FROM SATAN TO JESUS

Hello friends! first of all, I hope that you’re all doing good! I’m deeply grateful to God to share with you a new piece of music called « From Satan To Jesus ».

The contemplation is split into two layers. Regarding the first one and how the idea of the piece came: I was scrolling, searching for an artwork to buy for some pieces of music I’m working on. I suddenly came across that somber image, representing a sad, tormented woman in anime style. It wasn’t at all what I was searching for, but I could not get my eyes off that pic! It grabbed my attention in a particular manner, and right on, my heart wanted to start a new musical project — based on that art.

There was a rush in my heart to get my hands on the keyboard and play. As said many times, I truly belive that Music is a Gift from God, so, I asked God to compose through me, and by His Grace and Kindness, the first chords and notes came. I stopped the other musical projects to lean particularly on this one. The vision became sharper in me, I saw a woman deeply involved in the occult, completely immersed in Satanism, who was extremely tormented, who needed deliverance but was hopeless — without knowing where to go.

I genuinely believe that it comes from Christ and that this piece may have been created for that person. If you’re involved into the occult and are in torment, this music was certainly made for you, and your delivrance is none other than Christ. I hope this is your sign!

From Satan To Jesus

For the second layer of the contemplation, I wanted to take the occasion to share with you the story of Satan and his kingdom — from his origins, to his personality to his influence and activity upon the world and finally to share what God says about him — how to overcome the devil fully, and how to be saved. If you want to know more about being saved now, I have written an article on this specific subjet here : Are You Saved?

I believe that it is very important for the world, both believers and unbelievers to know what Jesus-Christ of Nazareth has to say about Satan. The Devil is not a little red creature with two little horns, a tail and a pitchfork. It’s not even an angel, but a cherub. Surely a complex creature with many detailed and intricate features (see as an example in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 10, verse 14). Perhaps the highest in the hierarchy of heavenly beings, seemingly even the closest to God.

He is not ugly but extremely beautiful, isn’t an atheist but a devout and hateful religious being. His influence is more effective and increases the best, when no one knows who he is, when no one knows his involvement in Heaven, on earth, and on humans. The Bible says it clearly. You and I have an invisible enemy to identify and to defeat.

If you’re new here — before to go further in the description — I’m a simple Bible believing Christian. It means that I only believe the Bible. I don’t belong to any kind of denomination, but only the Scriptures. There is a great deal of differences between the Bible and all the denominations out there — some more than others — so I encourage you to go and stay to the source, (The Bible) and be grounded in it. Fact-check everything with it, and you won’t have any confusions in your faith regarding false and stranger teachings, for they will be easy to spot and to avoid.

Satan’s Origin and activity before he rebelled: Jesus says that Satan was created in the very beginning of time, perhaps even before planet earth came into existence. Perhaps, he was even rejoicing among the complete corpus of celestial beings, when our planet came into being, as states the book of Job :

«Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy? »

God — Book of Job, chapter 38 verse 4 to 7).

To clarify the context, God is replying to Job’s issues he had in his reasoning against God. To answer Job, God went back to the Creation Week, stating that the « Sons of God shouted for joy » when they saw the earth forming. The « Sons of God » are another recurrent expression to identify The celestial beings (see here and here). Based on that verse it is more likely that Satan was among them praising God. At that time, he did not fell and everything was made good, as God said.

His creation seems to be very special, as music was prepared for his service on the very day he came into existence. (It’s worth remembering that Satan is deeply connected to music, and seems to know it very well, furthermore, based on the King James Version, many think that music was even crafted in his very body). Moreover, The Scriptures tell us that he was covered with precious stones. We don’t know whether these stones were encrusted in his body or around him, but it says a lot about his stature. He was full of beauty, wisdom and authority. He was created free and good — full of integrity — until he rebelled against God. The Bible reveals two of his main geographical locations before he revolted. He was assigned to the very Mountain of God in Heaven, and was also assigned to the Garden of Eden on earth, to watch over it. He probably watched Adam and Eve from birth, and perhaps even « guarded » them, maybe even the flora and fauna. I’ve put the whole verse if you’d like to read it for yourself.

