#RELIGION: Ever wondered why Humans were created by GOD? Read This...
The War in Heaven & the Reason God Created Us
By Josh Smith
Have you ever wondered why God created us? Some Christians may think God was lonely and wanted to create something He could love and have a relationship with. However, before the creation of man, God already had created countless loyal angels and other celestial beings. If He already has relationships with them, why would God want to create humans? Besides, humans were created lower than the angels. Why would God spend his time guiding and teaching them? Why would He even think of giving up His life for them?
Part I: The Celestial Division
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? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars [the lower celestial ranks] sang together and all the sons of God [the higher celestial ranks] shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7, NASB)
Before God created this physical universe, He created celestial beings. God didn’t just create a handful of them. He created countless numbers of them, perhaps even more than the number of humans currently present on this Earth. The lower ranks are often figuratively referred to as stars, while the highest ranking celestial beings are referred to as sons, who on occasion present themselves before God’s throne.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. (Job 1:6, NASB)
It seems also that Satan still has access before the presence of God. This is also noted in the book of Zechariah
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. (Zechariah 3:1, NASB)
This may confuse some Christians who think that Satan is in hell or that he was thrown out of heaven. On the contrary, Satan is still in heaven and does stand before God, where he persistently accuses God’s human children both day and night (Revelation 12:10). It would be difficult to say that Satan has no authority in heaven when the scriptures say that he's up there on occasion, even both day and night.
Just as God gave mankind the power to exercise choice, God had given this same gift to the celestial ranks, including Satan. Cherubim (two-winged celestial beings) are better in every way than humans. Also known as angels – which means “messengers” - they are bigger than humans, they are more powerful than humans and they have an exceedingly great intelligence, beyond anything a normal human being could physically possess. Therefore, the smartest or strongest man on earth would be no match against this spiritual race.
Before Satan chose to turn against God, He was known as the supreme guardian of God.
You were the anointed cherub who covers [i.e. guards], and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:14)
Although God had decided to bless His celestial creations with the gift to make free choices, it seems that some of these creations will choose to envy Him or fight against Him. It would seem that Satan was made to guard God’s works and protect His loyal celestial ranks from any of those who had, by their own exercise of choice, determined to oppose God.
Eventually, Satan took more notice of his own beauty and envied the power His creator possessed.
Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. (Ezekiel 28:17)
But you said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. (Isaiah 14: 13-14)
Having once fought to guard God, Satan grew envious of Him and stood defiantly against God.
By the abundance of your trade you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned. (Ezekiel 28:16)
And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. (Revelation 12:4)
One-third of the angelic ranks were persuaded by the powerful archangel Satan to secede and rebel against their creator. This is evident in scripture when they are seen descending to the earth alongside Satan in order to persecute God's children midway into the tribulation in Revelation 12. It can be understood then that at least one-third of the angelic ranks remained voraciously loyal to God. As for the remaining third, we can only postulate that they may have not yet decided where to place their loyalty.
Being the wisest and strongest of all of God’s celestial creations, Satan became the leader of the one-third of rebelling angels. Although their base camp is in heaven, Satan assigns to them various missions or positions of authority on the earth. In the end, however, Jesus has a plan to subdue and defeat Satan and his celestial armies.
Part Two: The Period of Restoration
Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10, Amplified)
God’s ultimate will is to have all things subjected to Jesus. His grand master plan is for Jesus to rule over everything, both in heaven and on earth. However, not everything in heaven and earth are under Jesus’ rule or authority.
For in subjecting all things to Him, He left nothing that is not subject to Him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to Him. (Hebrews 2:8, NASB)
Not all things are subjected to Jesus, but there will come a point in time when all things will begin to fall under the rule of Jesus. Paul calls this moment in time the “period of restoration of all things.”
Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. (Acts 3:19-21, NASB)
Heaven must receive Him until this period begins. Jesus must remain in heaven until His enemies are made a footstool at His feet.
