He Fills the Earth with War; Not a Cherub; Satan Hoarding Gold; Corrupt Higher Knowledge

There are some profound truths in Isaiah and Ezekiel regarding satan, the enemy of humanity. When we look at those two sections in the Septuagint, which was written by Hebrew scribes under the direction of the High Priest during the time of Nehemiah’s temple around 300 BC, we find an interesting picture that we haven’t been shown before. It would seem that this picture involves gold, wars, narcissism due to self-love, and spiritual seed. Satan also thinks in his heart like humans were created to do. We also find out that some of the things we thought about satan are not quite true, and it seems that we thought he was bigger and brighter than he actually was. We also see where he was created. Both the Isaiah and Ezekiel accounts use the same words about satan being tossed off the mountain, and both mention satan will not abide into the full cycle of time or the eons. 

Some people contend that this section in Isaiah is written regarding one of the kings of Babylon, which it is; but there is a deeper meaning here. Let’s gain a bit of perspective in a timeline of historical events. Isaiah started writing this around 792 BC. Then the Northern kingdom went into captivity around 740 BC. Uzziah died around 736 BC and this is when Isaiah writes about his heavenly vision. One hundred and fifty three years after the Northern kingdom goes into captivity the Southern kingdom is overcome by Babylon in 587 BC. This is the approximate time that Ezekiel wrote chapter 28. Ezekiel wrote mostly from Babylon in southeastern Iraq. But at the time of Isaiah’s writing, Babylon was ruled by Ninurta-alpha –x, having just come out of captivity from Assyria and not significant on her own. Babylon’s next king, Marduk-bel-zeri, ruled for 10 years; then Babylon went back under Assyria, but eventually Nabu-nasir took back control of Babylon in 748 BC. Therefore we have to look a little deeper as to who this king of Babylon might be. The parallel is a comparison of satan, but also of a king of Babylon. Both are referred to as the evening star, Hesperus, falling from heaven.

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/10/satan-venus-hesperus-evening-star.html

Isaiah 14:12G4459O how G1601[³fell G1537⁴from out of G3588⁵the G3772⁶heaven G3588¹the G2193.1²morning star] -- G3588the one G4404[² by morning G393¹rising]; G4937[⁷was broken G1519⁸unto G3588⁹the G1093¹⁰earth G3588¹the one G649²sending G4314³to G3956⁴all G3588⁵the G1484⁶nations].

http://studybible.info/ABP_Strongs/Isaiah%2014

Who is the one crushing in pieces all the ethnos (nations), sending them out on the earth? There wasn’t a significant king of Babylon in that time period, and the future kings of Babylon did not crush all the nations; there were plenty of nations and tribes that were not affected by those Babylonian kings. However, the first king of Babylon, Nimrod, did scatter the people all over the earth. The one behind the first king, Nimrod, was satan. The first king of Babylon enslaved people and wanted to associate himself as a god, and Orion the mighty. He wanted to ascend to the “heights” and attempted to build a tower to avoid any more floods. Instead he was cast down and eventually killed by an heir of Abraham. He, Nimrod, was cast down, just like Hesperus. He was only little in comparison to the other planets, and upon falling, broken, he did not ascend, and he instead descended. Even the Rephaim, the former giants known as the living dead, or in a modern vernacular, Zombies, are excited by Nimrods death. In light of that, if we read chapter 14 in context we now understand that Nimrod was the earthly king, but satan is the spiritual king spoken of here. As a parallel, satan too is fallen, cast out of the upper heavens, bound to the lower heavens. Satan scatters all the people because he is jealous of the glory of man. Satan did not want to bow to Adam as we know.  

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/04/zombies-rephaim-valley-of-hinnom.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/11/gods-among-men-unraveling-satan.html

Isaiah 14:13G1473But G1161 G2036you said G1722in G3588 G2588your heart, G1473 G1519Unto G3588the G3772heaven G305I shall ascend; G1883[³uponG3588⁴the G792⁵stars G3588⁶of the G3772⁷heaven G5087¹I will put G3588 G2362²my throne]; G1473 G2523I shall sit G1722on G3735[²mountain G5308¹a high], G1909upon G3588the G3735[²mountains G3588 G5308¹high] G3588 G4314towards G1005the north;

We studied that humans have two centers for thought; the mind, and the heart. Apparently satan has a kardia (heart) where he thinks as well. In his heart he thought, ‘Into the heavens I will ascend, above the stars of heaven I will establish my potentate’s throne. Then I will sit on the lofty mountain, upon the lofty mountain towards the North wind’. It seems like both Nimrod and satan have said the same thing in their hearts, they both wanted to ascend and be like Yahweh. Borrhas is the Greek word translated, “north wind” or “borealis”, as in the Aurora Borealis. Aurora Borealis is the northern lights, while the Aurora Australis is the southern lights. This gives us a compass so to speak. It points to the North Star or the story that is in the circle of the heavens. 

