18–For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the GLORY that is to be revealed to us.
19–For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the SONS OF GOD.
20–FOR THE CREATION WAS SUBJECTED TO FUTILITY, NOT OF ITS OWN WILL, BUT BECAUSE OF HIM WHO SUBJECTED IT, in HOPE
21–that the creation itself also will be set free from its SLAVERY TO CORRUPTION into the FREEDOM OF THE GLORY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
HOPE here could be translated CONFIDENCE but probably is better understood as a reason or a purpose meaning it was not an accident but was planned. The disruption was not caused by God but was foreknown by God who causes all things to work together for good, Romans 8:28.
22–For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
23–And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY, Revelation 4:1.
THE CONTEST
Ephesians chapter 2:
1–And you WERE DEAD in the trespasses and sins
2–in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, the SPIRIT that is now at work in the SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE.
SONS here is translated CHILDREN in the KJV. CHILDREN AND SPIRIT are neuter gender words in English. SON has to do with maturity in this context. This context includes both genders and in a broader since would relate to unredeemable Evil Angels and means those who are well versed and committed to Evil which is what these REDEEMED, SAVED Ephesians had been BEFORE responding to the Gospel.
The PRINCE of this context is Satan with Prince meaning authority, having control over the power of the AIR. Air here is AER in the Greek and means the air that we breathe. The power of the air is then powers of the sky which is wind, water and lightning and its different forms such as tornados, hurricanes, blizzards and lightening caused forest fires to mention a few.
Satan used the POWERS OF THE AIR and the SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE in the attack to destroy the Prophet JOB.
It is very important here and in other portions to note that Satan is a renegade but useful to God for our learning and objectivity.
Jehovah God set the limits of destruction and did NOT INTERVENE in the Testing of Job or anyone else after the limits were set.
It is also very helpful to remember that our God is omniscient meaning He has FULL, ALL knowledge and He foreknows the outcome of EVERY CONTEST before it begins. God foreknew that JOB would PASS AND SURVIVE the testing. The details are recorded here for subsequent, following generations. Satan in his ignorance and foolishness challenged God’s omniscience and lost; however, many or most humans could not have passed this test, JOB 1:7-8.
Another man, Jesus of Nazareth passed the greatest test of all which is submission to the will of God his father, Matthew 26:39 and 27:46 leading to Calvary, Acts 2:22-23. Jesus is the only man who could have or would have passed that test and He was born for that purpose. He is the untarnished seed of Genesis 3:15, the Body of God, Hebrews 10:5 whose humanity was tempted as we are but yielded to the will of His Father only and did not sin becoming the pattern that we are being conformed to and will eventually be. Our problem is we drag around the old man of Sin and sometimes yield to the flesh. At our death or the Rapture we shed that body and get our new body, Romans 8:23 which is a Spiritual Body created to be righteous and then our transformation will be complete. In the meantime we rely on 1John 1:9.
Our testing is based upon our ability to resist. Our ability to resist comes from our intake of God’s Word the Bible and the indwelling Holy Spirit and our INTEGRITY, JOB 2:3, 1Corinthians 16:13, 1John 2:14, 1John 1:5-10.
JOB had 3 religious and very foolish friends and apparently one wise friend named ELIHU who had the indwelling Holy Spirit, Job 33:4-6 and possibly was the human writer of the book of JOB.
Job chapter 1:
JOB’s protection here was his integrity and knowledge of God and the limits placed on Satan that kept JOB alive, Job 2:3 and 6.
9–Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?
10–Have you not put a HEDGE around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and HIS POSSESSIONS HAVE INCREASED IN THE LAND.
HEDGE here is most probably Angels, Hebrews 1:13-14 who are very powerful even more so than Satan and his minions.
Mankind has been appointed by God to bear HIS, GOD’s IMAGE which probably was a BONE OF CONTENTION for Satan and 1/3 of the HOST OF HEAVEN.
Satan reasoned that the MORAL DESTRUCTION of the Human Race and finally the extinction of mankind would allow him to sit above the Stars of Heaven with Stars being a symbol for Angels, Isaiah 14:12-13, Revelation 1:20.
That exalted position belongs to Jesus Christ, Hebrews 1:6 meaning the two main contestants here are Jesus and Satan, Genesis 3:15. The victory for Jesus Christ was secured at Calvary by the obedience of Jesus to God His father leading to Calvary and subsequently the resurrection of Jesus to life everlasting, Revelation 1:18.
