Part 3 (1/2)
12:2).
These judgments are made from the view-point of the purity and holiness of G.o.d. In His sight the highest moral, educational, and religious ideals that the unregenerate world can comprehend are but a part of the confusion and darkness of this age when coupled with a rejection of His testimony in regard to His Son as their atoning Saviour.
Thus, it is presented from the Scripture that the present age and its great federation is, in G.o.d's sight, most unholy.
Third, Satan is also set forth as having direct control of the physical well-being of his subjects, and at the same time as being able, by special permission, to gain access to the people of G.o.d: ”For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He (Christ) also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2: 14). ”How G.o.d anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all them that were oppressed of the devil; for G.o.d was with him” (Acts 10:38). ”And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” (Lu.
13: 16). ”And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear G.o.d for naught? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand” (Job. 1:9-12).
”Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: but I have made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren” (Lu. 22:31, 32 R.V.). ”And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure” (II Cor. 12:7).
By these pa.s.sages, the emphasis of Scripture on the power and authority of Satan in this age may be seen. And though the exact limits of his power under the restraining hand of G.o.d are not revealed, it would be unreasonable to deny that he is the G.o.d of this age, the head of the great world system; and, though all unknown to them, the director of the affairs of unregenerate men.
Fourth, The works of the Satanic order are clearly outlined in several descriptive pa.s.sages which also present that which is highest in ideal, and deepest in motive in the Satan energized ma.s.s of humanity. One pa.s.sage, alone, contains the entire revelation: ”For all that is in the world (_Satanic system_), the l.u.s.t of the flesh, and the l.u.s.t of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (Satanic system)” (I Jno. 2:16). The satisfaction of these same cravings was the temptation placed before Eve in the Garden: ”And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did give also unto her husband with her; and he did eat”
(Gen. 3:6). The real nature of these cravings is easily recognized as wholly self-centered and without thought of G.o.d or of any true character.
All ”wars and fightings” among men are only a natural result of the evil qualities of this great federation. Jesus said to Pilate: ”My kingdom is not of this world (_Satanic system_): if my kingdom were of this world (_Satanic system_), then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered unto the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (Jno.
18:36). It is a noticeable fact that the governments of the world depend upon physical power and a display of armament to maintain their position and authority, and the superior law of love does not seem to be adapted to, or understood by, the elements that make up the Satanic order.
Fifth, All earthly property is of the Satanic order, which property the believer may use, but must not abuse: ”But whoso hath this world's good (Satanic system), and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compa.s.sion from him, how dwelleth the love of G.o.d in him?” (I Jno. 3:17). ”And the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the l.u.s.t of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). ”But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world (_Satanic system_), as not abusing it” (I Cor. 7:29-31).
Sixth, The same world that crucified the Christ will also hate the saved one in whom He dwells: ”Marvel not, my brethren, if the world (_Satanic system_) hate you” (I Jno. 3:13).
Seventh, The impotency and limitations of the world order are most evident. Its leader, though mighty, is inferior to Christ: ”Ye are of G.o.d, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (_Satanic system_)” (I Jno.
4:4). Its knowledge and understanding are limited: ”Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of G.o.d; and such we are. For this cause the world (_Satanic system_) knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (I Jno. 3:1 R.V.).
”Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of G.o.d: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and He Himself is judged of no man” (I Cor. 2:14, 15, R.V.).
”There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after G.o.d” (Rom. 3:11). ”And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: in whom the G.o.d of this age hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of G.o.d, should not dawn upon them” (II Cor. 4:3, 4, R.V.). ”They are of this world (_Satanic system_): therefore speak they as of the world, and the world (_Satanic system_) heareth them” (I Jno.
4:5, R.V.). All the sorrow of this order is without hope: ”For G.o.dly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: But the sorrow of the world (_Satanic system_) worketh death”
(II Cor. 7:10, R.V.). And, finally, the whole order is temporal and pa.s.sing: ”But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pa.s.s away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (II Pet. 3:10). ”And the world (_Satanic system_) pa.s.seth away and the l.u.s.t thereof: but he that doeth the will of G.o.d abideth forever” (I Jno. 2:17).
Chapter V.
The Satanic Host.
Christ inferred, in one of His controversies with the Pharisees (Matt.
12:22-30), that Satan is a King; and as such is in authority over a kingdom. This particular discussion was in regard to the fact that Christ had healed one ”possessed with a demon, blind and dumb.” The Pharisees claimed that the demon had been cast out by Beelzebub the prince of demons, or the one whom Jesus, later in the narrative, calls Satan. The pa.s.sage is as follows: ”Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb; and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of G.o.d, then the kingdom of G.o.d has come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”
By this Scripture it may be seen that the kingdom of Satan is a host of bodiless spirits. Although their origin cannot be definitely traced, it is probable that they were created as subjects of Satan in the primal glory, as he, also, was created as their prince and king. Satan, being in authority over these beings, doubtless drew them after him in his sinful attempt to thrust himself into the place of G.o.d.
It would seem that Satan is in authority over two distinct orders of beings--the Satanic order of the earth, and the Satanic host of the air.
It is clear that he secured the scepter of government in the earth from Adam, by right of conquest: while his authority over the Satanic host is, undoubtedly, that which he has been permitted to retain from his creation. If Satan has thus kept his authority over these spirits from the beginning, it follows that they are in full sympathy with him and render him willing service. The following Scriptures emphasize the authority of Satan over these beings: ”And if Satan cast out Satan, how then shall his kingdom stand?” (Matt. 12:26). ”Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).
The reality and personality of this host of evil spirits is taught in Scripture; and a careful study of the numerous pa.s.sages in which they are mentioned will reveal how G.o.d has provided complete instruction in His Word concerning this theme on which so much of the believer's welfare depends.
These spirits are usually referred to in both the Authorized and Revised Versions of the New Testament as ”devils,” but the word might better have been translated ”demons.”
In considering the service these beings render to Satan, it is important to distinguish between demon possession or control, and demon influence.