Revelation 12:10
Man and angels worship the Lord.
Nehemiah 9:6 says
You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You. (NKJV)
The concept of Earth must be understood from the perspective of Heaven – not from man’s perspective. Please allow me to explain systematically.
Rarely does one consider that Heaven and Earth were a tandem creation. Earth was created in the first cosmic day along with Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens and all the angelic hosts. The Bible often refers to Heaven as the “Mountain of God” or “God’s Holy Mountain”. If we look closely, we will see that the Earth was once connected to this Mountain of God by a sort of staircase. This passageway is where angels ascended and descended. God created man from the Earth and brought him up the mountain to a tend a garden that He planted there. Man was created in glory, walked, and conversed with God in the cool of the day and even dwelt among the holy angels. God thought so highly of His creation that He gave Adam and Eve dominion over the earth he created (below His Mountain) and told them to rule over it.
What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor! You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep, and oxen — even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. Psalms 8:4-8 (BSB)
Man was truly adored and loved by the God of Creation. Man was crowned with glory! According to Gen. 1:27 God made man in His own image. While that sounds very important -what does it really mean?
It means that mankind has been created to represent God on the earth. God deliberately created mankind to rule the earth and all that was in it, and to accomplish God’s purpose. He created mankind as His own representation, making them his co-regents or deputized rulers on the Earth.
A Jealous Cherub
We see that God created the hosts of Heaven before He created the earth as we read in the book of Job.
“Where were you (Job) when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. To what its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:4,6-7 (NKJV)
The hosts of Heaven or angelic creatures were witnesses to God creating the Earth that was positioned just below His Holy Mountain and they continued to watch Him create all that was within the Earth, even the man, Adam. According to Genesis 2:8, the angels were present when the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, and there He placed the man whom He had formed.
They were witnesses to God’s declaration that both Adam and Eve were made in His own image and they heard Him charge the humans to rule over the Earth in the sovereignty of God’s will.
Remember, Eden was not on the earth but above it on the Mount of God (Heaven). I can see God forming man on the earth from the elements of its foundations then bringing Adam up the staircase to the garden that He especially planted for him. God breathed life into the man creating him to live forever in glory and shining brightness.
Now among the Heavenly hosts there was a commanding cherub named Lucifer. The book of Ezekiel lays out a very succinct portrait of this beautiful creature. “You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering”
Yes, Lucifer was in the garden on the Mountain of God. We can determine by linking this text with the Genesis account that this cherub was in Eden with Adam and Eve before he rebelled and fell.
You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So, I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So, I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings…. ” Ezekiel 28:14-17 (NIV)
It appears the beautiful cherub thought God’s creation, man, was not suitable to bear God’s image on the Earth and rule over it. Knowing he was of higher authority, wisdom and beauty, pride gave way to jealousy and deception as the creature confronted the pair in the garden.
Lucifer is called “a snake” in Genesis 3:1. The Hebrew word nachash does not mean reptile as it is understood in English but rather it is an idiomatic word that means deceiver or cunning one.
So, we see rebellion against God first showing up in Lucifer in the garden of Eden. Ezekiel 28:1-10 reveals the thoughts of the deceiver’s heart as he declares in verse 2, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods.
These words mirror what Paul says about the “Man of Sin”
…who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 2 Thess. 2:4 (NASB).
So, Lucifer, now known as Satan (the adversary), deceived man into betraying God, proving them to be unworthy to be called the image of God on earth. He, therefore, conquered them and took their possession (the Earth and its dominion) as a spoil. He proved to God that he was the victor over man as Adam and Eve bowed to his instruction rather than God’s. The deciever was driven from the mount of God and thrown to the earth. Man, likewise, was banished, lost his glory, the stairwell to Heaven was disengaged and man was barred from entering. When man fell, he lost his way and was now subject to the rule of the angel that led the rebellion.
Satan Sets Up a Dark Kingdom
Now the prince of this world has been given dominion over this present age. He has set up principalities and rulers over regions of the conquered earth.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
But God does not leave us alone completely. He has a plan to redeem man back unto Himself, give His creation power to navigate through the dark ruling kingdom and then ultimately restore all things back to Divine perfection as it was originally intended.
His first order of business was to call a divine council meeting with these new fallen rulers of Earth. God, as a righteous judge, oversaw the process of determining the boundaries and limitations that these angelic creatures legally obtained through man’s acquiescing to Hasatan.
Remember the days of old, consider the years for past ages: ask thy father, and he shall relate to thee, thine elders, and they shall tell thee. When the Most High divided the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. And His people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, Israel was the line of His inheritance. Deuteronomy 32:7 (BST)
Notice that God made an allotment for Himself, a future nation, His own inheritance that would eventually (through the covenant with Abraham) bless and bring salvation to all nations. We know that He assigned the arch angel, Michael to be the guardian over this special nation. (See Daniel )
But during the time of Job (before the coming of the Redeemer and the power of the Holy Spirit) the inhabitants of the earth were subjected to the ruling powers of the fallen angels who were but still under the watchful eye of the Heavenly Court. Therefore, Hasatan came and stood before the judge of Heaven to accuse man, thereby finding legal grounds of torment and destruction.
