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Satan had been invisibly swaying
and ruling a mankind
CUT OFF
from
all contact with and knowledge of
God! He still sits at that throne of
power-though not administering
God's government, but subtilely
swaying all humanity to live under
the precise opposite to the law of
God's government- that is, the
ways of vanity, coveting, competi–
tion, strife and violence, instead of
God's way of outftowing !ove, coop–
eration, peace, happiness and joy.
Immediately after the birth of
the. Christ-child, Satan sought,
through the Roman-appointed
King Herod, to physically slay the
future King (Matt. 2: 13-15). But
God warned Joseph and Mary to
flee with the Christ-child into
Egypt until King Herod was dead.
When Jesus was about age 30, he
was ready to begin choosing his
apostles, and proclaiming and
teaching them his message from
God to man-his gospel. But first,
it was imperative that he qualify to
replace Satan and set up the king–
dom of God, by overcoming the
devil.
This perhaps was the most
impor tant, momentous, decisive
confrontation and battle ever
fought in all time in the .universe. It
is described in detail in Matthew,
chapter 4.
The Titanic Battle of the Ages
J es us fasted 40 days a nd 40
ni ghts- with neither food nor
water. But in bis physical weakness
he was made spiritually strong.
Satan now used bis most cunning,
subtile, masterful powers of decep–
tion. He must have thought he really
could outwit and spi ritually strike
down the Christ. Satan knew well he
was now fighting to prevent his
dethroning over all the earth.
Satan struck bis first blow at
what he regarded as the most vul–
nerable points both physically and
spiritually. Surely a man without
food or water for 40 full days would
be weakened to yield to almost any
temptation for food. And the most
vulnerable spiritual weakness is
VANITY!
"If," sneered Satan tantalizing–
he used that effective little word
if- "JF
thou be the Son of God"–
a normal human would have been
insulted, indignant. He would have
May 1986
defiantly hurled back: "What do
you mean,
if
1 be the Son of God?
1'11 show you that 1 am the Son of
God!"
world power immediately. But
Jesus decided it was time to end
this t itanic battle for the rulership
over the earth.
But Satan in this first
attack, said,
"Jf
thou be
the Son..of God, command
that these stones be made
bread." In other words,
"The Son of God can pro–
duce miracles. Prove to
me you are the Son of
God! You are desperately
hungry. Perform a mira–
ele. Feed yourself by a
miracle!"
he popular teaching in
churches today is that
But J esus onl y an–
swered by quoting and
obeying the Word of
God: "It is written, Man
the Church is the kingdom of
God. But "flesh and blood
[mortal humans] cannot
inherit the kingdom of God."
shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out of
the mouth of God."
Satan's first and most effective
strike was parried. But Satan never
gives up. He took Jesus into Jerusa–
lem and sat him on a high pinnacle
of the Temple. He continued to
question that Jesus was the Son of
God.
" Jf
thou be the Son of God, cast
thyself down: for it is written, He
shall give bis angels charge con–
cerning thee: and in their hands
they shall bear thee up, lest at any
time thou dash thy foot against a
stone." Now Satan quoted Scrip–
ture. But
he misapplied
it, twisted
its contextua! meaning, just as
Satan so frequently influences
scholars to do.
Jesus carne back to him,
"lt
is
written again, Thou shalt not tempt
the Lord thy God." This is quoted
from Deuteronomy 6:16 and refers
to tempting YHWH (Hebrew),
who became Christ.
But still Satan did not give up.
Next he took Jesus atop a high
mountain, showing him all the
kingdoms of the world and their
glory. "All these things will 1 give
thee, if thou wilt fall down and
worship me."
Jesus did not deny that Satan
was now over the nations of this
world. This was a temptation for
gaining immediate power. Satan
well knew Jesus would inherit all
these kingdoms more than 1,900
years later. But he tempted Jesus to
take Satan's word that he would
turn them over and give Christ
Jesus now snapped out an
order- a command showing that he
was master over Satan!
" Get thee hence, Satan!" he
commanded with supreme authori–
ty! Satan slunk away defeated. But
Satan did not give up. Nor has he
given up yet. He battles against
God's Church sti ll today!
Jesus Had Qualifled
Jesus Christ, the second Adam, had
qualified! Never until that minute
could the good news of the coming
kingdom of God be announced to
the world. Now the Son of God
resisted and conquered Satan- had
qualified to reestablish Goo's gov–
ernment and set up the kingdom of
God on the earth! But now the
Church must also qualify to rule
with him!
Jesus carne, among other pur–
poses, to call out of the world his
Church. Those called out had been
in-and of- this world. Each had
brought on himself by sin the
supreme death penalty. But God had
created all things by the Wcrd who
became Jesus Christ. Therefore,
Jesus' life was greater in value than
that of all humanity collectively!
Picture a son of the wealthiest,
most powerful man on earth. The
tycoon's son is his heir-to inherit
bis immense wealth. The son has
been allocated a sizable portion of
it already while an heir. This young
man feels deep affection for anoth–
er young man. His friend has com–
mitted a crime, plunged into debt
for millions of dollars, which he
cannot pay. He is deeply repentant
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