The Gospel of John ~ Chapter 17, Part 5

Verses 15 – 16

The Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 5

Chapter 17 Outline:

Vs. 1-5, Christ Prays for Himself.

Vs. 6-19, Christ Prays for His Disciples.

Vs. 20-26, Christ Prays for His Church.

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Outline of this Study: 

Exegesis & Principles John 17:15-16

Doctrine of the Evil One - Satanic Strategy

• The Person of Satan.
• His Names.
• His Rulership.
• He has a power system for control of others under his rulership, Eph 6:12.
• He has a strategy to control nations under his rulership, (conspiracy and deceit).
• His aim in the Cosmos, (create a system that rivals God’s kingdom).
• RELIGION is a part of his strategy.
• He has a specific policy called “evil.”
• False teachers are a part of his strategy, 1 John 4:1‑6.
• He has a strategy to attack the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, (doctrinally and historically).
• He has a strategy regarding Israel - Anti‑Semitism.
• Satan has a strategy against believers and the Church.
• Satan has a strategy concerning the unbeliever.

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Vs. 6-19, Christ Prays for His Disciples.

Continuing on from Verse 14 and its principles, we find we need Phase Two protection from the KOSMOS which is the subject of Verses 15-17.

John 17:15-16, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

The Greek reads: 

οὐκ ἐρωτῶ ἵνα ἄρῃς αὐτοὺς ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου, ἀλλ’ ἵνα τηρήσῃς αὐτοὺς ἐκ οῦ πονηροῦ.  ¹⁶ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου οὐκ εἰσὶν καθὼς ἐγὼ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου.”

“Transliterated it reads: 

“OUK EROTO HINA ARES AUTOUS EK TOU KOSMOU, ¹⁶ALL HINA TERESES AUTOUS EK TOU PONEROU.”

We begin with “I do not ask you,” which is simply “OUK EROTO.”

OUK is a Greek negative Particle that means, “not or do not.”

EROTO is our familiar word for “prayer,” which is the Verb EROTAO - ἐρωτάω (er-o-tah'-o) that means, “to ask, question, request, entreat, etc.” It is in the Present, Active, Indicative, First Person, Singular; so, we understand this as Jesus performing the action of asking something of the Father. We understand this to be a petition prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father on behalf of the disciples.

There is no First or Second Person Pronoun in this sentence, but we can take the Pronouns from this verb and the following verb ARES which is in the Second Person Singular. So, Jesus is petitioning the Father once again, just as we have seen throughout this chapter especially in Verses 1 & 11.

We can translate this as, “I do not ask, (petition in pray) You.”

Next, we have “to take them out of the world,” which is “HINA ARES AUTOUS EK TOU KOSMOU.”

HINA is the Conjunction that can mean, “in order that” (of purpose); “so that” (of result); etc. In this passage, we have two HINA’s, and both are with Subjunctive Mood verbs. They both are part of the overall purpose of this prayer. The NASB translated them “to” which is ok. I am translating them as “that” indicating this Contrasting Purpose Clause.

ARES is the Verb AIRO - αἴρω (ah'-ee-ro) in the Aorist, Active, Subjunctive, Second Person, Singular. It means, “take, take up, to raise, lift, take away, remove.” This is the first part of the purpose clause and is used to contrast the actual petition of Jesus. He does not desire them to be taken out of the world, because then the Church would not be built.

The Aorist Tense views the entirety of the action of God “not taking” them out of the world and instead “leaving” them in the world.

In the Second Person, Active Voice, it is referring to God the Father as the One Jesus is petitioning. So, we can add “you” and say, “You (God the Father) take.”

AUTOUS is the Third Person, Personal Pronoun in the Accusative, Masculine, Plural that means, “them” referring to the disciples.

EK TOU KOSMOU are all in the Genitive Case beginning with the Preposition EK that means, “from, out from, away from.” This is followed by the Article HO - ὁ (ho) for “the” and the Masculine, Singular, Noun KOSMOS that means, “world or world order,” here again referring to Satan’s Cosmic System. All together we say, “out from the world (Satan’s Cosmic System).”

So, we translate this, “that You take them out from the world (Satan’s Cosmic System).”

Next, we have, “but to keep them from the evil one,” which is, “ALL HINA TERESES AUTOUS EK TOU PONEROU.”

ALL is the Superordinating Conjunction ALLA - ἀλλά (al-lah') that mean, “but, rather, on the contrary, etc.” This introduces the completion of the contrast in Jesus’ petition and introduces His ultimate desire for His disciples. We will say, “on the contrary.”

HINA is once again our Conjunction of Purpose. It introduces Jesus’ actual petition. We will use “that” again.

TERESES is another familiar word to this prayer. It is the Verb TEREO - τηρέω (tay-reh'-o) in the Aorist, Active, Subjunctive, Second Person, Singular that means, “to watch over, to guard, to attend to carefully, take care of, etc.”  It means, “to keep that which belongs to self” or “to guard that which belongs to you.”

The Constative Aorist Tense presents an occurrence in summary, viewed as a whole from the outside without regard for internal make-up of the occurrence. It does not focus on the beginning or end but the process as a whole. That is, that God guard them during their time here on earth, behind enemy lines, inside of Satan’s Cosmic System.

The Subjunctive Mood eliminates the emphasis of time here and just focuses on the action and gives us the desire or purpose of Jesus’ petition.

Principle:

As we have noted throughout this prayer, TEREO is guardianship that is by means of Bible Doctrine resident within their souls with the resultant building of their very own Edification Complex of the Soul (ECS), Verses 6, 11-14. This is the guardianship Jesus had over them and now is petitioning the Father for that guardianship over them. It is the main idea of what we have seen in this prayer regarding the TEREO and PHULASSO - φυλάσσω (foo-las'-so) of the Father and Son.

We can say, “You (God the Father) guard.”

AUTOUS is again the Third Person, Plural, Pronoun AUTOS - αὐτός (ow-tos') in the Accusative, Masculine that means, “them.” It refers to the disciples as the ones receiving this guardianship from God. We will say, “them.”

Finally, we have, “From the evil one.”

“EK TOU PONEROU.”

EK is the Genitive Preposition that means, “from.”

TOU PONEROU is the Genitive Article HO - ὁ (ho), “the,” plus the Pronominal Adjective PONEROS - πονηρός (pon-ay-ros') in the Genitive, Masculine, Singular. PONEROS means, “evil, bad, wicked, sinful.” Its root meaning meant, “full of labors, annoyances, and hardships.”

The Ablative Genitive can mean the evil man, Satan, or the evil deed. The ablative case in the Greek obscures the gender. We have no way of knowing whether it is HO PONEROS (the evil one) or TO PONERON - πονηρὸν (the evil thing), by the wording itself. If it is masculine and so HO PONEROS, it can either refer to the devil as the Evil One or the evil man, (whoever he may be who seeks to do us ill).

As noted above, the word PONEROS has a curious history coming from PONOS - πόνος (pon'-os), “toil” and PONEO (to work). It reflects the idea either that work is bad or that this particular work is bad and so the bad idea drives out the good in work or toil, an example of human depravity surely. Nevertheless, this is clearly speaking of Satan himself given the context of the contrasting citizenship of the disciples. They are not of the world “Satan’s Cosmic System,” and therefore since they are in this world, Vs. 11, they will need protection from the ruler of this world, that being Satan himself. They will need protection from the “work” of the devil.

