Child of Abrham, Child of God (Part 6)

Egyptologist John Anthony West writes: Egyptian civilization was not a ‘development’, it was a legacy;[3] asserting that knowledge and expertise has been lost rather than advanced.[4] More importantly, the scripture says that the people all spoke one language and therefore nothing was impossible for them. Likewise today, even though Esperanto was proposed as the global language to unify the people of the Earth, English has become the universal language that is spoken by scientists and engineers around the world, and technological  development  has been revolutionized as a result.

One other important point that we need to recognize that arose out of the Babel incident is that God scattered the nations according to language groupings. Ethnic groupings were given different languages and an angel was appointed over each of the groupings (cp. Deut.4.19; 32:8; Dan. 10:13, 20-21;12:1). Not all interpreters of the scriptures agree that this is the case. However, what needs to be understood is the Almighty is a supernatural God and we are dealing with the supernatural as well as the natural. We are not just dealing with things that are seen by the human eye, rather that which can only be seen when the eyes of our hearts are opened. The eyes of our hearts are our spiritual eyes, and this is what Paul refers to when he wrote:

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come (Ephesians 1:16-21 RSV).

When our spiritual eyes have been opened, we become aware of the rulers, the authorities, the powers and dominions of the spiritual realm, as well as to the inheritance that we have as saints in the kingdom of God. Some expositors claim that this text has no reference to spiritual powers, while other expositors note that the words used for the four classes of office bearers (rulers, authorities, powers and dominions) are used elsewhere (e.g. Colossians 1:16) in the scriptures of angels, both good and evil.

Child of Abraham, Child of God (part 5)

The book “The Two Babylons” by Alexander Hislop is a detailed expose tracing the Mother of God and Queen of Heaven cults through the ancient religions back to Babel. Hislop demonstrates how the cults originated with the death of Nimrod and the exaltation of his wife, Semiramis, and have featured under different names within various religions of the world.  Concerning Nimrod, Hislop writes:

Now, the ancient traditions relate that the apostates who joined in the rebellion of  Nimrod made war upon the faithful among the sons of Noah. Power and numbers were on the side of the fire-worshippers. But on the side of Shem and the faithful was the mighty power of God's Spirit. Therefore many were convinced of their sin, arrested in their evil career; and victory, as we have already seen, declared for the saints. The power of Nimrod came to an end, and with that, for a time, the worship of the sun, and the fiery serpent associated with it. The wars of the giants against heaven, referred to in ancient heathen writers, had primary reference to this war against the saints; for men cannot make war upon God except by attacking the people of God. The ancient writer Eupolemus, as quoted by Eusebius (Praeparatio Evang.), states, that the builders of the tower of Babel were these giants; which statement amounts nearly to the same thing as the conclusion to which we have already come, for we have seen that the "mighty ones" of Nimrod were "the giants" of antiquity. Epiphanius records that Nimrod was a ringleader among these giants, and that "conspiracy, sedition, and tyranny were carried on under him." From the very necessity of the case, the faithful must have suffered most, as being most opposed to his ambitious and sacrilegious schemes. That Nimrod's reign terminated in some very signal catastrophe, we have seen abundant reason already to conclude. The following statement of Syncellus confirms the conclusions to which we have already come as to the nature of that catastrophe; referring to the arresting of the tower-building scheme, Syncellus (Chronographia) proceeds thus: "But Nimrod would still obstinately stay (when most of the other tower-builders were dispersed), and reside upon the spot; nor could he be withdrawn from the tower, still having the command over no contemptible body of men. Upon this, we are informed, that the tower, being beat upon by violent winds, gave way, and by the just judgment of God, crushed him to pieces."

Though this could not be literally true, for the tower stood for many ages, yet there is a considerable amount of tradition to the effect that the tower in which Nimrod gloried was overthrown by wind, which gives reason to suspect that this story, when properly understood, had a real meaning in it. Take it figuratively, and remembering that the same word which signifies the wind signifies also the Spirit of God, it becomes highly probable that the meaning is, that his lofty and ambitious scheme, by which, in Scriptural language, he was seeking to "mount up to heaven," and "set his nest among the stars," was overthrown for a time by the Spirit of God, as we have already concluded, and that, in that overthrow he himself perished (pg 152).

Moreover, we need to understand that back in the days of Nimrod, there was more technology available than what is given credit by people today. The number of pyramids that are being discovered that are super-structures which were designed for purposes other than being burial homes for reigning pharaohs of Egypt is becoming more evident, even if not widely known. The mere fact that blocks of limestone weighing more than 100 tons[2] can be precision cut and transported, then lifted in to position and fitted without any need for filler, as there are no gaps, testifies to the technological advancement that existed at that time. 

Child of Abraham, Child of God (Part 4)

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.  And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.  Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.”  So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:1-9 ESV).

The scriptures here do not say that the people of Babel were seeking to ascend above the stars of God. But the way God has dwelt with the people suggests that the words “let us make a name for ourselves” may very well have been to what Isaiah was referring and was describing the desire of Nimrod, the king of Babel (which was later known as Babylon). The proclamation by Isaiah does not fit Adam, and neither does it really fit Satan if he was already the pre-eminent archangel, as he would no need to ascend to Heaven, since he was already there.

