As laid out in the first article in this series, we will be answering that one question that alludes most Christians. "If Satan was defeated at the cross, why does he continue today?" The chronology of actual events in the Bible will help you fully understand why and what the next move will be. I say "fully understand" because God gives us the information. It is what we do with it that makes a difference.
Our chronology of events comes straight out of the Bible and is easily accessible. There are "Chronological" Bibles that have the scriptures in what they gather as the actual chronology of time. While it may be true, these events outlined in this series will be very easy to follow and hand selected for the purpose of answering our question of "Why?". The following will be a narrative of the events and then subsequent articles will deal specifically with each event showing the verses and their meanings. Buckle up!
In the beginning, everything was created that was created; including Lucifer. As a central figure in our full text of scripture, it is important to know this. He will convince people that he is God, but he is not. He will convince people that he is in charge, but he is not. He is a created being with limitations, limitations put on him by God. He was created in the same breath that God used to create everything else. Because of this, he too has a job and a position. God does not create anything without a purpose. We are created with a purpose and unless seeking His will and direction, we may never know what that purpose is.
If Lucifer was a created being with a purpose, what was it? God set Lucifer as the anointed cherub that covereth. The words here mean something in Hebrew we do not see in the English. His position was one of a protector and supervisor; a ruler or leader, if you will. Where? Here. On Earth is where he was given this responsibility, and God set him so. He was the ruler of this planet. Over what? There was a world here before Adam’s world. There were beings here before Adam. Lucifer was over this planet and these beings.
What he did to them and their social system was destroy it. In Lucifer's twisted mind, he was doing what would give him power and prestige; being the object of worship. He believed it. He said that he would ascend into heaven. From where? If he was in heaven, he could not have ascended into heaven. He said he would exalt his throne above the stars of God. Those on thrones rule. But what did he rule? This planet and its inhabitants; and God set him so. He said he would ascend above the heights of the clouds. There are no clouds in heaven, only here.
Why would he even think he had this capability, or what made him believe he could do these things? His heart was lifted up because of his beauty. He was corrupted because of his brightness. Because he thought so highly of himself and his position, he defiled the very sanctuaries that were set up here for the beings to worship God. Lucifer diverted that worship to himself. It was in those very sanctuaries of worship that Lucifer learned to trick and manipulate the beings here to worship him instead of God. It seems not much has changed in his goals as he does the same things today.
Lucifer was perfect when he was created, as are all things perfect when created by God. With the best position and the authority to use that position, Lucifer took full advantage; and iniquity was found in him. He made the earth to tremble in fear. He did shake the kingdoms. He made this world a wilderness and destroyed the cities. He kept the beings locked up, both physically and mentally. They were prisoners on their God-given planet; their home. He weakened the nations.
God had enough. God judged him. More importantly, God took away his position and his authority. To add insult to injury, God judged the very place that Lucifer was set over; earth. God fully destroyed it. God brought a full end to Lucifer’s reign and his place of authority. All the beings were destroyed. All the earth was covered over with water. There was even water between the heaven and the earth as well. The heavens had no light. Complete and utter darkness did abound. God’s anger was fierce and effectually became His judgment.
God made Lucifer watch. Everything that Lucifer thought would happen, in his demented thought process, did not come to pass. Everything that Lucifer wanted, failed to happen. Lucifer is a created being and God made that clear with the very breath of His mouth. God judged and the outcome was a desolate and uninhabitable wasteland. The earth had no form. The earth was a complete void. His point was made and now He would implement a new plan; an eternal plan.
God, along with the Word and the Holy Spirit, began implementation of the most incredible, eternal, and timeless plan of redemption and love ever devised or conceived. He understood this plan from the foundations of the original building of the earth; the original creation. God’s Spirit moved over the face of the abyss. He made it clear that He did NOT create it this way, but that it BECAME this way. Through God’s just and righteous judgment, the earth was without form and void.
