"Be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image." (2Corinthians 3:18)
IN OUR texts the word rendered transformed, or changed, is the same as is used in Matthew 17:2; and this must have been in the mind of the Apostle when he said, "Be transfigured," and "we are transfigured into the same image." How can this transformation be effected? First, from within, by the renewing of the mind; and second, by beholding the glory of the Lord. As we've seen in our other posting this is an action of God's Grace when received by the believer who is willing to be willing in humility and trust.
The renewing of the mind. This is no matter for emotion or ecstasy, but of bringing our minds into close and constant contact with the truth as contained in the Scriptures. You have not to study yourself in the mirror, to see whether you are becoming transfigured; but as day by day you steep your mind in God's Word, without your realizing it, you will become transfigured. Moses wist not that his face shone. It was for the crowd that waited for him at the mountain-foot to see it, not for him.
Our Lord said: "Abide in Me and I in you." This is somewhat mystical and profound; but He said again: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you"--that is surely within our reach. "It is not too high, not too deep, not too inward, not too mystical," said Dr. Whyte on one occasion; "and when the Master asks that His words shall abide in me, He can mean nothing else than that I shall often recall and recollect His words, and shall repeat them to myself at all times." Jesus likened it to eating of His flesh as He is the Word that put on mans flesh so He could call Himself the son of man as He was housed in the shame of fallen man, so He humbled Himself or brought Himself through the birthing into a dark and wicked world. When we eat of His flesh and digests what He has said then His life begins to take it's place within us and we become bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh again. Part of the secret hidden from view and the understanding of sin-filled man.
As a man thinks in his heart so is he; and if we think those thoughts of self-giving, which characterized our Lord's forecast and determination on the Mount of Transfiguration--if we are animated by the resolve to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God; as we steep our minds in His mind--the transfiguring Grace of that high resolve will insensibly pass into our faces, thus irradiating our meanest actions, our simplest speech.
Beholding and reflecting the Grace and Glory of the Lord. The mirror again is the Scriptures. We find there the reflection of our Lord's highest Grace and glory, which is patent, not in His Creative but in His Redemptive work. As we gaze on Him who, for our salvation hid not His Face from shame and spitting, but became a willing Sacrifice on our behalf, we shall be changed.
We are to willfully choose to obey the Lord and resist all the pressures of the world to conform to it's ways and it's religions, for the Lord through Paul tells us to not be conformed to it, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Put down those fleshly lusts and appetites that so easily beset you. Come out from among them and be holy for I am Holy said the Lord to Israel and He has not changed those words sense He first released them by His breath.
Taken in part from a daily devotional by F.B. Meyer with limited editing by me.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Unveiling of Satan
What is about to be studied is not part of Paul's secret revealed but is a study on it's own and stands as such because many have this notion that there is no such thing as a devil or Satan.
The sole purpose of this study is to find proof of Satan, his army of fallen spirits or angels and his and their influences on man. This seems to be a great bone of contention throughout the church world today as they stay away from any teaching or preaching along this line. There maybe a great cover up been perpetrated against the peoples of the world by what we all call loving church. As the character of the institution has been changed from that known by the early church fathers, those prior to the 3rd and 4th centuries.
Satan does not seem to be an actual person but rather a force of darkness and thickness (a blockage of light) that opposes the truths and reality of God and all goodness in love. This blockage is called a veil by Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, (unbelieving here is a term for those who chose not to abide in the logos. “word or will”, that is the logos of God [spoken or written word or will] and then in God’s grace are changed in us to rhema [the revealed word and God’s will] or the incarnate one [as Christ is birthed in us as with Mary when she said, “be it onto me” according to your word Lord.]) that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.” (The italicized words here, were added by men to complete the thought and was subject to their denominations religious persuasion, what if it said; in them, which is a more correct form.) Paul says in Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I am, again in travail until Christ be (is) formed in you.”
There are two books that few, if any, know about in today’s churches; they are the book of Enoch and the book of Jasher. Both of these early books were quoted by the early prophets and by the Lord and others of the disciples and apostles that followed the Lord, the priests of Israel had copies of them. Jasher is made reference to in two of the Old Testament books, Joshua and 2 Samuel. These books reveal a lot about the mysteries surrounding phrases and terms that were, in some cases, direct quotes from one or the other of these two books showing the value to scripture that they held. Both have information about the fallen angels, demons, and Satan which would be of interest to us of this day and time. Especially when dealing with certain types of people and what vary well could be some sort of oppression or demonic possession, being manifested through them of position, even the leadership of governments and religious institutions or denominations and or pastors, teachers and others.
The Jewish leaders devalued these writings, as they had their own sacred text, and the early fathers of the Christian faith removed them and almost all reference to them. Our question is; Why? What light could they reveal to us of this day and time? Would more people remove themselves form our false system of religion, if it is false?
This study goes with the study on the Revealing of the Lawless one(or ones). We’ll pull many thoughts from many renowned Bible teachers and scholars to help us learn with more clarity God’s word. I find it helps to get more than one view point on any subject, as I'm sure that you've already noticed in prior studies.
Now we'll lay some ground work with words and terms definitions:
Satan: The grand adversary of God and man; the devil or prince of darkness, the old dragon, the serpent; the chief of the fallen angels. He has no hope of regaining that from which he fell.
Different translations renderings of the spirit of Satan manifested in the flesh of man as shown in two kings of the earth, the first is Lucifer the king of Babylon found in Isaiah 14:10-23 and the second the king of Tyrus found in Ezekiel 28:12-19 as with our earlier statement all O.T. scriptures are for our learning, not doctrine.
Lucifer was a ruler of Babylon and is the personification of Satan. The following scriptures are taken from different translations of the Bible.
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations? (KJV)
Isaiah 14:12 "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! (ESV)
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! [see also Eze. 28:13-17] (ASV)
Taken from Jamieson, Fausster, and Brown Commentary
Isaiah 14:12-15 The Jews address the him again as a fallen once-bright star.
The language is so framed as to apply to the Babylonian king primarily, and at the same time to shadow forth through him, the great final enemy, the man of sin, Antichrist, of Daniel, Paul, and John; he alone shall fulfill exhaustively all the lineaments here given.
Lucifer — “day star.” A title truly belonging to Christ (Revelation 22:16), “the bright and morning star,” and therefore hereafter to be assumed by Antichrist. Gesenius, however, renders the Hebrew here as in Eze. 21:12; Zec. 11:2, “howl.”
Taken from John Wesley
Fallen – From; the height of thy glory. Lucifer - Which properly is a bright star that ushers in the morning; but is here metaphorically taken for the mighty king of Babylon. Son - The title of son is given in scripture not only to a person or thing begotten or produced by another, but also to any thing which is related, to it, in which sense we read of the son of a night, Jonah 4:10, a son of perdition, John 17:12, and, which is more agreeable, to the present case, the sons of Arcturus, Job 38:32.
Taken from Scofield Reference notes:
son of the morning
Verses 12-14 (Isa. 14:12-14) evidently refer to Satan, who, as prince of this world-system (see "World," (John 7:7).
(See Scofield) - (Rev. 13:8) is the real unseen ruler of the successive world-powers. Tyre, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, etc. (see (Eze 28:12-14) Lucifer, "day-star," can be none other than Satan. This tremendous passage marks the beginning of sin in the universe. When Lucifer said, "I will," sin began. See (See Scofield) - Rev 20:10.
See other instances of addressing Satan through another, (Gen 3:15); (Mat 16:22-23).
Geneva Bible Translation notes
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O (h) Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (h) You who thought yourself most glorious and as it were placed in the heaven for the morning star that goes before the sun, is called Lucifer, to whom Nebuchadnezzar is compared.
Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the O.T.
Isaiah 14:12 “How art thou fallen from the sky, thou star of light, sun of the dawn, hurled down to the earth, thou that didst throw down nations from above?” הֵילֵל is here the morning star (from hâlal, to shine, resolved from hillel, after the form מֵאֵן, Jer 13:10, סֵעֵף, Psa 119:113, or rather attaching itself as a third class to the forms הֵיכָל, עֵירֹם: compare the Arabic sairaf, exchanger; saikal, sword-cleaner). It derives its name in other ancient languages also from its striking brilliancy, and is here called ben-shachar (sun of the dawn), just as in the classical mythology it is called son of Eos, from the fact that it rises before the sun, and swims in the morning light as if that were the source of its birth.
(Note: It is singular, however, that among the Semitic nations the morning star is not personified as a male (Heōsphoros or Phōsphoros), but as a female (Astarte, see at Isa 17:8), and that it is called Nâghâh, Ashtoreth, Zuhara, but never by a name derived from hâlal; whilst the moon is regarded as a male deity (Sin), and in Arabic hilâl signifies the new moon, which might be called ben- shacar (son of the dawn), (Jah, or Rah, Yah, jah) from the fact that, from the time when it passes out of the invisibility of its first phase, it is seen at sunrise, and is as it were born out of the dawn.)
