Eternal Spirit, Part 7

2009-6-25 01:24:00

The Sons Of God

Now the important point has been established by scripture that God is in the form of a man we can move back to our central theme of proving the eternal nature of man, that he not only lives after death, but he lived before birth. This fact is repeated throughout the scriptures so often it is odd that only one major sect accepts it.

The scriptures abound with evidence that Christ had a pre-mortal existence. He once said: "What and if ye shall see the son of man ascend up where he was before?" (John 6:62) If Jesus did not begin life at birth it is only reasonable that we did not also. We both started mortal existence on earth as infants so is it unreasonable to assume that we both lived beforehand?

We are told that Christ is the "beginning of the creation of God" (Rev 3:14) and thus is called the "firstborn of every creature." (Col 1:15) Since Christ is called the firstborn there must be a second born showing that although he was the only Son of God in the flesh on the earth, there are more than one in the spirit. Thus in the pre-mortal existence Christ was "the firstborn among many brethren."(Rom 8:29) We may infer from this that we were brethren with Christ before we were born and he was the firstborn, our elder brother.

This is a concept which I'm sure many do not believe is in the Bible but it is undeniably there. Remember Paul told us there is a "family in heaven" (Eph 3:15) as well as on earth? We on the earth are called one family because God "hath made of one blood all nations of man (Acts 17:26) In other words, we are the physical offspring descending from the same source.

We on the earth are called a family for another reason. "We are the offspring of God." (Acts 17:29) We know that our physical bodies are not God's offspring so it must be our spirit?. After all, the spirit is in the form of a man and since God is a man it is only logical that we are His offspring. The author of Hebrews makes this plain: "Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live? (Heb 12:9)

Josephus, the Jewish historian, agrees with Paul. He stated that God was "the Father of all men, beforehand." (Whiston's Josephus - Antiquities of the Jews Book 1, Chapt 13, Verse 3) Furtermore, he quotes David who slew Goliath as calling God, "the Father and Parent of the universe". (Book 7; Chapt 14, Verse 10).

Thus when Christ addressed God as "Our Father who art in heaven" he meant exactly that. God is the Father of our spirits beforehand, making us on earth a family both physically and spiritually, brothers and sisters. This explains Paul's other statement that there is a family in heaven. Those living in heaven in the Spirit who have not yet been born are brothers end sisters, Since God is their Father a complete family exists.

When Paul said that God was "the Father of spirits" he put no restrictions on the term. The spirits of the good and evil were begotten in heaven before we were born.

But this refers to all spirits, even those that have not been born and shall ever be -- including the devil and his angels for they are spirits. Without explanation it would sound blasphemous to call Satan and the evil spirits sons of God, but let's look at the evidence.

The Bible certifies that Satan was in Heaven, for Christ said:  "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10:18). Of course, he could not fall from heaven unless he was once there. Isaiah writes about this fall:

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast, said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most high.

"Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. "They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?"

(Isaiah 14:12-17)

We are told that Satan is a man who fell from heaven because he wanted to take the place of God. As to his origin the word "Lucifer" gives a hint. As common a word as Lucifer is in society, it is only used once in the entire Bible. The reason is that Lucifer is an extremely honorable title and the prophets hesitated to apply such to him because he is fallen. However, he was called such before his fall when he dwelt in heaven.

Lucifer actually means "Lightbringer" or "daystar." Some authorities have said this word refers to the planet Venus.

Figuratively that may be true, but it could not be literal for Venus is not a man. Venus is the third brightest heavenly body, exceeded only by the sun and moon. This could very possibly mean that Lucifer was third in authority, the Father and the Son being the highest. Venus is also called "the morning star." Thus is interesting because Christ is called "the bright and morning star." We are also told that he who overcomes this world will be given the morning star. (Rev 2:28) This symbolizes that we shall be like Christ if we endure all things. "We shall be like him for we shall sec him as he is." (1 John 3:2)

This term is also found in Job when the Lord is reminding him of the antiquity of his spirit: "Where wast thou when I laid the foundation of the world? Declare if thou hast understanding. When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4,7)

Notice that all the sons of God were there shouting for joy. That would include you and me. Whether we were part of the great choir of morning stars we can only speculate, but we know that Christ was the greatest morning star, so he was there. Since Lucifer is synonymous with morning star we may assume that he was there singing. It is indeed ironical that the two greatest enemies in the in the Kingdom once sang together with joy.

Lucifer literally means "lightbringer." The morning brings light. The morning star or Venus heralds the morning. The Amplified Bible actually translates the Greek word for lightbringer as the morning star in 2 Peter 1:19. Thus it would be the same as translating Lucifer as "morning star".

