Who Satan is in the Book of Revelation

We are continuing our study on the Book of Revelation. We're in the introductory state and phases of studying the book. It's hard for me to kind of get into it because there are so many pieces to the Book of Revelation in terms of things that we can say about it, things that I'm still learning about it that we will be sharing with you. But nevertheless, we're going to do our best to get this information across to you. There are some basics that we need to talk about regarding Satan in the book, and there's a lot to be said about it because, you know, the Book of Revelation definitely has a lot of influence of Satan. But what I want to talk about this morning is the relationship of Satan to the seven churches. And in order to help you to understand that, I have to give a little bit of background on the study of Satan so that you can kind of see what direction, you know, this is leading to. So I've got so much material here, I don't know where to start. But nevertheless, what I want to do is go to some information that we covered a little bit on last week. Now, some of you were saying no. Okay, that was that was earlier. Okay, so the audio should be good. All right. So what I want to do first is go to 2 Corinthians chapter 11. 2 Corinthians 11. This will help to set the tone for understanding Satan in the Book of Revelation. What we're going to try to do is demystify Satan a little bit for you and kind of take away the fear that people may have of Satan. Hopefully, if we accomplish that, we've accomplished a lot. So once again, good morning to Ron, to Philip, to Robin, to Gail, and let's see who else is with us this morning. To Julie. All right. Thank you, Julie. I do read your comments that you make on some of the remarks that I make, so I appreciate reading them. All right. So in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, beginning at verse 1, the Bible says, Now, it is clear from this text, and good morning to you, Marilyn. It is clear from this text that what Paul is doing is focusing on the historical record that we have in Genesis, and he's putting himself, if you please, in the position of God who presented Eve to Adam. Presented Eve as a chaste virgin to Adam and indicating, therefore, their betrothal or spousal. And then later, Adam came to know his wife to consummate that relationship. But in that process, we have the temptation that occurred, and that's what Paul is alluding to at this particular point. And so he says in verse 3, So, in other words, he's saying there is a Satan among you, speaking of the Corinthians, that there was a Satan among them who was beguiling the church, the virgin, the spiritual Eve, just like the serpent did in the beginning in the Garden of Eden. And Paul is concerned about that. He's trying to warn the church against that, and he is giving them instructions concerning it. So, watch verse 4 and look very carefully at what he's saying, because he's going to reveal who Satan is in this context. So, he says in verse 4, Now, if you go back to the Garden of Eden and you look at what happened when the serpent tempted Eve, he came to her with a different gospel, if you please, saying, Yes, as God said, you shall not eat of every tree of the garden. And then said to her, well, you're not going to surely die and all of these things. So, we know the record. We understand what was going on there. But that's what Paul is recounting here. And so he's kind of recapitulating the event that happened in Genesis with the church at Corinth. And so he says, Now, I want you to pay attention to that very carefully. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit, which you have not received, or a different gospel, which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it. So, there was someone or someones who had come to Corinth who were teaching a different Jesus. They had a different spirit or revelation, which is what the Aramaic translation says of 2nd Corinthians, that the word spirit there means another revelation. And that's interesting because you do have the Bible talking about in 1st John chapter 4. Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. And he talks about what that spirit was. So, it's just interesting. And that was also written to the church at Ephesus, one of the churches, one of the seven churches in Asia. But nevertheless, he says, which, by the way, shows you somewhat of a common experience between what was happening with the Corinthians and also what was happening in the book of Revelation with the seven churches. Good morning to you, brother Mark. He says, showing you live from Ghana. So, I don't know whether he's posting this live in Ghana or just watching it live in Ghana. But nevertheless, we appreciate that. I love the people in Ghana and looking forward to getting back here at some time in the near future. But nevertheless, he says, for I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. Now, what they were doing in 2nd Corinthians where they were challenging Paul's authority and his apostleship. And one of the reasons they were challenging him was because he was not a Judean. And some of these other apostles or those who were claiming to be such were from Judea. It's good to see you here too, Beatrice. And all the rest, Eric and William Sanders as well. You know, sometimes I forget to call all these names. So, please just forgive me for it. And so, what Paul did was in his manner of preaching, he forewent taking money from the churches in the church in Corinth by accepting money from the churches in Macedonia, like Philippi, etc., in order for him to continue that work. Whereas those who had come among them in preaching these things, they were enforcing the right to receive money from the churches. And Paul basically used that as a way to kind of catch them with guile. But nevertheless, I want to get down to the nitty-gritty of what I'm trying to say so I can move on. Then he says in verse 12, but what I do, I will also continue to do that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things