Lucifer is king of Babylon, Satan as a name given to the devil, was derived from this passage, which the fathers (and lately Stier) interpreted, without any warrant whatever, as relating to the apostasy and punishment of the angelic leaders. The appellation is a perfectly appropriate one for the king of Babel, on account of the early date of the Babylonian culture, which reached back as far as the grey twilight of primeval times, and also because of its predominant astrological character. The additional epithet chōlēsh ‛al-gōyim is founded upon the idea of the influxus siderum:
(Note: In a similar manner, the sun-god (San) is called the “conqueror of the king's enemies,” “breaker of opposition,” etc., on the early Babylonian monuments (see G. Rawlinson, The Five Great Monarchies, i. 160).)
cholesh signifies “overthrowing” or laying down (Exo 17:13), and with ‛al, “bringing defeat upon;” whilst the Talmud (b. Sabbath 149b) uses it in the sense of projiciens sortem, and thus throws light upon the cholesh (= purah, lot) of the Mishnah. A retrospective glance is now cast at the self-deification of the king of Babylon, in which he was the antitype of the devil and the type of antichrist (Dan 11:36; 2Th 2:4), and which had met with its reward.
Satan the archangel cast from Heaven for leading a revolt of the angels (personality of self love known as Satan/ the Devil), he was the angel of light-bearer, light, (Satan/ Devil, the adversary, to accuse, cruel, evil, fiendish), brightness; opening: limu, luminary, moon, luna, lunary.
(In some early paganism he was called Sun of man, Rah, Mithra, Mitzrah, Jah, Yah, to name but a few. The sun god played are part in Egyptian culture, Babylonian culture, Persian culture, Canaan, and others. Not to mention many woman goddess'.)
Taken from the New American Heritage Dictionary.
Isaiah 14:12-14 "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.'
This is the personification of Satan in mans flesh.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
O.T. Satan/ Devil Satan Greek from the Aramaic Hebrew adversary:
a) Num 22:22 of an angel of Yehovah
b) 1 Sam. 29:4; Ps. 38:20, 71:13 and 109 four times used
c) of Satan, the Devil is used seventeen times in the O.T., in Zech. 3:1 the name receives its interpretation N.T Satan is always used as the adversary
a) of God and Christ: Mat. 4:10, 12:26; Mark 1:13, 3:23, 26; 4:15; Luke 4:8, 11:18, 22:3; John 13:27
b) of His people: Luke 22:31-32; Acts 16:20; Rom. 16:20; 1 Thes. 2:18
c) of mankind: Luke 13:16; Acts 26:18; 2 Thes. 2:9
His doom is sealed at the Cross, is foretold in its stages in. Luke 10:18 and Rev. 20:2, 10.
Those who are believers are assured of victory over him. Rom. 16:20.
Satan is not simply the personification of evil influences in the heart, for he tempted Christ, in whose heart no evil thought could ever have arisen (John 14:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15) moreover his personality is asserted in both the O.T. and the N.T. especially in the N.T. whereas if the O.T. language was intended to be figurative, the N.T. would have made this evident.
The Devil is an accuser, a slanderer, to malign. The Devil is the Devil and a demon is only a demon and is only to be used for demons, not Devil, for there is only one Devil but there are many demons. He being the malignant enemy of God and man, he accuses man to God, Job 1:6-11, 2:1-5; Rev. 12:9-10 and God to man Gen. 3. He afflicts men with physical sufferings, Acts 10:38. Being himself sinful 1 John 3:8, he instigates man to sin, Gen. 3 and tempts man to do evil, Eph. 4:27, 6:11, encouraging him thereto by deception, Eph. 2:2. Death having been brought into the world by sin, the Devil had the power of death, but Christ through His own death has triumphed over Satan, and will bring Satan to naught, Heb. 2:14; his power over death is intimated in his struggle with Michael over the body of Moses, Jude 9. Judas, who gave himself over to the Devil, was so identified with him, that the Lord described him as such, John 6:70, 13:2. As the Devil raised himself in pride against God and fell under condemnation, so believers are warned against similar sin, 1 Tim. 3:6; for them he lays snares in verse 7, seeking to devour them as a roaring lion, 1 Pet. 5:8; those who fall into his snare may be recovered there from into the will of God, 2 Tim. 2:26, “having been taken captive by him (the Devil) or by the Lord’s servant” is the alternative, which some regard as confirmed by the use of to catch alive in Luke 5:10; but the general use is that of captive in the usual way. If the Devil is resisted he will flee, James 4:7. His fury and malignity will be especially exercised at the end of the present age, Rev. 12:12. His doom is the lake of fire, Mat. 25:41; Rev. 20:10.
The noun form is applied to slanderers, false accusers, 1 Tim. 3:11; 2 Tim. 3:3; Titus 2:3.
The next passage of scripture we’ll look at is found in Eze. 28:11-19, which is about the king of Tyrus, we’ll start at the beginning to keep continuity:
Ezekiel 28:1-9 The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god-- you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you; by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth--therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you make your heart like the heart of a god, therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor. They shall thrust you down into the pit, and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas. Will you still say, 'I am a god,' in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you?
Ezekiel 28:11-19 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever."
Here we see again the personification of the spirit of Satan in mans flesh.
Ezekiel 28:11-19
As after the prediction of the ruin of Tyre (ch. 26) followed a pathetic lamentation for it (ch. 27), so after the ruin of the king of Tyre is foretold it is bewailed.
I. This is commonly understood of the prince who then reigned over Tyre, spoken to, Eze 28:2. His name was Ethbaal, or Ithobalus, as Diodorus Siculus calls him that was king of Tyre when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it. He was, it seems, upon all external accounts an accomplished man, very great and famous; but his iniquity was his ruin. Many expositors have suggested that besides the literal sense of this lamentation there is an allegory in it, and that it is an allusion to the fall of the angels that sinned, who undid themselves by their pride. And (as is usual in texts that have a mystical meaning) some passages here refer primarily to the king of Tyre, as that of his merchandises, others to the angels, as that of being in the holy mountain of God. But, if there be any thing mystical in it (as perhaps there may), I shall rather refer it to the fall of Adam, which seems to be glanced at, Eze 28:13. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God, and that in the day thou was created.
II. Some think that by the king of Tyre is meant the whole royal family, this including also the foregoing kings, and looking as far back as Hiram, king of Tyre. The then governor is called prince (Eze 28:2); but he that is here lamented is called king. The court of Tyre with its kings had for many ages been famous; but sin ruins it. Now we may observe two things here: -
1. What was the renown of the king of Tyre. He is here spoken of as having lived in great splendor, Eze 28:12-15. He as a man, but it is here owned that he was a very considerable man and one that made a mighty figure in his day.
(1.) He far exceeded other men. Hiram and other kings of Tyre had done so in their time; and the reigning king perhaps had not come short of any of them: Thou sealest up the sum full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. But the powers of human nature and the prosperity of human life seemed in him to be at the highest pitch. He was looked upon to be as wise as the reason of men could make him, and as happy as the wealth of this world and the enjoyment of it could make him; in him you might see the utmost that both could do; and therefore seal up the sum, for nothing can be added; he is a complete man, perfect in suo genere - in his kind.
(2.) He seemed to be as wise and happy as Adam in innocence (Eze 28:13): “Thou hast been in Eden, even in the garden of God; thou hast lived as it were in paradise all thy days, hast had a full enjoyment of every thing that is good for food or pleasant to the eyes, and an uncontroversial dominion over all about thee, as Adam had.” One instance of the magnificence of the king of Tyre is, that he outdid all others princes in jewels, which those have the greatest plenty of that trade most abroad, as he did: Every precious stone was his covering. There is a great variety of precious stones; but he had of every sort and in such plenty that besides what were treasured up in his cabinet, and were the ornaments of his crown, he had his clothes trimmed with them; they were his covering. Nay (Eze 28:14), he walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire, that is, these precious stones, which glittered and sparkled like fire. His rooms were in a manner set round with jewels, so that he walked in the midst of them, and then fancied himself as glorious as if, like God, he had been surrounded by so many angels, who are compared to a flame of fire. And, if he be such an admirer of precious stones as to think them as bright as angels, no wonder that he is such an admirer of himself as to think himself as great as God. Nine several sorts of previous stones are here named, which were all in the high priest's ephod. Perhaps they are particularly named because he, in his pride, used to speak particularly of them, and tell those about him, with a great deal of foolish pleasure, “This is such a precious stone, of such a value, and so and so are its virtues.” Thus is he upbraided with his vanity. Gold is mentioned last, as far inferior in value to those precious stones; and he used to speak of it accordingly. Another thing that made him think his palace a paradise was the curious music he had, the tablets and pipes, hand-instruments and wind-instruments. The workmanship of these was extraordinary, and they were prepared for him on purpose; prepared in thee, the pronoun is feminine - in thee, O Tyre! or it denotes that the king was effeminate in doting on such things. They were prepared in the day he was created, that is, either born, or created king; they were made on purpose to celebrate the joys either of his birthday or of his coronation-day. These he prided himself much in, and would have all that came to see his palace take notice of them.
