The Depths of Satan

(Day of Atonement—2020)

Be vigilant in seeking and doing the will of God so that you can resist the devil,
for he is active and alive in the world today!

Fred R. Coulter—September 28, 2020

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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to the Day of Atonement! As we know, all the Holy Days and Feasts of God, even including the Sabbath, mark important events:

Sabbath—the creation of man, the earth and everything that we have. We could go through all of the Holy Days, as we have, now we're down to the Day of Atonement, which pictures something very awesome and great.

Let's begin by understanding that this day deals with how God is going to solve the problem of Satan the devil and the demons.

Revelation 12:9: "…the Devil and Satan, who is deceiving the whole world…"

We know that that began with Adam and Eve, and he was given control of the world when Adam and Eve chose to follow Satan instead of God.

In the New Testament we will see that Satan is called 'the god of this world.' The Day of Atonement is quite an event! Let's look at a very profound verse concerning the power of the evil one, Satan the devil!

1-John 5:19: "We know that we are of God…" We have to know that, brethren:

• by faith
• by truth
• by understanding
• by proving
• by seeing

in every way that we can!

"…and that the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one" (v 19).

How did that come about? Because the one who was to be the 'morning star,' the one who was to help all mankind come to salvation—to Jesus Christ and God the Father—rebelled! One-third of the angels rebelled and followed Satan and they became demons.

How did that happen? We know that God's plan goes clear back before the ages of time. We need to understand that these events, before it began—God's plan for human beings—that the plan with the angels and the 'light-bringer' fell into sin.

Let's see that its recorded in Ezek. 28. That's quite a thing because with the fall of Adam and Eve, and first the fall of Lucifer, we're looking at a situation: How is God going to solve the problem?

Look at the condition of the earth and mankind today under the sway of Satan who has power over the whole world. We don't know exactly the tactics of Satan the devil except for one major thing: he lied! He lied about everything concerning God. He lifted up and vain, and got carried away with Himself. Then the rebellion took place!

Well, strange as it may seem, there is in the sequence of Holy Days a special day called the Day of Atonement!

The Day of Atonement has additional sacrifices in Num. 29 than these that we see in Lev. 23 and 16. Let's first of all look at the command in Lev. 23. As it is with all the Holy Days, these come from God. These are not ceremonial. The days are Holy Days and ceremonies are part of it and they reveal to us certain things in types of attainment or fulfillment, whatever the day pictures.

Leviticus 23:26: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Also, on the tenth day of this seventh month, is the Day of Atonement…." (vs 26-27)—meaning covering or at-one-ment. It's absolutely true as long as Satan the devil is in this world there will be no at-one-ment with God with the world.

"…It shall be a Holy convocation to you. And you shall afflict your souls… [to fast without eating food and drinking water] …and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD" (v 27). Everyone had to bring their individual offering!

Notice the next command, because this becomes absolutely important, because this is such a major event, as we will see.

Verse 28: "And you shall do no work in that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, in order to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God." This was for all of Israel!

This day of fasting was not a ceremonial fasting. This day of fasting had great meaning to God and to us, because let's look at what He said concerning it.

Verse 29: "For whoever is not afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people." That means God's blessing withdrawn from that person in the midst of all of Israel!

Verse 30: "And whoever does any work in that same day, the same one will I destroy from among his people." This is for the whole nation! To destroy can mean curses coming upon that person.

Verse 31: "You shall do no manner of work. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be to you a Sabbath of rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at sunset… [when the 10th day begins] …from sunset to sunset, you shall keep your Sabbath" (vs 31-32).

Since this day is so important and also our offering that we give on the Day of Atonement is important, because it says that "…you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD" (v 25).

Today we don't do that! Today we bring monetary things to God, because we live in a mercantile civilization today.

(pause for offering)

Let's see how important this is for Israel, and the prophetic significance for us. Lev. 16 is devoted to the offerings on the Day of Atonement, and this was the only day of the year—so important was this day—that the high priest could only go into the Holy of Holies on that day; at no other time!

Sidebar: Brethren, think about the blessing, grace, faith and mercy of the New Covenant that we have access to God the Father and Jesus Christ in heaven above right now through prayer, study every single day!

Let that sink in!

God gave all the instructions of what Aaron was to do, how he was to dress, what offerings he was to bring. In this case, the sin offering for he and his household was a bullock.

Leviticus 16:5: "And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering."