We will say, “Evil one (Satan).”

Our Complete translation of John 17:15 is, “I do not ask, (petition in pray), that You, (God the Father), take them, (the disciples), out from the world, (Satan’s Cosmic System), to the contrary that You guard them from the evil one (Satan).”

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The Greek for Verse 16 is identical to that of what we have already noted in the last part of Verse 14 with the miner exception of the order of the beginning words, (see the comparison below of the Greek of these two verses.) So, we will not translate it again. Go to Verse 14 for the details of the translation.

John 17:14d, “οὐκ εἰσὶν ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου καθὼς ἐγὼ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου.”

John 17:16, 

“ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου οὐκ εἰσὶν καθὼς ἐγὼ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου.”

Therefore, we have for John 17:16, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

So, once again in Verse 16, we see that they are not out from the world. Though once part of the world’s system, they have been snatched as brands from the burning. Regeneration removes mankind from Satan’s system but it takes growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and the completion of the ECS to fulfil this principle.

Seven Ways in Which Believers are Not of the World

• The believer has a different position, 1 Cor 15:22. The position of the world: “In Adam all die, (the world is under spiritual death), but in Christ all will be made alive.” The believer has eternal life and so is “not of the world.” The believer’s position is “in Christ.” The world’s position is “in Adam,” spiritual death.

• There is a different birth, John 3:5-7; Titus 3:5. This is natural generation versus spiritual regeneration.

Titus 3:5-7, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

The world of humanity is made up of those who are born into the world, of which we are all a part, but while they are born into the world, the believer is born again and that rebirth places the believer “positionally” outside of the framework of Cosmos Diabolicus. So, the believer is physically born into a kingdom in this world, (Satan’s Cosmic System), but due to his spiritual birth, he is not of this world and is born into a heavenly kingdom, POLITEUMA – πολίτευμα (pol-it'-yoo-mah).

• There is a difference of service, John 8:44.

John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

The unbeliever serves his father the devil; the believer (in principle) serves Christ as a DIAKONOS – διάκονος (dee-ak'-on-os), John 13:16; 15:20; 2 Cor 6:4.

• There is a difference of purpose, 1 Cor 6:19-20; Rom 15:6.

Rom 15:6, “So that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The unbeliever in the Cosmic System is seeking some form of self-gratification, but the believer is under a system of God-glorification, the erection of the ECS.

• There is a difference of power, Gal 5:16.

Gal 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

In this difference, we have the energy of the flesh versus the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Furthermore, we have the difference between satanic doctrines, (doctrine of demons), 1 Tim 4:1, versus the power of the Word of God, Heb 4:12.

1 Tim 4:1, “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.”

Heb 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Therefore, we have the power of the Word and Spirit resident within our soul, God’s Power System, (GPS), versus Satan’s Cosmic System.

• There is a different way of life, Eph 4:22-24; 2:13. The world’s way of life is religion and legalism; the Christian way of life is a supernatural grace-oriented system.

Eph 4:22-24, “In reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, ²³and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

There is a difference of destiny, John 3:18, 36. The unbeliever, (the world) is headed for the eternal Lake of Fire prepared for the devil and his angels; the believer is headed for heaven, his POLITEUMA – πολίτευμα (pol-it'-yoo-mah).

Six Conclusions:

• The world emphasizes reformation and self-improvement, while the Word of God emphasizes grace, regeneration, and spiritual growth.

• There can be no compromise between the world and Christianity. They have different objectives; they have a different destiny, 1 John 2:15-17.

• The world can only compromise the believer by the infiltration of his soul. This is accomplished only when a believer is negative toward Bible doctrine. Believers who are victimized by this infiltration of the soul are believers who have rejected Bible doctrine.

• The soul can only be infiltrated when the believer is negative toward Bible doctrine. This results in scar tissue of the soul which opens the MATAIOTES -  ματαιότης (mat-ah-yot'-ace) “vacuum” of Eph 4:17.

• Through this vacuum comes the doctrine of demons, 1 Tim 4:1. Demon possession is impossible because the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor 3:16. Yet, there is such a thing as thought possession or demonic influence. There is a satanic thought-possession attack.

• However, when the believer priest inhales the Word of God daily, operates under the Grace Apparatus for Perception (GAP), and transfers Bible doctrine to his human spirit, this is a sign of positive volition. Not only does it result in an ECS, but it also results in protection, (TEREO), while the believer is growing up spiritually, and that is what Jesus is praying for in John 17.

In John 17:15, Jesus is praying in the will of the Father. He did not pray for the departure of the disciples. Instead, He prayed that the disciples would continue as His living witnesses and ambassadors while behind enemy lines.

Then in John 17:16, it is reiterated that their source of life was the same as His (see Verse 14), and that is, it is not from this world but from our heavenly kingdom. So, Jesus is recognizing the fact that our Father takes care of his own.

So, we see that if the disciples were of the world, the world would take care of them, but they are not of this world (Satan’s Cosmic System), and therefore Jesus is petitioning the Father to care for them.

Don’t lose sight of the fact that the “evil one” fears the powerful witness of positive believers, and therefore riles up all the venomous hatred he can incite against the believer. Therefore, knowing this, Jesus prayed that the disciples would be kept “from the evil one.” 

This “keeping” is once again TEREO that means to guard something that is yours. We are the Father’s, and Jesus is praying that the Father continue to protect the disciple during the Church Age.

As we have noted, this protection is provided for by having the Word of God resident within your soul.

The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered “in” adversity, which is something very different.

Psa 91:1, 10 tells us, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling …”

“Your dwelling” is the place where you are at one with God, and the “secret places” are the MUSTERION, that is, the mystery doctrine for the Church Age, Rom 16:25-26; 1 Cor 2:7; Eph 3:1-13; Col 1:26-27; 2:2-4.

If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come.

John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.”

It is interesting that the same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again, because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the Christian way of life.

God does not give us overcoming life, He gives us life as we overcome, Rom 12:21; 1 John 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:4-5; Rev 12:11.

Rom 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Rev 12:11, “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”

The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And the fact is that once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength.

The first step you need to take is to overcome your own timidity by faith-resting in the promises of God. Then God will give you exceeding abundant nourishment, Rev 2:7, “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life …”

If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength, Isa 40:31.

Isa 40:31, “Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

God never gives us strength for tomorrow or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment.

Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.

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Doctrine of the Evil One - Satanic Strategy

The Person of Satan

He was the highest ranking of all angels, and ruler of all fallen angels, Mat 8:28; 9:34; 12:26; Luke 11:18‑19.

He is the most perfect and beautiful creature to come from the hand of God.

He has a voice like a pipe organ.

He is superior in genius, beauty, personality, persuasiveness, and is invisible.

As a creature Satan had a throne, Isa 14:13, “I will raise my throne above the stars (angels) of God.”

He is a prehistoric super‑creature, Isa 14:12‑17; Ezek 28:11‑19.

He was so brilliant in his defense during God’s trial that God created man to resolve the conflict.

