Oct.

17, 2009 When God Sees Darkness Kathleen Maples

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 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.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

When you read this from the Hebrew-the Concordant Literal Version, which is almost a
word for word translation from the Hebrew, it says:

Gen 1:1 Created by the Elohim were the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1:2 Yet the earth became a chaos and vacant, and darkness was on the surface of the
submerged chaos. Yet the spirit of the Elohim is vibrating over the surface of the water.

It became? I studied this last year, but here I am, drawn back to these Scriptures again.
When did God ever create chaos? When did He ever create anything that was not good?
One reproduces what they are..not what they're not. God is not dark, void and full of
chaos. He is light, love, divine order, a God of exactness, of righteousness. Something
happened to the earth He created. I believe whatever happened had to do with an angry
devil losing the war in heaven and being tossed out for his rebellion down to earth. He was
so enraged over his defeat, he caused chaos wherever he went. He could do nothing God
didn't allow. So there was a reason God allowed this-for the earth He'd created to become
dark, chaotic and empty, where the deep waters were flooding everything, and the waves
were surging violently. He already knew before this happened it would, and He was
setting an example, teaching by example from the beginning. These first four verses in
Genesis is a beautifully written summary of the Gospel.

In the beginning, God created heaven and earth and it was good. But something happened
which caused it to become empty, dark and chaotic. So what did God do when He saw the
darkness and emptiness of His creation? His Holy Spirit hovered above this deep abyss of
raging water, and the first recorded words we have that God spoke is: Let there be light.
It's the same word used in verse 2 for the earth 'was' without form. It became that way. He
spoke His Word and His Word became light in a dark place. He works in complete unity
with His Spirit and His Son, without Whom was nothing that was made was made.
(Joh_1:3) In Him is no darkness at all so His Word creates light, and understanding.
(1Jn_1:5) He sent His Word into the dark, empty and deep abyss. Everything was lit up.
Psa_119:105 says "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path." verse 130 of the
same chapter says "The entrance of thy words gives light, it gives understanding to the
simple." He commanded and it happened.

2Co 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.

Hallelujah! I remember when I was in that awful darkness-I had no idea I was in darkness
until He opened the door and I saw the light-that I was bound in sin, chained with things of
darkness that were destroying me, and He broke those chains and set me free so I could get
up and follow Him into this beautiful light! Oh, folks, you have no idea how awful the
darkness the lost live in really is unless or until you have seen the light-which is the light of
God's truth-understanding of God's truth. I pray God help us have compassion and burden
our hearts for their souls!

His Word is alive, quick, sharper than any two-edged Sword. His Word accomplishes what
He wills when HE sends it, and the Spirit makes it alive. It doesn't work when men who are
not walking with God try to use it for their own purposes. It doesn't work when people
with sin in their lives and are not living in the light He's given them already try to use it.
Then God saw the light and it was good so He divided the light from darkness. From the
beginning He is teaching us. What fellowship has light with darkness? How can they exist
in the same place at the same time? They cannot. God divided them. Light will always
triumph over darkness.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and
female created he them.

Let us..this was a conversation between Father, Son and Spirit. He made man after His
own likeness, and God is a triune God. In the beginning was the Word that was made flesh
and walked among us (Joh_1:1 Joh_1:14) That Word was the Son. It was a divine expression
of God. Everything that was made was made with the Father thinking the thought, the
Son-the Word speaking it forth, and the Spirit moving to create. My feeble mind can
hardly wrap around these marvelous truths. We know Jesus is called the second Adam. In
Him was life and that life was the light of men. This Light shined in darkness-where there
was no light, where there was ignorance of divine things and divine life. Anyone or
anything in this darkness had no way of possessing, understanding, or obtaining this
light. Darkness comprehended it not. Darkness could not overtake this Light, nor could it
perceive it. He was sent to redeem men, to be the light in their darkness, to redeem them so
once again man could be made into God's image and walk with Him.

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Remember, there was no sin at this time involved here. This was a creative, loving act of
God. As a mother who has given birth, I remember the first time I saw my children. I
stared with love and awe at their little faces, amazed by each detail. I can easily imagine
God when He finished forming Adam, a perfect physical being, made of the ground of the
earth, and I can almost see God's eyes looking at His creation. I wonder what was in His
mind, for He knew this creation would fall. He knew this creation would disobey and bring
pain and suffering into the world, into His own heart. Yet He opens His mouth and
breathes into Adam's nostrils the breath of life. Every single member of Adam's body
began to function in divine order, as it was intended to. God breathed His life-His Spirit,
into Adam. He breathed His very essence into Adam-that was what made Adam the image
or likeness of God. He was LIKE God. He had the nature God has.

