Issued: 10/16/21  Revised: 12/31/23

“I have created a destroyer to destroy.”

Isaiah 54:16

PLEASE NOTE:  Because Bible versions sometimes differ from each other in crucial ways, the version quoted here will be the one that best clarifies the point being made.  For a quick comparison between versions, please go to: http://www.biblehub.com.

   All bracketed material may be authorial comments, attempts at proper syntax, or minimal rewordings of Scripture for the sake of clarity and continuity.  These emendations will not be italicized.

   The “/” will be used to signify “and/or.”  The symbol “↔” is used to connect verses corroborating each other and so establishing doctrinal truths (Matthew 18:16↔2Corinthians 13:1).

   In differentiating between Yahweh Son [Jesus] and Yahweh Father [the Most High God], lower case letters have been used when discussing the former; upper case letters are reserved for the Only and Most High God.  Since Jesus was at pains to differentiate himself from Father, we have followed his lead here.

   The term neo-Christians will be used to differentiate between false Christians and Jesus’ true followers.

 Many books have been written about human suffering, but none has answered the reason why. The Bible’s explanation is quite simple, or perhaps too simplistic for ‘rational’ minds enamored of greater complexity/diversity of opinions.¹  Granted that non-evidentiary faith by its very nature sounds ‘irrational’ (Hebrews 11:1); but Father is not as concerned with quibbling debates as He is with being believed and obeyed. Simply put, human suffering is the result of disobeying Father: Benefits accrue with compliance and penalties are imposed for non-compliance (Jeremiah 30:11, 46:28).

 No rocket science here:  Human contracts and property/tenancy issues are negotiated on similar terms; the underlying principle being that the property owner [in this case, Father (Job 41:11; Psalms 24:1)] has no intrinsic obligations to prospective tenants hoping for permanent residence in His Kingdom (Leviticus 25:23↔1Chronicles 29:15; John 14:2; Hebrews 11:16). Put another way, past and future Judeo-Christian homesteaders did not have and will not have rights unless meeting their contractual obligations (Deuteronomy 29:14-15, 30:11-20). On the other side of the spectrum, there are those for whom the world as it is is good enough; and since Father means to nuke it and make it anew (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1), those people can burn away with the rest of creation (Isaiah 13:8; Revelation 20:9,15).

 In point of fact, Satan was the instigator of this system. Man and Woman were told not to eat from one particular tree;² and Satan, grasping gender dynamics even then (1Corintians 7:33-34), seduced Woman with arguments foreshadowing female empowerment/liberation (Genesis 3:1-5).³ By defaulting on their covenant, Adam and Eve were evicted from Yahweh Son‘s Eden (Genesis 2:8) into Satan’s realm of death (Genesis 3:23-24↔Isaiah 14:16-17,20; Hebrews 2:14-15).

 Next came the Israelites defaulting on the Mosaic Covenant, an outcome foreseen even before they had set foot in Canaan (Deuteronomy 31:16-18,29↔Jeremiah 31:32).  Deuteronomy 31:29 in particular, with its reference to latter days, applies to defaulting Christians as well—the reason why divine punishments begin with Father’s people (Ezekiel 9:4,6 [Jews]; Jeremiah 25:29-30; 1Peter 4:17 [Christians]). That latter day Judeo-Christians would default on Father‘s covenant of faith was insinuated by Jesus on two occasions: Matthew 24:11-12,22 and Luke 18:8; Paul (2Thessalonians 2:3) and Revelation 9:20-21, 13:8 prophesied the defaulting becoming global [↔Psalms 2:1-3].  The meager statistic given in Revelation 7:4, 14:4-5 tells us how the cards are stacked against humanity.

 So once having defaulted, what came next for men?  Wars, natural catastrophes, and human suffering on monumental scales (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).  To these we must add the historically unprecedented and unimaginable Great Tribulation (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7; Zechariah 13:7-8; Matthew 24:21; Revelation 8, 9, 16). It is said that forewarned is to be forearmed, but not to humans inured by historical cycles of destruction and reconstruction. True to His word, Father warns men well in advance of horrors lying in store for them (Amos 3:7, 4:13) up to the day when annihilation will be final and irrevocable (Hebrews 10:26-27; Revelation 20:9).

