SATAN IS NOT CRUSHED OR DEFEATED

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SATAN IS NOT CRUSHED OR DEFEATED

By Ken Blue
Satan

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Romans 16:20.

Perhaps no other teaching about Satan misleads believers more. Satan is not defeated, nor was his head crushed at the cross. The above verse should make that clear to all who can read. Consider Paul who said, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed Into an angel of light.  Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:14, 15).  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9.

There are some who teach that Satan is now chained. If that be so, it is certainly a rubber chain. They preach that there is no need for us to resist one who is crushed and defeated. Don’t be naive or blinded by the teaching that Satan’s head is crushed, and that he has no power over you. That is just one more of his deceitful darts to hurl at the unsuspecting Christian.   

 

TO LOVE OR HATE THE SINNER?

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TO LOVE OR HATE THE SINNER?

HAVE YOU HEARD THIS NEW AND NOVEL TEACHING?…THE TEXT

Having lived 80 years and studied the Scriptures over 60 years, I never cease to be amazed at the new and novel teachings that come out every month. One such teaching is that God hates the sinner. The teaching is that the only place God loved the sinner was at the cross. Thus, God hated sinners before the cross and He hates them now. The Scripture cited to prove the hate doctrine is “The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” Psalm 5:5. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19. However, the teaching that God hates sinners is not only false; it leads to greater mischief and division within the body of Christ.

IF GOD HATES SINNERS, DOES IT JUSTIFY OUR HATRED TO BE GOD-LIKE?

I have witnessed several who have fallen for the hate doctrine. Their attitude reflects their false teaching. Their preaching and teaching shows their contempt and disdain toward the lost. However, if God hates sinners, it only stands to reason that to be God-like, we too must hate the sinner. That is the conclusion many who embrace the hate doctrine have come to and do manifest. 

HOW IT IS RESOLVED…? THE USE OF THE WORD “HATE.”

The word “hate” is used many times throughout scripture. Perhaps a look at some of them will help us understand its use.

See the example of Jacob hating Leah. “And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.” Genesis 29:31. Dake says, “To hate” is an idiom of preference, not hatred as we understand it. See note, Lk. 14:26. “Hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26 [An idiom of preference].

 

The example of Jacob and Esau and the nation of Israel long before the cross. “The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.  I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? Saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.” (Malachi 1:1-3). Dake notes. Lk. 14:25-27, not a term expressing personal malice or jealousy in the sense we’re familiar with. This is the sixth of twelve cases in Scripture where God made the choice of the younger over the older brother. Here it was because of the disposition and attitude toward Him. Esau was a fornicator and destitute of hunger for God in his life (Heb. 12:16-17), while Jacob was the type that loved the Lord and hungered to do his will.” (Not a term expressing personal malice or jealousy in the sense we’re familiar with.

The example of the rich young ruler. “And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” (Mark 10:20-21.) We can safely assume that if Jesus loved this sinner, so did God the Father.  

The example of direct statement that God loved us while we were yet sinners. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8.)

The example of hating father and mother. “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:2. a [hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple] An idiom of preference (Mt. 6:24; 10:37; Rom. 9:13; Mal. 1:2-3; Gen. 29:30-31; Dt. 21:15-17). One must prefer God or love Him more than all else to be saved (Mt. 22:37). “God first” is the motto of the Bible.”

 

DO THESE EXAMPLE DESTROY THE FALSE TEACHING TO HATE THE SINNER?

Anyone who will not hear the Word of God and rightly divide it will never be persuaded no matter the proof. We have quoted both Hebrew and Greek scholars. We have shown passages of Scripture that flatly destroy the hate doctrine. Will the argument convince those who embrace that false teaching? Perhaps not. However, we are witnessing the damage this false teaching is doing to the body of Christ. It causes those who teach it to display anger and hatred toward the lost. It fosters a spirit of superiority and pride, and it is a false doctrine no Bible believer should embrace or teach. It should be rejected by all willing to rightly divide the Word of God. Why would God tell us to love enemies and pray for then, if hates them? “ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

 

 

ISRAEL, MY SERVANT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

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ISRAEL, MY SERVANT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, others are called the servants of God. The context is the key.

The first few verses of Revelation are the key to the book. However, the book of Revelation is Hebrew and Jewish to the end.

“ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:1-3.

There are several factors that need to be noticed in the above verses.

