The Red Dragon
Revelation 13:2 “And the dragon [that ancient serpent called the Devil or Satan] gave to it [the Beast, the “Anti-Christ”] the power of it and the throne of it, and [was given to it] great authority.”
What God Is – The Devil Is Not
David Wrote: “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name (the “Mighty God”). Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases (fig., serious problems in society) who redeems your life from the pit (the corruption of the grave) and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth (early stages of growth and development) is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel: the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him (NOTE: to fear Jehovah is to hate evil); as far as the east if from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children- with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you His angels (prophets, priests or teachers, communicating the message of God), you might ones (in religious service to the Lord) who do His bidding, who obey His word. Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will. Praise the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the Lord, O my soul.” -Psalm 103
What God Is – The Devil Is Not
David Wrote: “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name (the “Mighty God”). Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases (fig., serious problems in society) who redeems your life from the pit (the corruption of the grave) and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth (early stages of growth and development) is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel: the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him (NOTE: to fear Jehovah is to hate evil); as far as the east if from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children- with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you His angels (prophets, priests or teachers, communicating the message of God), you might ones (in religious service to the Lord) who do His bidding, who obey His word. Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will. Praise the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the Lord, O my soul.” -Psalm 103
Is The Devil a Man? Again, we reflect on the controversy that confronted us in the text of Isaiah (ref. Blog of July 13, 2009 "Is Jesus God"– My Living Journal). In the same manor that the Messiah has been called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God (El) [the embodiment of the Word of the Almighty God made flesh], so in like manor then, it could be concluded that the characteristics and doctrine of the Devil could be manifest by way of a living witness. The incarnation of evil, called the Devil, being equivalent to the Ancient Serpent, as true personification, of his being bestowed upon him.
Lucifer, the “Fallen Star” - who sought raise his throne above the stars of God, to make himsef like th Most High. (Isaiah 14:13-15)
Thusly, the notion can be advanced that Satan, seeking self-deification and God like status will claim right to the attribute of vengeance, which belongs only to God. When Satan plays the role of God revealed in the Abrahamic Bible and its sequels he manifests the character of the Devil. In such a vengeful posture the Devil becomes a counterfeit divine force that wreaks suffering, death, and destruction that tempts or commands humanity into committing mayhem and genocide. Satan could be deemed in such a posture “an evil angel”, “the devil god”, “the Prince of Darkness”, “the source of all evil”, “a demon”, “and cruel, wrathful, warlike tyrant”, “the devil” and the Red Dragon of the book of Revelation.
It could then be asserted that a number of passages in Biblical scripture describing actions of God- to be evil or Devil-like- if fulfilled by the hand of man through the vengeful punishment of the wicked. In such a posture Satan could feel divinely sanctioned to use pestilence and plagues to kill off thousands he deemed worthy of such genocide. These actions would turn the Old Testament into a scandal to the faithful…and…account that Jehovah was a secondary deity, a self-governing deity of force and decisive power. In such a light God would seem to be without outside control and unregulated by the attributes of righteousness and justice. In such a posture God could no longer be distinguished from the Devil.
It could then be asserted that a number of passages in Biblical scripture describing actions of God- to be evil or Devil-like- if fulfilled by the hand of man through the vengeful punishment of the wicked. In such a posture Satan could feel divinely sanctioned to use pestilence and plagues to kill off thousands he deemed worthy of such genocide. These actions would turn the Old Testament into a scandal to the faithful…and…account that Jehovah was a secondary deity, a self-governing deity of force and decisive power. In such a light God would seem to be without outside control and unregulated by the attributes of righteousness and justice. In such a posture God could no longer be distinguished from the Devil.
The Devil is believed in certain religions and folklore to be a powerful, entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind.
Satan is referred to a few times in the New Testament as the tempter, and is described as having tempted Jesus when he was on earth. (See below)
Matthew 4:8-11 “…the Devil took him (Jesus) to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me [who has set my throne above the son’s of Israel so to sit as God].’”
“Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”
“The the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”
Matthew 4:5-7 “Then the devil took him (Jesus) to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
“Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
Matthew 12:4-49 “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
“He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who my brothers are?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”
The Woman and the Dragon
Revelation 12:1-5 “A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crown on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to His throne.”
Matthew 12:4-49 “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
“He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who my brothers are?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”
The Woman and the Dragon
Revelation 12:1-5 “A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crown on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to His throne.”
(Consider: the "Mother"): ISAIAH 66:7 “Before she [the city of David] travailed, she gave birth; before pain came to her, then she delivered a male [the “Messiah, the “Mighty God”]. Who has heard like this? Who has seen like these? Shall the earth travail in one day? Shall be born a nation (in) one step. For also [afterward] Zion [the city of David] travailed (and) brought forth her sons. Shall I bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth? Surely I cause birth, and restrain,’ says your God.”
Counterfield Religion of Satan: The Devil is commonly associated with heretics, infidels, and other unbelievers. The Abrahamic religions have variously regarded the Devil as a rebellious fallen angel or demon that tempts humans to sin or commit evil deeds. Others regard the Devil as an allegory that represents a crisis of faith, individualism, free will, wisdom and enlightenment.
