App
(Bible Study #1)
Fred R. Coulter | April 12, 2009
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As I said many times, you go clear back to the founding of the nation, they brought in some principles and some truths. But remember the Constitution of the United States has resulted in what this nation has become, because 'it is not the Constitution, stupid, nor the economy, stupid.' Which reminds me, we ran an ad in the Washington Times: It's Not The Economy, Stupid, It Is God!
- they don't know God
- they don't understand God
- they don't know who He is
- they don't understand the Word
There's one key very important to understand, and you've heard me say how many times, almost every week: Sabbath, Passover, Holy Days vs Sunday, Easter, Eucharist, the Lord's Supper holidays. The Achilles' heel for this nation and the 'religions' in America were those. The other Achilles' heel in the Constitution was freedom—the wrong kind of freedom—to do whatever you want, rather than the freedom to choose what is right.
Here's another point that is very, very important to understand. This works true in the Church and out of the Church, people in the world. Even with knowledge of things that are good, without necessarily having to bring in the aspect of what God said, here is a living principle that always happens.
Matthew 13:11: "And He answered and said to them, 'Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given."
Why would God not give it to them? It's given to us to know! Now let's understand that, too. That requires a lot of responsibility! You have been called, not into an organization or a church where you become a better person—God wants you to become a better person—that's not the goal. That is the result of the goal. The goal is that you have been called to:
- rule this world
- develop and grow spiritually
- understand the Word of God
- develop the mind of Christ
- know what is Truth and know what is error
So that you could rule the world, because that's what's wrong with the rulers and 'religious' people of the world today. They don't know!
Just exactly like they did an interview with the Dalai Lama. During the interview he was laughing and he's a real friendly person and all this sort of thing, and he gets this silly look on his face and silly grin. He told the reporter—pointing over to a little fat statue of Buddha—'That's my boss.' Yet, the world thinks, 'Oh, what a holy man.'
Verse 12: "For whoever has understanding, to him more shall be given, and he shall have an abundance, but whoever does not have understanding, even what he has shall be taken away from him."
A living principle! If you do not constantly follow the Scriptures correctly—because there's a way to do it incorrectly—Paul told Timothy to 'rightly divide the Word of Truth.' If you wrongly divide the Word of Truth you can come up with an error.
This is a living principle that happens all the time: When people refuse to listen to what is right and good and true—whether in the Church, out of the Church; with the Bible, without the Bible—they lose knowledge and what they have is taken from them!
- Is that happening in America? Yes!
- Has it happened in the Church? Yes, indeed!
It's an automatic living principle! And this will be a key in some of the things that we will cover today.
Verse 13: "For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing, they see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand."
Try this on someone who's a good Catholic. 'We keep the Days of Unleavened Bread.' Huh? 'We keep the Passover.' Are you a Jew? 'We keep the Sabbath.' You must be a Jew! 'No!' "…neither do they understand."
Verse 14: "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, "In hearing you shall hear, and in no way understand; and in seeing you shall see, and in no way perceive; for the heart of this people has grown fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed…" (vs 14-15).
Perfect way of saying, 'Don't bother me with the Truth.' You can apply that secularly in the world, and you can apply it within the Church. It automatically happens.
- What one church has grown fat and rich and increased with goods? Laodiceans!
- Are their ears dull of hearing?
- Are they tired of seeing?
- Are they lacking understanding?
Just because you understand something up to a certain point, at a certain time, does not mean that there isn't more to learn and grow and understand. Realize that! Also understand that the way to live your life is today is today; what you did yesterday will either help or hurt today depending on your attitude.But you can't go back and relive yesterday and you can't live tomorrow because it hasn't arrived.
That's important to understand. So everyone who comes along has all of these hang-ups because they are living in the past. Get rid of them because:
- you're closing your mind
- you're closing your heart
- you're closing your eyes
- all you can do is think about what someone did to you and cling to that and be mad forever against the person
There some people that if you mentioned the name Herbert W Armstrong they go almost into a perplextic fit! Perfect example of that!
What you did yesterday, if there's something you need to repent of, repent of it. That's fine today. That's why it says there in Hebrews, 'today, while it is today.' Jesus said, 'Tomorrow will take care of itself,' because there's enough evil in every day that comes along that you need to deal with. So, these are living principles and things from the Word of God that we need to understand.
