 | Pastor Dave grew up in northern New Jersey in a very diverse cultural area. He attended Central College in Pella, Iowa received a BA in sociology and psychology. He was an offensive guard for their NCAA Div III National Championship team in 1974. In speaking for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he sensed a call to full time ministry. Meeting is future wife Sandy at Central, went to Michigan to finish her college while Dave started Western Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Dave married Sandy in 77 and completed his Masters of Divinity degree in 78. Pastor Dave’s first church was in Fort Lee, New Jersey, home of the George Washington Bridge. Their three children were born there and he also served as a Police and Fire Chaplain for the city. In February 1991, they came to Wichita to start Harvest Community Church. In 2006, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Covenant Theological (Presbyterian) Seminary in St Louis. During that year he gained a daughter-in-law with now 2 grandsons of 3 years and 6 months old. Besides Pastoring at HCC for the past 20 years, he has been Director of the SCSD & WPD Police Chaplains for 11.
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Religion
2008-01-01 14:23:00
Fallen angels
What do we know about the fall of the angels prior to the beginning of man? Where in the Bible does it tell us about this?
Answer: There has been some debate over the two prominent passages in the Old Testament that point to his pre-creation fall. The passages can be seen to fit well in their historical context of the kings of which the prophets wrote. However, in these passages, they reach beyond any earthly king ability and give us insight into Satan’s past with God. We learn too, that prophecy from God is a powerful and more far reaching tool that has a way a speaking in the present, past and future terms at the same time.
In Ezekiel 28:12-19, he is called the ‘prince of Tyrus,” which some have said is the earthly king of Tyre. However, we see the title is figurative for someone who is greater than any king could be or become. The references speak of his perfection and sinless of which angels are and speak of him becoming sinful. The pride of his beauty and perfection corrupted his knowledge with a passion for more glory and splendor for himself. Here in lies the ingredients of his and many angels and humans demise. The passage in Isaiah 14:12-15 shows us the natural outcome of his thinking. His pride, as the “first and brightest star,” brought him to believe that his assignment on the earth from God was to insignificant for an angel of his stature. We see in the passage he exalts himself with five “I will” statements and sets himself against the will of God by whatever means and ways he can.
In Isaiah and Ezekiel, as the “prince of this world” one of Jesus’ titles for him (John 14:30), he attaches himself to leading political powers and cultures throughout the world, as he does even to this day and will until the end of time. But also in the lives of individuals like our parents, Adam and Eve, he tempts and seducing people into thinking they can make a better plan for their lives with out God’s impute or even without God.
However, he is a defeated enemy (Colossians 3:15). The power of Christ is greater in you than his in the world (1 John 4:4). He can only do what God allows him to do (Job 1:9-12) and he can’t force you to do anything but he can tempt. God even gives us a protective shield of limitation on how much and to what extent Satan can tempt us (1 Cor 10:13). Finally, this adversary is the first big loser because his judgment is for sure (Rev 20:10).