 And here is where we shift focus to Satan.

The Accuser

 Just as Yahweh Son/Jesus is humanity’s defender before Father (Isaiah 51:22; 1John 2:1), so is Satan humanity’s accuser (Revelation 12:10). The word “God” in Revelation 12:10 is a bit problematic. If Satan’s rationale behind non-stop accusations was to be given the go-ahead to inflict human suffering, could Heavenly rulers be meant? Proof of sorts lies in Job 1 and 2, wherein Satan convinced Yahweh Son to deploying ‘acts of God’ against Job’s property and family (1:8-19). Please note Yahweh of hosts did not specify which calamities were to befall Job (1:12):  Satan needed no pointers on that score. The second time around, Satan tempted Yahweh Son into harming Job personally; and once again the loathsome, painful skin disease inflicted on Job was Satan’s doing, not Yahweh Son’s (Job 2:4-8).

 Whether Yahweh Son was so naïve as not to see through Satan’s mind games is debatable; verse 2:3 suggests either a susceptibility to manipulation or the opportunity to establish a doctrinal precedent.  In the first instance, Yahweh Son’s benevolent nature prevented him from seeing through Satan’s ulterior motives; in the second, Yahweh Son saw value in Job’s ordeals to prove to Satan—and posterity—that a man of faith could remain loyal to Father even in the depths of suffering [↔Job 2:10, 13:15].  After all this is Father‘s purpose behind ‘baptisms of fire’ (Isaiah 48:10; Zechariah 13:9; Hebrews 12:5-11; 1Peter 1:6-7, 5:6-10); and just as Father plans to reward the faithful for all their sufferings (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:4), so did Yahweh Son remunerate Job for his own (Job 42:10-17)—proof that Son follows Father‘s script (John 5:19).

 Luke 22:31-32 present a conundrum, since Jesus stated that Satan had “asked [someone] to sift [Peter] like wheat”—i.e., put Peter through the grinder; and Jesus prayed to someone else that Peter’s faith would not fail.⁴ Because Jesus does not identify himself as that person, that ‘someone’ must be in the position to grant Satan’s petition and hear Jesus’ plea in Peter’s favor: Father. Which means that Satan is not afraid to tempt his masters, either Father or Son, in flagrant disobedience of Deuteronomy 6:16 [↔Luke 4:12] and because he is, as profiled in Job 41:34, the quintessence of arrogance and pride. Viewed like this, James 1:3 argues that Father will neither countenance breaches in protocol nor give in to the expectations of evildoers (John 9:31; 1Peter 3:12); yet He allowed Satan to test Peter for a greater purpose (Hebrews 12:5-10).⁵ Which leads us to conclude that Yahweh Son allowed Job’s torment with Father‘s agenda in mind.

 Thus human suffering serves productive purposes.   It purifies the human heart (Proverbs 20:30).  In their suffering people turn to Father and finally find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29-31; 2Chronicles 15:12-15; Jeremiah 29:13), an end times goal achievable only through the Great Tribulation (Joel 2:31-32; Revelation 7:14).  Men never consider better options until calamity befalls them; and operant conditioning has proven that punishment works wonders correcting undesirable behaviors.  With eternal life on one side of fate’s balance and a bonfire on the other, human suffering is needed to tip the scales in favor of souls to be saved.

 Naturally men think in temporal terms and nobody likes to suffer.  But Father thinks out of the box; and if defaulting humans offend His personal sense of fairness and justice, He has provided contingencies for that.  “’I’ve struck you down with the blow of an enemy, with the punishment of a cruel foe because your wickedness is great, and your sins are numerous…I abandoned you for one brief moment, but I will bring you back with unlimited compassion.  In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but with everlasting loving kindness will I have mercy on you,’ says Yahweh your Redeemer…‘I alone [see Acts 1:7] know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for’…The fierce anger of Yahweh will not turn back until He has executed and…performed the intentions of His heart [see Numbers 23:19]. In the latter days you will understand it” [in order, Jeremiah 30:14; Isaiah 54:7-8; Jeremiah 29:11, 30:24].

