THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND PART I

Satan makes a threat on the Sanctuary:

Isa. 14:12 Identifies him: "Lucifer."

Isa. 14:13, 14 Expose his dream! And how do we know it is only a dream? The passage begins with "For thou has said in thine heart . . . " (Heart meaning Mind).

"I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High."

And Paul tells us very clearly that he is NOW IN THE PROCESS OF FULFILLING THAT DREAM!
2 Thess. 2:3, 4--with verse 3 identifying Lucifer--but calling him "that man of sin . . . the son of perdition."

And if you will carefully note the "Tense" of verse 4, you will find it all in the "Present Tense"--verifying that it is taking place even as we consider these words!
"Who opposeth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

But one might legitimately ask--WHERE: and HOW?! And to find the answer one must go back to the "3 Types of Sanctuaries:"

All three have a "common thread: weaving through them--they are all made up of "MEMBERS!"

Rom. 6:13; "Neither yield ye YOUR MEMBERS as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God . . . and YOUR MEMBERS as instruments of righteousness unto God.

NOW WE MUST IDENTIFY "LUCIFER'S THRONE!"

TFILB, 66 "It is at Lucifer's throne that every evil work finds its starting point, and obtains its support."

Satan's throne will be the very same throne that God the Father wanted for His Son to return from earth. And since there is no "Outer Court" in the heavenly sanctuary, we can rule that area out. And as it was not yet the Day of Atonement (when the high priest went into the Most Holy Place), we may also rule that area out.

That leaves us with one apartment--the Holy Place, with it's three [3] articles of furniture: The Table of Shewbread, The Golden Altar [The Altar of Incense], and the Menorah [Gold Lampstand].

1. Rev. 8:3 tells us that the Altar of Incense is "before the Throne", so we can rule that article out!

2. Rev. 4:5 tells us that the Menorah [Gold Candlestick] also is "before the throne", so that too is ruled out!

3. Isa. 14:13 Satan told us EXACTLY where his throne was located when he was yet "day-dreaming"! He said he was "going into the mound of the congregation [Tabernacle] ON THE SIDES OF THE NORTH."

And the Table of Shewbread is the ONLY ARTICLE on the NORTH SIDE OF THE TABERNACLE! And the physical construction of the Table tells us that two kings reigned there--for there are 2 Gold Crowns!

Phil. 2:4, 6; "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, . . . who thought it not robbery TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD."

A Religious Writer recounts the portrayal of this event:
EW, 54-56, 261: There was a "throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son . . . Before the throne . . . two companies, one bowed down before the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood, uninterested and careless.
(Then there is movement!) "The Father rise(s) from the throne, and in a flaming chariot (went) into the Holy of Holies within the veil, and sit Down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne . . . a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire surrounded by angels cam to (Him). He stepped into the chariot and was born to the holiest where the Father sat.
(Next the attention is turned to the two groups:) "Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, 'My Father, give us Thy Spirit.' Then Jesus would breath upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.
"I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. SATAN APPEARED TO BE BY THE THRONE, TRYING TO CARRY ON THE WORK OF GOD. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, 'Father, give us Thy Spirit.' SATAN WOULD THEN BREATHE UPON THEM AN UNHOLY INFLUENCE; IN IT THERE WAS LIGHT AND MUCH POWER, BUT no sweet love, joy, and peace.
"Like the Jews, who offered their useless sacrifice, they offer up their useless prayers to the apartment which Jesus has left; and SATAN, PLEASED WITH THE DECEPTION, ASSUMES A RELIGIOUS CHARACTER, and leads the minds OF THESE PROFESSED CHRISTIANS to himself, working with his power, his signs and lying wonders, to fasten them in his snare. Some he deceives in one way, and some in another. He has different delusions prepared to affect different minds. Some look with horror upon one deception, while they readily receive another . . HE . . . COMES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. . . . "

QUESTION: How deceptive can Satan become when he appears as an "angel of light?"

ANSWER: So deceptive that he deceived Jesus Christ temporarily!

IMP, 350 "In the wilderness of temptation Satan came to Christ as an angel from the courts of God. It was by his words, NOT BY HIS APPEARANCE, that the Saviour recognized the enemy."

QUESTION: Which came first--Words, or Appearance?

Then why is it that God's followers [Christians] think they can enter on to Satan's grounds, pass through his hellish fires, and not get burned. I am speaking of TV, Printed Material, and yes, even the trivial conversations with jesting and joking. And all the time they feel safe because "they know what is truth"--"They know they cannot be fooled [deceived]"--"They know what the Word of God says", on and on and on.

