“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen. 3:1)
Evil wants you to believe that everything is alright, that those in authority over us have only our best interests at heart, that the chaos you see today will be fixed shortly, that mankind can repair the damage. Evil wants you to believe that you have power.
We do not fear Satan, but we do respect him, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” (Jude 1:9) but I must admit that sometimes his intents seem quite ridiculous at best, for either Satan is completely deluding himself or he is totally insane. Six thousand or so years manipulating mankind solely for the purpose of attempting to get us to dishonor the Most High.
Have you noticed, unless my memory fails me at the moment, there is not one mention of devils inhabiting people in the Old Testament, and there are very few in the New Testament, save for the four gospels. Sometimes they cast people into the water and the fire, some living amongst the tombs, many instances and then none. The Roman Catholic cult and the movies is the most we supposedly hear about them today.
I offer conjecture here and nothing more, but if you were a devil in these days would you waste what little time you have left entering into a bum on the street, or instead go to the head of a multinational corporation, or perhaps a very high ranking government official?
There will be ten kings over ten nations during the days of Jacob’s Troubles, and I personally believe that there are hundreds, if not more people attempting to attain to one of those seats at the big table, if you will.
Whether by deceit or conceit, man wants to be noticed, his pride can become all consuming, he desires the things of self above all others, and the higher one attains to in the world, the more power one receives.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18)
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Rev. 12:10)
Again, I offer only my thoughts here, but I can envision our adversary standing before the Almighty accusing us while glancing over the wall and seeing the table being set for the marriage feast. He knows his time is short, and he is wasting no time on frivolous matters any longer. The hedges are being lowered, he is being allowed to advance as never before, he and all who were cast out with him are rallying around a centralized focal point, the Holy Spirit and the children of the Most High, those who are hid in Christ, being removed.
Evil will know no boundaries then.
If you are being used by God for His glory, and if it is allowed, you will be attacked, in what way is completely up to our Father in heaven. You have already witnessed some of the chaff, and you have seen the persecutions growing on our brothers and sisters in Christ. As much as you are loved by the Lord, you are hated by our adversary.
I believe the old line is false, at least when it comes to being persecuted for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I believe He will allow more than we can bear to come upon us, so that we can find no strength save in Him.
I believe it would be wise of you to prepare yourself for more than you can bear.
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2nd Tim 1:12)
