In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
Because of space-time continuum thinking, it’s hard to wrap our minds around the simple truth that God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit never had a beginning. They always were and always will be.
This simple truth is the foundation for all of our Christian faith and belief in God. It is one which cannot be partially accepted, but must be believed in whole, in order for us to have a vibrant faith in God. Anything less than 100% on this truth will create doubts which will limit the work of God in our lives.
Okay, assuming we all accept this simple truth, how did God create the heavens and the earth?
Then God said, “Let there be light; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)
For years, I figured God spoke His words, wiggled His nose, much like Samantha on the TV program, Bewitched, and then presto, light and all the rest of creation appeared on the scene. But there are other scriptures which give us a better glimpse of how God created the heavens and earth.
Bless the LORD, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word! (Psalm 103:20)
The English word angel is translated from the Hebrew word malak which actually means messenger, representative, or deputy. Therefore, God has deputy helpers who perform His words.
The Bible gives names for three angels: Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer.
Gabriel (strength of God or warrior of God) is an archangel who was sent as a messenger with important messages for humans, such as Daniel, Zacharias (John the Baptist’s father), and Mary.
Michael (who is like God) is a chief archangel, a protector of Israel, and the leader of God’s heavenly angel army.
Lucifer (light bearer or morning star) was also a chief archangel. In Jude 9, Michael still respected Lucifer’s high level of authority, even though he had fallen and was now known as Satan.
Okay, now let’s do some digging.
For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. (Hebrews 2:5)
For whatever reasons, God set up our present world to be in subjection to angels or under an angelic form of governmental system. God created this system to be obedient to His words, but obviously, angels have a free will, much like humans do. Sadly, the system was corrupted with Adam’s fall in the Garden of Eden.
Yet, God being true to His own system had the Law brought to man under the direction of angels.
Now, the idea of creating man and man’s home here on earth was always in God’s heart. It was His highest priority as He longed to share His love and fellowship with other beings. And it’s only natural to assume that His angels all knew about the importance of earth and how a being called man would eventually fit into God’s plan for His kingdom on earth.
So, who did God choose to be His chief angel over earth?
You [Satan] were in Eden, the garden of God… (Ezekiel 28:13)
You [Satan] were the anointed cherub who covers, 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)
Eden, the garden of God, and the holy mountain of God were located here on earth, not in heaven. Thus, it is my belief that Lucifer (Satan) was chosen by God to be the head angel, or His chief ambassador, here on earth. If so, this means Satan was actually created to be a chief helper and a minister to us humans, not our accuser and destroyer.
But Lucifer (Satan) was proud of his authority over earth and wanted to exalt his throne over all of all the other angels and also to be like the Most High God. Then because of Satan’s iniquity, war broke out in heaven. This war continues today, but it will not be until the last days that Michael and the good angels will drive Satan and his horde (a third of all the angels) out of heavenly realms.
Who were Satan’s angels?
Most likely, Satan’s angels were those he had authority over here on earth when he was God’s amabassador. Later, Paul referred to a part of Satan’s fallen angel horde as principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Keep in mind: Satan is not a creator. He is a liar, a deceiver, and a usurper of God’s creation and His plans.
Thus, when Eve was deceived and Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, God’s authority to rule on earth passed from man to the fallen angel, Satan. He became the god of this world.
And because Satan had authority on earth and in the heavens surrounding earth, Satan’s angels replaced God’s angels in the spiritual governmental system reigning over earth. Satan’s angels were already trained from their earlier experiences, but instead of obeying God, these fallen angels now obeyed the father of lies, Satan.
The bad news is that we are stuck with this corrupted angelic system until Jesus returns. But the good news is we have a new spiritual governmental system on earth, not subjected to angels. It is the Kingdom of God.
Are you scratching your heads and wondering what this has to do with San Francisco?
(Continued in Part 6…the full series to date can be read here.
Larry Who 