Adam was created perfect. To be perfect he would have had to have had the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit. He had the Word and the Spirit which was light and life in his being.
He had complete and unbroken fellowship with God. He knew because the life and wisdom
of God was in him what to call each creature God brought to him to name. God never
meant for Adam to be alone. There is no record that Adam asked God for a mate. But God
put Adam to sleep, took one of his ribs, and closed the flesh, and built or constructed a
woman around the rib that came from Adam's side. Praise God He did not choose a bone
from Adam's foot, or his head, but from his side. That speaks volumes. Although the
husband is to have authority over the wife, he is also to consider and care for her and treat
her with respect and honor, not as property.
In that garden, there was a river, which flowed and watered the garden, it nourished it.
There was trees which had fruit, and there was the tree of life, and he was able to eat of
these. There was the tree of knowledge of good and evil-and he was commanded not to eat
of it for if he did he would die. But there was something else in that garden. Something evil,
and full of deadly malice.

There was a serpent there, and the Bible describes this serpent as intelligent, and crafty in
a bad sense. Where God uses the weak and foolish, unattractive things for His purposes,
Satan uses the things that are wise in human wisdom, attractive or fascinating, and
strong in earthly or human strength. Scripture says that God formed out of the ground
every beast of the field, and birds (Gen_2:19). We know the serpent was being used by
Satan to tempt Eve. Why did he choose the serpent? It was the creature that most
accurately appealed to and reflected his own nature. Wise, crafty, subtle, poisonous fangs
in its mouth, the ability to hide in dark, dry, rocky places. The ability to strike with
accuracy and speed and inject poison into its victim. The ability to almost paralyze with
fear its victims with its fascinating movement and stare. The Bible says it was the most
subtil, or craftiest of all the creatures of the field. I want to share a quote from Faussett's
Bible Dictionary:

The form under which Satan "the old serpent" tempted Eve (Rev_12:9; 2Co_11:3). The serpent
being known as subtle, Eve was not surprised at his speaking, and did not suspect a spiritual foe.
Its crested head of pride, glittering skin, fascinating, unshaded, gazing eye, shameless lust,
tortuous movement, venomous bite, groveling posture, all adapt it to be type of Satan. The
"cunning craftiness, lying in wait to deceive," marks the particular serpent rather than the serpent
order generally.

Did he watch God form Adam out of the ground? Was he even then plotting Adam's
destruction? When God hovered above Adam, before He blew His breath in Adam's
nostrils, was Satan there, watching, and plotting? The Bible says the Lamb of God was
slain from the foundation of the world, so God knew what was going to happen. He loved
Adam. He wanted to create someone who would be an expression of all that He is in His
nature. Someone who would reflect His light and love.
Satan watched, I'm sure as God walked with Adam and talked with Him. There was
complete unity between God and man. Satan hated that image of God in that man and
woman. He watched as God formed creatures out of the ground and brought them to
Adam, and let Adam name each one. He saw God's wisdom and nature manifested in
Adam, and hatred and envy burned in his black soul. If you read Isaiah 14, and Ezekiel 28
the Bible clearly describes the nature and motivation of Satan.

The prince of Tyrus mentioned in Eze 28 is a type of Satan. His heart was lifted up, became
proud, he exalted himself as God, as one who would seek to usurp the place of God,
declaring he was God. This is the spirit of Anti Christ. He was described as the anointed
cherub that was full of wisdom, perfect or complete in beauty. There was nothing ugly
about his appearance. He was in Eden, the garden of God-so we know this isn't an actual
person. Eze_28:13 says his covering H4540 mesukkah, meaning garment-and this sounds
like a coat of many colors, if you will, but it was 'every precious stone'. His garment was
very colorful, to be the color of topaz, diamond, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, emerald,
etc...very beautiful. The employment, or workmanship of his tabrets, his musical
instruments, and his pipes, was prepared when he was created and selected. His pipes-that
word in the Hebrew is H5345 neqeb and it means a socket, groove, or hole. It's a technical
term relating to the work of a jeweler. This kind of socket is meant to hold a jewel. He had
his own special place in heaven, involved in music and worship of God. But that wasn't all.
He was a cherub, like the one whose wings cover the mercy seat (Exo_25:20) which means
he was very close to the throne.
Eze 28:14 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.