"…lest they should see with their eyes, and should hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them" (v 15).
- Isn't that something? Jesus doesn't want everyone converted today!
- How about that? It would be nice if they would!
- Do you think they will believe the Word of God?
- Do you think they will believe Jesus Christ?
- Do you think they will give up Sunday and all of the holidays of this world?
- No way!
What we keep—Sabbath, Passover and Holy Days—is based on Truth and the Word of God. What they keep with Sunday, Easter and the occult holidays is all based on a lie!
This is where it comes into what we do in Bible study. There's been a paper circulated around: Will Satan Live Forever?
What we will see is that certain transference of logic is not logical and doesn't conform to the Scriptures. We need to understand that. Not only are we going to see that whoever wrote this paper is incorrect, we will see why he is incorrect. That gets into the same kind of thing as the 'Darth Vader syndrome.' Do you know what the 'Darth Vader syndrome' is? In the end he'll be saved! There are people who believe that. This fits in really well with Unleavened Bread. What is the overriding principle of the Feast of Unleavened Bread? A little leaven leavens the whole lump!
So, I've got the paper right here in front of me. Let me read the first part here.
From Will Satan Live Forever? (unknown author)
Revelation 20 describes what happens to Satan during the Millennium….
Revelation 20:1: "Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. Then he cast him into the abyss, and locked him up, and sealed the abyss over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were fulfilled; and after that it is ordained that he be loosed for a short time" (vs 1-3).
It has been assumed that after being loosed a little season he shall be returned to captivity and isolation. But that the second time would be forever. Does the Bible teach that or not? Is that an assumption or something that the Bible teaches?
Whenever you read something and you see the word 'assumed,' circle it. Because he's setting up a straw argument.
And Satan would never again be able to influence mankind.
Well now, that's another error. Because of he's totally isolated the second time and all the rest are spirit beings, there is no mankind around. Is that not true?
This was taught partly because of following the line of reasoning in Worldwide.
So, now we set up the argument against Worldwide. Not everything Worldwide had was wrong.
We were taught the following about Satan: Satan is a spirit being….
Is he a spirit being or not?
…Spirit beings are immortal, not mortal, therefore cannot die. And Satan will live forever apparently in captive isolation from all mankind.
There again—"…from all mankind…"—not so!
On the surface this makes all this make sense, but is it correct? It seems logical and sensible, but is it right? Let's look at other Scriptures and see what else we can learn.
First consider Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Death is the wages of sin for human beings! He did not ask the question what is the penalty for angels that sin. Then you have a transference of illogical logic to come to the conclusion that Satan will be made a human being so he can be killed! Then he immediately goes to:
Ezekiel 28:16: "…I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of Fire." That can also mean destroy from or get rid of.
John 8:44—referring to the Jews: "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you desire to practice. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the Truth because there is no Truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he is speaking from his own self; for he is a liar, and the father of it."
Is the Bible consistent? Does Satan—a sinner/liar—live forever, except exempt from Rom. 6:23?
Now, as far as I have gotten, it makes me wonder why this paper upset some people. Let's check the assumptions made in that reasoning.
- Is Satan a spirit being? There's no question about that!
- Is it possible, however, for a spirit being to die? Oh ho. If so, then Romans 6:23 could be fulfilled. If not, there is no way we know of for Satan to be subject to death for his sins.
But nowhere does it say that he can become a human [transcriber's correction] being.
Then he makes an illogical leap of logic.
- Did Jesus Christ become flesh? Yes!
- Was He a spirit being? Yes!
- Did He die? Yes!
- Can we say the same thing can happen to Satan?
- For what purpose?
- Why did Jesus come in the flesh? He came to defeat Satan!
And He came to live a perfect life and become the perfect sacrifice for the sins of human beings! The sins of angels are in another category!
What Jesus did to become a human being, has absolutely nothing to do with the possibility of Satan becoming a human being and then die. Then he goes on to show different things here, and he finally comes to part of the problem that he has here.
- Can Satan possess people? Yes!
- Satan possessed Judas Iscariot—didn't he? Yes, he did!
- What happened to Judas Iscariot? He committed suicide!
