Divine Chastisement -Purpose and Final Outcome
_hand this man *over to Satan* for the destruction of the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.- 1 Cor 5:6_
_Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I *have handed over to Satan* to be taught not to blaspheme.- 1 Tim 1:18-20_
Satan (the Prince of this World- John 14:30) is depicted as a 7 headed Dragon in Rev 12 so as to symbolise the 7 World Empires ...
Who were they and how they are similar with Satan
1.Egypt
2.Assyria
3.Bsbylon
4. Medo-Persia
5. Greece
6. Rome
7. The Imminent Antichrist Empire
Each of them historically and Scripturally viewed were initially good like Satan himself was before becoming wicked- Ezekiel 28:14-15. The Early Kings of Each Empire were humble towards the Lord and caring towards His people...the Israelites
Fo instance...
i) Egypt - Pharoah of Joseph time was good but one of Moses time was wicked
ii) Assyria- King of Assyrians with his Capital in Nineveh in Jonah's time was humble heeding the warning of Jonah and repenting but the Assyrian King towards the end of Assyrian rule namely King Sennacherib of King Hezekiah's time was wicked
iii) Babylon- King Nebuchadnezar had a repentant heart whereas the last King Belshazar of Daniel Chapter 5 was wicked
We can go on...
iv) Medo- Persia
v) Greeks
vi) Romans
vii) Coming Antichrist Empire
Our Lord is unchanging (Mal 3:6) in His ways including the _mode of punishment._
If He virtually delivered the Israelites from Satan's yoke (Egyptian Empire), for their sin of persistent Idol-worship despite warnings from His Prophets, as a punishment, He hands them back to Satan's Hands
A) Israel (10 tribes) into Assyrian King for an Exile (2 Kings 17).
B) Judah (2 Tribes) into Babylonian King for Exile (2 Chro 36).
After Exile purification experience, Israelites never slipped into Idol Worship again so as to say that after EXPERIENCING THE BARREN DESERT (HOSEA 2:14 NLT), THEY REALISED THE VALUE OF THE LIVING WATERS AND ON RESTORATION OF THE SAME, THEY FELL ONCE AGAIN DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH THEIR CREATOR AND EXHIBITED THEIR LOVE FOR HIM BY FIRMLY TURNING THEIR BACKS TO THAT SIN WHICH TOOK THEM AWAY FROM HIM!!!
Similarly...coming to Christians' who have been delivered from the yoke of Satan (Eph 2:1-2) for persistent sinning, the ultimate punishment like in the case of israel...is that sinning Christian (like the Fornicator in 1 Cor 5) is one of being handed back into the Devil's hands who would expose thst sinner to mini-hell on Earth itself. Our Heavenly Father loving aim is that after such a chastisement, we ought NOT to repeat our sins but show genuine repentance and be accepted back into the Church fold (His family) like in the case of this same Fornicator (who repented after being exposed to mini-hell) about whom Apostle Paul writes in 2 Cor 2:6-10...👇👇👇
The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,- 2 Cor 2:6-10.
The absence of the Living Waters (whose presence had been taken for granted) would make the Believer yearn for the same. Once it is given back on his genuine repentance, it makes him forever grateful and resilient never to slip back into sinning.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Suresh Manoharan
Hyderabad -India
