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<\/p>\nCHAPTER III<\/p>\n
GOD’S MORAL GOVERNMENT<\/p>\n
God is a moral being. By the term moral I am not indicating the opposite of immoral. Rather I am using it in the philosophical sense of indicating a being who is self-conscious, and who has the power of free choice and will. He is not coerced, nor forced by anyone or anything. He is an absolute sovereign who exercises Himself in accordance with His will and good pleasure. But we know that He always makes His choice according to the dominant characteristics of His being, namely, in harmony with His truth, love, and holiness. Being a moral sovereign, He has an ethical government.<\/p>\n
Naturally in bringing into existence creatures dependent upon Himself, He would stamp their personality with His own individuality. This thought expressed in biblical terms is that God created them „in his own image“ (Gen. 1:27). We have every reason to believe that He stamped the personality of all His moral creatures with the crowning characteristics of individuality, freedom of the will, and the power of choice. Proof of this proposition is seen in the fact that the anointed cherub did exercise his freedom of choice, and pitted his will against that of the Almighty, and consequently was deposed from his high position of being „the anointed cherub“ or „the cherub that covereth.“ Those angelic hosts that followed his example were likewise held responsible for exercising their wills against that of the Almighty. The same thing was true with reference to man–as we shall see later.<\/p>\n
That God has a moral kingdom is evident from the following quotation:<\/p>\n
19 Jehovah hath established his throne in the heavens;
\nAnd his kingdom ruleth over all.
\n20 Bless Jehovah, ye his angels,
\nThat are mighty in strength, that fulfill his word,
\nHearkening unto the voice of his word.
\n21 Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts,
\nYe ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
\n22 Bless Jehovah, all ye his works,
\nIn all places of his dominion:
\nBless Jehovah, O my soul (Ps. 103:19-22).<\/p>\n
According to this statement of Scripture there is some locality in the universe which is called in the original language „the heavens, of the heavens“ which we may speak of as „the immediate presence of God,“ and which is declared to belong to Jehovah: „The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah …“ (Ps. 115:16). It is in this place where God’s throne is established. He is there enthroned, the Absolute Monarch of the universe.<\/p>\n
All space, our conception of which is ever enlarging in the light of modern discoveries,\u00b9 is within His kingdom. He holds absolute sway and power everywhere.<\/p>\n
There was a time when the Triune God alone existed. As the ages of eternity rolled on and on, this omnipotent Jehovah created the material universe, as we see set forth by His own declaration in Job 38:1-6:<\/p>\n
Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
\n2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel
\nBy words without knowledge?
\n3 Gird up now thy loins like a man;
\nFor I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
\n4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?
\nDeclare, if thou hast understanding.
\n5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest?
\nOr who stretched the line upon it?
\n6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened?
\nOr who laid the corner-stone thereof…<\/p>\n
When He thus brought into existence the material, physical universe, the angelic hosts, whom He had created before this time, shouted for joy: „When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy!“ (Job 38:7).<\/p>\n
This verse proves positively that the celestial beings were created prior to the material universe.<\/p>\n
We are scriptural in coming to the conclusion that there are ranks and orders of the heavenly hosts. Proof of this position is seen in the fact that there was but one „anointed cherub.“ In an examination of Ezekiel 28:1-19 we find that in the first ten verses of this chapter the prophet was speaking to the literal king of Tyre of his own day. But in verses 11-19 obviously his vision was enlarged, and he was given a view of the primitive earth and of him who is known in other portions of the Scripture as „the god of this world“:<\/p>\n
11 Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou wast in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was in thee; in the day that thou wast created they were prepared. 14 Thou wast the anointed cherub that covereth: and I set thee, so that thou wast upon the holy mountain of God: thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till unrighteousness was found in thee. 16 By the abundance of thy traffic they filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore have I cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I have destroyed thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I have cast thee to the ground; I have laid thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 By the multitude of thine iniquities, in the unrighteousness of thy traffic, thou hast profaned thy sanctuaries; therefore have I brought forth a fire from the midst of thee; it hath devoured thee, and I have turned thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the peoples shall be astonished at thee: thou art become a terror, and thou shalt nevermore have any being (Ezek. 28:11-19).<\/p>\n
Though the prophet still speaks of and to the king of Tyre, verses 11 and 12, it is evident that the description far transcends the personality and the role of any mortal man. He was righteous when created and continued in this condition for ages–until unrighteousness\u00b2 was found in his heart. He is called the „anointed cherub“ and „the cherub that covereth.“ He walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire (vss. 14-17). As the anointed cherub, he was upon the holy mountain of God. The stones of fire here referred to can be understood by a glance at Ezekiel, chapter 1. In this passage the prophet was given a vision of the throne of Jehovah\u00b3 upon which one like unto a son of man was seated. This throne upon which Jehovah was seated was placed upon a pavement which, in turn, was resting upon the stones of fire. It becomes evident from the reading of this passage that this cherub was occupying the highest position in the universe under the Triune God.<\/p>\n
Moreover from verse 12 of Ezekiel, chapter 28, we learn that he was the very embodiment of wisdom and was perfect in beauty. Of him it was said that he sealed „up the sum“ or pattern. The significance of this statement is that this being was the highest creature whom God could bring into existence. There was therefore none other like him.<\/p>\n
In various passages of Scripture we read of the cherubim. This word is the plural of the noun, cherub. They are associated very closely with the throne and the presence of God and with the tree of life. Their first appearance upon the historic scene is recorded in Genesis 3:22-24:<\/p>\n
„22 And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever–23 therefore Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.“<\/p>\n
Here we read the account of God’s dispatching certain cherubim with a flaming sword to keep the way of the tree of life. In the most holy place of the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple, forms of cherubim were made and placed upon the mercy seat. Likenesses of them were inwrought into the curtains and tapestry of the most holy place.<\/p>\n
Since there was one anointed cherub and there were also the cherubim, we may conclude that the anointed cherub was the generalissimo of the hosts of the Lord, and that the cherubim, though of similar species with their generalissimo, were nevertheless under him. For a fuller description of the cherubim read Ezekiel, chapters 1, 10, and 11.<\/p>\n
In Isaiah, chapter 6, we read of seraphim who constantly sing the triple holiness of God and look forward to the time when the whole earth will be filled with His glory. These celestial beings have six wings each.<\/p>\n