The fact that Satan was called a lightbringer or morning star gives a hint as to his calling while he was in heaven. The word "light" not only applies to that which is seen by physical eyes, but may best be defined as anything that brings knowledge to the mind. If we increase our knowledge we say our minds are enlightened, they have received light. The most logical conclusion then is that Lucifer's job was to bring light and truth from the source of light, God, and teach the sons of God. If this were the case then all were not lightbringers, but a few of the sons of God received the calling while the majority were students. We may conclude then that those who sang together were those who provided much of the leadership when the foundations of the earth were laid. This would include the prophets and spiritual leaders throughout history. Revelations 2:26-28 states that those who gain the position of morning stars will be great rulers. Christ states that to him that overcomes he will give the morning star even as he received it from his father. This hints that the word "morning" or bringer of light could refer supremely to the Father. Thus when Isaiah called Lucifer son of the morning he could have been referring to him as a son of God.

If Satan was not once an honorable son of God what was he doing in heaven with an honorable name as Lightbringer? The book of Job gives further evidence: "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them." (Job 1:6) This scripture is ambiguous in meaning. Either the author meant that Satan sneaked in with the sons of God, or that he came because be was one of them. Whatever the case, it is an evidence that he was once called such.

It may clarify things to understand the scriptural meaning of the term "son of God," for it is used both literally and figuratively. We know that we are all literal sons of God in the spirit, and when the scriptures speak of Christ as the son of God it is literally true physically and spiritually for he was conceived by the power of God. Other times the term is used figuratively to portray a Father-Son relationship between God and man.

A son is one who is to become like his father. A puppy does not grow up to be like a man so he cannot be called a son of man even in a figurative sense. The same applies to man. If he does not acquire the spiritual traits of godliness he will not be a son in the figurative sense because he will lose his potential of being like his father.

If one gains characteristics of Satan and begins to become like him then the devil is his father. (John 8:41-44) But "as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God [...] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." (Rom 8:14,17) Thus we are figuratively sons when we walk in the light to the extent that we strive to obey the commandment: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt 5:48) Thus we become" heirs of God" and grow to be like our true Father. This is the meaning John applied to the term: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God and it doeth not appear what we shall be?" In other words it is obvious that "we shall be like him for we shall see him he is." (1 John 3:2).

This is the type of son which Satan shall never be in this creation for he lost his capacity to become like God; nevertheless, his spirit like all others was begotten by God.

More information is to be found about Satan in the 28th Chapter of Ezekiel. Here he is symbolically represented by the prince of Tyrus. Evidence that it is the adversary is found in the statement:  "Thou hast been in the garden of God." (Verse 13) Ezekiel gives a description of him as he was before he fell:  "Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty [...] every precious stone was thy covering [...] the workmanship of thy tabrets and thy pipes was prepared for thee in the day thou wast created (He was a musician which is further evidence that he was in the choir with the morning stars.) [... ] thou wast upon the holy mountain of God [...] thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast created until iniquity was found in thee." ( erses 12-15) Such a description indeed fits one who was endowed with power and authority, one whose purpose it is to bring light and understanding to his brethren.

One may wonder why the son of the morning fell:  "Thine heart was lifted up because of beauty, thou bast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." (Verse 17) The son of the morning was one of the most beautiful in all heaven to look upon. Undoubtedly he was greatly admired. This was something he began to expect from his brethren and looked upon himself as better than they. He began to "exalt his throne above the stars (sons) of God."(Isaiah 14:13) He wanted them to look upon him as they looked upon the Father. "I will become like the most High," (Verse 14) he said.

As Ezekiel said his wisdom was corrupted because of his brightness. In his corrupted wisdom he challenged the position of the Most High and the great family in heaven listened to that challenge. Then there was a great division among the hosts of heaven. Those who thought the lightbringer was right in his challenge separated themselves from those who remained true to the Most High. "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; (the devil) and the dragon fought and his angels. And prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven. 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." (Rev 12:7-9)

The number Satan influence and deceived was great indeed. They numbered one third of the stars, or the family in heaven. (Rev 12:4) Christ said that Satan is a liar and the father of it so undoubtedly he used many lies to get his following. Possibly he received such a great following because the sons of God had never been lied to before and were not expecting to be deceived. Thus the opposition was confusing causing many to err.

Presently the devil and his angels arc going "to and fro in the earth, and...walking up and down. it." (Job 1:7)

They go about looking for susceptible people who lean heavily on their physical senses hoping to deceive them. They work desperately for they have a great horror in their breasts for the day of judgement, and their only satisfaction is making others miserable like themselves.

The fact that the followers of Satan as well as himself knew Christ when they were in heaven is shown by their words just before being cast out of a man by Jesus, "Let us alone," they said. "What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us, I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God." (Luke 4:34)

Peter calls these devils "the angels that sinned." (1 Peter 4:2) Jude calls them "The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation. (Jude 6) An interesting thing here is the mention of a "first estate". Reasoning again, if there is mention of a first there must be a second and possibly a third. Indirectly Jude says that the first estate was the habitation that the fallen angels left. Numerous references tell us this was the abode of God. This heavenly place is the first estate.