(3.) He looked like an incarnate angel (Eze 28:14): Thou art the anointed cherub that covers or protects; that is, he looked upon himself as a guardian angel to his people, so bright, so strong, so faithful, appointed to this office and qualified for it. Anointed kings should be to their subjects as anointed cherubim, that cover them with the wings of their power; and, when they are such, God will own them. Their advancement was from him: I have set thee so. Some think, because mention was made of Eden, that it refers to the cherub set on the east of Eden to cover it, Gen 3:24. He thought himself as able to guard his city from all invaders as that angel was for his charge. Or it may refer to the cherubim in the most holy place, whose wings covered the ark; he thought himself as bright as one of them.
(4.) He appeared in as much splendor as the high priest when he was clothed with his garments for glory and beauty: “Thou was upon the holy mountain of God, as president of the temple built on that holy mountain; thou didst look as great, and with as much majesty and authority, as ever the high priest did when he walked in the temple, which was garnished with precious stones (2Chr 3:6), and had his habit on, which had precious stones both in the breast and on the shoulders; in that he seemed to walk in the midst of the stones of fire.” Thus glorious is the king of Tyre; at least he thinks himself so.
2. Let us now see what was the ruin of the king of Tyre, what it was that stained his glory and laid all this honor in the dust (Eze 28:15): “Thou was perfect in thy ways; thou didst prosper in all thy affairs and every thing went well with thee; thou had not only a clear, but a bright reputation, from the day thou was created, the day of thy accession to the throne, till iniquity was found in thee; and that spoiled all.” This may perhaps allude to the deplorable case of the angels that fell, and of our first parents, both of whom were perfect in their ways till iniquity was found in them. And when iniquity was once found in him it increased; he grew worse and worse, as appears (Eze 28:18): “Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries; thou hast lost the benefit of all that which thou thought sacred, and in which, as in a sanctuary, thou thought to take refuge; these thou hast defiled, and so exposed thyself by the multitude of thy iniquities.” Now observe,
1. What the iniquity was that was the ruin of the king of Tyre.
[1.] The iniquity of his traffic (so it is called, Eze 28:18), both his and his people's, for their sin is charged upon him, because he connived at it and set them a bad example (Eze 28:16): By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thus thou hast sinned. The king had so much to do with his merchandise, and was so wholly intent upon the gains of that, that he took no care to do justice, to give redress to those that suffered wrong and to protect them from violence; nay, in the multiplicity of business, wrong was done to many by oversight; and in his dealings he made use of his power to invade the rights of those he dealt with. Note, those that have much to do in the world are in great danger of doing much amiss; and it is hard to deal with many without violence to some. Trades are called mysteries; but too many make them mysteries of iniquity.
[2.] His pride and vain-glory (Eze 28:17): “Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; you were in love with yourself, and your own shadow. And thus thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of the brightness, the pomp and splendor, wherein you lived.” He gazed so much upon this that it dazzled his eyes and prevented him from seeing his way. He appeared so puffed up with his greatness that it bereaved him both of his wisdom and of the reputation of it. He really became a fool in glorying. Those make a bad bargain for themselves that part with their wisdom for the gratifying of their gaiety, and, to please a vain humor, lose a real excellency.
2. What the ruin was that this iniquity brought him to.
[1.] He was thrown out of his dignity and dislodged from his palace, which he took to be his paradise and temple (Eze 28:16): I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God. His kingly power was high as a mountain, setting him above others; it was a mountain of God, for the powers that be are ordained of God, and have something in them that is sacred; but, having abused his power, he is reckoned profane, and is therefore deposed and expelled. He disgraces the crown he wears, and so has forfeited it, and shall be destroyed from the midst of the stones of fire, the precious stones with which his palace was garnished, as the temple was; and they shall be no protection to him.
[2.] He was exposed to contempt and disgrace, and trampled upon by his neighbors: “I will cast thee to the ground (Eze 28:17), will cast thee among the pavement-stones, from the midst of the precious stones, and will lay thee a rueful spectacle before kings, that they may behold thee and take warning by thee not to be proud and oppressive.”
[3.] He was quite consumed, his city and he in it: I will bring forth a fire from the midst of thee. The conquerors, when they have plundered the city, will kindle a fire in the heart of it, which shall lay it, and the palace particularly, in ashes. Or it may be taken more generally for the fire of God's judgments, which shall devour both prince and people, and bring all the glory of both to ashes upon the earth; and this fire shall be brought forth from the midst of thee. All God's judgments upon sinners take rise from themselves; they are devoured by a fire of their own kindling.
[4.] He was hereby made a terrible example of divine vengeance. Thus he is reduced in the sight of all those that behold him (Eze 28:18): Those that know him shall be astonished at him, and shall wonder how one that stood so high could be brought so low. The king of Tyre's palace, like the temple at Jerusalem, when it is destroyed shall be an astonishment and a hissing, 2Chr 7:20-21. So fell the king of Tyre.
Taken from Matthews Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.
In our efforts to find other commentaries or notes on this passage of scripture have proved to be difficult at best because of the lack of the same. The few found said about the same as Matthew Henry so we will settle for only his for now, though we’ll add more as we are able.
Paul tells us that we as individuals before we became sons of the light once walked under the influence of Satan. Let us broaden this to include those who are believers in Christ Jesus, but have not received the true revelation of the incarnate one in them, the being one with Him. With this in mind let us turn to Paul’s and the other letters to search out what might be revealed and to learn the truth for ourselves. (John 12:24, 15:1-11)
Ephesians 2:2-3 Wherein you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (Gen.3)
Ephesians 2:2
the course of this world — the career (literally, “the age,” compare Gal 1:4), or present system of this world (1Cor 2:6, 12; 1Cor 3:18-19, as opposed to “the world to come”): alien from God, and lying in the wicked one (1John 5:19). “The age” (which is something more external and ethical) regulates “the world” (which is something more external).
the prince of the power of the air — the unseen God who lies underneath guiding “the course of this world” (2Cor 4:4); ranging through the air around us: compare Mark 4:4, “fowls of the air” (Greek, “heaven”) that is, (Eph 2:15), “Satan” and his demons. Compare Eph 6:12; John 12:31. Christ’s ascension seems to have cast Satan out of heaven (Rev 12:5, 9-10, 12-13), where he had been heretofore the accuser of the brethren (Job 1:6-11). No longer able to accuse in heaven those justified by Christ, the ascended Savior (Rom 8:33-34), he assails them on earth with all trials and temptations; and “we live in an atmosphere poisonous and impregnated with deadly elements. But a mighty purification of the air will be effected by Christ’s coming” [Auberlen], for Satan shall be bound (Rev 12:12-13, 15, 17; 20:2-3). “The power” is here used collectively for the “powers of the air”; in apposition with which “powers” stand the “spirits,” comprehended in the singular, “the spirit,” taken also collectively: the aggregate of the “seducing spirits” (1Tim 4:1) which “work now (still; not merely, as in your case, ‘in time past’) in the sons of disobedience” (a Hebraism: men who are not merely by accident disobedient, but who are essentially sons of disobedience itself: compare Mat 3:7), and of which Satan is here declared to be “the prince.” The Greek does not allow “the spirit” to refer to Satan, “the prince” himself, but to “the powers of the air” of which he is prince. The powers of the air are the embodiment of that evil “spirit” which is the ruling principle of unbelievers, especially the heathen (Acts 26:18), as opposed to the spirit of the children of God (Luke 4:33). The potency of that “spirit” is shown in the “disobedience” of the former. Compare Deu 32:20, “children in whom is no faith” (Isa 30:9; 57:4). They disobey the Gospel both in faith and practice (2Thes 1:8; 2Cor 2:12).
Taken from the Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary.
Ephesians 2:2 (3) Wherein in time past ye walked (4) according to the course of this world, (b) according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now (5) works in the (c) children of disobedience: (3) He proves by the effects that all were spiritually dead. (4) He proves this evil to be universal, insomuch that all are slaves of Satan.
(b) At the pleasure of the prince. (5) Men are therefore slaves to Satan, because they are willingly rebellious against God.
(c) They are called the children of disobedience, who are given to disobedience.
Taken from the Geneva Bible Translation Notes.
Ephesians 2:2
According to the course of this world (kata ton aiōna tou kosmou toutou). Curious combinations of aiōn (a period of time), kosmos (the world in that period). See note on 1Cor 1:20 for “this age” and 1Cor 3:9 for “this world.” The prince of the power of the air (ton archonta tēs exousias tou aeros). Aēr was used by the ancients for the lower and denser atmosphere and aithēr for the higher and rarer. Satan is here pictured as ruler of the demons and other agencies of evil. Jesus called him “the prince of this world” (ho archōn tou kosmou toutou, John 16:11). That now worketh (tou nun energountos). Those who deny the existence of a personal devil cannot successfully deny the vicious tendencies, the crime waves, in modern men. The power of the devil in the lives of men does explain the evil at work “in the sons of disobedience” (en tois huiois tēs apethias). In Eph 5:6 also. A Hebrew idiom found in the papyri like “sons of light” (1Thes 5:5).