Every single sin offering that you find in Leviticus where the offerings are given a goat is used as well as a lamb. Likewise for the Passover Offering. All sin offerings are—even the bullock, goat and lamb—all typify the future sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

This separate ceremony here with the two goats is a special ceremony signifying in prophecy one of the most important and greatest events to take place. But first of all, let's understand the meaning of the offering here in Lev. 16.

Verse 7: "And he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation…. [doesn't go inside] …And Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats…" (vs 7-8). Why cast lots? That's a special thing!

"…one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel" (v 8). Azazel means the goat in the wilderness, or the one that is let loose! Or it is another name for Satan the devil, when we look at it in the New Testament!

Verse 9: "And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer it for a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement upon it … [not for it] …and sent away into the wilderness for Azazel" (vs 9-10).

In this case, Azazel represents, as we will see later, Satan! That's exactly where Jesus met Satan for the temptation.

Then God gives the instruction for what He's going to do for all of the rest of it, the sprinkling of the blood around the Ark.

Verse 16: "And he shall make an atonement for the sanctuary because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions in all their sins…."

In dealing with these carnal people, God expected them to obey in the letter of the Law, but they always had lots and lots of sins. But God gave His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that He would be with the children of Israel and deal with them.

So, this shows that every year God covered their sins. When you go to Heb. 9 it shows that those sins were not completely wiped off the book until the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This goat does picture the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for sin.

Verse 17: "And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goes in to make an atonement in the sanctuary until he comes out and has made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. And he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make an atonement for it. And he shall take of the blood of the young bull and of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around…. [that was the sacrificial altar] …And he shall sprinkle of the blood on it with his finger seven times and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. And when he has made an end of reconciling the sanctuary and the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, he shall bring the live goat" (vs 17-20).

When we read this, let's see how important this is, v 21: "And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the sins of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat…"

Why do that if they were already cleansed by the sacrifice of the goat for the Lord, and the priesthood and the high priest were cleansed with the blood of the bullock? Why do this?

As long as Satan is around—the author of human sin—there will be no rest from sin! You cannot have righteousness and evil dwelling together in one place. You cannot have the instigator of sin remain in the world in God's plan. That's why in the first part of Rev. 20 is putting Satan away! You cannot have the Millennium begin until Satan is removed! That has great and tremendous significance!

Verse 21: "And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the sins of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away by the hand of a chosen man into the wilderness."

Why send it away into the wilderness, an area where nobody lives? Because that pictures…

Revelation 20:1: "Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. Then he cast him into the abyss…" (vs 1-3). The abyss is the wilderness where no humans live, only Satan and the demons!

"…and locked him up, and sealed the abyss over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were fulfilled…" (v 3).

As we will see on seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Satan and the demons go to the blackest darkness forever!

So, the closest thing that could be depicted by this special offering on this day… and remember that this is a type of the fulfillment we just read: sent him into the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:22: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities to a land in which no one lives. And he shall let the goat go in the wilderness." That's quite something! Then Aaron will come back in and do the things he needed to do.

Verse 26: "And he that let go the goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. And the young bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy place, shall they carry forth outside the camp. And they shall burn their skins in the fire, and their flesh and their dung" (v 26-27).

All sin offerings, when the temple was later built. were burnt on the Mt. of Olives in a special place called The Miphkad Altar. There everything was burned to ashes and strewn in the Kidron Valley.

Verse 29: "And it shall be a statute forever to you: in the seventh month, on the tenth of the month, you shall afflict your souls and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country or a stranger who is living among you." So it's very important for everyone!

Just like every Holy Day and Feast pictures a major event, this one does, too. One of the most major events in the history of the world since the rebellion of Satan the devil.

Verse 31: "It shall be a Sabbath of rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls, by a statute forever."

Verse 30: "For on that day an atonement shall be made for you, to cleanse you, so that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD." Sin cannot be removed until Satan is removed!

Verse 33: "'And he shall make an atonement for the Holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar; and he shall make an atonement for the priests and for all the people of the congregation. And this shall be an everlasting statute to you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for their sins once a year.' And he did as the LORD commanded Moses" (v s 33-34).

Now let's see how all of this began. We don't know how long in ages past it took for this to take place. But it did take place! It also shows that God gave angels free moral agency, as well. Let's see how Satan works, and we will see that he was actually the unseen king behind the prince of Tyre, and what Satan inspired the prince of Tyre to claim himself to be.