6 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory“ (Isa. 6:1-3).<\/p>\n
In Revelation, chapters 4 and 5, we see living creatures in the presence of God who are engaged in singing the same song, and who, like those which Isaiah saw, have six wings. We are logical in identifying the living creatures of the Book of Revelation with the seraphim of Isaiah’s vision. We are also correct in concluding that they–the seraphim–are superior to the ranks and orders of angels.<\/p>\n
There are also those celestial beings, who are called angels. We read of the seven angels that stand before the throne of God: „And I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets“ (Rev. 8:2). We also learn of Michael, the archangel who stands for the Jewish people: „And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people“ (Dan. 12:1). The Scriptures have much to say of the hosts of angels. In Daniel 7:9,10 we get a wonderful vision of the myriads of those who will attend the judgment scene when the Almighty pronounces sentence against the Antichrist in the future. In Psalm 103:19-22 also we see vast hosts of them.<\/p>\n
From the data which we have seen, we are logical in concluding that there was a great spiritual hierarchy under God consisting of the anointed cherub, the cherubim, the seraphim, and all ranks and orders of angels. For the sake of clarity and visualizing the situation, we may think of various planes or levels, upon which the different creatures were placed by the Lord. In speaking thus, I am thinking in material terms. With this mode of expression let us think of the anointed cherub, the generalissimo of the Lord’s hosts, as occupying the highest plane–next under the Godhead in authority, might, power, and dominion. On the same plane, but lower in rank and in order, are the cherubim. On a lower plane let us think of the seraphim. Then on a plane underneath that on which the seraphim are located are the various ranks and orders of angels. Finally, on a still lower level than the one on which the angels stand is man, who was created in the image of God–made a little lower than the angels. In the scale of living creatures the animals are on a still much lower level than man. But of course they cannot in anywise be compared to him who, according to Genesis 1:26, was created in the image and likeness of God. A conference in the Godhead was held and a decree was issued that the persons of the Godhead, after having created the animals, would bring into existence a new type of creature, who should be made in their image and likeness. This creature was man.<\/p>\n
When anyone looks at the Hebrew word bara‘ (which, when translated, means create) in all of its appearances, and notes its significance in each case, he sees that it connotes the bringing into existence of a being of an entirely new type, which is different from all preceding species. This fact shows that man did not evolve from any of the lower forms of life, but that he was the result of the direct creative activity of the Almighty.\u2074<\/p>\n
Men are different from, though lower than, the angels, who do not propagate their species. „And Jesus said unto them, The sons of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35 but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection“ (Luke 20:34-36). But man was given the power to perpetuate his kind–to beget sons and daughters in his own image, thus to engender offspring having immortal spirits, who must spend eternity somewhere. What a tremendous responsibility the possession of the power to engender these immortal spirits lays upon man! No wonder God is very explicit in instructing man regarding the marriage relationship.<\/p>\n
Having glanced at the citizens of the great kingdom of God, from the anointed cherub down to man, we see that all were given that priceless endowment of freedom of choice and the exercise of the will. Let us represent the ability to make choices by the following graph:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the center of the horizontal line is the zero point, through which a vertical line passes. To the right are the innumerable choices that God’s creatures can make. They can select that which is good, that which is better, or that which is best. Moreover, they can choose that which is poor, or poorer, and still again that which is poorest. In making these various choices, they can still remain on the right or positive side of the zero point. So long as they stay thus to the right side of the zero, they are still exercising their priceless faculty, the power of choice, the freedom of the will, and yet are still within the will of God.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, they can cross over the zero point to the left, choosing to do that which is bad, or that which is worse, and finally that which is worst of all. Of course the moment they, figuratively speaking, cross the zero point to the negative side, they are pitting their wills against God’s and are no longer within the limits of His will–hence they are out of fellowship with Him. But in their crossing over and making choices that are contrary to the will of God, they are still exercising the God-given faculty of choice with which they were divinely endowed. Though they cheat themselves out of fellowship with Him in whom they live, move, and have their being, and cast His blessings from them. He is forced, under the regime which He has instituted, to allow them to continue to exercise their choices contrary to His will. Should the Almighty circumvent any of His creatures the moment that such a one crosses over the zero point to the left side and goes contrary to His will, the Lord would cease to be the reasonable, rational being that He is and would become a despot, acting contrary to the foundation principle upon which His government is built, namely, the self-determinative choice of free beings. In thus repressing such free action of His creatures, God would destroy fundamentally the foundation of His entire regime. His whole kingdom would thereby be thrown into chaos. For this reason He permits all His creatures who cross the deadline over into the forbidden land of rebellion against His expressed will to continue to live and to carry on their own activities as free beings, exercising their God-given faculty of choice.<\/p>\n
By their crossing over the boundary line which separates the territory of the divine will from that of opposition to Him, they wreck their intellectual and spiritual natures to such an extent that they are in opposition to all that is good and holy and are henceforth unable to submit themselves to the desires and purposes of the Almighty in His development of „the plan of the ages.“ This fact is seen by a glance at the anointed cherub, together with all whom he influenced to cross over the borderline. We see that this creature was changed into the inveterate enemy of God. He became entirely possessed by wrath toward God and all that is holy, true, and pure. Every time he does anything, he is motivated by sinister desires and acts in direct opposition to the will of God. The same thing is true of those fallen spirits who followed his leadership, and of whom we read throughout the Scriptures. Man in his fallen state is of a similar attitude, for the Apostle Paul declared that „the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be …“ (Rom. 8:7). From all this data we can see that all of God’s creatures, whenever they cross the deadline into the forbidden territory, wreck their spiritual nature and become obsessed, more or less, with a diabolical hatred of God and His will.<\/p>\n
As just stated, whenever they cross over into the forbidden territory, they are disqualified for doing the will of God. He can no longer use them in His original number-one plan for them. This is true of both men and of angels. Whenever they thus disqualify themselves for doing His will within the realm of righteousness and justice, the Lord still uses them, or rather overrules their actions and makes whatever they do contribute to the advancement of His plans and purposes. He makes even the wrath of man to praise Him:<\/p>\n
„Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee:
