The Adversary

In the book of Genesis we learn, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth... and God saw that it was good." The earth was 'good' by God's standards, paradise itself!

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:8-9, 16-17)

For a time Adam and Eve lived in this paradise, obeying the simple, straight commandment of God. Eternal peace and abundance were theirs, the free gift of God, so long as their lives continued to be governed by His perfect law.

But then an adversary of God, and of those who would live this life, came upon the scene...

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:1-5)

Note that this 'serpent' did not 'possess' the minds of Eve or Adam, or otherwise compel them to break God's commandment - it reasoned with them, consulted, discussed alternatives to obeying God's simple law. Adam and Eve themselves decided to commit the act of disobedience after considering the alternatives presented.

But who, or what was this 'serpent'? It is not called by a proper name, such as 'Satan', and there is no indication that it was a 'devil', a 'demon' or 'spirit' being of any kind. The word here translated 'serpent' is Strong's 5175, which is derived from Strong's 5172, 'nachash', which means 'a whisperer', and it is thought that it has taken the meaning of a serpent because of the 'hisss..', or whisper of serpents. More likely, this is an indication of the mild, soft-spoken manner in which this individual reasoned with Adam and Eve - a real politician!

Now through out the rest of scripture, and human history, men come into contact with such an adversary, or such adversaries, although they are nowhere else called serpents. But in the book of Revelation we are told that this is indeed the same adversary that is called "that old serpent" and also called "the Devil and Satan", which is also the same as "the dragon" which is spoken of only in the book of Revelation. Note the curious wording, "called the Devil and Satan.."

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. (Revelation 12:9)

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2)

Now we know there are no devils and demons in the popular sense (see Doctrines of Devils, More Doctrines of Devils). And a study of 'Satan' (see Satan Who? Mr. Satan?), and the dragon of Revelation in particular, shows that this adversary is nothing other than the collective will of men! "Group-think", men reasoning and acting together on their own collective will - in opposition to God's law! And we may clearly see that this is what happened in the Garden of Eden!

Eve acting alone never defied God! Eve reasoning with another, whoever it was, did defy God! Adam acting alone never defied God. Adam in consultation with Eve and another did defy God! The third party is refered to as "the serpent" both here and in the book of Revelation, but this was no reptile - and no 'demon' either - although it is also "called the Devil and Satan"!

Men acting collectively, as a group, are the adversary of righteous men of God! This is a constant theme of scripture, and of history!

For example, consider that when the children of Israel rebelled at Mount Sinai and Moses asked Aaron why he had made the golden calf, his reply was effectively, "I gave the people what they wanted...". When David numbered, or polled the people it was a great sin because his authority to govern came from God, NOT popular opinion! When Christ was crucified, although the judge found Him innocent and washed his hands of the matter, the crowd shouted, "Crucify him!", and they had their way! The collective will of men, whatever the setting, always opposes God's will!

Conversely, the constant calling of righteous men is, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you...".

Today, in the end of this world, it is greater democracy only which is recognized as the basis of all 'legitimate' government. Democracy, "the will of the people", is the dragon that gives all such life destroying governments of men their "power, ... seat, and great authority". The collective will of men is the adversary of God's perfect law and of the government of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

When Jesus Christ arrives in power to assume the reigns of government and "rule the nations with a rod of iron", there will be no elections, no polls, no political dialog, no legislating of law by men, no commitees, no officers - armed thugs - enforcing the will of the people - no adversary to lead or compel righteous individuals away from God's perfect law! Only those that willingly obey God's perfect commandments, as opposed to men's will or laws, will remain.

Paradise... again!

Do you believe in democracy, 'majority rule', the wisdom of the electorate?

Do you recognize any authority of men to write and enforce law?

Do you really think 'it takes a village'?

If so, await your fate in fear you messenger of 'Satan', that old serpent, you adversary of righteous men!