Ezekiel 28:1: "The Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre. "Thus says the Lord GOD," 'Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, "I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas"; yet, you are a man and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of a god" (vs 1-2).

Let's see in a little bit what Satan gave him when he possessed him.

Verse 3: "'Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from you! With your wisdom and with your understanding you have made riches for yourselves, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasuries. By your great wisdom and by your trade you have multiplied your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches.' Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god, behold, therefore, I will bring strangers upon you, the most ruthless of the nations. And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, and they shall defile your brightness. They shall bring you down to the pit, and you shall die the death of those slain in the midst of the seas. Will you yet say before him who kills you, 'I am a god'? But you are a man, and not God, in the hand of him who kills you'" (vs 1-9).

Let's see the power behind the prince of Tyre, who is called the king of Tyre. So, what God is showing us with this is that this king of Tyre is none other than Satan the devil cast down for his rebellion.

Verse 12: "Son of man, lift up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him…" You have the prince of Tyre possessed by Satan, the king of Tyre!

 "…Thus says the Lord GOD, 'You seal up the measure of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You have been in Eden the Garden of God…'" (vs 12-13).

Stop and think for a minute, this is the important statement that labels him as Satan the devil, because who were in the Garden of Eden?

• God
• Adam
• Eve
• the serpent

No one else went in there after their sin, because it was closed off and guarded by cherubim! This has to be Satan the devil!

It talks about all of his precious stones and so forth, "…The workmanship of your settings and of your sockets was prepared in you in the day that you were created. You were the anointed cherub that covers… [right over the Throne of God] …and I set you so; you were upon the Holy mountain of God… [Mt. Sion in heaven above] …you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created…" (vs 13-15).

• How long a space of time was it until he started sinning?
• How did that sin begin?
• What is the principle that we learned from the Feast of Unleavened Bread? A little leaven leavens the whole lump!

It may start out with something not too significant, but then it builds and builds! And we will see what that built up to.

"…until iniquity was found in you. By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled your midst with violence, and you have sinned. Therefore, I will cast you as profane from the mountain of God, and I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire" (vs 15-16).

How was God going to destroy him? By absolutely removing him and his ultimate fate is being in the blackest darkness forever! That destroys everything that Satan can do.

Why do Satan and the demons not die? Because they're made of spirit, and spirit does not die! So, the destruction of a spirit being is not his obliteration as a being, but is complete removal and containment in the blackest darkness forever! That's the destruction of Satan!

Sidebar: That will always be a witness to everybody in the Kingdom of God forever, that you don't sin!

Verse 17: "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness. I will cast you to the ground; I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you. By the multitude of your iniquities, by the unrighteousness of your trade, you have profaned your sanctuaries; therefore, I brought forth a fire from your midst; it shall devour you… [Lake of Fire (Rev. 20)] …and I will bring you to ashes upon the earth, before the eyes of all who see you" (vs 17-18).

So, the ashes will burn up all the works of the world, and then Satan and the demons will be removed to their final destination, the blackest darkness forever!

Let's see what all of this led to. This took place on the earth, and this is why the earth was without form and void and covered with water (Gen. 2), because of the rebellion of Satan and the demons.

Isaiah 14:11—talking about the king of Babylon: "Your pride is brought down to the grave, and the noise of your harps. The maggot is spread under you, and the worms cover you."

That's true concerning the prince of Tyre and the king of Babylon! Now here is the power behind Babylon; see how these things come together. It is the spiritual power behind the man that is Satan the devil. Where do we find this again in a great way right at the end? Rev. 13, the beast, who will be possessed!

Verse 12: "How you are fallen from the heavens, O shining star, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart, 'I will ascend into the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…'" (vs 12-13). Stars are angels, as well as the physical stars in the universe!

"'…I will also sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north…. [in other words, he going to replace the Most High God] …I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.'…. [an impossibility; it cannot be done] …Yet, you shall be brought down to the grave, to the sides of the pit'" (vs 13-15)

You can't kill a spirit being, so his containment is his grave, the pit and abyss, and the blackest darkness forever!

Now let's see how it is that you must get rid of Satan, because you can't get rid of sin until you get rid of him. The first thing that Jesus had to do after He was baptized was to overcome Satan the devil.

Matthew 4:1: "Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit… [of God] …in order to be tempted by the devil." That ties right in with the Day of Atonement! The wilderness!