\nThe residue of wrath shalt thou gird upon thee“ (Ps. 76:10).<\/p>\n
The Scriptures are abundant in their testimony concerning the purity and the holiness of God. Being a holy creature, He could not and would not create any evil, in any form. This fact is evident from the further fact that His very nature revolts at the least taint of unholiness. We may therefore conclude that the entire universe which was created by this Holy Being was free from the least taint of that which is unholy. „Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempteth no man“ (James 1:13). Though God did not create evil in any form, we see the evidence of its presence throughout the world. From what source did it originate? My answer is that the anointed cherub who pitted his will against that of the Almighty is the author of this evil power, or force, which we call sin and which has contaminated and corrupted the world and all things therein. Can Satan create anything? Most emphatically, no. God alone is asserted in the Scriptures to be the one who is able to create; that is, bring into existence that which had no prior form nor substance before the specific act of creation. Every time the word translated create is used in the active voice, God is the subject. He therefore is the one and only one who can create.<\/p>\n
In this connection it is highly important that we learn what we can about this one who has wrought such havoc throughout the universe. Without this knowledge a person cannot understand what is constantly going on in the world.<\/p>\n
The Scriptures are a progressive revelation; that is, they often mention a doctrine by giving a mere suggestion or hint at some fact in its first appearance in the sacred record. Later on, when the demand arises for a further revelation on the same subject, additional light is given. Thus the disclosure concerning the doctrine in question is a gradual growth. It therefore becomes necessary for anyone to trace a given doctrine from its first mention through the Bible in order that he might get the full and complete picture of that which is taught.<\/p>\n
The first allusion to him who is known in the Scriptures as Satan, the adversary, and the devil is found in Genesis, chapter 3. In this basic passage we learn that the serpent, who was wiser than all the beasts of the field, approached Eve in such a conniving and subtle manner that she was deceived and was thus led to disobey God. The result of the fatal step, which she took in partaking of the forbidden fruit, was the fall of the human race and the coming of the curse upon the earth.<\/p>\n
When a person understands man’s original position of supremacy and authority over the earth, the fowls of the heavens, and the beasts of the fields; and when he recognizes the terrific consequences of this one act of disobedience, he immediately becomes apprehensive of the presence, power, and activity of one greater than a literal serpent. An unsophisticated person–who has no theories to support and no preconceptions to uphold–immediately senses the fact that the one causing such a world-shaking and history-making calamity on this occasion was some sinister being with a gigantic intellect, cunning, and power far superior to those of man, who was behind the scenes, and who was directing that first great act of the tragic drama of human history. The keen Bible student senses and recognizes the presence of such a creature in this record, accepts unquestioningly this fact, and searches for more light on the subject.<\/p>\n
Confirmation of this hypothesis is found in the fact that, after Adam’s disobedience and consequent fall, the Lord God „drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life“ (Gen. 3:24). This new situation demanded the placing of the mighty cherubim–the highest order of celestial beings created by the Almighty–together with the flame of a sword at the east of Eden to keep the way of the tree of life lest man in his fallen condition should put forth his hand, take of the tree of life, and live forever. His thus becoming immortal in his present corrupt state would have doomed the entire race, all of his progeny, to utter condemnation for all eternity. Hence man was driven out of the Garden, and a contingent of powerful cherubim (cherubs) was assigned to the position of guarding the entrance to the tree of life. Why such a powerful safeguard with the flame of a sword? Certainly such a force was not required to prevent Adam and Eve’s approaching the tree of life and partaking of its fruit! There were good and sufficient reasons for the Almighty’s calling forth such a formidable array of power to do duty on this occasion. The necessary inference suggested by all the facts is that there was an opposing hostile host that might launch an attack to force an entrance to the tree of life. That there is such an archenemy of God and man, who has a vast army of servile spirits at his command, we learn from other portions of the Word of God. That this vast host was threatening the situation on this occasion is demanded by all the facts presented in Genesis, chapter 3.<\/p>\n
It is true that the Lord God Omnipotent could have used His mighty power and eliminated all possibility of any further rebellion. But under His moral regime He would not handle the case thus. On the contrary, He acted in accordance with the great fundamental principles upon which His government is established.<\/p>\n
We generally speak of this great enemy of all good by the name appearing in the Hebrew text by which he is called–Satan. This name is a general term that indicates simply an adversary. The one who opposed another was–whether he was good or bad–in the original Hebrew usage called a satan, an adversary. This word finally took on a more specific meaning and became the usual name of one who opposes. In the process of time, however, it became more specific and developed into a proper name. It appears in this category in II Samuel 24:1ff and I Chronicles 21:1ff. These two passages are parallel accounts of the same event. In the Samuel passage Jehovah is said to be the one whose anger was kindled against Israel, and who moved David against the people, causing him to number them–to take a census of the nation for determining how many were eligible for military service. In the Chronicles account Satan himself is represented as standing up against Israel and moving David to take this census. Each of these passages supplement the information appearing in the other. By taking both together we see that God, the Sovereign of the universe, was stirred to anger against Israel because of their sin and moved David to do that which brought punishment upon the disobedient people. But the Lord Almighty used Satan–who is always ready at hand to do such things and to pervert all good, if possible–in moving David to do this thing which was in disobedience to God. God was, of course, behind the scenes, using Satan who likewise stood behind as an invisible actor in this drama. David accepted Satan’s suggestion and numbered Israel. What anyone does through his agent or servant, he himself does. Since the people of Israel stirred up the wrath of God against themselves, the Almighty had to punish them. Both David and Israel were out of fellowship with God at that time; both therefore had to be punished. One sin, unrepented of, calls for another. To number Israel for military purposes on this occasion was an act of distrust in God. David had, at that time, through his sins unrepented of, wavered in his spiritual life. He ceased trusting God as he usually did and looked to the arm of flesh for deliverance. Since he was in this condition, the Lord allowed Satan to move him along the same groove into which he had fallen–to meet the problems of his day in his unbelief and his trusting the arm of flesh. God took him where he was, allowed him to go on in his self-determined manner, and punished both him and Israel for their disobedience. In thus dealing with them, the Lord used Satan.<\/p>\n