 Which hints at the perennial conundrum driving human suffering:  No matter how much men are warned to value Father’s assets, they gamble them away at Satan’s poker table until regaining their reason albeit too late (1Samuel 2:30; 2Samuel 24:10;Ezra 8:22;  Jeremiah 29:19; Matthew 27:4; Luke 17:26-29; Hebrews 12:16-17↔Genesis 25:32). We will return to Satan’s ‘poker hand’ in Parts VI and VII.

 Zechariah 3:1 illustrates another instance of Satan’s role as accuser. Scripture does not tell us what charges Satan levelled against Moses, though we know that Moses had once murdered a man (Exodus 2:12). The Fifth Commandment as we know it lay in the future (Exodus 20:13); but Genesis is ripe with instances where Mosaic injunctions were being practiced apparently following an oral tradition—i.e., animal sacrifices (Genesis 4:4); not uncovering parents’ nakedness (Genesis 9:22-25↔Leviticus 18:7); raising issue to dead brothers (Genesis 38:8↔Deuteronomy 25:5-6); etc. Moreover, Moses was being judged after his assumption into Heaven, so it was licit to judge him by past misdeeds (Romans 3:20,25). Given Moses’ exemplary record as lawgiver and judge over the Israelites, we can think of no other sin Satan could have used against Moses except that one murder.

The Homicidal, Sword-wielding Executioner

   In the Bible there are two swords.  One is the Holy Spirit’s, Father‘s word (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). It is the spiritual sword Zerubabbel [another symbol for Jesus] was told to wield in his endeavors to build Yahweh’s Temple (Ezra 5:2; Haggai 1:14, 2:4-5,23; Zechariah 4:6); it is the sword Jesus dispensed to all followers engaged in building Yahweh’s human-bricked Church (Matthew 10:34; John 15:26; Ephesians 2:20-22; Hebrews 3:6; 1Peter 2:5); and the sword issuing from Jesus’ mouth (Revelation 1:16 19:11-16).  This spiritual sword has the potential to slay adversaries while never spilling human blood.

   Satan is the wielder of the other sword, which Scripture calls the “slaughtering sword” (Ezekiel 21:14-15).  “Thus said Yahweh, ‘A sword is sharpened and also polished.  It is sharpened that it may make a slaughter…Should We rejoice?  It despises the scepter of My Son [Yahweh Son/Jesus] as it does every tree [human beings↔Mark 8:24].  It’s intended to be polished so it can be grasped in the hand. The sword is sharpened. It’s polished for placement into the hand of the executioner.  Cry and mourn, son of man ,⁶ because the sword will be used against My people and against all the princes of Israel [↔Jeremiah 5:31].  I will throw the princes and My people on the sword. So beat your breast, and grieve.  For testing [the Great Tribulation?] will come, and what will happen when the scepter [Jesus], which the sword [Satan] despises, is no more [the end of the time of grace, when Jesus will no longer hold Satan back]?” (Ezekiel 21:9-13).

 Now there are examples in Scripture from which we see that Satan cannot indiscriminately choose whom to kill, or even that he is in total control of the slaughtering sword he wields (Exodus 12:23; 2Samuel 24:16). In Revelation 6:8 he is handed down the destroying sword; and in Revelation 9:1 he is given the key to release his imprisoned angels (2Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6) in order to torment the unrighteous. Satan’s spin on his limitations is that he has the power of death by which men submit to his servitude (Hebrews 2:15).  Men fear death like Dracula the cross; and they will do anything and betray anyone in order to save their skins (Mark 13:12).

