SABBATH THOUGHT 2022-06-11—A WORLD DECEIVED
May God bless you on His Sabbath day!
Satan is the name of the wicked god of this world. It is a Hebrew word that means adversary or opponent. He is also called the Devil—diabolos in the Greek—meaning slanderer. He is also variously called the Tempter, Prince of Demons, Beelzebul (meaning “Lord of Flies” or “Lord of Dung”), and Father of Lies. The Bible describes him as a serpent-like being:
REVELATION 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, the ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, who is deceiving the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
When the earth only consisted of two people, Satan came to Eve having the form of a serpent with legs. The Greek word for ancient can also mean original. I have wondered if he appeared in that form either because it fit his own self-image or because God forbade him to take the form of a man and he chose the serpent. Regardless, the Bible never really describes his physical appearance aside from that of a serpent or dragon. Here is the best detail we have:
REVELATION 12:3 And another sign was seen in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads;
Satan was originally a cherub and Ezekiel provides us with details of their appearance. Cherubim look “like burning coals of fire” (Eze. 1:13), so red is a dominant color. Seven heads are possibly unique to Satan because other cherubim are described as having four faces (Eze. 1:10-11). Why does Satan have seven heads and other cherubim seemingly one? No one knows.
There is little reliable information about dragons. There are, however, many pictures, paintings, and sculptures. From these, there are a few things that seem to be a common theme. Many times they are depicted as a serpent with legs. This fits with the original description of the serpent in Genesis 3 before God cursed it to crawl upon its belly (Gen. 3:14). Dragons are usually portrayed with wings that are also a feature of cherubim (Eze. 10). This fits since Satan was a cherub at the throne of God (Eze. 28:14-16). Many pictures of dragons show a skull with prominent horns, also consistent with the description of Satan. Knowledge of ancient people and their evil practices was transmitted across the great flood and Ham and his wife were likely the source of much of it, so the paintings and sculptures we see today likely have a basis in reality.
Buildings throughout the world, whether ancient or modern, are dominated by “artistic” displays of serpents, dragons, pagan gods, gargoyles, and many other terrible beings. Visitors to historic homes of the ultra-wealthy find these are common centerpieces that adorn their structures and gardens. In fact, for all their wealth, they proudly decorate them with all manner of evil icons and pagan sculptures. Even their paintings, especially family portraits, include medallions, coat-of-arms, or societal memberships that have a basis in evil leagues and organizations. I challenge anyone to show me a family of great wealth and power whose buildings feature anything but evil works of art.
Did you know that 20 out of 45 U.S. presidents were known members of one or more secret societies, including George Washington? They were members of the Freemasons, Order of Odd Fellows, Flat Hat Club Society, Skull & Bones, Order of Hoo-Hoo, Order of the Red Friars, etc. Does God do anything in secret? No! There is a difference between a society that has limited membership and a secret one. Limiting membership to gender, age, or common interests or activities is not necessarily evil; however, a secret one is obviously doing things they do not want to publish.
ISAIAH 29:15 Woe to those who go deep to hide their purpose from the LORD! And their works are in the dark, and they say, “Who sees us? And who knows us?”
The sad part is many of them know that “the triumphing of the wicked is short” (Job 20:5) but still refuse to turn to God and rather suffer the poverty and trials of this life so they can have the hope of eternal life.
Excluding Saul, David, and Solomon who were kings over all 12 tribes of Israel, there were only seven of the twenty kings over Judah that were righteous before God. Two others, Joash and Amaziah, while not entirely evil had many failings. In contrast, all nineteen kings over the ten tribes were evil. Not a single one was called righteous by God. Moreover, their legacy continues for all of the nations descended from Abraham today. We have been ruled by wicked men from our beginnings and today is no exception. The sole reason for whatever we might call “good” where we live is because God was merciful in fulfilling His promises to Abraham.
George Washington belonged to a secret evil society and, even though he fought to establish the U.S., God ensured that everything he did brought about His promises to Abraham. Men such as these were much like Balaam who was forced to bless Israel even though he desired to curse it. Regardless, they are all either deceived or in full knowledge of their wickedness.