- Did Satan die with him? No!
Likewise, when we are talking about 'the covering cherub' who sinned, we also are dealing with something in the Old Testament that is different than the New Testament. The Old Testament starts out here in:
Ezekiel 28:1: "The Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre. "Thus says the Lord GOD," 'Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, "I am a god…"'" (vs 1-2).
Remember what happened to Herod when he spoke and everyone said it's the voice of God? He was immediately consumed with worms! So, here we have a man saying that he's 'God.'
"…'I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas'; yet, you are a man and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of a god" (v 2).
What we are dealing with here in Ezek. 28 is someone who was possessed by Satan!
Verse 11: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Son of man, lift up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'You seal up the measure of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You have been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering… [then it lists all of them] (v 14): …You were the anointed cherub that covers, and I set you so; you were upon the Holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of Fire. You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was found in you. By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled your midst with violence, and you have sinned. Therefore, I will cast you as profane from the mountain of God, and I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of Fire'"'" (vs 11-16). In other words, he's cast out, he is totally removed, he is not annihilated!
Verse 17: "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness. I will cast you to the ground; I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you. By the multitude of your iniquities, by the unrighteousness of your trade, you have profaned your sanctuaries; therefore, I brought forth a fire from your midst; it shall devour you, and I will bring you to ashes upon the earth, before the eyes of all who see you" (vs 17-18).
What are we talking about here? We are talking about someone possessed of Satan the devil, who then is going to be burned in fire! It would be exactly the same thing that happened to Judas Iscariot. In dying, being Satan possessed, Satan did not die.
So likewise here; if the king being lifted up this way, being possessed of Satan the devil, thinking that he is God—that's what he said—and he is burned up, and all the other kings see him:
- Does that mean that Satan has been destroyed?
- Does that mean that because he possessed a human being, and a human being died, that Satan also died?
It talks about the same thing in Isa. 14, also talking about Satan and his wanting to conquer God. If you read it very carefully, it also has to do with the Medes, Persians, Babylon and so forth. It ends up having to do with the with the Assyrians, as well.
(go to the next track)
Isaiah 14:12: "How you are fallen from the heavens, O shining star, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart, 'I will ascend into the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit 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, you shall be brought down to the grave, to the sides of the pit. Those who see you shall stare and watch you closely, saying, 'Is this the man who made the earth to tremble; who shook kingdoms'" (vs 12-16).
Now we have a blending again from Satan back down to a man. Just like with Judas Iscariot when he died, Satan did not die with him. Likewise, in 2-Thess. it talks about another one: 'Whose coming is after the power of Satan with great signs and wonders claiming that he is God is resulting himself above everything that is called God.' We know that that refers to the last beast.
When the beast is killed let's see how things happen. Remember that the wages of sin for human beings is death. What are the wages of sin for spirit beings? Let's see what happens to the beast and the false prophet. Were they led and possessed by Satan the devil? Yes!
Revelation 19:20: "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked miracles in his presence, by which he had deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Those two were cast alive into the Lake of Fire, which burns with brimstone."
- What happens when human beings are cast into the fire? They burn up!
- How long is their torment? About long enough until the heat takes away their breath and they pass out, probably an instant before they are burned!
- What happened to Satan?
If Satan possessed the beast, why not kill him here, If he was to be killed? Because what God is going to do is set up the Kingdom of God! So, why not get rid of him permanently, forever at this point, if he is to die as a human being. Let's read what happens to him here.
Revelation 20:1: "Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, having the key of the abyss…" When Jesus was casting out demons, they asked Him, 'Have You come to cast us into the abyss or torment us before the time?'
- Who also goes into the abyss along with Satan? All the demons; they would have to!
- Who is the king of the abyss? Satan the devil (Rev. 9)!
"…having the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years" (vs 1-2). Why do that? If his ultimate fate is to die, why not make him die here?
Verse 3: "Then he cast him into the abyss, and locked him up, and sealed the abyss over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were fulfilled; and after that it is ordained that he be loosed for a short time." We cover that during the Last Great Day.
Let's see what else it says about demons and so forth. Why didn't God eliminate Satan before He created Adam and Eve, if he could be changed into flesh? He doesn't necessarily have to be made into a human being. Could be made in anything else; why make him into a human being of he's like a serpent? Why not just make him into the form of a physical serpent and kill the serpent? Then he has died.