And it is this same group that has no problem sending their children through the devil's fires--because "they were taught what is right and what is wrong!"

But the Word says; "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matt. 24:24). "And if the righteous SCARCELY BE SAVED, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear: (1 Peter 4:17)? And then this: "There are few who have any just conception of the deceptive power of spiritualism and the danger of coming unto its influence. . . . But they venture upon the forbidden ground, and THE MIGHTY DESTROYER exercises his power upon them AGAINST THEIR WILL. LET THEM ONCE BE INDUCED TO SUBMIT THEIR MINDS TO HIS DIRECTION, and he holds them captive" (GC, 558).

And that brings us back to Rom. 6:13--and the "MEMBERS"! What are they? They are our "MIND FACULTIES"!

And before we continue our study--we must look at a passage of Scripture that gives us authority to do what we are about to do!

1 Cor. 14:46 "Howbeit that was NOT FIRST which was spiritual, BUT THAT WHICH IS NATURAL [PHYSICAL]; and AFTERWARD that which is spiritual."

It's the way Jesus taught; using the physical to lead the minds of His listeners to the spiritual (cf. John 4:35). It is a PRINCIPLE OF HEAVEN IN PRESENTING TRUTHS!

I will now take that principle into our "Sanctuary Study"--and draw a parallel between the "Wilderness Tabernacle" and the "Body Temple"! FILB, 191 "God DESIGNED that the TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM should be a continual witness TO the HIGH DESTINY OPEN TO EVERY SOUL . . . IN CLEANSING THE TEMPLE FROM THE WORLD'S BUYERS AND SELLERS, JESUS ANNOUNCED HIS MISSION TO CLEANSE THE HEART FROM THE DEFILEMENT OF SIN. . . . "

Just as we have now seen--THERE ARE TWO [2] THRONES IN THE SANCTUARY; THERE ARE ALSO TWO THRONES IN THE BODY TEMPLE! Let us discover their location as we identify the "Mind Faculties"--and discover their functions:
1. CEREBELLUM ( MUSCLE COORDINATION, BALANCE)
2. BRAIN STEM (HEARTBEAT, BLOOD PRESSURE, BREATHING)
3. OCCIPITAL LOBE (VISION)
4. PARIETAL LOBE (TOUCH)
5. LIMBIC AREA (EMOTIONS)
6. HYPOTHALAMUS (APPETITE, SLEEP CYCLE, SEXUAL DRIVES)
7. FRONTAL LOBE ("WILL"--PLANNING AREA, WHERE MORAL CHOICES ARE MADE)

Mind, Character, and Personality, p. 18; "For thousands of years SATAN HAS BEEN EXPERIMENTING UPON THE PROPERTIES ["MEMBERS"] OF THE HUMAN MIND, and he has learned to know it well. By his subtle working it with his thoughts; and he is doing this work in so deceptive a manner that those who accept his guidance KNOW NOT THAT THEY ARE BEING LED BY HIM AT HIS WILL. . . . "

CONCERNING THE "HYPOTHALAMUS:"
US Newsbook, p. 92 [THE HUMAN BODY] (A Physicians' Reference Guide) "Nestled between the Thalamus above and the Brain Stem below, lies a small cluster of nerve cells called the Hypothalamus. Only the size of a thumb tip, it's blood supply is one of the richest in the entire body. From it arises feelings of PLEASURE, PUNISHMENT, HUNGER, THIRST, AGGRESSION, RAGE, AND SEXUAL AROUSAL. Had the function been known in medieval times, muses writer Nigel Colder, the Hypothalamus NO DOUBT WOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED 'THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND.'"

Mind, Character, and Personality, pp. 73, 406
"Satan . . . has been working to bring man into a condition of PHYSICAL and MORAL WEAKNESS that he may overcome him with his temptations and then triumph over his ruin. And he has been successful in tempting man to indulge appetite, REGARDLESS OF THE RESULT. He well knows that it is impossible for man to discharge his obligations to God and his fellowmen while he impairs the faculties God has given him. THE BRAIN IS THE CAPITAL OF THE BODY. If the perceptive faculties become benumbed through intemperance of any kind, eternal things are not discerned.
"The body is a most important medium through which the mind and the soul are developed for the upbuilding of character. Hence it is that the adversary of souls DIRECTS HIS TEMPTATIONS TO THE ENFEEBLING AND DEGRADING OF THE PHYSICAL POWERS. HIS SUCCESS HERE MEANS THE SURRENDER OF THE WHOLE BEING TO EVIL."