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/10/mind-of-heart-ignorance-calloused.html

Isaiah 14:14G305I will ascend G1883upon G3588the G3507clouds; G1510.8.1I will be G3664likened G3588to the G5310highest. 15G3568But now G1161 G1519[²into G86³Hades G2597¹you shall go down], G2532and G1519intoG3588the G2310foundations G3588of theG1093earth

These two individuals believed in their hearts that they will ascend above the clouds. Nimrod did build a tower, right? They both believed they would be equal in rank to the highest or loftiest heavens or the supreme God. But into hades, into the substruction of the earth they go. Nimrod took the first trip to Hades, and while satan used to have control over Hades, Jesus took back the keys to hell and death; and satan will eventually, after the millennial reign, be eliminated in the lake of fire.

Isaiah 14:16G3588The ones G1492beholding G1473you G2296shall wonder G1909over G1473you, G2532and G2046shall say, G3778Is this G3588the G444man G3588 G3947provoking G3588the G1093earth, G3588the one G4579shaking G935kings;

The ones who know and remember satan and Nimrod marvel over them and ask ‘is this the man-faced one provoking and exasperating the earth and shaking kings?’ The man, Nimrod, and the spiritual ruler, satan both provoke the earth.

Isaiah 14:17G3588the one G5087making G3588the G3611inhabitable world G2048desolate, G2532and G3588 G4172[²its cities G1473 G2507¹demolished]; G3588the ones G1722in G520.1enslavement G3756he did not loose. G3089 

Satan made the occupied earth a desert. Remember the word for “world”, kosmos, is “orderly arrangement, decoration, and adornment”. The world was decorated for mankind not for satan.  Nimrod king of Babylon did not make the whole inhabitable world desolate, or a wilderness, only satan did that. Both satan and Nimrod destroyed cities and enslaved humans and didn’t release or untie the enslaved.

Yahweh scattered the people by giving them all different languages, calling that place confusion, or babel. Only satan, who is the god of this world, the prince of this world, and is also known as the prince of the power of the air, makes the whole decorated world desolate. Satan has also enslaved all humans to his world order. Nimrod was not that powerful. In verse 19 we have another diversion from the Masoretic texts.

Isaiah 14:19G1473But you G1161 G4495shall be tossed G1722in G3588the G3735mountains G5613as G3498dead, G948being abhorred G3326with G4183many G2348having died G1574being stabbed G3162by a sword, G2597going down G1519into G86Hades.

“Tossed out of the mountains as dead” is interesting, we will see this idea in Ezekiel shortly. Satan is detested and loathed, with many who are dying, and pierced through with a sword, and are descending into Hades or Pluto. Both satan and Nimrod incited wars so that many humans are lost to Hades. Also if we remember verse 12, satan as Hesperus, or Venus, being cast out to Pluto, would tell us that satan will be far from what he originally wanted. Instead of ascending up with the big planets, he falls; being small and weak, and will be tossed to the outer limits of what we can see.   

Isaiah 14:20G3739In which G5158manner G2440a garment G1722[²by G129³blood G5445.4¹being befouled] G3756shall not be G1510.8.3 G2513clean, G3779so G3761not even G1473shall you be G1510.8.2 G2513clean; G1360because G3588 G1093[²my land G1473 G622¹you destroyed], G2532and G3588 G2992[²my people G1473 G615¹killed]; G3766.2in no way G3306should you abide G1519into G3588the G165eon G5550of time -- G4690[²seed G4190¹O evil].

Just like a blood soaked garment is unclean forever, so are Nimrod and satan. Satan destroyed Yahweh’s land, Yahweh’s creation. Satan destroyed Yahweh’s people, all the ethnos, all the people of the earth. What Nimrod did was start the mystery religion, but satan was behind its inception and its spread. Nimrod was the first one to start a social campaign to make people feel badly if they believed that Yahweh helped them. Or in other words, Nimrod made it shameful to believe on and rely on Yahweh. In no way should either Nimrod or satan abide into the ages, eon, the cycle of time, being noted as evil seed.

