Conspiracies and Powers: Skull and Bones and Dragons

Question: 

----- Original Message -----

From: Name Withheld

To: Paul Stringini

Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 1:52 PM

Subject: 2 questions

1 - What does bones-n-skulls mean in the bible?  

 

2 - What does dragons mean in the bible?

 

Name Withheld
Location Withheld

My Response:

----- Original Message -----

From: Paul Stringini

To: Name Withheld

Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 2:31 PM

Subject: Re: 2 questions

In answer to the first question, 

 

 I think you may mean "skull and bones," as in "The secret society that produces presidents and other corrupt leaders."  As far as my knowledge goes, there is no specific reference to skull and bones in the bible.  But the bible certainly has something to say about conspiracies of men.

 

First of all, we understand that the kingdoms of this world are currently given into the hand of Satan (Yet God is still in ultimate control):

 

Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

Notice when he says "that is delivered to me"  All Satan's power is delegated power.  That means that his power is given to him from God.

 

So the power to deliver the presidency, or any other position of power in this world is already in the hands of the devil and has been since the days of Jesus Christ.  All the politics of this world can be seen as a staged fight between Satan's children over Satan's kingdom.  It is very tempting to take sides in these political conflicts.  This is not to say that rulers are not ordained of God or that all rulers are evil.  But God has ordained that Satan would have general dominion over these powers spiritually, in a limited sense.  And Satan gets his way in these things.

At this time, God also restrains Satan's power.

2 Thessalonians 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Satan's power in the earth is currently restrained.  The majority of his power is confined in the heavenlies. 

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

"High Places,"  is usually translated "heavenly." 

Satan's power will eventually become unrestrained when he is cast out of heaven. 

Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

 

God's people should not participate in earthly conspiracies and power plays, nor fear them that do.

Isaiah 8:12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

I see a lot of people get all worked up about the Bilderburgers, Illuminati, Skull-n-Bones, the "Learned Elders,"  and other various movements by powerful elites who desire to shape and control the future of the world.  We ought to take comfort in the knowledge that God sees them.
 
Isaiah 29:15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

 

Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

I would not be much troubled about the conspirators and secret societies.  In America, we have a responsibility to vote our conscience and defend the weak from tyranny.  But above this we must realize that the powers that be are ordained of God.  We do not want to fight against God.  That does not mean we just bow to the establishment.  Sometimes the powers that are ordained of God are revolutionary powers.  We need to be wise.  Our primary concern is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ be not hindered.

 

Psalm 64 is a good one to remember

 

Psalm 64
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

We place our trust in God.  We do not place our trust in our own knowledge.  Sometimes I feel like that is what people think it is all about.  They think that by knowing about secret conspiracies they have power over them.  Maybe so, but not the kind of power that is truly effectual.  The power given us by God to be victorious over all our enemies and those who would enslave us.

The second Question

 

Dragons sometimes mean different things because several different words are translated "dragons"

for instance:

 

Jeremiah 14:6 And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons;

 

In that place the word "dragons" should be translated "Jackals" this passage is about a drought and the asses are snuffing the wind like members of the dog family, (perhaps panting) it makes sense here because everyone knows what a dog sniffing the wind (or panting) is like, it would not be a very good description of something to say it was "like a dragon"  especially because dragons are either extremely rare or extinct (at least on earth), so it wouldn't tell you much to say an ass was snuffing the wind like one.  There are other references in the old testament using the same word that may refer to a sea-serpent, in Hebrew words often do double duty.

 

The book of Revelation is the best place to talk about dragons because there Satan is described as one and we can be certain that the reference is not to Jackals because the Greek word is drakon, a fabulous kind of serpent.  The book of Revelation does not describe a winged dragon, but the association with Satan who is referred to in Ezekiel 28 as a "Cherub" may account for the wings often associated with the Dragon.  Also there is a reference to a "fiery flying serpent" in Isaiah 14:29 which evokes the popular imagery of a dragon.

Isaiah 14:29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. (this is most likely a symbolic serpent referring to Ahaz's descendants as viewed from the perspective the enemy)

Some think that the references in the bible to dragons may refer to what we call dinosaurs and this is certainly possible.  If you have further questions or need clarification, write and I will try to help.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul Stringini