'Wisest' one they worship is foolish dolt

(sorry for delay--new article tomorrow for certain)

Isaiah 14 is a chapter about the Second Coming of Christ and Him delivering the nation Israel. Verse 4 says, 'That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!'

"The king of Babylon here is going to be the Antichrist in the context," explains Richard Jordan. "Israel is going to be given the privilege, as the Antichrist is taken off and thrown into the lake of fire, to mock him. Now, any smart guy doesn't like to be mocked. Have you ever noticed that? They don't want you to argue with them or laugh at them. That's Proverbs 26: [4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
[5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

"Israel's going to be given the privilege of humiliating him. They say, 'There you go being cast down to hell. You had all these big ideas; look at you now, dude!'

"What they do in Isaiah 14: 12-15 is they repeat back to him his original plan. Here's how he goes from being this bright shining representation, experienced in the authority of God being exercised, understanding how the heavenly host works, right there with God at the command center, into being this dolt. His foolish heart was darkened.

"Satan's goal is leadership. The biggest theme in the Bible and the plot running behind the scenes everywhere is the authority of a throne over this universe. Satan said, 'I want to be the one who runs everything. I want to sit on the majesty on high. I want to sit in the position God has ordained for His Son.'

"How is he going to accomplish that plan? He says, 'I will exalt my throne.' Notice he has a throne; a position of governmental authority in the top rulership. 'I'm going to take my throne and have dominion. I'm going to fix it where everybody out there serves me.' He wants people to submit to his authority and make him the king.

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"The reason God's throne is surrounded by clouds is found in II Samuel 22:11 (talking about the Second Advent): [11] And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
[12] And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
[13] Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
[14] The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

"There's this atmospheric disturbance when He comes. He's talking about how He holds back the glory, because if the glory of His presence shown through without any filter, it would burn you up. That's why Satan says, 'I want to ascend above the throne where God sits and is worshipped.'

"Psalm 18:7-9 (about the Second Coming): [7] Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
[8] There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
[9] He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

"You got this idea He has these clouds under Him so that when He comes, the brightness doesn't destroy creation. My point is the glory of God is what's above the clouds.

"Isaiah 6 says, [1] In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
[2] Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
[3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

"Satan says, 'I want to be the prophet. I want people to answer to my word. I want to be the priest. I want to sit on the throne and have them all worship me.' By the way, there's the Antichrist, the false prophet and the dragon. That's the scheme by which he's going to ascend and take possession.

"He says, 'I will be like the most high. I'm not going to be Him, but I'm going to be like Him. I'm going to be a perfect counterfeit to accomplish my goal.'

"This is where Satan wants to be and the first time it occurs in the Bible is in Genesis 14 when Abraham has gone out and rescued Lot, comes back and Melchizedek meets him.

"Genesis 14:18: [18] And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
[19] And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

"That's the meaning of the name 'the most high.' Satan is saying, 'I want to possess heaven and earth.' That's his goal. He wants to be acclaimed as the rightful ruler of all authority and he's claiming that because he thinks, 'I am the wisest one to operate. I'm the one you ought to worship and give account to because of my wisdom.'

Understand, the issue with Satan has always been wisdom: 'I'm smarter.' it's not power. I Corinthians 2: [6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
[7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
[8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

"That's saying that Satan, who said, 'There's no secret you can keep from me; I can even outthink God,' got buffaloed. He fooled himself. He deceived himself. Professing himself to be wise he became a fool. Christ said, 'O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that Scripture says.'

"Satan thought he could do it his way. All God had to do to defeat all of Satan's wise scheming strategy, all the plans and policy to achieve his goal--all God had to do to defeat all that merchandising, was just keep a secret and take the crafty in his own craftiness.

"Can you understand why Satan doesn't like what we're reading in Ephesians to be put on display? It's not a demonstration that Satan is not as powerful as God, everybody knows that. It's that he's not as wise; that the wisdom of God is greater, even when it doesn't look like it."