In as much as this is said to apply to Lucifer (meaning, light bearer), who is also known as the Satan and the Devil, this passage of scripture is about the king of Babylon. However, what is also very interesting about this statement is that it also describes the thoughts that very likely possessed the heart of Eve as she pondered whether to eat of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. It appears to be doubtful that Adam in his state of innocence was pondering about a political coup to storm heaven. We can conclude with some confidence that the only reason Adam ate of the forbidden fruit is he saw Eve eat of the fruit and not die. Naturally, like most men who cannot keep their eyes off a beautiful woman, Adam had all eyes on Eve. Eve was beautiful, more beautiful than any woman who has come after her, as we could imagine, since none of the molecules within her body would have been affected by sin. Eve alone was sculptured by God Himself.

Child of Abraham, Child of God (Part 3)

In as much as this is said to apply to Lucifer (meaning, light bearer), who is also known as the Satan and the Devil, this passage of scripture is about the king of Babylon. However, what is also very interesting about this statement is that it also describes the thoughts that very likely possessed the heart of Eve as she pondered whether to eat of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. It appears to be doubtful that Adam in his state of innocence was pondering about a political coup to storm heaven. We can conclude with some confidence that the only reason Adam ate of the forbidden fruit is he saw Eve eat of the fruit and not die. Naturally, like most men who cannot keep their eyes off a beautiful woman, Adam had all eyes on Eve. Eve was beautiful, more beautiful than any woman who has come after her, as we could imagine, since none of the molecules within her body would have been affected by sin. Eve alone was sculptured by God Himself.

While it is important to understand the Eve was absolutely stunning and reflected the image of God (Genesis 1:27), it is more important at this juncture to grasp that there is a strong probability this portion of scripture in Isaiah might not refer to Satan and his fall from Heaven. Even if there is a possibility of such thoughts having entered the heart of Eve once the Serpent had beguiled her (Gen 6:1-6), it is doubtful that this passage of scripture is referring to her. This scripture has to be a reference to a human being, but most exegetes tend to see this as a veiled reference to the fall of Satan from Heaven. However, there is another person in the Bible to whom this particular text in all likelihood refers.

From a strictly literal sense, this poetic form of revelatory text appears most likely to refer to the time that Nimrod decided to build a tower towards Heaven. Like quite a number of matters when it comes to forging truth from the Bible and letting scripture interpreting scripture, there is not much biblical evidence that Nimrod actually was the one who lead a rebellion against the Most High.  What we do know, Nimrod is described as a mighty hunter before the Lord and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel (Genesis 10:9-10). Events that occurred at Babel did however change the course of history:

Child of God (Part 2)

It is a mystery why many of the people who claim or suggest that the event described above in Revelation chapter twelve took place some four thousand or more years before the Apostle John was shown what was to take place in the future. One can only put it down that in their desire to point out that Christians have the victory over the Devil through Jesus Christ they are prepared to deceive. This is self-defeating, and suggests that the individuals are aligning themselves with the deceiver of the world, who is the father of lies rather than seeking the glory of the Father of Light.

This brings us to another issue which needs to be addressed, and one Jesus addressed concerning the Jews of His day as recorded in the same chapter of John as the previous quoted scripture regarding the truth setting people free. Many people like to think they have the truth, when in fact they do not. They possess presuppositions and doctrines that are not truly biblical that lead people into error. Instead of humility and genuine discussion centered on arriving at truth, these individuals desire to be contentious and arrogant. Consequently, rather than demonstrating that they are at peace with God, they become agitated, just as the Jews did when confronting Jesus:

“You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:41-44 ESV).

The mark of the Devil is deception and lies. Rather than the truth, the Devil fosters deception by any means possible. More particularly, the Devil likes to appeal to people’s pride. Pride of life is the very reason Adam fell from the standing he had with God. Pride of life was the very reason that Eve believed the lie of the Devil. Pride was the very reason the Devil lost his place in Heaven.

In the book of Isaiah, we read the following:

How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’ (Is. 14:12-14 ESV).

Child of God (Part 1)

a

Child

of

Abraham

Is a

Child of God

By

H. L. Riches

_{© 1st January, 1914}

   

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:7-11 KJV).

Numerous expositors of the Bible claim that this event happened some time before the fall of Adam and is what caused humanity to be bound by the state of sin. The argument for those who hold this view is that this is when Jesus saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven (Luke 10:18). However, what is so often overlooked is the fact the book of Revelation states:

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Rev. 4:1 ESV[1]).

What this means is everything that follows chapter four, verse one of the book of Revelation is to take place after what had taken place in the preceding chapters in respect to the seven churches. The book of Revelation is commonly believed to have been written some sixty years after Jesus death and resurrection, so it is incomprehensible how people claiming to be thorough exegetes of the Bible can seriously suggest that this portion describes what happened at the time of the fall of Adam, or when Satan actually fell from Heaven. Unwittingly, they are promoting some idea that is contrary to the truth.

We cannot overstress the fact that the truth alone sets us free. This is so important if we are to have a victorious walk over the enemy of our freedom, the Devil himself. At the heart of everything is the question of truth.

‘Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”’ (John 8:31-33).