The Angelic Conflict - Part 12 -
REV 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven [Satan] which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit [the abyss] was given to him.
REV 9:2 And he opened the abyss; and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air became darkened by the smoke of the pit.
REV 9:3 And out of the smoke came forth locusts [the demon army from the Abyss] upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Grace precedes judgment! There is never a judgment which destroys a segment of the human race until first of all that segment of the human race has an opportunity to repent.
Noah preached for 120 years before the flood came. PSA 76:10 “For the wrath of man shall praise Thee”
They are going to be restricted as to what they can do to their target - believers and unbelievers of the Tribulation who live in the cosmic system.
REV 9:4 And they were told or commanded that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
The alternative to trying to commit suicide is to accept Christ as personal savior - or for believers to rebound and get out of the cosmic system.
Pain can serve as a motivation, but in some cases pain makes a person a lot worse. Pain, suffering, and adversity makes us worse or better, but it never leaves us the same.
Disaster, adversity, pain, difficulty, and problems give us a fantastic opportunity for improvement!
Thousands of years after members of the human race have been suffering in the lake of fire, if they were offered to believe on TLJC and trust in Him as their Lord and Savior, I believe they would still reject Him.
The more some people suffer, the more bitter and arrogant and hateful and resentful and they become. Satan and the fallen angels still rebel against God even after they were given a second trial.
When Satan is put in prison for a thousand years, the first thing he does when he gets out is start a human revolt against God.
The sin nature gets more and more corrupt as it gets older, Eph 4:22, and all of those in the lake of fire have their old sin nature.
REV 9:4 And they were told or commanded that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
COL 1:16 “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created by Him and for Him.”
The demon army can’t destroy vegetation. They are not permitted to kill their targets, torture only. ACT 12:23
While demons can perform extra-natural and super-natural acts in the environment of planet earth, they cannot control anything in planet apart from divine permission.
1JO 4:4 “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
Those who have the seal of God became saved after the Rapture, during this Tribulation period - only a certain group of believers have the seal of God.
The ones that are sealed are not called believers but “those believers who are bond-servants of God,” REV 7:1-4.
bond-servants = doulos = those believers who are slaves or servants to God, who carry out the will and purpose of God.
The target is believers and unbelievers in the cosmic system, but there is no permission to attack believers.
2TI 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.”
Since these individuals have said “no” to the divine plan and therefore “yes” to the satanic plan, they are now turned over to Satan.
torture = basanizo = to question by applying torture, to torture, to vex with grievous pains (used of body or mind), to torment, to be harassed, to be distressed.
The wages of serving Satan is torture and misery from his own hand.
Before TLJC comes back in the Second Coming (Second Advent), Satan turns on his own kingdom. Satan will terminate his own rulership by his own decisions.
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries
All Rights Reserved
Robert R. McLaughlin 2001
The Angelic Conflict - Part 12 -
Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin
The Angelic Conflict - Part 1 -
Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin
The Angelic Conflict - Part 1 - 1Ti 5:21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels Angels observe believers as a result of the angelic conflict. pres/mid/ind - [Diamarturomai] = to solemnly warn, to solemnly charge someone [enopion] = in the presence of God the Father, TLJC, and the elect angels Angels observe members of the Royal Family of God in their failure or success to execute and fulfill the predesigned plan of God. 1Co 4:9 we have become a spectacle [theatron] to to the world, both to angels and to men. Eph 3:10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 1Pe 1:12 - the angels desire and long to look into the doctrines Church-age believers learn. 1Pe 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - things into which angels long to look. Angels observe the attitude of respect a woman has toward her husband as a symbol of her love for him, 1Co 11:3-10. Point 1. - Definition - The angelic conflict is the result of prehistoric creatures being in opposition to God, which began with the fall of Satan and continued until all angelic creatures had made a decision for or against God. It refers to two trials of Satan and the fallen angels, one in prehistoric times, the other during human history. Point 2. - The Existence of Rational Creatures - There are only two categories of rational creatures. The prehistorical category - angels, Psa 8:4-6; Heb 2:6,7; 2Pe 2:11. Psa 8:4-5 What is man, that thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that thou dost care for him? Yet thou hast made him a little lower than the angels. Heb 2:7 Thou hast made him for a little while lower than the angels. 