Taken from Robertson’s Word Pictures.
Ephesians 2:1-3
The miserable condition of the Ephesians by nature is here in part described. Observed:
1. Unregenerate souls are dead in trespasses and sins. All those who are in their sins, are dead in sins; yes, in trespasses and sins, which may signify all sorts of sins, habitual and actual, sins of heart and of life. Sin is the death of the soul. Wherever that prevails there is a privation of all spiritual life. Sinners are dead in state, being destitute of the principles and powers of spiritual life; and cut off from God, the fountain of life: and they are dead in law, as a condemned malefactor is said to be a dead man.
2. A state of sin is a state of conformity to this world, Eph 2:2. In the first verse he speaks of their internal state, in this of their outward conversation: Wherein, in which trespasses and sins, in time past you walked, you lived and behaved yourselves in such a manner as the men of the world are used to do.
3. We are by nature bond-slaves to sin and Satan. Those who walk in trespasses and sins, and according to the course of this world, walk according to the prince of the power of the air. The devil, or the prince of devils, is thus described. See Mat 12:24, 26. The legions of apostate angels are as one power united under one chief; and therefore what is called the powers of darkness elsewhere is here spoken of in the singular number. The air is represented as the seat of his kingdom: and it was the opinion of both Jews and heathens that the air is full of spirits, and that there they exercise and exert themselves. The devil seems to have some power (by God's permission) in the lower region of the air; there he is at hand to tempt men, and to do as much mischief to the world as he can: but it is the comfort and joy of God's people that he who is head over all things to the church has conquered the devil and has him in his chain. But wicked men are slaves to Satan, for they walk according to him; they conform their lives and actions to the will and pleasure of this great usurper. The course and tenure of their lives are according to his suggestions, and in compliance with his temptations; they are subject to him, and are led captive by him at his will, whereupon he is called the god of this world, and the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. The children of disobedience are such as choose to disobey God, and to serve the devil; in these he works very powerfully and effectually. As the good Spirit works that which is good in obedient souls, so this evil spirit works that which is evil in wicked men; and he now works, not only heretofore, but even since the world has been blessed with the light of the glorious gospel. The apostle adds, Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, which words refer to the Jews, whom he signifies here to have been in the like sad and miserable condition by nature, and to have been as vile and wicked as the unregenerate Gentiles themselves, and whose natural state he further describes in the next words.
4. We are by nature drudges to the flesh, and to our corrupt affections, Eph 2:3. By fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, men contract that filthiness of flesh and spirit from which the apostle exhorts Christians to cleanse themselves, 2Cor 7:1. The fulfilling of the desires of the flesh and of the mind includes all the sin and wickedness that are acted in and by both the inferior and the higher or nobler powers of the soul. We lived in the actual commission of all those sins to which corrupt nature inclined us. The carnal mind makes a man a perfect slave to his vicious appetite. - The fulfilling of the wills of the flesh, so the words may be rendered, denoting the efficacy of these lusts, and what power they have over those who yield themselves up unto them.
5. We are by nature the children of wrath, even as others. The Jews were so, as well as the Gentiles; and one man is as much so as another by nature, not only by custom and imitation, but from the time when we began to exist, and by reason of our natural inclinations and appetites. All men, being naturally children of disobedience, are also by nature children of wrath: God is angry with the wicked every day. Our state and course are such as deserve wrath, and would end in eternal wrath, if divine grace did not interpose. What reason have sinners then to be looking out for that grace that will make them, of children of wrath, children of God and heirs of glory! Thus far the apostle has described the misery of a natural state in these verses, which we shall find him pursuing again in some following ones.
Taken from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.
From here let us now move into the area of learning from the children of Israel and their exit form Egypt. As found in 2 Thessalonians.
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering-- since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.* They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
2Thessalonians 1:8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (This gospel is found in Romans through Philemon and the letter to the Hebrews that we feel was written by Paul or at least under his direction in the every lease. Jesus in His ministry to Israel could not reveal or disclose openly what had not yet happened, though He does allude to it time and time again. As the spiritually discerning find when reading Matthew through Acts 9 which is the closing of the O.T. )
2Thessalonians 1:8
In flaming fire — Greek, “In flame of fire”; or, as other oldest manuscripts read, “in fire of flame.” This flame of fire accompanied His manifestation in the bush (Exo 3:2); also His giving of the law at Sinai (Exo 19:18). Also it shall accompany His revelation at His advent (Dan 7:9-10), symbolizing His own bright glory and His consuming vengeance against His foes (Heb 10:27; 12:29; 2Pet 3:7, 10).
taking — literally, “giving” them, as their portion, “vengeance.”
know not God — the Gentiles primarily (Psa 79:6; Gal 4:8; 1Thes 4:5); not of course those involuntarily not knowing God, but those willfully not knowing Him, as Pharaoh, who might have known God if he would, but who boasted “I know not the Lord” (Exo 5:2); and as the heathen persecutors who might have known God by the preaching of those whom they persecuted. Secondarily, all who “profess to know God but in works deny Him” (Titus 1:16).
obey not the gospel — primarily the unbelieving Jews (Rom 10:3, 16); secondarily, all who obey not the truth (Rom 2:8).
Taken from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary.
2Thessalonians 1:8
Rendering (didontos). Genitive of present active participle of didōmi, to give, agreeing with Iēsou.
Vengeance (ekdikēsin). Late word from ekdikeō, to vindicate, in Polybius and lxx.
To them that know not God (tois mē eidosin theon). Dative plural of perfect active participle eidōs. Apparently chiefly Gentiles in mind (1Thes 4:3; Gal 4:8; Rom 1:28; Eph 2:12), though Jews are also guilty of willful ignorance of God (Rom 2:14).
And to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus (kai tois mē hupakouousin tōi euaggeliōi tou kuriou hēmōn Iēsou). Repetition of the article looks like another class and so Jews (Rom 10:16). Both Jews as instigators and Gentiles as officials (politarchs) were involved in the persecution in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9; 2Thes 1:6). Note the use of “gospel” here as in Mark 1:15 “believe in the gospel.”
Taken from Robertson’s Word Picture.
*Here a note of great importance should be added, “the gospel of our Lord Jesus”, here we have left off Christ in our text scripture. When Paul writes, he is always talking about the revealed Gospel of God, the revealed Gospel of our salvation, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ or the Gospel of Christ and my Gospel. These are all terms for the same Gospel that was revealed by the risen Lord, which was given to him (Paul) as the chosen, called out one, the Apostle of Jesus Christ and an elect of God. The chief Apostle of all who would chose to obey the call of God to come out from among them and become the elect of God or God’s sons. The word ‘them’ being the key, as Abram/Abraham was called out and as Israel was a called out Nation from the world system of economy and influence over social order, our churches, denominations and governments. God loves and honors obedience and desires it more that sacrifice by all, not just the few. The Gospel is the good news of the New Covenant of God's Grace, it is the Gospel of Grace, this is for all people's redemption and salvation purchased the blood and the by the death of Jesus Christ and brought into play by His resurrection and ascension back to the Father's right hand side a position of power and authority.
Now we shall look at disobedience:
Disobedience: Neglect or refusal to obey; violation of a command or prohibition; the omission of that which is commanded to be done, or the doing of that which is forbid; breach of duty prescribed by authority.
Non-compliance.
Disobedient: Neglecting or refusing to obey; omitting to do what is commanded, or doing what is prohibited; refractory; not observant of duty or rules prescribed by authority; as children disobedient to parents; citizens disobedient to the laws. Not yielding to exciting force or power.
Disobey: To neglect or refuse to obey; to omit or refuse to do what is commanded, or to do what is forbid; to transgress or violate an order or injunction. Refractory children disobey their parents; men disobey their maker and the laws; and we all disobey the precepts of the gospel. [The word is applicable both to the command and to the person commanding.]
Now let us turn our attention to the letter sent to Titus and the Corinthians by Paul:
Titus 1:9-10 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it, for there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, and especially those of religious leadership. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
Titus 1:13-16 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
2Corinthians 11:10-15 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! What I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh (in Christ the flesh has been put to death by His cross and its finished work). For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
2Corinthians 4:2-7 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
In Paul’s last line of the above scripture he states “that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” and that this power is contained in earthen vessels as a treasure that like Gideon used in battle the earthen jars that held the light were broken open to expose that light. We as containers of God’s light are to expose His light by living His life through ourselves as sons of God.
What no one has said or hinted at is the changing that took place by Constantine the emperor of Roman and the Roam Catholic church, nor was anything said about the changing of the ancient Hebrew during Israels captivities in Babylon. Nothing was said about the religions, gods and goddesses of this nation and the others around them and their effect upon Israel's customs and ceremonies. Why? Because of the changing of the name and word names of God as revealed to His righteous ones. His name was supposedly hidden by the scribes because they said that it was very sacred and not to be written or spoken by the common man. This name has been hid from us too by the translators since the 2nd and 3rd centuries, in fact the name has been changed to that of a pagan god. This based upon what we've been able to find out during our research but the true verdict is not in yet. Jesus and Paul and the others all warned of false Antichrists and other gospels being preached even during their time.
