Defeating the Deceiver

Submitted by Michael S, Dec 23, 2016 at 08:44

Hi, Lynn. You said,

"We know the answer because for many it is the center of the world. The deceiver must make us fail in spirit because it is the only thing worth fighting for. The only thing that can win against total evil is total good and we fail every time. We need to pray."

I think you might be assuming that the readers can see things between the lines here; but I'm not sure they (or I) can. I don't think we DO know "the answer", because, as you say, a "deceiver" is at work. That deceiver is not the mainstream media, not the political and business insiders, and not academia. The deceiver is inside of us, lurking in the shadows and calling himself "Me". He is, of course, the Devil aka the "Father of Lies" aka the "Accuser of the Brethren".

Is the Middle East at the "center" of the world? For Westerners like Daniel Pipes and us, the "center" of the world is closer to Washington, DC or New York City -- places so associated with us, that they were the targets of the 9/11 attacks: The world's financial center, what was once its biggest and tallest building; and also the Pentagon, the center of a military might unprecedented in human history.

What is the Middle East the "center" of? It is the center of our history, our culture and, most importantly, our historic religions. Specifically, Jerusalem, particularly the Temple Mount, is designated by the God of Israel in the Bible as the place where he chooses to place His name. It is God's home address: a place revered by those who revere Him, and hated by those who hate Him (and there is NO middle ground).

We must pray, certainly; and I do. More to the point, though, if we are to defeat the Devil, here is the prescription:

Rev. 12:
[9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
[10] And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
[11] And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The word "testimony" is translated from "μαρτυριας" -- "marturias", akin to our word "martyr". In Christianity, the term is inextricably connected with the persecution, torture and death of the early saints BECAUSE OF THEIR TESTIMONY of the gospel. So close is this connection, that the mainstream media regularly calls Islamist suicide bombers "martyrs" because they do willingly give their lives for their cause. Note carefully, though, that Christian martyrs were not bombers nor violent people, as these Muslims are. Christian martyrs were persecuted and killed unjustly, in return for no act of evil on their part other than their faith in the gospel. It is this martyrdom which we are called to share: That is how the Devil will be defeated in these last days.

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