SATAN ALWAYS GOES TO THE "PHYSICAL"--TO GET TO--THE "SPIRITUAL!"

Let's look at this principle from the Sanctuary perspective:

Tabernacle parallels with the "Mental" and "Spiritual" dimensions of man--and thus can be "Likened" to a man's HEAD!

And when one thinks of the "Head" and the NUMBER 5--what most often, most quickly, comes to mind is THE FIVE SENSES! And that is exactly as God designed as should come to mind!

3T, 324, 507 "Without hesitation or argument, we must close and guard the AVENUES OF THE SOUL against evil."

NOW THE "AVENUES OF THE SOUL" ARE IDENTIFIED!

"All should guard the SENSES lest Satan gain victory over them; FOR THESE (THE 5 SENSES) ARE THE AVENUES TO THE SOUL."

And what are the Five Senses? HEARING, SIGHT, TOUCH, TASTE, AND SMELL!

So each pillar at the front door represents one of the senses! And that is further collaborated by looking at the "Metals of the Sanctuary!"

In the "Outer Court"--Brass--or Wood Overlaid with Brass.
[Brass represents Divinity amalgamated with Humanity [Heb. 2:9, 10, 17, 18]--while Wood represents humanity alone{Rev. 3:12].

In the "Tabernacle"--Gold--or Wood Overlaid with Gold. [Gold represents Divinity also.]

PILLARS AT FRONT DOOR OF TABERNACLE: Gold Pillars with Brass Sockets! Meaning they go with both the Court--and the Tabernacle. And as added proof of that--taking the outside measurements of the Sanctuary you have the length which is 150', with the width being 75'.

Dividing the length in have gives you two squares of 75' X 75'. And the Front Door of the Tabernacle sits ON the line, NOT IN FRONT OF--OR BEHIND IT!

What all that says is this: The physical [5 Senses] have an affect on the mental and physical--for BOTH are at the passage front the Court into the Tabernacle. And Scripture bears this out!

Gen. 3:4, 6--The story of Eve, and her encounter with the serpent. Through that serpent Satan was able to invade all five senses with Eve, and then the result is recorded:
V. 4 as the serpent was speaking to Eve, Satan was invading through the sense of HEARING,
V. 6 Eve "saw that the tree was good"--so Satan invaded her sense of SIGHT,
V. 6 Eve "took of the fruit"-with invasion being through the sense of TOUCH,
V. 6 Eve "ate of the fruit"--and Satan now invades through her sense of TASTE,
And for her pleasure--Satan had to employ her sense of SMELL to ensure that she enjoyed the fruit!

Now the Mental is brought into play: She goes to her husband--and convinces him to join her in the forbidden pleasure!
V. 7 and finally the Spiritual becomes involved, for after both of them partake of the fruit, they now knew "that they were naked!" And what had they been wearing? The Robe of Christ's Righteousness!

So we are counseled:

TDWG, 174; "YOU must put up the bars against the approach of Satan. Watchfulness at one point while others are neglected will not avail."

AND HERE IS THE REASON:

Ibid; "the Careless neglect of one sentinel [pillar; sense] WILL IMPERIL THE ENTIRE ARMY."</>

And that is what Satan wants from each one of us--OUR ARMIES! That is why he always goes to the PHYSICAL to get to the SPIRITUAL!</>

SO WHAT IS OUR ARMY?
TASTE AND SEE [ALLERGY RELIEF COOKING], Penny King. p. 3
"The human body is designed with its own BUILT-IN DEFENSE MECHANISM--THE IMMUNE SYSTEM (THAT'S OUR ARMY [DEFENSE SYSTEM] AND THE SOLE OBJECT OF SATAN'S DESIRES--FOR WHEN HE CONTROLS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM, HE CONTROLS YOU.)
"But the Immune System depends upon other body functions for its effectiveness (including the guarding of the 5 senses!). JUST AS THE ARMED FORCES OF THIS COUNTRY WORK TOGETHER TO DEFEND THIS NATION, the BODY'S DEFENSE SYSTEM resists foreign invaders through the united efforts of the circulatory, lymph, endocrine ,and nervous systems working in conjunction with the IMMUNE SYSTEM. Their UNITED GOAL is resistance. . . .
"THE BONE MARROW IS THE BREEDING GROUND FOR THE WHITE BLOOD CELL SOLDIER. THE THYMUS, LYMPH NODES AND SPLEEN ARE THE BARRACKS."

