In Jesus' debriefing of the 72 (Luke 10) he uses language that excites my imagination. You ever met a person who has had so many dramatic experiences that their stories are captivating, drawing you in, and causing you to wish you could have been there, at least as a "fly on the wall?" We might forget that Jesus' stories extend eternally beyond the earthly experiences we read about in the Gospels. His stories are timeless and spaceless (made that one up). For instance when the 72 were telling their stories about demons submitting to them in His name, I can imagine Jesus patiently listening to their stories. You can bet if I ever cast out a demon you will hear the story, and it will be dramatic. Jesus wanted to help them put their stories into perspective. A demon (whether you believe they are fallen angels or evil spirits of dead people) is small potatoes compared to what Jesus saw. "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightening." The word watching is akin the Greek word from which we get theatre. Jesus was a spectator to one of the most dramatic events of eternity. What was it like to see Satan get kicked out of heaven? Did God give him one of those "You're fired" speeches? Knowing something of Satan's temper I would say it was not a humble exist. On another occasion when Satan stormed the gates of heaven to try to take the throne by force John tells us that he was thrown down (says it three times), hurled to the earth (Rev.12). This would explain the lightening. Can you imagine the arm on God and how He could pitch Satan down. Clock that pitch! It was lightening fast and Lucifer (light bearer) struck the earth with lightening speed.
Jesus also spoke of serpents and scorpions. Jesus says, "Behold I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you." (Luke 10:19) This has to be reconciled to other warnings of Jesus that many of them will be persecuted, scourged, and put to death. How did they hear this? How did he says this? "Nothing shall injure you." Bulletproof? Hardly. I have spent much of my life trying to avoid stepping on snakes and scorpions. I was always told to check your boots before you put them on. The word "injure" is found elsewhere. In Rev.2:11 the overcomers are not injured by the second death (but that first death is still a possibility). John the Revelator saw some pretty awesome locust who came out of the bottomless pit. They have tails like scorpions the sting of which can injure men for five months. The horses released after the sixth trumpet were no better. They had tails like serpents with heads that can cause injury. So is there a connection between Luke 10's serpents and scorpions and Revelation 9's? Perhaps. But the former do no harm and the latter do. One thing is for sure. Jesus is speaking of spiritual warfare and the protection He provides us from those who would do us harm. They may be able to kill the body, but they cannot touch my spirit.
So is there a point to all this talk of theatre, lightening, serpents, and scorpions? Of course. We are caught up in a very interesting drama. This is no dull life He has called us to. This is the stuff of adventure. I for one am looking forward to hearing more about Jesus' front row seat at the Fall of Satan, and I am hoping to see this terrible locust in heaven's zoo.
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