Our
Present Age
and how it will end
Chapter 4 – Satan
Satan is not a fallen angel, but rather a powerful evil god. He is in fact actually the father and creator of many devils (aka demons and fallen angels), and is also the co-regent of Jehovah. This chapter will show that Satan was the first entity created on the First Day of Creation, and was involved in the creation of the Universe as we know it, which is why the Freemasons and others refer to him as, "Lucifer, the Great Architect of the Universe."
Satan, the Co-Regent of Jehovah
According to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4, Satan is referred to as “the god of this age”.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
The Bible teaches that humanity has 2 fathers: one being our Heavenly Father, the Father of Jesus Christ, and the other one being Satan. In the following passage, Christ explains the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Matthew 13:38-42 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.
In in John chapter 8, we see Jesus tell the Pharisees that Satan is their father.
John 8:3-45 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
According to the Nag Hammadi texts, Satan was created for the purpose of bringing order out of the chaos of the dark chaotic waters that existed on the First Day of Creation. In the following excerpt, Pistis is what I equate to the Holy Spirit of the Most High God, a female entity also referred to as Wisdom, Faith, and Sophia.
From the Nag Hammadi Codex entitled: "On the Origin of the World"
"Matter came into being out of shadow, and was projected apart. And it did not depart from chaos; rather, matter was in chaos, being in a part of it.
And when these things had come to pass, then Pistis came and appeared over the matter of chaos, which had been expelled like an aborted fetus - since there was no spirit in it. For all of it (chaos) was limitless darkness and bottomless water. Now when Pistis saw what had resulted from her defect, she became disturbed. And the disturbance appeared, as a fearful product; it rushed to her in the chaos. She turned to it and blew into its face in the abyss, which is below all the heavens.
And when Pistis Sophia desired to cause the thing that had no spirit to be formed into a likeness and to rule over matter and over all her forces, there appeared for the first time a ruler, out of the waters, lion-like in appearance, androgynous, having great authority within him, and ignorant of whence he had come into being. Now when Pistis Sophia saw him moving about in the depth of the waters, she said to him, "Child, pass through to here," whose equivalent is 'yalda baoth'."
According to the Nag Hammadi, Satan, Jehovah, and other of the Anunnaki were the gods who composed the Elohiym of Genesis 1 and 2, and were all involved as a "creative team" of gods during the process of the creation of our Universe. This was necessary because the Most High God is pure Spirit, who exists in realms far above the realms of the lower physical domains, although everything occurs according to His will and good pleasure, and nothing can occur outside of His will.
The ancient Sumerians also knew full well that Enlil, who is Satan and the Hebrew god Baal, came from the same generation of Elohiym as did Jehovah, which is why Satan is referred to as “that serpent of old” in Revelation 20:2. But Satan masquerades himself as “an angel of light” because he is the father of all lies; he is the master deceiver who deceives the whole world, as stated in Rev 12:9. According to the Nag Hammadi, after Satan realized that mankind would possess the Spirit of the Most High God and inherit the kingdom of Heaven, he turned evil because of his envy, and that in turn cause the creation of death.
From the Nag Hammadi Codex entitled: "On the Origin of the World"
"Now the prime parent Yaldabaoth, since he possessed great authorities, created heavens for each of his offspring through verbal expression - created them beautiful, as dwelling places - and in each heaven he created great glories, seven times excellent. Thrones and mansions and temples, and also chariots and virgin spirits up to an invisible one and their glories, each one has these in his heaven; mighty armies of gods and lords and angels and archangels - countless myriads - so that they might serve. The account of these matters you will find in a precise manner in the first Account of Oraia.
And they were completed from this heaven to as far up as the sixth heaven, namely that of Sophia. The heaven and his earth were destroyed by the troublemaker that was below them all. And the six heavens shook violently; for the forces of chaos knew who it was that had destroyed the heaven that was below them. And when Pistis knew about the breakage resulting from the disturbance, she sent forth her breath and bound him and cast him down into Tartaros. Since that day, the heaven, along with its earth, has consolidated itself through Sophia the daughter of Yaldabaoth, she who is below them all.