Verse 21 gives us another alteration in the text. The idea that the earth should be filled with cities, is not quite right.

Isaiah 14:21G2090Prepare G3588 G5043your children G1473 G4969to be slain G3588for the G266sins G3588 G3962of their father! G1473 G2443that G3361they should not G450rise up G2532and G2816inherit G3588the G1093earth, G2532and G1705should fill up G3588the G1093earth G4171with wars.

“Make ready your offspring for slaughter for the sins of their father” holds the offspring responsible for their father. The humans who are of the evil seed, the spiritual seed of the satan, will not inherit the earth, they may rule the earth now, but they will not inherit the earth and not fill up the earth with wars. We don’t know why someone thought cities, where people live, are bad in and of themselves. The correct word is wars, meaning battles, disputes, or warfare.

Now this is interesting because the parallel comes together again here when we see the children being slain for the sins of their father. The sins of their father was not filling the earth with cities, but filling the earth with war. From the days of Jared, the fallen angels taught mankind about weaponry and how to war. Nimrod also was a man of war, also known as Amraphel of Shinar who went into battle with Chedorlaomer against Sodom (see Jasher 16). Jesus told the Pharisees that they were of their father the devil.

John 8:44 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 is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. KJV

The Greek texts say that satan is a man-killer from the beginning. The Pharisees were of their father the devil. Just as Nimrod was influenced by satan, and a spiritual seed of the evil one, so were the Pharisees, as Jesus points out. The fallen evening star is a man-killer, using Nimrod and others to lie and to cause men to kill each other.

The king of Tyre, Ithobaal III, was the king in the area of Phoenicia during the time of the southern kingdom going into captivity. He is a parallel to satan as well. Literally the king of Tyre was not in the paradise of God, but satan was before he was fallen as Hesperus. After listing all the different precious stones, we see something that was missed in our KJV translations.   

http://studybible.info/ABP_Strongs/Ezekiel%2028

Ezekiel28:13G1722[²in G3588³the G5172⁴luxury G3588 G3857⁵of the paradise G3588 G2316⁶of God G1096¹You were]; G3956[²every G3037⁴stone G5543³precious G1735.1¹you bound on] --G4556sardius, G2532and G5116topaz, G2532and G4665emerald, G2532and G440carbuncle, G2532and G4552sapphire, G2532and G2393jasper, G2532and G694silver, G2532and G5553gold, G2532and G3033.1amber, G2532and G884.1agate, G2532and G271amethyst, G2532and G5555chrysolite, G2532and G969beryl, G2532and G3689.3onyx. G2532And G5553with gold G1705you filled up G3588 G2344your treasuries G1473 G2532and G3588 G596your storehouses G1473 G1722among G1473you.

There is no discussion of “timbrels and pipes” in verse 13, but instead storehouses and treasuries filled with gold. This does not tell us that satan was a worship leader or even a worshipper. Instead it says he is stocking up on gold. That suggests greed. This is a clever distortion. Who is hoarding gold? The king of Tyre, and satan. Satan seems to be the one who enjoys precious stones and metals. Somehow we got the notion that satan was a singer, but that is not even suggested here. Oddly, the one thing regular people are told to do when religious leaders try to dominate and scare us regarding the markets and monetary systems is to stock up on gold. But satan hoards gold, and so we are told to hoard gold too? If we did hoard gold, someone would just steal it from us anyway.

The idea of satan as a worshipper in the temple is a misrepresentation that causes people to also think more highly of satan than he really is. This has brought into our culture, churches, and societies, all kinds of fairy tales. Then, across the board, we have some church groups that do not like secular music, some church groups do not believe in using instruments in their worship, and then some church groups make worship like a rock concert. If satan was not a worship leader then no one should fear worshipping incorrectly or listening to non-worship music. Maybe we should be more concerned with worship services that attempt manipulate people into an emotional experience with smoke and lights. And maybe the issue of instruments, or no instruments is not a concern at all.