2Pe 2:11 Whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. The first category of rational creatures is the superior category; angels are superior to mankind. Angels were created in eternity past, before the creation of the human race, prehistoric times. Psa 148:2-5 “Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created.” The second category of rational creatures is the historical category called human beings, mankind, or man. We have in common with angels the structure of our souls; the two are very similar. Satan is the most brilliant, most attractive, most personable creature who has ever lived. He has the greatest personality that has ever existed in a creature. His real name is Lucifer, the son of the morning, the anointed cherub! Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries All Rights Reserved Robert R. McLaughlin 2001
The Angelic Conflict - Part 2 -
Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin
The Angelic Conflict - Part 2 - 1Ti 5:21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. Elect and fallen angels observe the human race and human history. The angelic conflict is the result of prehistoric creatures being in opposition to God, which began with the fall of Satan and continued until all angelic creatures had made a decision for or against God. It refers to two trials of Satan and the fallen angels, one in prehistoric times, the other during human history. The devil is not interested in getting people to sin. He is vitally interested in getting people to perform human good. 2Co 2:11 in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes. Satan is actively interested in attacking any believer anywhere who knows Bible doctrine. Immorality is embarrassing to Satan because he is the ruler of this world. As the greatest creature ever created, this world is an insult to his leadership. Human good appeals to approbation lust, to power lust, and to the area of strength of the old sin nature. Government, morals, education, art, commercialism, vast enterprises and organizations, and religious activity are included in the Satan’s plan to deceive the human race. The presence evil in the world is not due to Satan’s intention to have it so but his inability to control the human race. Government, morals, education, art, commercialism, vast enterprises and organizations, and religious activity are included in the Satan’s plan to deceive the human race. God’s plan for the human race is not to clean up the devil’s world; it is to offer salvation to the unbeliever and knowledge of doctrine to the believer. 1Ti 2:4 He desires all men to be saved and to come to the epignosis knowledge of the truth. The devil, through his cosmic control, will give advancing believers a great deal of attention, because they constitute the greatest threat to his cosmic system. Point 2. - The Existence of Rational Creatures - The prehistorical category - angels, Psa 8:4-6; Heb 2:6,7; 2Pe 2:11. The historical category - human beings, mankind, man. Satan is the most brilliant, most attractive, most personable creature who has ever lived. He has the greatest personality that has ever existed in a creature. His real name is Lucifer, the son of the morning, the anointed cherub! He was at that time the highest of all creatures. The cherub at that time was the highest and most superior form of angelic life. Satan was the greatest of the cherubs. Today the seraphim are the highest ranking angels, above the cherubs. Anyone who believes on TLJC actually becomes greater than Adam, who was created perfect, because believers have the very righteousness of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Jo 3:9 “No one who is born of God sins, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1Pe 1:23 “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.” Rom 7:17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin [the sin nature] which indwells me. Rom 7:20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. Adam was created perfect, but after his fall a higher category of humans came into existence, called the children of God. The same is true in the angelic realm. Lucifer, the son of the morning, the anointed cherub, was created perfect and was the highest ranking angel at that time. Just as anyone who follows God will become greater than Adam, so certain angels who followed God were rewarded with a higher rank than Satan! That higher rank is called seraphim, angels with 6 wings. Because of God’s perfect justice, righteousness, and immutability, we are forced to the conclusion - just as members of the human race are rewarded for faithfulness to TLJC, so angels were given rewards for living in something similar to our PPOG. 1Co 15:40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 1Co 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for stars differ from stars in glory 1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead God never has and never will coerce or force angelic or human volition to make choices. Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries All Rights Reserved Robert R. McLaughlin 2001