We do have a study on the words: wicked, wickedness, evil, iniquity, lawless and lawlessness but this study is quiet long as it has more than fifty pages. To post it in a blog would require splitting it into sections as we did other studies. Just the study on these words is quiet revealing when listened to carefully.
From here we may due a study on God's manifold Grace as seen in the person of Jesus Christ and His New Covenant of promise as
seen in Jeremiah 31 known as the Covenant of God's Grace under which we are to live and to preach, and teach as it is our Gospel for salvation, redemption, sanctification, righteousness and holiness. As revealed in the line of the other mysteries, that Grace is the Essence of the Spirit of Christ known as the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit and that those who have received the revelation of Christ Jesus have received His Spirit and they are the vessel of honor fit for the Master's use and heirs of God.
Now point of interest Master in the New Covenant is "ADONAI" of the Old Testament (LORD or Lord), because Jesus Christ is not only the begotten Son of God but is in reality the "EHYEH" of the Old Testament and can be seen in Exodus 3:13-16. He is the third person of Elohim found in Genesis 1 and beyond, past and present. Notice there is no future tense in the Hebrew word name, title or name of God, He is always past or present tense.
All scripture is from the KJV, Weymouth New Testament, American Standard and English Standard Versions of the Bible with few editing for modern usage and ease of understanding.
The sole purpose of this study is to find proof of Satan, his army of fallen spirits or angels and his and their influences on man. This seems to be a great bone of contention throughout the church world today as they stay away from any teaching or preaching along this line. There maybe a great cover up been perpetrated against the peoples of the world by what we all call loving church. As the character of the institution has been changed from that known by the early church fathers, those prior to the 3rd and 4th centuries.
Satan does not seem to be an actual person but rather a force of darkness and thickness (a blockage of light) that opposes the truths and reality of God and all goodness in love. This blockage is called a veil by Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, (unbelieving here is a term for those who chose not to abide in the logos. “word or will”, that is the logos of God [spoken or written word or will] and then in God’s grace are changed in us to rhema [the revealed word and God’s will] or the incarnate one [as Christ is birthed in us as with Mary when she said, “be it onto me” according to your word Lord.]) that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.” (The italicized words here, were added by men to complete the thought and was subject to their denominations religious persuasion, what if it said; in them, which is a more correct form.) Paul says in Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I am, again in travail until Christ be (is) formed in you.”
There are two books that few, if any, know about in today’s churches; they are the book of Enoch and the book of Jasher. Both of these early books were quoted by the early prophets and by the Lord and others of the disciples and apostles that followed the Lord, the priests of Israel had copies of them. Jasher is made reference to in two of the Old Testament books, Joshua and 2 Samuel. These books reveal a lot about the mysteries surrounding phrases and terms that were, in some cases, direct quotes from one or the other of these two books showing the value to scripture that they held. Both have information about the fallen angels, demons, and Satan which would be of interest to us of this day and time. Especially when dealing with certain types of people and what vary well could be some sort of oppression or demonic possession, being manifested through them of position, even the leadership of governments and religious institutions or denominations and or pastors, teachers and others.
The Jewish leaders devalued these writings, as they had their own sacred text, and the early fathers of the Christian faith removed them and almost all reference to them. Our question is; Why? What light could they reveal to us of this day and time? Would more people remove themselves form our false system of religion, if it is false?
This study goes with the study on the Revealing of the Lawless one(or ones). We’ll pull many thoughts from many renowned Bible teachers and scholars to help us learn with more clarity God’s word. I find it helps to get more than one view point on any subject, as I'm sure that you've already noticed in prior studies.
Now we'll lay some ground work with words and terms definitions:
Satan: The grand adversary of God and man; the devil or prince of darkness, the old dragon, the serpent; the chief of the fallen angels. He has no hope of regaining that from which he fell.
Different translations renderings of the spirit of Satan manifested in the flesh of man as shown in two kings of the earth, the first is Lucifer the king of Babylon found in Isaiah 14:10-23 and the second the king of Tyrus found in Ezekiel 28:12-19 as with our earlier statement all O.T. scriptures are for our learning, not doctrine.
Lucifer was a ruler of Babylon and is the personification of Satan. The following scriptures are taken from different translations of the Bible.
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations? (KJV)
Isaiah 14:12 "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! (ESV)
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations! [see also Eze. 28:13-17] (ASV)
Taken from Jamieson, Fausster, and Brown Commentary
Isaiah 14:12-15 The Jews address the him again as a fallen once-bright star.
The language is so framed as to apply to the Babylonian king primarily, and at the same time to shadow forth through him, the great final enemy, the man of sin, Antichrist, of Daniel, Paul, and John; he alone shall fulfill exhaustively all the lineaments here given.
Lucifer — “day star.” A title truly belonging to Christ (Revelation 22:16), “the bright and morning star,” and therefore hereafter to be assumed by Antichrist. Gesenius, however, renders the Hebrew here as in Eze. 21:12; Zec. 11:2, “howl.”
Taken from John Wesley
Fallen – From; the height of thy glory. Lucifer - Which properly is a bright star that ushers in the morning; but is here metaphorically taken for the mighty king of Babylon. Son - The title of son is given in scripture not only to a person or thing begotten or produced by another, but also to any thing which is related, to it, in which sense we read of the son of a night, Jonah 4:10, a son of perdition, John 17:12, and, which is more agreeable, to the present case, the sons of Arcturus, Job 38:32.
Taken from Scofield Reference notes:
son of the morning
Verses 12-14 (Isa. 14:12-14) evidently refer to Satan, who, as prince of this world-system (see "World," (John 7:7).
(See Scofield) - (Rev. 13:8) is the real unseen ruler of the successive world-powers. Tyre, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, etc. (see (Eze 28:12-14) Lucifer, "day-star," can be none other than Satan. This tremendous passage marks the beginning of sin in the universe. When Lucifer said, "I will," sin began. See (See Scofield) - Rev 20:10.
See other instances of addressing Satan through another, (Gen 3:15); (Mat 16:22-23).
Geneva Bible Translation notes
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O (h) Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (h) You who thought yourself most glorious and as it were placed in the heaven for the morning star that goes before the sun, is called Lucifer, to whom Nebuchadnezzar is compared.
Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the O.T.
Isaiah 14:12 “How art thou fallen from the sky, thou star of light, sun of the dawn, hurled down to the earth, thou that didst throw down nations from above?” הֵילֵל is here the morning star (from hâlal, to shine, resolved from hillel, after the form מֵאֵן, Jer 13:10, סֵעֵף, Psa 119:113, or rather attaching itself as a third class to the forms הֵיכָל, עֵירֹם: compare the Arabic sairaf, exchanger; saikal, sword-cleaner). It derives its name in other ancient languages also from its striking brilliancy, and is here called ben-shachar (sun of the dawn), just as in the classical mythology it is called son of Eos, from the fact that it rises before the sun, and swims in the morning light as if that were the source of its birth.
(Note: It is singular, however, that among the Semitic nations the morning star is not personified as a male (Heōsphoros or Phōsphoros), but as a female (Astarte, see at Isa 17:8), and that it is called Nâghâh, Ashtoreth, Zuhara, but never by a name derived from hâlal; whilst the moon is regarded as a male deity (Sin), and in Arabic hilâl signifies the new moon, which might be called ben- shacar (son of the dawn), (Jah, or Rah, Yah, jah) from the fact that, from the time when it passes out of the invisibility of its first phase, it is seen at sunrise, and is as it were born out of the dawn.)
Lucifer is king of Babylon, Satan as a name given to the devil, was derived from this passage, which the fathers (and lately Stier) interpreted, without any warrant whatever, as relating to the apostasy and punishment of the angelic leaders. The appellation is a perfectly appropriate one for the king of Babel, on account of the early date of the Babylonian culture, which reached back as far as the grey twilight of primeval times, and also because of its predominant astrological character. The additional epithet chōlēsh ‛al-gōyim is founded upon the idea of the influxus siderum:
(Note: In a similar manner, the sun-god (San) is called the “conqueror of the king's enemies,” “breaker of opposition,” etc., on the early Babylonian monuments (see G. Rawlinson, The Five Great Monarchies, i. 160).)
cholesh signifies “overthrowing” or laying down (Exo 17:13), and with ‛al, “bringing defeat upon;” whilst the Talmud (b. Sabbath 149b) uses it in the sense of projiciens sortem, and thus throws light upon the cholesh (= purah, lot) of the Mishnah. A retrospective glance is now cast at the self-deification of the king of Babylon, in which he was the antitype of the devil and the type of antichrist (Dan 11:36; 2Th 2:4), and which had met with its reward.
Satan the archangel cast from Heaven for leading a revolt of the angels (personality of self love known as Satan/ the Devil), he was the angel of light-bearer, light, (Satan/ Devil, the adversary, to accuse, cruel, evil, fiendish), brightness; opening: limu, luminary, moon, luna, lunary.
