Chapter 56 THE DEVIL

The devil, formerly Lucifer, was introduced when discussing the First Age in the previous section. He was the picture of perfection, God’s finest, and he was appointed to the most important task: guardianship of Mankind.

You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you.
EZEKIEL 28:14 NIV

Take a moment to contemplate what this means. God assigned the zenith of all created beings to the care of Mankind. But he fell, and Mankind followed him. Don’t miss the gravity of what I’m suggesting. For most of human history I suspect we’ve failed to understand who our adversary is. He is none other than the dark shepherd. He does not look as you would expect. Not even slightly. Every curse that follows those who fight God and love darkness hangs heavy on his shoulders, that is true. But to those who are perishing he is clothed in a cold but brilliant radiance.

Satan himself masquerades as an Angel of light.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:14 NIV

The devil is the pioneer and inventor of Version, and he stumbles daily upon the sword of this deception. The devil is not immune to his own deception.
As you will read in the Annexure that explores the Language of Lies, Version becomes invisible to those who speak it. Those who speak only Version cannot see the truth. The devil, in the same way, is unable to see his lies as lies. He can’t discern the deception in that which comes from his own mouth.

When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
JOHN 8:44 NIV

Version is the devil's native language, the only language he can speak, hear, understand, and believe. It simply means this - the devil has swallowed his own lie. He believes that he is the rightful god of the earth.
The devil believes he is the rightful ruler of both the NAPOX and the SUPOX connected to it. Not just that, but he believes he has gained authority on earth lawfully. He believes it so completely that when he confronted the Son of God in the dust of the desert, he felt sure that he would be recognized as the rightful ruler.

The devil led him [Jesus] up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
LUKE 4:5-7 NIV

The devil presented himself to Jesus as the rightful ruler of earth, and in recognizing Jesus’ task, he offered his kingdom to him. Jesus was facing the perfect deception, partly because, more than anything, the devil himself believed it to be true. Legions of angels had fallen for the delicately poised Version spoken by the devil's silver tongue. But where they fell, Jesus Christ the Son of God, did not.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
LUKE 4:8 NIV

In some way or another, all Mankind had fallen. Every man, woman, and child has bought into one or many of the devil's lies. Version has, universally, been Mankind's undoing. By trading with it, the devil had amassed the authority and splendor of Mankind for himself.

By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries.
EZEKIEL 28:18 NIV

It should come as no surprise then that much of Mankind, especially those given over to religious persuasions, are, in fact, worshipping the devil. The devil believes himself to be God, as do his followers.

You say, “We are wise because we have the teachings and laws of the Lord.” But I say that your teachers have turned my words into lies!
JEREMIAH 8:8 CEV

The devil offers to look after his followers much in the same way God does. He offers to teach them much the same way God does. On the surface, it looks almost the same. Only when peeling back the scab to look beneath the surface does the horror become apparent. While feeding his followers self-importance, pride, and power, the devil feeds on them. Each draws strength from the other, an alluring exchange that leads his disciples on a treacherous descent into depravity.

Lies come from the mouths of my people, like arrows from a bow. With each dishonest deed their power increases…
JEREMIAH 9:3 CEV

Look at that man, bloated by self-importance— full of himself but soul-empty.
HABAKKUK 2:4 MSG

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
1 TIMOTHY 4:1-3 NKJV

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 JOHN 4:1 NIV

The devil feeding on his followers, remarkably, does nothing to sap his follower's devotion. So passionate were these devil-god followers in Jesus' time they desired murder above all else. Not for any reason except this – Jesus called them out. Christ not only unmasked their false religion, but he called out their god as the devil. He disrobed him, removing his radiant and god-like mask of deception.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
JOHN 8:39-45 NIV

The devil, then, is the god of this age. Except for Spiritkind, his worshipers, one and all, have gone after him.

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. Anyone who is destined for prison will be taken to prison. Anyone destined to die by the sword will die by the sword. This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
REVELATION 13:9-10 NLT

Excerpt From: Geoffrey Young. “Guardian Universe: The Gospel in Unexpected Terms.”
Chapter 57 - FALLEN ANGELS