in which we boast. Now, look at what he calls them in verse 13. Now, he hasn't changed the subject from those who came preaching a different gospel, who came with a different spirit or revelation, and who came with a different Jesus. In verse 13, he identifies them. He says, for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is of no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into the ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. Now, that last phrase, whose end will be according to their works should tip you off to something, especially as it relates to this text. But nevertheless, he's saying that, you know, Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. And therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness. So now we've got these ministers of Satan, and he says they're transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness. Now, righteousness is another term for light. I believe that might be used in Ephesians chapter five. Let me go there and check that real quick. Ephesians five. I'm not sure if the word righteous is used in that text, but I do know that it is used in one way. In verse 13, he says, but all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore, he says, awake, you sleep, arise from the dead and Christ should give you light. Well, here's the point that I'm making. In first Corinthians 15 and verse 35, I think it is, he says, awake to righteousness and do not sin. So if you put those two together, both referring to resurrection, one says, awake you who sleep, arise from the dead, Christ will give you light. The other one says, awake to righteousness and do not sin. So that just shows you that righteousness and light are used in a synonymous way in terms of the scripture in speaking of resurrection. And so when it says that they are transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness, it's saying they're transforming themselves into ministers of light, just as Satan did. But these were men. These were human individuals that he's speaking about and calling them false apostles. Now let's go a little bit further and see if we can identify them. In verse 20, he says, for you put up with it if one brings you into bondage. Well, think about that term and then think about maybe where this is going. You put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. And that term, if one strikes you on the face from, again, from the Aramaic commentary indicates someone who is very overbearing. So these false teachers were coming in and they were just kind of throwing their weight around with the church. And one of the reasons they were a bit more influential than Paul was because Paul came from outside of Judea and they viewed the people who were in Judea as having more authority and validity than one who was outside of the land. They said that same thing was true with Islam, that a prophet who was from that Arab world was viewed as more authoritative than one who came without, could not speak the language, et cetera. So now as we consider that, here's what Paul says in verse 22. Now, again, I want you to remember, he hasn't changed the subject of who he's talking about. He's talking about these false teachers who had come in, these apostles who had come in, these ministers of Satan who had come in that were beguiling the minds of the church, just like the serpent did Eve in the beginning. And he says in verse 22, are they Hebrews? He says, so am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool. I am more in labors, more abundant in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. So what Paul did was he appealed more, not so much to his being a Hebrew, to his being an Israelite, and to his being a seed of Abraham, because he was, he was of the tribe of Benjamin, but he was Saul of Tarsus, whereas they were Judeans, and therefore considered themselves as having much more authority than he did. And from that perspective, they were able to persuade many in Corinth that they were teaching the truth, whereas they were teaching falsehood. Now, if you followed that, in other words, what you should have seen was that Paul attributed these false apostles, these ministers of Satan, to these Judaizing teachers who were following him around and teaching a different Jesus, a different gospel, and who had a different spirit. Now, that's very, very important, because when we were talking about the dating of the book of Revelation earlier, we talked about some of the influences that were present and prevalent in the earlier churches. Now, if you were to take that concept, and there's a lot more that I have to present on that. I don't know if I'll present all of those on Facebook, but there's a lot more that I'm developing on that particular point. But let's just go to the churches and just see how that works out in terms of what we are looking at, because we may be seeing, whereas most people have this idea of the Satan monster, so to speak. And when I say that, I mean this spirit that makes you do everything. And by the way, the Aramaic people, particularly in Babylon, they had this idea that Satan made me do it. But they had that in their culture, that Satan made me do it, et cetera. And that is generally where it is suggested that Israel got that from. I don't have time to cover all that with you. I've got it in my notes, but I can't cover all of that. But now let's go to the seven churches which are in Asia, and let's talk about them for a bit in terms of what was about to take place with them. So we've seen Satan and his ministers. We've seen where Paul says, are they Hebrews? Are they Israelites? Are they the seed of Abraham? So there were some people walking around teaching a different Jesus who were actually Hebrews, Israelites, and the seed of Abraham. So that should tip you off in terms of what we're saying. Now, that's very important because that theme is interwoven into several churches in Revelation. And by the way, it's also interwoven in one of the churches that they claim came way, way late. Well, that's gonna be not so credible after we look at this connection with the Satan concept. So let's first go to the church at Smyrna, I think would be the first one that we would want to look at. And let's see if that is the one. No, no, no, no, no. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It is, it is, excuse me. All right, starting in verse eight. All right, the text says, and to the angel of the church in Smyrna, right, all right. Now this is one where we had Polycarp claiming to have been the bishop of in the late date era. But I want you to watch the continuity of the Satanic influence in all of these churches. And it's gonna be impossible to date that beyond a certain period of time. But anyway, he says, these things says the first and the last, it was dead and came to life. I know your works, tribulation and poverty, but you are rich. And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, now watch this, but are a synagogue of Satan. That word blasphemy is another word that you should study in the New Testament, because it'll lead you down a particular path as well. But nevertheless, he says, I know your works, tribulation and poverty, but you're rich. And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan. So what do we see here? We see this influence of Satan right here in the church in Smyrna, one of the ones that they want to use in order to support a late dating of the book of Revelation. Now look at what's happening next. He says, do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested and you will have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life. It's also important to understand the blessings and the promises that were made to the churches so you can again see some continuity between them. Now notice he tells them that if they would overcome, they would not be hurt of the second death. But they clearly have this influence of Satan among them. And the Bible says that Satan was about to throw some of them into prison. All right, very, very important as we understand that. Now, as we move forward, we also see that when we look at the next point here, which is regarding which is not one of the disputed churches, by the way, in terms of the timing of its writing, of the early date writing of the book of Revelation. And remember, we talked about the, well, we'll see it here in a moment. The text says, to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, these things says, he who has the sharp two-edged sword, I know your works. Now watch this. And where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to my name and did not deny my faith even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr who was killed among you where Satan dwells. So here they are, where Satan's throne is and where Satan dwells. And by the way, you know, all these seven churches were in the same general area in Asia minor. And so you have the satanic influence in Smyrna, but you also have it in Pergamos as well. The Bible talks about his throne was there. And he says that Antipas, who was his faithful martyr was killed there where Satan dwells. But then notice this doctrine. And I pointed this out earlier, but I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things, sacrifice to idols and to commit sexual immorality. Now, when we studied that, we went back to Acts chapter 15, where reverend had come down from Antioch of Syria to Judea, teaching the brethren that unless they were circumcised and kept the law of Moses, the scripture says they could not be saved. That's what they were teaching. Acts 15, one through five. And so we can see a connection here. That's kind of like the connection that we saw over in second Corinthians, where those who were beguiling the church like Satan was or the serpent was in the beginning were teaching a different Jesus. They were called false apostles, etc. And even Ephesians talks about the false apostles in Ephesians chapter two. I mean, in Revelation chapter two. And what verse is that where he talks about the false? I think it's verse three, where he says you have, you know, had those among you who say they are apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. So that, again, should tip you off a little bit in terms of what's going on. And we'll show you the influence of of Satan, even among the church at Ephesus. So here you have those who have the whole to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, as he said, which I hate. But that was the very admonition that Paul gave or that, excuse me, the the elders gave and the apostles in Acts chapter 15 that they would abstain from fornication, from sexual immorality, which was associated with idolatry, from idols, from being strangled and from blood. And he said, which if they did those things, they would do well. So that was the, you know, admonition that he gave to the Gentiles who were coming in the faith that they would not be associated with those things. But nevertheless, we have the writer here saying that this is what they were teaching. And that's associated with that satanic influence. Then again, we have in the church at Thyatira. And this is where I want you to really take note in terms of what's being said here, because it's going to give us a huge clue in terms of the Satan that is being spoken of here. All right. So he says it to the angel of the church in Thyatira, right? These things, says the son of God, who has eyes like flame of fire and his feet like fine brass. I know your works, love, service, faith, and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless, I have a few things among you because you allow that woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess to teach and to seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality, anything sacrificed to idols. Remember, we went back to Numbers 25 to show how the children of Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor and they committed fornication. That was a form of idolatry. Same thing in Exodus 32. Same thing in the book of Corinthians with the temple of Aphrodite. So that's the