Willy Wonka and Soul Shine Part V

January 3, 2019January 6, 2019 / Tekoa / 6 Comments

What can healthy people learn from the chronically ill or those with disabilities? I want to show you something extraordinary, but you’ll have to take some advice from Willy Wonka and his fantastic quote.
‘Strike that, now reverse it!’

Roald Dahl, the author of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, has many hidden gems– so many indeed, I’ll be sprinkling them throughout.

Yes, strike out what you’ve been programmed to believe and reverse it.
Grandpa Joe, in the movie Willy Wonka, got out of his sick bed when his grandson received a golden ticket, but I have some dear friends right now with ALS, MS, RA, etc. that haven’t been able to get out of bed for months—can’t feed themselves, bathe themselves, wipe their __ themselves. Unless Yeshua walks into their rooms and heals them, they are going to be gathered with their loved ones sooner than later. And HE can, but He hasn’t yet.

No golden ticket, Charlie.

I have another friend with RA that has been in a nursing home bed over a decade—a decade in bed, but she has ministered to me during some of my darkest hours. She ministers from a bed of suffering typing text on good days with her pinky fingers as her other ones are like crinkle French fries.

time

“Time is a precious thing. Never waste it.” Willy Wonka.

But I ask, which person would waste more time, a person disabled or one with good health? All of us are prone to waste precious time, but I think you’ll be amazed at some of the people I cover in this post. Many of them could have consumed their whole lives in pity, anger, doubt, and fear, but instead ministered and still are ministering to the masses. They don’t have long healing lines wrapped around buildings. They don’t make millions or own jets, but what they have sparkles and shimmers from the inside–out.

“Where is fancy bred? In the heart or in the road?” Willy Wonka.

I asked the Father some questions the other day. Perplexing questions. I was feeling overwhelmed by the many sick people He has sent across my path, and also not having the time or strength to be there for them like I want to be. Many times, I talk to the Father but don’t get a quick response, but that day He astounded me.
That day, multiple blogs, memes, and posts on social media were upsetting me, but not just me, friends as well. I’ll give a couple of examples:
“Start each day with a jog–eat these foods instead of these–motivate yourself, make kale chips, take a yoga class, gets some CBD oil/ essential oil, water mineral drops, bone broth, etc.”
Sometimes healthy people upset sick people, and sometimes sick people frustrate the healthier ones, especially those who’ve conquered obesity, Cancer, thyroid issues and the list goes on. They want to fix us.

While meditating, Suddenly, I heard this in my spirit.

“Nick Vujicic wouldn’t have the ministry he does encouraging people if he had limbs.”

Immediately there Nick was before me smiling.

legless man
I meditated on that for a bit. If you don’t know who Nick is, He is one of seven known cases in the world of people born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of arms and legs. ” According to his autobiography, his mother refused to see him or hold him when the nurse held him in front of her, but she and her husband eventually accepted the condition and understood it as “God’s plan for their son.”

His bio is long, but here’ a snippet.

“Since his first speaking engagement at age 19, Nick has traveled around the world, sharing his story with millions, sometimes in stadiums filled to capacity, speaking to a range of diverse groups such as students, teachers, young people, business professionals and church congregations of all sizes.”

The Father speaks to Moshe, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11, NASB).

Let’s get back to what I heard:
“Nick Vujicic wouldn’t have the ministry he does, encouraging people, if he had limbs.”
What a profound thought! And possibly due to his smiling photo splashing in his pool, we only see one side of his life. If he was sitting in a wheelchair looking disparaged and weary, would we see him the same? Would our emotions change? Of course, they would.
Some would argue that if the Father healed him and he grew limbs, he’d have a more prominent ministry, but what has given him a ministry is his attitude and vigor to make something of this precious life regardless of his physical condition. By the way, two of the seven with tetra-amelia syndrome are sports writers and journalist.

I believe in healing and multiple ways of being healed, but is everyone healed physically? No. Not even the most righteous missionaries in the Newer Testament. Not even the great prophet Elisha who died in his disease. Wouldn’t they be eating foods that were grown the Torah way? Eating Kosher? Of course! Wouldn’t they have a better grasp of anointing oils and laying hands on the sick? Why would Paul (Sha’ul) tell Timothy to have a little wine for his stomach, if a swing of his suit jacket, a dab of oil and a “By His stripes you are healed” would work?

“Wrong sir, wrong!” Willy Wonka.

But let’s face it, there are many people with arms and legs that are suffering greater than smiling Nick. He encourages people to enjoy life and be thankful, grateful even, but if you give him enough kale juice, cut out sugar and carbs, slather him in oils, will he grow arms and legs? Not likely. These things work well for the person who is healthy, or for the ones who have taken their health for granted and have become couch potatoes.
I want to present a thought: Could Nick be more whole than you and I? More joyful–More thankful? Wasting less time than those with limbs?
Have you ever visited a nursing home, hospital, or orphanage to minister to someone and they ended up ministering to you? Happens every time!
There was a man named Lazarus who died and went to Abraham’s bosom. He wasn’t wealthy or healthy. He was sick and in need of food. He had sores oozing. However, in the next life, it was the wealthy strong man who was in torment.

The next life. . .

“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. “And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores” (Luke 16:19-21, NASB).

If you want to view paradise, take around and view it.” Willy Wonka.