The Lord [God the Father] says to my Lord [God the Son, Jesus]: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." (Psalm 110:1, NASB)
Thus says the Lord, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool…” ( Isaiah 66:1, NASB)
If the earth is God’s footstool, and God tells Jesus to remain in heaven until His enemies are made a footstool at His feet, this means that Jesus must remain in heaven until Satan and his celestial army are cast out of heaven and thrown down to the earth. This may be why at least two-thirds of the Godhead remain in heaven at all times, because Satan and his hostile armies still hold a place up there. During Jesus ministry on the earth, the Holy Spirit had to remain in heaven.
"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7, NASB)
Now that the Holy Spirit is here on the earth, Jesus must remain in heaven until Satan and his army are thrown out of heaven. In order for Jesus to rule over everything, He is going to have to defeat His enemies, that is, the spiritual forces of wickedness that are positioned in heaven.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NASB)
Jesus will not leave heaven before this task is completed. He will not leave heaven or return to the earth until Satan is permanently cast out of heaven. This plan to cast Satan out of heaven has everything to do with the reason God created humans.
Part Three: The Revealing of God's Sons
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13, KJV)
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13, KJV)
Translation:
But as many as received him, to them gave He gave power to become the sons of GOD -
For those that received him while he was on earth in Human form in truth, loyalty and commitment to His ways and ideals, to them he gave the power to become Sons of GOD (i.e to them will be given the grace to stand before and in the presence of GOD and seek audience with HIM "Higher Celestial Bodies")
Even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of Blood, nor of the will of the Flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD-
Same grace to be sons of GOD will be measured to those who believe in His name after resurrection until this present day which were born not of Blood oath or sacrifice, nor out of lust or adultery, nor out of the selfish will of Man to his own personal gain but of only the Will of GOD Almighty who is in Heaven.
God gave mankind the power to exercise choice. The moment His children choose to give their loyalty and allegiance to Jesus, they receive the right to become sons of God. They receive the right to attain this high rank by serving their King Jesus and making choices that form their character into His likeness. It is a position that was given to high ranking angels, and it is a position that God’s loyal children can also try their best to achieve. God wants all of His children to attain this high rank. Jesus died in part to help all of His children mature into sons.
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5, NASB)
When God’s children are trustworthy and loyal enough to become sons, they are provided a very significant part in fulfilling God’s grand master plan to bring all things under the control of Jesus.
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:19-21, NASB)
There will come a point in time when enough of God’s children mature into sons to fight and win the war in heaven. These fiercely loyal and high-ranking saints, when birthed in travail and tribulation, will tip the scales of war in heaven and be the reason Satan and his armies are permanently cast down to the earth.
A Portrait of Heaven
Part Four: The War in Heaven
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. (Revelation 12:1-2, NASB)
Halfway into the tribulation and halfway into the book of Revelation, a vision is mentioned of a woman in heaven who is in travail and is about to give birth. This woman represents spiritual Israel, or the collective spiritual Israel, that is, the children of God, or the elect and chosen of God. Although Israel is plural, it is personified as a single person, that is, as a woman.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for more numerous are the children of the desolate than of the one who has a husband." And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. (Galatians 4:22-29, NASB)
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "Through Isaac your descendants will be named." That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. (Romans 9:6-8, NASB)
Paul refers to Jerusalem as a mother from above, that is, a heavenly mother to whom the children of the promise belong. The children of promise are the children of God. They are the true descendants of Israel. They belong to the heavenly Jerusalem, that is, the eternal dwelling place of God.
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:15-17, NASB)
Israel is a spiritual race, and the woman in travail is this race. The imagery of the sun, moon, and stars also testify to this connection, as they are noticed in the Old Testament in reference to Israel and its twelve sub-divisions.
