Unholy Spirit

Out in the wilderness, 2000+ years ago, under a sun which shines like inferno, we see two figures. First, there is Jesus of Nazareth; lips blistered, eyes sunk, looking as though he should drop from malnutrition after 40 days of fasting. Yet he stands tall, and does not waver as he speaks with the other. Who is the other? the Devil, of course, transforming master of temptation. He can be a dragon, a serpent, a shadow or a radiant angel. We see the angel now, looking amazingly healthy compared to the Christ. Jesus has spent the past forty days out here in the desert, in preparation for his upcoming ministry, and now he is being tested to the limit of his endurance. For while he is the Son of God, he is also a creature housed in flesh, and the flesh does have it's limits. That is the point of another post, but basically, in this desert scene we find Christ doing battle with, and triumphing over, all three aspects of the unholy trinity: the devil, the world, and the flesh. But rather than retell the whole story of Christ's temptations, I would like to bring up one particular moment:

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

While the extent of Satan's authority in this world sinks in, I'd like to draw your attention to John 16, where Christ makes two promises:

1. In the world ye shall have tribulation:
   
2. but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world

He also told the Roman Governor who sentenced him to crucifixion plainly that his kingdom is not of this world. Knowing that, campaigns such as the 700 club "Operation Prayer Shield" are to be brought into question. The idea of uniting church and state under the rule of this current state is foolish, yet that is exactly what's happening. Faith-based charities are getting federal funding, Our president's language is filled with religious words when he discusses "souls" and "evildoers". President Bush is, for all intents and purposes, the figurehead of the religious right, because he has confessed to being "born again" and he constantly peppers his speeches with his "Christianese". Yet president Bush is also a self-confessed spokesman for the upper class, the wealthiest 1% of America...so which master is he serving, exactly? God, or Money?

The answer is obvious: it's in the bank. Bush's allegiance is to the world, and thusly to the devil, no matter what he says.

So what exactly is this enemy we face, this false promise, this world system? According to Wikipedia, the word "World" evolved from two Olde English terms, "were" meaning man (as in werewolf), and "eld" meaning age. So it literally means the age of man. The empires in history are the boldest manifestation of the "spirit of the world". Mankind has lived throughout the ages in a tug-of-war between God and the devil. 1 Corinthians 2:12 says "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."

It astounds me that even though justice, mercy, love and truth are all forces that serve God, the world has been under the sway and influence of the devil. He is allowed only to impersonate God's goodness, never to duplicate it, so if any of us spent time really thinking about all that calls itself good, the liars would soon become very obvious to us. Unfortunately, people don't seem to want to think, or question, or stop and reassess. Instead, while we think that we are taking the path of least resistance, people throughout history support tyrant after tyrant which cause us to envy, hate, and make war on one another.

The unchanging truth is simple. Our only hope for peace is in learning to love one another. But most people seem to prefer patriotism over peace; selfish lies to the difficult truth, and the approval of our neighbors to the approval of God. Which is a great sign of the devil's astounding authority in the world. In Revelation 13, there is a prophecy of a final world empire, and it's ruler. When the empire first arises from the sea, Rev 13:2 says this:

The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

This empire is then described in full, and when the third beast, from the earth appears, it is said that he "exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf". This ties in the dragon, beast of the earth and the beast of the sea represent an "unholy trinity", which is represented by the dragon as the opposite of God the father, the Beast of the sea representing the unholy spirit, and the beast of the earth representing the Antichrist. This is a concept not taught by most end-times teachers, but it has support in the scriptures. I write more in depth on that subject in this post.

It is important to remember that the "spirit of the world" is not limited to politics and empires. It has many faces, many manifestations. The Unholy spirit is, in essence, The System. It includes, but is not limited to: religion, commerce, politics, and entertainment (although God has double agents in all of these areas). In Bible-speak world represents the various networks of humanity which set themselves up as independent from God. As technology increases, so, naturally does a sense of assurance arise in mankind. We work together to defeat the elements and gain a hope in our accomplishments.Time and time again, God has wanted man to believe that God is good, and will provide for our needs, if we would only subject ourselves to his authority, and strive to communicate with him through prayer. God loves it when we give Him the opportunity to bless us (although I'm not saying that following him is free from trouble or trial...it isn't). Jesus taught by example, that God provides everything a sparrow needs to survive, and reminded us how much more valuable we are to God, and how much more ready he is to provide for us. But with the ease and convenience of modern society, people are kept from seeking God for guidance and provision. Many American families thank God routinely at the dinner table, but for meals that came by shopping and not by miraculous provision. Just flip on the Television and you will be bombarded with all the latest ways that corporations are working to make your life easier, more ego-centric, and generally more self indulgent.

Humanity, in this cocoon of fast-food drive-thrus, medicine and creature comforts, has become numb not only to God's provision, but also to the curse that was given to Adam for his sin. Here in our cubicles our brows don't sweat, we do not have reason to seek salvation if we don't sense a need for it. So be aware: to be comfortable and satisfied with the status quo is to be blind to the deeper hope, possibility, and greater promise of the kingdom of God. We are warned in the letters of the New Testament that "friendship with the world is enmity with God", and to "Be in the world, but not of it". So it's accurate to call the world "unholy spirit" For to be holy is to be set apart from, and therefore to be unholy is to be a part of. So which master do you serve? This message is not meant to be a condemnation, but rather a warning to avoid complacency at any cost. Now that you have heard the truth, you (if you have ears to hear it) know the truth, and as you know the truth, it shall set you free. Being free, you are then commissioned to spreading the message of truth. Jesus, in prayer, said this of his followers, John 17:14-20

I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message...

On September 11th 1990, George H.W. Bush prophesied the coming of a New World Order, which is even now being ushered into place. If you have a dollar bill, look on it's back and you will find symbology pointing to the NWO. On the left portion of your bill is the Illuminati pyramid of power, topped off by a floating capstone which contains the all-seeing eye of enlightenment. This is the diagram of current global control, represented by groups such as the Bilderbergers, the Trilateral Commission, the Council on Foreign Relations. The pattern and spirit can also be found in secret societies such as Skull and Bones, and the highest degrees of Freemasonry. The symbol of the pyramid is a blueprint of the corrupt power-structure pattern which has been used over and over again in operations which further the New World Order agenda. It is the consolidation of power. Always there is a base of ignorance and slavery, people who are pacified by simple indulgence and selfish inaction, who are then topped by people of greater authority and understanding in a pattern which rises all the way up to a capstone of rulership.




As Jesus saw and heard in the wilderness during his temptations, the Devil is and has been in control of all the kingdoms of this world, from Babel to America. He is the golden capstone which has topped the pyramid of worldly power from the beginning of history, ruling from behind the scenes. he tempts and guides the corrupted leaders of men, and he enslaves the common people in their sins. He influences the hearts of the wicked and the weak (which we all are), and he has vowed to destroy the righteous.

But do not be discouraged by this darkness, but be comforted by the spirit of truth which the Father in heaven give to all who seek it.