You know, back in the book of Daniel when King Nebuchadnezzar issued an order for everyone to bow down and worship the idol, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to do so and were thrown in the fire. This throwing of them into the fire (which was hotter than any could imagine) was their punishment for rejecting the idol god that the king had created.

Isn't it ironic that in the book of Revelations, we are taught that those who reject God will be thrown into the lake of fire (which is also hotter than any could imagine)? Isn't it ironic that the earthly king is doing the exact same thing that the heavenly king will do at the "end of time?" Was this coincidence?

As I review, I cannot help but say, "NO!" From the beginning, Satan has been a liar, jealous of God, parading himself as an angel of light before the world that he rules while leading the lost to destruction and damnation. From the beginning the devil has tried to imitate God, even to the point of trying to get the Son to bow before him in exchange for power that he thought he had. And just the same, this deceiver used King Nebuchadnezzar as his puppet trying to emulate and to man, what God is going to do to him.

That's what bullies do though. Most bullies are only taking out on someone else the pain and intimidation being inflicted on them. And the devil, here, was using this king to take out the pain that he is going to receive. What is ironic, if anything, is that the devil probably thinks that he doesn't deserve this punishment. Or even more ironic, is that even though he has read the scriptures and seen this fate, he still keeps fighting until the end thinking that God's word will come back void. This act that he used the king to perform, however, was merely a cheap imitation, and nowhere near powerful enough to overcome the will of God and His protection of His children.

In the same understanding, Body of Christ, let us realize that the pain, inflictions, ailments, etc. that continue to keep bombarding us are the works of demon bullies ordered by the great deceiver. They are getting pushed around, bullied down in Hell. They don't even want to be there (in Hell) as evidenced when the Jesus drove them out of the boy into the pigs, so they do this dirty work, passing on the pain of their curse onto those who they can. But, glory to God, just like any other bully, you can stand up to them. And even better, if they try to gang up on you, or bring some that are bigger than you, you have your big brother Jesus, who has never lost a fight and never will, and your Father has all power in His hands.

They are mad because they got in trouble and want to take it out on you, but it's not your fault that they sinned against Heaven, and not your fate to take from them. Satan is NOT your Father, but only a cheap imitation trying to punish you as though he was, so stand on the word of your Father and walk in freedom, peace, health, and blessings because God says you can and don't be bullied by those powers and principalities any more, in the name of Jesus.

You know, the real irony is not that Satan tries to copy God, the real irony is that he, and to often we in the body of Christ, actually fall for his mess. Let the church stand up, and seek His face, that we may always know who the real God is and trust only in Him.

By the grace of God,

Kelvin