An excellent example of God’s using men, who are out of fellowship with Him or who do not know Him, is found in Deuteronomy 13:1-5.\u2075 The false prophet in this passage against whom God gives this warning is certainly an Israelite, for he arises out of their midst. Being a false prophet, he assuredly is out of fellowship with God. He may be able, by a spirit of divination, to give, as his credentials, a sign or wonder, which actually comes to pass.<\/p>\n
The fact that his prediction comes to pass is no guarantee that he is sent by God. The people are warned to examine carefully the message of every prophet. If he is trying to get them to forsake Jehovah their God and to go after other gods, they are to recognize the fact that he is false, and that the spirit working through him is of the evil one. They are therefore to turn from him and to put him to death.<\/p>\n
In giving this warning, the Lord revealed the fact to Israel that He would use such imposters to prove His people–to demonstrate whether or not they really and truly love Jehovah their God. He would not move men to become false prophets and to dabble into the occult. When, however, they of their own volition do descend to that plane, the Lord uses them in forwarding His plans and purposes for blessing others. „Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee …“ (Ps. 76:10). All who remain faithful and true to God are always used of Him in a higher and a holier way. For all who love Him and are called according to His purpose, He works all things together for good (Rom. 8:28).<\/p>\n
From the book of Job we learn much about Satan. The data found throughout that book unquestionably reflect Patriarchal Times. We therefore are forced to believe that Job, the hero of the narrative, and his friends lived in the times reflected by and echoed in the book–most probably in the days of Abraham. But the philological and syntactical data of the book, together with other evidence, point to the period of Solomon as the probable time of the writing of the book. The Spirit of God therefore came upon the human author, brought before him the scenes and the conversations recorded in the book, and enabled him to give us a faithful and true account of what might be termed the greatest epic of a human soul of the ages.<\/p>\n
In this Book of Job we see the next reference to Satan, who is there definitely designated as the adversary–the adversary of both God and man. In the beginning of the prologue, chapters 1 and 2, we learn that Job was a perfect man and one who worshiped God sincerely. He was a man of great wealth. We next catch a glimpse of the throne of God in the heavens of the heavens. To the Almighty seated in majesty on His throne, the sons of God came and gave accounts of their ministries in the various portions of the universe. Among them came Satan, who, seemingly, had just arrived from the earth. The Lord asked him concerning Job and how he was faring. The devil, in his characteristic manner, began to hurl insinuations at him and to question his integrity and honor. „And he [Job] still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movest me against him, to destroy him without cause“ (Job2:3).<\/p>\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n
\u00b9 Men of science are expecting great revelations never dreamed of before to be made by the great telescope which has just been dedicated at Mount Palomar, California.<\/p>\n
\u00b2 The overthrow of the anointed cherub and the original kingdom over which he reigned in the Eden of God is recounted in verses 11-19. We probably shall not be far from the truth if we connect this event with the wrecking of the earth as is recorded in Genesis 1:2: „And the earth became a desolation and a waste“ (lit. trans.). But Ezekiel 28:18,19, has probably a double reference and speaks also of another overthrow of this same anointed cherub (who since his original rebellion and overthrow is known as the Devil), which will be accomplished at the end of the Tribulation when the Antichrist and his kingdom are overthrown. This position seems to be required by the use of the future tense\u2014“the peoples shall be astonished …“<\/p>\n
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone: 21 and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh (Rev. 19:19-21).<\/p>\n
\u00b3 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in\u2014the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, 3 the word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah was there upon him. 4 And I looked, and, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with a fire infolding itself, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst thereof as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire. 5 And out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man; … 25 And there was a voice above the firmament that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.<\/p>\n
26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above. 27 And I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of his loins and upward; and from the appearance of his loins and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him. 28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake (Ezek. 1:1-5, 25-28).<\/p>\n
\u2074I believe the Scriptures to be the infallibly inspired Word of God. They teach the doctrine of God’s creative activity in bringing in both plant and animal life. They affirm that He by special acts created the various species. At the same time I am thoroughly familiar with the evolutionary hypothesis, which, though it is admitted by its leading exponents to be an unproved theory, is taught as a scientific fact.<\/p>\n
That it remains an unverified theory is evident from a glance at the article, „Evolution of Man,“ in the Encyclopedia Britannica (ed., 1943), written by Sir Arthur Keith, M.D., F.R.C.S.. D.Sc., F.R.S.<\/p>\n
In the introductory paragraph he quotes approvingly from Sir E. B. Tylor the following statement made in 1910: „In one form or another such a theory of human descent has, in our time, become part of an accepted framework of zoology, if not as a demonstrable truth, at any rate as a working hypothesis which has no effective rival.“ Sir Edward Tylor died in 1917, „convinced that, as a working hypothesis, the doctrine of evolution had no rival.“<\/p>\n
Sir Arthur does not, in so many words, attempt to lift the theory out of the category of hypothesis and to place it upon the firm basis of an established scientific fact. He presents certain data from different spheres and interprets the facts as supporting the theory. The evolution of man from lower forms of life is therefore held by many as an hypothesis. The Scriptures, however, are clear in their teachings regarding man’s being created by a special act of the Almighty.<\/p>\n
There are many sane and scholarly volumes which show that the theory of evolution is still an unproved hypothesis. The student should, if interested, study the facts as they are presented by the opposition.<\/p>\n
\u207513 If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams: for Jehovah your God proveth you, to know whether ye love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after Jehovah your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee“ (Deut. 13:1-5).<\/p>\n