Now when the heavens had consolidated themselves along with their forces and all their administration, the prime parent became insolent. And he was honored by all the army of angels. And all the gods and their angels gave blessing and honor to him. And for his part, he was delighted and continually boasted, saying to them, "I have no need of anyone." He said, "It is I who am God, and there is no other one that exists apart from me." And when he said this, he sinned against all the immortal beings who give answer. And they laid it to his charge.
Then when Pistis saw the impiety of the chief ruler, she was filled with anger. She was invisible. She said, "You are mistaken, Samael," (that is, "blind god"). "There is an immortal man of light who has been in existence before you, and who will appear among your modelled forms; he will trample you to scorn, just as potter's clay is pounded. And you will descend to your mother, the abyss, along with those that belong to you. For at the consummation of your works, the entire defect that has become visible out of the truth will be abolished, and it will cease to be, and will be like what has never been." Saying this, Pistis revealed her likeness of her greatness in the waters. And so doing, she withdrew up to her light."
Because Satan is the god of this age, he was able to offer Jesus Christ all the kingdoms of the world when he was tempting him in the wilderness. Consider how much of this world is controlled by Satan - 60%? 75%? 85%? more? I would say that Satan controls most of the world; he controls the governments of the world, our school systems, the television industries, the movie industries, the music industries, pharmaceutical companies, world banks (i.e. the Banksters), Wall Street, our military leaders, our Presidents, and he even has a stronghold on many Christian Churches; come to think of it…is there anything that Satan does not control or influence? This is because Satan is not just merely a fallen angel, but a powerful god, the god of this age, and the co-regent of Jehovah.
In the following excerpt written by Dr. Michael Heiser published at “The Logos Bible Software” online, he states that Baal was another god that ran things on Earth as Yahweh’s vizier, and that Baal was also known as the “king of the gods,” and “the Most High”. The definition of a “vizier” is: “a minister of state”.
“The name of the ultimate divine authority at Ugarit was El, one of the names of the God of Israel (e.g., Gen 33:20). El was described as an aged god with white hair, seated on a throne. However, at Ugarit, El was sovereign, but another god ran things on earth for El as his vizier. That god’s name was Baal, a name quite familiar to anyone who has read the Old Testament. At Ugarit, Baal was known by several titles: “king of the gods,” “the Most High,” “Prince Baal” (baal zbl), and—most importantly for our discussion—“the Rider on the Clouds.”
“Baal’s position as “king of the gods” in Ugarit, Israel’s northern neighbor, helps explain the “Baal problem” in the Old Testament. Jereboam’s religion in the northern kingdom borrowed from Baal worship, and it soon began to look like there was no difference, or if there was a difference, they were so close that worshipping one or the other was just theological hair-splitting. This is what prophets like Elijah had to contend with. The people had no Bible. They had only the prophets and their words. When a prophet wasn’t around to set the record straight, it was easy to just do what the neighbors were doing—especially if your king didn’t care, or actually preferred it that way.”
Baal is known as “The Cloud Rider” Throughout the Ugaritic texts, Baal is repeatedly called “the one who rides the clouds,” or “the one who mounts the clouds.” The description is recognized as an official title of Baal. No angel or lesser being bore the title. As such, everyone in Israel who heard this title associated it with a deity, not a man or an angel.” (< https://www.logos.com/ugaritic >) The Biblical expression of being a “Cloud Rider” is only ever given to Baal, Jehovah, and Jesus Christ. Isaiah 19:1 The burden concerning Egypt. Behold, Jehovah rides upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. Jesus as “the Cloud Rider” Rev 1:7 Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him. Satan is both a title and a name used for the Devil; just as God is both a title a name used for Jehovah. Satan is the adversary of God, and that is his job description. The word “Satan” is a noun that works as an “action noun”, and carries its meaning when directed at an individual who is performing the noun in its action. For example, if we go to a game that has a referee, we call that person, “the referee”, not implying that his name is “Referee”, but that the referee is performing the noun in its action. In the Book of Enoch, Enoch describes several beings as “Satans”.Satan, the Co-Regent of Jehovah
According to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4, Satan is referred to as “the god of this age”.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
The Bible teaches that humanity has 2 fathers: one being our Heavenly Father, the Father of Jesus Christ, and the other one being Satan. In the following passage, Christ explains the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Matthew 13:38-42 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.