Because part of the judgment was water, both on earth and in the surrounding atmosphere, the darkness was deep. The darkness was a complete and total absence of light. God removed His presence, as in all judgments. Hell, with all the nastiness, will be the absence of God. When God began the restoration process, it only makes sense that He allowed the light of his presence to shine back on his canvas; like a spotlight on His work. He did not create this light, He simply separated it from the darkness. There is chaos in the darkness and order in the light. These series of actions would show the Creator going from chaos to order, or from the night to the day.
With the spotlight on, God separated the waters that were in the space above the earth. He made it visible to see all the way through from the earth. The space between heaven and earth was now available for restoration. Remember, all of this is from the viewpoint of the earth.
After clearing the space above the earth, God separated the waters ON the earth. He allowed the dry land to appear again and subsequently allowed the grass, herbs, and trees to return.
God then allowed the sun, the moon, and the stars to re-appear in the space that He cleared of water so that they would be visible from the earth and used for many purposes. Again, everything created has a purpose.
After preparing the earth for living creatures again, God created. The actual word for create is to bring into existence out of nothing. The first time this word was used is when God created the heaven and the earth. It is now being used of whales and other sea creatures. Oddly enough, the word is not used in between. Nothing was brought into existence out of nothing during this time frame; it was already there.
Now He focused on living creatures on the dry land. After creating the sea creatures, re-making the fowls of the air, and all the earthly beasts and creatures, it was time for God’s crowning achievement; man. While beings had occupied this planet in times past, none were created in God’s image. As God is clothed in light, so too were Adam and Eve. As direct creations of God, they were perfect and therefore exuded the same light, only in weak bodies. To put such a weak vessel here with the responsibility of carrying the heritage of being in God’s image, was brilliant. While Lucifer was given reign over this planet and the beings here before Adam, God judged him. He was now made to watch as God created a weaker being, yet with greater attributes; mainly eternal existence and the ability to love Him.
God then stopped his restoration process. It was complete. The plan was set in motion and now Lucifer was not only there to see what was done, but to interact with the new inhabitants. Like a scorned lover, he desperately wanted his position back. He was there to see the judgment firsthand. He was there to see the restoration firsthand. And now? He was there to see the new inhabitants receive their role as heads of state. They now had dominion over his planet.
If Lucifer could coerce Adam to sin, he could regain authority over his planet. When entering the garden to trick Adam, Lucifer was reminded of what used to be, how at one time he had everything. Now he would get it back. As Adam was out, Lucifer came to Eve in a form that was familiar to her and began to confuse her. She eventually listened to and followed Lucifer in rebellion. As Adam returns, he sees his love in a fallen state. While confused, Adam has a clear mind and thinks. As she turns to give to Adam, he still has a choice. Does he or does he not partake of rebellion? He chose to give his life for his bride. He did not understand what death was. However, he did understand that whatever death was, he did not want her to experience it alone. When he rebelled, he then was in a fallen state along with Eve. The light had left them both and they realized it. They realized that they were now naked. They were no longer clothed in light.
Lucifer regained his authority over planet earth. Adam and Eve were forced to leave the garden. God did not remove them in the way that an old man would be angry with a decision he makes, but in the way a loving father would with a clear plan in place for redemption for them. Adam and Eve were now in a completely different dimension from God and were now made to live in a different place. Upon their exit, God placed two cherubim to keep the way clear to the tree of life. While it would have been more than enough to place one angel, or even a fence to keep Adam and Eve out of the garden, God placed the highest power angels to keep the way; two of them to be exact. He was protecting the way from Lucifer, not Adam and Eve. This is depicted on the Ark of the Covenant. God sits between the two cherubim on its top
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The only way to take the authority back from Lucifer was for God to come here, in the form of His creation, and defeat death Himself. Jesus Christ is the incarnation of a Holy God on this planet and lived a sinless life, died a tragic death (yet predicted and necessary), and rose from the grave. It was His resurrection that defeated death. This means He took back the authority over man, which was lost by Adam’s rebellion; hence the term “last Adam”.
While this may seem a bit much, I feel as though I cannot possibly do it justice. This narrative will be laid out over the next few articles with scripture and analysis. Remember to buckle up. I am sure for most this will be a bumpy ride.
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