The enemies are not going to stop their agitation nor will they leave us alone to do the work of repairing what has been destroyed. It doesn’t matter to them that people know their tactics or their motives because they know it doesn’t deter the army they’ve conditioned to hate. They’ll continue to attack truth no matter how obvious it is, and will contradict it with the same means and motives we’ve seen. These are the same discussed in detail in exposing the opposing angelic army and its Satan like methods of covering truth with lies and slandering it when it comes to light.
As we’ve studied in great detail these adversaries are known by the foundation of their reasoning and by the work they conspire to commit because of their evil thoughts. We have seen this as the mark in the head and in the hand that shows whose work they are doing. The mark is the mark of ownership and displays in whose name the work is done. We have also seen the “name” as being the identifying character traits that show these workers as either being Christ like or Satanic. We know the main characteristic of Christ is His being our deliverer from death and the truth who destroys the deception. We know Satan by the traits of being a liar and the father of it, the one who authors false accusations against the truth, and does it motivated by his desire to hold us down in death’s grip.
This is what we read in Revelation 12 where we see the angelic armies at war. We see God’s army defeating the Satanic, but even though cast down to the earth in defeat they continue their tactic despite being exposed. There we see the Satanic defined as the “accuser of the our brethren.” The Greek word translated “accuser” in verse 10 is katecho, which literally means to hold down. Here we see the one holding us down is “cast down,” and the word used is kataballo. This the one who we see by his traits of throwing false accusation and slander, doing so because he has been separated from (kata) heaven. He has been cast down as the Christ like army, “overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” These are those who remain attached to heaven and rejoice. Those holding fast to the earth not having yet come to the Lamb (the still dead in Christ because they love their lives) are those under attack from the one cast down and his army of cast down stars.
Notice the contrast: Christ like go up to heaven and the adversaries go down to earth. The battle as we have looked at it is for justice as equity in judgment and it as what determines the reign of heaven on earth, or the earth without justice (without God) and the death that comes with it.
Revelation 12
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 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.
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
As we have looked at in the past, the flood that the earth swallows up are the lies and slander, and swallowed by the evidence of their being false as seen in the earth’s condition of decay into chaos under the reign of deception.
This brings us to Nehemiah 6 and it telling us of those opposing the rebuilding of the wall Jerusalem. This should be read at this time as a warning against those offering false remedies and their “help.”
Nehemiah 6
1 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)
2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;
6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that you and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause you built the wall, that you may be their king, according to these words.
7 And you have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you falsify them out of your own heart (plotting).
9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay you; yea, in the night will they come to slay you.
11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14 My God, think you upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
17 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
19 Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
The names used of those opposing the repair allude to these being thorns in the side of the builder. We are told in 2 Corinthians 12:7 – 10 of like aspects as the above description. We see the thorn in Paul’s side being explained as messenger of Satan sent to hinder the work, and the LORD telling Paul of His grace that gives strength. We also see the Satanic angels as messengers throwing false accusations and slandering the truth.
2 Corinthians 12
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the LORD thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
We can also look at Numbers 33 to see these thorns as the people with ways that opposes the ways of God. The people were told to drive them out because God in his wisdom knew they would be teaching the ways of death and opposing and slandering the Truth, Way, and Life. This again tells us of the “accuser” we looked at above, which is the same word translate as “withholds” in 2 Thessalonians 2:6. There we are told of those opposing God and refusing the love of the Truth. We are also told these are the same ones that will be holding us down until they are “taken out of our midst.” This again is in the context of what we saw above in Revelation 12.
Numbers 33
55 But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which you let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein you dwell.
2 Thessalonians 2
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now you know what withholds (accuses) that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now holds you down will, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the LORD, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our LORD Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.
Psalms 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he has made in the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder; he burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