I’ve written about sickness often, but possibly not in these shades of grey and the worse I suffer, the more I have to say. These blogs aren’t for everyone, but perhaps they will help a few.
People quote multiple verses on healing. They use them over and over for friends who just received a diagnosis, but most of these people boldly quoting, still wear prescription eyeglasses and see a dentist, take medications for pain or a Tylenol on occasion. Possibly many who claim divine healing took the chemo, had the surgery, etc. for extra coverage.
If a person who has paraplegia or a person with quadriplegia is brought into the room, will those who are shouting verses, and natural cures, will they walk over and yell “Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Stand up and walk! He came for you to have an abundant life!” Would they be inclined to tell them to just eat some kale and drink some pomegranate juice– live the Torah way?
Doubtful.
He did come to give us life and life more abundantly! And Nick is living just that! But Lazarus wasn’t. He was right in front of the Rich man, but the rich man never poured wine or oil in, he didn’t medicate his sores or let him eat at his table. It was a healthy, wealthy man who needed to be healed of a heart condition.

By His stripes, we are healed,” is a popular one used for the sick. Peter uses this verse to point out a truth. “…and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1st Peter 2:24 NASB). Yes, often it’s talking about being healed from sin, and the lost sheep of the House of Israel.

Is there a measure used when regarding how Powerful Our Father is? Is someone with poor eyesight or an earache a better candidate to be healed than say, Nick, growing arms? Why don’t we pray to throw out our bifocals at 40? Why did a man who had vigor and perfect eyesight walk up a hill and die? Because Abba said, it’s time, Moses. Because Abba said its time, Son.
“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time for you to die is near; call Joshua, and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the tent of meeting” (Deuteronomy 31:14, NASB).
“Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated” (Deut. 34:7, NASB).

“Bubbles, Bubbles everywhere, But not a drop to drink” Willy Wonka.

I know that most people want those suffering to get better–to live happily ever after. They do everything out of love, and they want the ones in anguish to be made whole! But what if the person in front of them is more whole than they are? Even happier?
Sometimes things are opposite.

“Strike that, now reverse it!” Willy Wonka.

Psalm 73,

“Surely God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
2But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps had almost slipped.

3For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4For there are no pains in their death,
And their body is fat.

5They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like mankind.

6Therefore pride is their necklace;
The garment of violence covers them.

7Their eye bulges from fatness;
The imaginations of their heart run riot.

8They mock and wickedly speak of oppression;
They speak from on high.

9They have set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue parades through the earth.

10Therefore his people return to this place,
And waters of abundance are drunk by them.

11They say, “How does God know?
And is there knowledge with the Most High?”

12Behold, these are the wicked;
And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.

13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
And washed my hands in innocence;

14For I have been stricken all day long
And chastened every morning. (Psalm 73:1-13, NASB).
Do you feel stricken and chastened? Job did. Jeremiah did and many others.

Another person who was born with much adversity was Helen Keller, but she accomplished more than most people who were born with eyes to see and ears to hear.

“Anything you want to, do it; want to change the world… there’s nothing to it.” Willy Wonka.

“Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The story of Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, was made famous by Keller’s autobiography, The Story of My Life, and its adaptations for film and stage, The Miracle Worker.”
What would her life have been like if she was healthy, had perfect vision, and powerful hearing?

AWW, BUT SHE DID!

helen_reading

She saw and heard things many did not, thanks be to her mentor, Anne Sullivan. Who are you mentoring right now that has greatness inside of them, things that need to be birthed for future generations?

One for Israel has a fascinating blog on the life of Hellen. Here’s a snippet:

“Helen visited Israel shortly after it was founded, to promote rights for the disabled and to be an encouragement to the newly-born state. There she met Golda Meir who was Israel’s Labor Minister at that time, and the friendship between the two continued through letters after she had returned to the United States.
She worked with the American Institute for the Blind for 44 years, and while in Israel teamed up with the Jewish Institute for the Blind, who presented her with a special silver-covered Jewish Bible when she visited them there.

Many of these facts, visits, and letters are not well known to the public, but possibly one of the most powerful pieces in the Keller archive is a letter to the Student Body of Germany, written in 1933. The German universities had been burning books that contradicted their evil agenda, including a book that Helen herself had written on socialism and social justice, and hearing of it shortly afterward, Helen’s anger and sharp words warned the Nazis;

“History has taught you nothing if you think you can kill ideas….
Do not imagine your barbarities to the Jews are unknown here.
God sleepeth not, and He will visit His Judgment upon you.”(1). Click HERE

Would Helen Keller be the same bold, compassionate woman without her disabilities? Without her teacher? Perhaps, but doubtful in the measure of hunger she exuded. How many people with spiritually closed ears and eyes laid hands on her or prayed for her to see while they sat blind and naked without hunger or passion? We can have 20/20 vision and be blind as a bat.
Oh, friends, we must rethink some things.

“We have so much time and so little to see.
Strike that, now reverse it!” Willy Wonka
We’ve looked at a few people with disabilities in this portion, but we will look at some with dis-ease, depression and mental health as we continue in our next portion of Willy Wonka, Part # VI.

wonka suspense

Part # 1 HERE

Part # 2 HERE

Part # 3 HERE

Part # 4 HERE

Part # 5 HERE

Part # 6 HERE

Can Angels Sin? Doctrines of Demons Part #1, Chapter 19.

November 6, 2018 / Tekoa / 3 Comments

Can angels sin? Were one-third of the angels cast out of heaven? Many of the doctrines we have been taught contradict themselves, don’t line up historically or make no sense. More than likely, you have heard several interpretations from Genesis six. The most prevalent one is that angels fell into sin and slept with the daughters of men or the seed of Cain and this caused giants to appear on the earth. Let’s read:

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

–Genesis 6:1-2, KJV

As I said in the last chapter, I don’t believe angels can sin. Many believe Satan was an angel who fell due to pride and that one-third of the angels left with him. Yeshua’s words suggest just the opposite.

Yeshua answered and said unto them, ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the Angels of God in heaven.