He has three falls; two are in the future.

• His angelic sin of arrogance in which he said, “I will be like the Most High God.” He revolted against God, taking one‑third of all angels with him, Isa 14:13‑14; Ezek 28:12‑19 with Rev 12:4.

• He is cast out of heaven in the middle of the Tribulation, Rev 12:7, 9.

• He is cast into the Lake of Fire, Isa 14; Ezek 28; Rev 20:10.

He has Two Advents:

• His first advent is in the Garden of Eden, Gen 3.

• His second advent is when he returns at the end of the Millennium to start a revolt against perfect environment, Rev 20:8.

• His advents are always related to perfect environment.

He is the central antagonist of the angelic conflict, Heb 1‑2; Gen 6; 1 Peter 3:18‑22.

He is an organizational genius with a great organization of demons, Eph 6:10‑12.

There are Four Major Demon Attacks on the Human Race:

• The genetic attack on the antediluvian civilization in Gen 6:1‑13.
• The attack of demon possession.
• The attack of demon influence.
• The attack of demon armies in the Tribulation, Rev 9.

He is the origin of murder and violence in the human race, Gen 6:4‑11; John 8:44. He doesn’t play by any rules.

He is the enemy of Bible doctrine, Mat 13:9, 39; Rev 12:13, 15 and attacks your capacity for life.

He is the enemy of the Church (the royal family), Rev 2:9‑13, 24.

He is the enemy of Christ, Rev 12:4.

He is called the Anointed Cherub. As such, he held the highest position of all angelic creatures.

He is now lower than the Seraphim which are in command of the elect angels.

He is the greatest deceiver of history. To be such a deceiver the devil must be the greatest and most effective liar in history, John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand for the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, from his own nature he speaks; because he is a liar, and the father of lies.”

When there is no doctrine or establishment truth circulating in the stream of consciousness of either believers or unbelievers, they too will automatically lie. When Satan is the mentor of anyone, they have no truth and follow in the function of the mentor. Satan never tells the truth. The power of the truth in your soul as a believer is one of the greatest factors in insulating you against the power of Satan.

Satan works through human beings who are liars, 2 Thes 2:9‑10, “That is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with every deception of unrighteousness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love for the truth with the result that they might be delivered.” Believers are deceived as easily as unbelievers by the satanic strategy.

• Two illustrations of the Satanic lie:

Socialism. The basis for socialism in modern history goes back to Sir Thomas Moore in his book Utopia where there was political and social perfection. This is the Devil’s lie. Utopia therefore became a synonym for any visionary system of political or social perfection or perfect environment. The theory of utopian socialism is a lie, an economic tinkering with the Laws of Divine Establishment; whereby, a false premise is inculcated; that if capitalism voluntarily surrendered its ownership of the means of production to the State or to workers, unemployment, and poverty would be abolished. This is a lie, because people do not understand that capital and investment creates jobs, not government. The theory establishes slavery to the State rather than freedom of self‑determination with the government protecting that freedom.

Christian Activism. The Devil sponsors Christian activism on the one hand, while arrogance skills sponsor Christian activism on the other hand. 2 Cor 11:3, “But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the purity and virtue which belongs to Christ.” Truth brings purity and virtue to the unbeliever and believer respectively. Our Lord did not become involved in activism (“Deliver us from the Romans.”), and we take our precedence for the Church Age from the dispensation of the Hypostatic union, John 17:15, “I do not ask that You take them out of the world.” Satan’s objective is to distract you from the spiritual skills to the political solution. Truth causes Satan to flee, James 4:7, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Christian activism combines the arrogance skills with legalism; self‑righteous arrogance plus crusader arrogance. Christians involved in activism think they are serving God, when they are serving Satan. This is self‑deception. Temporal solutions to the problems of life are not spiritual solutions.

Paul’s warning against the arrogance skills is found in Rom 12:2‑3, “Stop being conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renovation of your thought, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For I say through the grace which has been given to me to every one who is among you stop thinking of self in terms of arrogance beyond what you ought to think; but think in terms of sanity for the purpose of being rational without illusion, as God has assigned to each one of us a standard of thinking from doctrine.” The basis for all satanic religions has always been human sacrifice, and the basis for human sacrifice is always a satanic lie. Activism is a way of thinking of self in terms of arrogance. Thinking in terms of sanity is thinking truth.

His Names: As ruler of this world, Satan has three primary designations since his fall.

Originally, Satan was called Lucifer, the Son of Light. He was the bright and shining angel in the throne room of God, the highest-ranking creature of all time, the most beautiful and attractive in appearance and personality.

“Lucifer” is actually a Latin word used in the KJV of Isa 14:12, where the NASB uses a more literal phrase, “star of the morning.” They all come from the Hebrew Noun HELEL (הֵילֵל), [hay-lale'] that means, “a shining one, light-bearer, morning star.” It comes from a Hebrew form, HALAL – הָלַל (haw-lal'). This word has two meanings: It means, “to shine,” or it can mean, depending on the context, “to boast or praise.” This name draws our attention to his pre-fall condition and to the nature of the cause of his fall; pride. HELEL is only used here in the Old Testament.

The Septuagint translation of the Old Testament utilized the Greek Noun HEOSPHOROS [he-ohs’-for-os] (Ἑωσφόρος) which means, “Bringer of morning or morning star.”

HEOSPHOROS is also used in Job 3:9; 11:17; 38:12; 41:10; 1 Sam 30:17; Psa 109:3, but in all those usages, its literal translation of the “breaking dawn, morning, or twilight” is in view.

So, we have “twilight, breaking dawn, the shinning one.” What does that remind you of in today’s pop culture? Well, for all of you fans of the recent movie series “Twilight,” I’m sorry to burst your bubble. And if you are for team “Edward” who has that beautiful shinning epidermis, you’ve seen a glimpse as to a description of Satan himself.

Finally, in 2 Peter 1:19, we have “the morning star” in the NASB and “the day-star” in the KJV. They both come from the Greek word, PHOSPHOROS [foss-for’-us] that means, “light-bringing, the morning star.” It is an old compound Adjective from, PHOS, “light” and PHERO, “to bring,” so it comes to mean, “light-bringing or light-bearer.” Here it is applied to our Lord Jesus Christ who took the title back from Satan due to His victory on the Cross. But originally in scripture, Isa 14:12, it was used for Lucifer. Interestingly, it is also applied to Venus as the “morning star.”

Once his fall occurred in prehistoric times, Lucifer received his second name and was called SATAN (saw-tawn) in the Hebrew and SATANAS in the Greek, which means “an adversary or enemy.”

SATANAS is used just under 50 times in scripture, referring to the devil. Several times it refers to man. In the Old Testament, SATAN is used 14 times for the devil in 1 Chron 21:1; Job 1 – 2; Zech 3:1-2. It is first used of him in 1 Chron 21:1.

1 Chron 21:1, “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.”

In the New Testament, it is used in Matthew, Mark and Luke, Acts, many of the epistle and Revelation. It is first used at the three temptations of Christ in Mat 4:10.