From Darkness To The Light
Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

— God, Book of Ezekiel, chapter 28

As said, he spend his early life as a good and faithful, but got seduced by its own beauty, stature, wisdom and power. He wanted more, it wasn’t enough. He then became violent. Not only he decided to rebel against God, but he wanted to become like the God of the Universe himself — placing his throne above God’s. (Book of Isaiah chapter 14, and here). In His rebellion against Him, he also seduced a large nombers of other angels (Which were also created good and free, but decided to follow the fallen cherub.)

After his fall he went to Eve to seduce her. Note that he did not come to Eve as a cherub in its true physical shape, but certainly put his spirit through an animal « the serpent » — (that had at the time many amazing intellectual features, even capable of language and reasoning (see here and here) — had a completely different physical shape from the one we see today (see here) and agreed with the devil. The very animal got punished right after. He then approached her. Adam and Eve rebelled against God, humanity was doomed, death entered the world, our relationship with God was broken.

How did Satan dommed mankind? by evil wisdom, by a sweet, and ear candy lie. No weapon, no force, only well crafted lie. He said to Eve to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to become… like God! (see here). (Note that it is still the same wicked desire Satan has, obsessed with the idea to become God. It worked for him enough to be doomed, so it must work for Adam and Eve!)

Satan’s Personality and Activiy :

1) Jesus says that Satan is the father of lies. Because he was the very first that lied in the creation, making him by default the father of liers. Each time we lie, we’re similar to Satan. He excels at lying, to the world, to you and me. He can make you believe that you are special on Monday, someone important — then make you believe that God cannot forgive you for you’re the worst sinner that ever walked planet earth, the very next day. Not all the voices you hear from within are from you, nor true or morals. Take into consideration the influence of Satan so that you won’t be fooled. Jesus explains how to defeat him, I’ll try to explain below. (God loves you very much, even in your lowest)

2) Jesus says that Satan is also a murderer since the beginning. It’s true that because of him and Adam, humanity, started to die, making him the worst murderer in history. Not only he killed in this way, but also through sickness, pain, diseases, and all sort of violence.

"He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

— Jesus, book of John, chapter 8 verse 44

3) Jesus says that Satan is also a Stealer. When God created the earth, it was for Himself and for humans to rule over. Adam was meant to control the earth in a good and holy way. When we fell and got doomed, we lost our control upon it, and was given for a certain time to The Devil — making him the greatest thief of the history of the world. He stole earth from us, humans. Not only that, but he wants to steal your joy, your hope, your life, your career, everything you have.

4) Jesus says that Satan also destroys. Everything you’re trying to build, he will do his best to destroy it. If you walk with God and follow Jesus, He won’t be able to but he will try. Remember that without Jesus you cannot defeat Satan! (See here and here).

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy"

— Jesus, book of John, chapter 10 verse 10

5) Jesus says that Satan is hatred. He hates you and me to the core. (See here). You might have noticed that secular entertainments, perhaps even philosophies likes to represent him as the victim or the « good guy ». It is his dream that anyone could believe this. His dream of dreams is to see you doomed with him, especially to see you suffer, in torment. He wants to see you loose all the things or people you love, including the smallest pet you cherish. As the proverbs states : «Misery likes company ».

"Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

— Apostle Peter, first letter, chapter 5 verse 8

6) Satan is intensely religious. He knows the Bible better than any Bible scholar (see here). He tempted Jesus with the Bible. He seduced Eve with a distorted Bible (The very Spoken Word of God). They killed Jesus with the Bible. He is actively involved in religious affairs. He’s the creator of every religion on earth, he’s behind every idol you can imagine (see here and here), and he’s working hard in the Christian faith itself, to imitate, corrupt, confuse, disgust and destroy people from within. (See here, here and here). He does everything he can to keep mankind away from the Truth, Jesus-Christ, God in the flesh who came to die for us, to save us from our sins, to repear Adam’s fall, and who Rose Again. (See here).

Then the devil took Him (Jesus) up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Satan — Book of Matthew, chapter 4, verse 1.