–Matthew 22:29, KJV

Multiple teachers have confidence in the theory that the angels fell, slept with mortal women, and reproduced giants. However, after careful study, I believe this may be a false doctrine of demons. Of course, I was not there during that time period, but let’s dig in deeper and see if we can uncover some clues. The first portion of this chapter is written by my eighty-two-year-old father who has studied the Bible for years and will give you the accounts of what he believes happened at the beginning of Genesis. Let’s go now and look at my father’s theory and see if it holds water.

Buddy Green’s theory is as follows:

I discovered a lot of things that I never heard any preacher or anyone else for that matter mention, let alone try to explain. I am NOT claiming to be an authority on doctrine. However, you will see what I am telling you is simply what I believe Adonai’s Word says. I am going to start with the gap theory. I am sure most of you have heard of this theory that may or may not have happened between Genesis 11 and 12. They claim this was a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. This may or may not have happened; it’s still just a theory. I want to talk about another gap theory that very few mention. That is the gap between the time Adonai created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden until the time they sinned. I don’t think anyone would just assume that they were given a paradise with everything they could ever hope for on the first day and then by the next day had already disobeyed a commandment Adonai had given them. (Jewish tradition suggests it took seven years). It could have been years; the Bible does not say. I believe they were still living in eternity until they sinned. You see, that is when I believe time started.

Here is where I am going to say something that will probably blow your mind but don’t quit reading. Please hear me out. I believe Adam and Eve (Chavah) could have had a number of children before they sinned. It’s all there in Genesis. “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: (Genesis 1:28, KJV). Then after they had sinned, He says in Genesis 3:16 “…I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;” (KJV). Now we believe Adonai can do anything. However, our Father knows how to multiply, and zero multiplied by any number is still zero. If there had never been the pain of childbirth before, Adonai could not have multiplied it. This is the first proof they may have had children before they sinned. The second proof is found in Genesis 3:20 it says, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living” (KJV). Then in the beginning of chapter four, it says, “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord” (KJV). She was already the mother of all living back in the third chapter of Genesis. You may be thinking, well, perhaps it was not written in chronological order. I say perhaps it was. For the third proof, we need to go back to the third chapter of Genesis and the last verse. “After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24, NIV). Why would Adonai do this? Why didn’t He just destroy the garden? I believe the reason he couldn’t destroy it then was because he was protecting the children and grandchildren of Adam and Eve. The sages believe the garden represented Israel. Possibly there were many generations that were still in the garden and had not sinned. I know some of you are thinking if this is true what happened to these people and why are they not mentioned in the Bible? Well, they may be.

Let’s take a look at Genesis 6:1-2. “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose” (KJV). If these were not children of Adam and Eve that had not sinned, then who were they? I have heard some say they were fallen angels. But the Bible calls them sons of Adonai. (Sons who kept Torah) Let’s look at Hebrews 5. “For unto which of the Angels said he at any time, you are my Son;” (Hebrews 1:5, KJV). Furthermore, Romans 5:14 says, “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression…” (KJV). Now think about this, to have sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, wouldn’t one have to of been in the garden and eat of the forbidden fruit in order to do that? Not necessarily, let’s look at a better translation for more understanding. “Nevertheless, death ruled from Adam until Moshe, even over those whose sinning was not exactly like Adam’s violation of a direct command.” (CJB). The point is the sons of Adonai were sinning, not celestial beings.

The genealogy of Yeshua says, “The son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God” (Luke 3:38, NIV). Therefore, it makes sense to me if Adam was the son of Adonai, for he is listed, then we can assume that children born before Adam and Eve sinned would be sons of Adonai as well. Another reason they couldn’t have been demons or fallen angels is found in Genesis 6:4 it says, “…when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown” (KJV). If demonic angels could reproduce, we would be overrun with them. There would be one behind every tree and dozens in every closet. “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30, NIV). This indicates to me that angels do not reproduce. How could they when they are celestial beings?

Let’s go back to Genesis chapter 6:3, “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years” (KJV).

I have heard preachers use this verse and say, “Saints, if you turn away from the Holy Spirit, there will come a time when He will no longer deal with you.” Well, this may very well be true, but in my opinion, that’s not what He is talking about here. He is displeased with the sons of Adonai for defiling themselves with these daughters of men born after the sinful nature (Torahlessness). I have also heard some people read this and say this is speaking of when Adonai shortened man’s life to one hundred and twenty years. Personally, I don’t think that’s what he’s talking about here either. I think he was displeased with these Sons of Adonai taking wives and defiling themselves with these daughters of men born after the sinful nature. (Possibly, these men and women would not have been in the garden area, under the covenant with Adam as their High Priest. These would have been men who turned their back on our Father’s instructions and sought their fleshly nature).

My father has written some interesting thoughts here, wouldn’t you agree? It’s possible there were children before Adam and Eve (Chavah) fell. Who am I to say it’s impossible? I for one wanted to cut in and tell you some reasons why I think much of his theory holds water, and that is not just due to men in the Bible being referred to as “Sons of Adonai” but being referred to as angels as I explained earlier. Many have disputed my father’s theory; however, I believe much of this understanding of giants stems from Greek and Roman myths as well as other Asian cultures. I’m not saying the N’filim were not on the earth at that time, just that they are possibly not half-angel/half-man.

In Greek mythology, the Titans were a people of massive proportions who were the offspring of Olympian gods. It was believed that the Titans were imprisoned in a section of the underworld called Tartarus. II Peter 2:4 says, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell (Tartarus) and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; …” (NKJV).

Marcellus Kik, a minister and teacher who has studied at both Princeton and Westminster Theological Seminaries. explains, “The Greek term aggelos (angels) does not always refer to such heavenly spirits. The meaning of the term must be determined by the context.” For example in the book of Matthew, it says, “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” 11:10 KJV. This is clearly talking about John the Baptist and not an angel messenger. Many times the word “messenger” is a person and not an angel. According to the Jewish encyclopedia, the Hebrew word “mal’akh” is the standard Hebrew Bible word for “messenger.” This word refers to both human and divine.” [1]

Let’s rethink this verse in II Peter, along with the verse that coincides in Jude:

Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their position of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.