 It then follows that the physical challenge thrust upon Job [the skin disease] is correlated with the physical challenge asked of all the faithful:  Patiently (Luke 21:19; 2Peter 3:15↔Hebrews 12:1; Revelation 14:12-13) endure temporary suffering if need be to obtain eternal bliss (1Peter 1:6-7, 2:20-21, 3:17, 4:12-13).  In both instances human priorities are pitted against Father‘s and Jesus’; a challenge the faithful are constrained to accept (Mark 8:35; John 12:25), but which doubters and skeptics dismiss. Why sacrifice what one is sure of for an ‘iffy’ proposition? Not that the latter are equipped to understand spiritual things (1Corinthians 2:14); but also that they do not value the exalted principles that underpin Father‘s morality:  The recognition that every person should be entitled to the same rights, privileges, and blessings we treasure for ourselves (Deuteronomy 10:17; Job 34:17-19; Acts 10:34-35)—a morality we subscribe to practicing the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12; James 2:8) or reciting the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:12).

 Using Paul as an example, he rejected all material things (Philippians 3:8) and put his life on the line for the sake of others (2Timothy 2:10) to partake of a promise not yet fulfilled as had done his “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 11:7-40, 12:1).  These also forfeited life and limb, as did the martyred under the Heavenly Altar (Revelation 6:11).  We know the latter to be the equivalents of animals sacrificed under Mosaic Law to purify the Jews of antiquity (Exodus 24:8↔Hebrews 9:13-14, 12:24); for many components of Mosaic rituals [shadow]—blood, incense, salt, the oil of anointment—have their counterparts in Christian teaching [substance↔Hebrews 9:22; Revelation 5:8, 8:4; Matthew 5:13; Colossians 4:6; 1John 2:27, respectively].

    But when even Jesus himself, who unlike us had seen the God he had interacted with in his pre-existence (Isaiah 63:9, 64:4; John 5:19, 8:38,40, 17:5), dreaded physical pain (Luke 22:41-44), we cannot possibly believe any of us looks forward to the ultimate sacrifice.  We need Father’s timely spiritual assist (Hebrews 4:16) to overcome fear and waning resolve; as did Peter facing his final ordeal (John 21:18-19) or Paul during his many tribulations (Acts 27:23-24; 2Timothy 3:11, 4:17-18).  As per Father’s immutable promise, He helps the righteous in their many afflictions (Psalms 34:19↔1Corinthians 10:13).  This is why without Jesus, people of faith cannot overcome anything on their own (Isaiah 51:22; John 15:5; 1Timothy 2:5; 2Timothy 3:11; 1John 2:1).

   But what is Satan’s counter-advise?  Yes, you can!—today’s mantra even as human initiatives and nature itself crumble about us. Satan seduced Eve with arguments of equality with Father in terms of wisdom (Genesis 3:5); today he uses scientific accomplishments to render Father‘s involvement irrelevant. Yahweh warned Israel that their safety lay in waiting for His deliverance (Isaiah 30:1-4,7,15-16, 31:1-3; Jeremiah 27:9-15); yet when faced with the threat of external invasion, Israelites reached out to Satan’s cohorts—Egypt (Ezekiel 29:3) and Assyria (Isaiah 10:5-6,14-15)—for assistance (Lamentations 5:6).

 Sadly they were pinning their hopes on the destroyer acting through these would-be allies.  “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we are in agreement.  When the scouring scourge shall pass through, it shall not reach us, for we have made lies our refuge and in falsehood have we hid ourselves”…[But Yahweh Son called their bluff],  “Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be trampled by it.  And at the time that it passes it will take you, because morning to morning it shall pass through, by day and by night there shall be terror” (Isaiah 28:15,18-19).  Henceforth, “The remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer rely on the one who struck them down, but will truly rely on Yahweh [Son↔Isaiah 10:24-25], the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 10:20).⁷

   Once Jerusalem’s fate had been decreed, it was Satan, king of ancient and modern Babylon (Isaiah 14:4-6,16-17; Jeremiah 51:44↔Revelation 16:13-14, 20:7-10), who annihilated disobedient Jews then and will in future dispose of his enablers, abettors and supporters (Isaiah 14:20) To make a long story short, Satan had a field day mowing down Jerusalem and its inhabitants (Lamentations 2:19-22, 4:4-5,7-10, 5:10-13); as he would reprise with Assyria:  “Assyria will fall by a sword, but not one human-made; a sword not made by humankind will destroy them. They will run away from this sword and their young men will be forced to do hard labor” (Isaiah 31:8).

