JONAH (2)

JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THE EARTH

The Book of Jonah

 

·         Recap: As soon as Jonah was tossed into the water the storm broke and everything was calm. What started it all?

Resume: GOD CALLS — Jonah Disobeys

• Why did the Lord God want to send Jonah to those foreigners who despised and hated the Israelites? Did God also care about Israel's enemies? Yes, He did! God was about to judge the people of Nineveh because their sin had reached to heaven. Nevertheless, God takes no pleasure in abolishing sinners. God wants everyone to repent of his sin, believe God's Word and be saved. That is why the Lord commanded Jonah to go to the people of Nineveh, and warn them so that they could repent of their sin, turn to God, and be saved.

Jonah received a calling from the Lord to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh.

·         Instead of obeying and going straight to Nineveh, he went to Joppa to board a ship to the city of Tarshish. Nineveh was inland from where Jonah lived and Tarshish was across the sea.

Jonah’s trial from God

·         Jonah was in the whale’s belly for 3 days and 3 nights. Jonah, being alive in the belly of the great sea monster considered himself in the "belly of Sheol" and cried out to God. He confessed his disobedience, and told God that he would accomplish the task that the Lord had called him to.

God then instructed the sea monster to vomit Jonah out onto dry ground. After he was released from the sea monster he went to Nineveh and preached God's judgment crying, "yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown" (Jonah 3:4) and when the people of Nineveh heard _

• 5 _and believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." 10When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah lacks appreciation for God’s mercy

·         Jonah climbed to the top of a mountain to watch the Lord destroy the city. He became very angry at God because a Gentile nation, and such an evil one, would receive mercy from the Lord. Jonah complained again. To help teach Jonah a lesson, God caused a gourd to grow and to protect Jonah from the sun. A short time later God killed the gourd and Jonah became angry. Finally, God had Jonah’s attention. God showed Jonah the foolishness of the fact that he was more concerned for the gourd than he was for the people. The gourd, which had no soul, received more attention from the prophet Jonah than thousands of people who were destined to eternal punishment.

However, Jonah was not happy that God showed mercy to the people of Nineveh. Listen to what is written in the fourth and final chapter of the book of Jonah. The Scripture says:

• (Jonah 4) 1But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2He prayed to the Lord, "O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4But the Lord replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" 5Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.

God taught Jonah a lesson by allowing a gourd-vine to grow up in one night and make a shelter for him from the burning heat of the sun.

• 6Then the Lord God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.

Then_ 7But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live." 9But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" "I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." 10But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

Jonah learned that God looks upon people of every nation as being precious in his sight, even though they do not know how to worship him….to be cont’d

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

info@biblestoriestheatre.org

JONAH (1)

JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THE EARTH

The Book of Jonah

Introduction to the Book of Jonah in the Bible

Bible Survey

Hebrew Name - Yonah "Dove"

Greek Name - Ionas (Greek form of the Hebrew)

Author - Jonah (According to Tradition)

Date - 862 BC Approximately

Theme - God's Mercy on Nineveh

Types and Shadows - In Jonah Jesus is the One crying out

Quick Overview of Jonah.  Jonah was the main character of the book, he was the son of Amittai (Jonah 1:1), and a native of Gathhepher, which was a city of the tribe of Zebulun in the northern Galilee region. Jonah was a prophet of the Lord and he was called to deliver a message of repentance to the city of Nineveh which was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians were among the most wicked peoples of the ancient world, and they were well-known for their cruelty. Jonah refused to go and boarded a ship bound for Tarshish, which at that time was the farthest part of the Mediterranean Sea, Spain.

·         The men cast lots to see who had brought this punishment upon them (even though Jonah knew it was his fault). The lot fell upon Jonah. He confessed that he was a Hebrew and was running away from the Creator God. Jonah asked the men to throw him overboard. Instead they tried harder to bring the ship to land. Jonah finally convinced them that he was the one who had brought judgment from God. Perhaps Jonah thought that if he were dead then God would stop punishing the ones around him. The sailors agreed to throw him into the sea.