– Jude 1:5-6, KJV

Could the translators have erred when rendering the word “angels?” We will delve in deeper in part two of this interesting topic.

Part Two

angel

We closed our last portion with a verse concerning a very touchy topic, angels who did not keep their authority. From reading Jude’s account, we can see that this is talking about a circumstance that happened after Egypt when Adonai brought the children of Israel out. The topic has something to do with positions of authority. Let’s look at something that fits perfectly with what is going on.

Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s Tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.

–Numbers 16:8-10, KJV

This fits well when we see the angels (angelos) as men. If you read the whole chapter of II Peter, you will see that Adonai is talking about the wicked men in Noah’s day, the wicked men of Sodom and Gomorrah, and also these men who followed Korah. They did not keep their positions of authority because they wanted to usurp the priesthood! Let’s look at this deeper and see exactly what this casting down to hell is about.

Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.

–Numbers 16:28-29, KJV

As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth may swallow us up!” Fire also came forth from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.

–Numbers 6:31-35, NASB

When we place all of this information together from Jude and II Peter and the timeline of Moses and Korah, we see even further that the whole topic is unified. Look at what else Jude has to say about this:

In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams, these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

–Jude 1:8-10, KJV

These men of Korah rejected Adonai’s mighty prophet Moses’s authority, and the earth swallowed them up. Hell is a word that has multiple meanings, and in this particular case, it means Tartarus from the Greek word Tartaroo, which is used only once in the Newer Testament in (II Peter 2:4). This is not referring to a place of flaming fire, and you cannot chain celestial beings there. They walk through things. They disappear. They fly. I strongly believe this is the men who rose up against Aaron and Moses.

“David Chilton makes the same point, showing that in the Older Testament the word mal’ak, often translated “angel,” is used for human prophets in II Chronicles 36:15-16; Haggai 1:13; and Malachi 3:1. The “angels of the seven churches” in Revelation are surely human leaders since it makes no sense to write a letter to a spirit angel. Spirit angels are members of God’s heavenly Council, and so are human prophets (and in the New Covenant, all believers). Thus, the term “angel” sometimes refers to a human prophet or messenger, and not always to spirit angels. [See David Chilton, The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Ft. Worth: Dominion Press, 1987), pp. 81-83.”

This should clarify and open your eyes to more understanding. I will use the next verse to elaborate more on this issue. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8 NASB). This word “angel” is also a word for a prophet or a messenger of Adonai. Remember, John the Baptist was Adonai’s chosen messenger, but according to this verse, others could have preached another gospel. Other angels? No, other men. Can you imagine an angel standing in all its glory, able to soar and fly, appear and disappear, said to do all Adonai’s bidding, teaching a contrary gospel? Never!

“His created ones, who do His commands and obey Him. “Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!” (Psalm 103:20, NASB). He also has angels who He sends to wreak havoc and destroy, but one thing is certain, He controls them. “He sent upon them His burning anger, Fury and indignation and trouble, A band of destroying angels” (Psalm 78:49, NASB). He controls all of them, and as scripture explains clearly, they are His servants. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14, NASB).

Below is a quote from “Yahweh’s Restoration” titled “The Sons of Elohim:”

“The theory that angels mated with mortal women later crept into the Septuagint version. Of the three oldest manuscripts of the Septuagint, only the Codex Alexandrinus of the fifth century offers the word “angels” in Genesis 6:2 instead of “sons of Elohim.” Not one of the Hebrew manuscripts, however, has the word “angels” in Genesis 6:2. Instead, all Hebrew manuscripts read “sons of Elohim.’ [2]

Also, I would like to quote from the book of Jasher, which is referred to in Joshua 10:13 and II Samuel 1:18. Just as there were multiple copies of the book of Enoch, there were several copies of the book of Jasher as well. One published in London in 1751 and again in Bristol in 1829, these two were considered imitations. Below in italics is part of the introduction to the book.

“During this same time, a legitimate book of Jasher was translated into English in England. Because of the unfavorable excitement caused by the bogus books of Jasher, the translator was reluctant to publish his edition. He chose to remain anonymous, and in 1840 he sold his translation of the book of Jasher to a Jewish newspaper editor and prominent New York publisher named Mordecai Manuel Noah.”

And this is the source I am quoting from. We will start at Jasher 4 verses 16, 17, and part of 18.

“And all the sons of men departed from the ways of the Lord in those days as they multiplied upon the face of the earth with sons and daughters, and they taught one another their evil practices and they continued sinning against the Lord. And every man made himself a god, and they robbed and plundered every man his neighbor as well as his relative, and they corrupted the earth, and the earth was filled with violence. And their Judges and Rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice…”

This type of wickedness is currently something we see happening in the middle-east by extremists and sadly, all over the world due to sexual lust. I must continue to voice that I believe angelic beings were created perfect and were never put out of heaven. Many scriptures seem to imply that the angels are perfect and created for Adonai.

Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!

Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all stars of light!

Praise Him, highest heavens,
And the waters that are above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For He commanded and they were created.

He has also established them forever and ever;
He has made a decree which will not pass away.

–Psalm 148:2-6, NASB

Adonai just spoke in Psalms that He created the angels for Him and that He established them forever! He informs us that there is great joy in heaven over one sinner repenting. Having said that, we must realize by this point that it is clearly possible that Satan is not an angel. Also, Lucifer is a Latin word as we have already discussed in prior chapters.

