Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
What it means to be initiated into the secret of the mystery. Part 62. The deception of the ruler of this world.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
GEN 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
GEN 1:1 - the universe, the heavens and the earth, were originally created as the domain of the angels.
REV 12:4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars [angels] of heaven,
As part of God’s judgment against Satan and the rebellious angels, the planet was enshrouded in darkness.
“Was” - Qal imperfect - hayah = “became” - it became formless and void.
DEU 32:4 “The Rock! His work is perfect,”
MAT 5:48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Formless and void = tohuw waabohuw
ISA 24:1 Behold, the Lord lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants.
Tohuw waabohuw - same as GEN 1:2.
GEN 1:2b “and the Spirit of God began to move over the surface of the waters.”
Man’s occupancy on the earth came long after the creation of the earth.
Man’s occupancy on planet earth did not last too long before Adam and the woman fell and then Satan became the ruler of the world again.
a. Satan is the enemy of Israel.
b. Satan is the enemy of all unbelievers, 2CO 4:3-4.
c. Satan is specifically the enemy of the Church, the Royal Family of God, the new spiritual species, the body of Christ, because God has done more for the individual believer in the Church-age than ever before.
d. Satan is the enemy of the Church-age believer, 2CO 2:11, EPH 6:10-12, 1PE 5:6-9.
e. Satan is opposed to Bible doctrine. He is always trying to distort it or distract us from it, MAT 13:9,39.
f. Satan is the enemy of the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union, REV 12:4.
g. Satan is the chief antagonist in the extension of the angelic conflict into human history, Heb 1-2.
h. Satan is the enemy of nationalism, which he often opposes with internationalism.
His warfare is based on deception.
When he is able to attack, he may appear to be unable; especially when things are going right and we are being blessed by God.
When we are being blessed by God, it is not time to sit back and relax but to build and prosper,
2CH 14:7 Asa said to his people, “While we have the chance and the land is quiet, let’s build a solid defense system, fortifying our cities with walls, towers, gates, and bars. We have this peaceful land because we sought GOD; he has given us rest from all troubles.” So they built and enjoyed prosperity.
When using their forces, they must seem to be inactive.
When they are near, they must make the enemy believe they are far away.
When they are far away, they must make the enemy believe they are near.
Satan and fallen angels are the enemies of the believer, 1TI 5:14-15, 1PE 5:8.
1PE 5:8 Be stabilized, be on the alert, your enemy the Devil, prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
Satan, as the ruler of the world, knows how to wear down the saints, distract them and tire them out, until emotion supersedes thought, DAN 7:25.
The reversionist, though used by Satan, is the enemy of both Satan and the advancing believer.
One of Satan’s most successful tactics is to defeat the enemy without even fighting.
EPH 6:11 “Hold your ground against the strategies of the devil.”
EPH 6:13 “Hold your ground in the day that evil attacks you”
JAM 4:7 “Submit therefore to God [execute the PPOG] Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
1PE 5:9 “But resist the devil by being firm in your doctrine”
Sun Tzu - If you are near the enemy, make him believe you are far from him. If you are far from the enemy, make him believe you are near.
To fight and conquer all your battles is not the ultimate victory; the ultimate victory consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without even fighting.
If your enemy makes you believe that he is not your enemy or that he does not exist, then he already has a tremendous advantage over you.
Any area that you are not stable in doctrinally, is an area open to deception.
Verse 8 - “be of a sober spirit” = being self-disciplined and organized.
Verse 8 - there is a parallel between our Lord delegating authority in the human race, and Satan “prowling around” and delegating authority to disembodied spirit demons.