   As noted in Part II of this series, whenever Satan is meant, Scripture alludes to the unnamed King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:4-6); when the historical Nebuchadnezzar is meant, his name is given (Jeremiah 27:6-8).  In both Ezekiel 21: 19 and 30:24, the unnamed Babylonian ruler is Satan; note that Yahweh “puts His sword” in Satan’s hand.  Revelation 6:4,8 portray two angels receiving swords; the one in verse 6 is given the power to wage wars but the angel in verse 8 is Satan himself, the ruler over the empire of death (Hebrews 3:14). The distinction between swords is who they are deployed against.  The red horse rider (verse 4) is an equal opportunity destroyer:  He lures all nations into wars; but the rider of the pale horse, Satan, wields his sword primarily in situations where Father’s people are involved (Revelation 12:17).

Satan’s Crimes against Humanity: Documented Evidence

   Exhibit A:  Exodus 12:23.  “For Yahweh [Son] will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts [of Israelite dwellings], Yahweh will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you.”  Note the usual pattern:  Yahweh Son assumes responsibility for the deaths of Egyptian firstborns, but Satan, under Son’s control, is doing the killing.  The statement, “will not allow the destroyer…to strike you,” intimates that given free rein, Satan, homicidal from the beginning (John 8:44), would have killed everyone in sight.

   Exhibit B:  1 Chronicles 21:1,15.  As in Nebuchadnezzar’s case (Daniel 4:29-30), King David had become too vain and took a census to ascertain how much he had accomplished on his own.  Deuteronomy 8:17-18 forbade this ego-tripping; so Satan, [who himself took credit where none was due↔Ezekiel 29:3], incited David [he was warned against it (1Chronicles 21:3)] to do likewise, thus creating a breach between Yahweh Son (1Chronicles 21:7) and David.  Please note that in 2Samuel 24:1, Yahweh Son assumes responsibility for letting Satan trip David, while 1Chronicles 21:1 identifies Satan as the instrumental culprit.  Forthwith Satan deployed a plague that pared down 70,000 men off Israel’s body count.⁸ Next came Jerusalem’s turn.  “Yahweh sent an angel [Satan] to Jerusalem to destroy it.  As [Satan] was about to destroy, Yahweh [Son] looked on and he relented of the disaster,⁹ and said to the destroying angel, ‘It is enough; now stay your hand’” (1Chronicles 21:15).

 Biblical narratives are sometimes confusing and this is one of those instances.  When David looked up, he “saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and the sky, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem” (1Chronicles 21:16).  The appellation “angel of Yahweh” is usually reserved for Yahweh Son Angel God (Genesis 16:7-13, 22:11,15, 21:17, 48:15-16; Exodus 3:2,4; Judges 2:1; Isaiah 63:9; Acts 27:23); but here “angel of Yahweh” must refer to Satan as the instrument of Yahweh Son‘s wrath (2Samuel 24:1), for it was Satan’ hand wielding the sword Yahweh Son told him to stay (2Samuel 24:16). David implores Yahweh Son proxy God to stop the carnage (1Chronicles 21:17); Scripture then conflates “Yahweh God” (v. 17) with the “angel of Yahweh” who tells David to build an altar to Yahweh Father (v. 18); David goes to Ornan and buys his land (v. 19-25);¹⁰ and offers a holocaust which is accepted by Father in His signal way:  with fire from Heaven (Leviticus 9:4; 1Kings 18:37-38; 1Chronicles 21:26; Revelation 20:9).  Finally, Yahweh Son tells Satan to cease and desist (1Chronicles 1:27); and the plague stops (2Samuel 24:25).

 Once more the familiar chain of events:  David transgresses; Father is displeased (2Samuel 24:1); punishment for defaulting on Deuteronomy 8:17-18 must be exacted (2Samuel 24:10-13; Jeremiah 30:11); Yahweh Son unleashes Satan; David pleads to Father for forgiveness, which is granted; Yahweh Son reins in Satan; and human suffering ends. 