I believe these angels Adonai created are perfect, immortal, and used by Adonai. The dragon many say is Satan is described in Revelations.

Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

–Revelations 12:3-4, NASB

Many say Satan is the dragon and the stars are fallen, angels. However, does Satan have seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on his head? No. These are kingdoms and rulers of these kingdoms. It is kings who wear crowns, not angels. It describes the worldly kings of the earth. Yeshua told the people, “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear my words? “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father” (John 8:43-44, NASB). Was their father literally the devil? These people were not angels nor were they fallen deities, they were men who could not hear the Word of Adonai. Their father wasn’t literally Satan. They had earthly fathers. Their fathers were the religious leaders who had brainwashed them.

“Among the Pharisees were two schools of thought, based on the teachings of two rabbis, Shammai and Hillel. Shammai called for a strict, unbending interpretation of the Law on almost every issue, but Hillel taught a looser, more liberal application. Followers of Shammai fostered a hatred for anything Roman, including taxation—Jews who served as tax collectors were persona non grata. The Shammaites wanted to outlaw all communication and commerce between Jews and Gentiles. The Hillelites took a more gracious approach and opposed such extreme exclusiveness. Eventually, the two schools within Pharisaism grew so hostile to each other that they refused to worship together.” [3]

The strict school of Shammai is where we get the term “synagogue of satan.” Those who sat under him were told their father was the devil (an adversary). They did not want Yeshua to be King. They were in control, and they loved the power, wealth, and control of the people (Anti-Christ). When they came to arrest Yeshua and Peter drew his sword, Yeshua told him this: “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:23, NASB). Twelve legion is more than 36,000 angels. He doesn’t seem concerned about any fallen ones or about these men who have come to arrest him.

Yeshua called men who were religious evil serpents: “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (Matthew 23:33, NIV). But we know these men were not literally snakes. This Babylonian system is one that will be hurled down at the end of days. This system that has destroyed and taken from the poor, the widows and the orphans, and has piled up for itself kingdoms on earth with money it has stolen from the needy, will one day be judged.

Have you ever noticed that the beast in Revelation thirteen also has seven heads? Perhaps there is even more to these scriptures. Did you know the constellation Draco is the Greek word for dragon and is referred to as the serpent, dragon, and devil? It really does have a tail, and it sweeps the stars and causes meteor showers.

Now, let’s revisit Revelations 12:1-5:

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman (Virgo/Rachel/ Israel) clothed with the sun (Father), with the moon (Celestial calendar/Feast/His seasons) under her feet and a crown of twelve stars (Twelve Tribes,) on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon (Constellation Draco/ adversary/ Babylonian System) with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days (3.5 years or 1^st half of tribulation).

“Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun (Rachel) and the moon (Jacob) and eleven stars (Eleven brothers plus Joseph, all twelve tribes) were bowing down to me” (Genesis 37:9, NASB).

Do you still believe this dragon is a red horned angel with a pitchfork? This woman is Israel. There is much more. What is happening in the heavens is being played out on the earth. “On earth as it is in Heaven” might have a deeper meaning than we thought. We look to the moon for His calendar and Festivals.

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; it rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

–Psalm 19:1-5, NASB

This knowledge spoken of is increasing not just in the world but among Adonai’s people. Adonai has always used His skies for times, seasons, and yes, prophecy. Everything is not black and white yet. As we get closer to His return, I believe the gray areas will decrease as knowledge increases. I pray that the revelation in this chapter is a start at digging into Adonai’s Word with new ears to hear even more of what the Spirit has to say!

There will be more evidence and scripture reference concerning this topic in Doctrines of Demons Part 3. New release coming soon.

[1][1] [J. Marcellus Kik, An Eschatology of Victory (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 1971), p. 147f.]

[2] https://yrm.org/the-sons-of-elohim/

[3] Bible Answers for Almost all Your Questions by Elmer Towns

Wholly Illuminated

May 4, 2018July 31, 2018 / Tekoa / 7 Comments

This week while scrolling through social media I read a meme (below) that described my week or parts of my whole existence.

survive

The meme along with the raw words written by a friend pierced me. Her vulnerability at that moment ministered to me. It went to a place in my soul that was in need of a bandage. It helped me cry. I believe there is rainwater from heaven in every droplet of our tears. Feelings are meant to be felt.

I had no idea when I started this blog last week that I would add a portion exposing my vulnerability, but here I am.

I am a person that’s dealt with trauma in my lifetime. None of us are getting out alive.

When my husband and I go for short walks at night, he knows that if a dog barks I am going to jump two feet. A loud horn blares, I squeeze his hand until my nails leave indentions. Earlier in the day, he walks behind me unannounced in the bathroom, and I scream bloody murder, my arms flaring and my heart pounding. Later, he wants to look at a property for sale in the country, secluded– and my first thought is a book written by Truman Capote called “In Cold Blood.” It would be funny if it weren’t true. Perhaps this is what helps me write fiction? I’ve lived a thousand lives under the sun…He briefly touches on the topic of my fears, and I blurt out,

“I am fearful of everything and nothing!”

“What?”

“I’m scared of people hurting me, dogs, going for walks, evil men, living in the middle of nowhere—living in the city. I’m petrified of hospitals, doctors, and the whole time we lived with my father I never once went on a walk with you for fear of a dog, a bobcat, a snake, or some ferocious animal attacking me.”

He’s listening, and I am wondering what he is thinking, but I continue talking this through.

“At the age of 9 or 10, my brother had a paper route. If he missed a couple of houses, my father would toss me in the back of the truck. He would pull in the drive, and I’d place the paper on the porch and hop back in the bed. One particular house stands out. Before I could reach the porch, a large German shepherd lept over the fence and landed on top of me gnashing his teeth. Luckily my dad got it off of me. I went on to babysit for our neighbor at 13, who had the most massive, loudest, German shepherd on the block. The fear started after a dream of hungry wolves surrounding me. I was 30, and they were there.

