One of the first names which come to mind is the Danite hero Samson, recorded in the Old Testament book of JUDGES. Starting as far back as the antediluvian-Earth, there are sons of the “Nephilim” (Genesis 6: 2, 4); Nimrod (Genesis 10: 8; I Chronicles 1: 10); the sons of Anak (Numbers 13: 33; Deuteronomy 2: 11); King Og of Bashan(Deuteronomy 3: 11); Goliath (I Samuel 17: 1-11); a youthful KingDavid (I Samuel 17: 12, 26-27, 38-51; 21: 8-9); Elhanan the son of Jaareroregim a Bethlehemite(II Samuel 21: 19; I Chronicles 20: 5); Josheb-Basshebeth who was called Adino the Eznite (II Samuel 23: 8); Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite (II Samuel 23: 9-10); Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite (II Samuel 23: 11-12); Abishai the brother of Joab (II Samuel 23: 18); and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (II Samuel 23: 20-21).
Apparently, even the Apostle Peter was a rugged and physically rigorous person; as evidenced by John 21: 11, 18: Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
There is someone however, who is far mightier, more dangerous and sinister than all these men combined. Jesus reveals this person’s identity in Matthew 12: 26, 29 in this way: “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? “Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
Revelation 12: 7-9, 12b
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast with him. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.
Luke 10: 18
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
Job 1: 7
And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
I Chronicles 21: 1
Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
Luke 4: 6
And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give you, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.” (Cp. John 12: 31; 16: 11)
Luke 13: 11, 16
And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound-think of it-for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”
Luke 22: 3
Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.
Luke 22: 31
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.”
I John 3: 8b
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Indeed, the Devil is not like the well-dressed prankster played by Ray Wise of the hit TV show, “Reaper” airing on KSTW Channel 11 [Seattle], but is a murderer (I John 3: 8a, 12a). The lion is called the “king of the beasts” and the serpent [“devil”] is likewise, according to Genesis 3: 1a; and not only that, but in I Peter 5: 8, it reads: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, and seeking [“all"] whom he may devour.
And Satan is deadly serious, as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Cp. Acts 5:
1-11). He sets traps or snares for people (Cp. Ephesians 4: 27; 6: 11; I Timothy 3: 6-7; II Timothy 2: 26), and will cast some into prison (Revelation 2: 10b). Satan disrupts marital relationships (I Corinthians 7: 5b), had the power of death (Hebrews 2: 14b), and can even transform himself into an angel of light
(II Corinthians 11: 14). Yet, no matter how formidable this strong man is, God provides us with the victory in Jesus.
I John 4: 4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He [the “Holy Spirit”] that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Revelation 12: 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. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the power of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelation 20: 1-2, 10
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Revelation 21: 4-6a
And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 21, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