   It only remains to parse 2Samuel 24:13:  “Shall seven years of famine come to your land, or three months of reversals while you flee from your enemies as they pursue you, or three days of pestilence in your land? Decide right now what I [the prophet Gad] am to answer to the one who sent me.”  It would seem that Yahweh Son is the sender of the plague, but his personal role in all this was allowing Father‘s “destroyer” (Isaiah 54:16) to implement David’s choice (1Chronicles 21:13-14).  Had David owned up to his transgression, he could have chosen persecution by his enemies to spare the people; yet in customary human fashion, he passed the buck to save his own skin. David’s behavior typifies rulers’ proclivities to let their peoples suffer the consequences for failures in leadership, a historical trend currently gaining momentum as we sink deeper into apostasy.

 As both Job’s skin ailment and Luke 13:16 show, Satan thrives on the suffering diseases cause; thus foreknowing plague to be one of Satan’s torments, it figured amongst the choices facing David. Since Father acknowledges that without His permission Satan cannot ruffle one of his feathers, Scriptures like this are often misinterpreted as evidence of vindictiveness on Father’s part. Yet this should not blind us to the fact that He—save for the burning at Armageddon (Deuteronomy 32:35↔Revelation 20:9)—never has and never will mete out any punishments.  If He lists famines, plagues, natural catastrophes, and execrable human behaviors in difficult times, it is because He knows not only what Satan is capable of dishing out, but that having foreseen the whole of human history from the beginning, He warns men what to expect from Satan if they default on His covenants.

 Exhibit C: Revelation 9:1-11.  These refer to the comeuppance of end-times’ evildoers. Please note that Satan is given the key to open the pit where his angels are imprisoned (Jude 1:6); the released are given some stinging power (v. 3); and they are told to keep their hands off the “sealed” ones while commanded not to kill but to torment the rest (v. 4-6).  Overall we see that Satan and his angels cannot do anything unilaterally: On the one hand they are empowered to torment humanity; on the other, they cannot act against the “sealed” ones. We must surmise that along with the tormented, lots of Judeo-Christian stragglers and middle-grounders will be ‘stung’ as well to varying degrees—the latter appearing to rub both Yahwehs the wrong way (Matthew 25:24-27,30; Hebrews 10:38; Revelation 3:16).  At all times we must keep in mind that Father and Jesus are about saving souls, not destroying them (Ezekiel 33:11; Luke 9:56); so even amongst the shambles of the Great Tribulation millions will implore for forgiveness and be heard (Romans 10:13; Revelation 7:9,13-14), while others will go on as usual (Revelation 9:20-21).

   Exhibit D:  God’s discipline, the so-called baptism by fire (Isaiah 48:10; Luke 3:16).  Once more let us focus on Peter. Since by denying Jesus, Peter was guilty of gross transgression (Matthew 10:33), Peter was liable for disciplinary measures; and if he was crucified as tradition holds, he ultimately requested divine assistance to endure his ordeal (John 21:18). Since Satan was behind Peter’s “sifting,” the older Peter extended his arms to Jesus in Heaven; whereas it was Father Who Satan asked for permission to “sift” younger Peter.

 Still our concern here is the fact that Satan’s had to ask in order to torment, one more proof of his inability to act on his own volition.  Even here there are limits to what he can do.  “No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation He will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.”  Note that Father is not specifying what types of temptation Satan can deploy; for if let to his own devices, those would be nothing short of the nuclear option.  Father’s ultimate goal in personal but deserved suffering is “for our good, so that we may share in His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10), and be worthy of receiving “the future [men] hope for” (Jeremiah 29:11).

   To have a cancer removed, painful surgery/chemotherapy may be needed; giving birth involves pain followed by the joy of parenthood; and as athletes are fond of stating, no pain no gain:  The means may sometimes justify the ends.  With victory assured beyond death, suffering is the means to a profitable and desirable end (1Corinthians 15:54-55; Revelation 20:6) where death is not a tragedy, but liberation.