idea behind this. And so he says, and I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality and she did not repent. So think of the mother of harlots in the book of Revelation chapter 17 who committed fornication with all the kings of the earth, etc. And so he says, indeed, I will cast her into a sick bed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation. So that's the great tribulation of Matthew chapter 24 and verse 21 that the Bible speaks about. Unless they repent of her deeds, I will kill her children with death and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts and I will give to each one of you according to your works. Remember that phrase back in 2nd Corinthians, whose end shall be according to their works. Now watch verse 24 very, very carefully. The text says, Now to you, I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine watching who have not known the depths of Satan as they speak, I will put on you no other burden. Now, did you catch that? He didn't say those who have known the depths of Satan as he speaks, but those who have known the depths of Satan as they speak. So do you see how Satan here is used in a collective sense? How it is used in a corporate sense to refer not just to some individual, but to many individuals. It's used just like the term Antichrist. It's used just like the term Adam as a federal head. It's used just like the term Christ to refer to the entire body of Christ. But in this particular case, he's saying they have not known the depths of Satan as they speak. And then he tells him to hold fast until he comes. So, and I'll come back to this point in a moment, because that's another significant point, even as you are, even as we are discussing that. But that, again, takes you back to that message of the Judaizers. We've seen what the doctrine was that they were teaching, and their claim to be Jews. But the Bible says that they were not. And then the last point that I'm going to make in tying this together for the moment is in the, or with the church in Philadelphia. And that is verse nine. But I'll start reading at verse eight, just because I know we're running out of time. He says, I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it. For you have a little strength and have kept my word and have not denied my name. Indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan. Notice, I will make those. I know I realize that that is an interpolated word, but just think about it. It's a synagogue, and they're not just going to have one person or one individual in the synagogue. There were several people who met in a synagogue. As I understand it, they had to have at least 10 to have a synagogue. But I'm not sure of that, but I think I've heard that somewhere. Nevertheless, in verse nine, he says, indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not. So that gives you the plural aspect right there. But lie, indeed, I will make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you. So here again, is this satanic influence that is mentioned here from from that perspective. Now, two things I want to say in closing, or at least a couple of things. One, I mentioned very briefly about looking at the promises that were made. Well, to the church at Smyrna, he says they would not be heard of the second death if they overcame. We didn't talk about the church at Ephesus, but of them, he said that they would eat of the tree of life, which was in the midst of the paradise of God, which means that they also had to overcome. But what were they overcoming in Smyrna? They were overcoming the power of Satan, the influence of Satan. And that means that the church at Ephesus had to overcome it as well in order to get access to the tree of life. And the same thing would be true of the church in Philadelphia, which he said he would write upon them the name of the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven, which is Revelation 21, which is after Satan is destroyed in Revelation chapter 20. So that shows you the common experience of the church at Smyrna, the church at Pergamos, the church at Thyatira, and the church at Ephesus, which we didn't say very, very much about, but it shows you that they're all having this common satanic experience during the same time. And so you can't argue for the rest of those churches being at a later date, particularly with the influence that we've seen regarding these Judaizers who were all gone for the most part at the time of AD 96, but they were definitely prevalent as we saw even in Corinth in the time prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. And so, and the last point that I wanted to make was when we were speaking about the church in Thyatira, where he says, he who overcomes and keeps my works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations. Well, that is the concept of putting all things under their feet. And the Bible says the last entry which is destroyed is death. Death was the power of Satan. So that again shows you that relationship and it shows you the continuity that's going on with all of the churches because these were promises that were for all of them and not just one. Well, I hope that you were able to follow the points there. I rushed through that. I have much more information and detail on that. And I don't even know if I'm going to present all of the material, on Satan, but I am going to touch on it in some other lessons when we get to those points. But I think it's very important for us to see that and to see that the Satan that we're dealing with in the book of Revelation was not an individual. It was a they, it was those, it was people who are going about teaching things and infiltrating the churches with their doctrine. And I've given you a glimpse of that from 2nd Corinthians chapter 11. With that, I want to thank you for watching. Be sure and share the video. Those of you who may be inclined to help support the ministry, I'm going to put some links there and we would appreciate it. Thank you very much. May God bless you. We'll see you in the next video.