Ezekiel28:14G575From G3739which day G2250 G2936you were created G2532and G2680were carefully prepared G3326with G3588the G5501.4cherub G5548being anointed G3844by G2316God, G2532and G3588 G2681encamping G1722in G4638the tent, G2532even G5087I put G1473you G1722on G3735[²mount G39¹ the holy] G2316of God; G1096you existed G1722among G3319the midst G3037of the stones G4447of fire.

This is interesting as satan was not created as an anointed cherub, but with or in consecutive order following the cherub. Instead of being a cherub he was created with the cherub. That is very different than what we all have been led to believe. It seems likely that satan would like to puff himself up, as in the story of Hesperus, he wants to be something that he is not. Just as the constellation of Scorpio was probably not the dominant constellation, as the sun on the ecliptic path only runs through Scorpio six days. Ophiuchus is the dominant constellation, as the sun on the ecliptic runs through Ophiuchus seventeen days. Doesn’t satan only have a six thousand year lease on the earth? So it seems possible in this distortion of his character that he wanted people to believe he was greater in power than he actually was. He is not an anointed cherub, but instead was created with or after the cherub. In other words, just to be clear, the cherub was created first, then satan was created. Satan was housed, or quartered in the temple. He was put on the sacred mountain and was birthed in the middle of the flaming stones. Well that is quite a story, obviously not a story of a human, but of a spiritual being. Here is a more literal idea.

From the day you (satan) were created and built, with or after the cherub, being anointed, you were alongside of God in the quarters of the tabernacle or the tabernacle dwelling. I even put you among the holy or sacred mountain or hill of God. You were born or came into existence among the middle of the flaming stones.

Ezekiel28:15G1096You were G1473 G299unblemished G1722in G3588 G2250your days G1473 G575of G3739which G2250day G2936you were created, G2193until G3739of which time G2147[³were found G3588¹the G92²offences] G1722in G1473you

Satan was born blameless, from the day in which he was manufactured until evil doings were found in him. Offences are “crimes or misdeeds”. Satan became a criminal. Satan had a job of some sort, and as we saw he was filling his storerooms with gold, he was doing it by lawlessness. It may be that the king of Tyre is also thought of here, but the preceding and following context would not support this being an earthly king.  

Ezekiel28:16G575From G4128the abundance G3588 G1711of your trade G1473 G4130you filled G3588 G5009your storerooms G1473 G458with lawlessness, G2532and G264sinned. G2532And G5135you were wounded G575from G3735the mountain G3588 G2316of God, G2532and G71[⁴led G1473⁵you G3588¹the G5501.4²cherub G3588 G4951.3³overshadowing] G1537from out of G3319the midst G3037of the stones G4447of fire.

This word for storerooms means “secret chamber” and the word for lawlessness means “illegality”, or a “violation of law”.  Verse 15 says satan was birthed in the middle of the fiery stones, and here in verse 17 he is led away wounded, out of the middle of the fiery stones. Who led satan away? The overshadowing cherub. Fascinating. The secret sin satan had was lawless trafficking, which caused him to be wounded and removed from the place of his creation, the middle of the stones of fire. Here is another literal look.

From the abundance of your trade or trafficking, you filled your secret chambers with illegality and sinned. You were wounded from off the mountain of God, led away by the overshadowing cherub, out from the middle of the fiery stones.  

This is such a different look at satan, isn’t it? Instead of being a big anointed overshadowing cherub he is a different created being, who was wounded and taken out from that portion of the heavenly realm. He had secret places where he did illegal things, but really nothing is a secret from Yahweh. Let’s go on.

Ezekiel28:17G5312[²was raised up high G3588 G2588¹Your heart] G1473 G1909over G3588 G2566.3your beauty; G1473 G1311[²was corrupted G3588 G1989.1¹your higher knowledge] G1473 G3326with G3588 G2566.3your beauty G1473 G1223because of G3588the G4128multitude G3588 G266of your sins. G1473 G1909[³upon G3588⁴the G1093⁵earth G4495¹I tossed G1473²you]; G1726[³before G935⁴kings G1325¹I put G1473²you] G3856to be made an example.