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The Lord gave Satan permission to strike at Job, but each time He laid certain limitations upon him. In doing so, He placed barriers before the devil beyond which he could not go. From Luke 22:31,32 we learn that he requested permission to sift the Apostles as wheat–to bring upon them certain trials; but the Lord Jesus made supplication that their faith might not fail. The Lord always limits Satan’s activities, not allowing him to tempt the saints above what they can stand or endure. In the case of Job, Satan therefore left the presence of God and came to the earth. Immediately he stirred up different groups and tribes, who started out in marauding bands, and who robbed Job of all his property. Finally, Satan used the elements in bringing about the destruction of his children.<\/p>\n Thus in this prologue of the Book of Job, chapters 1 and 2, we are taken behind the curtain which separates the visible world from the invisible and observe Satan as an actor who is permitted by the Lord God Omnipotent to interfere with human life and activity–under certain conditions and within defined limits.<\/p>\n In Job, chapters 40 and 41, we read of behemoth and leviathan. Of the former the Lord declared: „He is the chief of the ways of God: He only<\/i> that made him giveth him his sword“ (40:19). Concerning leviathan, He also said: „Upon earth there is not his like, That is made without fear. 34 He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride“ (Job 41:33,34). In view of these two statements it is clear that, though the Lord did use these terms that were generally applied to actual sea monsters, He was not here–as the facts of the context reveal–speaking of literal animals. They therefore are used symbolically. Under such symbolism the Lord spoke of this creature who was the first being whom the Lord God Almighty brought into existence. This one is so very mighty, powerful, and wise that there is no one upon the earth with whom he can be compared. When these facts are weighed in the light of other Scriptures dealing with the same subject, it becomes evident that Satan, of whom we read in Job, chapters 1 and 2, is the one who is thus pictorially represented in the epilogue of the Book of Job.<\/p>\n In Zechariah 3:1-5\u00b9 we read of Joshua the high priest–of the days of the restoration from Babylonian captivity–who was standing before the angel of the Lord, and who was opposed by the adversary Satan, the devil. An examination of the facts of this passage shows that Joshua in this vision is presented in his official capacity as the high priest of the Jewish nation. We therefore must not interpret this vision as a personal matter, but as one presenting a national situation. The high priest therefore represents the nation of Israel. Satan is especially hostile to God’s Chosen People and is accusing them before the Lord.<\/p>\n Joshua, as we see from the passage, is clothed in filthy garments. Satan is hurling every insinuation and accusation against him, but nothing that he does or says can turn the Lord against His ancient people.<\/p>\n Finally the Lord instructs those who are standing by (the angelic hosts) to remove the filthy garments of Joshua and to robe him with the clean, holy garments of rich apparel. This symbolic act signifies the removal of the iniquity of the nation of Israel at the time here foreseen.<\/p>\n There can be no doubt that this opponent of Israel of whom Zechariah speaks is none other than the adversary, the devil, who is presented to us in the Book of Job.<\/p>\n In the New Testament revelation we get much information concerning this one, which supplements our knowledge gained from the Old Testament. We learn from Matthew 4:1ff and Luke 4:1ff that at the beginning of our Lord’s ministry Satan appeared to Him and subjected Him to the severest tests possible. But Christ repelled every attack and was preeminently victorious.<\/p>\n From our Lord’s teaching we learn that Satan is a powerful, sinister being, who has a kingdom of servile malignant spirits under him. These he has organized into a well-ordered government. That the opposition with which the child of God is confronted is terrific may be seen from the following:<\/p>\n 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, 19 and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak (Eph. 6:10-20).<\/p>\n Suffice it to say, by way of a summation, that Satan is a personal, mighty, powerful, and wise being, who is opposed to God, man, and all for which they stand. Though he is very powerful and cunning, he is not omnipotent; nor, omniscient; nor, omnipresent. He is subservient to the Almighty and must get permission from Him before he can ever touch any of the saints of God.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n „And though this world, with devils filled, Satan would have men to doubt and to deny his own existence and personality. He forever plays the role of deception and lying.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n „His craft and power are great, If he can deceive men to believe that there is no such being as he, he has scored a great victory that gives him untold advantage over those who are thus deluded.<\/p>\n May we, one and all, seek to know the teaching which God has given us concerning this conniving spirit. May we, as the inspired Apostle Peter urged us, „Be sober, be watchful,“ and resist the devil, strong in our faith, in order that he may flee from us (I Pet. 5:8,9). „Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you“ (James 4:7).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n „Did we in our own strength confide, (Martin Luther.)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n After this seeming digression–which was made necessary by the important bearing that the subject matter therein discussed has upon the theme of human redemption–I shall now resume the discussion relative to the origin of sin.<\/p>\n Since unquestionably sin is in the world, since Satan did not create this force, or power, and since God most obviously did not create it, whence came it? To answer this question, we must take a glance at the universe, which consists of the material cosmos with its complement, or counterpart, the invisible realm of ethereal substance. The non-material substance that is unseen by the human eye is as real as the material physical world. Science has proved that there are basic fundamental principles and laws that control all matter of a material nature. It also has established beyond peradventure the proposition that there are likewise laws that control the unseen sphere. We have every reason to believe that both the seen and the unseen spheres of creation are different in some respects and similar in many others.<\/p>\n Approaching the less-known from the well-known in this investigation, let us note the fact that all material substances are governed by principles or laws imposed upon them by the Creator himself. Men have learned many of these laws of the various substances and have combined them in such a manner as to bring about results which these basic elements could not otherwise accomplish. For instance, man, by his research, has learned unknown principles concerning matter and has produced „a heavier than air machine“ which can fly and which appears in the form of the modern aeroplane. In chemistry the scientist has learned the fundamental properties of the various elements, each element having its own distinctive characteristic and property. Some of these are helpful to man, whereas others are injurious to him. There are those elements that would be deadly to man if taken alone, but when combined with other primary elements, they are most beneficial for man’s well-being. The exact opposite of this likewise is often true with reference to other elements.<\/p>\n I am strongly inclined to believe that Satan intruded himself where he should not and took these forces, good and useful in their proper place as ordained by God, and combined them in such a way as to make a different power altogether. Such an unauthorized combination or manipulation of these forces resulted in the destructive power which in the Scriptures is called sin. This power of sin is as much a force as any of the forces or laws which God made originally and with which Satan did not tamper. This corrupting, destructive force has spread and permeated the entire universe. There is therefore nothing throughout all His domain, as Bildad said, that is pure in His eyes: „Behold, even the moon hath no brightness, and the stars are not pure in his sight: 6 How much less man, that is a worm! And the son of man, that is a worm!“ (Job 25:5,6).