Today’s Reading: Ezek 28:1–29:21, Rev 13:11–14:13, Job 36:24–33
Today’s Theme: False gods go to hell
In today’s reading we encounter the fall of Satan and the reality of an eternal hell. God has provided a way of escape for us through His Son Yeshua (Jesus).
We are just men (mankind) and are not little gods, let’s not be guilty of the same sin Satan was guilty of, let’s bow humbly and joyfully before the only God YHWH.
Demons and men who set themselves up against God as little false gods will go to hell for eternity. Even if you do not consciously call yourself a little god, you act as one by not submitting to the true God who is the creator and sustainer of all life.
Ezekiel 28:1–29:21
You are not a god
“Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God: “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god —(Ezekiel 28:2, ESV)
Lord, please keep us from this self deception. The Word of Faith movement teaches that we are little gods but this is ridiculous, only God is God.
You are just a man
Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you? (Ezekiel 28:9, ESV)
Exactly, God says this to the new age today too who also teach that man is god. Men are just men, we stand in God’s mercy and grace and can in no way compare ourselves to the one and only almighty creator who made us.
Satan, the spirit behind the king of Tyre
You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. (Ezekiel 28:13, ESV)
This has to be talking about Satan, the spirit behind the man, because the king of tyre was not in Eden.
The devil was not created evil
You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.(Ezekiel 28:15, ESV)
Satan was simply not always evil, the story is more complex than that, he was once blameless.
The fall of Satan
In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:16, ESV)
A guardian Cherub is what Satan was, but he became enamoured with his own glory. In some ways Satan’s life reflected that of the king of Tyre so what was Satan’s trade in heaven? The Bible is not specific but it is clear that whatever work this was, he did it in the wrong spirit.
Security and peace
And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.” (Ezekiel 28:26, ESV)
Jesus will bring security and peace to Israel one day. This is all part of Gods self revelation.
The great Dragon
speak, and say, Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lies in the midst of his streams, that says, ‘My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.’ (Ezekiel 29:3, ESV)
Satan was also the spirit behind Pharaoh
Rely on the Lord
Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord. “Because you have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel, when they grasped you with the hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders; and when they leaned on you, you broke and made all their loins to shake. (Ezekiel 29:6–7, ESV)
The world is a bad and unreliable support system for us as Gods people, we should lean on the Lord.
Pray for Egypt
And it shall never again be the reliance of the house of Israel, recalling their iniquity, when they turn to them for aid. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.”(Ezekiel 29:16, ESV)
The restoration of Egypt although not to former glory shows that God had some kind of special relationship with them. We should remember this as we pray for Egypt today.
Israel was to know God as God, not Egypt in the context of this verse.
God, sovereign over nations
I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he labored, because they worked for me, declares the Lord God. (Ezekiel 29:20, ESV)
God is sovereign over pagan nations even when their leaders are governed by evil spirits.
Revelation 13:11–14:13
The restricted freedom of the enemy
and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.(Revelation 13:14, ESV)
The second beast does not have free reign, God is sovereign so it is only allowed to do what it does.
We belong to God
Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1, ESV)
Belonging to God, as opposed to the mark of the beast which brands men as belonging to him.
Gospel Essentials
And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7, ESV)
Here are some essential elements to the Gospel message like fearing God, worshiping Him, being aware of His judgement and recognising Him as the creator. This is why evolution is antithetical to the Gospel.
Hell is eternal
And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:11, ESV)
Hell is eternal punishment befitting those who have offended the king whose worth is infinite and so payment for His offence cannot be measured in time. The following quote may be useful.
“…the seriousness of sin arises from what it says about God. God is infinitely worthy and honourable. But sin says the opposite. Sin says that other things are more desirable and more worthy. How serious is this? The seriousness of a crime is determined, in part, by the dignity of the person and the office being dishonoured. If the person is infinitely worthy and infinitely honourable and infinitely desirable and holds an office of infinite dignity and authority, then rebuffing him is an infinitely outrageous crime. Therefore, it deserves an infinite punishment. The intensity of Jesus’ words about hell are not an overreaction to small offenses. They are a witness to the infinite worth of God and to the outrageous dishonour of human sin.”
Piper, J. (2006). What Jesus demands from the world (pp. 97–98). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
Called to endure
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. (Revelation 14:12, ESV)
We are called to persevere and endure as saints.
Your work is important
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:13, ESV)
Work is so important, this verse says our deeds follow us and in a way go before us to secure our rest.
Job 36:24–33
All men can see there is a God through creation.
All mankind has looked on it; man beholds it from afar. (Job 36:25, ESV)
General revelation of who God is in creation
The bible is scientifically accurate
For he draws up the drops of water; they distil his mist in rain, (Job 36:27, ESV)
Amazing scientific insight of the time regarding the way rain is formed.
The great provider
For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance. (Job 36:31, ESV)
God is the great provider for all creation.
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.
Additional resources
The Gospel Coalition on Revelation 14