You could argue that he was the cherub of the Anointed One, consecrated to him and I'd
have to agree. But, the word for 'anointed' here is only used this once in the Bible, with a
totally different meaning, so this isn't a good translation of this word in the KJV. It is
H4473 mimshach and it means expanded or outstretched wings. A more accurate
translation of this verse would be "Thou art the guardian cherub who covers (the throne of
God) with overshadowing wings". Where were the cherubim in Exo_25:20? There were
only 2 of them who had this special privilege. We see an illustration of this Exodus 25.
Their wings were spread as a covering above the mercy seat where God met with Moses.
They sat above the ark which contained the Testimony of God-the Word of God that would
be made flesh. This sounds like something God will say to Satan at his judgment. Read this
in the Amplified Version:

(AMP) You were the anointed cherub that covers with overshadowing [wings], and I set you so.
You were upon the holy mountain of God; you walked up and down in the midst of the stones of
fire [like the paved work of gleaming sapphire stone upon which the God of Israel walked on
Mount Sinai]. [Exod. 24:10.]

(ERV) You were one of the chosen Cherubs. [237]

{Your wings} spread over {my throne}.

And I put you on the holy mountain of God.
You walked among the jewels
that sparkled like fire.

Eze 28:14 I ordained and anointed you

as the mighty angelic guardian.*
You had access to the holy mountain of God
and walked among the stones of fire. (NLT)

Eze 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was
found in thee.

My goodness. Think about that. It's enough to blow your mind. He was a cherub-one of
two, remember, who covered the very throne of God. He was covered with a colorful
garment. But, that second time the word covereth is used, its meaning is different; in the
Hebrew, it is H5526 sakak. It means one who overshadows, covers, fences in, defends, a
shelter, one who joins together to protect. We're talking about Satan here, and his position
in heaven before he rebelled against God. He was also a creation of God. That word for
created in Eze_28:15 is the same word used in Gen_1:27 when God created man.

He was perfect, without blemish, or spot, undefiled, from the time God made him until evil,
perverseness appeared in him. The Bible said iniquity was found in him. Upon close
examination, that word 'found' means acquired, or appeared, come into existence. There
was NO tempter present before this time. There was NO tempter to trick Lucifer or tempt
him. He was in a place of pure awe and holiness, in the very presence of God Himself, as
close to the throne as one could be without being on it. And he grew dissatisfied with his
lofty position. How could that be? There were only 2 cherubim around the throne. There
were seraphim, there were the four living creatures, but only 2 cherubim who are typified
as being a covering over the mercy seat-which is the throne of God. Hebrews 9 tells us
after the second veil, there was the Holiest place of all, where the ark of the covenant was,
and over it was the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat-of which things we
cannot now speak particularly, Paul said. (Heb_9:5)

Consider his behavior in the garden, again. Why didn't he go straight at Adam directly?
Because he was smart enough to figure Eve was Adam's weakness. Eve was a tool he
would use to tempt the man who was made in the image and with the divine nature of God.

Adam was tempted and fell, and he lost that life and light of God. Something did die in him
that moment. He chose to yield to the wrong thing. Now, he no longer had the nature and
spirit of God, he had a fallen nature now. He fell from what he was created to be. That
right there should tell people who believe that doctrine that once you are saved you are
always saved is wrong. Adam fell in a world where there was no sin, and he had the nature
of God, not a corrupt nature. Yet he sinned. Don't think you can't fall.

His first reaction to God after he sinned was shame and fear. He tried to hide. He withdrew
from God. Darkness had come in to his soul. God is light, and darkness cannot stay in His
presence. The devil had tricked them, kept them from the tree of life by diverting their
attention to the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He could not dethrone God in heaven,
but now he had succeeded in dethroning God in the soul of man. When he tempted Eve and
she tempted Adam, and they ate what was forbidden, they lost the life or image of God in
their soul. The light went out, and in its place was darkness, a new awareness of a very
different kind of self. Lost was that intimacy with God, that ability to walk in His presence.
The devil was quick to move in and begin to remake man in his own image. He always
seeks to pervert God's creation. This is why you have their firstborn son-he went after the
firstborn, again, killing his brother. He had infected humanity with his own dark,
murderous, rebellious and envious nature.

This teaches us that knowing and feeding on Christ should be our priority and studying to
gain a head full of knowledge on anything else can cost us the life we would have had we
fed on Christ. (Joh_6:53) Satan sinned and fell from heaven, no longer Lucifer, the son of
the morning, but now eternally damned, a liar, the prince of darkness. He wreaked havoc
on the earth God had created, reproducing the darkness that was in himself.

Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Jesus had sent His disciples out to minister and preach and work miracles. They came
back, proud of themselves because the spirits were subject to them. He knew that was a
dangerous thing to have in your heart so He immediately warned them about this. He was
there, He watched carefully as Satan fell like a bright star that was burning out, from
heaven, the place he was created to inhabit. He became proud and rebellious in heaven, no
longer satisfied with his place, he wanted God's throne. I cannot fathom how he could
become dissatisfied with such a lofty position in heaven.