Mat 4:10, “Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

Satan’s third name is the Greek word DIABOLOS, which means “slanderer, false accuser, gossiper.” It is used 40 times in the KJV and 30 in the NASB New Testament for Satan. It is translated, “devil.” The Latin word is DIABOLO. The name “devil” is never used in the Old Testament; there SATAN is used, although the Septuagint translation uses DIABOLOS for SATAN. It is first used in Mat 4:1.

Judas had this term applied to him, John 6:70, as it is to men, 2 Tim 3:3; Titus 2:3 and women (she devils), 1 Tim 3:11, (gossips), who do the work of the arch slanderer.

It is interesting that Satan has had three titles compared to our Lord who has three Royal titles. Satan’s first title was dishonorably stripped from him at his fall and the other two represent his evil nature. This is in comparison to our Lord who is the Son of God, the Son of Man, and the King of kings and Lord of Lords.

Satan is also called:

The Serpent, Gen 3:1; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 12:9, 15.

The Evil One, John 17:15; 1 John 5:9.

The Dragon, Rev 12:7, 17.

The Prince or Ruler of this world, John 12:31.

The God of this World or Age, 2 Cor 4:4.

The Prince of the Power of the Air, Eph 2:2a, as the head of the demonic hosts.

The Spirit who works in the Sons of Disobedience, Eph 2:2b.

The Accuser of the Brethren, Rev 12:10.

The Tempter, Mat 4:3; 1 Thes 3:5.

Belial or Beliar “lord of the forest, worthless or wicked,” 2 Cor 6:15.

The source of all idolatry and religion; Beelzebul, Mat 12:24; Mark 3:22.

There are those today who do not believe that a personal devil exists, but they do not offer an adequate explanation of the existence and presence of sin in the world. Certainly, Jesus did not discount or deny the reality of the devil’s presence.

Rulership of the Devil.

Satan rules all fallen angels. He is pictured as the ruler of the demons and other agencies of evil. He has greater power than any human and rules the world through his Cosmic Systems.

Since the fall of Adam, Satan has been the ruler of this world, Mat 4:8-10; Luke 4:5‑8; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2.

John 12:31, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world, (Satan), will be cast out.”

In Eph 2:2, “The prince of the power of the air” is TON ARCHONTA TES EXOUSIAS TOU AEROS. AEROS is the Noun AER in the Genitive, Masculine, Singular that was used by the ancients for the lower and denser atmosphere and AITHER for the higher and rarer. Therefore, we see he is the ruler of the lower region, i.e., this world.

In addition, Jesus called him “the prince of this world,” - HO ARCHON TOU KOSMOU TOUTOU, John 16:11.

• The devil rules all unbelievers through demon possession and demon influence.

• The devil rules certain believers though demon influence, (not demon possession), and their involvement in the Cosmic System. Negative volition in the soul creates a vacuum in the soul, Eph 4:17, which sucks the doctrine of demons, 1 Tim 4:1, into the stream of consciousness in the soul. When that occurs, the believer is ruled by Satan and his Cosmic System.

• One of the functions of the devil, as the ruler of this world, is to express his antagonism, slander, and enmity, which he does from a position of great beauty and attractiveness.

However, because of the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union overflowing into the Church Age, the body of Christ, (the Church), ruled by the head, (the Lord Jesus Christ), has received the delegated Divine power to resist the devil, as per 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He who is in you, (omnipotence of God the Holy Spirit inside of God’s Power System, GPS), than He who is in the world, (power of Satan as ruler of the world and Cosmic System).”

Remember, Satan’s power is not greater than God’s. This reminds us of God’s grace; He has made available to us His power. As humans, we are an inferior, rational creation. All angels are superior to us. Satan is the ARCHON (ruler) of all fallen angels, whose power is therefore far greater than ours.

But God has made available to us, Church Age believers, His power, i.e., the omnipotence of the Father in our Portfolio of Invisible Assets, the omnipotence of God the Son who preserves the universe and history daily, and the omnipotence of God the Holy Spirit who provides the power to execute the protocol plan inside God’s Power System (GPS). We have greater power than Satan.

Even for the unbeliever, God in His grace has provided a power to resist the power of Satan under the Laws of Divine Establishment.

Although Satan is far superior to us in every way, God has provided two factors for all of mankind in grace.

• The protection of the Divine institutions, (i.e., free will, marriage [between one man and one woman], family, and nationalism). Throughout all dispensations, even the Tribulation, man continues to live on the earth, because he is protected by the Laws of Divine Establishment, especially by divine institution number three, the family.

• The protection of the Laws of Divine Establishment, (i.e., the 10 Commandments, Authority Orientation, and the moral/social conduct clauses of the Law and New Testament). These laws protect our freedom, privacy, property, and life; for believers as well as unbelievers.

Divine Establishment and the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1-17). The Ten Commandments do not deal with the subject of sin exclusively but with the subject of human freedom. It just so happens that certain sins are an attack on human freedom, and the two subjects come together in the Decalogue. The Ten Commandments define human freedom in terms of attitude toward God, people, and property.

Divine Establishment and Morality. The sections of the Law and the New Testament that deal with moral and social conduct, which includes the Ten Commandments define morality in terms of establishment principles. Morality is the observation of the Laws of Divine Establishment principles by honoring and protecting freedom in terms of privacy, property, and authority. These laws directly affect freedom, civilization, authority, evangelism, spiritual growth, and perpetuation of the human race.  They are as important to us as is the law of gravity. Therefore, it is for both the believer and unbeliever.  Since sin is an attack on establishment, morality is the antidote and is commanded for both believer and unbeliever. In addition, morality is not the basis for Christianity but is an application of Christianity. Morality is the human race functioning under the Laws of Divine Establishment that result in its protection.

Divine Establishment and Authority. People cannot survive until they understand authority. Authority is the legal power delegated by God under the Laws of Divine Establishment; whereby, a certain member of the human race has jurisdiction and responsibility for other members of the human race.

While authority exists in both spiritual and temporal realms, only temporal authority is related to the Laws of Divine Establishment. Spiritual authority is related to the Royal Family Honor code. Authority is necessary for the function of the Laws of Divine Establishment.  As such, we must differentiate between the person and their delegated authority.

Establishment authority is for both the believer and unbeliever. It includes the authority of husband over wife, parents over children, teachers over students, coaches over athletes, management over labor, senior rank over junior rank, police officers over public, etc. For example: The husband has the authority over the wife. The wife consents to the marriage, and therefore is under his authority until death, Eph 5:22; Col 3:18. Complaining, whining women have no excuse. All males are unreasonable. In the spiritual realm, the Pastor-Teacher is the authority over the congregation, 1 Cor 16:15‑16; 2 Cor 10:8; 1 Thes 5:12; Heb 13:7, 17. Authority in the business world stabilizes the economy.  Management and investment has all the authority, never labor, Eph 6:5; Col 3:22. Freedom through military victory is based on authority in military establishment, Neh 4:13‑15.

There are Divine Laws of Establishment over nature, so that nature also obeys the authority of God, Mat 8:27; Mark 4:41; Luke 8:25.

Christian responsibility to establishment. Mat 22:21, The Lord delineates the Christian responsibility in the civil area and in the spiritual area. Christianity functions under two standards: The Laws of Divine Establishment, which is our civil responsibility, and the royal family honor code, which is our spiritual responsibility. When you fulfill your responsibility to God through advancement to spiritual maturity, you demonstrate the true solution to problems to individuals and to your nation. Violence never solves problems, it only intensifies problems. Violence destroys the impetus of the Laws of Divine Establishment, which is civilization.

