Page 4 - Dragon Flood

serpent deceived me, and I ate.” In the last book of the Bible we read that when the dragon
spews forth a river of water from his mouth (words of deceit), the earth “opened its mouth
and drank up the river.” Thus, from the opening book of the Bible, to the very end, we see
Satan engaged in pouring forth words that mankind consumes to his great hurt and loss.

This function of Satan as a great deceiver is shared by men and women who are in league
with him. The devil grants to unrighteous men the ability to speak words of deception that
they might gain control over mankind. The book of Revelation figures Satan as the great
dragon giving authority to a world ruler. This world ruler is marked by his subversive and
perverse speech.

Revelation 13:1-8
And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore... And the whole earth was amazed and
followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the
beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage
war with him?" There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and
blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he
opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and
His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to
make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people
and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him,
everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book
of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

What the wise Christian should understand is that this work of deceiving the nations is not
merely a matter for the very last days of mankind. It will reach a crescendo at the end of the
age, but it has been going on apace ever since Satan first spoke words of deception to
mankind in the Garden. Today, having satisfied myself of the truth of this matter, I declare
that the saints of God, even the elect, are subject to this work of delusion. Satan has
persuaded mankind of many falsehoods. He has led the church to imbibe poisoned waters.
There is not a realm of life in which this deception cannot be observed to have infiltrated
the minds and thinking of believers.

The apostle Paul, writing to the Hebrew saints of the first century spoke the following
warning.

Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be
strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not
benefitted.

Note the parallel employment of the words “strange teachings” and “foods.” Doctrines and
thoughts are compared to foods that mankind consumes. Satan has been setting a table for
mankind, and especially for the chosen of God, for long ages. He is a master at getting men
and women to eat the very deadliest poisons that lead to ruin and destruction.

Note this connection between teaching and foods again in the following passage.