Now [Joseph] had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, "Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?" His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. (Genesis 37:9-11, NASB)
In this instance, the sun is Isaac, the moon is Isaac's wife, Rebekah, and the eleven stars are the eleven brothers of Joseph, who is the twelfth star. These twelve brothers, and the physical nations they bore, are a shadow and copy of the spiritual nations of Israel to which the children of the promise belong. The children of God who are noticed on the earth during the end times tribulation belong to the remnant of God's faithful children, that is, the 144,000 who were sealed in Revelation 7:1-8, or whatever if left of that 144,000 who hasn't been martyred.
Israel and whatever remnant of Israel that remains on the earth, while under great suffering or persecution, is about to give birth to a child midway into the tribulation. In the same way that this singular woman represents the plural and collective spiritual nation of Israel, this singular child represents a remnant or portion of God's children that proceed from Israel.
Many Christians mistakenly believe that this child is Jesus, however, Jesus is never birthed midway into the tribulation. If this child were Jesus, the woman would invariably have to be Mary, which it is not. Additionally, Jesus was birthed into this world 2,000 years ago and presently sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. Jesus will not be birthed again in Revelation 12 before the war in heaven. When this child is birthed by the woman, the child ascends to heaven, which would mean that the child was previously on the earth. However, Jesus is not on the earth.
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. (Revelation 12:3-4, NASB)
This dragon is identified as Satan later in Revelation 12:9. In this instance, while God's elect and faithful children who reside on the earth are in travail and praying that some of their own manifest into sons, Satan briefly descends to the earth with his "stars," that is, his celestial armies, in a last ditch effort to ensure that this travailing and suffering Israel does not bring forth sons.
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. (Revelation 12:5, NASB)
Through the persistent prayer and anguishing labor of the true spiritual Israel, a remnant of God's elect on the earth matures into sons midway into the tribulation. Because they kept God’s deeds until the end, they are appointed to rule all the nations with a rod of iron during Jesus’ millennial reign. This is their reward for their harsh labors.
“He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron…” (Revelation 2:26-27)
Again, too many Christians assume that this "male child" is Jesus. However, there is no spiritual birthing experience appointed for Jesus on the earth midway into the tribulation. Only two people are issued the reward of ruling the nations with the rod of Iron: Jesus and a remnant of God's faithful children who endure through or die during the tribulation. The sons that are birthed in Revelation 12:5 cannot be Jesus. They are those elect saints that will reign with Jesus when He returns to fight the war for the earth.
Midway into the tribulation, a remnant of God's faithful children on the earth are birthed into sons. This word "son" refers to a completeness in their similarity and likeness to Jesus, in that they are truly and completely in their makeup and character the image of their King. In their persecution and travail, they attain the same family characteristics as Jesus, being almost indistinguishable from Jesus in their faithfulness and loyalty to God. Jesus is the faithful witness, and they will also faithful witnesses. Their almost immediate ascension to heaven does not affirm that they will be physically snatched away in a rapture scenario. The word used for "rapture", that is, "caught up" is also used when Paul refers to his own ascension to heaven when he was stoned to death or near death in the city of Lystra.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago - whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows - such a man was caught up to the third heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2, NASB)
Paul, although unable to distinguish whether or not he had physically ascended to heaven, had certainly left his body unconscious and surrounded by his disciples outside the city of Lystra.
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. (Acts 14:19-20, NASB)
Accordingly, these children of God who mature into sons, who receive a rank and position of character and loyalty in almost perfect likeness to Jesus, need not to ascend before God and His throne while physically alive. It would be more practical to assume that, while God's children are under intense and life-threatening persecution on the earth at this time, and that the highest degree of loyalty to Jesus at this time is that His children do not love their lives, even in the face of death, the maturity of a remnant of God's children into sons occurs in tandem with their martyrdom.
Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. (Revelation 12:6, NASB)
The woman is now noticed on the earth. This spiritual Israel, or whatever remnant is left alive of the sealed 144,000, is still on the earth. These children of God who are alive and remain on the earth are protected for the last 3.5 years of the 7-year tribulation, while those children of God who had been martyred and matured into sons ascend before the throne. At this very moment, the war for heaven begins. These sons, the offspring or remnant of God's children who remain on the earth, will be the leading rank of humans in heaven. They will be instrumental in the change and balance of power that will be on God's side in heaven.
