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4 THE FIRST REBEL

"And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:7-9.

Satan was the first individual to seek to do away with God’s law. He promised those who followed him in rebellion a new freedom, a better life. He seeks to convince man to join in the same rebellion, promising liberty through disobedience to God and His law.
Satan wants people to think of God as demanding and cruel, But the Lord says: "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished." Exodus 34:6, 7.
In the war between Christ and Satan, during the Savior's earthly life, Lucifer's mask came off. He revealed his true feelings of hatred as he constantly tried to make Christ’s life unhappy and kill Him. Satan used men as his agents to fill the Savior's life with pain and sadness. The hatred and cruelty Lucifer put in the minds of his followers all sprang from deep-seated revenge.
Now Satan revealed his true character as a liar and a murderer. He had claimed that disobeying God's law would bring liberty and exaltation. However, disobedience instead resulted in pain, grief, and sorrow.
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Satan had told the angels that, while the Creator required sacrifice from all others, He Himself made no sacrifice. Now the loyal angels understood. For the salvation of a fallen and sinful people, the Ruler of the universe had made the greatest sacrifice that love could make. "God was in Christ, reconciling (reuniting) the world to Himself." 2 Corinthians 5:19, NKJV.
Christ came not only to save people from sin but also to prove to all the worlds of the universe that God’s law is unchangeable. Could God have changed it, then the Son of God would not have had to suffer and die to pay the penalty for its violation, which is death. He chose to take the terrible risk, to suffer and die that we might have an opportunity to live again.

God Will Turn Lucifer,

Also Known as the Devil or Satan, Into Ashes!

LUCIFER had said: "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: . . . I will be like the Most High." However, God looks into the future and says, "I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more." Isaiah 14:13, 14; Ezekiel 28:18, 19.
The day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘Not a root or a branch will be left to them. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,’ says the Lord Almighty." "It will leave them neither root nor branch." Malachi 4:1-3.

The Devil will be blotted out of existence.

Lucifer is the root and his followers are the branches. The fire that will one day burn up the earth will destroy both root and branches of Lucifer’s rebellion. Rebellion will never arise again. Lucifer, Satan, or the Devil are three names for one individual. He will not be in charge of any superstitious "hell fire."
God will turn him into ashes in hell fire. This fire from God will destroy this evil angel and all his followers and the results will be eternal. No eternal Devil with red pajamas and a pitchfork will crank up the fires of hell. Just as God cleansed the earth with water in the days of Noah, He will again cleanse the earth. This time He will do it with fire. When the fire has gone out, sin and sinners will be no more.
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The Devil, Lucifer, Satan, Evil Angel or Demon will not romp and play eternally in the fires of hell. No! The Devil, Lucifer, Satan will not have eternal life! God will reduce him to ashes! He will be blotted out of existence. He will be no more! He will never have an opportunity to tempt or trick another individual! No, not ever! "Affliction will not appear the second time." "Trouble will not come a second time." Nahum 1:9, NKJV; Nahum 1:9, NIV.

Christ teaches us that the cross must come before the crown.

True Christians realize that there are two principles demonstrated in the Bible. Christ teaches us that the cross must come before the crown. We learn on the other hand, that self-exaltation comes before destruction. Self-exaltation comes before being turned into ashes. If you are planning to live with Christ forever and wear the crown He gives you as a King or Queen you must choose the life of self-denial as a soldier of Christ. He that is ashamed of inconvenience and criticism that goes with being a Christian will not be recognized by Christ, unless he repents and willingly follows his Master accepting the life of the cross. False Christians only see the crown and never accept the life of the cross. Choosing self exaltation is choosing death.
In Genesis 3:15, God spoke to Lucifer and told him that he would not have complete control of the human race. This is the first promise of salvation for the human race. It was the promise of a Messiah who would suffer. Symbolically, it says that Lucifer would "strike" the Messiah's "heel," but the Messiah would "crush" Lucifer's head--destroy Lucifer. "I will put enmity [dislike] between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel." Genesis 3:15.NKJV.
"I will put enmity" (a dislike) between you, Lucifer and the human race. There exists naturally no enmity between sinful man and the originator of sin. Satan heard God say that enmity, a dislike, would exist between himself and the woman. He knew that by some means God would give man the power to resist his own satanic power. When people hate sin instead of loving it, when they resist sin and conquer their cravings, we can be sure that the power comes directly from above.
Christ revealed a life of sacrifice and sinless loyalty to God and to helping people. This felt uncomfortable, like a constant attack, to a proud sensual people. This discomfort encouraged hated against the Son of God.
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2 Timothy 3:12.

Those who do not choose to serve Christ are servants of Satan.

All who do not choose to serve and follow Christ are servants of Satan. Temptations often come when we choose ungodly and unbelieving companions. The closer we are to sin, the more sin we see and hear, the less distasteful it will appear.
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If we place ourselves close to temptation, we will fall eventually.
Many individuals who have morals, culture, intelligence, and pleasant manners, are but polished tools in the hands of Satan. We "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places." Ephesians 6:12.
"Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8.
"Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand
against the devil's schemes."
Ephesians 6:11.
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Prophecy Made Easy?

{The Table of Contents} {Chapter 3} {Chapter 5}

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