There is something very important that you can see chronologically. This was in 26A.D. in the fall. That year was a Jubilee Year, and the Jubilee is when you let all the slaves loose, everything is wiped clean and returned to its original state. The Jubilee!

It's fitting that Jesus went out to conquer Satan the devil in a Jubilee Year, in the wilderness, because that had to be done first! He could not begin His ministry until that took place. That's why this is such an important thing with the Day of Atonement and the goat of Azazel being in the wilderness, and the temptation of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 3:16: "And after He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he… [John the Baptist] …saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him. And lo, a voice from heaven said, 'This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I have great delight'" (vs 16-17). Then right out into the wilderness!

Matthew 4:1: "Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit in order to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was famished. And when the tempter came to Him…" (vs 1-3).

This is profoundly important, because Jesus could not fail this! The first Adam failed; the second Adam cannot fail!

"…he said, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread'" (v 3). Jesus had to meet Satan when He was fasting, the weakest physically!

So, this was a mammoth time and an extended Day of Atonement: 40 days! Think of that! Think of how weak He was, and how susceptible to temptation that Jesus would be in His condition. He had to do it and carry within Him the law of sin and death, yet, not sin! This was a tremendous and magnificent thing that He did.

Verse 4: "But He answered and said, 'It is written…'" Lesson for all of us:

• the Word of God
• the Truth of God
• everything about the Word of God

"…'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God'" (v 4).

Here we have it, and God wants to make sure that everybody has it. There's no misunderstanding of it, so it's written down!

Verse 5: "Then the devil took Him to the Holy city and set Him upon the edge of the temple, and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down; for it is written, "He shall give His angels charge concerning You, and they shall bear You up in their hands, lest You strike Your foot against a stone"'" (vs 5-6).

Satan can quote Scripture! He does doe it! It tells us in 2-Cor. 11 that he appears as an angel of light, and so do his ministers! "…every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

What Jesus says next He's not saying to apply to Satan, He's telling Satan as it applies to Himself, Who now is a man.

Verse 7: "Jesus said to him, 'Again, it is written, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God."'" No, indeed! God cannot be tempted with evil!

Verse 8: "After that, the devil took Him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory."

Like a great vast television screen, all flowing past showing the great empires that Satan controlled and ruled. Notice what Satan says, and why he must be removed, and why the only interpretation that you can come up with in Lev. 16 is that ritual in sending that goat into the wilderness applies to Satan the devil and this very encounter.

Verse 9: "And said to Him [Jesus], 'All these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me.'"

Let's see the parallel account, because Satan says something else that's recorded here:

Luke 4:5: Then the devil led Him up into a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, 'I will give You all this authority, and the glory of them all; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I desire'" (vs 5-6).

That helps fill in the blanks in Isa. 14 & Ezek. 28. The power behind these great kingdoms is Satan the devil. Likewise with the last great kingdom that's going to envelop the whole earth (Rev. 13).

Verse 7: "'Therefore, if You will worship me in my presence… [meaning as God] …all things shall be Yours.' But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Get behind Me, Satan; for it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve"'" (vs 7-8). Jesus was saying that to Himself, because Satan will never worship God!

• Did the children of Israel have the Laws of God? Yes!
• Did they keep them? Sometimes they kept most of them!

History is a cycle of ups and downs, coming back to God, falling into apostasy and so forth.

• Why?
• Who do you suppose is doing that? Satan the devil!

We will see that Satan is still involved in this same kind of thing in challenging the Church today.

• Do we need Satan removed from the world?
• For the sake of the world? Yes!
• For the sake of the Church? Yes!

2-Corinthians 4:1: "Therefore, having this ministry, according as we have received mercy, we are not fainthearted. For we have personally renounced the hidden things of dishonest gain, not walking in cunning craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully…" (vs 1-2).

Who would make you handle the Word of God deceitfully? None other than Satan the devil, the author of lies, the father of lies, to handle the Word of God deceitfully!

What does that tell you about fake Christianity? Half worship of God and half worship of Satan! You can't have that! You either have to worship God or Satan! That's the whole trial that Jesus went through.

"….but by manifestation of the Truth, we are commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God. But if our Gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing" (vs 2-3).

If it's hidden, it's blinded, and there are varying degrees of blindness. Even if someone has partial vision, where they can see big blurry things, can they really see? No! They will miss all the details that are necessary, and this is the fake Christianity of the world.

