TORAH, GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS GENESIS 3 - LESSON 3A - SERPENT, SATAN THE DEVIL Say - Welcome to Sabbath School class. Let's bow our head as we ask God for understanding in our study of God's Torah today. Say - " 1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Say - It is important that we stop and discuss who the "serpent" is in the verse above. The word "serpent" in Hebrew is "nachash" and was so called because of his hissing and whispering noises. In the verse above is the introduction of Satan the Devil and at this point he is walking, crawling comes later. We will also learn the "serpent" was not a snake as many perceive. How can we be sure the "serpent" is Satan? The Bible will tell us. Say - The Bible tells us, " 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan which deceiveth the whole world... Revelation 12:9, 20:2. Say - WHO WAS SATAN? We must go back to the beginning of the Bible where his story begins. "In the beginning God (Elohim, plural) created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form (Hebrew, tohuw"), and void (Hebrew, "bohuw") and darkness was upon the face of the deep" Genesis 1:1-2. Say - The word "was" should read "became" or "has become". In other words the phrase, "And the earth was without form, and void" should read, "And the earth BECAME without form and void." How can we know for sure? Please read the PROOF below. Say - God tells us there was an earlier PERFECT creation, "For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God (Elohim, plural) himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain (Hebrew, "tohu") he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else" Isaiah 45:18. This verse reveals an earlier perfect creation than Genesis 1. Say - We must realize there could be billions of years between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. When we read in Genesis of the creation of the earth, it was totally covered with water and in total darkness; there were no land masses, no vegetation. There were no living beings or animals. Remember God "spoke" and "there was light"; God spoke and "divided the light from darkness" and said "let
the dry land appear" Genesis 1:3, 5, 9. How did the earth become "without form and void" or "Tohuw and Bohuw"? We will learn there was a gigantic massive destruction which happened between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. Say - The story begins in our Bible with one of the three archangels or chief angels which were Lucifer, Michael and Gabriel. Our study for today's lesson will focus on the archangel, Lucifer, which means "light-bearer", "shining one" or "morning star". Let's begin reading about Lucifer BEFORE Genesis 1:1. In the below description from Ezekiel, the King of Tyre is a type of Satan the Devil. "...Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire (God commissioned Lucifer to a very high office as overseer of the earth.). 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created...ezekiel 28:12-15. Say - WHAT HAPPENED TO LUCIFER? Continuing on,..."till iniquity (lawlessness) was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise (by the abundance of his going about promoting rebellion among the angels in heaven) they have filled the midst of thee with violence (cruelty, hatred and wrong), and thou hast sinned (disobeyed God's Laws): therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God (because Lucifer had become defiled or impure): and I will destroy thee (cause Lucifer to vanish from the "mountain of God, the Throne of God"), O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire (When the Ark of the Covenant was constructed, it was covered with the "Mercy Seat" which represented the Throne of God and over it were placed two Cherubim which in Ezekiel's account, "O covering cherub" indicates Lucifer was one of the powerful archangels which overshadowed the Throne of God before he was "cast out" of heaven.)
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty (became haughty and arrogant), thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness (beauty and splendor): I will cast thee to the ground (to the entire earth), I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee (we will see Lucifer became so proud and arrogant, he thought he was God)" Ezekiel 28:12-17. Say - In another place the Bible tells us, " 9 And the great dragon was cast out (of heaven), that old serpent called the Devil, and Satan.which deceiveth the whole world... he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" Revelation 12:9. Say - Now let's look at Isaiah's account of Lucifer where it speaks of the attitude behind all of his actions and reveals the mind of Lucifer. " 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Because 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High (Lucifer said I will be like God the Father, imagine!) Isaiah 14:12-14. Say - Do we see how Lucifer, the "shining star" and the most beautiful "Covering Cherub" became jealous of God and lusted after the very Throne of God! In his mind he believed he was greater than God, more beautiful than God and he went about convincing 1/3 of the Angels of Heaven to believe the same lie. Lucifer was soon to meet his fate. Say - The Bible tells us, 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven" Revelation 12:7-8. Say - In another place we are told, " 18 And he (Jesus) said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" Luke 10:18. Say - Now we know the "serpent" which appeared unto Eve in the Garden of Eden was not a snake; remember we just read above Lucifer who became Satan or the Devil was a "Cherub which covereth" and was right next to the Throne of God. In the book of Ezekiel is a detailed description of a Cherub like the one which encountered Eve, a
most "subtle" creature and she took him to be a heavenly messenger. " 5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 7 And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. 8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. 9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle" Ezekiel 1:5-10. Say - We can see Adam and Eve as well as Lucifer could have choosen whether they obeyed God or not and it is the same for each of us. We have learned Lucifer was "perfect in all his ways until INIQUITY or lawlessness was found in him". "There was a great war in heaven..." and thus he was thrust out of heaven and 1/3 of all the angels went with him and became his demons. Say - WHAT IS SATAN AND HIS DEMONS DOING NOW? Just as the serpent or Satan appeared to Eve in the Garden of Eden as an "angel of light" offering to lead Eve to a true interpretation of what God had said and Eve received him as a heavenly messenger, the sad news is the same thing is happening today. Say - The Bible says, "13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ (There are many self appointed ministers which are not of God in many of our churches today and on T. V. If we do not know what the Bible says, we will fall for the false doctrine just as Adam and Eve did and 1/3 of the angels in heaven.). 14And no marvel (it's not surprising); for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light (as if he were a messenger of God's truth; Satan is still doing the same thing he did in the Garden of Eden through false preachers who twist and change the teachings of God to the "doctrines of men" Mark 7:7).
