Satan's Gov. vs God's Gov.
In the past I have had an understanding that goodness is simply “the satisfaction of need” and that love is “one’s participation in the satisfaction of need”. It can’t be emphasized enough that those thoughts that I had were in reference to “true” need. I have come to realize that God has given us a life of being in need. Yet God has given us, through His word, the way for all of that need to be perfectly fulfilled. As we know, Satan is diametrically opposed to God. Yet Satan also has need that he hopes to fulfill. Interestingly, his needs are similar to God’s. I think the one that tops the list is the need that both Satan and God have is to posses absolute power. We are familiar with Satan’s goal by what is recorded in Isaiah 14:13-14.
Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most-High.
There are varying ideas of what “I will be like the most-high” means. I would like to add an understanding to those ideas. It could be that the “most high” has the ultimate power. A power that surpasses all essence that could be considered as “power” — Satan would like to possess that ultimate power. It is interesting how his efforts are bearing fruit.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Both of them are not in the least interested in a “democratic” form of government.
Satan has ruled the world in such a manner in that he demands obedience. God will rule the millennium, and I would think beyond (but not after the 8th day), with a rod of iron.
Rev 18:24 And in her (Satan’s Babylon the great) was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. (Satan slays the disobedient)
Rev 19:15 and out of his mouth doth proceed a sharp sword, that with it he may smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and he doth tread the press of the wine of the wrath and the anger of God the Almighty,
I should add; a great many people will reject God’s government. The world will have been governed by that which results in peace and well-being. There will be many that will reject God’s form of government that produces that well-being. Consider this from Revelation 20:7-9.
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Another aspect is that they both use hunger as a motivator. If you have no rain for crops you will starve.
Zec 14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
Satan gives power to the beast. There will be a 31/2 year period when you cannot buy or sell unless you have the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. I would think that food would be included during that 31/2 year period when one may not be able to buy or sell.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Evidently severe hunger and other despicable acts are the result of that that 31/2 years of tribulation. Remember, the “house of Israel” has not existed for about 120 years when Ezekiel wrote this. Ezekiel 5:5-6 show us the Jews will also be judged.
Eze 5:4 Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
Eze 5:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
Eze 5:6 And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.
Eze 5:10 Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.
Eze 5:12 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.
They also both worked to pass on their “way”.
Satan’s way is to influence mankind through lies. It includes inspiring mankind to desire to be something they are not and to desire that which is not theirs. We not only have Satan to contend with but we also have “his” spirit beings to fight against.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
God, from the beginning of the church, has proclaimed His “way”. Matthew 7:14 is in reference to the first fruit and does not refer to the “great white throne judgment” period. The salvation of the innumerable multitude of Revelation 7:9 comes later and they will also follow the “way”.
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
They both offered eternal life.
Gen 3:4-5 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.
Both Satan and God want to control one’s speech.
We have “free speech” in the first amendment of our Bill of Rights. It is one of our most valued rights as a nation. This valued “right” has been at the foundation of great problems.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
2Pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
God and evidently Satan use “law” in their rule.
Daniel 7:25 speak of Satan’s “beast” trying to change law.
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (3 1/2 years).
The word “lawless” is only used once in the KJV. I’m not able to determine how many times that word may occur in other translations. It is clear Satan’s efforts are to do away with the laws of God.
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
Our God’s rulership is based on law.
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
It is true that many ARE deceived to think Satan’s way has value. It does appeal to the self-serving mind. It is interesting to understand the dramatic difference of the intended results between the two powers. The one uses its power to try to, as a final result, destroy all humankind! The other has made it possible to have true love resulting in peace (something this world has never known), and an awesome fulfilling future that never ends.