Right above is an exemple of Satan, tempting Jesus with the very Bible, saying « For it is written ». Well known expression in Scriptures, meaning « Written in The Scriptures ». Have you noticed that the world is not anti-God, but anti-Jesus? Have you realized that the world takes the name « Jesus » as its curse word, but no other name from any other faith? Have you noticed that so-called Christians used the very name of Jesus to kill people? This is Satan, and he must be exposed. Jesus Himself said so.

Before to continue, it’s important to emphasize that — according to Jesus Christ of Nazareth Himself, there is no other way to Salvation, to God than through Himself. We can only enter Eternity through Christ. His Divinity, His Death and Resurrection for us. Even if a religion presents Jesus differently, saying even good things about Him, but not as the Scriptures said, you know who’s behind it. Satan. As long as you deviate a bit, and don’t trust the real Jesus — Satan rejoices, because he knows that without Christ’s Sacrifice, you and I will remain in sin, and that one day we’ll have to answer for it!

Jesus saith unto him, 

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

— Jesus, book of John, chapter 10 verse 10

7) The Bible teaches that Satan still has access to heaven. (See here, here, there and there). For some reasons we don’t understand fully, Satan has still access to God. As surprising as it may sound, Satan is more in heaven than on earth. So what does he do there? He accuses us. Day and night, he accuses us before God. He makes sure to remember God our sins, wrong doing, to solicit God’s Wrath and Justice upon us — so that we can get legally hit. (that is why it’s very important to always repent, so that the devil can’t have anything to bring to God). The following passage, talks about Satan’s future when he will be fully thrown on earth, then in hell:

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: 

For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.
Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."

— God - Book of Revelation, chapter 12 verse 10

8) Jesus says that world dominion has been temporary given to Satan

As we saw above, Satan has dominion over the earth for a certain period of time. (See Matthew chapter 4 verse 8 to 11). Clearly, the world we see today is in chaos. Some countries are worse than others. Satan can’t be everywhere at once. He has a well-articulated and coordinated kingdom, in which he reigns at the highest level.

The Bible breaks down the layers of Satan’s kingdom. As we said earlier, Satan seems to be more in heaven than on earth. Just below Satan, are the Principalities. What are they? Importants fallen angels who resides in heaven and influences regions, even countries or kingdoms, to evil, wickedness, through politics, and all possible spheres (see here).

« For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places

— Apostle Paul, book of Ephesians, chapter 6 verse 12

Then, on earth, Satan has his demons, who are also fallen angels but who’ve lost their bodies. That’s why a demon absolutely wants to live in a human, for he has no rest otherwise. We can’t estimate the number of demons roaming the earth, but we can be sure — given the high number of people tortured — that it’s in the millions, if not billions (I’m not affirming anything, it’s a purely subjective statement).

These demons all specialize in something. They cause mental illness, skyzophrenia and many other physical diseases. A person can be also possessed by several demons simultaneously (see here). When Jesus healed and delivered people from demons, He often called them by their specialty. See an example here:

He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”

Jesus — Book of Mark chapter 9 verse 25
From Satan To Jesus

How to overcome Satan?

Jesus is God become human. Since the human race was condemned, Jesus came to save it and thus became man. When we rebelled against God, it is written that « sin » entered humanity. Sin is a law, living within us, which makes us live a life opposed to God, which makes us God’s enemy, which makes it impossible for us to please God. Furthermore, sins and all evil will have to be punished at some point, otherwise God wouldn’t be Just.

However, God loved us so much that instead of punishing you and me for our evil deeds, He punished Himself. When Jesus died on the Cross, He was punished in our place, so that you and I could be cleansed and saved from our sins and eternal punishment.

Your sins and mine were transferred to His Body. When Jesus died, our sins died too. When He rose from the dead, He proved that He was who He claimed to be — God.

If you believe that Jesus loves you, that He came and Died to save you from your sins, if you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, you are now saved. And that’s how you defeated Satan. (See here).

Jesus gives us authority and power over demons and all Satan’s forces of evil. Demons can be cast out of people. Some may resist, but they will still be cast out through prayer and fasting (see here and here and here).