- Why would he take on a human form?
- Was Satan ever made in the likeness of God? No!
- Why would he then be given human form to die?
1-Peter 3:18: "Because Christ indeed once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God; on the one hand, He was put to death in the flesh; but on the other hand, He was made alive by the Spirit by which He also went and preached to the spirits in prison" (vs 18-19). So, there are spirits in prison.
- Where is this prison? The abyss!
- When did Christ do that?
Protestants think He did it when He was in the grave. Well, when He was in the grave He was in the grave and He was dead. He commended His spirit into the hands of God the Father, that's the last thing He said. 'Into your hands I commend My spirit.' So, God retained the spirit until the time of the resurrection and resurrected Him.
Verse 20: "Which disobeyed in a past time, when once the longsuffering of God was waiting in the days of Noah..." That's when God went and preached to him, when Noah was building the ark. Not when He was in the grave three days and three nights, but "…while the ark was being prepared…"
2-Peter 2:4: "For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but, having cast them into Tartarus... [a place of restraint or prison or the abyss] …delivered them intochains of darkness…" Does that sound a little familiar with what we have just read happened to Satan? Yes!
"…to be kept for the judgment" (v 4). It doesn't say that the wages of sin for angels is death.
- Is there any Scripture that says that? No!
- Why try and make the Scriptures say something it doesn't say?
- Why didn't God make Satan into a serpent or a man and burn him up before the creation of Adam and Eve?
- Don't you think that would've been better and save us a lot of grief and pain?
- Why did God not do that when the king of Tyre was burned up?
- Why did God not do it here in Rev. 19 and 20? Satan has a role to play!
Before we become spirit beings, we will know the consequences of sin and develop the righteous Godly character before we're resurrected and changed, so that we will not follow in the footsteps of Satan the devil when we become spirit beings.
Nowhere does it say at anytime, anyplace that Satan is going to die. Those he possesses died: king of Tyre, Judas Iscariot, and the beast. But as we saw in Rev. 20, Satan is still alive. This tells us some very important things before we get to the release of Satan the devil again. He will be loosed for 'a short season.'
Revelation 20:4: "And I saw thrones; and they that sat upon them, and judgment was given to them; and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus…"
I didn't know souls could be beheaded; souls can die. A soul is a living being, so all of those who were living in the flesh:
"…had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and those who did not worship the beast, or his image, and did not receive the mark in their foreheads or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed.)…." (vs 4-5).
That ties in with the Ezek. 37. The key is that you need the New Testament to interpret the Old. You go back and read in Ezek. 37 and it looks like the 'valley of the dry bones' comes before the Millennium. But the correct time-setting has been given in Revelation and not in Ezekiel. You read the Old Testament and it will go along and talk about something that is currently happening. It will talk about a prophecy to be in the future. Then it will shift over to the physical life of Christ and the spiritual life of Christ.
That's why the Old Testament is put in the way that it is, 'a little here a little there, precept upon precept and line upon line.' Why don't you do that as a study some time? Take one of the Psalms or go through many of them. This applies to David this applies to people, this applies the Jesus physical life, this applies to Jesus spiritual life, this applies to his resurrection, etc. You will find sometimes even in one Psalm all of those elements will be combined together.
Rev. 20 gives us the time-setting. After the Millennium is over, of course it talks about those in the first resurrection.
Verse 6: "Blessed and Holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power…."
- What does this tell us? If you are a spirit being you cannot die!
The second death has no power!
- Why did Jesus become flesh? Because spirit beings cannot die!
- Why did Satan not become flesh? Because he was a sinning angel!
Nowhere does it say that Satan becomes flesh!.
- Why would he have to become flesh? The best he can do is possess people, and those people are killed!
The favorite 'punching bag' is Adolph Hitler:
- Would you say that he was possessed of demons and Satan?
- Did he die? Yes!
- Was the ground littered with Satan who died with him, or demons who were with him? No!
"…But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Now, when the thousand years have been completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison" (vs 6-7)—the abyss!