“I’m scared of everything and nothing, I say again.”

“I’m not scared of sickness, death, demons, or losing all my material possessions and becoming homeless.”

He looks confused.

“Honey, “Do you know how crazy that sounded? Do you even understand what you just said? You just named things most people in the world are scared to death of. Even death.”

“Maybe it’s because I have faced those things, I think to myself?”

Some of us have a point on a map, a calendar, a datebook locked in our brain and we can tell you the exact moment of the car wreck, the diagnosis, or our child that died before it ever learned to talk or even before it exited the womb. There is a moment in time where we look back at the shattered glass, the addiction, the iron bars, the chemo, the foreclosure, the divorce papers, the bruises, the rape, the welfare department, the mental break down, or the charade of pretending to be really put together when we were one button shy of EXPLODING!

Yes, we all have our moments, and some of us have another type of trauma. In World War II with gunfire and bullets whipping around his head, my uncle wading in freezing waters, stopped and threw his hands in the air and cried, “The war is over!” Of course, it wasn’t. He just had wishful thinking. He had seen too many bodies stacked in piles– stripped of all dignity— He had seen and smelled enough death.

But, some of us don’t have one memory or one vivid scar—it’s not one childhood adventure filled with nightmares, but more of a series of unfortunate events—sometimes it is an everyday battle just to get through.

Sometimes we wonder how we can take another step—breathe– trust again–go back out into the world and try and be a candle burning for someone else. We too cry and throw our arms to heaven exclaiming “The war is over!” I’m exhausted Abba. Take the pain, sorrow, shame, guilt, confusion, debt, unbelief, sickness, and trauma and take my weapons of fear. Take the bars I have built to protect me. Take the suffering.

pottery job

Job took broken pottery, and he scraped his sores. He came to a place where he was okay with death. Matter a fact; he welcomed death. He said the thing he feared the most had come upon him, but what was that thing?

He starts the beginning of chapter three cursing the day of his birth. He wishes that he had never been born because his pain is so deep. He explains how those in the grave are at rest. Job 3:16-17.

One morning, in the midst of some of the worst pain I have ever felt, I awoke to this pain in terror that I was going to have to get through another day of suffering. I prayed to die. I quoted Job verbatim. Then I heard an echo, “Do you not value the life I’ve given you? Do you not hope for better days?”

Job goes on to explain his fear.

“Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come,” Job 3:20-21.

And that is what he feared. A death that does not come. He feared he wasn’t going to get to escape such misery. He had lost children, cattle, oxen, servants and he was suffering so severely. He wasn’t a man steeped in fear. He was a righteous man who wanted to go rest. I remember relating to such words. “Just take me Abba! I’m finished here. What good am I to anyone laying here suffering? I have nothing left here to do!” But I was much mistaken. I hadn’t even tasted what He had in store for me.

What does it look like when we use all our experiences and healing to help another heal? What does it look like when we embody Him and are a light? A candle. A burning flame that can’t be hidden because His light outshines all the darkness we’ve been through?

lightttttttt

What if The Father of Glory wanted to come spend an evening with you? What would that look like? What did Shavuot and the tongues of fire sound like?

We often imagine what it would have been like to walk with Yeshua/ Jesus. To intently listen to Him tell parables, but what about as we go through our repetitious life? A typical workday or weekend. What would that look like to meet the risen Savior face to face? I’m talking about something fragrant. Something memorable. Something that’s hard to even articulate.

You may have gathered from my previous blog, that I don’t like to be at the hospital without my husband. Our first night back at the hospital he slept on a couch next to me. By the second evening, between his back and his hip, he was ready to go home and get some much-needed rest. Before he left, he came over and said a simple prayer asking The Father to watch over me and protect me while we were apart. He also prayed for the Father to send compassionate people to care for me. What a very precious husband I have.

After he left, I was exhausted and a tad anxious, but I was prepared to try and rest until he returned. If you’ve ever spent much time in a hospital you know it’s difficult to get any rest with pain, nurses coming in and out, beeping IV’s, as well as bathroom help and so forth. On my second return to this hospital, I had some of the best nurses I’ve ever come in contact with. However, there was one that seemed explicitly handcrafted for me. I’ll call her Daffodil.

dafodils

I’m fast asleep, and around 8 pm I hear my door open. I turn, sleepy-eyed and look up at this woman who has just entered my room. She is tall– with a smile that made her eyes twinkle like stars in the night. She did not walk but seemed to sashay around the room in ballet slippers softly checking this and that.

“I’m sorry Mrs. Manning; I’ll make a note that you’re an early sleeper so that I won’t disturb your rest.”

“Oh, I’m not an early sleeper. In fact, I’m a night owl. I was dozing from the medicine.”

We began to talk, and before we knew it, we were knee deep in cooking shows. The Great British Bake-off! Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood were our first topic.

“Did you know that Mary contracted polio at the tender age of 13 and had a weaker arm due to it?

“No, I did not know that.”

“And did you know Paul would help her roll out her dough and prepare items?”

“Really,” I said, trying to sit up more.

“I think Paul looks like the guy from American Idol.”

“Oh, Simon!” Yes! Ha-ha!”

She laughed heartily, and then we were off to our next cooking adventure. Daffodil expressed her aspirations to create fabulous food. Her stories of family and grandparents who loved to bake were sprinkled throughout. I discussed my mom’s homemade carrot cake, and she described a delicate Italian cream cake made by her grandmother. The conversation was light but personal. We left baking and then traveled to World War II episodes on Netflix. Soon, we were reliving Foyle’s War, Land Girls, and Call the Midwives. Before I knew it, we were sailing on to authors and our favorite all time books.