As soon as Jonah was tossed into the water the storm broke and everything was calm. The sailors probably had no idea what happened next….to be cont’d

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

info@biblestoriestheatre.org

Samson and Delilah (3)

A Type of Christ, Set Aside For God 

Judges 16: 23 – 31
New International Version (NIV)

The Death of Samson

16 ²³ Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”

 “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. ¹⁹ After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.^[c] And his strength left him.
²⁴ When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying,

“Our god has delivered our enemy
    into our hands,
the one who laid waste our land
    and multiplied our slain.”

²⁵ While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.

When they stood him among the pillars, ²⁶ Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” ²⁷ Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. ²⁸ Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” ²⁹ Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, ³⁰ Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

³¹ Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led^[d] Israel twenty years.

P

ainful. Though the last stage of Samson’s life was humiliating, there can be little doubt that he significantly repented of his sin, and the forfeiture of the honor God had put upon him; for that God was reconciled to him it would appear:

1. By the return of the sign of his Nazariteship (see Judges16:22): His hair began to grow again, as when he was shaven, that is, to be as thick and as long as when it was cut off. It is probable that their general thanksgiving to Dagon was not long deferred, before which Samson’s hair had thus grown, by which, and the particular notice taken of it, it seems to have been extraordinary, and designed for a special indication of the return of God’s favor to him upon his repentance. For the growth of his hair was neither the cause nor the sign of the return of his strength further than as it was the badge of his consecration, and a token that God accepted him as a Nazarite again.

2. God made use of him for the destruction of the enemies of his people, and that at a time when it would be most for the vindication of the honor of God and not immediately for the defense and deliverance of Israel. Note:

I. How insolently the Philistines insulted and disrespected the God of Israel,

a.) By the sacrifices they offered to Dagon, his rival, this Dagon they call their god, a god of their own making, represented by an image, the upper part of which was in the shape of a man, the lower part of a fish, purely the creature of fancy; yet it served them to set up in opposition to the true and living God. However, the Philistines assigned their success to a fabricated and invented deity (see Judges16:23, 24): Our god has delivered Samson our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, into our hands, they sang.

Sacrifices were offered, and songs of praise sung, on the general Thanksgiving Day, for this victory obtained over one man; there were great expressions of joy, and all to the honor of Dagon. Much more reason have we to give the praise of all our successes to our God. Thanks be to him who causeth us to triumph in Christ Jesus!

2. And when they were merry with wine, to make them more merry Samson would be fetched out to make sport for them (see Judges. 16:25, 27). Having sacrificed to their god, and eaten and drunk upon the sacrifice, they rose up to play, according to the usage of idolaters (1 Cor. 10:7), and Samson would be the fool in the play. They made themselves and one another laugh to see how, being blind, he stumbled and blundered. It is likely they smote this Judge of Israel upon the cheek (Mic. 5:1), and said, Prophesy who smote thee. It was an instance of their barbarity to trample thus upon a man in misery, at the sight of whom awhile ago they would have trembled. It put Samson into the depth of misery, and as a sword in his bones were their reproaches, when they said, Where is now they God? 

But, how unrighteous soever the Philistines were, he could not but own that God was righteous. Samson had sported himself in his own deceivings and with his own deceivers, and justly are the Philistines let loose upon him to make sport with him. Uncleanness is a sin that makes men vile, and exposes them to contempt. A wound and dishonor shall he get whose heart is deceived by a woman, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. Everlasting shame and contempt will be the portion of those that are blinded and bound by their own lusts. 