The Angelic Conflict - Part 3 -
Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin
The Angelic Conflict - Part 3 - Point 3. - When and How the Angelic Conflict Began - The revelation concerning the angelic conflict begins with the period between the creation of the heavens and the earth, Gen 1:1, and the desolating judgments which ended that period, when earth became waste and empty, Gen 1:2. Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God has no beginning, He is eternal! The angels were already around before God created the heavens and the earth. Job 38:4-5 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements, since you know? Or who stretched the line on it?” Job 38:6-7 “On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars [angels] sang together, And all the sons of God [angels] shouted for joy?” Job 38:7 - all the angels shouted for joy because they were undivided at that time. Gen 1:1 - the universe, the heavens and the earth, was originally created as the domain of the angels. It was between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2 that Lucifer rebelled against God and enticed one third of the angels to follow him. Rev 12:4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars [angels] of heaven, Along with sin and evil, Satan’s rebellion brought chaos upon the earth. As part of God’s judgment against the rebellious angels, the planet was enshrouded in darkness. The raging waters of the deep froze into an ice pack, and before the earth could be inhabited again, restoration would be necessary. Gen 1:2 And the earth became [not was] formless and void [tohuw waabohuw], Isa 24:1 Behold, the Lord lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants. Jer 4:23 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was formless and void [tohuw waabohuw]; And to the heavens, and they had no light. Jer 4:24-25 I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, And all the hills moved to and fro. I looked, and behold, there was no man, And all the birds of the heavens had fled. Jer 4:26 I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a wilderness, And all its cities were pulled down Before the Lord, before His fierce anger. Gen 1:2b “and the Spirit of God began to move over the surface of the waters.” This was actually the beginning of God granting Satan’s appeal! Man was created to be a witness for the justice, righteousness, and love of God, during the angelic conflict. Man’s occupancy on the earth started long after the creation of the earth. Man’s occupancy on planet earth didn’t last too long before Adam and the woman fell, and then Satan became the ruler of the world again! Satan always considers this one of his greatest victories. Satan is the highest of all angels, and ruler of all fallen angels, Mat 8:28, 9:34, 12:26; Luk 11:18-19. He is the most beautiful creature to come from the hand of God. He is superior in genius, beauty, personality, and persuasiveness, and is invisible. He is an organizational genius with a great organization of demons, Eph 6:10-12. He is the enemy of Bible doctrine. He is the enemy of the Church (Royal Family). He is the enemy of Israel. He is the enemy of Christ. The king of Tyre was possessed by Satan, just like the serpent in the garden and Judas Iscariot who betrayed our Lord. “You had the seal of perfection” Of all of the creatures to come from the hand of God, Satan was the most beautiful, the wisest, and the most personable. He has the greatest mind that any creature has ever had. Only one mind is more intelligent than his - “the mind of Christ,” 1Co 2:16, Phi 2:5. God offers us the mind of Christ which is much greater than the greatest mind of all time, Satan’s, and the average believer says “NO thank you!” Rev 12:9 “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.” He deceives the whole world! Rev 13:14 - he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform. Rev 18:23 - he deceives the world by using a very popular church in Rome. Rev 19:20 - he deceives those who had received the mark of the beast. Rev 20:3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. If there’s anything that destroys genius, smartness, talent, beauty, or anything else that can be considered worthwhile, it is arrogance. There is the thought of arrogance, then the decision of arrogance, and then the action of arrogance. The original sin among angelic creatures is like the original sin among human creatures; it occurred as a decision in perfect environment! There are three things that you can do without as far as happiness in life is concerned! 1. To be a genius mentally. 2. Physical beauty in some form. 3. Perfect or improved environment. Degeneracy in any nation, in any society, is merely a manifestation of the fact that people are unhappy. Happiness comes from truth. Happiness is a state of mind. He was created an adult with perfect beauty, with the greatest genius of any creature God ever made, and with perfect environment. Satan was created with perfect beauty and brains, and authority as the Messiah’s personal angel, the guardian of the Messiah - yet his desire was for more POWER. Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries All Rights Reserved Robert R. McLaughlin 2001