1 Tim 2:1-3, “pray on behalf of kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead undisturbed and tranquil lives in all Godliness and integrity.” Compare Rom 13:1-14 and 1 Peter 2:13‑20.

We needed these protections because the power of Satan as the ruler of this world is far greater than any power we could ever muster. Satan is under restraint now, though this restraint is removed during the Tribulation, 2 Thes 2:6-7, and its results are evident in the tremendous violence and warfare.

Satan Expresses His Antagonism, Slander, and Enmity Toward the Following Things:

• Satan is the enemy of Israel. All anti‑Semitism is satanic. Rev 12:4, 13, 15 specifically documents this. In every generation, he uses all his power to destroy Israel, but he will never succeed. Beware of anti‑Semitism, for it has destroyed so many nations, such as Spain from its Inquisition of Torquemada, and almost France from its Edict of Nantes, and of course Germany in WWII.

• Satan is the enemy of all unbelievers. He is the greatest deceiver of all time. In 2 Cor 4:3‑4, he blinds the minds of unbelievers, which is demon influence or the demonization of the soul. When the unbeliever rejects Christ as Savior, he opens himself to the opportunity of demon influence.

2 Cor 4:3‑4, “If our Gospel be hidden, it is hidden to them that are lost, in whom the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of those who believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Cf. Col 2:8.

2 Thes 2:7‑10 adds some reasons as to why people remain unbelievers. One is because they are impressed with miracles. Satan is in the miracle‑performing business, with a bag full of tricks. He knows that many people are stupid and impressed with miracles. For example, demons can produce illness (Mark 5), and then be removed to imitate a miraculous healing. People are entertained by miracles.

• Satan is specifically the enemy of the Church, the Royal Family of God, the new spiritual species, the body of Christ, because God has done more for the individual believer in the Church Age than ever before.

The Church is unique, because we are the Royal Family for our Lord’s third royal warrant (King of kings, Lord of lords), a direct result of His strategic victory in Hypostatic Union. These unique things, given to the ordinary Christian, make his life the battleground for this dispensation. Through the forty things given to us at salvation, we are designed to be a battleground to win a tactical victory to complement our Lord’s strategic victory.

Rev 2:9, 13, 24 teach that Satan is the enemy of the Church.

• The Church is called the synagogue of Satan when it is full of legalism, Rev 2:9.

• When the Church is attacked by religion, it is called the throne of Satan, Rev 2:13.

• When the Church is attacked by false doctrine, it is called the deep things of Satan, Rev 2:24.

• Satan is the enemy of the Church Age believer, 2 Cor 2:11; 11:3; Eph 6:10‑12; James 4:6‑10; 1 Peter 5:6‑9.

• Satan is opposed to Bible doctrine. He is always trying to distort it or distract us from it, as is taught in Mat 13:9, 39.

• Satan is the enemy of the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union, Rev 12:4. That alone caused Satan greater frustration than almost anything that has ever happened to him.

• Satan is the chief antagonist in the extension of the angelic conflict into human history, Job 1-2; Heb 1‑2.

• He is the enemy of freedom, privacy, and property, as he is the originator of all violence and murder, John 8:44; Gen 4:11; 6:4‑6.

• Satan is the enemy of nationalism, which he often opposes with internationalism. This is because nationalism is divine institution number four. Divine institutions are designed to keep the human race, believer and unbeliever alike, from destroying itself. The world is now divided into nations. Prior to this division, the human race almost destroyed itself. The first United Nations is found in Gen 11, and it almost destroyed mankind. That Satan is the enemy of nations is found in Rev 12:9; 20:3, 8, “And he will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth.”

All world systems apart from the Laws of Divine Establishment are a part of Satanic policy and administration. All environmental programs, socialism, and welfare programs are of Satanic origin.

Satan Has a Power System for Control of Others Under His Rulership.

Satan has an organization of fallen angelic creatures, Eph 6:12. He has a system of aristocracy among fallen angels. Theses demons have extensive powers.

There is a specific meaning to each class of fallen angels found in Eph 6:

• Rulers - (Generals),
• Powers/Authorities - (Officer Corps);
• World Forces - (Ambassadors);
• Spirits of Evil - (rank and file).

Two named fallen angels in Scripture include:

• Abaddon or Apollyon (literally = “destruction”) is mentioned in Rev 9:11; Prov 15:11; Job 28:22. He commands one of the demon armies.

• Beelzebul is mentioned in Mat 10:25; 12:24, 27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18, 19, and is either an epithet for Satan or most likely one of his powerful aristocrats.

Satan Has a Strategy to Control Nations Under His Rulership.

• His strategy is based on conspiracy and deceit, which explains the basis of war.

• He manipulates nations, Rev 12:9; 20:3, 8.

• He is the author of every world peace movement, and all world domination strategies either political or religious. Internationalism is Satanic in any form.

• He is the chief opponent of the Laws of Divine Establishment and seeks to breakdown freedom and sovereignty of any nation where establishment, evangelism and Bible Christianity is functioning.

• His policy is power politics; violence, tyranny, and change. Part of his function is to malign law and order.

• He is the father of religion and liberalism. He is anti‑military and pro welfare‑state, pro‑communist and against free enterprise. He is against marriage and the family.

His Aim in the Cosmos.

Satan’s aim is to create a system that rivals God’s kingdom but which leases Him out. It is to promote a counterfeit order.

Basically, the cosmos is evil because it is independent of God. It may contain good aspects, as well as overtly evil aspects, but its inherent evil lies in its being indepen­dent of God and a rival to Him.

This sharp rivalry surfaces, in verses like James 1:27, where the believer is told to keep himself unstained from the world; in James 4:4, where friendship with the world is said to be hostility toward God; and in 1 John 2:16, where John declares that all that is in the world is not from the Father.

To achieve his aim, Satan must try to make the values of his godless system seem attractive. Thus, he works to make people give top priority to self, as number one, and to the “here and now” as most important.

When John wrote that “all that is in the world … is not of the Father,” he explained what he meant by “all” with three statements in 1 John 2:16. Each emphasizes self as number one priority.

“The lust of the flesh.” - Satisfy the lusts of the flesh, says Satan! He tries to create an appetite, lust, or desire for things of this world that then drive you to sinful or evil action.

“The lust of the eyes.” - Try to get what the inordinate desires of the eyes make you covet, he tempts. This is the beauty factor. He tries to make things that would satisfy the temptations of your Sin Nature look attractive and desirable.

“The boastful pride of life.” - Satan tries to build a self-sufficient, arrogant attitude in man that arises from boasting about the possessions you have in life, or whining and complaining about what you do not have in this world compared to others. He tries to create ambition pride in you, so that you will chase after the things of this world.

• The first temptation Satan brought to man followed this pattern, Gen 3:6.

Gen 3:6, “When the woman saw that the tree was: a) good for food, and, b) that it was a delight to the eyes, and c) that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate.”

• This was also the pattern that Satan employed against our Lord by tempting Him three times in Luke 4:1-12.

