Chp.69 - The Devil Seeks To Supersede The Truth With Allegories
“Be well assured, then, Trypho,” I continued, “that I am established in the knowledge of and faith in the Scriptures by those counterfeits which he who is called the devil is said to have performed among the Greeks; just as some were wrought by the Magi in Egypt, and others by the false prophets in Elijah’s days. Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 233). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.
Justin's concern, here, is that the devil loves to obscure the truth by distorting it through allegories and reducing it down to parables that have no revelation. Justin goes through a list of the Greek gods that emulate Christ in some way, but none of these so-called gods possess all the characteristics of the prophesies in one person as does Jesus Christ. To supersede the Christ is an utter impossibility, but Satan seeks to do it through the art of black magic, with smoke and mirrors. This is why the children of God should avoid using allegories, at all costs, to disciple the people of God. Therefore, I'm not going to go into all the details of these Greek gods and waste my time dissecting them to no avail, for this very reason. Allegories reveal nothing. It is true that Christ spoke in parables, but this was in response to the unbelief and rejection of the Pharisees who were hardened by the Lord's appearing. Nevertheless, God has spoken in His Son, and given us a collection of works that reveal Him in languages and forms of writing that are not obscured when taken together collectively, which are specifically designed to "reveal." The Devil labors to eclipse God's light and replace it with an artificial light of his own, though God is present in the darkness, darkness cannot be present in Him. Therefore evil cannot dwell with him as the Light disperses the darkness (Jn.3:19-21).
Acts 17:30 (NKJV) 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, Romans 11:25 (NKJV) 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV) 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 1 Peter 2:15 (NKJV) 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— Romans 16:25 (NKJV) 25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 1 Corinthians 4:1 (NKJV) 1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Ephesians 1:9 (NKJV) 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, Ephesians 3:3–4 (NKJV) 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), Ephesians 3:9 (NKJV) 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; Ephesians 6:19 (NKJV) 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, Colossians 1:26 (NKJV) 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. Colossians 2:2 (NKJV) 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, Colossians 4:3 (NKJV) 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 1 Timothy 3:9 (NKJV) 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
What was once observed a mystery in the Old Testament is now revealed through the completion of the New Testament. The parables that Christ spoke were explained and made clear to the disciples through the revelation of the Word. The book of Revelation, which is written in symbolic forms, is written to be a Revelation; but the symbols that used are taken out of the whole of Scripture, so that only the student of Scripture can discern them; because they are to be spiritually discerned (1Cor.2:14). Scripture is designed to authenticate itself to weed out those who would come to it apart from the love for it (Rom.5:5), that is with pure motivations, a pure heart if you will (Matt.5:8). Too many fall in love the allegories of the false gods and grow cold in their love for the truth (2Thess.2:10). We do need to be aware of these fables, but these fables are only designed to distract you from knowing the truth in the revelation of the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have not made it my aim to know these pagan deities because it is my prayer that they be forgotten and forever lost. I want to lead you to the truth and the cistern of life.
Isaiah 35:1–6 (LES) 1 Rejoice, thirsty deserted land! Let a deserted land rejoice, and let it blossom like a lily. 2 And the desolate places of the Jordan will blossom and rejoice. The glory of Lebanon was given to it, and the honor of Carmel. And my people will see the glory of the Lord and the exaltation of God. 3 Be strong, hands at ease and feeble knees! 4 Give comfort, fainthearted in mind! Be strong; do not be frightened! Look, our God is repaying judgment, and he will repay! He himself will come and save us! 5 Then blind people’s eyes will be opened, and dumb people’s ears will hear. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the stammerer’s tongue will be clear, because water has broken forth in the desert, and a ravine in a thirsting land.
". . . The spring of living water which gushed forth from God in the land destitute of the knowledge of God, namely the land of the Gentiles, was this Christ, who also appeared in your nation, and healed those who were maimed, and deaf, and lame in body from their birth, causing them to leap, to hear, and to see, by His word. And having raised the dead, and causing them to live, by His deeds He compelled the men who lived at that time to recognise Him. But though they saw such works, they asserted it was magical art. For they dared to call Him a magician, and a deceiver of the people. Yet He wrought such works, and persuaded those who were [destined to] believe on Him; for even if any one be labouring under a defect of body, yet be an observer of the doctrines delivered by Him, He shall raise him up at His second advent perfectly sound, after He has made him immortal, and incorruptible, and free from grief." Justin Martyr. (1885). Dialogue of Justin with Trypho, a Jew. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, p. 233). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.
Let these doctrines perish in the darkness, with the minds that have created them, but you, like newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, which has the power to regenerate the soul and send you, like Moses, into the hands of pagans, safely down the river of life, alone in the basket of truth, to deliver the minds of the simple (unlearned) from the power of Satan. Turn away from myths and discover the power of the Truth. Labor for the food which cannot spoil, which has an eternal shelf life, seasoned with salt and light, for the preservation of the soul.
Psalm 19:7–14 (NKJV) 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
