#58 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – September 1, 2002 a.m.

 

SATAN'S IMPRINT ON AND MANIPULATION OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

Satan's link to the world system is the basis for the revelation of his attitude when he fell as noted in Isaiah 14.  The king of Babylon is the subject of Isaiah 14.  Scripture goes beyond the last king of Babylon to the spirit being who was working behind him in the world system identified as Lucifer son of the dawn.  God looks beyond the king and his activity in the system and addresses the one who founded the world system and who continues to manipulate it.  Nabonidus and his co-regent Belshazzar were the last rulers of the kingdom of Babylon.  These instruments of the world system managed to get in trouble as is revealed in the chapter.  There will also be a latter day king of a future Babylon the mother of harlots.  Lucifer himself exhibited the same attitude that he had in his fall in his manipulation of the world system at the conclusion of the kingdom of Babylon.  Of itself the world system is inherently instable.  It exhibits the great statements of Satan expressing his own plans for his personal independence from God.  That exact attitude leaves an imprint or impression on the world system.  God reveals this through the prophecy of Isaiah in dealing with this great nation, its king and the power behind the manifestations of the world system. 

 

Verse 12 identifies Lucifer as the one who has fallen from the heavens.  His access to the heavens will cease and at mid-tribulation he will be cast to the earth.  The prophecy of Isaiah 14 mixes prophecy concerning historical Babylon and beyond our time to the events that will end Satan's activity.  Many times in the context reference is made to elements of the world system.  This includes nations (14:6, 9, 12, 18, 26, 32), earth (eretz – 14:7, 9, 12, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26), inhabited world (tebel -- 14:17, 21), cities (14:17, 21, 31) and kingdom (14:16 and "king" 14:4, 9, 18, 28).  There are at least ten indicators that this cannot be the king and is a reference to Satan.  Verse 12 describes three problems with Satan.  He has fallen from heavens, he has been cut down to the ground and he has weakened or made low nations.  God then looks back to Lucifer's thoughts, emotions and will in his fall in verse 13.  E. lists the five points of Lucifer's declaration of independence.  F. gives an explanation of his intentions in each part.  God's future plan for Lucifer is for him to be caused to go down into Sheol and to occupy a compartment in the extreme parts of the pit.  Those in Sheol will be awestruck at the presence of the originator of the world system in the pit.  They will ask rhetorical questions concerning his power over the world system and his presence in Sheol.  Those in Sheol involve kings (human beings) and Rephaim (vs. 9 Heb.).  These are mutated beings having been produced between the daughters of mankind and the sons of God (fallen spirit beings) [cf. Gen. 6].  Psalm 88:10 reveals the fact that these beings will have no resurrection even though they dwell in Sheol in the heart of the earth.  They have a close identity with Satan and his fallen spirits.  The text shows Lucifer as the power behind the human king of Babylon.  It looks back to his fall before the creation of mankind and looks to the future and his incarceration after the tribulation period.

 

II. looks at the context of Isaiah 14 and the link to the world system.  These various levels directly reflect the elements of the world system that manipulate human beings and their sin nature.  The list of characteristics of the world system under B. directly relate to the entities listed in A.  The whole attitude of Satan carried to the king of Babylon who was eager to do his own thing without being accountable to God.  Each level enhances a quality of independence that is inherent in the world system.  They encourage serving the creature rather than God.  The attitude of Lucifer has made and continues to make its imprint on the world system.  It also is essential to his manipulation of the world system.  When the Christian understands this, he or she will not be drawn to it by its appeal.  It is antiGod and provides a substitute for God.

 

Highly favored in the Beloved,

 

DKS

     

SATAN'S IMPRINT ON AND MANIPULATION OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

 

1 John 2:15

Proposition:   To show how God uses Satan's attitude in his fall and how it is also manifested in the world system as he manipulates it and leaves his ongoing imprint.

        Introduction

              A.  When the Instruments of the World System Get in Trouble

              B.   How the Initiator of the World System Accomplishes His Intentions

              C.  What the Instability of the World System Shows About Satan

              D.  Why the Impression of Lucifer's Fall Is Made on the World System

TRANS:     The cherub Lucifer exhibited an attitude in his heart when he fell.  This attitude is evident in the operation of the world system.  In Isaiah 14 Lucifer is seen as the power behind the king of Babylon.  This section of Isaiah involves the judgment of Jehovah on the nations that were involved with Israel.  These nations are a part of the organized world system.