• And it is the pattern that he continues to use against man today.

This selfish­ness is, of course, the prevailing philosophy of the world, and it comes from Satan who promoted himself from the beginning, Isa 14:13-14.

Satan also seeks to focus people’s attention on the present rather than on eternity. That is why John reminds us in 1 John 2:17 that the world passes away but the one that does the will of God abides forever. Thus, Satan seeks to achieve his purposes by trying to change our priorities (self first) and our perspective (here and now more important). In reality, the truth is that God is first and eternity the most important, 1 John 2:17.

Religion is a Part of Satan’s Strategy.

Religion is the creation of Satan’s genius to counterfeit the plan of God. Religion is man seeking to use his own merits, his own works to gain the approbation of God. Satan’s counterfeits of the plan of God in religion include a counterfeit:

• Gospel, 2 Cor 4:3‑4.
• Ministers, 2 Cor 11:13‑15; 2 Peter 2:1-3
• Doctrine, 1 Tim 4:1-7; 2 Tim 4:1-4.
• Communion table, 1 Cor 10:19‑21.
• Spirituality, Gal 3:2‑3.
• Righteousness, Mat 19:16‑28.
• Self‑righteousness, Mat 23:13‑36. The Mosaic Law is distorted into self‑righteousness, which rejects faith in Christ for relationship with God. This self‑righteousness is based on morality in the Cosmic System.
• Power and dynamics (miracles, healing, tongues) 2 Thes 2:8‑10.
• System of gods, Rom 1:21-23; 2 Thes 2:3‑4.

Satan’s Beatitudes.

Christ’s beatitudes of Matthew 5 have perhaps done more to mold disciples into the Divine image than any other text. But we must be consistently aware that there is another opposing power, namely, Satan who seeks to influence saints with his own version of the beatitudes. They might read something similar to these:

Blessed are they who are too tired and busy to go to church, for they are my best workers.

Blessed are they who are bored with the pastor's mannerisms and mistakes, for they get nothing out of the sermon.

Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church, for his is part of the problem instead of the solution.

Blessed are they who gossip, for they cause strife and divisions that please me.

Blessed are they who are easily offended for they soon get angry and quit.

Blessed are they who do not give their offerings to carry on God's work, for they are my best helpers.

Blessed are they who profess to love God but hate their brother or sister, for they think like I do.

Blessed are the troublemakers, for they shall be called the children of the devil.

Blessed are they who have no time to pray, for they will be easy prey.

Satan Has a Specific Policy Called “Evil.”

Evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world. It is defined as that which is independent from God and is made up of both human good and sin. Evil is the human good panacea which attempts to solve the problems of life apart from Bible doctrine and Divine establishment.

Satan parlays human good into sin and evil. This was first seen in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, all forms of human good are the application of evil. Every believer who has fallen into reversionism has been deceived by Satan to the extent they are influenced by human good and evil, Col 1:21; 3:5; 3:9.

Evil is often a distortion of Bible doctrine or a distortion of the laws of Divine establishment, Phil 3:2-3; 2 Tim 3:13.

The mature believer should be able to distinguish between sin and evil and between evil and honor. Heb 5:13‑14, “But solid food (sound doctrine) is belonging to the mature, the ones who because of academic self‑discipline keep having their perceptive faculties well‑trained with reference to differentiating between both the honorable and the evil.”

There is Divine protection from evil for the positive believer:

• Psa 37:16‑19, “they (mature believers) will not be ashamed in the time of evil; in the day of depression they will still have abundance.”

• Psa 91:10; 97:10; 119:101; 121:7; Prov 2:10-14.

• Prov 1:33, “He who listens to me shall live in security, and shall be at ease without fear of evil.”

• Prov 16:6, “By occupation with the Lord, one avoids evil.”

• Prov 19:23 teaches that there is Divine protection from evil all around.

One of the responsibilities of a Pastor/Teacher is to take disciplinary action toward those opposed to doctrinal teaching, so that they will recover from reversionism and be delivered from the devil’s trap, 2 Tim 2:25‑26.

Chafer’s Systematic Theology, Vol. II, pp. 100‑112, gives a fantastic description of Satan’s system of evil. “Not only are Satan and his angels to be seen in their true light as fiends of darkness, but humanity as allied with them is evidently seen by God to be wholly evil, if not diabolical. It is such who having cast in their lot with the satanic lie, must, if not saved out of it, share the Lake of Fire which originally was prepared only for ‘the devil and his angels’.”

False Teachers are a Part of His Strategy, 1 John 4:1‑6.

False teachers have a phony, hypocritical facade. They are bleeding heart do‑gooders, who “love” everyone, being all things to all men apart from any standards based on Bible doctrine, Mat 7:15. They seek to stimulate your ego, Rom 16:17-18.

Mat 7:15, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

Rom 16:17-18, “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. ¹⁸For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”

Notice what these individuals are said to be slaves to, “their own appetites.” Given that that is the first category of temptation from Satan and his cosmic system, Gen 3; Mat 4; Luke 4; 1 John 2:16, it indicates that these individuals do not even get past the first, simplest and most basic form of temptation in their own lives. That shows how truly weak their souls are, whether they are a true believer or unbeliever. It tells us that these false teachers are so caught up in the world that they are blinded to the truth of God’s Word, and therefore are unable to teach it to others and apply it to their own lives. Their modus operandi is to use their pulpit to satisfy their own desires versus feeding the flock.

They use human public relations systems and legalistic flirtation and activism to court believers, Gal 4:17; 2 Tim 3:5‑7, 13.

Gal 4:17, “They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.”

2 Tim 3:5-7, “…holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. ⁶For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, (appetite, beauty, ambitious pride), ⁷always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

They appeal to human ego, arrogance, and pride to distract believers from grace, 2 Cor 10:12. They use mutual admiration society ideas. They love to counsel others to promote their arrogance.

2 Cor 10:12, “For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.”

They promote idolatry as a part of Satan’s communion table. Many times, unwittingly, Hab 2:18‑19.

They promote legalism as a system of pseudo‑spirituality, 1 Tim 1:7‑8. They encourage people to gossip.

They proclaim personal righteousness as the grounds for the individual’s right relations to God, 2 Cor 11:13-15.

They possess a false spirit, 1 John 4:1‑3. They are inspirational but do not function by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Satan Has a Strategy to Attack the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan’s greatest strategy is the doctrinal attack on the Cross and principle of salvation by faith alone. 2 Cor 4:3-4, “If our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to them who are lost, that the god of this world might blind the minds of those who do not believe.”  This attack is accomplished by adding various types of works to salvation, such as: keeping one’s self good or being good, having to take communion, having the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, making Christ Lord of your life, walking an isle or raising your hand, inviting Christ into your heart or into your life, etc.

Satan must obscure the fact that salvation is by faith alone, Eph 2:8-9.

The Genetic Attack on the Line of Christ.

Through Adam’s seed. After the original sin of Adam and the woman, God came into the Garden of Eden and promised eternal salvation. Adam was promised that the line of Christ would come through the children of Adam and Eve. Satan inspired Cain to murder Abel who was a believer to keep the Savior from coming into the world. God reestablished the Savior’s line in the birth of Seth (Gen. 4:25). Seth also became a believer, so the line of Christ comes down through Seth.