During the days of Noah, while the ark was being built God—Who became Christ—as a spirit being went to the prison where the demons were and preach to them to tell them that their world, which they had created before the Flood, was coming to an end. But He was going to save human beings through Noah, and there wasn't anything they could do about it. Now, did Satan magically disappear after the Flood? No! He found one he could possess very quickly: Nimrod!
What did they resurrect? A new version of the old religion that Satan inspired before the Flood!. Look at all of the opportunities where God could've eliminated Satan, made him flesh and got rid of him, but did not do it. A lot of people ask, 'Why does Satan have to be loosed again?' Well, you get any sermon I've given on the Last Great Day, and I go through and explain it.
We're going to have the greatest case of Laodiceanism in the last generation of the Millennium that you have ever seen anywhere in the history of time. So, Satan is going to be loosed.
Verse 8: "And he shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, of whom the number is as the sand of the sea, to gather them together for war."
There comes a time in history just like with the Flood. You've got to cut it off; you have got to stop it; you have got to end it! So likewise, there's a time when you have to cut off all the remaining sinners. They have had a thousand years, they've had the right history, the right God, everything, but now they choose to go their own way and they have to be cut off. You cannot have perpetual generations beyond the thousand years of human beings bringing more human beings into the world; you must stop it at some point.
So, this is where it is stopped! God looses Satan for the specific purpose of gathering all of those who are against God. Satan is released to deceive them and thinking that they could come down and with one great battle, if we just capture Jerusalem, we can control the world and take over God's throne, and we can take over God.
Is that not what Isa. 14 was about? Yes, indeed! You can also apply Isa. 14 in this particular instance, in type.
Verse 9: "Then I saw them go up upon the breadth of the earth and encircle the camp of the saints, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven and consumed them."
Was Satan consumed? No! Look at how many times and opportunities there were, from just in the Bible, to get rid of Satan, to get rid of the demons. Remember, wherever Satan goes the demons go. But He didn't do it. Now, here's the crux of the article:
Verse 10: "And the Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet had been cast..."
When were they cast in there? Why did I add three words had been cast? Because it happened a thousand years before! And being cast in there they burned up!
- Could they be tormented forever in flames?
- Can human beings be tormented forever in a Lake of Fire?
- No! Could not be!
"…and they…" (v 10)—that is in the Greek. This is the mistake that is made by most translators. They assumed that 'they' means the beast, the false prophet and Satan. But the 'they' refers to the demons.
"…and they, Satan and the demons…" (v 10)—because if you get rid of Satan you've got to get rid of all the demons.
- Would you just get rid of Satan and not get rid of the demons?
- What have you solved if you only did that?
It's like you know that a flood is coming and you put a sandbag up right along your road, but nobody put sandbags up above nobody put sandbags down below. The flood comes and you're flooded, and all of your sandbagging didn't do any good. So, if you get rid of Satan you've got to get rid of the demons. Because when they talked to Jesus, when He was casting them out, they said, 'Are You here to torment us ahead of the time? Are You here to cast us into the abyss?'
"…and they, Satan and the demons, shall be tormented day and night into the ages of eternity" (v 10). How could a loving God do that? Because God is also Judge!
Don't view your human emotions as equivalent to how God thinks. Or view your sentiments, concerning the tormenting of Satan and the demons, in human terms. The sin of angels and Satan is much different than the sin of human beings, and their fate is to be tormented forever.
How long will the Lake of Fire be there? We don't know! But we do know this: After the Great White Throne Judgment the whole earth, the whole surface of the earth is going to be consumed and incinerated to prepare for New Jerusalem. Apparently, the Lake of Fire right at the end consumes the whole earth (2-Peter).
"…and they, Satan and the demons, shall be tormented day and night into the ages of eternity. Then I saw a great white throne and the One Who was sitting on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead…" (vs 10-12)—the rest of the dead listed back in the first part of Rev. 20.
They're all resurrected back to a physical life. This is where Ezek.37 comes in. I think it's very, very interesting to understand that the book of Revelation interprets Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. Without the book of Revelation, you don't have that understanding.
If people believe only in the New Testament, they don't understand what it means. If people only believe in the Old Testament, they don't understand what it means. If they believe in the Old and New Testament, but persistent or Sunday and other occult holiday worship, they will never understand the plan of God. So, they won't understand it either.