<\/p>\n This deadly force of sin existed in the universe prior to the creation of Adam. The Lord, knowing that this power existed and that it would be detrimental to man’s well-being, warned him not to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil lest he come in touch with this deadly power which would result in death to him. I might illustrate this by a warning placed in prominent places where there are live wires–high voltage. The electrical companies putting up the signs know that, if the individual should touch such live wires, he would be instantly killed. God in a manner similar to this warned Adam about this deadly power which existed, and which would result in his death. Thus this destructive power of sin has remained in the universe and has been operative from the moment that Satan combined these forces in this deadly union. Someone may ask why did not the Almighty immediately step into the picture and right the wrong which Satan accomplished and rearrange things according to the original plan. My answer to this question comes in the form of this counter question: When man disobeyed God and thus allowed this deadly power of sin to come into the human realm and to corrupt man’s nature and bring all the evils that it has, why did not God banish or suppress this evil and make the proper readjustment then? The facts lead one to believe that under God’s moral government such a procedure would have been contrary to the fundamental foundation principles of a divine regime. Had it been logically possible for God to right the wrong at that time, He certainly would have done it. „Shall not the judge of the whole earth do right?“ (Gen. 18:25). From the prophetic word we know that He eventually will, at the conclusion of the Millennium, eliminate the power of sin from the world. The fact that He does not remove it until that time is proof that it was not logical for Him to do so–under the divine government.\u00b2<\/p>\n Satan, as we have seen, by his pitting his will against God, corrupted his own nature. When he, the anointed cherub, thus fell, he no longer could be trusted to perform the duties which he had prior to his rebellion. He lost his excelling beauty, as we see in Ezekiel, chapter 28. He ceased to be the generalissimo of the heavenly hosts. He could still be used on the negative side and could execute the wrath of God against sin which he had introduced into the world. From the time of his fall to the present, he has been the minister of death–designated not arbitrarily, nor for some special cases, but universally–to execute the wrath of God in administering the death sentence. That he is still the minister of death is affirmed in the following quotation: „Since then the children [humanity] are sharers in flesh and blood, he [Christ] also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had\u00b3 the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage“ (Heb. 2:14,15). The execution of the death penalty is as much the judicial exercise of the wrath of God as it is the exercise of the God-hating power of Satan by means of sin, which he has transmitted to men, and which they cherish. „The soul that sinneth it shall die“ is the divine decree against sin. Satan therefore executes this sentence.<\/p>\n The anointed cherub, occupying the position which he held when iniquity and unrighteousness first entered his heart, brought sin into the world. The presence of sin breaks all fellowship and communion with God, the source of all life and light. Since it was by Satan’s iniquitous act that sin entered the world, and since sin separates the creature from God, Satan therefore held the power of death over all men until Christ died on the cross. Potentially He brought to nought Satan’s power over the death of the believer.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05d5 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05de\u05b4\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05e2\u05b5\u05e5\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05d2\u05bc\u05b8\u05df \u05d0\u05b8\u05db\u05b9\u05dc \u05ea\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05db\u05b5\u05dc\u05c3 \n „16 And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die“ (Gen. 2:16,17).<\/p>\n Death, as just stated, primarily means separation. When it applies to man, it indicates separation from God, the source of both physical and spiritual life. Man began to die the day on which he, as we shall presently see, partook of the forbidden fruit. Physical death set in, preying upon his body. On that very day he was driven out from the tree of life and from fellowship and communion with God. Death in these forms will culminate in eternal separation from God, unless the individual is restored to fellowship with Him by the removal of sin–that which causes death. As to the angelic hosts that sinned, there seems to be no provision made for restoration to the divine favor and fellowship. According to Hebrews 2:16 God does not give help to angels, but to man. It is quite possible that the reason for the angels‘ being beyond redemption is that they had the full light of truth, crossed over the line into the land of disobedience with the exact knowledge of the consequences, and transgressed with a high hand.<\/p>\n We have seen that God has brought into existence His various creatures and placed them, figuratively speaking, on different planes, on which they are supposed to live, move, and have their being as free agents under Him. So long as they remain upon the level on which they were created, they can continue without being removed from their position–until they reach the point that they can no longer function as free agents. As proof of this proposition let us note the antediluvians. According to Genesis, chapters 6-9,\u2074<\/span> the human family, though knowing God originally, refused to glorify Him as God, neither were they thankful; but, refusing to retain Him in their knowledge, they turned their backs upon Him and went with self-determination to seek their own pleasure and destiny. By the time of Noah, the tenth from Adam in the theocratic line, the antediluvians had gone so far into sin that they had benumbed their faculties and sensibilities until the very imaginations of their hearts were only evil continually. „… because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened“ (Rom. 1:21). Everything, no matter how clean and pure it might have been, was suggestive of evil to them. Their minds and hearts were warped; their ideas distorted. It was impossible for them in such a frame or state of mind to function as free moral agents. God therefore had to step in and exterminate the entire race–with the exception of Noah and his immediate family–from the face of the globe.<\/p>\n As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the closing of this age. Vast hosts of the human family will refuse to retain God in their knowledge, will give expression to their own desires, and seek their own pleasures. In taking this attitude and pursuing such a course, they will wreck their spiritual and mental make-up to the extent that they will be unable to function as free agents. When that state is reached, there is but one thing that God can do, and that is to remove from the stage of human activity all who are in that condition. That many will reach that stage is evident from various passages of Scripture. Prophetic utterances on this theme point to the middle of the Tribulation as the date when vast hosts of mankind will have reached that state. When God’s creatures, including man, reach the stage where they cannot any longer function as moral free agents, the Lord, in order to maintain His government, must step in, remove all such from places of freedom of action and incarcerate them where they can no longer be a menace to those who seek God.<\/p>\n To leave the level on which God placed any of His creatures is to bring summary punishment and judgment upon such transgressors. As proof of this proposition, let us consider the sons of God of whom we read in Genesis 6:1-8, and who saw the daughters of men and assumed the forms of men in order to marry them. Who were these sons of God? An examination of the term, sons of God, in the Old Testament leads us to the conclusion that these were angels. A careful study of Job, chapter 1 and 38:7\u2075<\/span>, which are quoted in the accompanying footnote, proves the correctness of this identification.* Those who came to earth and married the daughters of men are called the Nephilim, the fallen ones. The root form from which this word comes means to fall.