Gen 6:1‑3 tells of the angelic attack through sexual intercourse of fallen angels with human women to destroy true humanity on the earth. Except for Noah and his family, there were only half angel, half human beings on the earth.

Through Abraham’s seed. God promised that the line of salvation would come down through the child of Abraham. When Abraham became a new racial species at age ninety‑nine, sexual ability was restored to Abraham and Sarah and the line of Christ came down through Isaac, Jacob, and Judah.

There were several attacks on the line of Abraham.  Sarah had to be delivered from being in the harem of an Egyptian king, Gen 12:10‑20. Pharaoh’s mandate to kill all the first-born children was an attack upon the line of Christ. Pharaoh’s attempt to annihilate Israel was an attack upon the line of Christ, Ex 14:13ff.

Through David’s seed. The case of the son of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat had a son, Jehoram, who he married off to a princess of a Gentile nation in order to make an alliance, 2 Chron 18:1. Jehoram killed all his brothers, the royal seed, 2 Chron 21:4. The Arabs killed all the sons of Jehoram except one, 2 Chron 21:16‑22:1. The line was down to one person through whom the line of Christ could come. The case of Hezekiah, who was childless when attacked by the king of Assyria, Isa 36:1. God preserved him until his son was born. One of the greatest attacks was the Haman conspiracy to annihilate all Jews, the Book of Esther.

Through Joseph’s seed, Mat 1:16, though via adoption, it was the legal line to the throne of David. Joseph was tempted to divorce Mary since she was pregnant prior to the consummation of the marriage, Mat 1:18-19. Herod sent a command to kill the royal line of Israel, Mat 2:13‑18; Rev 12:4.

Other Doctrinal Attacks on the Cross.

• Limited atonement is a great doctrinal attack upon the Cross. Christ died for the sins of the entire world, not just for the sins of the elect.

• Satan had a strategy regarding the Cross; to eliminate the idea that man has a free will, a volition; the idea that Christ died for all members of the human race so that they could make a choice.

• The erroneous idea that Christ bled to death on the Cross. The blood of Christ is a metaphor for redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, imputation, unlimited atonement, and justification. This strategy attempts to confuse people into believing that Christ died physically (rather than spiritually) for our sins.

Satan Has a Strategy Regarding Israel - Anti‑Semitism.

Anti-Semitism, like so many other trends in history, is simply a fallout from the angelic conflict, which has raged since “before the foundation of the world.” If Satan has any remaining hope to emerge victorious in this conflict, it hinges on the destruction of the Jews. Were he successful in wiping out every trace of Jewry from the face of the earth, God would find no Jews to deliver, nor could He fulfill His national promises to Israel; hence, the Second Advent could not occur. As the author of evil in this world, including anti-Semitism, Satan has tried from the first appearance of Jews in history to eradicate them in the most devious ways. Never has one race been the target of such animosity and terrible persecutions; yet the Jews have survived their tormentor. The principle that Satan is the author of anti-Semitism is delineated in Revelation 12. There the past and future of this great evil are clearly depicted and described by the Apostle John.

The divine attitude toward Anti‑Semitism is given in Gen 12:3, where God is making promises to Abraham. The race began with Abraham, the nation with Moses.

Gen 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, but the one who curses (or despises) you I will curse, and through you all the races (individuals and nations) of the earth shall be blessed.”

To oppose Satan’s evil design against the promised new race, God affixed a blessing and cursing clause to the Abrahamic Covenant. The clause vouched for sustained divine provision, protection, and preservation of Jews in every generation. God had served notice that the Jew will survive human history.

The Divinely established clause against Anti-Semitism remains in force throughout history. God has promised Israel a future as a nation. Thus, He will continue to deliver the Jew until the end of time.

Wherever anti-Semitism prevails, the people involved are underwriting their own destruction. No individual or nation ever survives anti-Semitism, instead they destroy themselves by it.

Anti‑Semitism is defined as a person, group, organization, or nation who is hostile to the Jews. It does not refer to all the descendants of Shem, but only to the Jews. In fact, the term Semite encompasses much more than just the Jews. Jews are but one branch of the Semitic peoples, which include the ancient Assyrians, Midianites, Chaldeans, Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites, as well as the present Arabs, Syrians, Armenians, a considerable portion of the people of Ethiopia, and of the Middle East in general. To be accurate, anti-Semitism should be defined as opposition to all Semites. Yet, such is not the case. Jews alone are the target for and the definition of Anti-Semitism, which may run the gamut from a strong feeling of not liking someone to violent hatred.

Anti‑Semitism is hatred, intolerance, prejudice, opposition, persecution, and violent opposition to the Jewish race. The venom that renders masses of people susceptible to anti-Jewish agitation is more than fear, distrust, prejudice, insecurity, or envy. This vicious hatred reflects the angelic conflict and Satan’s subsequent machinations to defeat the plan of God. No matter how non-spiritual he may be, the Jew is the center of a very real spiritual warfare. Rev 12 details the future of Anti-Semitism during the Tribulation.

As a rule, anti-Semitic claims are blanket stereotypical allegations, like the proposition that the Jews are to blame for the world’s problems, and therefore should be destroyed. Other false statements include: “The Jews are unethical in their business practices and cannot be trusted!” and the ludicrous conspiracy theory, “The Jews monopolize and manipulate the international money market!” Other types of anti-Semitic outbursts are slurs or accusations by innuendo. These vary from derogatory adjectives, coupled with the word “Jew,” to claims that they are not really from the bloodline of Abraham, (i.e., the late Herbert Armstrong and the Tomorrow’s World group).

As noted above, in Satan’s opinion, one of the most efficient strategies for securing his domain would be the elimination of Jewry. Therefore, Satan has two major objectives in the strategy of Anti-Semitism.

• His historical objective was to keep our Lord Jesus Christ from being born and going to the Cross. This strategy failed.

• His prophetical objective is to destroy Israel so that the four unconditional covenants cannot be fulfilled at the Second Advent.

There is a correlation between the rise and fall of nations and their attitude toward the Jew. Individuals, nations, and empires have been destroyed by Anti‑Semitism. On the other hand, individuals, nations, and empires have been blessed by kindly treatment of the Jews.

Throughout history the Jews have become the easy target of blame for all manner of financial, political, and social calamities surrounding humanity. But you should never distort the truth and insist that the Jew is the root of all the world’s problems. Never propose that any problem would be solved by being rid of the Jew.

The real problem is threefold.

• The devil rules this planet in his evil way, Luke 4:4-6; 2 Cor 4:4.

• The inner culprit, the inborn Old Sin Nature, Rom 5:12, is the source of your personal troubles and depravity.

• Our own bad decisions account for most of our misfortunes and create self-induced misery, Gal 6:7-8.

Any effort to blame or eradicate the Jews would only compound our problems as individuals and as a nation, and in the end, destroy us, as anti-Semitism has destroyed every nation that ever raised a hand against God’s people. Every time you see a Jew, you should be reminded of God’s faithfulness. Satan may be the ruler of this planet, but even he can accomplish only what God permits. Anti-Semitism is of the devil and can never fully succeed.

