A New Cosmology

So what about the bad guy? As a disclaimer, these are the thoughts of a layman. My study on this does not reflect years of training, and tomes of reading. These are simply thoughts, though spoken with confidence, sparking discussion and further clarification of my own personal questions.

Lucifer began as an angel, created in the Garden as an archangel, much like Gabriel and Michael. Ezekiel 28 (if we can understand this passage this way) describes him as "full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty... blameless in all [his] ways till unrighteousness was found in [him]." But his "heart was proud because if [his] beauty." Therefore, because he attempted to set his throne on high (Is 14), "above the stars of God," he was cast to the earth, with all his minions. Michael and his angels (Rev 12) defeated the Accuser, and there was no longer any room left in heaven for him. "Woe to you O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows his time is short."

In the old times, nations were governed by powers and principalities. Each nation had an angel, sometimes called gods, who guarded, governed them. Michael was the angel for Israel (Dan 10:21). Satan had been given real authority on earth, and had accumulated nations. Daniel 10 describes Michael and the linen clad man (Jesus) fighting against the prince of Persia for 21 days. The Lord's army of fire was very active in the days of the kings (2 Kings 6). The world was full of what moderns call "supernatural" activity, as if anything that we can't see under a microscope isn't natural.

So the world was governed, in a finite sense, by these created, angelic principalities. The Daystar, and the false "Bright star of Morning" was the leader of all these powers, excepting Michael, who was true to his Creator. This is why Satan could tempt Jesus, with some legitimacy, with the kingdoms of the earth, if He would simply bow down and worship him. But Jesus knew that He was receiving the kingdoms anyway, and so remained faithful to His Father. On the Cross, Satan was conquered (Heb 2:14). The strongman was bound, and his goods were plundered. He was cast into the abyss, and the door was shut and sealed. This is for a time, until the thousand years are ended. During this time the Church reigns with Christ as a holy priesthood. The dominions and powers have been cast down, and Christ sits on His thrown, making the nations a footstool for His feet.

So what of evil and the devil now? Satan is bound and "cannot deceive the nations any longer," (Rev 20). Why then are there still evil men? Well that's because there are still men. Our unhindered, unredeemed flesh is one of death and rebellion. Our flesh still wages war against the Spirit. Our flesh still desires power and thrones above the "stars of God." To put it tritely, in an oft used cliche, we are our own worst enemy.

Could not passages such as Ephesians 4:27, James 4:7, and 1 Peter 5:8 be understood this way? Ephesians 4:26 says to not let the sun go down on our anger, and then in 28, to not give any opportunity to the devil. In Galatians 5:13, Paul tells us to not give opportunity to our flesh. Could not the flesh be understood as the one who seeks to devour us, prowling like a lion? Our flesh craves the "schemes of the devil," and it is against the "schemes of the devil" for which we gird ourselves with the armor of God.

What is making me think all this? I am doubtful that Scripture teaches a theology of Satan which says that he knows my name. Why does he know my name? If he knows my name, what is to prevent him from knowing everyone in the world, from every age. Do angels have that kind knowledge, that kind of capacity. Does Satan know the thoughts of my heart? Can angels see into the heart of man? Does Scripture uphold that, and if so, where?

Would it not be wiser to locate our enemy in the old man which Christ bought, and is renewing by the Spirit? Is Satan really not bound and sealed up like Hebrews and Revelation say? Christ says "how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house," (Matt 12:29). Which is true? To me, Scripture seems to reiterate that Satan has been vanquished, and bound, though his servants still roam the earth, wrecking havoc. If what I have said is true, which I would not go to the wall for, the current Christian notion of Satan might be causing unnecessary fear and anxiety. If we believe that Satan has the power to know my inward thoughts, and affect them for his own design if we are not careful, there is no end to what oppression that could cause. Now if it is true that he does, our answer is obviously Christ, and the sovereign power of God. In Him alone rests ultimate power and authority. But if it is not true, why do we allow ourselves to think that way? Why would we ascribe to him knowledge that, we thought, God alone had, if he does not really have that knowledge? Again, it is obvious that if it is true, only God could have given him that knowledge. That is not the discussion. The discussion is if our beliefs about Satan are not true, why do we believe it?