and to exalt himself to be equal with God. Satan’s ambition for position became the motivation of all the rebellions recorded in the Scriptures (Genesis 11:4; Numbers 12:1-2; Numbers 16:1-3; 2 Samuel 15:10-12; etc.). Because of his rebellion Satan became God’s adversary, or God’s enemy.

In verses 12-15 of Isaias chapter 14, Isaiah identifies Lucifer with Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, thus regarding Nebuchadnezzar as a figure of Satan, as one who was one with Satan. This unveils Satan’s kingdom of darkness behind the nations and his oneness with the rulers of the nations.

Ezekiel 28:12-19 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “ ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’ ”

-This verses are similar to Isaias 14:12-15, which identify Lucifer (who became Satan) with Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, consider the king of Tyre a figure of Lucifer, giving further details concerning the origin of Satan. As God’s creature, Lucifer was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty, perfect in his ways from the day that he was created.

Lucifer once lives in Eden, in verse 13 of Ezekiel chapter 18, "you were in the Eden, the garden of God...", this is not the Eden in Genesis 2, which was on earth, but the Eden as the garden of God on the holy mountain in the heavenlies. There, Lucifer was covered with precious stones, indicating his dwelling place. Before his rebellion Satan was a king, holding the highest position in the preadamic universe. Satan was the anointed cherub who covered the Ark, as the anointed cherub, Satan was privileged to move in the realm where God’s glory was. Also, indicating that he was very close to God and bore God’s glory, and might have been the high priest who served God and led the universal worship of God. Thus, Satan was both a king and a priest. Because of Satan’s failure, his rebellion because of pride, these two positions have been given to the believers in Christ.

Two thousand years after the time of Job, Jesus Christ destroyed Satan through His death on the cross (Heb. 2:14). However, Satan’s right to enter into the presence of God still has not been taken away from him. Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—

Satan is the accuser of the believers since then till the second coming of Jesus Christ, Revelation 12:10, "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

This right will be taken away at the beginning of the great tribulation. When the overcomers are raptured to God’s throne, Satan will be cast down from the heavens to the earth. From that time onward, Satan will no longer have the right to enter into the presence of God.

Revelation 12:5-9 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Again, be watchful since we knew the works of our enemies who since then roving around world to devour the believers. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) 

Literally we cannot see the manifestation of satan, but "no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

 This indicates that Satan is the source of the false apostles. They followed him in his deceitfulness to frustrate God’s economy. And saint Paul warned the Galatians about it, In Galatians 1:8 "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under Godʼs curse!"

Also, God is light, and His angels are of light. In contrast, Satan is darkness, and all his followers are in darkness. There is no fellowship between light and darkness. So be observant.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Because of their divine nature and holy standing, the believers should not be yoked together with the unbelievers. This should be applied to all intimate relationships between believers and unbelievers, not only to marriage and business.

In this verses indicates that the Corinthian believers were dissimilarly yoked with unbelievers, not separated unto God from worldly people. This means that they were not fully reconciled to God. Hence, the apostle exhorted them not to be dissimilarly yoked with unbelievers but to be separated that they might be fully reconciled, brought back, to God.

The apostle used five illustrations to depict the difference between believers and unbelievers: 

(1) no partnership, no sharing together, between righteousness and lawlessness; 

(2) no fellowship, no communion, between light and darkness; 

(3) no concord, no harmony, between Christ and Belial; 

(4) no part, no portion, held by a believer with an unbeliever; and 

(5) no agreement, no consent, between the temple of God and idols. 

These illustrations also unveil the fact that the believers are righteousness, light, Christ, and the temple of God, and the unbelievers are lawlessness, darkness, Belial (Satan, the devil), and idols.

If then, be strong to fight against the works of the devil and devil's strongholds. Have faith and be separated for God. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32) This verse is also true to us, Satan has asked to sift (to try) us all, but Jesus already prayed for us, that our faith may not fail. 

In, Revelation 12:4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born.

The stars of heaven here signify the angels. The third part of the stars of heaven must be the fallen angels, who followed Satan in his rebellion against God. Satan drags all of them away, and as the angels of Satan they will be cast to the earth with Satan. Hence, at that time the earth will be filled with these fallen angels, who will damage the dwelling place of the people who rebel against God. The earth will thus become a dreadful place. And that the dragon stood before the woman signifies that Satan is always against the people of God, opposing them. From the time of Genesis 3:15 to this day, Satan, the ancient serpent, has been fighting continually against the woman with the intention of devouring her child.

If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? (Matthew 12:26) Satan is the ruler of this world and the ruler of the authority of the air. He has his authority and his angels, who are his subordinates as rulers, authorities, and world-rulers of the darkness of this world. Hence, he has his kingdom, the authority of darkness. 

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 and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:1-5)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devilʼs schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

So, let us give joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness (of satan) and brought us into the kingdom of (Jesus), the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. In Jesus we are saved from the works of the enemies. Amen. 

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