So, as the elemental spirits ruled in ancient times, we are privy to a conversation that ensued between God and Hasatan during one of the Divine councils when God called the son of God to assemble before Him. It was though God was boasting about a particular man who did not succumb to the temptation to bow down to these elemental spirits but rather worshipped the Creator of the universe.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.” Job 1:6 (NKJV)
The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But reach out with Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your [g]power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.” So, Satan departed from the presence of the Lord Job 1:8-12 (NAS)
Because Job worshipped God instead of the powers of the air, he had God’s blessing intervening and overriding the evil spiritual government of Earth. Yet, the earth belonged to Satan and the evil prince pressed his right to impose his “wares” upon Job.
Temptation, self-indulgence, and pleasure are the “wares” the prince of darkness peddles in his kingdom on earth. His subjects, however, are also victims of his violence. Satan brings with him sickness, death, destruction, and calamity. Man is constantly bombarded by his hatred as the accuser goes before the council of God and gloats over the failures of man’s lack of “righteousness”.
One important thing we must recognize however from the story of Job is that God set a limit on what Satan could do. This shows that there are boundaries to Satan’s authority in this world, and he cannot act outside of the will of God.
Job realizes he cannot question the divine works of God. God is actively pursuing His plan. We also must realize that nothing is lost in God even though there may be trials to test our faith. His plans are to renew and restore. He’s our vindicator and righteous judge. We must be patient and endure until the end until He repays and establishes righteousness in all the earth. Keep the faith, don’t waiver because whatever you have lost will be restored. Do not be discouraged or dismayed.
Rest assured the days are coming. He will bring all enemies under His feet. Everything the enemy has stolen from you will be paid back seven times. Even your children. Trust Him. Again, I say the Day of Restoration is coming!
Many pray in faith for God to intervene not only in their personal lives but for all of mankind. The Psalmist in desperation makes a plea to God to deliver the earth quickly from the fallen angelic dominion.
God has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods He holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. Psalm 82:1-5(RSV)
The Earth is only temporarily shaken. God is not unjust. Time will prove that. Therefore, He says be patient until the end. You will receive what He has promised. God has always had a plan to win back the world and its dominion from the evil one and to overturn the curse of death passed down from Adam and Eve – spiritual and physical death. He loves his creation and has revealed a three-phase plan of rescue in His Word.
God’s Three Phase Plan of Rescue
- Redemption from our sinful Adamic nature through His Messiah, Yeshua.
- Power from on High by the giving of the Holy Spirit to His reborn saints in order to wage warfare with this present darkness and the elemental forces that have taken residence. It is by this means spirit-filled believers can navigate through this unrighteous world system of satan.
- Judgment of satan and those who have aligned themselves with him and the restoration of all things – even the whole Earth as He merges the physical world back to the Heavenly state as it was in the beginning.
Phase 1 – Sending the Redeemer to Save All who Turn to Him
God physically came into this world in the form of the second Adam to correct the mistake of the first Adam. Satan realized Yeshua had come for the kingdom that Adam gave away so he tried the same tactic as he did with the first Adam. Deception.
And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I want. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” Jesus replied to him, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” Luke 4:5-8 (NASB)
Even when satan entered Judas and orchestrated a plan for Yeshua’s arrest, scourging and crucifixion, the Son of God willingly went along and suffered in order to overcome the power of death that was the actual curse of Adam. Yeshua says to His disciples before He was arrested:
“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in me.” John 14:30 (NKJV)
Because of the redemptive work of Christ, His children are now born again into the 2nd Adam. We are new creatures in Christ, born again in Him (by trust) and are set free from the curse of sin and death brought by the first Adam. If we die, our spirit goes immediately into the presence of God (outside of time) and awaits the resurrection of the body (that appears to be asleep in the process of time). If we are still alive at the time of Restoration we are changed (glorified) and united with all the glorified saints of Heaven who’s bodies have been awakened and restored.
He [God] made you alive together with him [Christ], having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through him. Colossians 2:13 (NASU)
[Christ] who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God. Angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to him.
1 Peter 3:22 (NKJV)
Phase Two -The Giving of the Spirit
Born again believers, in order to live and navigate in the fallen world have been given a “helper” who is the Holy Spirit. He inhabits man in His inner being. Believers operate in the power of the Holy Spirit and Ha satan has nothing over God.