We like to imagine that the country we live in was founded on the righteousness of God, but the reality is quite different. Visit any historic home or building and you will see magnificent displays of opulence. Guides will tell the stories of how the elite built their wealth. I have not heard of a single one who established their life by good and righteous works to God. It seems most visitors are so distracted by the “shiny” things of the homes and monuments that they cannot see or just ignore the evil in them. Today, many statues of leading men and women as well plaques with Bible verses are being removed or destroyed. Do these same people demand the estates and monuments built by those who worship Satan be torn down? No! The nations who are supposedly “under God” continue in the ways of the evil kings of the ten tribes. Worse yet, they not only glorify their handiwork but continue to build even more.
From the time of the apostles, the mission of what is now the Catholic Church has been to destroy the first century Christians and their descendent believers. Have you wondered why they do not openly continue their persecution of Christian organizations today? Is it because the world is more civilized? I think not. While the bloodshed actually continues in parts of the world today, I think the Catholic Church is satisfied that few of the world’s corporate church organizations keep the seventh-day Sabbath. Because it is the sign of God’s covenant people, they are satisfied to allow, at least for now, the world to call the first day of the week (Sunday) their “Sabbath.” This narrative also fits with the Muslim countries who keep the sixth day of the week (Friday). Curiously, Muslim was started with the approval of the Catholic Church and they still have a close relationship behind the scenes to this day. Of course, other so-called religions such as Shintoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. have no Sabbath day at all. As long as the world rejects the Sabbath, Satan and the Catholic Church are content to leave them alone in their deception and lies.
In concert with the Catholic Church are the ultra-wealthy and powerful who are not ashamed to display their loyalty to Satan in all of their dwelling places. Oddly enough, very few of these people (none that I know about) ever promote the theory of evolution. Could this be because they know it is a false teaching and that God created everything? Satan certainly knows it because he witnessed it. Would followers of Satan deny it since he can attest to God’s creation? I have found that scientists who believe in evolution are the most ignorant of all people—they reject any idea of a spirit realm. If you have ever been around such people, you do not have to wait long for them to talk about their great accomplishments, promoting themselves above all others. They are consumed with their own pride.
ROMANS 1:22-23 While professing themselves to be the wise ones, they became fools 23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed creatures, and creeping things.
The last part sounds like evolution in several regards. They think that mankind, made in the image of God, evolved from “creeping things.” I love that phrase because, for all their smugness, they still proudly proclaim they came from the lowest of life forms. I have worked with a number of “wise ones” who reject any idea that God exists. They truly believe the physical world is all there is, so evolution is the “religion” that satisfies them. The Catholic Church does not put much effort into denying it because Satan would rather have them believe in nothing than the true God.
The reality is that Satan has deceived the entire world (Rev. 12:9). Not some or even most of it—all of it; except for the Catholic Church and the few ultra-powerful elite. For them, nothing need change as long as the world worships God on any day but the seventh-day Sabbath or rejects God very existence. As long as those are true, the Satan has achieved his goals.
Most concerning is that believers often have a world view that does not reflect the extent to which this world has been corrupted by Satan. The reality is that the majority of people are deceived. While the Bible is freely available to the world, they receive the truth of God’s word built upon lies of Satan—just like Eve did. The great lie about the seventh-day Sabbath is a barrier to true knowledge and understanding of salvation. It is the key to all things pertaining to God, which is why it was the very first thing God taught the ancient Israelites. It came in the form of a lesson that they were taught every week for forty years with the manna. God emphasized the Sabbath 2,080 times over the majority of their lifetime through the most basic of human needs—physical food. However, Satan’s influence is so powerful that he caused them to forget the Sabbath in a short time. If nothing else, I hope you have a greater appreciation for the power of Satan’s ability to deceive. Though the wicked of this world loudly proclaim their evil through their statues and works of art, the world does not even question it much less denounce it.
Brethren, do not underestimate Satan’s power and influence upon this world. Pentecost is past but I hope you resolve to continue in the remembrance of that day. Pentecost is about our COVENANT of eternal life. It is when God instituted the new covenant when the Holy Spirit was given in 30 A.D. It will also be the day when the new covenant is fulfilled with the resurrection of the firstfruits of His children. I pray you continue in these things—always:
MALACHI 3:16-18 Then those fearing the LORD spoke together, each man to his neighbor. And the LORD listened and heard. And a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared the LORD, and for those who thought upon His name. 17 “And they shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “in the day that I will make up My own special jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” 18 Then you shall return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God, and the one who does not serve Him.
May God’s grace and peace be upon you!
Steven Greene
https://sabbathreflections.org