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. (Revelation 12:7-8, NASB)
For the first time in history, halfway into the tribulation, Michael and his angels or “messengers” wage a war against Satan and his armies. And for the first time in history, Satan and his armies are permanently cast out of heaven because they were not strong enough. They were strong enough before, but now with God’s loyal human sons in the mix, they will lose.
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. (Revelation 12:9, NASB)
Finally, the period of the restoration of all things has begun. Finally, all things can be subjected to Jesus. Finally, Jesus can liberate creation from corruption and begin to reign over all things.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:10, NASB)
And Jesus won this war by using us. He won this war because He gave up His life in order to provide to all of His human children the ability to follow Him to the grave, remain fiercely loyal to Him and receive a place near to Him for eternity. He won because He created a people who would choose to care enough about His will that they would receive the authority to mature into sons and readily fight the war in heaven. He prepared them for this important task. This is the ultimate reason we were created.
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” (Revelation 12:11, NASB)
God’s sons were the “angels” fighting alongside Michael. Two-winged cherubim cannot die, therefore they will never be faced with death. Jesus did not explicitly lay down his life for two-winged cherubim either, so they do not need to be redeemed by Jesus' work on the cross, nor will they need to hold fast to the testimony of Jesus' ministry on the earth. Those who overcame Satan were God’s human children who were so courageously loyal to their King Jesus that they were willing to die for Him during the great tribulation. And because they endured, overcame, and lost their lives for His sake, they matured into sons and were able to win the war in heaven. They took part in bringing to completion a plan that was older than creation itself. Finally, Jesus can begin to reign.
And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign." (Revelation 11:16-17, NASB)
"For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." (Revelation 12:12, NASB)
God created humans to be the deciding factor in bringing to an end a conflict which has waged for aeons in the angelic ranks. God created us for that purpose and that purpose only. He didn't created us because He was lonely. He didn't create us so that He could rest us on a silk cushion, feed us turkish delights, and shower us with adoration and affection. We were created specifically and precisely for a purpose. We were not created for some kind of nebulous love fest. We are not the center of His attention. We are His servants and because we were created to serve Him, He should be the center of our attention.
The fact of our creation by God and our spiritually belonging to Him is made evident by our identity as children of God, to which the Holy Spirit testifies. When we truly hear the good news concerning our King Jesus, the Holy Spirit will readily convict us to respond with the appropriate courage and desire necessary for us to renounce our allegiance to this perverse and dying world and faithfully render our lives to Him. However, the phrase "child of God" does not denote our eternal position before Him on the New Earth. The position and rank we receive for the New Earth is made manifest by our submission and service to Him, both of which are essential attributes of God's nature; attributes that Jesus perfectly exemplified during His ministry on this earth nearly 2,000 years ago. The Holy Spirit serves the Son and the Father, and the Son, that is, Jesus, serves the Father. They all serve without reservation and their service and loyalty to one another is 100% to the death. They set an example to us, especially through Jesus, that we might all attain to that 100% during the span or our own time and ministry on this earth. Service and loyalty are essential and intrinsic attributes of the Godhead, and they are attributes engrained in the nature of God's sheep, who know his voice and won't follow another.
When the sons are prayed and birthed into existence by the travail and persecution of the church, they are caught away by death too because their service and loyalty to God is 100% to the death.
Do you want to know why you were created? You were created to be the reason Satan is thrown out of heaven. You were created to serve your King as a soldier. You were created to end the détente once and for all. Just remember that God’s children can’t mature into sons if they don’t know and abide in their King Jesus. So go out their, do your best, give it your all, preach the truth to all men, tell God’s children about their King, and gather them together to serve Him. You can do it!
Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Timothy 2:3-4, NASB)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20, NASB)
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrew 12:1-3, NASB)
SOURCE
By Josh Smith
Have you ever wondered why God created us? Some Christians may think God was lonely and wanted to create something He could love and have a relationship with. However, before the creation of man, God already had created countless loyal angels and other celestial beings. If He already has relationships with them, why would God want to create humans? Besides, humans were created lower than the angels. Why would God spend his time guiding and teaching them? Why would He even think of giving up His life for them?
Part I: The Celestial Division
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? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars [the lower celestial ranks] sang together and all the sons of God [the higher celestial ranks] shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7, NASB)
Before God created this physical universe, He created celestial beings. God didn’t just create a handful of them. He created countless numbers of them, perhaps even more than the number of humans currently present on this Earth. The lower ranks are often figuratively referred to as stars, while the highest ranking celestial beings are referred to as sons, who on occasion present themselves before God’s throne.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. (Job 1:6, NASB)
It seems also that Satan still has access before the presence of God. This is also noted in the book of Zechariah
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. (Zechariah 3:1, NASB)
This may confuse some Christians who think that Satan is in hell or that he was thrown out of heaven. On the contrary, Satan is still in heaven and does stand before God, where he persistently accuses God’s human children both day and night (Revelation 12:10). It would be difficult to say that Satan has no authority in heaven when the scriptures say that he's up there on occasion, even both day and night.
Just as God gave mankind the power to exercise choice, God had given this same gift to the celestial ranks, including Satan. Cherubim (two-winged celestial beings) are better in every way than humans. Also known as angels – which means “messengers” - they are bigger than humans, they are more powerful than humans and they have an exceedingly great intelligence, beyond anything a normal human being could physically possess. Therefore, the smartest or strongest man on earth would be no match against this spiritual race.
Before Satan chose to turn against God, He was known as the supreme guardian of God.
You were the anointed cherub who covers [i.e. guards], and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:14)
Although God had decided to bless His celestial creations with the gift to make free choices, it seems that some of these creations will choose to envy Him or fight against Him. It would seem that Satan was made to guard God’s works and protect His loyal celestial ranks from any of those who had, by their own exercise of choice, determined to oppose God.
Eventually, Satan took more notice of his own beauty and envied the power His creator possessed.
Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. (Ezekiel 28:17)
But you said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. (Isaiah 14: 13-14)
Having once fought to guard God, Satan grew envious of Him and stood defiantly against God.
By the abundance of your trade you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned. (Ezekiel 28:16)
And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. (Revelation 12:4)
One-third of the angelic ranks were persuaded by the powerful archangel Satan to secede and rebel against their creator. This is evident in scripture when they are seen descending to the earth alongside Satan in order to persecute God's children midway into the tribulation in Revelation 12. It can be understood then that at least one-third of the angelic ranks remained voraciously loyal to God. As for the remaining third, we can only postulate that they may have not yet decided where to place their loyalty.
Being the wisest and strongest of all of God’s celestial creations, Satan became the leader of the one-third of rebelling angels. Although their base camp is in heaven, Satan assigns to them various missions or positions of authority on the earth. In the end, however, Jesus has a plan to subdue and defeat Satan and his celestial armies.
Part Two: The Period of Restoration
Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10, Amplified)
God’s ultimate will is to have all things subjected to Jesus. His grand master plan is for Jesus to rule over everything, both in heaven and on earth. However, not everything in heaven and earth are under Jesus’ rule or authority.
For in subjecting all things to Him, He left nothing that is not subject to Him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to Him. (Hebrews 2:8, NASB)
Not all things are subjected to Jesus, but there will come a point in time when all things will begin to fall under the rule of Jesus. Paul calls this moment in time the “period of restoration of all things.”
Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. (Acts 3:19-21, NASB)
Heaven must receive Him until this period begins. Jesus must remain in heaven until His enemies are made a footstool at His feet.