<\/i> There sprang from these unholy unions a race of giants. It was this invasion of the human realm by these fallen angels that precipitated the Flood. God would not brook such wanton, willful, deliberate rebellion against His will. He therefore had to exterminate the antediluvians and to incarcerate those fallen ones, where they could no longer plunge the world into a state of chaos. These are referred to in the following passages: „Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, 20 that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water“ (I Pet. 3:18-20). „For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly …“ (II Pet. 2:4,5).<\/p>\n Jude speaks of these very ones in his Epistle: „And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire“ (Jude 6,7). Note the fact that certain angels „kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation“ (vs. 6). These, like the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, gave themselves over to fornication and went after strange flesh–flesh that was different from their own nature. In going after this strange flesh, these angels descended to the human plane and committed fornication. As punishment they were removed from the earth and were incarcerated in the pit of the abyss, awaiting the day when God’s judgments shall fall upon them. From this case we see that leaving the plane upon which one is placed by the Creator and descending to a lower level is such a violation of the fundamental basic principles of the divine moral government that the Almighty is forced into immediate and drastic action for the removal and also for the incarceration of the transgressors. Such exercise of judgment is necessary to maintain the existence and dignity of God’s dominion.<\/p>\n Footnotes:<\/p>\n \u00b9 3<\/b> And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel Jehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary. 2 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan; yea, Jehovah that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take the filthy garments from off him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee and I will clothe thee with rich apparel. 5 And I said, Let them set a clean mitre upon his head. So they set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments; and the angel of Jehovah was standing by (Zech. 3:1-5).<\/p>\n \u00b2 Does not the Scripture state that God creates evil? Yes, this fact is stated in Isaiah 45:7: „I form the light, and create darkness; and I make peace, and create evil; I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things.“ A glance at the word translated evil in this passage shows that it is used to refer to calamities and judgments, as well as to moral delinquencies and failures. Here opposites are contrasted. Light is the opposite of darkness; peace is put over against evil. By this arrangement, it is clear that evil is thought of here as the opposite of peace, namely, war. The prophets constantly spoke of God’s bringing wars upon nations as punishment for their sins. Thus evil is used here in this manner. A careful survey of the Scriptures shows that there is not an utterance on the sacred pages that even implies that God is the author of evil, or sin.<\/p>\n \u00b3 The Greek is in the present tense–has.<\/p>\n \u2074<\/span> 6<\/b> And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all that they chose. And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not strive with man for ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years. The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them: the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.<\/p>\n And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah\u2026 (11) And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.<\/p>\n And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch… (17) And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is in the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons‘ wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.(Gen. 6:1-8; 11-14; 17-19)<\/p>\n 7<\/b> And Jehovah said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee seven and seven, the male and his female; and of the beasts that are not clean two, the male and his female: of the birds also of the heavens, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground. And Noah did according unto all that Jehovah commanded him.<\/p>\n And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons‘ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.<\/p>\n (17) And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both birds, and cattle, and beasts, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. (Gen. 7:1-7; 17-22)<\/p>\n 8<\/b> (4) And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen…<\/p>\n (15) And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth from the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons‘ wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee of all flesh, both birds, and cattle, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. (Gen. 8:4,5; 15-17).<\/p>\n 9<\/b> (8) And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you. Of all that go out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of the flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.<\/p>\n And the sons of Noah, that went forth from the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah: and of these was the whole earth overspread. (Gen. 9:8-19)<\/p>\n \u2075<\/span> There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east. And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them. And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil. Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made a 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 thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face. And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah. And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them; and the Sabeans fell upon them<\/i>, and took them away: yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped; and he said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (Job 1:1-22)<\/p>\n When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:7)<\/p>\n * In the Old Testament the exression, „sons of God,“ occurs in only three passages: Gen. 6:1-8; Job, chap. 1; and Job 38:7. The term, „sons of the living God,“ appears in Hosea 1:10.<\/p>\n It is clear from the context of Hosea 1:10 that the term, the sons of the living God, is found in a prediction, which awaits its fulfillment, and that it refers to men. But in Job, chapter 1, and also in Job 38:7, it is equally clear that „the sons of God“ can be interpreted only as designating angelic beings. The question arises regarding its meaning in Gen. 6:1-8. Some scholars understand that these sons of God, who married the daughters of men, were the descendants of Seth, and that the daughters of men were the progeny of Cain. If such is the correct interpretation of the terms, the language is strange; for no other passage can be cited which yields this meaning. The facts of the context must aid in determining its meaning.<\/p>\n As given in the text above, the supernatural elements of the Genesis context point very definitely to the idea that these sons of God were the angels that kept not their estate but left their proper habitation in their lust for strange flesh–flesh strange to their own nature.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n The anointed cherub who is now known as Satan, the devil, has never left the high plane upon which he was created to descend to a lower one, although he rebelled against the Almighty. But there are predictions that he will do that which is probably equivalent to such a thing. In the prophetic word we know that the one who is called the Antichrist, the false messiah, will appear and will gain the imperial purple of world-dominion. He will reign with almost an absolute hand during what is known as the Tribulation the last seven years with which the present dispensation closes. In the middle of this period, the devil will dominate the Antichrist–probably as he did in the case of Judas (John 13:1f.)