 

   I.  LUCIFER'S ATTITUDE AND THE MANIPULATION OF ELEMENTS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – AN EXPANATION OF THE CORE ATTITUDE THAT AFFECTS THE MAKING AND MANIPULATION OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE LINK OF SATAN'S FALL TO THE PAST AND FUTURE OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – Isaiah 14:12-17

        A.  The Person Identified Beginning in Verse 12

              1.   One Who Has Fallen from Heavens

              2.   Lucifer = Shining One, Day Star, Light Bearer

              3.   Son of the Morning = Son of Dawn

              4.   Cut Down to Earth

        B.   The Pointing Toward the World System (cf. King of Babylon – vs. 4)

              1.  Nations (~yiwOG = goyim) – vs. 12

              2.  Earth [AV ground] (#r,a, = erets) – vs. 16

              3.  Kingdoms (twOkl'm.m; = mamlahcoth) – vs. 16

              4.  World (lbeTe = tebel) – vs. 17

              5.  Cities (~yriy[i) – vs. 17

        C.  The Problem for and with Satanic Manipulation – vs. 12

              1.  He Has Fallen from Heavens

              2.  He Has Been Cut Down to the Ground

              3.  He Has Weakened or Laid Low Nations

 

        D.  The Position in the Heart of Lucifer – vs. 12

        E.   The Past of Lucifer in His Fall – His Five Point Declaration of Independencevss. 13, 14

              #1  I Will Proceed to Ascend to the Heavens

              #2  I Will Proceed to Elevate My Throne from Above the Stars of God

              #3  I Will Proceed to Sit in the Mount of Meeting in the Extreme Parts of the North

              #4  I Will Proceed to Ascend Above the Heights of the Cloud

              #5  I Will Proceed to Be Like the Highest

        F.   The Mental Proposals in Satan's Heart Restated

              #1  Lucifer Anticipated Unregulated Access to All of the Heavens without Divine

                    Permission

 

              #2  Lucifer Anticipated Being Ruler Over All of the Spirit Beings Inhabiting the Second

                    Heaven

              #3  Lucifer Anticipated a Place with God in the Third Heaven in the Government of

                    Spirit Beings at Their Place of Meeting with God

              #4  Lucifer Anticipated Going Above the Height of the Cloud of God's Manifest Glory

              #5  Lucifer Anticipated Being Like the High One in His Own Elevation

        G.  The Future Plan of God for Lucifer – 14:15-17

              1.   You Will Be Caused to Go Down to Sheol – vs. 15

              2.   You Will Occupy a Compartment in the Extreme Parts of the Pit

              3.   Those in Sheol Will Understand the Obvious – vs. 16

              4.   They Will Question His Incarceration in Sheol – vss. 16, 17

                    a.  Man Who Made the Earth Agitated – vs. 16

                    b.  He Shook the Kingdoms

                    c.  He Made the Inhabited World Like a Desert – vs. 17

                    d.  He Threw Down Cities of the Inhabited World

                    e.  He Did Not Open the House of Prisoners

        H.  The Place of the World System in the Text

              1.   The Present in the Text with Lucifer's Power Behind the King of Babylon

              2.   The Past in Lucifer's Fall

              3.   The Future in Lucifer's Incarceration

TRANS:  The context of Isaiah 14 brings elements of the world system into the attitude of Satan in his fall and in his manipulation of the king of Babylon in the system.  The elements are easily explained.

II.    THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NATIONS IN THE WORLD SYSTEM AND THEIR ELEMENTS – ELEMENTS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM MENTIONED AND LINKED TO THE PUNISHMENT OF SATAN – THE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE WORLD SYSTEM

        A.  The Connection by the Term in the Context

              1.  Nations (vs. 12) = Non-Jews Outside of the Place of Blessing of God

              2.  Earth (vs. 16) = Location of the World System

              3.  Kingdoms (vs. 16) = Governmental Structures and Systems

              4.  World (vs. 17) = Places on Planet Where People Dwell and Are

              5.  Cities (vs. 17) = Smaller Governmental Entities

 

        B.   The Characteristics of the World System and Governmental Structure

              1.  Human Government

              2.  Human Commerce

              3.  Human Entertainment and Amusements

              4.  Human Secular Education

              5.  Human Moral Religion

              6.  Human Senseless Warfare

              7.  Human Industry

        C.  The Carrying of the Attitude of Satan to the World System

TRANS:  The key to so much of the manipulation from the world system involves human government.  The more powerful the government the more influence is seen on other elements of the world system.  Be reminded that Nebuchadnezzar headed the most refined government in Daniel two.  His government affected almost every phase of the manifestations of the system.

 

Translation of Isaiah 14:12-17

 

(vs. 12)  How have you fallen from the heavens, Lucifer [or Shining One, Day-Star], son of the dawn!  You have been cut down [or hewn down] to the earth, the one who has weakened [or cut low] over the nations!  (vs. 13)  And you [emphatic] have said in your heart:  "I will proceed to ascend to the heavens, I will proceed to elevate my throne above the stars of God; I will proceed to dwell [or sit] in the mount of meeting [or congregation] in the extreme parts of the north; (vs. 14) I will proceed to ascend above the heights of the cloud (singular = cloud of glory); I will proceed to be like the Most High [or Highest]."  (vs. 15)  Yet you will proceed to have been caused to go down unto Sheol, unto the extreme parts of the pit.  (vs. 16) the ones who are looking at you [sing.] are causing to gaze upon you, they are attempting to understand concerning you:  "Is this the high born man continually causing the earth to be agitated, the one causing to shake kingdoms; (vs. 17) Placing the inhabited world like a wilderness, and has thrown down its cities; and did not open the house of prisoners?"

 

--DKS—

 

 

© by David K. Spurbeck

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119