Verse 3: "But if our Gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing; in whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe…" (vs 3-4).

• Do they believe that the Law has been done away? Yes!
• Do they believe that Jesus said, 'Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish, but to fulfill'?
• Do they believe that? No!

Therefore, they do not believe, because there's no such a think half Satan/half God and you're okay! That's why Satan must be removed!

Remember, he's so cunning, sly, slick, lying and deceiving that he can twist things around as he did to deceive a third of the angels of God! You can see why the Day of Atonement is so important!

"…lest the Light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we do not preach our own selves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake" (vs 4-5).

That's the comparison of the 'god of this age' Satan the devil!

2-Corinthians 11:13: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers who are transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And it is no marvel, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light" (vs 13-14).

Let's see how thorough this is going to be! We're living in an age where it is growing more and more, and I want you to pay attention to all of the lies that you see if you listen to fake news. They lie subtly, lie, lie, lieto get people to believe that we have got to get rid of Donald Trump so 'we can become like Venezuela.'

Revelation 12:9: "And the great dragon was cast out… [removed] …the ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, who is deceiving the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him."

Notice what happens when this last great kingdom comes; it's going to be something indeed!

Revelation 13:1: "And I stood on the sand of the sea… [people] …and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." But:

• the world is blinded
• the world won't know
• the world will go along with it

Verse 2: "And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne and great authority."

Satan is always the power behind the throne, but the king, prince or beast will die, but not Satan!

Verse 4: "And they worshiped the dragon, who gave his authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who has the power to make war against him?'" Quite a thing, yes, indeed!

Here again we see the same thing. We see it actually fulfilled right here in Rev. 19 & 20. Let's see it, the beast possessed of Satan. The prince of Tyre possessed of the king of Tyre: Satan! They king of Babylon or the king Assyria and then Satan. All three of those men die, but Satan doesn't, and we'll see it right here.

Revelation 19:20: "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked miracles in his presence, by which he had deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Those two were cast alive into the Lake of Fire, which burns with brimstone." They die!

Revelation 20:1: "Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. Then he cast him into the abyss, and locked him up, and sealed the abyss over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were fulfilled…" (vs 1-3). There's the difference!

• the man possessed dies
• Satan is put away

That makes that clear. But there are some people who read those things in the Old Testament about Satan and the king dying and say that Satan is going to be destroyed. It doesn't mean that. It means that the person possessed of Satan will be destroyed.

Let's see how he deceives the whole world. It's going to be quite a thing. These are going to be tremendous days that are ahead of us. They are difficult because of the things that are going on right now, that is true. However, there may be a good number of years left, so we'll have to see what happens.

2-Thessalonians 2:3—Paul warns: "Do not let anyone deceive you by any means because that day… [the return of Christ] …will not come unless the apostasy shall come first…"

This is the great apostasy in the whole world that we just read (Rev. 13) in worshipping the beast.

"…and the man of sin shall be revealed—the son of perdition" (v 3). That's the coming Beast Power when he is healed of his deadly wound and Satan enter into him.

Verse 4: "The one who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God… [that's what Satan does and leads men to do] …or that is an object of worship; so that he comes into the temple of God and sits down as God, proclaiming that he himself is God." That's why they worship him!

You see what happens when Satan is not removed. Look at what has happened to this nation, because:

• we have rejected God
• took the Bible out of schools
• took prayer out of schools
• Sunday worship
• holiday worship
• abortion added on top of it

Look at all the evil and things coming upon us now as a result and punishment for those sins! Who is the instigator behind it all? Satan the devil! It is that God causes it to be, because of our sins! We need to understand that.

Notice what's going to happen here, v 7: "For the mystery of lawlessness is already working; only there is One Who is restraining at the present time until it arises out of the midst…. [Christ is holding it back] …And then the lawless one will be revealed (whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth… [the physical man in the Lake of Fire] …and will destroy with the brightness of His coming); even the one whose coming is according to the inner working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are perishing because they did not receive the love of the Truth, so that they might be saved" (vs 7-10).

That's quite a thing. One of the ways that you fight Satan the devil is to love the Truth! This deception that is coming is going to be:

• so vast
• so powerful
• so all encompassing

that our minds cannot fathom it at this time! We may have a precursor of it, but it's going to be awesome indeed!

