As we’ve learned recently, Elohim represents supernatural beings spanning multiple realms. Many compose God’s Divine Council led by YHVH. Long after creation, He gave control of the nations (except for Israel) to others. And some went rogue! This is why God warns us to prefer Him over lesser gods (e.g., Exodus 20:3). Hint: it’s not about your car, money, or Sunday football, but real spiritual entities! Let’s explore Elohim rebels in order, starting with Satan.

Original Rebel, Satan. He and others existed before we did: “Where were you [Job] when I laid the foundation of the earth? . . And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7) Satan then frequented Eden: “You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God . . .” (Ezekiel 28:12-14) But, he rebelled and lost his authority: “. . . you sinned; Therefore I have cast you as profane From the mountain of God. . . .” (Ezekiel 28:16) Satan then tried turning people away from YHVH starting with Eve. Afterward, other Elohim oversaw out-of-Eden humans until they rebelled too.

Rebel Watchers. Eventually, God appointed Elohim to watch over humankind. I encourage you to read Enoch’s accounts and Jude’s reference (Jude 1:6-7). But they corrupted people physically and morally (e.g., Genesis 6:1-22). God finally sent these renegades to an underworld prison. Thousands of years later, Jesus sealed and proclaimed their fate with His death (1 Peter 3:18-20—watch the context!)  But Elohim watchers weren’t the last spiritual rebels.

Rebel Inheritors. Satan and the Watchers sinned greatly out of free will, just as we do. So, God attempted rebirth through the Great Flood, encouraging Noah and his family to reproduce God-fearing people. They didn’t. Another rebel, Nimrod, tried to rise above YHVH, who then temporarily disinherited the nations except for eventually Israel (Deuteronomy 32:7-12). The Elohim who inherited the other nations have, therefore, managed most of humanity for about four thousand years. However, they became power-hungry and began sinning. In Psalm 82, God chastises them for acting unjustly, and He sets their fate. Daniel learns that these principalities control rulers negatively and invoke conflict in the heavenly realm (Daniel 10:13 & 21). Paul corroborates this by highlighting the ongoing battle against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

Summary: Satan was the first Elohim rebel; the Watchers and Elohim inheritors of the nations followed. Knowing this should help us understand why evil is rampant, especially concerning governance and the coming end-of-the-world cosmic battle. But God began His reclamation of the nations at Pentecost, and there’ll be a day of reckoning for Satan, the Watchers, and the rogue Elohim inheritors! So, in the final of four parts, we’ll “go all apocalypse” and unveil Elohim’s cosmic end-times conflict and its perfect resolution by our Creator, YHVH!

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.