A demon enters when you open a door for it. It could be magic, tarot cards, new-age stuff, ouja boards, consulting mediums, invoking spirits, witchcraft, depravity, alcohol, drugs, sin in general, etc. Not everyone is possessed, though.

I was tormented by a demon for 7 months straight, day and night, until I gave my life to Jesus and was saved. I was delivered shortly after I started following Christ.

There are so many things and details to say about Satan. This is already a long article. Forgive me, it’s far from perfect! I hope you’ll catch the main points. I encourage you to give your heart to Jesus, and to follow Him through the Scriptures. He Loves You. I would like to conclude by a quote from Jesus, that gave the music its title (He is talking to Paul the Aposlte) :

 I'am sending you to them, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

— Jesus, book of Acts chapter 26, verse 18

NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER

No Weapons Forged Against Me Shall Proposer - Efisio Cross

Hello everyone,

I hope that you’re all doing great! I’m deeply grateful to God to share with you a new neoclassical piece called «No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Prosper.» The title of the music comes directly from the book of the Hebrew prophet called Isaiah, wrote circa 700 years before the birth of Jesus-Christ. (chapter 54, verse 17). The music has multiple contemplations and many messages I want to share with you. As you all comes from different backgrounds, I will try to stay as simple as possible.

Here is a resume of the different layers of contemplations:

1) — The Fear of God

2) — God’s Protection

3)— The Story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib

4)— The application in our everyday life

Let’s start by the Story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib, as it will open and present all the other layers of meaning.

Around 2700 years ago, the biggest empire of that time was the Assyrian one. Their main capitals cities are known under the names of : Nineveh and Assur — Based in modern Iraq. Their Empire was huge. They ruled from south modern Turkey, to Egypt, from Israel to Babylon.

In red: the heart of Assyria with the main Assyrian cities. Orange: the Assyrian empire
Assyrian empire at its territorial peak during the reign of Assurbanipal (668-627
BC. J.-C.).
Source

They were famous for their cruelty and  brutality. Known to be merciless, country after country, region after region, town after town, they all fell into the Assyrian’s Dominion. Expect one little city called Jerusalem. They had mighty kings that you might already know. To cite some of the names: Ashurnasirpal II, Shalmaneser, Sargon II, Sennacherib. Let’s zoom in and focus on Sennacherib as he is one of the main character of the message of the music.

Sennacherib was fighting rebels within the empire. The Egyptians, the Babylonians, Phenicians and Israelies to name a few. He did well except In Israel — in Judea —, particualry in the city of Jerusalem. Here was a mighty king named Hezekiah. He refused to pay the yearly and heavy tribute to Sennacherib. It was a common practise back then, to pay heavy taxes to the most powerful ruler their time. But Hezekiah refused and rebelled. He is the second main character of the music.

Cast of a rock relief of Sennacherib from the foot of Cudi Dağı, near Cizre. The cast is exhibited in Landshut, Germany. Source

When Sennacherib heard that Hezekiah rebelled, he went furious and decided to attack Jerusalem. Lakish, one of the most important city of Judea fell into his hands. Next step was Jerusalem. It’s important to underline that our Biblical passage is confirmed by archeology and sources from outside the Bible.

Wall relief found in Sennacherib’s palace describing the siege of Lakish. Source

Before to attack Jerusalem, he sent his messengers and spoke through them with extreme arrogance. Here is some of the words he said, preserved in The Bible:

"Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand? Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand? Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!" 

— Second Book of Chronicles, chapter 32, verse 13 to 15.

Sennacherib in his pride, thought that all of his achievements was coming from him. It reached a point of no return when he even blasphemed the God of Hezekiah, as related in the Bible passage above. Shortly after the assyrian ruler sent insulting letters to the king, in the same fashion.

Hezekiah was terrified. His kingdom was already extremely weakened by previous wars, and half of it was already deported to divergent Assyrian cities. In his fear, he even wanted to pay the tribute again to Sennacherib, in which Sennacherib accepted but nevertheless decided to attack Jerusalem.