The devil that deceived them will insult over them.

b.)  How justly the God of Israel brought sudden destruction upon them by the hands of Samson. Thousands of the Philistines had got together to attend their lords in the sacrifices and joys of this day, and to be the spectators of this comedy; but it proved to them a fatal tragedy, for they were all slain and buried in the ruins of the house: whether it was a temple or a theatre, or whether it was some slight building run up for the purpose, is uncertain. Note:

1. Those who were destroyed: All the lords of the Philistines (Judges. 16:27), who had by bribes corrupted Delilah to betray Samson. A number of 3000, and among them a great many women, one of whom, it is likely, the harlot of Gaza mentioned, Judges. 16:1. Samson had been drawn into sin by the Philistine women, and now a great slaughter is made among them.

c.) How they were destroyed? Samson pulled the house down upon them, He gained strength to do it by prayer, Judges. 16:28. That strength which he had lost by sin he, like a true penitent, recovers by prayer. That it was not from a principle of passion or personal revenge, but from a holy zeal for the glory of God and Israel, that he desired to do this, appears from God’s accepting and answering the prayer. Samson died praying, so did our blessed Savior; but Samson prayed for vengeance, Christ for forgiveness.

Note: [1.] The Philistines were greatly mortified. All their lords and great men were killed, and abundance of their people, and this in the midst of their triumph; the temple of Dagon was pulled down, and Dagon buried in it. They were now in the most barbarous manner making war upon him; all present were aiding and abetting, and justly die with him. God was very much glorified in pardoning Samson’s great transgressions, of which this was evidence

Lastly, the story of Samson concludes, with an account of his burial. His body was found among the slain, and brought honorably to his own country, and buried it in the place of his fathers’ sepulchers.

 

KINGDOM DYNAMICS

16:26 That I may feel the pillars: Archaeologist have excavated a Philistine temple, similar to the one described in this narrative. It has a long inner chamber, its roof originally supported by two wooden pillars.

16:31 Judged Israel: The Spirit of the Lord gave Samson supernatural strength and ability to enable him to perform many heroic deeds on behalf of Israel. He is listed without comment as one of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:32.

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas

Founder/President/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

info@biblestoriestheatre.org

Samson and Delilah (2)

    A Type of Christ, Set Aside For God 

Judges 16: 17-22
New International Version (NIV)

16 ¹⁷ So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”
¹⁸ When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. ¹⁹ After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.^[c] And his strength left him.
²⁰ Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”
He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
²¹ Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. ²² But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shave

COMMENTARY

Delilah conquered Samson. 

How? He told her all his heart. God left Samson to himself to do this foolish thing, to punish him for indulging himself in the lusts of uncleanness. The angel that foretold his birth said nothing of his great strength, but only that he should be a Nazarite, and particularly that no razor should come upon his head, (see Judges 13:5) His consecration to God was to be his strength, for he was to be strengthened according to the glorious power of that Spirit which wrought in him mightily, that his strength, by promise, not by nature, might be a type and figure of the spiritual strength of believers. Therefore the badge of his consecration was the pledge of his strength; if he loses the former, he knows he forfeits the latter. “If I be shaven, I shall no longer be a Nazarite, and then my strength will be lost.” The making of his bodily strength to depend so much on his hair, which could have no natural influence upon it either one way or other, teaches us to magnify divine institutions, and to expect God’s grace, and the continuance of it, only the use of those means of grace wherein he has appointed us to attend upon him, the word, sacraments, and prayer. In these earthen vessels is this treasure.

Consequences of Sin. The fatal consequences of Samson’s recklessness in betraying his own strength; he soon paid dearly for it. A whore is a deep ditch; he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. In that pit Samson sinks.

Note: 1. Delilah made sure of the money for herself. She now supposed, by the way of his speaking, that he had told her all his heart, and the lords of the Philistines that hired her to do this base thing are sent for; but they must be sure to bring the money in their hands,(see Judges 16:18). Oh, the wages of unrighteousness are accordingly produced, unknown to Samson (or any of us). It would have grieved one’s heart to have seen one of the bravest men in the world, at that time, sold and bought, as a sheep for the slaughter; how does this instance smear and dishonor all the glory of man, and forbid the strong man ever to boast of his strength!