The Rank and Vile

   Were it not for men, Satan would be incapable of inflicting human suffering. Wars are fought because there a men willing to wage them. Man-made global warming is talking its toll upon humans and ecosystems alike. Execrable leaders are put in power by people supporting their agendas—however un-Jesus like they may be. There are always those willing to further leaders’ agendas that appeal to the worst in human nature. Whether it be through name-calling (Luke 7:33-34); patriotic spins (Jeremiah 38:4); pretense at religiosity (Matthew 23:27:28; John 11:47-53; Acts 20:29-30); trumped up charges (Mark 14:55-58); or sowing disunity (Proverbs 11:29; Titus 3:10-11; Jude 1:18-19), these enablers and abettors are nothing new under the sun:  They are perennially stock and parcel in Satan’s bag of tricksters.

 What boggles the mind is that Jesus made it so easy for us to identify them: By their actions and their words you shall know them (Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:45). Unfortunately, this discernment is predicated on faith and obedience; barring those, the alternative is the “hardness of heart” which makes it impossible for people to realize the error of their ways (Exodus 14:8; Deuteronomy 2:30; Isaiah 6:10; Lamentations 3:65). While Scripture makes it clear that Father allows the “hardening,” the enforcer is Satan himself (2Corinthians 4:4; 2Timothy 2:25-26). Hence Jesus’ appeal from the cross for forgiveness of those rejoicing in his fate: While they challenged Jesus to call on the God Jesus trusted (Psalms 22:7-8↔Matthew 27:43; Luke 23:35), Jesus understood that Father had given them over to Satan’s “hardness of heart”; so that the scoffers not only could not realize who Jesus was but were deprived of spiritual discernment. In effect, Jesus was advocating for Father‘s leniency towards people He had allowed Satan to blind to the truth.

 If we read Psalms 22:1-22, not once did the pre-existent Jesus speaking through David blame Satan for his suffering. Satan may have been a key player behind Jesus’ crucifixion: He had personally possessed Judas to enable Jesus’ arrest (Luke 22:3; John 13:27); but only after Judas had decided to betray Jesus for lucre (Matthew 26:14-15) and Satan had nurtured that betrayal in Judas’ heart (John 13:2). In Psalms 22 Jesus is speaking to the only Being capable of addressing his plight: Father; for despite what Hollywood, that Q-Anon of religious spins, regurgitates about Satan’s presumptive might, he is under the thumbs of both Yahwehs.  “Should an axe brag against him who chops with it?  Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it?  As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood” (Isaiah 10:15).  Satan is even powerless against people who resist him (James 4:7).  He can only tip the scales of souls compromised by the same instincts that drive him:  Ill-will and mendacity.  Those people are Satan’s vectors spreading evil contaminants amongst mankind.

 This is what ‘demonic possession’ is really about.  As it happened with Judas, it is the point at which the human heart becomes so dark that evil walks in and takes over. Still Judas’ head did not pivot on his shoulders and he did not vomit torrents of green guck on his way to the Mount of Olives.  He calmly and collectedly led the posse to arrest Jesus (Matthew 26:47).  It was only after Satan had left him, and he had regained control of his faculties, that Judas realized the enormity of his crime (Matthew 27:3-5).

 So it is with men who dig their own graves by empowering Satan’s minions in all human endeavors and all walks of life. It is understandable that the faithless do so, but professed Christians? Satan has made such inroads amongst men that even today neo-Christians pray to Father to keep in or put in power men or women who will lead them into the pit. Over millennia this state of affairs has been proven true time and again; but following Solomon’s template, lessons learned are forgotten by subsequent generations (Ecclesiastes 1:11).  The legendary Hamelin procession to the Weser River is a microcosm of human realities:  Satan is the pied-piper and godless men are the “unclean” he lures to their doom.

 Satan’s tune is the same he intoned for Eve:  Break away from Father and stand on your own two feet—meaning of course, I’ll glut you with false hopes until given the go-ahead to make mincemeat out of you.  Since I have little time left (Revelation 12:12), I want to take down with me as much of humanity as I possibly can. Satan’s noose is crooked around the necks of those who, although once having been of service to him, are no longer of any use.

 Nevertheless, his brood will keep falling in line behind him and eagerly complying with his designs.

¹ Like the Athenians of yore (Acts 17:21).  