Say - 15Therefore it is no great thing if his (Satan's) ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness" 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Christ calls them Satan's ministers not His for they preach false doctrine, changing, adding and twisting the Truth of God. At least we know where they get their doctrine, it is from Satan not God and we are not to follow them. God allows false prophets among us to see who we will choose just like He did in the Garden of Eden. We must remember not everything we hear is good even though it is from a minister; we must look for the cover-up or the counterfeit and the only way we will know is if we know what the Word of God teaches. Say - In another place we are told, " 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" Ephesians 6:12. Satan uses humans as his tool, his cover-up; Satan is the conflict we face in our daily life. Say - The Bible tells us, " 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44. Therefore God instructs us, " 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" I Peter 5:8. Jesus and His teachings and the power of His Holy spirit are our ONLY barrier to overcome Satan and sin! Say - WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF SATAN AND HIS DEMONS? At Christ's second coming, during the one thousand year reign when Christ sets up His Kingdom on this earth, the Bible tells us, " 1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season" Revelation 20:1-3. Say - After the one thousand years "7And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet ("were cast" prior to the 1000 year reign of Christ), and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" Revelation 20:7-10. Say - Satan and his demons are spirit beings and cannot die but they will see all their evil plans destroyed. The Bible tells us " 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation (the angels which followed Satan), he hath reserved in everlasting chains (place of restraint) under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. "13...wandering stars (angels), to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever" Jude 1: 6, 13. There they will wonder about in mental torment forever! Say - We can see God did not create a devil or his demons; Satan created himself! Just as Adam and Eve and Lucifer, we must all choose who we follow, either God or Satan. All who choose to follow the "broadway", the way of this world are following Satan and he will continue to use them and deceive them and they will suffer a terrible end, death, Matthew 7:13. Say - In Contrast, in Christ we can have the promise of ETERNAL LIFE for He tells us, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live" Deuteronomy 30:19. Say - HOW DO WE CHOOSE LIFE? "Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent (of sin, the breaking of God's laws, I John 3:4): for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. " 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God ("love" is the fulfilling of God's Laws, Romans 13:10), and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him (we "cleave unto Him" when we study His words and do them not change them): for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them (symbolic of the Kingdom of God which is our goal!) Deuteronomy 30:20. MEMORY VERSE "...that old serpent called the devil and Satan...he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him" Revelation 12:9 MEMORY VERSE FOR TOTS "...that old serpent the devil and Satan...were cast into the earth and his angels with him" Revelation 12:9
SERPENT, SATAN THE DEVIL IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, THE BIBLE TELLS OF A "SERPENT" WHO CAME TO TEMP EVE; EVE ACCEPTED ALL HE SAID AS IF HE WEREA HEAVENLY MESSENGER BUT HE WAS THERE TO CONFUSE AND DECEIVE. GEN. 1:1 BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE EARTH, THE "SERPENT" WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL ANGEL AND STOOD OVER THE THRONE OF GOD; HE WAS "PERFECT IN ALL HIS WAY" UNTIL LAWLESSNESS WAS FOUND IN HIM AND HE BEGAN TO REBEL AGAINST GOD. EZ. 28:12-17 IN HEAVEN HE COULD NO LONGER STAY, GOD SENT HIM TO THE EARTH AND HIS ANGELS, TURNED DEMONS, WENT TOO; OVER ALL SATAN THOUGHT HE COULD RULE AND MAKE HIS THRONE ABOVE GOD, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE BUT IT'S TRUE! "THERE WAS WAR IN HEAVEN" THE DAY SATAN LEFT, IT WAS "AS LIGHTENING" WHEN HE FELL; REV. 12:7-8 NOW HE AND HIS DEMONS GO ABOUT THE EARTH AND TURN GOD'S TRUTH TO LIES IS WHAT THEY TELL. 2 COR. 11:13-15 WE NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT SATAN FOR WITH GOD'S TEACHINGS AND GOD'S POWER, SATAN AND SIN WE CAN OVERCOME; JUST PRAY TO GOD AND ALWAYS FOLLOW HIM AND LEARN OF HIS WAYS WHILE WE ARE YOUNG AND THAT IS WHAT WILL PUT SATAN ON THE RUN! THEN WHEN CHRIST RETURNS FOR HIS PEOPLE, SATAN'S END FOR HIM WILL NOT BE GOOD; REV. 20:7-10, Jude 6, 13 FOR SATAN AND HIS DEMONS WILL BE "CAST INTO A BOTTOMLESS PIT" FOR 1000 YEARS AND LATER WILL BE TORMENTED IN DARKNESS IT WHAT IS UNDERSTOOD. BY B. R. B.