There was a war in heaven (Rev_12:7) The devil and his angels, fought against Michael and
his angels. The Bible calls him a great red dragon. That word dragon means a fabulous
kind of serpent that would fascinate. (G1404) They lost the battle and were cast out of
heaven. Next you see this serpent in the garden of Eden, luring God's creation into
disobedience. Satan fell from his first estate, and now he would see to it that man fell from
his. Oh what a lesson in our great need to be on guard.

But God had a plan, He sent His Word, His only begotten Son into this dark world, and His
Word was light and life to mankind. His Son came among the people and was the visible
image of God. He came to show them truth, and open a way that mankind could be able to
come back into that lost fellowship and life of God. He came to suffer and die and shed His
blood for our sins, so we could be redeemed and given back what Adam lost-we get it back
through and in Christ. His love was so great, he could not leave man in this condition.

Eze 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence,
and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I
will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

Satan had an abundance of gifts from the Lord. God made him a completely beautiful
creation. Isa_14:11 tells us of his viols-or musical instrument, how the noise of his
instrument died, just as did his arrogance. The worm, it says is is in him, underneath what
is seen, and rapidly spreading, devouring. In light of what Isaiah is saying, we can see
that Lucifer is one with a rage against anyone who stands up for the Word and truth of
God, anyone who would defy evil to stand for good. He is as one inflamed, full of evil
corruption, which contaminates and breeds corruption in others, seeking to devour the
light and life of God in the born again believer.

God said "I will destroy thee, O covering cherub from the midst of the stones of fire."
Literally this means Satan would lose the life and position he had around the throne of
God. He would fail, and utterly be void of any light. No longer would he be known as the
son of the morning, or son of the morning (Isa_14:12) but he would be in chains of a
darkness so great, truth would be forever beyond his reach. His ultimate end would be the
lake of fire (Rev_20:10) but until then, he was sentenced to darkness-the kind that chains
the mind, the understanding, and prevents the glorious light and truth of God which is life
to men, from shining. (2Co_4:4)

2Pe 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered
them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

God did not treat them leniently. They missed the mark, they erred grievously. One
reproduces what they are, remember. You cannot reproduce something you aren't or do
not possess. Satan obscures the understanding of people from being able to grasp the truth
of the message of God. He reproduces that darkness that is in himself in the soul of the
human. He communes with that soul of that one who is lost as surely as the Holy Spirit of
God communes with the spirit of the believer in whom He dwells. Sadly, people do not
realize where the thoughts and passions they entertain originate. Most believe these
thoughts come from their own mind.

He is a master of manipulation, folks. He was in heaven, granted one of the highest

positions there, as close to the throne of God as one could get without being on it and he
began to consider himself-worship himself, and envy God's position. He coveted the
throne, the power, and the worship due to God alone. Despite their being in the presence of
God, despite their understanding and having seen God, Satan was able to deceive one third
of the angels who are in heaven-who have been there, who have seen the Lord, and heaven
and the glory of God there. He was able to persuade them into rebelling against God, folks.
As humans, we are sitting ducks without the Holy Spirit to shine the light in us and open
our understanding to truth. The Spirit of Truth alone can help us see what God's message
to His people, to the world, really is. He alone can reveal heavenly things to us, for He has
the mind of Christ.

This is the same darkness Satan is bound with is only referred to in one other place in the
Bible: Jud_1:6.

Jud 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.

Consider this carefully, church. The word 'kept' here means to guard or keep a watch, to
protect from loss or injury, to maintain. This tells us they could not neglect their position.
When the manipulation of Lucifer came to them, they did not keep a guard on their
position and life in heaven. A third of them listened were persuaded to give up what they
had in heaven with God, and reach higher for the unattainable. The creation can never
defeat the Creator. But God has reserved-and that is the same word used for kept, G5083,
teros, in eternal bondage of darkness until that great white throne judgment. Jude goes on
to give human examples of those who followed the same fallen path of Satan. Sodom and
Gomorrha, the cities nearby them. Cain, Balaam, Korah. Peter gives the example of those
who would not hear Noah who preached righteousness while he was building the ark
before the flood came. The Bible says they were willingly ignorant. They knew the truth,
but as it's laid out in Romans 1, they did not want to retain that truth. Because they
received not the love of truth, they were given over to a strong delusion. (2Th_2:11) That
word delusion means the operation of deception or fraud.

