Spiritual Beings Part 2

RECAP

YHWH is not the only God, but his the Most High God, the only authoritative God, the creator of all other gods.

The Hebrew word “Elohim” is the most common Hebrew term for god/dirty, but it is not the only word. It is a lengthened, plural form of the ancient Semitic word for deity, which is “el.” This word is not a name but a title that describes a type of being, namely, an inhabitant of the spiritual realm.

Elohim is used around 2750 times in the Hebrew Bible. It can be used in the plural sense for “gods” and also to refer to the one God of Israel (plural of majesty).

There is a spiritual realm out there that parallels the earthly one. There are spiritual beings, Elohim, who carry out God’s plans on his behalf to spread goodness and beauty and wisdom throughout creation. There are also rebellious spiritual beings who seek to redefine good and evil for themselves, to be worshiped and honored as the Elohim of man.

The human created role is to stand above these Elohim in the hierarchy of God’s rule. We are not only called to be the stewards of God’s earthly realm; we are also not to be ruled over or controlled by any spiritual being by YHWH himself.

Psalm 8 shows how later biblical authors understood God’s purposes in placing humanity in the high Eden temple. They saw humanity as being made to rule as God’s image over all creation, including over the other spiritual beings. The poem is a meditation on the creation story of Gen. 1:1-2:3. Notice how it depicts humans as being “lower” than Elohim. Some translations render this word “God.” Given that verses 3 and 4 contrast humans made of dust with the skies, the moons and stars, it makes much more sense to see the word “Elohim” as referring to the host of heaven, that is, the spiritual beings appointed to rule. Humans are appointed to rule over the works of God’s hands. In Verse 3, the works of God’s fingers refers to the host of heaven.

The Divine Council includes spiritual beings who follow the purpose and plan of YHWH, who commune with God and have independent wills and thoughts (Some were cast from heaven when they rebelled).

Just like earthly kings, God is a heavenly kings with a heavenly staff team to works to carry out his vision in the world.

Psalm 89:5-7 - Assembly of holy ones, the sons of God, the council of holy ones, none compare to YHWH God of hosts.

Job 1:6-7 - The sons of God come to present themselves before YHWH

Job 15:7-8 - Is Job Adam? Has he participated in the divine council? Is he the source of wisdom?

God is consistently depicted on his heavenly throne, surrounded by his staff team who participate in discussing and then carrying out God’s plans. The divine throne room is the place from which YHWH governs the world with his heavenly council, the place where YHWH’s decrees directing the human community and the divine world are set forth and through whom they are communicated or enacted.

Isa. 6:1-8 - vision of divine throne room with YHWH surrounded by spiritual beings. YHWH speaks of himself and the council.

APPLICATION:

There is an order and design to the way in which God works throughout human history. He is not alone. YHWH employs spiritual beings to bring about his goodness and the right ordering of things, in partnership with faithful humans. While we have a tendency to worship and bow to any spiritual being, it is important to remember that you, as a human, have a special place in God’s heart. We worship God not merely because of his power above all others, but know our place under God and above his spiritual servants.

Revelation 22:6–9 CSB

Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

THE REBELS

On the Rebellion in the Council

Gen 3 - a rebel divine council member lures God’s images into a rebellion

Gen 6 - more divine council members rebel and try to restore eternal life to humans by impregnating women

Gen 10-11 - more divine council members rebel and lure Babylon into a rebellion, giving birth to the scattered nations who worship idol-gods.

Prophets and leaders throughout the OT continually refer to the rebellion in Gen 10-11. The compare the past actions of humans to current events, and it is often in connection with the worship of spiritual beings or the actions of spiritual forces.

Deut 4:16-20 - People worship the host of heaven, but not Israel

Deuteronomy 32:8-9 - Remember when YHWH allotted the nations according to the number of sons of Elohim. For YHWH’s portion is his people, Jacob his own allotment.

Isaiah 14:11-15 - the “king” of Babylon is this great rebel who desires to rule above the stars of God and sit on the mount of the assembly and ascend above the heights of the clouds and be like the Most High. But YHWH says he will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.

Psalm 82 - God responds to rebellious Elohim by assigning them to judgment and death “like humans” (Gen. 6:3)

APPLICATION:

The rebels of the Spiritual realm are not all that different from the rebels of the earthly realm. They crave self-worship, to be like God to determine right or wrong for themselves. Their rebellion is final, unlike ours, and this makes them dangerous, but not to feared.

Demons

Ezekiel 28:6-17 - King of Tyre claims to be a god, but is not, then YHWH compares him to a spiritual rebel cherubim who inhabited Eden.

Genesis 6:4 - Nephelim, giant warriors from ancient times (Epic of Gilgamesh)

Numbers 13:32-33 - Nephelim are sons of Anak

Deuteronomy 9:1-2 - Anakites

Joshua 11:21-22 - Anakites destroyed except for those in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod

1 Samuel 17:4 - Goliath is from Gath

Nephelim: violent and tall warrior kings who spread death and terror throughout the ancient war, born out of a spiritual rebellion.

Rephaim: surviving spirits in the realm of the dead. Corrupted spiritual beings (2 Peter 2:4-5; Jude 6-7)

Isaiah 26:13-14 - Rephaim do not rise because YHWH punished them

Isaiah 14:9 - Rephaim greet the dead

Psalm 88:4-5 - Rephaim greet the dead

Satan

Throughout Jesus mission of announcing the arrival of God’s kingdom, he made perfectly clear that his advisory was not a human, but rather the spiritual powers of evil who are represented by one particular being.

The biblical authors offer subtle clues where this being is at work behind the scenes, animating division and hatred between humans. They also use a variety of images to describe this being. It’s a snake, or a sea dragon, or a dark desert creature, or the king of death and the grave. He’s also given many titles like, “tempter,” or “the evil one,” or “the devil,” which in Greek means “the slanderer.”

“Satan” is not a name; it’s another one of these titles, which is why in Hebrew, it has the word “the” in front of it. “The satan” means “the adversary” because he isn't for anything; rather, he’s anti-everything, working through lies to drag us back into darkness and disorder.

The devil, or the Satan (Matt 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13)

Beelzebul: the Lord of the House (Matt. 12:24)

Ruler of demons (Luke 11:15)

Power of darkness (Luke 22:53)

When Jesus goes about announcing the good news of the Kingdom of God, he regularly confronts spiritual beings who terrorize humans, physically and mentally (Matt 4:23-24)

The Adversary looks for humans to devour, but the faithfulness of God allows us to stand firm and resist.

Satan is not the Ruler of Hell - YHWH is.

Satan does not even inhabit hell, yet.

Psalm 139:7–8 CSB

Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

Colossians 1:15–18 CSB

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.

Revelation 20 - The rebellion will be crushed once and for all; Hell is ultimately a prison from which the Adversary and his followers will never escape.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS?

Ephesians 1:18–23 CSB

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Ephesians 6:10–17 CSB

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.

TRUST JESUS

RESIST BY FAITH

BE ALERT, BUT DO NOT FEAR