It is not God’s will for you to enter into anti-Semitism. God has put an invisible wall of fire around the Jews to protect them from anti-Semitism. Racial prejudice is one of the greatest evils you could ever imagine. When you feel any racial prejudice, all you have to do is remember that Christ was judged for that person on the Cross.

Satan Has a Strategy Against Believers and the Church.

Some of Satan’s strategies include:

• The satanic strategy is to discredit the Canon of Scripture with emphasis on the Mystery Doctrine of the Church Age.

• The satanic strategy is to discredit believers by involving them in the Cosmic System and leading them to Christian degeneracy.

• The satanic strategy is to encourage rejection of Bible doctrine and to by‑pass and ignore post-salvation renewing of your mind, (Rom 12:1-2), by emphasizing experience over relationship. Satanic strategy is to hinder or distract believers from the execution of the predesigned protocol plan of God. Satan tries to distract the believer from post-salvation renewing of the mind in the following ways:

            a) Through negative volition toward (the rejection of) the teaching of the Word of God and Bible doctrine.

           b) Through getting the believer out of fellowship and remaining that way so that there is no filling of the Spirit.

      c) Through getting the believer to understand doctrine academically rather than spiritually, that is having a head knowledge versus application in faith.

          d) Through hindering the circulation of Bible doctrine in the stream of consciousness by means of the filling of the Holy Spirit (the culmination of points one and two).

         e) Through the sin nature and the garbage from the subconscious of the soul. Satan tries to control the believer through the Old Sin Nature by tempting the believer to commit sin and to perform good deeds by their own human resources. Believers are distracted into thinking that simple morality is the Christian way of life.

• All the strategies of Satan are directed toward the free will of mankind, not the sovereignty of God.

• Satan has a strategy to keep the believer in the cosmic system, James 4:6‑8; 1 John 2:15‑18; 3:4‑12.

Eph 6:14a and 2 Cor 2:11 state the general principle:

• Eph 6:14a, “Hold your ground against the devil.”

• 2 Cor 2:11, “In order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his strategies.” 

Satan is the Enemy of the Church.

• The Church is attacked by legalism, which in Rev 2:9 is called “the synagogue of Satan.”

• The Church is attacked by religion which is called “the throne of Satan” in Rev 2:13.

• The Church is attacked by false doctrine which in Rev 2:24 is called “the deep things of Satan.”

Satan’s strategies include:

• He accuses believers of sin, therefore of being under his control, Job 1:6‑11; Zech 3:1‑2; Rev 12:9-10.

Rev 12:9-10, “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. ¹⁰Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.” 

However, Jesus Christ defends us in heaven, 1 John 2:1-2:

1 John 2:1-2, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

• Satan sponsors reversionism and all principles related to Christian degeneracy, 1 Cor 10:19‑21; 2 Cor 11:3, 13‑15.

• Satan sponsors fear and anger to distract the believer from the Plan of God, Heb 2:14‑

• He seeks to frustrate the will of God with regard to your life.

• The mental will of God, i.e., Bible doctrine, Rom 12:2; Eph 4:14.

• The geographical will of God for you, 1 Thes 2:18.

• The operational will of God for you, James 4:7‑8; Gal 5:7.

Gal 5:7, “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?”

• Satan tries to neutralize consistent doctrinal perception, metabolization, and application through:

           a)  Worry, fear, anxiety, mental attitude sins, and reaction to historical disaster, 1 Peter 5:7‑9.

         b) Getting the believer to be disobedient to the Word and the Pastor’s authority involved in teaching it.

                c) Ignoring doctrine you have learned, 1 Chron 21:1.

• Satan destroys the believer’s focus. He uses both Cosmic One (grieving the Holy Spirit, Eph 4:30 – the arrogance complex of sins) and Cosmic Two (quenching the Holy Spirit, 1 Thes 5:19 – antagonism towards God), to keep the believer from occupation with Christ.

• Satan causes you to get your eyes on people, Gen 19:28; 20:2; Jer 17:5.

Jer 17:5, “Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD.”

• He causes you to get your eyes on self, 1 Kings 19:10; 1 Cor 1:10‑11.

• He causes you to get your eyes on things, Heb 13:5‑6.

• Satan sponsors Christian activism. He tries to get the believer to become involved in improvement of his (Satan’s) world through becoming occupied with temporal solutions, such as; improving the environment, “the greatest good for the greatest number,” socialism, social action, the social Gospel, welfare state, relative morality, and temporal solutions to man’s problems.

God allows Satan to administer the seven major momentum tests in which he attempts to keep the believer from advancing to maturity. (OSN, Cosmic 1, Cosmic 2, People, System, Disaster, and Prosperity testing.)

We are commanded in Eph 4:27, “and do not give the devil an opportunity.”

We are on the defensive against Satan and are never commanded to go on the offensive against Satan. The Ephesian believers were taking offensive action against Satan, and Paul commanded them to stop doing what they were already doing.

Believers serve Satan through many things like Christian activism, which plays right into the hands of Satan.

We give opportunity to the devil in two ways:

• Through the failure to execute the unique spiritual life of the Church Age and reach invisible hero status.

• To live a life in perpetual carnality and die the sin unto death.

Satan Has a Strategy Concerning the Unbeliever.

He blinds the unbeliever’s mind to the Gospel and motivates every form of unbeliever reversionism, Luke 8:12; Rom 1; 2 Cor 4:3‑4; 2 Thes 2:7‑10; 2 Peter 2. He takes the gospel away from their right lobes so that they may not believe.

When Satan cannot deceive through good and evil, he uses religion, Col 2:8; Rev 17. He uses religion to blind the mind.

Whenever the unbeliever rejects establishment or the believer rejects doctrine or establishment, he falls into the Satanic sphere of influence.

Satan’s strategy regarding the cosmic power system is found in 2 Cor 4:3‑4 and 2 Thes 2:7‑10.

In conclusion we have noted in this doctrine the following points regarding the Evil One and his satanic strategy.

• The Person of Satan.
• His Names.
• His Rulership.
• He has a power system for control of others under his rulership, Eph 6:12.
• He has a strategy to control nations under his rulership, (conspiracy and deceit).
• His aim in the Cosmos, (create a system that rivals God’s kingdom).
• Religion is a part of his strategy.
• He has a specific policy called “evil.”
• False teachers are a part of his strategy, 1 John 4:1‑6.
• He has a strategy to attack the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, (doctrinally and historically).
• He has a strategy regarding Israel - Anti‑Semitism.
• Satan has a strategy against believers and the Church.
• Satan has a strategy concerning the unbeliever.

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Complete Translation of John 17: 15 & 16

John 17:15 is, “I do not ask, (petition in prayer), that You, (God the Father), take them, (the disciples), out from the world, (Satan’s Cosmic System), to the contrary that You guard them from the evil one (Satan).”

John 17:16, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

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In Part 6 of the Gospel of John 17, we will look at Verses 17, 18 & 19, along with the Principles of Sanctification, Principles of Bible Doctrine as the “Truth,” The Commissioning of Believers by the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus Sanctified (Set Apart) Himself, Summary of the Second Portion of Our Lord’s Great High Priestly Prayer: John 17:6-19, where Christ Prays for His Disciples.