"Everywhere the New Testament sees a great conflict between the forces of God and of good, on the one hand, and those of evil led by Satan, on the other. This is not the conception of one writer or another, but is common ground. . . . The witness of the New Testament then is clear. Satan is a malignant [doctrinal] reality, always hostile to God and to God's people."—"The New Bible Dictionary."
Jesus also said that the Devil was "a manslayer when he began" and that "he did not stand fast in the truth." This does not mean that Jehovah created the Devil as "a manslayer," but came to be a doctrinal reality hostile to God and man.
The Devil is like those people who rebelled against Jehovah in the time of Moses. Of them we read: "They have acted ruinously on their own part; they are not his children, the defect is their own."
"Everywhere the New Testament sees a great conflict between the forces of God and of good, on the one hand, and those of evil led by Satan, on the other. This is not the conception of one writer or another, but is common ground. . . . The witness of the New Testament then is clear. Satan is a malignant [doctrinal] reality, always hostile to God and to God's people."—"The New Bible Dictionary."
Jesus also said that the Devil was "a manslayer when he began" and that "he did not stand fast in the truth." This does not mean that Jehovah created the Devil as "a manslayer," but came to be a doctrinal reality hostile to God and man.
The Devil is like those people who rebelled against Jehovah in the time of Moses. Of them we read: "They have acted ruinously on their own part; they are not his children, the defect is their own."
The same could be said of Satan. He became "a manslayer" when he rebelled and became responsible for the death of Adam and Eve and, in fact, the whole human family.—
The Devil does not always use brutal means to attack those who want to do God's will. At times, he makes himself seem like "an angel of light."
1. The word "devil" means someone who tells wicked lies about another person. "Satan" means an enemy or an opposer. These are terms given to God's chief enemy. At first, he was a perfect angel in heaven with God. However, [as the spirit of a doctrinal format] he later thought too much of himself and wanted the worship that rightly belongs to God.—Matthew 4:8-10.
2. This angel, Satan, spoke to Eve by means of a snake. By telling her lies, he got her to disobey God, saying, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it (from the tree of knowledge of good and evil) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4) Satan thus attacked what is called God's "sovereignty," or position as the Most High – the “Mighty God”. Satan questioned whether God rules in a worthy way and in the best interests of His subjects. Satan also brought into question whether any human would remain loyal to God. By doing this, Satan made himself God's enemy. That is why he came to be called Satan the Devil.—
3. Satan tries to trick people into worshiping him. One way he misleads people is through false religion. If a religion teaches lies about God, it really serves the purpose of Satan. People who are members of false religions may sincerely believe that they are worshiping the true God. But they are really serving Satan. He is 'the god of this world.'—
The Devil does not always use brutal means to attack those who want to do God's will. At times, he makes himself seem like "an angel of light."
1. The word "devil" means someone who tells wicked lies about another person. "Satan" means an enemy or an opposer. These are terms given to God's chief enemy. At first, he was a perfect angel in heaven with God. However, [as the spirit of a doctrinal format] he later thought too much of himself and wanted the worship that rightly belongs to God.—Matthew 4:8-10.
2. This angel, Satan, spoke to Eve by means of a snake. By telling her lies, he got her to disobey God, saying, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it (from the tree of knowledge of good and evil) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4) Satan thus attacked what is called God's "sovereignty," or position as the Most High – the “Mighty God”. Satan questioned whether God rules in a worthy way and in the best interests of His subjects. Satan also brought into question whether any human would remain loyal to God. By doing this, Satan made himself God's enemy. That is why he came to be called Satan the Devil.—
3. Satan tries to trick people into worshiping him. One way he misleads people is through false religion. If a religion teaches lies about God, it really serves the purpose of Satan. People who are members of false religions may sincerely believe that they are worshiping the true God. But they are really serving Satan. He is 'the god of this world.'—
The Bible says this of Jesus himself:
Hebrews chapter 4 (TEV)
13 There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves. 14 Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God - Jesus, the Son of God. 15 Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. 16 Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.
Hebrews chapter 4 (TEV)
13 There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves. 14 Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God - Jesus, the Son of God. 15 Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. 16 Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.
NOTE: (From Study Notes and Partial Quotes): With the acquired knowledge that God is good, compounded by mans desire to be like God- created a doctrine for Lucifer which allowed the potential for sin through disobedience to God. While the sovereign yet righteous God cannot commit sin, He doesn’t take it away from those who do. When Lucifer chose to rebel, he instantly became the author of sin. Evil is the result of a free-will choice by Lucifer.
Satan was blameless in his ways from the day he was created until unrighteousness was found in him.
Satan was blameless in his ways from the day he was created until unrighteousness was found in him.
Song of Moses - "God is Faithful Without Evil"
Deuteronomy 32:1-5 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak. And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain; my speech shall drop down as the dew, as the small rain on the tender plant, and as the showers on the grass; because I will proclaim the name of Jehovah and ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock; His work is perfect. For all His ways are just, a God of faithfulness, and without evil; just and upright is He. They [who are disobedient to the “Word and Law” of God] have corrupted themselves; they are not His sons; it is their blemish; they are a crooked and perverse generation.”