(Break)

Now let's see some things how Satan wants to come after the Church. We will see that we have all experienced this in the Churches we've been in. Let's look at the case of Peter. Let's see what happened when Jesus asked Peter Who He was.

Matthew 16:15: "He said to them, 'But you, whom do you declare Me to be?'…. [speaking to all the disciples there] …Then Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father, Who is in heaven'" (vs 15-17)—the Father revealed it to Peter!

Does that mean that just because God the Father is dealing with someone that he would not be susceptible to temptations by Satan the devil?

Verse 18: "And I say also to you that you are Peter; but upon this Rock… [Jesus] …I will build My Church, and the gates of the grave shall not prevail against it."

Verse 20: "Then He charged His disciples not to tell anyone that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to explain to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised the third day" (vs 20-21).

Notice Peter… Remember the Father just revealed to him that Jesus was the Christ.

Verse 22: "But after taking Him aside, Peter personally began to rebuke Him, saying, 'God will be favorable to you, Lord. In no way shall this happen to You.'"

Think about this, there are a couple lessons that we can learn here:

• never correct God
• never correct Christ
• never put your ideas above God's ideas

All of that is contained in this one statement!

But notice where Jesus said that that came from, v 23: "Then He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan!….'"

• Satan is after the Church
• Satan is after people who know God

"…You are an offense to Me, because your thoughts are not in accord with the things of God, but the things of men" (v 23).

Let's see something else that is quite a thing. I want you to really think about this. We will see later that Peter really learned that lesson. This was right at the Passover, Jesus' last Passover. They had pretty well finished everything, and Jesus was telling them:

Luke 22:29: "And I appoint to you, as My Father has appointed to Me, a kingdom; so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and may sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.' Then the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon…'" (vs 29-31)—talking directly to Peter! Remember where we came from in Matt. 16:

"…listen well. Satan has demanded to have all of you, to sift as wheat" (v 31).

Think about that statement! I know that Peter never forgot this! Let's see why:

Verse 32: "'But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and when you are converted, strengthen your brethren.' And he said to Him, 'Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death'" (vs 32-33).

Jesus gives a good lesson for anyone who thinks that they can correct God, Christ or His Word!

Verse 34: "But He said, 'I tell you, Peter, the cock shall in no wise crow today before you have denied knowing Me three times.'" Think about that! Did that happen? Yes, it did, Peter denied Jesus three times!

Verse 59—here's where Peter denied Him the third time: "Now, after about an hour had passed, a certain other man strongly affirmed, saying, 'In truth, this one also was with Him, for he is indeed a Galilean.' And Peter said, 'Man, I do not know what you are talking about.' And immediately, while he was yet speaking, the cock crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, 'Before the cock crows, you shall deny Me three times.' And Peter went outside and wept bitterly" (vs 59-62).

Did Christ reject him for that? No! but that shows that we have to really understand that there is always a battle going on in the world and also it can come to us in the Church and in our private lives. Satan wants to get all of those who are Christians. He doesn't want any of us to enter into the Kingdom of God.

Let's see that Peter learned that lesson! He learned not to exalt himself, not to think that he was something high and mighty.

1-Peter 5:1: "The elders who are among you I exhort, even as a fellow elder, and an eyewitness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory that is about to be revealed: Feed the flock of God…" (vs 1-2).

Did he learn the lesson of John 21, feed My sheep, feed My lambs; shepherd My sheep? Yes, he did!

"…that is among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion, but willingly; not in fondness of dishonest gain, but with an eager attitude" (v 2). Why? We'll see in a minute!

Verse 3: "Not as exercising lordship over your possessions; but by being examples to the flock of God. And when the Chief Shepherd is manifested, you shall receive an unfading, eternal crown of glory. In the same manner, you younger men be subject to the older men; and all of you be subject to one another, being clothed with humility…" (vs 3-5).

Peter learned the less of humility, and that involved Satan desiring him and him denying Jesus three times.

"…because God sets Himself against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Be humbled, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you in due time" (vs 5-6). Quite a lesson to learn! But notice how Peter ends this.

Whenever there is pride and vanity and being uplifted, there is an entrance for Satan the devil. Did we see that in the Church of God in one of its leaders? Yes! In more than one! What happened? You know the rest of the story!

Verse 7: Casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you. Be sober! Be vigilant! For your adversary the devil is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking anyone he may devour. Whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are being fulfilled among your brethren who are in the world" (vs 7-9).