There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, there is no council against Adonai. Proverbs 21:30
Concerning the Spirit inside of us:
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
…the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church (born of the Spirit) the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 3:9-11 (RSV)
It’s interesting to note that Paul compares the new believers (who are now inheritors to the kingdom of God) to children who will one day receive an inheritance from their earthly father but until that time they are under the oversight of “trustees”. He is likening this concept to the current “overseeing rulers of darkness”.
…the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So, with us; when we were children (before Christ), we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe (RSV) Galatians 4:1-3
Back Sliding
The apostle Paul has a message to those who once believed in God’s Messiah but because they gave into the temptation to the prince of this world, they have back slidden into their old ways re-subjecting themselves to the principalities of this world.
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits, whose slaves you want to be once more? Galatians 4:9 (RSV)
Backsliding has been a weakness in God’s children as we see in this account of the children of Israel going back to worship these fallen angels:
So, they [Israel and Judah], left all the commandments of the LORD their God, made for themselves a molded image and two calves, made a wooden image and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 2 Kings 17:16 (NKJV) See also 2 Kings 21:3.
Phase Three – The Judgment and Restoration
God all along had a plan of rescue. He is now about to perform His final phase.
…That He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things, about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times. Acts 3:20-21
So, when Phase three begins here is what will happen. God will separate those who are His from those who refuse Him. (wheat from tares – sheep from goats). The believers will be translated into Heavenly clouds of glory to wait until His wrath passes (See Isaiah 26:30). He will battle Satan who will embody the one world leader. All the armies from the nations who curse and judge God’s nation where He chose to place His Name and His throne will be gathered in one place. (God judges the nations by how they treated Israel) He will smite them with the brightness of His coming and will conquer them in the battle called Armageddon. The rulers and principalities of darkness will be not hold on to their positions of power any longer.
For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. Hebrews 2:5 (NKJV)
God had already declared to these angels, who have been unjustly ruled the nations, what their outcome will be:
I say, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like men, and fall like any prince.” Arise, O God, judge the earth; for to Thee belong all the nations! Psalms 82:6-8 (RSV)
The Restored World to Come
Just as the Psalmist above speaks of the eventual fate of these heavenly princes, the prophet Isaiah reveals more about their coming punishment:
So, it will happen in that day, that the LORD will punish the host of heaven on high, and the kings of the earth on earth. They will be gathered together like prisoners in the dungeon and will be confined in prison; and after many days they will be punished. Isaiah 24:21-22 (NASU)
Matthew reports this:
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Matthew 24:29 (NKJV)
Once God judges and separates His people, He will send His wrath upon the anti-Messiah leader, the fallen ruling angels and all the kings and nations that obeyed the kingdom of darkness as they went to battle against God and His Holy city, Jerusalem. Then comes the Restoration as God connects the Earth back to the Holy mountain. We will watch as God’s Heavenly City comes down and the two shall once again become one as it was in the beginning.
“Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” John 12:31 (RSV)
Now it will come about that in the last days, The Mountain of the House of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. Isaiah. 2:2 (NAS)
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the LORD. Isaiah. 11:9 (NLT)
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)
Job finally realized God’s plan was a wonderful mystery that was beyond his limited human ability to understand. This too, we must come to understand. That all will be restored. We are to endure and be patient until God has put every enemy under His feet, defeating Satan and restoring His Kingdom with man as co-heirs once again.
CONCLUSION
The Bible gives quite a bit of information about Ha satan. To understand the truth, all the information must be pieced together. First and foremost, we must understand that God uses all things to bring about His will – even Satan. Though Satan is currently the “god” of this world and is the highest-ranking evil spirit-being having authority over the fallen angels and the demons still in the end, Messiah will return as King of kings and subjugate all these creatures and those who won’t submit to God’s authority. Their punishment will be age-lasting destruction and refinement within the lake of fire. All creation will be physically redeemed from death. Mankind will obtain the promise of his inheritance that is the Earth as all the righteous will be revealed as the sons (and daughters) of God.
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:19 (NAS)
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign till He has put all enemies under his feet. (NKJV) I Corinthians 15:24
All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; all their host shall fall down as the leaf falls from the vine, and as fruit falling from a fig tree. (NKJV) Isaiah. 34:4
In the Heavenly court of Heaven, Ha satan, the accuser has been relentlessly bringing before the overseeing Judge the guilt and sin of every person alive requesting to grind them as wheat like they deserve according to God’s Word.
But we have been given an advocate, Yeshua, who objects and declares that the wages of the sins of the saints have been paid in full and that they are acquitted. Yeshua speaks for all those who trusted in God’s plan for the Redemption, Power and Restoration including Job and all those who believed the promise.
God has nothing to prove to satan. He has already spoken His Word. We know the outcome. God’s KINGDOM will come. Job gets his family and fortune back. And you also will get back all you have lost. Have faith, trust in the Lord’s plan of Restoration. Endure! Persevere! God will prevail!