THE CURE FOR ALL CANCERS, Hulda Clard, PhD., N.D., 63
"Your Immune System is precious. You have (or had) 5000 white blood cells in every dot of blood (5000 per cubic millimeter). . . .
"Give your Immune System a chance to heal your body by removing the burden on it: the burden of countless, frivolous cleaning-up jobs. CLEAN YOURSELF UP SO YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE TO. . . . "

(FORMULA FOR PERSONAL "CLEANING-UP:" No Toxins brought into the body--so no "bugs" feeding ON the Toxins! No Bugs--No Cleaning! No Cleaning [Body fighting Toxins and bugs to get them out)--No Fever!

NATURAL MEDICINE, Jerry Hoover, N.D., p. 219
"We can hinder out Immune System by having a bad lifestyle, or we can help our Immune System by having a good lifestyle. [Which ALL takes place at the "Front Door"--the "5 SENSES!")
"The special work of our Immune System is to keep our bodies healthy. Many things can lower our Immune System [of which we will look at in detail further ahead!)."

SO--WHAT IS IT THAT SATAN WANTS FROM EACH ONE OF US?

OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM, PERIOD!

"BETTER HEALTH NEWSLETTER," Jackson a. Saxon, M.D., Cleveland, TN. Vol. 9, No. 12
"It sounds too simple that an active Immune System can keep you healthy where there are so many diseases around us. My medical experience over the last 45 years strongly supports the truth of the above statement.
"If we would avoid depressing our Immune System's activity and incorporate into our lifestyle those things that keep our Immune System at a high level of activity there would be very little sickness. Medical research is discovering that it is our Immune System that keeps us well."

QUESTION: If you wanted to divert a person's money from working for the Lord, if you wanted to divert a person's attention from the Lord's work, if you wanted to hamper a person's personal relationship with their Lord--what would you do? YOU WOULD GO FOR THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM!

A weakened Immune System Guarantees illness (diverted attention)! It also guarantees doctor visits, hospital visits (in some cases), medicine, and home-health aids (diverted money). And then comes that personal relationship which the Lord. It is interesting to listen to folks when ill--they can't WAIT to get to the doctor's office--but they can't COME to the office of the Great Physician--Jesus--(the Church)! ["He can save me in the end--but He can't help me now!"]

Here is EXACTLY what Satan wants to do with each one of us:
1. Get to his "Throne"--the HYPOTHALAMUS, 2. Through one of the "5 Senses,"
3. Short circuit your sensory nerves that travel from all parts of your body to and from your brain,
4. Then, in the confused messages traveling throughout the body--we call right wrong, and wrong right!
5. We feel compelled to DEFEND our lifestyles--as though TRUTH needed defending!

Desire of Ages, p. 466; "Sin can triumph ONLY by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the LIBERTY OF THE SOUL."

Here is what happens when Satan gets to his throne through one of our 5 senses:
2T, 347; "Whatever disturbs the circulation of the electric currents in the nervous system, lessens the strength of the vital powers, and THE RESULT IS--A DEADENING OF THE SENSIBILITIES OF THE MIND."

And what do we have now? A DEAD MIND GUIDING A LIVING BODY!

And what do we call a case of "THE DEAD GUIDING THE LIVING?"

SPIRITUALISM!

Spiritualism is often thought of as an encounter with somebody in a dark room with a crystal ball--or a set of Tara Cards! But spiritualism entails ANY SITUATION of the Physical OR Spiritual Dead who propose to guide the living.

So the next question has to be: HOW DO I KEEP SATAN FROM GETTING ON HIS THRONE--AND MESSING UP MY LIFE!

Ps. 119:11 "Thy WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART [MEANING MIND] THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE." . . . . . Meaning . . . . . .
"To us is given the work of overcoming (letting Satan in through one of our five senses). This is no haphazard work. Only as we become partakers of the Divine nature can we overcome our hereditary (family lifestyle inspired!) and cultivated (cf. James 1:14, 15) tendencies to evil [to letting Satan access to the mind through the 5 Senses!]

"IF YOU HAVE NOT PREPARED TO SUCCEED--YOU HAVE ALREADY . . .
. . . PREPARED TO FAIL"

2 Tim. 2:15 "STUDY, STUDY, AND STUDY AGAIN!"