Death, Hell, and the Power of Satan

Satan's name in prophesy represents priests who are shown the truth of God's word, yet they continue to promote the teachings of their religion. Until God arises to punish and correct them, priests will have the power to decide what their congregation will be taught (Jeremiah 36:23). This is Satan's power: and it is his decision, which is why Satan's power will affect the congregation. “Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Revelation 2:10).”

“I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven (Luke 10:18).” According to the scriptures Satan will be cast out of heaven, so the question is, how will Satan be cast out of God's house? “How can Satan cast out Satan (Mark 3:23)?” As the Holy Spirit begins to spread the truth of the covenant message into the hearts of believing priests, they will perceive the truth, and they will rise up and promote it before their congregations. “If Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end (Mark 3:26).” By shining forth the truth of God's word, believing priests will cause religion's mistakes to have an end. “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works (2Corinthians 11:14-15).”

If priests choose to serve religion and disregard the covenant message, they will lose their right to eat at God's table (Romans 10:3). “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle (Hebrews 13:10).” God will correct their rebellious ways. He will pour pestilence upon some of them, and others will cast out of his presence. Why are they rebelling against God's word, and why do they persist in provoking God to wrath? Was Christ's work in vain? God manifested Jesus and brought him forth a second time to cause believers to have victory over religion's mistakes. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (1John 3:8).” “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments (Ephesians 2:15).”

When Jesus walked the earth, he showed believers God's answer to the parable of Satan. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there was no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44)." In other words, Jesus allowed the rebuke of his words to verify that religious authorities and priests which walk in the lies and errs of religion, are those of whom the parable words, Satan, and the devil, apply. Think about it: many of the authorities and priests of Jesus' day were content with their common religious beliefs, therefore they set themselves against Jesus, and presumptuously believed that he was a false prophet who was misleading the people. Rather than studying God's word and listening to what Jesus had to say, these authorities sought to destroy Jesus' ability to persuade the people. “The scribes and chief priests sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine (Mark 11:18).” Jesus showed their hypocrisy before all people. “Ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham (John 8:40).” Through these occurrences Jesus prophesied that there are religious authorities and priests who do not know God, and they are so blinded by their religious beliefs that they do not fear disregarding the commandments of his word. “Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2:15).” Jesus revealed that Satan and his angles, fear change. “I forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast you into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him (Luke 12:5).”

The parable title, "the order of Melchisedec" applies to the mindset of priests which deem religion's laws to be unchangeable. So long as priests believe this way, and so long as they continue to promote religion's laws, there was no reason for God to change the name which applied to their ways (Hebrews 7:11-12). When priests do change their minds, and when they begin to persuade believers that salvation is based upon believing and doing God's covenant, then all the laws concerning salvation will melt away, and all believers will know that there is only one unchangeable law that is necessary for salvation. "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law (Hebrews 7:12)." When we promote the new covenant, then Jesus Christ will assume his rightful role as our great High Priest. “It is evident that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life (Hebrews 7:15-16).” When salvation is based upon keeping covenant with God, it remains forever steadfast, endless and unchangeable: this victorious new law removes Satan's power to deceive, or to make mistakes. “There is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof, for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did (Hebrews 7:18-19)."

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24)." Scripture refers to the act of abandoning personal comforts in order to serve the Lord, as death. "For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh (2Corinthians 4:11)." This type of death is sacrificial service, and it reaps the rewards of the Holy Spirit. Pastors will be delivered to this type of death as they assist others in understanding the covenant message. This is their service to God, and their service is sacrifice that is well pleasing to the Lord. "We are unto God a sweet savior of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish (2Corinthians 2:15)." Jesus Christ himself modeled this type of sacrificial behavior. “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life… No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again (John 10:17-18).”

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1Corinthians 15:26). Since the word, death, is associated with spiritual death, the interpretation of this verse could be that the last enemy to be destroyed is that of sacrificially working to declare Christ unto the nations. Whether it is destroying the lies which cause spiritual death, or whether it is destroying the need to declare God's word to the nations, end times is about obtaining victory over death! "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory (1Corinthians 15:54-55)?"

A good conclusion for this message is found in the book of Psalms. The setting of the second psalm depicts the times which surround the second coming of Christ. This is verified by the words, “God hath raised up Jesus again; as it is written in the second Psalm (Acts 13:33).” This psalm indicates that end times will be a time of confusion, wherein mighty leaders will be setting themselves against God, and against his word, and God will judge them for their mistake. "The kings of earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed... He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure (Psalms 2:4-5)." The psalmist concluded the psalm by insinuating that priests and their followers could avoid God's correction by receiving the instruction of his message. "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him (Psalms 2:10-12)."