(In some early paganism he was called Sun of man, Rah, Mithra, Mitzrah, Jah, Yah, to name but a few. The sun god played are part in Egyptian culture, Babylonian culture, Persian culture, Canaan, and others. Not to mention many woman goddess'.)
Taken from the New American Heritage Dictionary.
Isaiah 14:12-14 "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.'
This is the personification of Satan in mans flesh.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
O.T. Satan/ Devil Satan Greek from the Aramaic Hebrew adversary:
a) Num 22:22 of an angel of Yehovah
b) 1 Sam. 29:4; Ps. 38:20, 71:13 and 109 four times used
c) of Satan, the Devil is used seventeen times in the O.T., in Zech. 3:1 the name receives its interpretation N.T Satan is always used as the adversary
a) of God and Christ: Mat. 4:10, 12:26; Mark 1:13, 3:23, 26; 4:15; Luke 4:8, 11:18, 22:3; John 13:27
b) of His people: Luke 22:31-32; Acts 16:20; Rom. 16:20; 1 Thes. 2:18
c) of mankind: Luke 13:16; Acts 26:18; 2 Thes. 2:9
His doom is sealed at the Cross, is foretold in its stages in. Luke 10:18 and Rev. 20:2, 10.
Those who are believers are assured of victory over him. Rom. 16:20.
Satan is not simply the personification of evil influences in the heart, for he tempted Christ, in whose heart no evil thought could ever have arisen (John 14:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15) moreover his personality is asserted in both the O.T. and the N.T. especially in the N.T. whereas if the O.T. language was intended to be figurative, the N.T. would have made this evident.
The Devil is an accuser, a slanderer, to malign. The Devil is the Devil and a demon is only a demon and is only to be used for demons, not Devil, for there is only one Devil but there are many demons. He being the malignant enemy of God and man, he accuses man to God, Job 1:6-11, 2:1-5; Rev. 12:9-10 and God to man Gen. 3. He afflicts men with physical sufferings, Acts 10:38. Being himself sinful 1 John 3:8, he instigates man to sin, Gen. 3 and tempts man to do evil, Eph. 4:27, 6:11, encouraging him thereto by deception, Eph. 2:2. Death having been brought into the world by sin, the Devil had the power of death, but Christ through His own death has triumphed over Satan, and will bring Satan to naught, Heb. 2:14; his power over death is intimated in his struggle with Michael over the body of Moses, Jude 9. Judas, who gave himself over to the Devil, was so identified with him, that the Lord described him as such, John 6:70, 13:2. As the Devil raised himself in pride against God and fell under condemnation, so believers are warned against similar sin, 1 Tim. 3:6; for them he lays snares in verse 7, seeking to devour them as a roaring lion, 1 Pet. 5:8; those who fall into his snare may be recovered there from into the will of God, 2 Tim. 2:26, “having been taken captive by him (the Devil) or by the Lord’s servant” is the alternative, which some regard as confirmed by the use of to catch alive in Luke 5:10; but the general use is that of captive in the usual way. If the Devil is resisted he will flee, James 4:7. His fury and malignity will be especially exercised at the end of the present age, Rev. 12:12. His doom is the lake of fire, Mat. 25:41; Rev. 20:10.
The noun form is applied to slanderers, false accusers, 1 Tim. 3:11; 2 Tim. 3:3; Titus 2:3.
The next passage of scripture we’ll look at is found in Eze. 28:11-19, which is about the king of Tyrus, we’ll start at the beginning to keep continuity:
Ezekiel 28:1-9 The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god-- you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you; by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth--therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you make your heart like the heart of a god, therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor. They shall thrust you down into the pit, and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas. Will you still say, 'I am a god,' in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you?
Ezekiel 28:11-19 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever."
Here we see again the personification of the spirit of Satan in mans flesh.
Ezekiel 28:11-19
As after the prediction of the ruin of Tyre (ch. 26) followed a pathetic lamentation for it (ch. 27), so after the ruin of the king of Tyre is foretold it is bewailed.
I. This is commonly understood of the prince who then reigned over Tyre, spoken to, Eze 28:2. His name was Ethbaal, or Ithobalus, as Diodorus Siculus calls him that was king of Tyre when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it. He was, it seems, upon all external accounts an accomplished man, very great and famous; but his iniquity was his ruin. Many expositors have suggested that besides the literal sense of this lamentation there is an allegory in it, and that it is an allusion to the fall of the angels that sinned, who undid themselves by their pride. And (as is usual in texts that have a mystical meaning) some passages here refer primarily to the king of Tyre, as that of his merchandises, others to the angels, as that of being in the holy mountain of God. But, if there be any thing mystical in it (as perhaps there may), I shall rather refer it to the fall of Adam, which seems to be glanced at, Eze 28:13. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God, and that in the day thou was created.
II. Some think that by the king of Tyre is meant the whole royal family, this including also the foregoing kings, and looking as far back as Hiram, king of Tyre. The then governor is called prince (Eze 28:2); but he that is here lamented is called king. The court of Tyre with its kings had for many ages been famous; but sin ruins it. Now we may observe two things here: -
1. What was the renown of the king of Tyre. He is here spoken of as having lived in great splendor, Eze 28:12-15. He as a man, but it is here owned that he was a very considerable man and one that made a mighty figure in his day.
(1.) He far exceeded other men. Hiram and other kings of Tyre had done so in their time; and the reigning king perhaps had not come short of any of them: Thou sealest up the sum full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. But the powers of human nature and the prosperity of human life seemed in him to be at the highest pitch. He was looked upon to be as wise as the reason of men could make him, and as happy as the wealth of this world and the enjoyment of it could make him; in him you might see the utmost that both could do; and therefore seal up the sum, for nothing can be added; he is a complete man, perfect in suo genere - in his kind.
(2.) He seemed to be as wise and happy as Adam in innocence (Eze 28:13): “Thou hast been in Eden, even in the garden of God; thou hast lived as it were in paradise all thy days, hast had a full enjoyment of every thing that is good for food or pleasant to the eyes, and an uncontroversial dominion over all about thee, as Adam had.” One instance of the magnificence of the king of Tyre is, that he outdid all others princes in jewels, which those have the greatest plenty of that trade most abroad, as he did: Every precious stone was his covering. There is a great variety of precious stones; but he had of every sort and in such plenty that besides what were treasured up in his cabinet, and were the ornaments of his crown, he had his clothes trimmed with them; they were his covering. Nay (Eze 28:14), he walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire, that is, these precious stones, which glittered and sparkled like fire. His rooms were in a manner set round with jewels, so that he walked in the midst of them, and then fancied himself as glorious as if, like God, he had been surrounded by so many angels, who are compared to a flame of fire. And, if he be such an admirer of precious stones as to think them as bright as angels, no wonder that he is such an admirer of himself as to think himself as great as God. Nine several sorts of previous stones are here named, which were all in the high priest's ephod. Perhaps they are particularly named because he, in his pride, used to speak particularly of them, and tell those about him, with a great deal of foolish pleasure, “This is such a precious stone, of such a value, and so and so are its virtues.” Thus is he upbraided with his vanity. Gold is mentioned last, as far inferior in value to those precious stones; and he used to speak of it accordingly. Another thing that made him think his palace a paradise was the curious music he had, the tablets and pipes, hand-instruments and wind-instruments. The workmanship of these was extraordinary, and they were prepared for him on purpose; prepared in thee, the pronoun is feminine - in thee, O Tyre! or it denotes that the king was effeminate in doting on such things. They were prepared in the day he was created, that is, either born, or created king; they were made on purpose to celebrate the joys either of his birthday or of his coronation-day. These he prided himself much in, and would have all that came to see his palace take notice of them.
(3.) He looked like an incarnate angel (Eze 28:14): Thou art the anointed cherub that covers or protects; that is, he looked upon himself as a guardian angel to his people, so bright, so strong, so faithful, appointed to this office and qualified for it. Anointed kings should be to their subjects as anointed cherubim, that cover them with the wings of their power; and, when they are such, God will own them. Their advancement was from him: I have set thee so. Some think, because mention was made of Eden, that it refers to the cherub set on the east of Eden to cover it, Gen 3:24. He thought himself as able to guard his city from all invaders as that angel was for his charge. Or it may refer to the cherubim in the most holy place, whose wings covered the ark; he thought himself as bright as one of them.
(4.) He appeared in as much splendor as the high priest when he was clothed with his garments for glory and beauty: “Thou was upon the holy mountain of God, as president of the temple built on that holy mountain; thou didst look as great, and with as much majesty and authority, as ever the high priest did when he walked in the temple, which was garnished with precious stones (2Chr 3:6), and had his habit on, which had precious stones both in the breast and on the shoulders; in that he seemed to walk in the midst of the stones of fire.” Thus glorious is the king of Tyre; at least he thinks himself so.