Jesus will take possession of His kingdom at Armageddon and Satan will go to Prison. One thousand, 1000 years later after a brief conflict Satan will be thrown into the LAKE OF FIRE where he will remain thru ought a never ending eternity with no pardon or opportunity to escape.
Satan’s miscalculation and subsequent REBELLION against the plan of God which is SIN will cost him everything with redeemed mankind probably replacing 1/3 of the HOST OF HEAVEN, SONS OF GOD not as Angels but as exalted, glorified humans made in the IMAGE OF GOD, Luke 20:34-36, Romans 8:28-30. In the military we would call 1/3rd of the Host of Heaven retired, open billets or open positions that need filling.
11–But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
Satan’s first mistake about JOB was assuming that JOB loved God because of JOB’s great riches but JOB loved God simply for who God was.
This is not a lovy-dovey kind of love but a DEEP RESPECT and appreciation, Romans chapter 1, John 15:13-15.
THIS WAS NOT a private challenge but a very public challenge with the Sons of God, Holy Angels aware and observing, Job 1:6 and Job 2:1, 1Timothy 5:21. The Eternal God is the only omniscient, all knowing being to ever exist. SO, everyone else learns by word and by observation and sometimes by participation that can be quite painful.
Currently, Satan is acting as Prosecuting Attorney in the 3rd heaven at the throne of God almighty with Jesus Christ as our Defense Attorney, Hebrews 8:1 and Revelation 12:7. 1John 1:5-10 is our JUSTIFICATION for those of us who use it.
12–And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So, Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13–Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
14–and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15–and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
16–While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
17–While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
18–While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
19–and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20–Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.
21–And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22–INALL THIS JOB DID NOT SIN OR CHARGE GOD WITH WRONG.
Apparently, JOB understood the attack was NOT coming from God and that God was NOT intervening to stop the injustice.
JOB thought that God was allowing him to be unjustly punished and his punishment was undeserved which it was, JOB 2:3.
Many people blame Almighty God for disasters such as school shooting’s and other terrorism that originates with Satan and Sons of Disobedience, Evil Mankind. They use terrorism to TAKE CONTROL which is their end objective. While it is true that God is not doing these things it is also true that God is not intervening to prevent many of these things meaning the bad decisions of people have self inflicted consequence. Evil mankind kill innocent people as well as each other in their quest to have DOMINION. Sooner or later they will cross each other and eliminate each other as they are thieves, murderers and liars. They cannot trust anyone, not even family.
1Timothy chapter 1:
18–This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the GOOD WARFARE,
19–holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
20–among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I HAVE HANDED OVER TO SATAN THAT THEY MAY LEARN NOT TO BLASPHEME.
These two have been turned over to the SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS that is run by Satan for his benefit but God’s purpose is the reformation of straying Christians. Still, some do not learn and die the sin unto MORTAL death, 1John 5:16-21 but they are saved and will enter the Eternal Kingdom minus rewards, Luke 16:10-12 and responsibilities, Romans 11:29. God has provided 1John 1:9 to cover our sins and restore us to fellowship. All believers are foreknown and called through the foreknowledge of God, Acts 13:48 and are subjects of discipline, Hebrews, 12:6-8.
1Corinthians chapter 5:
1–It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife.
2–And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you (disfellowship-expel-excommunicate).
3–For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.
4–When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5–YOU are to DELIVER THIS MAN TO SATAN for THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FLESH, so that his spirit MAY BE SAVED in the day of the Lord.
The ERV, Easy to Read Version translates MAY BE SAVED as WILL BE SAVED which fits the purpose of the context here.
Puberty gives rise to lust which is part of being HUMAN. The challenge here is to control lust and we sometimes fail. 1John 1:9 keeps us in fellowship and we move on. Discipline is meant to keep us moving toward righteousness. Extreme discipline is for those NOT regarding instruction. The TESTING OF JOB became a benefit to JOB and to those who heed the instruction of righteousness. We all have JOB testing which is part of the BEARING OF OUR CROSS with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
JOB learned that God is our benefactor and the creation exists by the will of God and not to worry about GLOBAL WARMING or EXTENSION OF ANY SPECIES and we will be extracted PRIOR TO FUTURE CALAMITIES, Revelation 3:7-13 and 4:1.
MOSES TO JESUS
MOSES TO JESUS