In this post we will look at what we know about the run-up to the coming of Jesus.
Satan’s Actions
In a previous post we saw that Satan was brilliant, he was a somebody in the universe. It is important to remember that Satan and his team are not keen to see this kingdom set up. From the beginning he wanted show that God’s creatures were not up to snuff.
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 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.” (Rev 12:9-10)
Job
One of the oldest accounts we have is that of Job. Now Job was a man of renown and God knew him, what his heart was like. That is of paramount importance to God. But Satan knew Job’s weaknesses too so he challenged God to take away Job’s blessings. God knew that Job would stand up to the test and that good would come from the challenge, but Satan did not give up easily.
Noah
Another account is that of Noah. Somehow Satan had succeeded in perverting society of that time to such an extent that God decided to end that society through a flood. He decided that he would use Noah to build a boat or ark, to rescue a remnant to start civilization over. Noah was chosen because he was “perfect in his generations”. Some have taken that to mean racially pure and white of course – Satan really knows how to push our buttons. But no, it means he was considered a man of good standing amongst his peers, God knew his heart. Satan went after Noah’s weaknesses too, but he got the job done as God knew he would.
Why bring up Noah? Because he is one of the signs we need to look out for.
“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Mat 24:37-39
Satan thought that he had nearly succeeded in thwarting God’s plan at the time of the flood, so he is going to do it again but only better as we’ll see.
There are two parts to this sign. Somehow violence and evil had filled society, this is what Satan does best. Is that true for today’s society? You bet it is!
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday that the world is currently facing more violent conflicts than at any time in over 70 years as 2 billion people worldwide are living in conflict-ridden areas.
The Hill Report
Social Media
As in the political realm, with wars like Putin’s war against Ukraine being a daily occurrence, so also in the social realm violence and hate has increased exponentially.
Through Satan’s influence, people now have a platform where the can tear people down, say nasty things about them, even if it is not true, threaten them with torture and death, and there is no retribution. People learn they can escalate this online violence with impunity, to the point that many believe that their cause justifies their actions – they think they are doing God a favor by attacking immigrants, migrants, gay people, Jews, Moslems, Hindus, and especially Christians.
“They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.” – John 16:2
We will be ostracized, put out of society (that’s the meaning of synagogue – gathering together, a congregation (not in the church sense). Many people have lost their jobs and have been forced to resign from their positions, some have been so shamed by the attacks that they have committed suicide.
“They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Luke 12:53
Does this sound like it was in the days of Noah?
It sure does. But it is not enough to prove that we are in the end times. We need more evidence…
I said there were two aspects to the days of Noah. Society was carrying on thinking life would go on as usual, like eating, drinking and marrying, ignoring the true preaching of God’s people specifically assigned the task; so they will be taken by surprise when Jesus starts implementing God’s end-time plan. Many will die again as a result of Satan deceiving people to believe his imitation of God’s plan – but God has a plan for that too!
I am not sure if this was a problem in the days of Noah, but knowing Satan I will guess it was. Satan loves fake news, by promoting things that sound feasible and are even partly true. We have a situation now where people take the account in Genesis:
“the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose…..The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.“
Gen 6:2-4
People read into this that the eating, drinking and marrying had a spiritual component with non-human beings getting involved in the eating, drinking and marrying thing. This is possible, but the scripture does not specifically say so. I prefer to work with what the bible actually says, than to read into it my speculative thoughts. (I like speculating as much as anyone especially about such things as the Nephilim and the Council of Elohim and I have read several Kindle books on it).
The information in the scripture is not very clear, the other sources of information on the Nephilim are extra-biblical texts like the Book of Enoch. So if this kind of topic catches your interests by all means look into these texts – it’s not wrong and some is even quoted by Jude in his letter which is in the bible.
It may be that Satan is using this to discredit Jesus’ clear statement that at his return it will like in the days of Noah.
I am not sure if this was a problem in the days of Noah, but knowing Satan I will guess it was. Satan loves fake news, by promoting things that sound feasible and are even partly true. We have a situation now where people take the current interest in the Nephilim and add their own ideas to the scripture when what is there is quite clear.
Satan’s Wiles
We have only scratched the surface of how Satan is trying to spoil God’s plan. He has been implementing Days of Noah vs2.0 even more evil than his vs 1.0!
Why?
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
(1 Pet 5:8)
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
(Eph 6:16)
More than anything he needs to show God’s creatures are not up to snuff, that he could do better. He has tackled God’s people, the soldiers (kings and priests) fighting for his kingdom, where they have weaknesses and we all have, people of repute like Noah (he got drunk and worse), Abraham ignored the promise and slept with his slave, David murdered his best friend and slept with his wife. Satan will not hesitate to come even after us, who are by no means moral giants, in the hope of thwarting God’s plan for the return of his son whom he as anointed to be the king of his kingdom. Father also has also appointed him as savior! He knows the heart of the people he has chosen the work with his son in the kingdom. In Jesus we are righteous, he is Father’s Passover lamb!
Satan’s Final Thrust
So the schemes he will come up with to prevent it, will take place before. We have already seen how he has primed society to be on his side: to be violent, angry, extremist and self-righteous. The schemes will not be wishy washy, schemes stemming from jealousy. No, they are brilliant, well thought out and orchestrated over millennia and will deceive many. They too will be impressive, even miraculous.
In the next post we will look at Satan’s coup de grace, his masterpiece. Then we will follow it up with the magnificent, spectacular return of Joshua, Father’s anointed (sorry for repeating this so often but it is so exciting!) in a spectacular display of cosmic splendor that will make Satan’s feeble imitation fade by comparison.