2. The course Delilah took to deliver Samson up to the Philistines according to the bargain. Many in the world would, for the hundredth part of what was here given Delilah, sell those that they pretend the greatest respect for. Trust not in a friend then, put no confidence in a guide. See what a treacherous method she took (see Judges 16:19)): She made him sleep upon her knees. Josephus says, She gave him some intoxicating liquor, which laid him to sleep. What opiates she might steal into his cup we know not, but we cannot suppose that he knowingly drank wine or strong drink, for that would have been a penalty of his Nazariteship as much as the cutting off of his hair.

Delilah pretended the greatest kindness even when she designed the supreme mischief, which, yet she could not have compassed if she had not made him sleep. Realize the fatal consequences of security. Satan ruins men by rocking them asleep, flattering them into a good opinion of their own safety, and so bringing them to mind nothing and fear nothing, and then he robs them of their strength and honor and leads them captive at his will. Never forget that when we sleep our spiritual enemies do not. When Samson was asleep Delilah had a person ready to cut off his hair, which he did so silently and so quickly that it did not awake him, but naturally afflicted him; even in his sleep, his spirit manifestly sunk upon it.

3. Many have lost the favorable presence of God and are not aware of it; those have provoked God to withdraw from them, but are not sensible of their loss, nor ever complain of it. Souls weaken and grow fragile, their gifts wither, every thing goes cross with them; and yet they impute not this to the right cause: they are not aware that God has departed from them, nor are they in any care to reconcile themselves to him or to recover his favor. When God has departed we cannot do as at other times.

4. The Philistines took Samson, when God had departed from him. Those that have thrown themselves out of God’s protection become an easy prey to their enemies. If we sleep in the lap of our lusts, we shall certainly wake in the hands of the Philistines of today. It is probable that it was promised Delilah that his life would be spared, but they took an efficient course to disable him. They put out his eyes, by applying fire to them, says the Arabic version. They considered that his eyes would never come again, as perhaps his hair might, and that the strongest arms could do little without eyes to guide the, and therefore, if now they blind him, they for ever blind him.

His eyes were the inlets of his sin: he saw the harlot at Gaza, and went in unto her (see Judges 16:1), and thus his punishment began there.

Now that the Philistines had blinded him he had time to remember how his own lust had blinded him. They bound him with fetters of brass that had before been held in the cords of his own iniquity, and he did grind in the prison, work in their bridewell, either for their profit or his punishment, or for both. The devil does thus by sinners, blinds the minds of those who believe not, and so enslaves them, and secures them in his interests. Poor Samson, how hast thou fallen! How is thy honor laid in the dust! How has the glory and defense of Israel become the drudge and triumph of the Philistines! The crown has fallen from his head; woe unto him, for he hath sinned. We must take heed of Samson’s fall, being mindful to preserve our purity, and to watch against all fleshly lusts.

Kingdom Dynamics

16:17 I have been a Nazarite: Samson finally revealed the source of his strength.  His strength came from the supernatural empowerment of the Spirit of the Lord. This divine enabling was associated with his consecration to God as a Nazarite, which was symbolized by his unshaven hair.

16:20 The Lord was departed from him: Samson was discharged from his role as a judge for this ultimate violation of his vow.

16:22 Dagon, a grain and fertility god, was the chief god of the Philistines and was worshiped at the famous temples located in Gaza and Ashdod.

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/President/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.org
info@biblestoriestheatre.org

 

Samson and Delilah (1)

    Set Aside For God   -   A Type of Christ

Judges 16: 1-17

New International Version (NIV)

16 One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. ² The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.”

³ But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
⁴ Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.
⁵ The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.”
⁶ So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”
⁷ Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”
⁸ Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. ⁹ With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.
¹⁰ Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.” read to v. 17
  

SAMSON AND DELILAH  is not a love story. I remember as a teenager, thinking that there was no greater romance story than Samson and Delilah. Oh, praise GOD for wisdom from on high. Outward appearance can often times be deceiving. In truth, here was a story of disobedience, betrayal, lust, deceit, and selfishness. 