We always have to be vigilant, ready, seeking and doing the will of God!

Notice what God will do for us, but this doesn't mean that we let down our guard. It just means that God gives us peace because we love Him, obey Him and resist the devil and not exalt ourselves!

Verse 10: "Now, may the God of all grace, Who has called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, Himself perfect you, establish, strengthen, and settle you." That's what God will do!

• we don't get lifted up in pride
• we don't get lifted up in vanity
• we don't get lifted up in authority
• we don't treat the brethren as if they are our possessions and we rule over them

That is satanic! That is not of God!

Satan is out there seeking whom he may devour. Remember that the ones he wants to get are those who are in the Church of God and have the Spirit of God!

2-Timothy 2:15: "Diligently study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of the Truth."

Why? Because when you study and God's Spirit is in you, with you and the words of God are going into your mind, you're developing the mind of Christ!

Notice what he also told them, because here is how Satan comes in.

Verse 16: "But avoid profane and vain babblings because they will only give rise to more ungodliness, and their words will eat away at the body like gangrene; of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus, who have gone astray from the Truth…" (vs 16-18).

How does that happen? With ideas that are not in accord with God's Word! That are not in accord with God's plan! Just like Peter said, 'Don't rule over them as with possessions.

"…claiming that the resurrection has already taken place…" (v 18). They were probably saying that Jesus was the only One resurrected, but all the rest of us, our souls are immortal and go to heaven! That's something! He said in 1-Cor. 15—the resurrection chapter—that some of them said there was no resurrection.

"…and are destroying the faith of some. Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who calls upon the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness'" (vs 18-19).

Verse 20: "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay and some are for honor; and some are for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone has purged himself from these… [those works that are wood, hay an stubble and that follows closely with 1-Cor. 3, all the error that he is talking about] …he will be a vessel for honor, having been sanctified and made serviceable to the Master, and having been prepared for every good work" (vs 20-21).

Verse 22: "But flee youthful lusts; and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who are calling on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and ignorant speculations reject, knowing that they engender arguments. Now, it is obligatory that a servant of the Lord not be argumentative… [to the point of overbearing to make false doctrine acceptable] …but gentle toward all, competent to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting those who set themselves in opposition; if perhaps God may grant them repentance unto acknowledging of the Truth, and that they may wake up and escape from the devil's snare, who have been taken captive by him to do his will" (vs 22-26).

Yes, he goes about as a roaring lion! Let's see that the devil is always busy and active. Always wanting to get people to slack off.

That's okay, you're in good shape, you don't need to pray today. You don't need to study today. Surely God will understand that. You know, you really know a lot, so why should you study?

Well, the truth is that the words that God speaks, they are life and they are spirit, they give life! They are layered and stacked with meaning after meaning, after meaning.

So, let's go through very quickly some points of the seven churches, and let's see, because sin that so easily overtakes us.

Church at Ephesus:

They were righteous, they worked and they tested the false apostles. They found them liars and they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. But Jesus says this:

Revelation 2:4: "Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love." Sounds an awful lot like the Laodiceans!

That's why we have to take each day for today and be vigilant and realize that Satan is there.

Verse 5: "Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; for if you do not, I will come to you quickly; and I will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent."

Church at Smyrna:

They are weak and poor, but who are faithful to God. They were the ones that the synagogue of Satan wanted to get.

Verse 9: "I know your works and tribulation and poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who declare themselves to be Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of the things that you are about to suffer…." (vs 9-10) Be faithful unto death!

Satan is after every single church! So, we need to be vigilant!

Church at Pergamos:

They lived right there in Pergamos where Satan's seat was, right close. They were so close to it that they thought the way of Satan's religious hierarchy of the authority from the top down—the Nicolaitans—was the way to run it. They thought that it's better to have the Lord's Supper—called the Eucharist or the Sacrifice of the Mass—and eat things sacrificed to idols.

What does this say? They had idols, did things Satan's way, and they thought that they were doing good!

Notice what Jesus said to them, v 16: "Repent! For if you do not repent, I will come to you quickly, and will make war against them with the sword of My mouth."

Did God fight against Israel when they sinned? Yes! He even said that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was 'My servant.'

Right here it's the same thing. Will He fight against us? Yes! He will bring to pass all the warnings that He has given in the book. That's the sword of His mouth!

So, anyone who has an ear, let him hear!