In in John chapter 8, we see Jesus tell the Pharisees that Satan is their father.
John 8:3-45 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
According to the Nag Hammadi texts, Satan was created for the purpose of bringing order out of the chaos of the dark chaotic waters that existed on the First Day of Creation. In the following excerpt, Pistis is what I equate to the Holy Spirit of the Most High God, a female entity also referred to as Wisdom, Faith, and Sophia.
From the Nag Hammadi Codex entitled: "On the Origin of the World"
"Matter came into being out of shadow, and was projected apart. And it did not depart from chaos; rather, matter was in chaos, being in a part of it.
And when these things had come to pass, then Pistis came and appeared over the matter of chaos, which had been expelled like an aborted fetus - since there was no spirit in it. For all of it (chaos) was limitless darkness and bottomless water. Now when Pistis saw what had resulted from her defect, she became disturbed. And the disturbance appeared, as a fearful product; it rushed to her in the chaos. She turned to it and blew into its face in the abyss, which is below all the heavens.
And when Pistis Sophia desired to cause the thing that had no spirit to be formed into a likeness and to rule over matter and over all her forces, there appeared for the first time a ruler, out of the waters, lion-like in appearance, androgynous, having great authority within him, and ignorant of whence he had come into being. Now when Pistis Sophia saw him moving about in the depth of the waters, she said to him, "Child, pass through to here," whose equivalent is 'yalda baoth'."
According to the Nag Hammadi, Satan, Jehovah, and other of the Anunnaki were the gods who composed the Elohiym of Genesis 1 and 2, and were all involved as a "creative team" of gods during the process of the creation of our Universe. This was necessary because the Most High God is pure Spirit, who exists in realms far above the realms of the lower physical domains, although everything occurs according to His will and good pleasure, and nothing can occur outside of His will.
The ancient Sumerians also knew full well that Enlil, who is Satan and the Hebrew god Baal, came from the same generation of Elohiym as did Jehovah, which is why Satan is referred to as “that serpent of old” in Revelation 20:2. But Satan masquerades himself as “an angel of light” because he is the father of all lies; he is the master deceiver who deceives the whole world, as stated in Rev 12:9. According to the Nag Hammadi, after Satan realized that mankind would possess the Spirit of the Most High God and inherit the kingdom of Heaven, he turned evil because of his envy, and that in turn cause the creation of death.
From the Nag Hammadi Codex entitled: "On the Origin of the World"
"Now the prime parent Yaldabaoth, since he possessed great authorities, created heavens for each of his offspring through verbal expression - created them beautiful, as dwelling places - and in each heaven he created great glories, seven times excellent. Thrones and mansions and temples, and also chariots and virgin spirits up to an invisible one and their glories, each one has these in his heaven; mighty armies of gods and lords and angels and archangels - countless myriads - so that they might serve. The account of these matters you will find in a precise manner in the first Account of Oraia.
And they were completed from this heaven to as far up as the sixth heaven, namely that of Sophia. The heaven and his earth were destroyed by the troublemaker that was below them all. And the six heavens shook violently; for the forces of chaos knew who it was that had destroyed the heaven that was below them. And when Pistis knew about the breakage resulting from the disturbance, she sent forth her breath and bound him and cast him down into Tartaros. Since that day, the heaven, along with its earth, has consolidated itself through Sophia the daughter of Yaldabaoth, she who is below them all.
Now when the heavens had consolidated themselves along with their forces and all their administration, the prime parent became insolent. And he was honored by all the army of angels. And all the gods and their angels gave blessing and honor to him. And for his part, he was delighted and continually boasted, saying to them, "I have no need of anyone." He said, "It is I who am God, and there is no other one that exists apart from me." And when he said this, he sinned against all the immortal beings who give answer. And they laid it to his charge.