The real account of Judges 16 is that of Samson, who was a type of Christ, who had his challenges. 

Scripture teaches that:
a.) Samson is seriously endangered by his familiarity with one harlot, and hardly escaping, Jdg. 16:1-3.
b.) Samson is, to a certain extent, ruined by his familiarity with another harlot, Delilah.

Note:
1. How he was betrayed to her by his own lusts, Jdg. 16:4.
2. How he was betrayed by her to his sworn enemies, the Philistines, who, (1.) By her means got it out of him at last where his great strength lay, Jdg. 16:5-17. (2.) Then robbed him of his strength, by taking from his head the crown of his separation, Jdg. 16:18-20. (3.) Then seized him, blinded him, imprisoned him, abused him, and, at a solemn festival, made a show of him, Jdg. 16:21-25. But, lastly, he avenged himself of them by pulling down the theatre upon their heads, and by doing so, died with them, Jdg. 16:26-31.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS

FAILURE OF SAMSON – Sin presents a constant struggle with which we must deal or risk downfall. When we resist sin, we often feel the battle is over only to be tempted by the same sin again and again.  SIN never goes away, and so we muse constantly be on guard against it. However, even when we are overcome with sin we have hope. God always gives another chance to turn from sin and back to Him. Repent quickly when overcome by sin. Be confident that God is faithful to honor all truly heartfelt repentance.

16:1 Gaza was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines located on the Mediterranean coast of southwest Palestine. Harlot: Samson’s physical strength enabled him to do exploits, but his moral weakness led to his eventual destruction.

16: 3 An hill that is before Hebron refers to an unknown hill in the direction of Hebron.

16: 4 The valley of Sorek begins about 13 miles west-southwest of Jerusalem, continuing in a northwesterly direction toward the Mediterranean.

 16: 5 The lords of the Philistines: Eleven hundred pieces of silver was an exorbitant amount of money, especially when compared with the amount of money that Micah received for his priestly duties.

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas

Founder/President/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

info@biblestoriestheatre.org

STEAL- KILL - DESTROY (4)

The Work of the Enemy

John 10:10

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” 

RECAP:

 

The actual beginning of sin in the universe—preceding the fall of the human Adam by an indeterminate time. Sin originated in the free will of Lucifer in which—with full understanding of the issues involved—he chose to rebel against the Creator. This mighty angelic being was  rightfully judged by God: “I threw you to the earth” (Ezekiel 28:18). 

Understand: This, by-no-means, imply that Satan had no further access to heaven, for there are other Scripture verses that clearly indicate that Satan maintained this access even after his fall (Job 1:6-12; Zechariah 3:1,2). Nevertheless, Ezekiel 28:18 indicates that Satan was absolutely and completely cast out of God’s heavenly government and his place of authority (Luke 10:18).

RESUME: 

Satan's Ultimate Fate

• The armies of the leaders of the world will be destroyed at the battle of Armageddon and the beast and false prophet will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. Then, at this point, Satan will be locked up for 1,000 years, while Jesus Christ rules the earth with His saints. At the end of that period, Satan is released for a short period of time, deceives the leaders of the world again, and convinces them to attack Jesus and His rule on the earth. The battle is short as fire from heaven consumes the rebels. Satan is then thrown into the Lake of Fire (hell) to "be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

Following Satan's demise, the saints of Jesus Christ will judge the angels who joined him in rebellion. 

Does our behavior and walk speak "rebellion"? Perhaps, we ought to pray, "O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing". Jeremiah 10:24.

We must be about the business of getting wisdom, and getting it more abundantly.  And getting understanding with it. Once we understand that the works of Satan are very subtle. 

He is the very essence of one of his many names…deceiver.  We should familiarize ourselves with those names. Download the names of Satan from the Bible here. Meanwhile, we are to take into account that the deceiver, will_

Very soon be released from the spirit world,
coming as the Beast.

The Beast is Satan claiming to be God.The Beast will be masquerading as God. He is not God. He is Satan that becomes the dragon with seven heads and ten horns.  