When Daffodil smiled, her light lit up the room. She exclaimed, “I love books! I love the smell of books!” I responded with an unquestionable, “YES!” Like fresh crayons in kindergarten! We giggled like school girls. Her phone buzzed, and she had to scurry off to another room. Suddenly, I felt revived. She was one of my people, and I was going to be blessed with her light for the next three days.

We discovered we lived very close to one another. Right down the road from Barnes and Noble bookstore—a landmark. I mentioned my new grandson.

“Oh, I bet you just want to eat him up!”

She began to tell me about her nephew who had high jacked her heart.

“Even if I have worked all night, need to clean, do laundry and catch up on things, one call from him “Aunt Daffodil can we go out?” and I am like “Baby, yes, we can!”

Suddenly, we were laughing, and I had to hold my side that was still very sore to release the joy I felt. She caused me to forget my pain—my fear, and that my husband wasn’t coming back until morning.

Since the surgery, I have met two stoma nurses, both kind and good at what they do. Their profession is to try and prepare people to change a colostomy bag and empty it. For me, it was overwhelming and quite frightening to take in. It was humbling. You notice things and smells and the level of care. Since I had been back in the hospital with my wound, no one had helped me one on one yet, but Daffodil did. She took me in the bathroom and equipped me with gloves, tips for spraying, cleaning, and deodorizing the room, and she did it with the most compassion I’ve ever felt from any human. I wasn’t embarrassed, humiliated, or even scared to allow her to help me, help myself. This woman snuck into my room over and over again. She learned I was a writer of fiction and Torah teachings and wanted to know how to order my books.

She never told me about her religious beliefs. She never preached to me. She never quoted scriptures. No politics. No pushing or pulling, but her words held LIFE. Her tongue FRUIT.

tekoa 8

Daffodil walked into my room like a candlelit burning brightly–like a flower pouring out fragrance. She bowed lowly. My husband witnessed her in her other patient’s chambers as he walked down the hall and he said: “She is that bright no matter where she goes.” That BRIGHT. Like a candle on a lampstand. Oh, Saints, we can be those candles! We can be the hope of glory!”

When we are crucified with Messiah Yeshua/ Jesus, we no longer live, but He lives in us.

The Zohar states, “When a Jew utters one word of Torah, the light [in his soul] is kindled…and he sways to and fro like the flame of a candle.”

CCR, Credence Clearwater Revival, has a song called “Long as I can see the light.” John Fogerty bellows for us to put a candle in the window.

“If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.” Luke 11:36.

What does Yeshua tell us before this? “No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.”

Thank you, Daffodil for being a light to me and thank you Abba for hearing my husband’s prayer and bringing light into my room.

We can heal from all the trauma by shining our lights to those in need. By listening. By praying. By giving sound counsel. By measuring our words. Even at our darkest moments in our deepest misery, we have LIGHT.

The picture of my husband below seemed to shine with extra light, and I wanted to personally thank him for being a bright light in my life for seven years now. Blessings friends. SHINE!

Why do you Speak to Him? (Doctrines of Demons #1)

October 19, 2017August 4, 2018 / Tekoa / 2 Comments

Chapter 9

I remember the power that rang through the voice that was speaking to me and commanding Satan to turn me loose. The large hand was placed on my forehead, and the prayer continued with more screaming at the enemy. “Satan wants to take you out! He wants to literally destroy you, but he must bow!”

Sadly, I was suddenly feeling a little prideful that Satan wanted to obliterate me. Was I so anointed that he was on a mission to take me out? No, I was just your ordinary follower of Jesus/Yeshua trying to live a holy (set apart) life. I prayed. I read His Word, and I tried to live a life worthy of His commandments. This is hard enough to do in this day and time. But this Shepherd was telling my enemy to bow. I wondered why I had never read of any great men of the Father in the Bible praying such a prayer. Did they? I began to study this and wore my small concordance out looking up every verse on the “father of lies.” Although I studied every scripture concerning him, in no place did I find that type of prayer. I hear so many today praying to Satan in the assembly. I know that I have mentioned this in an earlier chapter, but the need for truth on this matter, especially in the charismatic church today is much needed.
I have heard many pray prayers that contain dialogue like this, “We bind you Satan, you must bow, and you cannot cross this bloodline. Satan you are a liar and the father of lies. Satan you are under my feet.” Is he? If he is, why does Paul warn that he roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour? Again, If You bind him, how long is he bound? What is he doing while you yell at him?

So back to the man praying over me, he continued with a great swelling boast: “I take authority over the powers of the airways, and I command you to take your filthy hands off of my sister…” Again, this didn’t sit well with me. If we had power over the airways, we could stop the missiles from hitting Israel. We could end wars. Well, you get the picture.

I was raised in a church with this particular teaching, but I have to tell you, I just don’t agree with it, and I don’t find it biblical. Now once again I want to show you in the word of God, precept upon precept, and line upon line. When we study the Bible both the Older and Newer portions, we have a complete picture of how the Godliest men and women fought their battles and nowhere did they converse with or curse Satan during those times. Job didn’t. King David didn’t. Moses didn’t, and neither did the mighty men and women of Jesus/Yeshua’s day.

After Paul and Silas are thrown in prison and beaten unmercifully, they didn’t curse Satan. They praised Adonai by lifting their voices and singing praises. Let’s read that account: “A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!” Acts 16:22-26 NLT.

No yells or threats made to Satan, but they do go on to lead the jailer to salvation.

Once when Paul was speaking to the church in Thessalonica he had this to say, “We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us” (1 Thessalonians 2:18 NLT). Let the scripture speak for itself. There is no record of him talking to Satan; he just says he was delayed. We also have to remember Satan means adversary or enemy.

