There is no Devil or Satan. Part 3

Matthew Chapter 13 – “Light Dazzles”
　　
“And the disciples said to Him, Why do You speak to them in parables?” (Mat 13:10 MKJV).

Continuing on the theme of ” “I saw Satan falling like lightning from the sky” (Luke 10:18 (ERV). Jesus reported what he had seen when he saw Satan falling from the sky. The word “lightning” can be translated (Strongs 796 = “Glare”). Satan must have been striving to go up in order that it follows, he was described as falling down as lightning. Like lightening or glare. The blinding glare that Satan experienced was caused by the holiness and glory of Creator God. For Satan, it was like running out of oxygen or getting too close to the sun. Satan had to retreat to where he could survive and be more comfortable, for the holiness of God was causing discomfort and agony.

Back to the Bible

“And the disciples said to Him, Why do You speak to them in parables?” (Mat 13:10). This question of why Jesus spoke and taught in parables is truly an excellent question. This is a mystery of the kingdom. This was a new dynamic. To some, there were nothing more than perplexing riddles. Why didn’t this Rabbi teach plainly and easy to understand the language?

Matthew Henry in his written commentary on Matthew gives an interesting interpretation; “A parable, like the pillar of cloud and fire, turns a dark side towards Egyptians, which confounds them, but a light side towards Israelites, which comforts them, and so answers a double intention. The same light directs the eyes of some, but dazzles the eyes of others”. (Matthew Henry). “Matthew Henry’s well-known six-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (1708–1710) or Complete Commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the Bible, covering the whole of the Old Testament, and the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament”. (Wikipedia)

So it could be said that Luke 10:18 and Matthew 13:10 have contained within them a similar spiritual message. The WORD contains TRUTH of Wisdom. The WORD allows us to see ourselves as if in a mirror. It compares and contrasts the spiritual conditions of good and evil, and offers a solution to our spiritual maladies, LOVE.

“For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” Heb 4:12-13 (MKJV).

The Word is often taught in parables. The parables are for those who are willing to listen. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:29) MKJV15

It is for those to whom sacred things of God can be revealed. It exposes the condition of our heart. There is the goat and the sheep. The wheat and the tares. So as in the description of Satan that Jesus described, “light (or “lightning”) directs the eyes of some, but dazzles the eyes of others”. It exposes those who are embracing the kingdom call and those who are rejecting the kingdom call. Just as in the pillar of cloud and fire that guided the ancient Israelites in the wilderness. If we look directly at it, it is a mirror that reflects our spiritual condition. Are we being eternally formed in the image of the heavenly Father, or the image of a devil or satan?

Man is different from the animal kingdom in one important aspect. Man is born into evil inherited from his father and mother. Animals are born with a pre-determined personality. They are given survival instincts for food, shelter, and propagation. Humans have similar instincts, but they are also spiritual beings created in the image of God. They have to learn behavior. They have the stumbling block of inherited evil. But they are also born with an innate awareness and consciousness of God. They are at the crossroads of free will to make their own decisions.

There is No Supreme Commander of Hell

On the surface it may appear our enemy the Devil is the supreme commander of the evil forces of hell. But practically speaking, how could he be? He is not omnipresent, nor omnipotent. Only God from His throne oversees the activities of hell. Practically speaking every resident of hell despises God and wants things the way they want it.

Christ has subdued and conquered all the forces of hell through the cross. If we walk in the power of the cross (LOVE), and in the power of the blood (TRUTH), we can overcome and share in that victory; “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom 8:37 KJV).

This, in my opinion, is an error in the doctrine of the current Christian church. There is a well-known saying, “The Devil’s greatest trick is making people think that he does not exist”. So we in the church spend all our time rebuking and defending ourselves against him. But in reality, the complete opposite is true. The truth is the supreme commander of hell does NOT exist! We spend our time looking from without when in reality he is within.

The satan and devil talked about in the Scripture are the evil inherited from our fathers and mothers. It is our own evil, sinful human nature. It is the key to the regeneration of the human soul, to overcome the world the flesh and the devil. Looking to the “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).

God taking on human form in the world was the ultimate example unto us, of whom He loved. It is “The Way” to overcome our inherited evil. The Lord also was born into the inherited evil, but only of his mother. But through battles of temptations, and the resulting victories He overcame the world, the devil and the flesh that he had inherited. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world” (1Jn 2:16 KJV). Through temptations, he wavered not, until His inherited evil from His mother was totally vanquished, and He was transfigured into pure divine light and TRUTH. For his father was the divine Father and not the earthly father.

So you can see then, “Satan” means the inherited evil of one thinking too highly of oneself, the Id and the Ego. “The disciple is not above his master, but everyone who is perfect shall be like his master. And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother’s eye, but does not see the beam that is in your own eye?” (Luke 6:40-41 MKJV). This characteristic of self-importance, if left unfettered can lead to demonic despots and dictators. This love to rule over others is sadistic and cruel. This truly is hell defined. For the kingdom teaches the opposite. “And we have this commandment from Him, that he who loves God should love his brother also” (1Jn 4:21 MKJV).

The term the “devil” is a very similar inherited evil. It is the “..pride of life”. Every thought and every deed are done with one thought in mind, SELF. How to procure anything and everything that the SELF-desires. Sex, money, power, processions regardless of who they belong to. The mind and soul are on fire with an insatiable to always get more, more, more. “being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; being full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, evil habits, becoming whisperers,” (Rom 1:29 MKJV).

Again, this truly is hell defined. For the kingdom teaches the opposite. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you” (Mat 6:33 MKJV).

For this indeed is a truth. The devil is not an enemy without, but the devil is the enemy within.