Then when Pistis saw the impiety of the chief ruler, she was filled with anger. She was invisible. She said, "You are mistaken, Samael," (that is, "blind god"). "There is an immortal man of light who has been in existence before you, and who will appear among your modelled forms; he will trample you to scorn, just as potter's clay is pounded. And you will descend to your mother, the abyss, along with those that belong to you. For at the consummation of your works, the entire defect that has become visible out of the truth will be abolished, and it will cease to be, and will be like what has never been." Saying this, Pistis revealed her likeness of her greatness in the waters. And so doing, she withdrew up to her light."
In the following excerpt written by Dr. Michael Heiser published at “The Logos Bible Software” online, he states that Baal was another god that ran things on Earth as Yahweh’s vizier, and that Baal was also known as the “king of the gods,” and “the Most High”. The definition of a “vizier” is: “a minister of state”.
“The name of the ultimate divine authority at Ugarit was El, one of the names of the God of Israel (e.g., Gen 33:20). El was described as an aged god with white hair, seated on a throne. However, at Ugarit, El was sovereign, but another god ran things on earth for El as his vizier. That god’s name was Baal, a name quite familiar to anyone who has read the Old Testament. At Ugarit, Baal was known by several titles: “king of the gods,” “the Most High,” “Prince Baal” (baal zbl), and—most importantly for our discussion—“the Rider on the Clouds.”
“Baal’s position as “king of the gods” in Ugarit, Israel’s northern neighbor, helps explain the “Baal problem” in the Old Testament. Jereboam’s religion in the northern kingdom borrowed from Baal worship, and it soon began to look like there was no difference, or if there was a difference, they were so close that worshipping one or the other was just theological hair-splitting. This is what prophets like Elijah had to contend with. The people had no Bible. They had only the prophets and their words. When a prophet wasn’t around to set the record straight, it was easy to just do what the neighbors were doing—especially if your king didn’t care, or actually preferred it that way.”
Enoch 40.3-7 And I heard the voices of those four figures as they sang
praises in front of the Lord of Glory. The first voice blesses the Lord of
Spirits forever and ever. And the second voice I heard blessing the Chosen One
and the chosen that depend on the Lord of Spirits. And the third voice I heard,
petitioned, and prayed, on behalf of those who dwell on dry ground and
supplicate in the name of the Lord of Spirits. And the fourth voice I heard driving away the Satans and not allowing
them to come in front of the Lord of Spirits to accuse those who dwell on the
high ground.
Enoch 65.6 And a command has gone out
from the Lord against those who dwell upon the dry ground that this must be
their end. For they have learnt all the secrets of the Angels, and all the wrongdoings of the Satans, and all their
secret power, and all the power of those who practice magic arts, and the
power of enchantments, and the power of those who cast molten images for all
the Earth.
Here it was asked of God that several beings referred to as “Satans” be allowed to remain so as to carry on certain types of rulership and authority in the world. A Satan can also hold a seat in God’s heavenly council, which is evident in the Book of Job.
Job 1:6-12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!" And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Satan is the adversary and accuser of mankind, and is the tempter of every man’s faith towards God, which is what he did with Job, and also with Jesus when he was in the wilderness for 40 days.
Job 1:8-11 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the Earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!"
God uses Satan to test our faith and to prove our allegiance towards Him, because God hates the “lukewarm believer” and those that believe they don’t need Him.
Rev 3:15-17 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, though I wish that you were either cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, will I vomit you out of my mouth; because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”, while you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
In the Book of Jubilees, Satan pleads with Jehovah to be allowed to keep 10% of the fallen angels from being sent down to the pit, so that he can execute the power of his will on the sons of men, and also for the purpose of preparing and binding the wicked for Judgment Day.