–energizing him henceforth. The Apostle Paul refers to this unusual spiritual phenomenon in II Thessalonians 2:8,9: „And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming; 9 even he,<\/i> whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders …“ The Apostle John in the Book of Revelation, chapters 13 and 17,\u00b9 likewise refers to the same thing. Satan gives life to the body of the false messiah who is slain, raises it from the dead, and becomes his absolute master. All the servile fallen spirits will follow his leadership. Thus these who rebel against God’s authority in doing these things which I have just enumerated put themselves beyond the limits of His moral government. The Almighty will then be forced to deal drastically with them and the world situation when this occurs.<\/p>\n We may now summarize the facts which we have gathered in this section of our discussion concerning God’s moral government. The omnipotent God created different types of beings, enduing each with the power of free choice. He created a sphere or a plane upon which each type should live, move, and have its being. If His creatures remain upon the level where they are by divine appointment placed, God cannot, in maintaining His moral government, interfere and deal drastically by removing them, although they may have stepped over on the negative side of His will and sinned against Him. When these rebels, however, thus keep not their own principality, but leave their proper habitation, He no longer is bound by the principles of His government to permit them to function and to continue with their nefarious activities. Moreover, whenever men, knowing God, refuse to retain Him in their knowledge and plunge into rebellion and disobedience until the very imaginations of their heart are only evil continually, they cease to be qualified to act as free moral agents. Whenever any of God’s creatures reach such a point, He must, in maintaining His moral government, step in and remove the rebels, incarcerating them where they can no longer be disturbing agents in His government.<\/p>\n Certain fallen angels and the people of Noah’s time finally reached the point where God could not tolerate their activities. He therefore brought the Flood and removed them from the stage of activity. Satan, his evil spirits, and men who rebel against God will likewise reach the limit of God’s moral government and will step over and go beyond these boundaries by the time the middle of the Tribulation\u00b2 is reached. God, therefore, in order to maintain His moral government, must intervene and put a stop to such a disordered chaotic civilization. That the Lord will, at the end of the Tribulation, destroy all the wicked of the earth who survive the ordeals coming upon it to that time, is foretold in the following passage:<\/p>\n 3 <\/b>This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and– in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance; 2 that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles: 3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they wilfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God; 6 by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men (II Pet. 3:1-7).<\/p>\n Then Satan and his hosts, together with the wicked ones of the earth, will be gathered in the pit of the abyss, which will be sealed over them for a thousand years:<\/p>\n 20<\/b> And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:1-6)<\/p>\n During the reign of our Lord the world will be free from the machinations of Satan and his cohorts of evil spirits.<\/p>\n For good and sufficient reasons known to the Almighty, He will unloose Satan at the end of the thousand years for a little season. This short period will pass quickly. Then death and Hades will be abolished. Satan, with all the evil spirits and lost men, will be incarcerated in the lake of fire where they will be forever and ever.<\/p>\n 7 <\/b>And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up over the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10)<\/p>\n This final act will bring to a close that portion of eternity which we call time. Then the new and eternal heavens and earth, together with the eternal Jerusalem, will come into existence. „And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more“ (Rev. 21:1). Sin, Satan, and all evil will thus be banished from God’s universe, never to reappear anywhere throughout the ceaseless ages of all eternity. Of course all the wicked men and rebellious angels will remain incarcerated in the place of their punishment forever and ever. But they will never be able to exert any influence in God’s government of the universe after that.<\/p>\n As stated above, there is no hope and no redemption for the fallen angels. Since man was tricked and led into disobedience and transgression against God by the devil, the arch enemy of both God and man, there is hope for man. It is by means of redemption, as we shall learn, that man may be rescued from the terrible plight in which he has become involved. But in working out a scheme of redemption for man, the Lord must respect the fundamental principles of His moral regime. He must also have respect to man’s nature as a free agent.<\/p>\n Having seen God’s moral government and the fundamental principles underlying it, we are now in a position to step forward and to consider man in this moral regime of the Almighty.<\/p>\n Footnotes:<\/p>\n \u00b9<\/span> 13 <\/b><\/span>And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast; and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? And who is able to war with him? and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain. If any man hath an ear, let him hear. If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed. And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men. And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived. And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image to the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead; and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six. (Revelation 13:1-18)<\/p>\n 17<\/b> And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters; with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication. And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication, and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come. Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth: and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while. And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition. And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast. These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire. For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished. And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:1-18)<\/p>\n \u00b2 The Tribulation is a period of seven years with which the present Age of Grace closes, and during which God sends His purging judgments upon the world:<\/p>\n 14 The great day of Jehovah is near, it is near and hasteth greatly, even<\/i> the voice of the day of Jehovah; the mighty man crieth there bitterly. 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high battlements. 17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he will make an end, yea, a terrible end, of all them that dwell in the land (Zeph. 1:14-18).<\/p>\n 8 But all these things are the beginning of travail. 9 Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name’s sake.<\/p>\n … 21 for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.<\/p>\n … 29 But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matt. 24:8,9,21,29-31).\n
\nShould threaten to undo us;
\nWe will not fear, for God hath willed
\nHis truth to triumph through us.
\nLet goods and kindred go,
\nThis mortal life also;
\nThe body they may kill:
\nGod’s truth abideth still,
\nHis kingdom is for ever.“ <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\nAnd armed with cruel hate,
\nOn earth is not his equal.“ <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\nOur striving would be losing;
\nWere not the right man on our side,
\nThe man of God’s own choosing.
\nDost ask who that may be?
\nChrist Jesus, it is he;
\nLord Sabaoth is his name,
\nFrom age to age the same,
\nAnd he must win the battle.“<\/p>\n
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