Isaiah, the prophet we mentioned in the debut of the article, was a contemporary of Hezekiah. He was respected by the king for he knew that God was with him. He knew that Isaiah’s prophecies were true, for Hezekiah himself saw many of them fullfiled during his life time. In his despair, he did two pivotal things :

1) – He asked Isaiah to pray, Isaiah did, and God responded.

2)- He went himself in Solomon’s Temple and show one of the letter from Sennacherib to God and started to pray as well. God heard and responded a second time.

Allow me to share with you few passages of the Bible that describe Hezechiah’s reaction, and how amazing they were.

And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, saying, “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, who dwellest between the cherubims, Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; Thou hast made heaven and earth.

Incline Thine ear, O Lord, and hear; open Thine eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to reproach the living God. In truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their countries, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them.

Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou art the Lord, even Thou only.”

— Book of Isaiah, chapter 37 verse 14

Some of God’s response, the third and key character of the music :

"But I know your sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against Me. Because your rage and arrogance against Me have reached My ears, I will put My hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth; I will send you back the way you came.’... 

— Book of Isaiah, chapter 37 verse 28.

Sennacherib triggered God’s Wrath. In the night, God sent an angel against his army. The angel arrived and destroyed 185.000 Assyrian soldiers. Sennacherib, learning his defeat, went directly back to Ninevah and died here killed by his chlidren.

"And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies." 

— Second Book of Kings, chapter 19 verse 35.

What does this historical event teaches us? So many things that are well embodied in our two characters figures., opening the second layer and message of the music : The Fear of God.

Hezekiah had the fear of God in himself. Sennacherib did not. What does it mean? It means reverence, respect and submission to God through Love and respect — Knowing that He has all authority and power upon everything. It does not mean, to be « scared » of him in the way that you want to hide from him. No, but the opposite, you want to give it all to Him. You want to trust Him. You want Him in your life. You want to surrender to Him because He created you and loves you so so much.

Observe that Hezekiah develloped The fear of God very soon in His life. He trusted God and God rescued Him. He could have called help from the Egyptians, or others military forces but He didn’t. He chose God and waited on Him, and God honored the Hebrew King.

If you want to know God, to be saved by Him, to have a relationship with Him based on Love, I have written an article and a music called « Are You Saved », that explains how to get to know God and to live for Him. So, The Fear of God is well embodied in our historical King Hezekiah.

Now, when we observe Sennacherib, rebellion, arrogance, self-sufficiency, pride is completely embodied in him. The more we contemplate Sennacherib, the more we can realize our own arrogance as well. It acts like a moral mirror and it’s good. It really helps to introspect ourselves, to identify our flaws and sins faster — The sooner the better, so that we can end it with God’s Love.

We can be arrogant thinking that we can handle everything, or that we are our own gods. We can be prideful thinking that our past victories or achievements in life are the proof that we don’t need God to achieve anything. Sennacherib was full of victories, and he got all of it wrong. He didn’t know that God allowed him to have them for God’s own purpose. Look what God says to the Assyrian king :

« Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble… » 

— Book of Isaiah, chapter 37 verse 26.

Sennacherib’s end teaches us that pride, arrogance and self-sufficiency leads to a path of shame and destruction, while Hezechiah opens the door for a good life in front of God’s Eyes. A small city, with few habitants, smote the biggest empire of their time without any military actions only through prayer.

Now, the last later and message: God’s Protection.

I used to live without asking God’s Protection in my life, because I simply did not know who He really was. I was exactly like Sennacherib without realizing it. It added so much pain and sorrow to my life. So much suffering that could have been avoided. In my 19’s God sent me a trial that humbled me completely, and since, I gave Him my life. I ask Him to always live under His Protection, and encourage you to do the same, only God loves you and I perfectly. He is worthy of everything.

As you know, we are extremely fragile. We can die at any moment. What path do we want to follow in life? That of Sennacherib, or that of Hezekiah?

Hezekiah, by His devotion to God, not only save himself, but thousand and thousand of lives and family and his kingdom. He was blessed by God’s Protection. You can as well, without maybe realizing now save your family, friends and thousand if not millions of lives by simply following and trusting God. Sennacherib, by his arrogance, got 185.000 of his army killed. When we follow a wrong path, it affects not only us, but everyone around.