Peter, chapter two, discusses false teachers and prophets that would be among us. Then the passage describes some of their characteristics: … “Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed, they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed” (2nd Peter 2:2-3 NLT).

Peter went on to explain just how corrupt these men are. “But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;” (2nd Peter 2:10-12 NLT).

Jude had this to say: “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the Archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, the Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core” (Jude 1:8-11 KJV).

Jude uses three different people in the Bible to describe them. Cain who murdered his brother over the jealousy of Abel’s righteousness. Next, he uses Balaam who would have cursed Israel for his greed if G-d had not stopped him and Korah who rose up against Moses and Aaron and tried to exalt himself in the camp. However, instead, the earth opened her mouth and swallowed him.
Now if angels don’t speak evil to Satan but say, “The Lord rebuke you.” Should we not tread where we are ignorant? And why should so much time be spent talking to the enemy? Wouldn’t it be better to cast out the demon and let the person who comes for deliverance get into G-d’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit? What power is there in repeating repetitious prayers to the enemy? None. According to Peter, Jude, and many others, we don’t have any business doing that anyway. We just learned that men who do this are filthy dreamers–brute beast even. They are corrupt, filled with pride, arrogance, and ignorance.

Now in the Older Testament (Tanakh), there is a story about Daniel and his prayers getting through. Daniel says a prayer during a twenty-one day fast, and an angel appears to him. Let’s look at that closely.

“Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days, the spirit prince[c] of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels,[d] came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.[e] Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come” (Daniel 10:12-14 NLT).

Now Daniel didn’t know there was a war in heaven for his words. Daniel wasn’t commanding the Prince of Persia to bow. HaShem sent Michael the archangel to help this angel battle a General and ruler over Persia. The rulers at that time were fierce! Remember they threw Daniel into a den full of hungry lions. Think about world leaders for a bit and remove the focus from how it was explained to you by your pastor or priest.

Daniel pours his heart and soul out to God in chapter nine and ten. He humbles himself through prayer and repents for his nation and the people. He knew God had made a specific link between these seventy years in captivity and the number of Sabbaths they had missed. Just like the famous verse we quote so often in times of need, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
However, when we read verse ten, we understand the secret Daniel knew about this Prince of Persia.

(Jeremiah 29:10) “This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.”

Daniel knew that the time was getting close to being fulfilled. However, the Prince of Persia knew that as well. Earlier, in Daniel chapter five, we read about a feast put on by Belshazzar for thousands. Who was Belshazzar? He was a sixth century BC Prince of Persia.

“Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them” (Daniel 5:1-2. ASV).
He must have had a reason for drinking from those vessels at this time. And I am betting that he thought the seventy-year prophecy had passed and that he had been triumphant over Israel’s God. Then the finger of Yahweh wrote upon the wall of his palace, Belshazzar died, and Babylon was taken over by the Persians. You can yell at Satan and Princes over territories, but ultimately God is in control and what moves God’s heart is prayer, fasting, and repentance like Daniel did.

I honor the ministers who are gifted and take on the foulest demons from hell, but at the same time, I think a lot of this doctrine needs light. Conversing with Satan is not one of the ingredients for victory. Getting puffed up and shouting at a being G-d controls, created even, and uses for His purposes is not wise.
How do these ministers think that they have a right to make Satan bow when God has sent him? The pride of it all is baffling to me. Paul had this to say about the wicked in the church who wouldn’t repent, “Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns” (1 Corinthians 5:5 NLT). Do you knock on Satan’s door and say, “Hey buddy, I got a live one for ya!” No, we have got to start thinking clearer about verses.
Satan shows up in the Newer Testament when the Spirit leads Yeshua into the wilderness to be tempted by him. Ironic? I think not. Hopefully, you are getting a better understanding of your adversary. Praying prayers where men and women of God shout at Satan is not mentioned in the Bible. Yeshua gave us an example of how to pray. He said to pray after this manner,

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matthew 6:5-8 KJV).

Yeshua said to pray to be delivered from evil and for us not to be led into temptation.

In the Newer Testament, we hear about Satan or the Devil, our adversary, but not once do we hear anyone conversing or shouting at him. Even when Yeshua was warning Peter about Satan, he didn’t say anything but the fact that Satan desired to have him. Let’s read to get more understanding.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32 NLT).

Notice Satan had to ask Jesus/Yeshua if he could get permission to sift Peter. Also, we notice by reading this that Jesus doesn’t say anywhere that He told Satan to flee or bow, but that He instead was praying for Simon Peter’s faith to be strengthened. He was praying for him to pass the test. Shouldn’t we follow the examples set before us in the scriptures? Talking to Satan is a waste of time and energy. Just think you could be praising the King of Kings! The book of James says this, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 KJV).

How did the Yeshua converse with the devil when He was tempted in the wilderness? Did He curse him and tell him to bow? Did he tell him that one day he would be shut up in a pit and laugh at him? Again, no. He said, “It is written…” (Matt 4:4 KJV). Again, he said, “It is written….” (Matt 4:7 KJV). “Get thee hence, Satan: For it is written….” (Matt 4:10 KJV). In Luke, He says, “It is written…”, “It is said…”, “Get thee behind me Satan: for it is written” (Luke 4:4, 12, 8 KJV).
Yeshua fought his wilderness temptation with the Word. The enemy will come to tempt us all, and the Holy Spirit will help us overcome, but it seems we do that by using the word of Adonai.

“…for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11 KJV).

This is the scripture God gives us to follow. He said we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony. If we keep talking to Satan and incorporating him into our day when things don’t go right, aren’t we really giving him attention and more credit than he deserves?

In the next chapter, we will look at how Satan has evolved over time and through literature.

demon book cover