Verse 15: "And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life..."
Now Satan has been removed. Do you suppose that living one life under Satan the devil is quite sufficient? Yes! That's why he is removed before the Great White Throne Judgment. They will have the same opportunity as the people during the Millennium had when Satan and the demons were removed. If they don't repent of their sins and accept the salvation that is offered to them at that time, then they will be cast into the Lake of Fire. All of those who had sinned previously down through all generations will be resurrected and cast into the Lake of Fire with them.
It doesn't say that when they're cast into the Lake of Fire that they are tormented forever. They are burned up! But it does say that about Satan, which also has to include the demons.
{Continuing with article}: So if Satan is made mortal…
You have an if clause with no proof!
For the purpose of death and burned to ashes in the sight of all who see him, when does this happen?
Then he goes through and explains what I just read here, at least quotes the Scripture.
Perhaps, and this is speculation…
that's quite right
…it happens when Satan is released after the thousand years of restraint.
Now that's a supposition. You cannot make a dogmatic conclusion based upon just the supposition without any Scriptural proof.
…Perhaps he returns as a mortal human leading Gog and Magog against Jerusalem, and against those destroyed by fire as recounted in Rev. 20.
Then he quoted Mal. 4:1-3 about that 'the wicked will be as ashes under the feet of the righteous.' True!
Why would Satan return as a human being? Perhaps the condition of his release from the thousand years restraint would be that he returns as a human being."
No evidence for it!
Perhaps it's speculation.
Quite right!
Perhaps God tells them, "Well if it is true you won't die," just as You told Adam and Eve they wouldn't die, then you have nothing to fear by being made human, you really won't die then you have nothing to risk.
This is, again, speculation. If you're going to make such startling claims of what God is going to do, it would do well to have some Scriptures of absolute proof to show it.
Conclusion. Given that Satan is destroyed through death.
Now you've made the conclusion and the proof is all based upon human beings who were possessed of Satan who died rather than Satan himself.
Given that Satan is destroyed though death, the Bible gives a consistent message, the wages of sin is death. That applies to all.
Not to angels!
Matthew 25:41: "Then shall He also say to those on the left, 'Depart from Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire, which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.'"
Even if it's prepared for them if they go into it, they're burned up. It says that Satan, and of course the demons along with him, will be 'tormented forever and ever.' And it says in Jude that they are 'wandering stars, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.'
Answers to questions from audience:
When they become spirit beings the second death has no power over them. Of course, it applies to human beings.
You show me a Scripture where it says that the wages of sin for angels is death.
- Who else can die?
- Can God die? No!
- Can angels die? No!
- animals can die
- trees and plants can die
- Who else is he referring to?
You read the whole chapter. Never take a verse out of isolation. What is he saying? We who are baptized into Christ Jesus are human beings. Was Satan ever baptized into Christ Jesus? (Rom. 6)? No! So, it applies to human beings.
There are two goats in Lev. 16, one for the Lord one for Azazel. One is sacrificed to forgive all the sins, uncleanness and transgressions of the children of Israel. If the sins are forgiven, they're forgiven correct. Why have the second goat? If this represents Satan, why does He confess the sins again on the head of the second goat and the goat then is sent into the wilderness? And the wilderness is not heaven. Never is heaven referred to as a wilderness!
This is not a second aspect of what Jesus does. This is interpreted by Rev. 20. Satan had his sins by causing human beings to sin, but human beings were given a choice whether to sin or not sin. The sacrifice of Christ applies to them. But what about all the sins that he made human beings do that he is responsible for. Does the sacrifice of Christ apply to those? No! They're put back on his head; he is responsible. He is cast into the Lake of Fire and tormented forever day and night.
That's the fate of angels! Their sin was greater than sinning as human beings. Why not just put everything on Satan's head and get rid of it all at once, then you would have to say there would be no need for Christ to come. So then, Satan would become Christ. That doesn't make sense either. Also, what does this do for all the rest of the spirit beings in the Kingdom of God? It will show forever that sin never pays!
I have heard of this before. First time I've had it in writing, so I appreciate having it. But here's another good thing. You cannot take a speculation, and make a finite dogmatic conclusion on speculation. Satan is full of speculation. The punishment for spirit beings sinning is different than humans.