The Lord [God the Father] says to my Lord [God the Son, Jesus]: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." (Psalm 110:1, NASB)
Thus says the Lord, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool…” ( Isaiah 66:1, NASB)
If the earth is God’s footstool, and God tells Jesus to remain in heaven until His enemies are made a footstool at His feet, this means that Jesus must remain in heaven until Satan and his celestial army are cast out of heaven and thrown down to the earth. This may be why at least two-thirds of the Godhead remain in heaven at all times, because Satan and his hostile armies still hold a place up there. During Jesus ministry on the earth, the Holy Spirit had to remain in heaven.
"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7, NASB)
Now that the Holy Spirit is here on the earth, Jesus must remain in heaven until Satan and his army are thrown out of heaven. In order for Jesus to rule over everything, He is going to have to defeat His enemies, that is, the spiritual forces of wickedness that are positioned in heaven.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NASB)
Jesus will not leave heaven before this task is completed. He will not leave heaven or return to the earth until Satan is permanently cast out of heaven. This plan to cast Satan out of heaven has everything to do with the reason God created humans.
Part Three: The Revealing of God's Sons
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13, KJV)
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13, KJV)
Translation:
But as many as received him, to them gave He gave power to become the sons of GOD -
For those that received him while he was on earth in Human form in truth, loyalty and commitment to His ways and ideals, to them he gave the power to become Sons of GOD (i.e to them will be given the grace to stand before and in the presence of GOD and seek audience with HIM "Higher Celestial Bodies")
Even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of Blood, nor of the will of the Flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD-
Same grace to be sons of GOD will be measured to those who believe in His name after resurrection until this present day which were born not of Blood oath or sacrifice, nor out of lust or adultery, nor out of the selfish will of Man to his own personal gain but of only the Will of GOD Almighty who is in Heaven.
God gave mankind the power to exercise choice. The moment His children choose to give their loyalty and allegiance to Jesus, they receive the right to become sons of God. They receive the right to attain this high rank by serving their King Jesus and making choices that form their character into His likeness. It is a position that was given to high ranking angels, and it is a position that God’s loyal children can also try their best to achieve. God wants all of His children to attain this high rank. Jesus died in part to help all of His children mature into sons.
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5, NASB)
When God’s children are trustworthy and loyal enough to become sons, they are provided a very significant part in fulfilling God’s grand master plan to bring all things under the control of Jesus.
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:19-21, NASB)
There will come a point in time when enough of God’s children mature into sons to fight and win the war in heaven. These fiercely loyal and high-ranking saints, when birthed in travail and tribulation, will tip the scales of war in heaven and be the reason Satan and his armies are permanently cast down to the earth.
A Portrait of Heaven
Part Four: The War in Heaven
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. (Revelation 12:1-2, NASB)
Halfway into the tribulation and halfway into the book of Revelation, a vision is mentioned of a woman in heaven who is in travail and is about to give birth. This woman represents spiritual Israel, or the collective spiritual Israel, that is, the children of God, or the elect and chosen of God. Although Israel is plural, it is personified as a single person, that is, as a woman.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for more numerous are the children of the desolate than of the one who has a husband." And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. (Galatians 4:22-29, NASB)
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "Through Isaac your descendants will be named." That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. (Romans 9:6-8, NASB)
Paul refers to Jerusalem as a mother from above, that is, a heavenly mother to whom the children of the promise belong. The children of promise are the children of God. They are the true descendants of Israel. They belong to the heavenly Jerusalem, that is, the eternal dwelling place of God.
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:15-17, NASB)
Israel is a spiritual race, and the woman in travail is this race. The imagery of the sun, moon, and stars also testify to this connection, as they are noticed in the Old Testament in reference to Israel and its twelve sub-divisions.
