Hijacking throughout history
Adam and Eve
In the Scripture, it is written as follows about God's purpose in creating Adam and Eve: “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”(Genesis 1:26-28)
In the above passage, the creation of mankind by God was for the purpose of ruling over the earth and multiplying. However, Jesus said, "Now will the ruler of this world be cast out" (John 12:31). "For the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me."(John 14:30). "When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: .... and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." (John 16:11) This prince of this world is Satan.
The devil himself said to the Lord Jesus in this way: "The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 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. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”" (Luke 4:5-7) When Satan claimed that "all power and authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me," Christ did not argue. This clearly demonstrates that the devil holds power over this world.
Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus about their previous life of unbelief like this: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." (Ephesians 2:1-2) Thus, it is evident that this world is under the dominion of the devil.
Though a parent buys a toy for their child, if the child does not utilize it, someone else may end up using it; in a similar way, even though this world was created by God for mankind, it has now fallen under Satan's control. If the child wishes to play with the toy again, they cannot do so without the permission of the person who currently possesses it. In a parallel manner, if individuals desire to make use of this world, they must worship Satan in order to gain permission to do so. Due to their intense longing to utilize the world, people often disregard God and instead choose to follow Satan; ultimately, they will face eternal condemnation when they die. By hijacking God's original purpose for mankind, Satan has managed to invert the divine plan, leading countless souls astray.
Individuals who align themselves with Satan and follow his lead will ultimately face the consequences of their actions—eternal punishment in the form of Hell's unquenchable fire. Similarly, Satan too will eventually suffer a devastating fate when he is cast into the eternal flames as a consequence for his rebellion against God. The Lord Jesus said, "Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:41)
Those unaware that Satan has seized control of the world God originally entrusted to Adam and Eve are fervently attempting to regain authority through various means, such as politics, economics, religion, education, and military power. These efforts often stem from a lack of understanding about the deception perpetrated by Satan.
Are you among those who diligently pursue Satan's agenda? There is only one means to evade the deceitfulness of Satan. Jesus said, "I am the way." (John 14:6) Also, He said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32) May the Lord grant you the opportunity to see with spiritual eyesight!
Noah and His Descendants
And God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them: “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands." (Genesis 9:1-2). God gave Noah and his descendants a new opportunity to multiply and fill the earth, restoring the rights that Adam and Eve had lost. However, Noah's descendants were again ensnared by the cunning of Satan. All inhabitants of the earth spoke one language and came together in the land of Shinar, finding a plain where they settled. They said to each other: "Come, let us make bricks and build a city with strong foundations." When they had made bricks and prepared mortar, they said: "Let us build a city and a tower whose top reaches into the heavens so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over all the earth."
Thus, when the LORD saw the city and the tower which men had built, the LORD said: "Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they may not understand one another." And thus the LORD scattered them over all the earth. Therefore, because of this, the LORD caused them to be dispersed over the whole earth, and they ceased building the city. Thus, that city was called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of all the earth, scattering them over the entire earth (Genesis 11:1-9).
Noah's family, who heeded the message of God, were protected from being deceived by Satan. However, their descendants quickly fell into the same situation of being hijacked by Satan. Although God had commanded them to multiply and fill the earth, they disobeyed His instruction by constructing the Tower of Babel. Because of this, they were divided among themselves so that they could no longer unite in fellowship. This punishment is what modern people are experiencing today as they speak many languages and do not understand one another. The difficulties caused by language barriers among different ethnic groups today stem from the judgment that Satan brought upon Noah's descendants.
Abraham
The Lord said to Abraham: "The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. (Genesis 12:1-5)
God called Abraham from among Noah's descendants to fulfill His purpose. God intended for all peoples to be blessed through Abraham. Yet God's plan and intentions were being hijacked by Satan. When Abraham arrived in the land of Canaan, a severe famine occurred. Due to this extreme famine, Abraham went to Egypt to find shelter. (Genesis 12:10). Instead of going down to Egypt, he should have approached God.
Abraham's trip to Egypt nearly led to the loss of his wife Sarah. "When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace." (Genesis 12:14-15). God's intention was to bless Abraham; however, by deciding to go down to Egypt, Abraham inadvertently exposed himself to the hijacking of Satan. Because of God's salvation, he wase able to return with his wife to Canaan.
Abraham's trip to Egypt and the resulting events did not end there. His wife Sarah, who could not bear children, suggested to him that he take a servant from her household as a wife. "Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her." (Genesis 16:1-2).
Despite Satan's relentless efforts to hijack God's plan for Abraham, God remained in control and ultimately fulfilled His promise by granting Sarah and Abraham a son, whom they named Isaac.
The Israelites
God chose the Israelites to carry out His purposes. He told Moses that He rescued them from Egypt and led them into a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). God rescued the Israelites from the slavery in Egypt with incredible power. He provided them with a cloud during the day and light at night. He supplied them with manna cakes and water from a rock. They were allowed to cross the Red Sea overnight. Moses told the people, "Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years." (Deuteronomy 8:4). However, due to Satan's deception, they did not want to enter the land of Canaan. Because of their refusal to go into Canaan, some began to say, "Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt." (Numbers 14:4). God's intention was for all Israel to become a kingdom of priests. "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”"(Exodus 19:5-6).
Despite being called to become a kingdom of priests, while Moses was on Mount Sinai, the Israelites made idols and worshiped them (Exodus 24:1-6). They failed to trust in the Lord during their journey and chose instead to worship idols, which only provoked God's anger. "Your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. 10 For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” (Psalm 95:9-11).
God's purpose concerning the Israelites was to nourish them physically and let them enjoy milk and honey in the land of Canaan, experiencing His blessings. However, due to Satan's hijacking of God's plan and the hardening of their own hearts, they were unable to reach the Promised Land and ultimately perished during their journey. Spiritually, they were meant to serve as priests of God, proclaiming His message to other nations. Yet they did not fulfill this role, enduring instead persecution, oppression, and violence throughout history. They resemble fathers who send their sons to study in schools with the aim of becoming preachers; however, the sons end up becoming drunkards and gluttons rather than fulfilling their intended roles as spiritual leaders.
When Satan could no longer fight against God directly, he turned his attention to Israel and hijacked the future of Israel. Due to the Israelites' lack of understanding, they continue to suffer greatly even today. Christians should comprehend this truth; however, since many do not read the scriptures or receive divine guidance, they too remain susceptible to Satan's hijacking.
The Church
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18-19).
Jesus spoke about building His Church. However, many churches today have deviated from being Christ's church and have been hijacked by Satan. Most of the churches are going according to the desires of their denominations; those with pastors are going as per the will of the pastors; churches owned by deacons are following their decisions; and congregational churches are going according to the members' desires, not caring at all for Christ's will. Is your church owned by Christ or by whom? Whose desire is it following?
Jesus said He would build His Church Himself. But today's churches give no right from Him to build it. They don't know nor care about His will and do not like being told. Because they are being hijacked by Satan, they are building their own churches with worldly power, human methods, and materialistic teachings, using human strength.
Therefore, when planning something, rather than seeking God's guidance through prayer, they engage in numerous meetings to secure funding and rely on human resources. Consequently, affluent and well-funded churches are establishing schools, hospitals, factories, etc. Hence, the Church is not fulfilling Christ's purpose of proclaiming salvation; it isn't opening the gates of heaven or closing the doors of hell but is instead sealing the heavenly gates and broadening the entrances to hell.