For thousands of years, Satan has not been visible to the human eyesight, and will be given 3 ½ years as the visible god of this world. During this time, he will try to convince every person on earth to worship him. Do not be deceived. He is not God and you should not worship him, because after that 3½ period he will be put in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years.

·         “1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” Revelation 20:1-3

Conclusion    At the end of the 1,000 years Satan will be released from the bottomless pit for a short time. He will gather the wicked together and they will fight against God and His people. God will bring fire down from heaven to destroy the wicked. Satan will be cast into the lake of fire. He will never again tempt any person.

         “7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:7-10

It's time to arm ourselves with divine knowledge on how to not be fooled/deceived by the beast. For the Bible clearly states that:

“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8 

And, the Bible gives a severe warning against worshiping the beast and receiving his mark:

“If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.” Revelation 14:9,10

So, how can we know the beast is NOT God?

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

info@biblestoriestheatre.org

STEAL- KILL - DESTROY (3)

The Work of the Enemy

John 10:10

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” 

RECAP:  History of Satan

The account of Satan began with riches and honor. He was created by God, thousands of years ago as a perfect angel, and was first called Lucifer. Lucifer was above every other angel in heaven. His appearance was beautiful and dazzling. He radiated light and glory. He was covered with gold and shimmering jewels. Lucifer was the Chief Covering angel and he worked in the throne room of God. He spent a lot of time with God the father and Jesus Christ. They met together frequently to share ideas and make plans. They were very close to each other and were in perfect harmony.

12 "You were the seal of perfection,

Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;

Every precious stone was your covering:

The sardius, topaz, and diamond,

Beryl, onyx, and jasper,

Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.

The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes

Was prepared for you on the day you were created.

14 You were the anointed cherub who covers;

I established you;

You were on the holy mountain of God;

You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.”

Ezekiel 28:12-14

RESUME:  Lucifer Thrown Out of Heaven

Lucifer became proud

Just over 6,000 years ago God and Jesus had a private meeting and Lucifer was not included. Lucifer became jealous. He set out on a campaign to prove that he was above Jesus. Lucifer began to be proud of his own glory and wisdom.

"Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.” Ezekiel 28:17

"you have set your heart as the heart of a god.” Ezekiel 28:6

Over time one third of the angels in heaven chose to side with Lucifer and to worship him instead of Jesus. God made diligent exertions to persuade Lucifer to repent and return to God. Lucifer almost relented, but he would not give up his pride and humble himself. He refused to admit that he was wrong.

Eventually Lucifer became entrenched in his pride and God could no longer influence him. God reluctantly removed Lucifer from his position of Chief Covering angel. Lucifer was thrown out of heaven, along with the angels who had chosen to follow him.

"How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations! 
13 For you have said in your heart:
'I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation 
On the farthest sides of the north; 
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.'” Isaiah 14:12-14

It seems as though this represents the actual beginning of sin in the universe—preceding the fall of the human Adam by an indeterminate time. Sin originated in the free will of Lucifer in which—with full understanding of the issues involved—he chose to rebel against the Creator.

This mighty angelic being was rightfully judged by God: “I threw you to the earth” (Ezekiel 28:18). Understand: This, by-no-means, imply that Satan had no further access to heaven, for there are other Scripture verses that clearly indicate that Satan maintained this access even after his fall (Job 1:6-12; Zechariah 3:1,2). Nevertheless, Ezekiel 28:18 indicates that Satan was absolutely and completely cast out of God’s heavenly government and his place of authority (Luke 10:18).

So, we have learned that Lucifer became Satan after he was thrown out of heaven, and that Satan and his angels are demons. They live in the spirit world. They tempt and influence people on earth, but most of the time they are invisible to us.  Thus, we must, we must…read the Word for wisdom and power against that old deceiver called Satan…to be cont’d

Playwright Janet Irene Thomas

Founder/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org

info@biblestoriestheatre.org