Chapter6

Marking Time

The Fourth Day

REBELLION BEGINS

The angels must have beheld the process of creation with awe and wonder. We know that they were not informed of all that God was doing since the Scriptures say, "they have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into" (1 Pet. 1:12). Lucifer never understood the gospel for if he did, he "would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Cor. 2:8). The setting of the stars had no meaning unto Lucifer until he heard God speak to Adam and his godly descendants.

The Lord knew that Lucifer would rebel, yet he was still "perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee" (Eze. 28:15). But judgment can only be meted out when sin is acted out, which came to him at Christ's crucifixion. Until that time he had access to the throne of God. His iniquity was only in his heart.

The iniquity found in Lucifer's heart would have undoubtedly caused him to influence other angels. It is apparent from Scripture that God only gave man and the angels a free moral will. All other creatures have free will but are incapable of making moral decisions. In talking to other angels, Lucifer convinced "the third part of the stars of heaven" (Rev. 12:4a) to rebel against God, by the time of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. At this time, however, he is slowly influencing the angels one by one. Lucifer was very crafty. He himself never committed a crime against God so was able to come and go into His throne room (Job 1:6, 2:1 - 7). He understood the laws of God. The psalmist says, "Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?" (Psa. 94:20). Because of his understanding of God's laws, he became the accuser of the brethren, or Satan. The table lists some of his demonic followers.

Demonic Spirits

Satan

Chief among the fallen angels is Satan, formerly known as Lucifer and Son of the Morning. Satan means, "accuser," which reflects his chief activity - finding fault, indictment, and bringing condemnation on mankind. He is also called the "great red dragon" (Rev. 12:3), that "old serpent," "the Devil," and "Satan" (Rev. 12:9). Satan has command over 1/3 of the angels that fell away from God.

Baal -Zebub

Means, "lord of the flies," and is first mentioned in 2 Kings 1:2 when Ahaziah, king of Samaria, fell through a lattice and became ill. He sent messengers saying, "Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease." Jesus was accused by the Pharisees of performing deliverance miracles by the power of Beelzebub the prince of the devils. He responded, "If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?" (Mat. 12:26 & 27a). It seems that Beelzebub is another name for Satan.

Abaddon or Apollyon

The king of the bottomless pit from which the locusts with men's faces and crowns of gold, women's hair, lion's teeth, breastplates of iron, wings, and scorpion's tails (Rev. 9).

Four Angels bound in the Euphrates River

They ride horses that have lion's heads, fire is in their mouths and they have tails like serpents with heads (Rev. 9)

Demonic Spirits (by function)

  • Spirit of Antichrist (1 John 4:3): any spirit contrary to God.
  • Spirit of Bondage (Rom. 8:15): any spirit that puts people back under the law.
  • Spirit of Divination (Acts 15:16): any spirit used by mediums in the occult.
  • Spirit of Muteness (Mark 9:17 & 25): any spirit that causes impediment of speech, or removal of speech.
  • Spirit of Error (1 John 4:6): any spirit that causes someone to miss the truth.
  • Spirit of Fear (2 Tim. 1:7): any spirit that creates fear in a person.
  • Spirit of Jealousy (Num. 5:14): any spirit provoking unnatural jealousy.
  • Spirit of Whoredom (Hos. 4:12): any spirit that encourages one to leave God for idols.


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"That Which Was Lost" by Alexander Douglas © 2008

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