How does Satan work this into people's lives and cause them to fall into ruin and
destruction? In the church, even? Jude describes a certain group of people who were
among the church:

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this
condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying
the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

A certain group of men, settled in among the true believers in the church. I believe when
the Word says they were ordained to this damnation, He's talking about Satan and his
influence on men-i.e. those who follow the one who has already been condemned.
Irreverent, wicked men, who turn the divine gift and favor of God into something filthy.
They deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They are ruled by their own dark, selfish nature,
totally influenced by the darkness that is in Satan. Jude knew some would wonder how
can this be? We're the church. How can any among us be like this? He reminded them
about the mixed multitude that came up out of Egypt. They refused the truth of God,
refused to believe Him, and ended up lost, and dying in the wilderness. He reminds them
how the angels kept not their position and fell and were now kept in chains of darkness.
This word for darkness is only used in 2 Pet 2:4, and here in Jude 6 and 13. This is an
internal darkness-they are unable to receive truth now. They lost the light of God, the
ability to understand His truth, to bask in His glorious light. These were like those in
Sodom and Gomorrha turned from that which is normal, and gave themselves over to
fornication, (G1608 ekporneuo) which implies pornography seen and personally indulged
in.

You don't think this has come in among you in the church? It happens. All these are your
examples, he says. Just as these I've mentioned will, so also they will suffer the
punishment of eternal fire. He calls them filthy dreamers-their very imaginations are
wicked constantly, they contaminate the nature and life of people. They reject authority of
anyone over them, whether it be spiritual, government, whatever. They reject God's
government, man's government, society's idea of what is normal, they cast off all
restraint. They speak evil of anything that has dignity or honor about it. Anyone whose
opinion or personal judgment is conservative, governed by moral righteousness, spiritual
righteousness, they despise and speak evil of this. All you have to do is turn on the news on
your television to see this spirit working in men and women day after day in this country.
It's rampant. Everything conservative or remotely Christian is spoken of with scorn,
disdain and blatant mockery. There is no fear of God at all. No tolerance for what is right.
Frail humanity speaking evil of things they do not understand.
Jude says even Michael, the chief or head angel, when he withdrew from and opposed
Satan over the body of Moses, whom God buried on a mountain, did not boldly rail against
accusation or condemn him. He left that in the hands of the Lord. When he said 'the Lord
rebuke you' that means I'll let the Lord deal with you. We'd be wise to remember that
instead of contending with those who have this spirit I'm talking to you about now.

Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally,
as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

They blaspheme what they don't understand, and can't see or know because all they can
see is the natural, the carnal, that which is physically before their human eyes. They are
compared to animals, with no conscience or understanding who because of a depraved
human nature, corrupt moral influences destroy themselves. Jude gives three powerful
examples of what is leading to their ruin. Cain, who despised the righteousness of his
brother, Abel. Remember, the Bible says he was of that wicked one. (1Jn_3:12) He was
infected with the murderous, dark nature of Satan. How else could he be 'of ' the wicked
one, if he did not have the seed of the wicked one in him? Balaam-who went greedily after
money and power, became so deluded he thought to destroy the people of God for money.
Then there is Korah-who like Satan, urged Israel to rebel against the leadership of Moses.
Those who were persuaded were swallowed up by the earth. The earth just caved in and
they were swallowed up in darkness. See the parallels here?

These are spots, Jude says those whose conduct damages others, and can cause a
shipwreck in the lives and faith of others. They sit in the church, hearing the Word of God,
just like believers, but without fear, they are dry, and unstable, no fruit of the Spirit in
their lives. They are beyond redemption. They are like the raging waves of the sea, openly
flaunting their shame, their disgrace, an erratic teacher, wandering, with no life or light
of God in them.

Jud 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is
reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

And here is the scariest part, that last part of this verse: to whom is reserved, (G5083) kept
from escaping, guarded, protected from injury or loss, the blackness (G2217 zophos)
again, as in verse 6, and 2 Pet 2:4, which means a cloud of total darkness is their existence
for eternity. Their darkness is so deep, their rejection of light so complete, the darkness is
all they will have and will be lost. Their awful judgment was prophesied by Enoch. Jude
further mentions other identifying characteristics of these: grumblers, who are never
satisfied, complainers who blame everything and everyone but themselves for their
problems, they serve only themselves, they are arrogant, using people for their own
purposes, and will take advantage of anyone.