Now [Joseph] had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, "Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?" His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. (Genesis 37:9-11, NASB)
In this instance, the sun is Isaac, the moon is Isaac's wife, Rebekah, and the eleven stars are the eleven brothers of Joseph, who is the twelfth star. These twelve brothers, and the physical nations they bore, are a shadow and copy of the spiritual nations of Israel to which the children of the promise belong. The children of God who are noticed on the earth during the end times tribulation belong to the remnant of God's faithful children, that is, the 144,000 who were sealed in Revelation 7:1-8, or whatever if left of that 144,000 who hasn't been martyred.
Israel and whatever remnant of Israel that remains on the earth, while under great suffering or persecution, is about to give birth to a child midway into the tribulation. In the same way that this singular woman represents the plural and collective spiritual nation of Israel, this singular child represents a remnant or portion of God's children that proceed from Israel.
Many Christians mistakenly believe that this child is Jesus, however, Jesus is never birthed midway into the tribulation. If this child were Jesus, the woman would invariably have to be Mary, which it is not. Additionally, Jesus was birthed into this world 2,000 years ago and presently sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. Jesus will not be birthed again in Revelation 12 before the war in heaven. When this child is birthed by the woman, the child ascends to heaven, which would mean that the child was previously on the earth. However, Jesus is not on the earth.
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. (Revelation 12:3-4, NASB)
This dragon is identified as Satan later in Revelation 12:9. In this instance, while God's elect and faithful children who reside on the earth are in travail and praying that some of their own manifest into sons, Satan briefly descends to the earth with his "stars," that is, his celestial armies, in a last ditch effort to ensure that this travailing and suffering Israel does not bring forth sons.
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. (Revelation 12:5, NASB)
Through the persistent prayer and anguishing labor of the true spiritual Israel, a remnant of God's elect on the earth matures into sons midway into the tribulation. Because they kept God’s deeds until the end, they are appointed to rule all the nations with a rod of iron during Jesus’ millennial reign. This is their reward for their harsh labors.
“He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron…” (Revelation 2:26-27)
Again, too many Christians assume that this "male child" is Jesus. However, there is no spiritual birthing experience appointed for Jesus on the earth midway into the tribulation. Only two people are issued the reward of ruling the nations with the rod of Iron: Jesus and a remnant of God's faithful children who endure through or die during the tribulation. The sons that are birthed in Revelation 12:5 cannot be Jesus. They are those elect saints that will reign with Jesus when He returns to fight the war for the earth.
Midway into the tribulation, a remnant of God's faithful children on the earth are birthed into sons. This word "son" refers to a completeness in their similarity and likeness to Jesus, in that they are truly and completely in their makeup and character the image of their King. In their persecution and travail, they attain the same family characteristics as Jesus, being almost indistinguishable from Jesus in their faithfulness and loyalty to God. Jesus is the faithful witness, and they will also faithful witnesses. Their almost immediate ascension to heaven does not affirm that they will be physically snatched away in a rapture scenario. The word used for "rapture", that is, "caught up" is also used when Paul refers to his own ascension to heaven when he was stoned to death or near death in the city of Lystra.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago - whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows - such a man was caught up to the third heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2, NASB)
Paul, although unable to distinguish whether or not he had physically ascended to heaven, had certainly left his body unconscious and surrounded by his disciples outside the city of Lystra.
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. (Acts 14:19-20, NASB)
Accordingly, these children of God who mature into sons, who receive a rank and position of character and loyalty in almost perfect likeness to Jesus, need not to ascend before God and His throne while physically alive. It would be more practical to assume that, while God's children are under intense and life-threatening persecution on the earth at this time, and that the highest degree of loyalty to Jesus at this time is that His children do not love their lives, even in the face of death, the maturity of a remnant of God's children into sons occurs in tandem with their martyrdom.
Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. (Revelation 12:6, NASB)
The woman is now noticed on the earth. This spiritual Israel, or whatever remnant is left alive of the sealed 144,000, is still on the earth. These children of God who are alive and remain on the earth are protected for the last 3.5 years of the 7-year tribulation, while those children of God who had been martyred and matured into sons ascend before the throne. At this very moment, the war for heaven begins. These sons, the offspring or remnant of God's children who remain on the earth, will be the leading rank of humans in heaven. They will be instrumental in the change and balance of power that will be on God's side in heaven.
