Giving the Devil His Due

Often when You read my writings you will hear me saying Christians are mistaken about this or that, or the church is in error. I want you to know that I too may be mistaken and in error and if you can show me via the words of Yahshuah where I am in error, I will be happy to change my position. Having said that I think most Christians are in error concerning the Ransom.

The Ransom

A ransom is paid to a kidnapper. The payment is made on the basis that the kidnapper will release his hostages.
According to the prophet Hosea Death is the kidnapper and humans are the hostages.

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from Death." (Hosea 13:14)

Yahshuah said he came " as  a ransom for many". (Mt.20:28)

Where I Disagree with most Christians

Most Christians believe that Yahshuah was a ransom but that the ransom was owed to Yah, and that's where I disagree. The ransom was owed to Azazel the Lord of the Land of Death, the Devil.  

Why Paying the Ransom to Yah Horrifies Me

The Problem with the popular Christian theory that the ransom was owed to Yah and that Yah received the ransom is that it turns God into the kidnapper. He is portrayed as a merciless Judge, who could not just forgive and accept humankind without a payment of gruesome human sacrifice.

What father, even among criminals, won't forgive a debt owed him by his own children? The idea that Yah demands the ransom makes him out to be worse than the worst villain, and impugns his essence. Yah in essence is Love.

Azazel, the Ancient Hebrew Name for the Devil

"The name of a supernatural being mentioned in connection with the ritual of the Day of Atonement (Lev. xvi.). After Satan, for whom he was in some degree a preparation,"
Azazel was the leader of the rebellious angels. "This is confirmed by the Book of Enoch, which brings Azazel into connection with the Biblical story of the fall of the angels." from the Jewish Encyclopedia http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=2203&letter=A&search=azazel

In addition inThe Apocalypse of Abraham Azazel is identified with the serpent which tempted Eve. His form is described as a dragon with "hands and feet like a man's, on his back six wings on the right and six on the left." (23:7)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azazel

                                                         Heaven Held it's Breath

By placing his life in Azazel's hands, I do not want to give you the impression that Yahshuah  was obeying him, or that he was offering a sacrifice to Azazel.  Sacrificing to the devil would be a blasphemous act of idolatry. Yahshuah never identified himself as a lamb, or goat, or any kind of sacrifice, but he did represent himself as a payment- a ransom.

Prior to Adam's sin no one died. Adam's sin gave the Lord of Death, the Devil,  the right to kill every sinner and hold them forever in the Land of Death (an unconscious state with no hope of regaining consciousness).  The Lord of Death had this power and as long as he only killed sinners, his  power was invincible.

When Yahshuah placed his life in Azazel's hands, by surrendering in the Garden of Gethsemane, all of heaven must have held its breath waiting to see if Azazel would kill Yahshuah. If he killed an innocent sinless man Azazel's power would be broken. He fell into the trap.

By killing Yahshuah, the Lord of death's power to hold humanity was broken forever. He not only lost his power, but received the curse of Deut. 27:25 that says anyone who kills an innocent person is cursed.

Does that mean people will no longer die? Of course not, but Death can no longer hold us. Now on the Resurrection Day, the Gates of the land of Death, and the Lord of Death, will not be able to hold in the ransomed of Yah.

I believe this is why Yahshuah approached his final hours with such fear and anxiety. If Azazel had known that Yahshuah was a sinless man, he would have never had him killed. But being the greedy, blood-thirsty creature that Azazel is, he just saw Yahshuah as one more foolish, sin-laden man to put on a torture stake and hang in a tree.

That's why Yahshuah can confidently say: "Whoever obeys my words will never see death."  Yes, you may die, but death has no power to hold you on that Great Day when the Shepherd calls out his sheep.

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