From the Book of Jubilees
Jubilees 10:7 And Jehovah our Sovereign Ruler bade us to bind all. And the chief of the spirits, Satan (referred to as Mastema here), came and said: “Jehovah, Creator, let some of them remain before me, and let them listen to my voice, and do all that I shall say unto them; for if some of them are not left to me, I shall not be able to execute the power of my will on the sons of men; for these are for corruption and leading astray before my judgment, for great is the wickedness of the sons of men.' And He [Jehovah] said: Let the tenth part of them remain before him, and let nine parts descend into the place of condemnation.' And one of us He commanded that we should teach Noah all their medicines; for He knew that they would not walk in uprightness, nor strive in righteousness. And we did according to all His words: all the malignant evil ones we bound in the place of condemnation and a tenth part of them we left, that they might be subject before Satan on the earth.
Because Satan is who he is, he has been assigned certain job responsibilities, which are: to test the faith of all mankind; to bring punishment and judgment upon those Jehovah wills it for; to humble the proud; and to further deceive and bind all those who do not love the truth.
When I looked into the creation accounts of different cultures, I saw the same recurring theme: that either evil existed before light, or that both forces have always existed side by side, as in the Iroquois American Indian creation legend that teaches about twin gods, one who as creative, and the other who was destructive.
Hinduism is the dominant religion of India and is also considered by some as the oldest religion in the world. Hinduism is comprises of three major supreme deities, Shiva, Vishnu and Shakti (also called Devi), with most of the other deities as being related to them. Vishnu is conceived as “the Preserver” or “the Protector”. Shakti is regarded as the primordial cosmic energy and dynamic creative forces that move through the entire Universe, and is sometimes referred to as “The Great Divine Mother”. Shiva is regarded as one of the primary forms of God and regarded as the king of gods, “the Destroyer” or also “the Transformer”, showing himself in benevolent and fearsome forms. Another evil god of Hindu religion is Kali, who represents a dark and violent force and interestingly, Kali is considered by some as being the first creation, before light itself.
According to the Iroquois American Indian creation legend, in the beginning, the Earth was a water world, with human-type beings that lived in the Sky World above. One day, the daughter of Sky Woman gave birth to Twins. One was born the natural way and he was called the Right-Handed Twin. The other was born in a way that caused the death of the mother; he was called the Left-Handed Twin. Both the Right and Left-Handed Twins were endowed with special creative powers. The Right-Handed Twin created gentle hills, beautiful smelling flowers, quiet brooks, butterflies and numerous creatures, plants and earth formations. The Left-Handed Twin made snakes, thorns on rose bushes, thunder and lightning and other more disturbing attributes of today’s world. Together they created man and his many attributes. The Right-Handed Twin believed in diplomacy to resolve matters, and the Left-Handed Twin believed in conflict as resolution. They were very different, but all that they created is an integral part of this Earth’s Creation. When their Grandmother, Sky Woman, came to the end of her life and died, the Twins fought over her body and pulled it apart, throwing her head into the sky, where it shines upon the world as the Moon. The Twins could not live together without fighting, so they agreed to dwell in different realms of the Earth. The Right-Handed Twin continued to live in the daylight and the Left-Handed Twin became a dweller of the night. Both of them continue their special duties to their Mother the Earth. (<http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/TheCreationStory-Iroquois.html>)
In the Chinese creation story, Tao is described as the ultimate force behind the creation. With Tao, nothingness gave rise to existence, existence gave rise to yin and yang, and yin and yang gave rise to everything.
The Chinese teach that yin and yang gave rise to everything, and the Sumerians, the Hindus, and American Indians teach that there has always been a dark, destructive force associated with destruction and snakes. Similarly, the Bible also teaches that before light, there was darkness, and there are many passages that teach about ancient serpents, dragons, and sea monsters.
Here it was asked of God that several beings referred to as “Satans” be allowed to remain so as to carry on certain types of rulership and authority in the world. A Satan can also hold a seat in God’s heavenly council, which is evident in the Book of Job.
Job 1:6-12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!" And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Satan is the adversary and accuser of mankind, and is the tempter of every man’s faith towards God, which is what he did with Job, and also with Jesus when he was in the wilderness for 40 days.
Job 1:8-11 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the Earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!"
God uses Satan to test our faith and to prove our allegiance towards Him, because God hates the “lukewarm believer” and those that believe they don’t need Him.