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. (Revelation 12:7-8, NASB)
For the first time in history, halfway into the tribulation, Michael and his angels or “messengers” wage a war against Satan and his armies. And for the first time in history, Satan and his armies are permanently cast out of heaven because they were not strong enough. They were strong enough before, but now with God’s loyal human sons in the mix, they will lose.
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. (Revelation 12:9, NASB)
Finally, the period of the restoration of all things has begun. Finally, all things can be subjected to Jesus. Finally, Jesus can liberate creation from corruption and begin to reign over all things.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:10, NASB)
And Jesus won this war by using us. He won this war because He gave up His life in order to provide to all of His human children the ability to follow Him to the grave, remain fiercely loyal to Him and receive a place near to Him for eternity. He won because He created a people who would choose to care enough about His will that they would receive the authority to mature into sons and readily fight the war in heaven. He prepared them for this important task. This is the ultimate reason we were created.
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” (Revelation 12:11, NASB)
God’s sons were the “angels” fighting alongside Michael. Two-winged cherubim cannot die, therefore they will never be faced with death. Jesus did not explicitly lay down his life for two-winged cherubim either, so they do not need to be redeemed by Jesus' work on the cross, nor will they need to hold fast to the testimony of Jesus' ministry on the earth. Those who overcame Satan were God’s human children who were so courageously loyal to their King Jesus that they were willing to die for Him during the great tribulation. And because they endured, overcame, and lost their lives for His sake, they matured into sons and were able to win the war in heaven. They took part in bringing to completion a plan that was older than creation itself. Finally, Jesus can begin to reign.
And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign." (Revelation 11:16-17, NASB)
"For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time." (Revelation 12:12, NASB)
God created humans to be the deciding factor in bringing to an end a conflict which has waged for aeons in the angelic ranks. God created us for that purpose and that purpose only. He didn't created us because He was lonely. He didn't create us so that He could rest us on a silk cushion, feed us turkish delights, and shower us with adoration and affection. We were created specifically and precisely for a purpose. We were not created for some kind of nebulous love fest. We are not the center of His attention. We are His servants and because we were created to serve Him, He should be the center of our attention.
The fact of our creation by God and our spiritually belonging to Him is made evident by our identity as children of God, to which the Holy Spirit testifies. When we truly hear the good news concerning our King Jesus, the Holy Spirit will readily convict us to respond with the appropriate courage and desire necessary for us to renounce our allegiance to this perverse and dying world and faithfully render our lives to Him. However, the phrase "child of God" does not denote our eternal position before Him on the New Earth. The position and rank we receive for the New Earth is made manifest by our submission and service to Him, both of which are essential attributes of God's nature; attributes that Jesus perfectly exemplified during His ministry on this earth nearly 2,000 years ago. The Holy Spirit serves the Son and the Father, and the Son, that is, Jesus, serves the Father. They all serve without reservation and their service and loyalty to one another is 100% to the death. They set an example to us, especially through Jesus, that we might all attain to that 100% during the span or our own time and ministry on this earth. Service and loyalty are essential and intrinsic attributes of the Godhead, and they are attributes engrained in the nature of God's sheep, who know his voice and won't follow another.
When the sons are prayed and birthed into existence by the travail and persecution of the church, they are caught away by death too because their service and loyalty to God is 100% to the death.
Do you want to know why you were created? You were created to be the reason Satan is thrown out of heaven. You were created to serve your King as a soldier. You were created to end the détente once and for all. Just remember that God’s children can’t mature into sons if they don’t know and abide in their King Jesus. So go out their, do your best, give it your all, preach the truth to all men, tell God’s children about their King, and gather them together to serve Him. You can do it!
Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Timothy 2:3-4, NASB)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20, NASB)
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrew 12:1-3, NASB)
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