  1. It is written to His SERVANTS. (God’s servants today are Christians, the Body of Christ. After the Rapture, The Jews will be His servants during the span of the book of   Revelation)
  2. The things in the letter were SHORTLY come to pass. (Over 2000 years have passed)
  3. John HAD SEEN the entire Revelation before he put a pen to the scroll.
  4. Blessings are promised to those that read and KEEP the things written to the servants.
  5. John repeats his warning FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND. (Over 2000 years have passed)  

 

THE GREAT FALLACY IS THAT THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS ARE WRITTEN TO THE BODY OF CHRIST, THAT THE RAPTURE TAKES PLACE IN CHAPTER FOUR. HOWEVER, VERSE ONE TO CHAPTER 22 IS TO ISRAEL. FALSE TEACHERS MUST CREATE A FALSE RAPTURE TO GET RID OF THE FALSE CHURCHES IN CHAPTER 1-3. THERE IS NO RAPTURE OF ANYONE BUT JOHN, AND HE IS CAUGHT AWAY INTO THE DAY OF THE LORD. AS EZEKIEL WAS CAUGHT UP AND TRANSFERRED TO JERUSALEM.  (And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.  Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.  And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, Ezekiel 8:1-3)

Since the book is to Jews the SERVANTS would Jews, as declared in the Old Testament.

 “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Isaiah.” 41:8

Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Isaiah 44:1

 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. Isaiah 44:21

 

 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Isaiah 49:3

 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. Isaiah 49:5

 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6

 

 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Revelation 1:1

 

 

 

THE DISPENSATION OF THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM –#7

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THE DISPENSATION OF THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM –#7

The dispensation of the millennial kingdom is described in Revelation and includes a 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth (Revelation 20:1–10). The main subject of the Old Testament and the four Gospels is the subject of the millennial kingdom.

The millennial kingdom is preceded by the rapture of the church and the seven-year tribulation.

The Resurrected Old Testament saints, the glorified Church, and survivors of the Tribulation and their descendants will be the managers of the Kingdom.

Time Period: From the second coming of Christ until the final rebellion, is 1,000 years.

Human Responsibility: Obedience, remain undefiled, worship Jesus  (“ And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” Isaiah 11:3-5.” And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” Zechariah 14:9).
The order of the government will be Jesus, King David, The Twelve and appointed Judges. (“ And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:13-16. “But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.” Jeremiah 30:9. “And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.  And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.”  Ezekiel 37:24-25. “ And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matthew 19:28.)

 Rebellion of sinful man following Satan’s release from the Abyss, sinful man rebels one more time “  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Revelation 20:7-9

Judgment: Fire from God; the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:9–15)

Grace: Jesus Christ restores creation and rules righteously in Israel, with all saints assisting (Isaiah 11:1–5; Matthew 25:31–46; Revelation 20)

The millennial kingdom is what is referred to in the Lord’s Prayer. (Matthew 6:9–10).

THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE #6

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   THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE #6


In this Dispensation neither Jews nor Gentiles are dealt with as such: but, individuals, both “transgressors” of the Jews and “sinners of the Gentiles,” are called out, and made into a new body, a third People, called “the Church of God,” in which now “there is neither Jew nor Gentile…but all are one in Christ Jesus”; being baptized into the body of Christ with the new spiritual medium, the Holy Spirit.  ”For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29. The baptism in the text is when the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer at conversion into the body of Christ. There is no water in the text.

THE CHURCH OR DISPENSATION OF GRACE HAD BEEN KEPT SECRET UNTIL IT WAS REVEALED TO PAUL AND MADE KNOWN BY THE PROPHETS AND APOSTLES IN “PROPHETIC WRITINGS” Had it been made the subject of prophecy the Jew, to-day, could reply against God and say that He was obliged to fulfil prophecy. It was therefore “hid in god” “ And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” Ephesians 3:9 . GOD KEPT THE SECRET TO HIMSELF.  One of these secrets, the “Great” one (1 Tim 3:16; Eph 5:32), has been revealed; and we now rejoice in its revelation.

THIS DISPENSATION OF “THE CHURCH OF GOD,” OF “THE GRACE OF GOD,” AND OF THE “SPIRIT OF GOD” COMMENCED BY THE MINISTRY OF PAUL. Paul wrote all the church epistles, they, all doctrine for the church is contained in his writings. These were given by inspiration and revelation to him. That does not mean the church should ignore any Scripture. It only needs to take heed that it RIGHTLY DIVIDES them.

THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION IS. BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, AS REVEALED TO PAUL.  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4I.

  THIS DISPENSATION WILL END BY THE MEMBERS OF CHRIST’S BODY BEING “RECEIVED UP IN GLORY,”   “CAUGHT UP TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR, SO TO BE EVER WITH THE LORD”  PHIL 3:20,21).  “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:13-18.  “ For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:20-21. This is called in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, “our gathering together unto Him.”

Before this Dispensation, and after it, all is connected with man, and what he is and what he is to do. But, in this Dispensation, it is a question of what Christ is, and of what He has done. J.O.