Just a few short days ago we observed and celebrated the Festival of Trumpets. Although many of the events of that coming day are alarming, it truly offers hope for us all in looking to our resurrection, and eventually all mankind the same.

While delivering my sermon message on the Feast of Trumpets, I would have no idea that just a couple days later, we would lose a long time family member and brother in the faith from this physical world. He had suffered for a very long time, and I reflected over the years on what he endured.

I could not help but also reflect more deeply on what this fall Feast season brings to mind, and this upcoming Wednesday’s Day of Atonement as well.

The fifth festival of God, after Trumpets, is the “Day of Atonement”.

How might we ask, does this tie into the death of my daughter’s father in law? I’d known him since I was a teenager, it all still seems surreal.

The Day of Atonement pictures in part the removal of Satan from this world. He’s so responsible for so much of what takes place and the carnage it produces. The Devil will get his due.

But what I reflected upon was the fact that our adversary, Satan, is a very real reason for people’s suffering. Our world is filled with suffering and pain, and he’s a huge part of what we live in because of his influence.

In Revelation 20:2 the Word of God explains to us “the serpent of old, who is the Devil, and Satan” who rules over mankind as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2) is a major player. As “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4), Satan is the instigator of so much of humanity’s misery.

We are warned as Christians the our “adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8) Having seen lions in the wild in East Africa almost 20 years ago I can attest that they constantly are looking for opportunities to find something they might consume to fill their bellies.

Not too long ago in one of our nightly phone connect fellowships for The Living God Ministries we discussed the “parable of the sower and the seed”.  Many who hear God’s Word explained are immediately affected by our adversary. Mark 4:15 tells us that “Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts”. Pretty sad, but true.

The young evangelist Timothy admonished those who were against the truth to “come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

Similarly Paul declared to the gentiles in Acts 26:18 “…open your eyes, in order to turn from the darkness to the light, and from the power of Satan to the power of God”.

Our adversary exerts a tremendous influence over mankind. I often mediate on just how powerful that is.  If you are like me, you’ve felt it. You’ve experienced it. Some days I’m just in a spiritual “funk” and kneel down to God and ask for Him to drive it away, and he does.

You and I can’t stay in a place of shrinking back, doldrums, depression or just unhappy for what appears to be no reason at all.

The Word of God tells you and me that “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19).

We’re coming to a time, prior to the return of Christ where Satan and his mignons will stir up and commence a time of trouble that will prove to be more awful than any tragedy humans have ever been through. That suffering will be hard to imagine. (Matthew 24:21-22). Physical death will result.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 we are told that during that time Satan will mislead the human race through a “lawless one” whose primary influence will be “according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and unrighteous deception…”

Satan’s influence is the real cause of the division and animosity among nations, religions, and people of this world, inclusive of the ekklesia of God. Oh we have our part, our human nature, and choices we make, but we don’t bear all that responsibility.

Satan is called the “tempter” in Matthew 4 and 1 Thessalonians 3.  He loves to use our weaknesses to tempt, draw away, and lure us into sin. He’s a major role in influence on our attitudes and behaviors with others and loves conflict, injury, heaviness of hear and ultimately physical death.

I’m ever so grateful that God sets limits on that power Satan has, with influence over us. (Job 1:12, 2:6) Daily I hope we all ask God to protect and help us, and we put on the whole armor of God.

What’s so encouraging is we know God will not allow Satan to defeat His ultimate plan for all mankind.  These Feast Days remind us of that!  His plan is fulfilled for all mankind, not just those called in the age.

After the Day of Atonement comes the Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day. Those Holy Days display the love God has with an opportunity for all to live again. Our adversary and his followers in the spiritual realm will not be permitted to influence and cause carnage (as they do now) in that coming future Kingdom of God.

Christ is coming back! It is a promise. Satan will be put away. Christ and His Father’s plan will be completed. It’s a glorious future to anticipate. God speed that day!

…as I close this letter, as I do every Friday evening…as we enter His Sabbath…reflect on this with me, will you?

And again, may God continue to richly bless you. Our prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Please do pray for us as well.