There is one common and dangerous misconception and I've heard it taught as truth but
I'm learning it's not so. You may hear it said that the enemy battles believers hard, and
yes, it is his object desire is to overthrow the faith of every born again believer. He will
war against that faith without ceasing. But, the warfare most Christians are battling with
is the war in their own flesh. Themselves. They haven't had that inner, fallen nature
crucified, and it wars constantly against the life of God inside. Most chalk this up to being
opposition to the enemy. Don't flatter yourself so, believers. These are the last of the last
days. Yes, he is busy trying to wreak havoc on the church of Jesus Christ. But exactly who
does he most concentrate his efforts on? I believe it's two select groups of believers. One,
the newborn believer. He will do everything in his power to overthrow their new found
faith, and drag them back into the darkness. We see this illustrated in Exo_14:3 the thought
in Pharaoh's heart was to pursue Israel because the wilderness was a trap to them, they
couldn't take it, they couldn't make it, and he'd be there to recapture them.

But, there is a second group of believers the Bible says Satan focuses on, and this is the one
I want us to consider most. Rev_12:17 tells us that the dragon was enraged with the woman,
Israel, who birthed the Son of God, whom he was unable to destroy. The seed of the woman
ascended back to heaven. So what does he do? We can see a pattern of behavior laid out
here in Rev. 12. He was there, waiting to devour the child of the woman as soon as he was
born, but God protected Him. As soon as that believer is born again, he's right there to try
to devour that faith. Many times, he succeeds. But the Son of God, He was caught up to
God's throne. The woman, the wife of God, (G1135) in Rev_12:6 flees into the wilderness. It
is a lonely, desolate, solitary place but it's prepared of God before hand for her. God has a
purpose in leading her into the wilderness, just like He has a purpose in leading us there.
He fed her there, just like He fed Israel in the wilderness. Hidden manna. They knew not
where it came from or that it was angels' food. They just knew every morning it was there
to be picked up and eaten.

And there was war in heaven, and Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and
the dragon fought and his angels but prevailed not, and lost their place in heaven. They
were cast out. He is called the dragon-but that word translates to a great, fascinating
serpent-and anything fascinating will be a temptation. When I first got saved, I had this
black purse I really liked, it had a scarlet red serpentine dragon on the front of it, and it
reminded me of Oriental design. I liked it. But when I read in my Bible the devil was called
a red dragon, I got rid of that purse and everything else I had that had red dragons on it.
He's called the devil-diabolos in the Greek, and means false accuser, Satan, satanas in the
Greek, meaning the accuser, the adversary. He opposes every purpose and creation of God
that would reflect God in any way. He wants to dethrone the image or likeness of God
wherever he finds it. He tries to tempt and deceive humanity into error, and apostasy. He
lures them into worshiping something other than God. He will brag on their flesh to their
minds, for who else but he is behind all these 'self help' books, 'self improvement' 'a better
you'? He knows that self is corrupt. He is most successful at twisting men's perception of
God and causing them to give in to the tendency of the fallen soul in man to worship his
own imaginings as if they were true. In short, he causes people to believe something false-
to have a wrong concept of who and how God is and worship their idea of who God is,
rather than God Himself as He truly is. This is idolatry. He has been able to possess men,
afflict them with diseases, to try to destroy their faith in God. He wants to make them
blame God for their troubles.

He sent out a flood, to try to carry the woman away. Today the world, our nation, is being
flooded on the airwaves with the most ungodly filth. The radio stations are carrying filth,
via satellite radio. Pornography is everywhere, even in the grocery stores next to the
checkout lines, in the magazines. The headlines scream about sex and sensuality, and
selfish behavior. Sin is glorified in all its ugliness as to be desired and imitated and
coveted. Fear is gripping many because of the instability and swiftly changing world
around us. We are hearing of wars, rumors of wars, disasters, famine, plagues, pestilence-
it's everywhere. The secular media tries to inflame fear and dependency on government
rather than on God.

Rev 12:11 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.
Rev 12:17 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.

The Word of their testimony is the Word that was made flesh-the Son of God. They
overcame by His Word, His life which is their source of power and deliverance, and His
blood. They reject their own natural lives, they have let God cut every tie that bound them
to this world, this culture, this natural way of doing things, and choose instead to stand in
total dependence on God and His will, His power, just as Christ did. They have rejected
their own natural self life because they understand it's a reflection of Satan's nature which
is why it wars constantly against the life of God inside. It's darkness and light battling.
They deliberately choose to reject him and themselves and embrace God. They are filled
with His Spirit which is their life. They know because all carnal, natural parts of their
Adam nature are infected with Satan's nature, nothing of human strength or wisdom can
be used in this kingdom of God. It can't be trusted, and it can't accomplish a spiritual
result. Light has no fellowship with darkness.

