Here's an outtake from this evening's Bible study at my church:
Job 41 is the Bible's greatest chapter on Satan. The first book in the Bible ever written. There's more specific information about creation in Job than there is in Genesis and there's more information about Satan in Job than any other book of the Bible, says Richard Jordan. This is a whole chapter; a detailed description of Satan, as God views him. As God looks at him.
[1] Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
[2] Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
[3] Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
[4] Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
He's saying, "Look at this guy. You think you're going to get him to do something and you're not going to do what he tells you to do? This guy is going to run you; he runs the world you live in and he runs your old nature. You aren't the boss; he is."
Again, this is the place where people say he's a crocodile, a hippopotamus, a rhinoceros, an elephant. Look at verse 15: [15] His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
Does a hippopotamus have scales? Does a crocodile have scales? So, if you just read the text, you'd know it's not talking about anybody else that the creation scientist people tell you it is, or the liberal, non-believing evolutionists tell you it is.
A fascinating thing is the people who run the Noah's Ark museum in Kentucky have this guy on the ark as a hippopotamus. Anytime you've got to change a King James Bible to teach your doctrine, put your doctrine on the shelf. When you don't understand a verse, you know what you've got to do? Keep reading.
Job 40: [15] Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
What the Lord's doing here is He's given Job a whole bunch of instructions and He's challenging Job about some things.
So really there are two creatures here. There's the behemoth, and then in chapter 41 he's talking about Leviathan, who we know is Satan from Isaiah 27.
If you use a Scofield Reference Bible, it's got a note that says, "The elephant, as some think." Well, some think that, but it doesn't make any sense.
The Hebrew word for behemoth is plural. In other words, here's an animal that has more than one animal in it. Today we have people with multiple personalities and that kind of thing. Well, this is an animal, but it's not a bunch of animals. It's one animal, but he's got more than one animal in him.
Where would you find someone in the Bible who's an animal who's got more than one animal in him?
By the way, if you look at Job 38, the Lord talks about a lion and then a raven. Job 39: [1] Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
Verse 5: [5] Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
If you count the animals that He talks about, when you get to Job 40:15, the behemoth is the 13th animal that he lists. In your Bible, 13 is the number of rebellion. So, it's not surprising that you find in Revelation 13:
[1] And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
[2] And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
There's a beast--he's a lion, a bear and a leopard all in one. Now, that's the Antichrist. So, dollars against donut holes, when you go to Job 40:15, you're talking about the Antichrist and the kind of beast he is, well, he's told you.
[15] Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. You remember in Ezekiel 10, the four faces around the throne? One is an ox. In chapter one he's called a calf. An ox is one of the cattle.
In Genesis 3, the serpent is cursed above all the cattle of the field. So, here's a reptile identifying as a cattle and people say, "Well, that's just not scientifically accurate." Yes, it's spiritually accurate, because this guy, he's one of the cattle; he's part of that satanic hierarchy that's sought to usurp God's authority.
So, you really have the Antichrist here and the guy who gives him his power is in Job 41.
Job 40:[19] He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
A chief is a position of authority. The last verse in chapter 41 says Satan is the king. There's principalities, powers, mights, dominions, thrones. There's this governmental authority system and this guy is going to sit at the head of it under Satan as Satan's man.
Nobody else can get this guy, but God's sword can get him. What did you read in Isaiah 27? Who's going to get Leviathan? God's sword. The great and strong sword of the Lord.
The only thing that can handle these guys is God's Word. That's all that actually defeats them and that's why in Isaiah 26:21 the Lord comes out of His place. He's won the authority.
[21] For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
He comes down to the earth and when He does, He destroys Leviathan.
Job 41: [33] Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. [34] He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
When Martin Luther wrote "A Mighty Fortress is Our God," and you go back and read the hymn, it says "on earth is not his equal," that's talking in the hymn about the devil, because that's what that verse says. On the earth, he doesn't have an equal! Because he's "king over all the children of pride." He's the god of this world. He said, "I'm going to be in the position of God the Most High, possessing all the authority in the heaven and the earth."
If you go back to verse 15, his scales are his pride. quote. His pride is to say, "I'm invincible. I'm the smartest, I'm the best."
[16] One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
[17] They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
Job 41: [25] When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
[26] The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
They literally worship the guy. He's so great, he's so mighty--because of what they see him doing they worship him. They join into religious rites of purification.
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH reigns over all the kings of the earth. That religious system that reigns from the beginning.
Job 41: [8] Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
[9] Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
[10] None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
Leviathan's not a physical creature you can look at (you're getting God's viewpoint of him), but if you could see him, that verse says you'd just pass out. He's that frightening of an appearance.
[18] By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
[19] Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
[20] Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
[21] His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
Down South people used to say, "That's smoking." So, when you're smoking, you're looking like the devil. He's the dragon and the fire's coming out. This guy is a fire-breathing monster in the spirit world.
[26] The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
Your sword, your spear can't knock him down. The only sword that can "fell" him is the Word of God. You ain't got a chance. Your psychology, your wisdom, your resolve, your intention, your religion doesn't work. You can put on your protective gear and it doesn't help. He's that powerful.