Church at Thyatira:

They really, really got all mixed up in it. They had difficulties, they had Jezebel the prophetess leading everyone astray.

Verse 20: "But I have a few things against you, because you allow the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants into committing fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols." Gave her space to repent!

Even gave space for the Catholic Church to repent; v 21: "And I gave her time to repent of her fornication, but she did not repent."

That took place in the 1600s at the Council of Trent. There was group of Catholics at that time who said that they needed to get rid of the traditions and idols and follow the Word of God, but they were voted down! They didn't repent!

Verse 22: "Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their works. And I will kill her children with death… [the second death] …and all the churches shall know…" (vs 22-23).

God does this, and this is why we need to stay close to God and not get caught up into any of the things of Satan the devil in any way!

"…that I am He Who searches the reins and hearts; and I will give to each of you according to your works" (vs 23). Quite a thing! That is heavy correction!

Verse 24: "But to you I say, and to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will not cast upon you any other burden."

That's what Satan wants to do with the Churches of God! Completely capture them! That's why we know that this Day of Atonement is important, because it pictures removing Satan! Look at what happened to the Church down through history.

Church at Sardis:

Was dead! They had a name that they lived, but they only had a few doctrines that they were faithful with. Satan probably brought all of that upon them as well. It doesn't say so directly, but it indicates this.

Church at Philadelphia:

We've covered this quite extensively, or will, and the synagogue of Satan comes after them. Jesus says:

Revelation 3:11: "Behold, I am coming quickly; hold fast that which you have so that no one may take away your crown."

Who wants to take away the crown? Satan the devil! So, we've got to be diligent!

Verse 12: "The one who overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall not go out anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which will come down out of heaven from My God; and I will write upon him My new name."

Church at Laodicea:

They get rich and increased with goods, and that's one of Satan's greatest tricks! So, they become lukewarm and complacent; they think that everything is good.

Just because there aren't too many troubles, don't believe it! Believe God! Believe that Satan wants you to lose your salvation!

Verse 18: "I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire so that you may be rich; and white garments so that you may be clothed, and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and to anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see." They don't understand, and it looks like they don't have the Spirit of God!

Verse 19: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock…. [this is the door of the mind] …If anyone hears My voice… [the words of God] …and opens the door…" (vs 19-20).

You have to yield to God, and let the Word of God and the Spirit of God work within you. You have to open your mind to God! Not having the door closed and be complacent in your own self-righteousness not knowing that you really are not there.

"…I will come in to him…" (v 20)—when they're converted, so a great number of them are not converted; they have an opportunity to become converted, if they repent!

"…and will sup with him, and he with Me. To the one who overcomes will I give authority to sit with Me in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and sat down with My Father in His Throne. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (vs 20-22).

So, you know for sure that Satan the devil is active and alive in this world today! He wants to get those who are the true servants and brethren of God, anyway he can. To let them

• lose their first love
• accept false doctrines
• go into the things of satanism
• become dead
• become lukewarm

Amazing!

Brethren, now we know how important this day of Atonement in picturing the removal of Satan the devil is! Everywhere he is and what he does is destruction, lies, ruin, agony and misery that he's bringing on the whole world and wants to bring upon the people of God!

So, we have to be strong and resist the devil, and not yield to any temptations of the devil, because we need to make it into the Kingdom of God! This is the full meaning of the Day of Atonement!

Scriptural References:

• Revelation 12:9
• 1 John 5:19
• Leviticus 23:26-32, 25

• Leviticus 16:5, 7-10, 16-21
• Revelation 20:1-3
• Leviticus 16:22, 26-27, 29, 31, 30, 33-34
• Ezekiel 28:1-9, 12-18
• Isaiah 14:11-15
• Matthew 4:1
• Matthew 3:16-17
• Matthew 4:1-9
• Luke 4:5-8
• 2 Corinthians 4:1-5
• 2 Corinthians 11:13-14
• Revelation 12:9
• Revelation 13:1-2, 4
• Revelation 19:20
• Revelation 20:1-3
• 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 7-10
• Matthew 16:15-18, 20-23
• Luke 22:29-34, 59-62
• 1 Peter 5:1-10
• 2 Timothy 2:15-26
• Revelation 2:4-5, 9-10, 16, 20-24
• Revelation 3:11-12 18-22

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Numbers 9

• Hebrews 9
• Genesis 2
• John 21
• 1 Corinthians 15

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 8/10/20

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