Rev_12:17 says the dragon was enraged with the woman, who I believe is an illustration or
type of Israel who is a type of the OT church. He went to war-not with all of the church, but
the remnant. Those who remained faithful to God's commands and possess the testimony,
the witness of the life of Jesus Christ. What does that mean? They kept it. They secured it,
protected the life and walk they had, they held their convictions, their faith in God's
promises, and would not compromise or surrender it to problems, circumstances, or
selfish fears. It came down to a choice, and they chose His life and will over their own by
the strength of His Spirit. They are the overcomers who will be joint heirs with Jesus
Christ.

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

The spirit of prophecy-of prediction. There is only one Spirit allowed to prophesy legally in
the kingdom of God-that is the Holy Spirit who Jesus said would show us of things to come.
(Joh_16:13) All other forms of fortune telling, tarot card reading, psychic ESP stuff, this is
all demonic imitation of the true power of God who knows the future because He is
everywhere. This is why God forbids His people from partaking of magicians, soothsayers,
false prophets, enchanters and charmers. They are demonically influenced and we are not
to touch that. It's unclean and dangerous.

What was the testimony of Jesus Christ? It is the record that John spoke about of One who
came from the Father, who came not to do His own will, nor speak His own Word, but to
say and do only what the Father told Him. His was a sacrificial life poured out for the sake
of others, and for the glory of God. It was a life that included much suffering, and had no
will of its own but His Father's will. He did not come to make for Himself a reputation or
accumulate material wealth or possessions. His life had a cross in it and if we are going to
make it, ours will too.

He came in human flesh, and walked in that flesh and in that flesh condemned sin. He
conquered it, has been given all power over all flesh. Now there are those, His remnant,
the Bride, who love not their own lives, who are dying daily to self, and stand on His Word
and the blood He shed at Calvary. They understand there is a cross involved. They have
been filled with the Holy Spirit and He teaches them, shows them things to come in their
own lives. He shows them changes that must be made. He also warns them of impending
disaster, He prepares them to meet the Bridegroom who is returning very soon. This is
why the Bible says those who received HIM (Joh_1:12)-they seized upon Him, they laid hold
of His truth; it wasn't just a mental assent to truth, they eat His flesh, (Word) they drink
His blood (Holy Spirit) they feed on heavenly things regularly, not earthly corrupt things.
Because they are feeding on Him who is life and light, the Bible says they have been given
power to become the Sons of God. How? There's only One Son and it is HE who comes to
indwell the believer and enable him or her to overcome by the power of His Holy Spirit.
Has anyone else ever overcome? We have no record of any except Jesus Christ.
It is only those who are led by His Spirit that are the sons of God. (Rom_8:14) They have
been reborn and are being conformed or made like the image of God, which is Christ.
Fallen, unsaved man is not any longer the image of God-they are like Satan, not God. What
traits have we seen in these Scriptures exposed by the Word of God that Satan possesses?
Pride in his outward beauty, pride in his position, talents and ability; envy and
covetousness for God's position, honor and worship; desire and jealousy for the power of
God, so much so he counterfeits it when he can and calls it magic or illusion. We've seen
anger and wrath displayed by Satan. Manipulation. Accusation. Selfishness. Grumbling,
complaining, murder, hatred, despising authority. How much of this kind of attitudes
plague the church? If these things are in us and are not overcome, we are in big trouble.
We must have a greater power than ourselves to overcome ourselves. These are stains and
spots on our spiritual garments that will keep us here when He returns. Only the power of
the Holy Ghost in us can overcome the carnal, selfish nature in mankind. It requires a
denial of that nature, a complete rejection of it. To do that, one must see something or
Someone they desire more than themselves. Hence, another job of the Holy Spirit is to
show us Christ, reveal Him to and in us. (Joh_14:26; Joh_15:26)

He is our Advocate, our Helper, He's been sent by the Son of God to come to our aid. He
pleads our cause as Intercessor, to lead us into a deeper knowledge of Christ and His life
and what He did for us at Calvary. He is our divine strength to enable us to lay our lives
down for the sake of Christ, for the love of God, which love He sheds abroad in our hearts,
and strengthens us to endure trials and hardships, including persecution and suffering.
He is holy, He is the Spirit of Christ, He is our life, our Teacher, who opens our
understanding to the Scriptures, and helps us remember what the Word says when we
need help. He instructs, guides, empowers and defends us. He dwells with us, in us, and
seeks to baptize us, into His fullness, immerse us in Himself, His supernatural life
displacing and replacing our own inferior carnal life. (Joh_14:16-17)

He examines us, convicts us, which means He deals with us where and when He finds us
guilty of violating the Word of God. He convinces us of what is right and wrong. His
holiness, His presence is a reproof to a world in sin and darkness. He shows what is
righteousness, for it's His standard alone that counts, not men's idea of righteousness. He
reveals unbelief, and judges sin. He is also come to lead us deeper into the whole truth, the
whole counsel of God. He testifies and shows us of Christ, who He is, what He's like, for
how can we be like One we do not know? He enables us to learn how to commune with the
Lord, to walk with Him. He relays messages from the Throne of God. He shows us by
divine revelation, what He hears from the throne and what is to come. He shows us where
we are, what we are and what we are to be, what He will make us if we yield to Him. He is
able to warn us of deception, and danger. He is able to prepare us if we are walking with
Him and listening to Him and seeking Him.

