Concerning the October 1st Las Vegas shooting tragedy, ABC news reported: “Las Vegas native Jimmy Kimmel was both visibly shaken and determined to send a message during an emotional monologue Monday night about the shooting, “a terrible, inexplicable, shocking and painful tragedy. We wonder why,” he said, holding back tears, “even though there’s probably no way to ever know why a human being would do something like this to other human beings who are at a concert having fun and listening to music. It feels like someone has opened a window into hell.””
Kimmel was right, a window into hell is opened every time we see acts of this nature.
It is foolish to deny the existence of a spiritual world and its influence on us still today. In the beginning God made everything perfect and good (Genesis 1-2) including the spiritual world, but God gave freewill to all of His creation. Freewill is the only way real love can be expressed, and along with that comes the chance of choosing evil as our original parents (Adam and Eve) did. When Satan tempted Eve she, along with Adam, chose to disobey God’s only rule knowing the consequence God had put into place, and we have been reeling from the effects ever since.
2nd Major Historical Event: The Fall
Who is Satan?
The Bible defines Satan as a created being, the most “beautiful angel” who chose to go against God (Revelation 12:4, 9) and along with one-third of the created angels, now known as demons, was thrown from Heaven to the Earth (Job 1-2; Isaiah 14:12-13; Luke 10:18).The Bible doesn’t tell us when this happened, but some believe that it could have occurred between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. Satan furthered his choice by deceiving humans and receiving God’s curse (Genesis 3).
Satan is…
- The “Serpent” in Genesis (term means “shining one”)
- Arrogant and full of pride; wants to sit on a throne above that of God (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28).
- The ruler of this world; prince of the power of the air (John 12:31, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2)
- An accuser (Revelation 12:10)
- A tempter (Matthew 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:5)
- A deceiver (Genesis 3, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Revelation 20:3)
- His very name means “adversary” or “one who opposes,” and devil means “slanderer”
Satan’s destiny is sealed—an eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). However, knowing that his time is short he seeks to elevate his throne above God, counterfeit all God does, and encourage opposition to God’s kingdom. He, along with his demons, is the ultimate source behind every false teaching by cults and other world religions, and he will do everything in his power to oppose God and those who follow God through Jesus.
Satan will attempt to bring out in us the three greatest evil characteristics he possesses: Lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life:
First time we find these three things affecting human choice (Genesis 3:6-7):
- Lust of the flesh:The fruit was tempting to the appetite
- Lust of the eyes: The fruit looked good and the idea of having something forbidden was attractive
- Pride of life: Satan resented God and he presented the fruit of the tree as something God was holding back from them, as something they were owed, and as something they deserved
Jesus overcame these in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13):
- Lust of the flesh: Jesus was hungry after 40 days of fasting and Satan appeared to tempt Him to turn the rock into bread
- Lust of the eyes: Satan took Him to the top of the pinnacle and showed him the world to tempt Him into changing God’s timetable for His rulership
- Pride of Life: Satan told Jesus he would give him the whole world (the earth that he temporarily rules) if He would worship him
How did Jesus avoid these temptations and respond to Satan? HE USED THE SCRIPTURES—GOD’S WORD and Satan fled! Many times you hear people say that we need to rebuke the devil, but that is a dangerous thing to do. Instead of speaking directly to him, let Jesus do it for you by using Scripture. Be very careful about doing things on your own concerning the spiritual world because we were created a little lower than the angels and they do have power, but not when Jesus goes before us. Also see Ephesians 6:10-18 for putting on the “Armor of God.”
The Apostle John warned the early Church of the same three things (1 John 2:15-17):
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Look at every horrible thing that happens among humans today and you will find the reason falling into one of those three categories. J. Warner Wallace wrote a short article that encompasses this very topic, check out this link: I Know What Motivated The Last School Shooter… And What Will Motivate The Next One.
How did Satan deceive Adam and Eve at the Fall, and how does he deceive us today?
The first attack of Satan is always on God’s Word:
Step 1: Satan twists God’s Word and causes doubt
“He said to the woman, Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1)
- Today Satan causes us to doubt God’s Word by getting us to think it is outdated or just opinions written by men; and he causes us to doubt the accuracy of the Bible’s historicity, reliability, and inspiration, but upon careful investigation the opposite of all of that is actually the truth
- Satan also uses deception through distractions and can cause us to believe that Bible study and time with God should be low on our priority list, because he knows the more time spent with God in prayer and in His Word the more power and weaponry we have to defend against his attacks
Step 2: Satan contradicts God and substitutes what He said with something else
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. (Genesis 3:4)
- We know that was a lie because Adam and Eve died both spiritually (they were immediately separated from God) and physically (later)
- Today we find Satan’s deceptions through changing cultural norms that increasingly contradict Biblical values; philosophies that deny the need for the God of the Bible in solving humanity’s problems; and scientific theories that substitute as the means for our origin instead of God as the Creator
Step 3: Satan challenges God’s motives
“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)
- This is what Satan wanted, to be like God and to take His place, in essence Satan was implying that God was holding something important back from them and that he (Satan) held the truth
- In today’s culture we have this mind-set that things are owed to us and that God is not giving us what we deserve – But what do we really deserve?
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Romans 5:12, 17
Going Deeper:
Does a spiritual world really exist? The Bible teaches that it does. Most cultures believe in a spiritual world, but here in the West it seems that we are in denial. When Kimmel said “a window into Hell was opened” I believe he was inadvertently admitting that acts, like the one committed in Las Vegas, give us a glimpse of this unseen world.
The demonic spiritual world has manifested itself, in part, within seemingly harmless movements like “New Age” and its various forms. This movement is extremely popular in our culture today, but listen to Steven Bancarz, former “New Ager” now born again Christian, explain the seriousness of dabbling in such things as he gives his personal testimony:
If you want to go a little deeper on the topic of the spiritual world and the question many people have about “aliens,” Gary Bates of Creation.com ministries has written a book that was an Amazon.com top 50 bestseller Alien Intrusion: UFOs and the Evolution Connection—(the only Creationist book ever to achieve this feat). This landmark book provides biblical answers to the many puzzling questions regarding UFOs, and whether there is intelligent, sentient alien life on other planets (their theological position on this is no as is mine). You can also purchase the documentary on DVD called Alien Intrusion: Unmasking a Deception.
You can also watch Steve Bancarz’ interview of Gary Bates on this, and other topics, here:
As Christian we give the battle to Jesus and put on the Amour of God:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Ephesians 6:10-18
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Join us next week as we continue our study in Genesis by looking at the “effects of the Fall.”
Read and Study Genesis 3:
- Who is the “serpent” in Genesis 3? (Read Revelation 20:1-2) To go deeper into his identity read Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 14, Luke 10, and Revelation 12.
- What did the “serpent” say to Eve and how did she respond? (3:1-3) Did Eve correctly represent what God said? (Cross-reference with Genesis 2:17). Do we ever misrepresent God’s Word, if so how could we do better?
- What did the “serpent” say to Eve after her first response, and was it true? (3:4-5) How did Eve respond to this, and where was Adam when all this was going on? (3:6)
- What is your worldview concerning the spiritual world? Do you have any questions or concerns after viewing the videos on the spiritual world?
- Write out a prayer for God to give you protection from spiritual warfare and to help you focus your life on the things of God.
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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
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Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
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