We saw in yesterday’s blog the origination of evil – satan's demise. What caused it?
Pride: Isaiah 14:12-14 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." satan wanted the glory due only to God - pride.
Pride: Isaiah 14:12-14 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." satan wanted the glory due only to God - pride.
satan, who apparently was the chief of angels, desired to take God’s place, to usurp His authority. His pride and lust for power was the genesis of evil. He lost his position in heaven.
his demise: Jesus described satan’s fall in Luke 10:18: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven...”
In The Revelation to John, chapter 12 verses 7-9, satan’s demise is described: And there was war 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. (Verse 4 indicates that one third of the angels, called demons, were cast out with satan.)
satan’s Game Plan Has Not Changed
he still seeks to take God’s place of preeminence in our lives .1 Peter 5:8 explains: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
In The Revelation to John, chapter 12 verses 7-9, satan’s demise is described: And there was war 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. (Verse 4 indicates that one third of the angels, called demons, were cast out with satan.)
satan’s Game Plan Has Not Changed
he still seeks to take God’s place of preeminence in our lives .1 Peter 5:8 explains: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
"Spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. 2 Kings 6:15-19 gives us a peek into that invisible world:
The invisible world:
2 Kings 6:15-18 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
2 Kings 6:15-18 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
The invisible world is just as real as the visible world. And in that invisible world there is spiritual warfare - a cosmic conflict, that was described in Ephesians 6:12 - warfare against spirtual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Tomorrow's blog will begin with Jesus' contact with satan.
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