2. Let us now see what was the ruin of the king of Tyre, what it was that stained his glory and laid all this honor in the dust (Eze 28:15): “Thou was perfect in thy ways; thou didst prosper in all thy affairs and every thing went well with thee; thou had not only a clear, but a bright reputation, from the day thou was created, the day of thy accession to the throne, till iniquity was found in thee; and that spoiled all.” This may perhaps allude to the deplorable case of the angels that fell, and of our first parents, both of whom were perfect in their ways till iniquity was found in them. And when iniquity was once found in him it increased; he grew worse and worse, as appears (Eze 28:18): “Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries; thou hast lost the benefit of all that which thou thought sacred, and in which, as in a sanctuary, thou thought to take refuge; these thou hast defiled, and so exposed thyself by the multitude of thy iniquities.” Now observe,
1. What the iniquity was that was the ruin of the king of Tyre.
[1.] The iniquity of his traffic (so it is called, Eze 28:18), both his and his people's, for their sin is charged upon him, because he connived at it and set them a bad example (Eze 28:16): By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thus thou hast sinned. The king had so much to do with his merchandise, and was so wholly intent upon the gains of that, that he took no care to do justice, to give redress to those that suffered wrong and to protect them from violence; nay, in the multiplicity of business, wrong was done to many by oversight; and in his dealings he made use of his power to invade the rights of those he dealt with. Note, those that have much to do in the world are in great danger of doing much amiss; and it is hard to deal with many without violence to some. Trades are called mysteries; but too many make them mysteries of iniquity.
[2.] His pride and vain-glory (Eze 28:17): “Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; you were in love with yourself, and your own shadow. And thus thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of the brightness, the pomp and splendor, wherein you lived.” He gazed so much upon this that it dazzled his eyes and prevented him from seeing his way. He appeared so puffed up with his greatness that it bereaved him both of his wisdom and of the reputation of it. He really became a fool in glorying. Those make a bad bargain for themselves that part with their wisdom for the gratifying of their gaiety, and, to please a vain humor, lose a real excellency.
2. What the ruin was that this iniquity brought him to.
[1.] He was thrown out of his dignity and dislodged from his palace, which he took to be his paradise and temple (Eze 28:16): I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God. His kingly power was high as a mountain, setting him above others; it was a mountain of God, for the powers that be are ordained of God, and have something in them that is sacred; but, having abused his power, he is reckoned profane, and is therefore deposed and expelled. He disgraces the crown he wears, and so has forfeited it, and shall be destroyed from the midst of the stones of fire, the precious stones with which his palace was garnished, as the temple was; and they shall be no protection to him.
[2.] He was exposed to contempt and disgrace, and trampled upon by his neighbors: “I will cast thee to the ground (Eze 28:17), will cast thee among the pavement-stones, from the midst of the precious stones, and will lay thee a rueful spectacle before kings, that they may behold thee and take warning by thee not to be proud and oppressive.”
[3.] He was quite consumed, his city and he in it: I will bring forth a fire from the midst of thee. The conquerors, when they have plundered the city, will kindle a fire in the heart of it, which shall lay it, and the palace particularly, in ashes. Or it may be taken more generally for the fire of God's judgments, which shall devour both prince and people, and bring all the glory of both to ashes upon the earth; and this fire shall be brought forth from the midst of thee. All God's judgments upon sinners take rise from themselves; they are devoured by a fire of their own kindling.
[4.] He was hereby made a terrible example of divine vengeance. Thus he is reduced in the sight of all those that behold him (Eze 28:18): Those that know him shall be astonished at him, and shall wonder how one that stood so high could be brought so low. The king of Tyre's palace, like the temple at Jerusalem, when it is destroyed shall be an astonishment and a hissing, 2Chr 7:20-21. So fell the king of Tyre.
Taken from Matthews Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.
In our efforts to find other commentaries or notes on this passage of scripture have proved to be difficult at best because of the lack of the same. The few found said about the same as Matthew Henry so we will settle for only his for now, though we’ll add more as we are able.
Paul tells us that we as individuals before we became sons of the light once walked under the influence of Satan. Let us broaden this to include those who are believers in Christ Jesus, but have not received the true revelation of the incarnate one in them, the being one with Him. With this in mind let us turn to Paul’s and the other letters to search out what might be revealed and to learn the truth for ourselves. (John 12:24, 15:1-11)
Ephesians 2:2-3 Wherein you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (Gen.3)
Ephesians 2:2
the course of this world — the career (literally, “the age,” compare Gal 1:4), or present system of this world (1Cor 2:6, 12; 1Cor 3:18-19, as opposed to “the world to come”): alien from God, and lying in the wicked one (1John 5:19). “The age” (which is something more external and ethical) regulates “the world” (which is something more external).
the prince of the power of the air — the unseen God who lies underneath guiding “the course of this world” (2Cor 4:4); ranging through the air around us: compare Mark 4:4, “fowls of the air” (Greek, “heaven”) that is, (Eph 2:15), “Satan” and his demons. Compare Eph 6:12; John 12:31. Christ’s ascension seems to have cast Satan out of heaven (Rev 12:5, 9-10, 12-13), where he had been heretofore the accuser of the brethren (Job 1:6-11). No longer able to accuse in heaven those justified by Christ, the ascended Savior (Rom 8:33-34), he assails them on earth with all trials and temptations; and “we live in an atmosphere poisonous and impregnated with deadly elements. But a mighty purification of the air will be effected by Christ’s coming” [Auberlen], for Satan shall be bound (Rev 12:12-13, 15, 17; 20:2-3). “The power” is here used collectively for the “powers of the air”; in apposition with which “powers” stand the “spirits,” comprehended in the singular, “the spirit,” taken also collectively: the aggregate of the “seducing spirits” (1Tim 4:1) which “work now (still; not merely, as in your case, ‘in time past’) in the sons of disobedience” (a Hebraism: men who are not merely by accident disobedient, but who are essentially sons of disobedience itself: compare Mat 3:7), and of which Satan is here declared to be “the prince.” The Greek does not allow “the spirit” to refer to Satan, “the prince” himself, but to “the powers of the air” of which he is prince. The powers of the air are the embodiment of that evil “spirit” which is the ruling principle of unbelievers, especially the heathen (Acts 26:18), as opposed to the spirit of the children of God (Luke 4:33). The potency of that “spirit” is shown in the “disobedience” of the former. Compare Deu 32:20, “children in whom is no faith” (Isa 30:9; 57:4). They disobey the Gospel both in faith and practice (2Thes 1:8; 2Cor 2:12).
Taken from the Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary.
Ephesians 2:2 (3) Wherein in time past ye walked (4) according to the course of this world, (b) according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now (5) works in the (c) children of disobedience: (3) He proves by the effects that all were spiritually dead. (4) He proves this evil to be universal, insomuch that all are slaves of Satan.
(b) At the pleasure of the prince. (5) Men are therefore slaves to Satan, because they are willingly rebellious against God.
(c) They are called the children of disobedience, who are given to disobedience.
Taken from the Geneva Bible Translation Notes.
Ephesians 2:2
According to the course of this world (kata ton aiōna tou kosmou toutou). Curious combinations of aiōn (a period of time), kosmos (the world in that period). See note on 1Cor 1:20 for “this age” and 1Cor 3:9 for “this world.” The prince of the power of the air (ton archonta tēs exousias tou aeros). Aēr was used by the ancients for the lower and denser atmosphere and aithēr for the higher and rarer. Satan is here pictured as ruler of the demons and other agencies of evil. Jesus called him “the prince of this world” (ho archōn tou kosmou toutou, John 16:11). That now worketh (tou nun energountos). Those who deny the existence of a personal devil cannot successfully deny the vicious tendencies, the crime waves, in modern men. The power of the devil in the lives of men does explain the evil at work “in the sons of disobedience” (en tois huiois tēs apethias). In Eph 5:6 also. A Hebrew idiom found in the papyri like “sons of light” (1Thes 5:5).
Taken from Robertson’s Word Pictures.
Ephesians 2:1-3
The miserable condition of the Ephesians by nature is here in part described. Observed:
1. Unregenerate souls are dead in trespasses and sins. All those who are in their sins, are dead in sins; yes, in trespasses and sins, which may signify all sorts of sins, habitual and actual, sins of heart and of life. Sin is the death of the soul. Wherever that prevails there is a privation of all spiritual life. Sinners are dead in state, being destitute of the principles and powers of spiritual life; and cut off from God, the fountain of life: and they are dead in law, as a condemned malefactor is said to be a dead man.
2. A state of sin is a state of conformity to this world, Eph 2:2. In the first verse he speaks of their internal state, in this of their outward conversation: Wherein, in which trespasses and sins, in time past you walked, you lived and behaved yourselves in such a manner as the men of the world are used to do.