Heart is the word kardia, and as we noted earlier, “inner thoughts and intentions” is used just as in Isaiah. As we have studied previously, there are thoughts in the mind and thoughts in the heart, here it is specifically mentioned that satan’s heart was lifted up due to his beauty, and his higher knowledge was destroyed because of the large number of his sins. From our psychological understanding, it sounds like satan was beautiful which led him to narcissistic behavior, further leading to a lot of illegal sinfulness. Narcissists typically gather a following, manipulating others into believing in them. Narcissists hate those who do not follow them. That seems to explain a lot doesn’t it? The idea of one’s own beauty seems to cause one to think more highly of him or herself, and this led to the destruction of satan’s higher knowledge. Satan was tossed or hurled upon the earth in view of kings. Obviously, the king of Tyre was not birthed among the fiery stones and was not in the heavenly temple, nor tossed to the earth, but we could say that he may have thought of himself as beautiful. He might even have been a narcissist, as many kings and leaders are. But truly this section is hard pressed to be all about the king of Tyre. However, the spiritual father behind the king of Tyre fits this description very well. 

Ezekiel28:18G1223Because of G3588the G4128multitude G3588 G266of your sins G1473 G2532and G3588the G93iniquities G3588 G1711of your trade G1473 G953you profaned G3588 G2413your temples; G1473 G2532and G1806I will lead G4442fire G1537from out of G3319your midst, G1473 G3778this G2719shall devour G1473you; G2532and G1325I will put G1473you G1519for G4700ashes G1909upon G3588the G1093earth G1726before G3956all G3588the ones G3708seeing G1473you

Due to the large number of sins and injustice of his trafficking, satan polluted and violated the sacred. We don’t know exactly what “the sacred” is but some render it holy things or places. Yahweh will lead fire out from the middle, which will devour satan and will put him for ashes or embers upon the earth in the presence of all eyes. This will be after the millennial kingdom, when satan is thrown into the lake of fire.

Ezekiel28:19G2532And G3956all G3588the ones G1987knowing G1473you G1722among G3588the G1484nations G4768shall be gloomy G1909over G1473you; G684[²for destruction G1096¹you became], G2532and G3756you shall not G5224exist G2089any longer G1519into G3588the G165eon

The ethnos (the nations), who comprehend and are acquainted with satan, will be gloomy or somber over his destruction, not having property or possessions even into the cycle of time, the eon. We need to remember that satan was hoarding gold in storehouses and treasuries. He will not have any property or possessions into the ages. There are humans who know of satan, and follow his ways and they will be somber over his demise. Why, because satan has spiritual seed; remember from Isaiah, seed of evil. Following in their spiritual father’s footsteps, they will come to their own demise as well.

It is interesting that satan’s narcissistic self-love led to the corruption of his higher knowledge. Biblically, studying that phrase, some humans have higher knowledge, so that is not terribly unique to satan. But it seems that just as satan’s higher knowledge was corrupted by his narcissism, humans fall into that same trap. Thinking too highly of one’s self makes one neglect others in favor of self-satisfaction.

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. KJV

Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. KJV

By our own self-love we put a barrier between us and Yahweh. While man is made glorious, and man is made in the image of the Elohim, one man is not better than another, no matter one’s position, power, or outward appearance. There is just as much glory in the homeless person as the CEO. While clothing, manicures, and hairstyles, change the outward appearances, it is the Holy Spirit within us that Yahweh sees. This is one of our take-a-way’s, so that we do not fall into the same wrong thinking.

What we have seen is that satan hoards gold. He has spiritual children who do the same. He was not a cherub or the overshadowing cherub. He was created among the fiery stones, but was also hurled out of the place he was birthed. It was the overshadowing cherub that tossed him out of the stones of fire. Satan lived in the temple. He wanted to set his throne on the lofty mountains, but he was pierced and tossed to earth as dead. Satan was made beautiful. He lost his higher knowledge. He has thoughts in his heart. He had bad business practices and secret chambers. Because of his narcissism he has followers and spiritual children that will be disappointed in his eventual demise. Yet for now they fill the earth with wars. Satan and his evil seed destroy the land and people. They make the inhabitable world a desert and demolish cities. They provoke the earth.

If we take the ideas from the New Testament, and combine them with these ideas, we have a fuller understanding of our spiritual dilemma. We live under the domination of the prince of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world, and his spiritual children. It is then no wonder we have distortions in our text. When we look at these characteristics we have a good guide for ourselves as to not behave in this way. While satan had some great beginnings, birthed among the fiery stones, among all the precious stones, and living in the temple, he thought more highly of his beauty than he should have. Having become corrupted, satan then gathered a following to rule and reign with him but they will not live into the ages.