So many ignore Him and try to go about this Christian life in their own wisdom and
strength, or seek help and instruction from men rather than the Holy Spirit. They will only
fail until they learn to depend only on Him. It's these that the enemy fights hardest. Those
who are determined not to trust themselves, for they know they can't, and are determined
to go all the way with God. They are willing to deny everything and anything but Him.
When God sees any darkness or chaos in us, we must know His Spirit, like in the beginning
hovers over us, ready to speak the Word that will change everything if we look to Him and
not another source. Let us not be drawn away in these final days of time from the Tree of
Life. Many of God's children are being led astray because the enemy has drawn their focus
to the government, the politics of the time, as Americans who love this country, and some
fought for this country's freedom, watch it being quickly destroyed and remade into
something else, something different, and terrible. It's happening swiftly, in spite of public
protest, in spite of truth coming to light about corruption, it's continuing on its course like
a speeding locomotive heading for its destination.
We are to speak evil of no man. We are to pray and be prepared-and only the Holy Spirit
can do this in and for us. We must recognize God's judgment is falling on this nation.
America is an apostate country whose god is self. Self likes money, position, and power.
Self likes it easy and comfortable. Self doesn't want to let go. As children of God, we must
remember what the Scripture testified of Noah, and of Abraham:

Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear,
prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and
became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Jesus has warned us of what is to come. He's warning His people, moving them with fear,
showing them how to be prepared even now for those who are seeking Him and listening.
The Son of God is our ark of safety. Not religious works, not going to church, not even
reading our Bible. The Bible is to point us and teach us to look to the Living Word-the
living Christ, the living God. The real church is what the Body of Christ is not a building.

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after
receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in
tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

I ask American Christians today this question. As you read the testimony of God
concerning Abraham, is this you? Are you trusting Him, knowing He is your inheritance
or are you seeking material, earthly things? Would Jesus' return mess up your plans right
now? Though we don't know the way, or where we are going in this journey, we know the
final destination is in Heaven with Him. We must travel, as Abraham through this land, as
strangers here, different, with different goals, different mind set, our eyes and lives
focused on the promise, on occupying until He comes to get us, and letting Him shine in
and through us so HE is seen by a desperately needy and dark world rather than our
religious selves. We look for a city whose foundation, whose builder is GOD. These all died
in faith, not having received the promise yet. Let us die to self, even though we haven't seen
the full promise yet, knowing it is secure because God is Almighty and will not and cannot
lie.

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar
off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they
might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

If we will not let Him cut the ties that bind us to this world, if we are unwilling to let go, to
let the Holy Spirit pry our fingers loose from what we would hold on to, we will go back.
We will be left here. We have a better place God desires for us to be. He has already
prepared it. But we must reject the seen and by faith hold on to the unseen, knowing we
cannot lose if we make that choice. What is seen is temporary, what we do not see is
eternal. Don't sell true riches for filthy rags. I pray God help His people wake up and see
this political fight in this country is not our battle. He has told us what will be. Even now,
the Pope of Rome is calling for a global political authority to rise up as a world leader.
Many countries in Asia and around the world are calling for a new global currency which
spells the end of the dollar and a collapsing American economy. They are calling for this
because Washington has and is continuing to spend far more than they take in, and this
cannot be long sustained. America will get on board with the rest of the world, she will
relinquish her sovereignty, and fall in line with the world, just as the Bible says-there will
be a one world government, a one world currency and a global church. We do well to
consider God's warning to Israel who was under imminent threat from Babylon's
approaching army of invaders:(Jer_42:11-17; Jer_27:1-12) If you try to fight against the
judgment God is sending on the land, you fight against God and you will find nothing but
the sword, the famine, and death. Even in judgment, God would be merciful to those who
repent and humble themselves. But those who insist on fighting, resisting, crazy at it
sounds to the American conservative, will only find more pain and suffering. These are the
last of the last days. Jesus is coming soon. America is falling. But God has a remnant, who
is faithful and has her eyes on Him not this world.