Garden of Eden – Bible Truth for Today https://101info.org Brother Mike Valles Thu, 21 Sep 2023 04:22:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 192660109 More Doctrines to Stand On – The Nature of Angels: Good and Evil https://101info.org/more-doctrines-to-stand-on-the-nature-of-angels-good-and-evil/ https://101info.org/more-doctrines-to-stand-on-the-nature-of-angels-good-and-evil/#respond Thu, 21 Sep 2023 11:30:03 +0000 https://101info.org/?p=12556 Read More »]]> Angels are mentioned throughout the Bible. The first appearance is of the evil angel – Satan – in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). He was allowed to visit the Garden in order to tempt the new couple. No doubt he had been observing them for some time to learn how to tempt them – which he was successful at. At the end of that same chapter, cherubim are posted around the Garden to keep humans from the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:24).

There are several types of angels mentioned in the Bible. The word “angel” can be used to refer to both good and evil angels (Satan is called an “angel of light” in II Cor. 11:14). We are told about the cherubim and the seraphim, and the four beasts that surround the Throne of God. Only the names of two good angels are known – Michael and Gabriel.

The Bible does not reveal exactly when the angels were created. It is known that they were present at creation and saw at least some of it happen, according to Job 38:6,7. In those verses, the angels are called the “sons of God.”

Sometime after creation, Satan fell. He was God’s wisest and most beautiful being. His sin was that he was not satisfied with his given position and desired to be worshiped as God (Isaiah 14:12-14) – wanting to usurp His position. When he transgressed, he took one-third of the angels with him.

As far as Satan’s power goes today, he is no match for the power of God. Jesus said He saw Satan fall as lightning from Heaven (Luke 10:18). God gives us His armor which can completely protect us from all of Satan’s darts (temptations – Ephesians 6:10-18). Satan’s power is limited by God for our protection – but he is still smarter and more powerful than we are, which means we can still fall to his deceptions and lies. Some angels (locust demons) are bound in the “bottomless pit” (Hell) now (Revelation 9:1-3).

God’s good angels – which are never mentioned as being female or little cherubs! – are always present around the believer (Psalm 34:7). Although invisible, they interact with humans all the time, and some may take on human form and appear briefly for some Divine purpose (Hebrews 13:2). We may never know how often they have helped us!

Angels are much stronger than humans – one killed 185,000 soldiers in one night! They are never to be worshiped! Hollywood’s depiction of angels and demons is a farce and far from reality. We must get our truth from the Word of God.

After believers are in glory, Paul tells us that we shall judge angels (I Corinthians 6:3). What their ministry will be after we get to glory is unknown.

The Lord Jesus Christ was never an angel and Lucifer is not His brother – both are blasphemous lies of the Devil. Also, Satan is not the Master of Hell – Jesus is and He has the keys (Revelation 1:18).

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Where the Christmas Story Begins https://101info.org/where-the-christmas-story-begins/ https://101info.org/where-the-christmas-story-begins/#respond Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:00:24 +0000 https://101info.org/?p=1268 Read More »]]> Between now and Christmas, I will be providing thoughts related to Christmas and the birth and work of Christ. These can be shared as a devotional with your family – one each day. If you use it in this way, let me know – I would be glad to hear from you.

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It may seem like a strange place to start talking about Christmas, but the Christmas story really started in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve enjoyed life in the Garden, and it was without problems – no sickness, food problems, storms, or death.

Tone day, the serpent came and approached Eve, and tempted her to eat the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3). She yielded and gave her husband some of it, too. God had forbidden it and warned of death if they ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Just as God had promised, Adam and Eve did die that day – in their spirit. This meant that communication with God would not be possible as it was before. The earth was cursed and the couple was punished.

Along with that curse, though, God gave a special promise. It is found in Genesis 3:15, and says: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

When this promise was given, God was cursing the serpent (which Satan used to get to Eve) for his evil work. The above promise focuses on “thy seed and her seed.” This refers to Satan and his followers and Christ. It promises that Christ will one day destroy Satan (“bruise thy head”), and that Satan would hurt Christ – but not fatally (“bruise his heel”).

Ever since the promise was given by God, believers have been looking for a Savior. He would be One that would reverse the curse and destroy Satan.

The first promise of a coming Savior was added to by additional promises from God made from time-to-time through the prophets. Many in Israel knew He was coming and were looking for Him to come through the centuries, and one day – when it was time – He came: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law” (Galatians 4:4).

The nativity story is all about God fulfilling a promise that He had made several millennia ago. This is where any account of the birth of Jesus must begin. It was all done so that man might be brought back into fellowship with God through what His Son Jesus would do on the Cross.

Do you know Him yet? Follow this link to learn more about the salvation He offers?


You might also want to see: The Prophecy of the Savior’s Unique Birth

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