² Scripture raises here an interesting conundrum that no one can definitively settle but is worth discussing. Genesis 3:3 tells us that the forbidden tree was in the middle of Eden and could impart the wisdom to know between good and evil (Genesis 3:22). The “like us” in Genesis 3:22 does not explain who “us” were; but if the speaker was Yahweh Son proxy God, who Adam and Eve did see and hear (Genesis 3:8), then it could not have been the never heard, never seen Father (John 1:18, 5:37). Therefore this way of speaking in the plural, common amongst royal mortals, suggests, as it does in Genesis 1:26, that Yahweh Son proxy God was referring to himself and Yahweh Father. We must exclude the Holy Spirit because He, unlike Son, does not share Father’s image (Colossians 1:15); and nowhere in Scripture is the Holy Spirit described in his true form (?).

 Here comes the interesting part: Yahweh Son commands Cherubim to guard the tree of life so that man might not eat from it and live forever (Genesis 3:22,24); but this particular tree was not the one Adam and Eve ate from. Note the wording, “lest [man] reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”; clearly corroborating there were two separate, distinct trees imparting different capabilities—i.e., immortality and wisdom, respectively (Genesis 2:9).

 It then follows that Eden’s tree of life foreshadows those on either side of the river of the water of life flowing from Father‘s and Son‘s thrones in the Heavenly City (Revelation 22:1-2). And here comes the puzzler: “The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2); but healing in what sense, since diseases of the flesh and the spirit have been done away with? And if water from this river (Revelation 21:6) and leaves from this tree must be consumed (Revelation 2:7), what is the purpose?

 Food for thought.

³ Could this be the day “evil was found” in Satan (Ezekiel 28:15)?

⁴ Let us remember that during his earthly ministry, Yahweh Son had abdicated his Godship to become incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth (Philippians 2:5-8). It was only after this resurrection and return to Heaven that Father entrusted Jesus with an Interim Godship lasting until all evildoers were destroyed (Matthew 28:18↔Revelation 1:18, 2:27, 5:5-7; 1Corinthians 15:24-28).

⁵ Peter would deny Jesus, which made him liable for correction.

⁶ Ezekiel 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 6:2, 7:1; which happens to be Jesus’ own epithet: Son of Man (Matthew 8:20; Mark 9:31; Luke 21:27. Coincidence or design?

⁷ While “Holy One,” like many of Son‘s epithets applies to Father as well (Revelation 4:8), Isaiah’s “Holy One of Israel” refers specifically to Son, as attested to in Isaiah 6:1-12, where Isaiah hears and speaks with Yahweh; and where even this speaking Yahweh states that another Yahweh will do away with men. Sounds familiar? “Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared: ‘The Lord [Yahweh Father] said to my [David’s] Lord [Yahweh Son], “[Son]Sit at My right hand (Mark 16:19; Hebrews 10:12-13) until I put your enemies under your feet'” (Mark 12:36).

 Isaiah 54:5 establishes the clearest link between Yahweh Son, Holy One of Israel and Jesus: ”For your Maker [John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-16↔Hebrews 1:2-3] is your husband (Mark 2:19-20; 2Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23); Yahweh of hosts is his name, and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer (Romans 3:23-24; Ephesians 1:7↔Hebrews 9:22; 1Peter 1:18-19): He is called the [proxy] God of the whole earth” (Matthew 28:18↔Revelation 2:27; 1Corinthians 15:24-28).

⁸ There is a discrepancy in census estimates between 2Samuel 24:9 and 1Chronicles 21:5.

⁹ An instance of the Yahweh [Son] who changes his mind, unlike the Yahweh Father who never does (Numbers 23:19).

¹⁰ Apparently Yahweh Son was physically present with David, for when they saw the angel, Ornan’s four sons ran to hide.

 Also the land David bought and upon which Solomon would eventually build the First Temple was the location where Abraham had been told to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:2; 1Chronicles 21:18-26; 2Chronicles 3:1). Which tells us that the sacrifice required of Abraham, which was never carried through (Genesis 22:10-13), foreshadowed the one Father did with respect to His Son (Isaiah 53:4-10; John 18:11).