3. We are by nature bond-slaves to sin and Satan. Those who walk in trespasses and sins, and according to the course of this world, walk according to the prince of the power of the air. The devil, or the prince of devils, is thus described. See Mat 12:24, 26. The legions of apostate angels are as one power united under one chief; and therefore what is called the powers of darkness elsewhere is here spoken of in the singular number. The air is represented as the seat of his kingdom: and it was the opinion of both Jews and heathens that the air is full of spirits, and that there they exercise and exert themselves. The devil seems to have some power (by God's permission) in the lower region of the air; there he is at hand to tempt men, and to do as much mischief to the world as he can: but it is the comfort and joy of God's people that he who is head over all things to the church has conquered the devil and has him in his chain. But wicked men are slaves to Satan, for they walk according to him; they conform their lives and actions to the will and pleasure of this great usurper. The course and tenure of their lives are according to his suggestions, and in compliance with his temptations; they are subject to him, and are led captive by him at his will, whereupon he is called the god of this world, and the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. The children of disobedience are such as choose to disobey God, and to serve the devil; in these he works very powerfully and effectually. As the good Spirit works that which is good in obedient souls, so this evil spirit works that which is evil in wicked men; and he now works, not only heretofore, but even since the world has been blessed with the light of the glorious gospel. The apostle adds, Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, which words refer to the Jews, whom he signifies here to have been in the like sad and miserable condition by nature, and to have been as vile and wicked as the unregenerate Gentiles themselves, and whose natural state he further describes in the next words.
4. We are by nature drudges to the flesh, and to our corrupt affections, Eph 2:3. By fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, men contract that filthiness of flesh and spirit from which the apostle exhorts Christians to cleanse themselves, 2Cor 7:1. The fulfilling of the desires of the flesh and of the mind includes all the sin and wickedness that are acted in and by both the inferior and the higher or nobler powers of the soul. We lived in the actual commission of all those sins to which corrupt nature inclined us. The carnal mind makes a man a perfect slave to his vicious appetite. - The fulfilling of the wills of the flesh, so the words may be rendered, denoting the efficacy of these lusts, and what power they have over those who yield themselves up unto them.
5. We are by nature the children of wrath, even as others. The Jews were so, as well as the Gentiles; and one man is as much so as another by nature, not only by custom and imitation, but from the time when we began to exist, and by reason of our natural inclinations and appetites. All men, being naturally children of disobedience, are also by nature children of wrath: God is angry with the wicked every day. Our state and course are such as deserve wrath, and would end in eternal wrath, if divine grace did not interpose. What reason have sinners then to be looking out for that grace that will make them, of children of wrath, children of God and heirs of glory! Thus far the apostle has described the misery of a natural state in these verses, which we shall find him pursuing again in some following ones.
Taken from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.
From here let us now move into the area of learning from the children of Israel and their exit form Egypt. As found in 2 Thessalonians.
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering-- since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.* They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
2Thessalonians 1:8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (This gospel is found in Romans through Philemon and the letter to the Hebrews that we feel was written by Paul or at least under his direction in the every lease. Jesus in His ministry to Israel could not reveal or disclose openly what had not yet happened, though He does allude to it time and time again. As the spiritually discerning find when reading Matthew through Acts 9 which is the closing of the O.T. )
2Thessalonians 1:8
In flaming fire — Greek, “In flame of fire”; or, as other oldest manuscripts read, “in fire of flame.” This flame of fire accompanied His manifestation in the bush (Exo 3:2); also His giving of the law at Sinai (Exo 19:18). Also it shall accompany His revelation at His advent (Dan 7:9-10), symbolizing His own bright glory and His consuming vengeance against His foes (Heb 10:27; 12:29; 2Pet 3:7, 10).
taking — literally, “giving” them, as their portion, “vengeance.”
know not God — the Gentiles primarily (Psa 79:6; Gal 4:8; 1Thes 4:5); not of course those involuntarily not knowing God, but those willfully not knowing Him, as Pharaoh, who might have known God if he would, but who boasted “I know not the Lord” (Exo 5:2); and as the heathen persecutors who might have known God by the preaching of those whom they persecuted. Secondarily, all who “profess to know God but in works deny Him” (Titus 1:16).
obey not the gospel — primarily the unbelieving Jews (Rom 10:3, 16); secondarily, all who obey not the truth (Rom 2:8).
Taken from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary.
2Thessalonians 1:8
Rendering (didontos). Genitive of present active participle of didōmi, to give, agreeing with Iēsou.
Vengeance (ekdikēsin). Late word from ekdikeō, to vindicate, in Polybius and lxx.
To them that know not God (tois mē eidosin theon). Dative plural of perfect active participle eidōs. Apparently chiefly Gentiles in mind (1Thes 4:3; Gal 4:8; Rom 1:28; Eph 2:12), though Jews are also guilty of willful ignorance of God (Rom 2:14).
And to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus (kai tois mē hupakouousin tōi euaggeliōi tou kuriou hēmōn Iēsou). Repetition of the article looks like another class and so Jews (Rom 10:16). Both Jews as instigators and Gentiles as officials (politarchs) were involved in the persecution in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9; 2Thes 1:6). Note the use of “gospel” here as in Mark 1:15 “believe in the gospel.”
Taken from Robertson’s Word Picture.
*Here a note of great importance should be added, “the gospel of our Lord Jesus”, here we have left off Christ in our text scripture. When Paul writes, he is always talking about the revealed Gospel of God, the revealed Gospel of our salvation, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ or the Gospel of Christ and my Gospel. These are all terms for the same Gospel that was revealed by the risen Lord, which was given to him (Paul) as the chosen, called out one, the Apostle of Jesus Christ and an elect of God. The chief Apostle of all who would chose to obey the call of God to come out from among them and become the elect of God or God’s sons. The word ‘them’ being the key, as Abram/Abraham was called out and as Israel was a called out Nation from the world system of economy and influence over social order, our churches, denominations and governments. God loves and honors obedience and desires it more that sacrifice by all, not just the few. The Gospel is the good news of the New Covenant of God's Grace, it is the Gospel of Grace, this is for all people's redemption and salvation purchased the blood and the by the death of Jesus Christ and brought into play by His resurrection and ascension back to the Father's right hand side a position of power and authority.
Now we shall look at disobedience:
Disobedience: Neglect or refusal to obey; violation of a command or prohibition; the omission of that which is commanded to be done, or the doing of that which is forbid; breach of duty prescribed by authority.
Non-compliance.
Disobedient: Neglecting or refusing to obey; omitting to do what is commanded, or doing what is prohibited; refractory; not observant of duty or rules prescribed by authority; as children disobedient to parents; citizens disobedient to the laws. Not yielding to exciting force or power.
Disobey: To neglect or refuse to obey; to omit or refuse to do what is commanded, or to do what is forbid; to transgress or violate an order or injunction. Refractory children disobey their parents; men disobey their maker and the laws; and we all disobey the precepts of the gospel. [The word is applicable both to the command and to the person commanding.]
Now let us turn our attention to the letter sent to Titus and the Corinthians by Paul:
Titus 1:9-10 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it, for there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, and especially those of religious leadership. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
Titus 1:13-16 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
2Corinthians 11:10-15 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! What I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh (in Christ the flesh has been put to death by His cross and its finished work). For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
2Corinthians 4:2-7 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
In Paul’s last line of the above scripture he states “that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” and that this power is contained in earthen vessels as a treasure that like Gideon used in battle the earthen jars that held the light were broken open to expose that light. We as containers of God’s light are to expose His light by living His life through ourselves as sons of God.
What no one has said or hinted at is the changing that took place by Constantine the emperor of Roman and the Roam Catholic church, nor was anything said about the changing of the ancient Hebrew during Israels captivities in Babylon. Nothing was said about the religions, gods and goddesses of this nation and the others around them and their effect upon Israel's customs and ceremonies. Why? Because of the changing of the name and word names of God as revealed to His righteous ones. His name was supposedly hidden by the scribes because they said that it was very sacred and not to be written or spoken by the common man. This name has been hid from us too by the translators since the 2nd and 3rd centuries, in fact the name has been changed to that of a pagan god. This based upon what we've been able to find out during our research but the true verdict is not in yet. Jesus and Paul and the others all warned of false Antichrists and other gospels being preached even during their time.
We do have a study on the words: wicked, wickedness, evil, iniquity, lawless and lawlessness but this study is quiet long as it has more than fifty pages. To post it in a blog would require splitting it into sections as we did other studies. Just the study on these words is quiet revealing when listened to carefully.
From here we may due a study on God's manifold Grace as seen in the person of Jesus Christ and His New Covenant of promise as
seen in Jeremiah 31 known as the Covenant of God's Grace under which we are to live and to preach, and teach as it is our Gospel for salvation, redemption, sanctification, righteousness and holiness. As revealed in the line of the other mysteries, that Grace is the Essence of the Spirit of Christ known as the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit and that those who have received the revelation of Christ Jesus have received His Spirit and they are the vessel of honor fit for the Master's use and heirs of God.
Now point of interest Master in the New Covenant is "ADONAI" of the Old Testament (LORD or Lord), because Jesus Christ is not only the begotten Son of God but is in reality the "EHYEH" of the Old Testament and can be seen in Exodus 3:13-16. He is the third person of Elohim found in Genesis 1 and beyond, past and present. Notice there is no future tense in the Hebrew word name, title or name of God, He is always past or present tense.
All scripture is from the KJV, Weymouth New Testament, American Standard and English Standard Versions of the Bible with few editing for modern usage and ease of understanding.
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