Psalm 82:6. "I [God] have said, 'You are gods; and all of you are sons of the Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes'" (vs 6-7).
Jesus referred to this as a prophecy in John 10. Also referred to it as Himself, as the Son of God. Obviously, what we're talking about here, because you can't take these two verses and separated it from the rest of the Bible and all the other Scriptures defining about how to change, how to grow, how to overcome, how to become part of the Family of God, etc.
What we are talking about here are the two things: Either you will become as Gods in the Family of God and be the children of the Most High, or you shall die like men and won't attain to it! It doesn't say as Gods they are going to die. This is why you can't take a couple of Scriptures and come to an ultimate final conclusion if there are other Scriptures which bear on the same subject to give us other information.
Comparison between Christ coming in the flesh and Satan. Speculative, there is no comparison.
Hebrews 2:14: "Therefore, since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, in like manner He also took part in the same, in order that through death He might annul him who has the power of death—that is, the devil." Annul means to bring to nothing or to make everything as though what he did never happened. That is the works toward human beings.
Verse 15: "And that He might deliver those who were subject to bondage all through their lives by their fear of death." That certainly doesn't apply to angels or demons, but human beings.
Verse 16: "For surely, He is not taking upon Himself to help the angels…" That also answers the question: Could Satan be Darth Vaderized? saved at the end? No!
"…but He is taking upon Himself to help the seed of Abraham. For this reason, it was obligatory for Him to be made like His brethren in everything that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, in order to make propitiation for the sins of the people…. [not angels] …For because He Himself has suffered, having been tempted in like manner, He is able to help those who are being tempted" (vs 16-18).
Remember The 14 Rules of Bible Study (Appendix A in The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version).
Ezekiel 28:18[transcriber's correction]: "By the multitude of your iniquities…" Remember that it's directed to the prince of Tyre and the king of Tyre who says he was 'God.' So, this has to be someone who was possessed of Satan.
Verse 16: "By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled your midst with violence, and you have sinned. Therefore, I will cast you [Satan] as profane from the mountain of God, and I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire." So being destroyed from the stones of Fire, does not mean he is being destroyed in the stones of Fire.
Verse 17: "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness. I will cast you to the ground; I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you. By the multitude of your iniquities, by the unrighteousness of your trade, you have profaned your sanctuaries; therefore, I brought forth a fire from your midst; it shall devour you…" (vs 17-18). That has to be the king because spirit beings cannot be devoured by fire; they're tormented.
"…and I will bring you to ashes upon the earth, before the eyes of all who see you" (v 18). Now let's take this one step further.
- Was there a King of Tyre? Yes!
- Did he do these things that are said here? Yes!
- Was he possessed of Satan the devil? Yes!
- Did Satan become incinerated and turned to ashes at that point? No!
So, this is talking about that very king! We can take it ahead in prophecy.
- Does this also refer to the one who is called the beast who calls himself 'God,' exalts himself above everything that is called God or that is worshiped as God?
- When he is destroyed (Rev. 19), is Satan still alive? Yes!
- Was Satan then cast into the abyss? Yes!
Verse 19: "All who know you among the people shall be astonished at you; you became a terror, and you will not be anymore." This reminds me of Hitler and Mussolini. Same thing!
- Where is the inspiration of Satan coming today? In the USA!
- What are we doing? The same thing Hitler did! Same thing Stalin did! Same thing Lennon did!
Scriptural References:
- Matthew 13:11-15
- Revelation 20:1-3
- Romans 6:23
- Ezekiel 28:16
- John 8:44
- Ezekiel 28:1-2, 11-18
- Isaiah 14:12-16
- Revelation 19:20
- Revelation 20:1-3
- 1 Peter 3:18-20
- 2 Peter 2:4
- Revelation 20:4-12, 15
- Matthew 25:41
- Psalm 82:6-7
- Hebrews 2:14-18
- Ezekiel 28:18, 16-19
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Revelation 9
- Ezekiel 37
- Malachi 4:1-3
- John 10
Also referenced:
The 14 Rules of Bible Study (Appendix A in The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version).
FRC: po/bo
Transcribed: 10-30-17