Rev 3:15-17 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, though I wish that you were either cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, will I vomit you out of my mouth; because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”, while you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
In the Book of Jubilees, Satan pleads with Jehovah to be allowed to keep 10% of the fallen angels from being sent down to the pit, so that he can execute the power of his will on the sons of men, and also for the purpose of preparing and binding the wicked for Judgment Day.
From the Book of Jubilees
Jubilees 10:7 And Jehovah our Sovereign Ruler bade us to bind all. And the chief of the spirits, Satan (referred to as Mastema here), came and said: “Jehovah, Creator, let some of them remain before me, and let them listen to my voice, and do all that I shall say unto them; for if some of them are not left to me, I shall not be able to execute the power of my will on the sons of men; for these are for corruption and leading astray before my judgment, for great is the wickedness of the sons of men.' And He [Jehovah] said: Let the tenth part of them remain before him, and let nine parts descend into the place of condemnation.' And one of us He commanded that we should teach Noah all their medicines; for He knew that they would not walk in uprightness, nor strive in righteousness. And we did according to all His words: all the malignant evil ones we bound in the place of condemnation and a tenth part of them we left, that they might be subject before Satan on the earth.
Because Satan is who he is, he has been assigned certain job responsibilities, which are: to test the faith of all mankind; to bring punishment and judgment upon those Jehovah wills it for; to humble the proud; and to further deceive and bind all those who do not love the truth.
When I looked into the creation accounts of different cultures, I saw the same recurring theme: that either evil existed before light, or that both forces have always existed side by side, as in the Iroquois American Indian creation legend that teaches about twin gods, one who as creative, and the other who was destructive.
Hinduism is the dominant religion of India and is also considered by some as the oldest religion in the world. Hinduism is comprises of three major supreme deities, Shiva, Vishnu and Shakti (also called Devi), with most of the other deities as being related to them. Vishnu is conceived as “the Preserver” or “the Protector”. Shakti is regarded as the primordial cosmic energy and dynamic creative forces that move through the entire Universe, and is sometimes referred to as “The Great Divine Mother”. Shiva is regarded as one of the primary forms of God and regarded as the king of gods, “the Destroyer” or also “the Transformer”, showing himself in benevolent and fearsome forms. Another evil god of Hindu religion is Kali, who represents a dark and violent force and interestingly, Kali is considered by some as being the first creation, before light itself.
According to the Iroquois American Indian creation legend, in the beginning, the Earth was a water world, with human-type beings that lived in the Sky World above. One day, the daughter of Sky Woman gave birth to Twins. One was born the natural way and he was called the Right-Handed Twin. The other was born in a way that caused the death of the mother; he was called the Left-Handed Twin. Both the Right and Left-Handed Twins were endowed with special creative powers. The Right-Handed Twin created gentle hills, beautiful smelling flowers, quiet brooks, butterflies and numerous creatures, plants and earth formations. The Left-Handed Twin made snakes, thorns on rose bushes, thunder and lightning and other more disturbing attributes of today’s world. Together they created man and his many attributes. The Right-Handed Twin believed in diplomacy to resolve matters, and the Left-Handed Twin believed in conflict as resolution. They were very different, but all that they created is an integral part of this Earth’s Creation. When their Grandmother, Sky Woman, came to the end of her life and died, the Twins fought over her body and pulled it apart, throwing her head into the sky, where it shines upon the world as the Moon. The Twins could not live together without fighting, so they agreed to dwell in different realms of the Earth. The Right-Handed Twin continued to live in the daylight and the Left-Handed Twin became a dweller of the night. Both of them continue their special duties to their Mother the Earth. (<http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/TheCreationStory-Iroquois.html>)
In the Chinese creation story, Tao is described as the ultimate force behind the creation. With Tao, nothingness gave rise to existence, existence gave rise to yin and yang, and yin and yang gave rise to everything.
The Chinese teach that yin and yang gave rise to everything, and the Sumerians, the Hindus, and American Indians teach that there has always been a dark, destructive force associated with destruction and snakes. Similarly, the Bible also teaches that before light, there was darkness, and there are many passages that teach about ancient serpents, dragons, and sea monsters.
No comments:
Post a Comment