The second tempting of Adam and Eve. The devil takes on the form of a beguiling light.
WHEN Satan, the hater of all good, saw how they continued in prayer, and how God communed with them, and comforted them, and how He had accepted their offering--Satan made an apparition.
2 He began with transforming his hosts; in his hands was a flashing fire, and they were in a great light.
3 He then placed his throne near the mouth of the cave because he could not enter into it by reason of their prayers. And he shed light into the cave, until the cave glistened over Adam and Eve; while his hosts began to sing praises.
4 And Satan did this, in order that when Adam saw the light, he should think within himself that it was a heavenly light, and that Satan's hosts were angels; and that God had sent them to watch at the cave, and to give him light in the darkness.
5 So that when Adam came out of the cave and saw them, and Adam and Eve bowed to Satan, then he would overcome Adam thereby, and a second time humble him before God.
6 When, therefore, Adam and Eve saw the light, fancying it was real, they strengthened their hearts; yet, as they were trembling, Adam said to Eve:--
7 "Look at that great light, and at those many songs of praise, and at that host standing outside that do not come in to us, do not tell us what they say, or whence they come, or what is the meaning of this light; what those praises are; wherefore they have been sent hither, and why they do not come in.
8 "If they were from God, they would come to us in the cave, and would tell us their errand."
9 Then Adam stood up and prayed unto God with a fervent heart, and said:--
10 "O Lord, is there in the world another god than Thou, who created angels and filled them with light, and sent them to keep us, who would come with them?
11 "But, lo, we see these hosts that stand at the mouth of the cave; they are in a great light; they sing loud praises. If they are of some other god than Thou, tell me; and if they are sent by Thee, inform me of the reason for which Thou hast sent them."
12 No sooner had Adam said this, than an angel from God appeared unto him in the cave, who said unto him, "O Adam, fear not. This is Satan and his hosts; he wishes to deceive you as he deceived you at first. For the first time, he was hidden in the serpent; but this time he is come to you in the similitude of an angel of light; in order that, when you worshipped him, he might enthrall you, in the very presence of God."
13 Then the angel went from Adam, and seized Satan at the opening of the cave, and stripped him of the feint he had assumed, and brought him in his own hideous form to Adam and Eve; who were afraid of him when they saw him.
14 And the angel said to Adam, "This hideous form has been his ever since God made him fall from heaven. He could not have come near you in it; therefore did he transform himself into an angel of light."
15 Then the angel drove away Satan and his hosts from Adam and Eve, and said unto them, "Fear not; God who created you, will strengthen you."
16 And the angel went from them.
17 But Adam and Eve remained
standing in the cave; no consolation came to them; they were divided in their thoughts.
18 And when it was morning they prayed; and then went out to seek the garden. For their hearts were towards it, and they could get no consolation for having left it.
This excerpt is from an apocryphal work called The Forgotten Books of Eden. More and more as I study so-called apocryphal works, I find that MANY of them contain very specific details of the nature of the devil. Things that are not in the KJV. If the devil WERE to remove things or try to hide things from the Bible, these are exactly the things he would remove. I always wondered myself why the devil, who runs a kingdom of darkness, would be called lucifer which means light-bearer. THIS PASSAGE explains that he is able to transform himself into an angel of light, just like is referenced in 2 Corinthians. IT ALSO says "in his hands was a flashing fire" and that makes me think of the false greek gods helios and apollyon, whom the statue of liberty is a reference to. These false gods are simply stand-ins for lucifer himself. This is why they have a light or a "flashing fire" in their hands. This passage from a so-called apocryphal, non-canonical work, explains so much about the wicked one, of course doubt is cast on its authenticity.
The Devil pretends to lead Adam and Eve to the water to bathe.
BUT when the wily Satan saw them, that they were going to the garden, he gathered together his host, and came in appearance upon a cloud, intent on deceiving them.
2 But when Adam and Eve saw him thus in a vision, they thought they were angels of God come to comfort them about their having left the garden, or to bring them back again into it.
3 And Adam spread his hands unto God, beseeching Him to make him understand what they were.
4 Then Satan, the hater of all good, said unto Adam, "O Adam, I am an angel of the great God; and, behold the hosts that surround me.
5 "God has sent me and them to take thee and bring thee to the border of the garden northwards; to the shore of the clear sea, and bathe thee and Eve in it, and raise you to your former gladness, that ye return again to the garden."
6 These words sank into the heart of Adam and Eve.
7 Yet God withheld His Word from Adam, and did not make him understand at once, but waited to see his strength; whether he would be overcome as Eve was when in the garden, or whether he would prevail.
8 Then Satan called to Adam and Eve, and said, "Behold, we go to the sea of water," and they began to go.
9 And Adam and Eve followed them at some little distance.
10 But when they came to the mountain to the north of the garden, a very high mountain, without any steps to the top of it, the Devil drew near to Adam and Eve, and made them go up to the top in reality, and not in a vision; wishing, as he did, to throw them down and kill them, and to wipe off their name from the earth; so that this earth should remain to him and his hosts alone.
This passage shows the secret motivation of lucifer when he brought Jesus on top of an exceeding high mountain. the devil cometh only to steal, kill and destroy. Derek Prince, the preacher, explained that the devil intends to steal the inheritance of the children of God, to kill their body, and to destroy their souls in hell. He is able to present himself in different forms, but his true form is described as hideous. No wonder these passages are considered apocryphal and non-canonical. They reveal things the devil does not want people to know about him. PRAISE JESUS CHRIST for revealing Truth to his flock. Amen.
