According to the Greek Ages of Man, the Golden Age ended with the War of the Titans and the imprisonment of Cronus / Lucifer. This did not end conflict between the old and new gods.
The Roman poet Ovid in The Metamorphoses explains that Zeus / Saturn / Satan seized the throne of the universe when his more powerful father Cronus / Lucifer was cast into murky Tartarus. As a clone / 2nd generation god, he was less glorious than his father, but identified with the next-important light in the sky, the moon. He was called by the name “Sin” in Sumerian, and worshipped with all the host of heaven
Biblically his power over humanity is noted as “if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire” (Genesis 4:7)
But also true that the covenant of dominion over the earth held in trust for the qualified heir is irrevocable. And throughout all history mankind has been tasked with living up to the assigned role of taking dominion by tapping into the power of God.
So from a biblical perspective, as the common currency, silver is the hallmark of this age for redeeming humanity from Satan’s ownership.
Redemption is not a vague spiritual concept accomplished only by Jesus Christ.
Redemption is a very concrete reality that God intended anyone who reconnects to him, ergo is empowered over Satan, to practice in their current mortal human lives on a day-to-day basis.
Under the Mosaic law, redemption served the purpose of restoring possession of the land to the original owner – exactly modeling the ultimate restoration of dominion over the whole earth to humanity.
“in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof…and ye shall return every man unto his possession,” (Leviticus 25)
In the case where the land owner died without leaving any heirs to keep the land in the family in perpetuity, it was the duty of the redeemer to become a surrogate father with the widow. Their son would take the name of, i.e. be posthumously adopted by, the deceased in order to continue the family of the deceased original owner.
“If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother [close relative] shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and…the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 25:5-6)
Even today, societies with strong clan membership ties, such as the Batak in Indonesia, practice the levirate – widows marrying brothers or cousins of their deceased spouse to keep the most valued of possessions – land – in the family.
It is so important to understand all that redemption entails that an entire book in the Bible is devoted to explaining this.
“Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there; and, behold, the kinsman came by…And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab , selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s…If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me…I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.” (Ruth 4:1-4)
In ancient times, upwards of 50% of infants did not survive the first year of life, and Israel at that time was in deathly circumstances of famine and terrorist attacks from neighboring nations – which increased mortality in all ages from all causes of death. It was a dangerous time and place to raise a family.
So when Elimelech’s nearest kinsman, who either was ignorant of the law or planning to ignore it, was publicly informed by Boaz that he would be held to the conditions of this law to give up his first-born son by Ruth as Elimelech’s heir, he rescinded his offer.
“Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou thy right to thyself…Buy it for thee.”
Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. So he drew off his shoe.”
You can see this footprint would be as effective an identification as a fingerprint.
And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s…Moreover / including Ruth the Moabitess…have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off…” (Ruth 4:5-10)
This is exactly what YHVH’s Chose Savior / Jesus the Christ did so that the name of Adam / humanity be not cut off permanently.
“our Saviour Jesus Christ…gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:12-14)
- he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy
- predestinated us unto the adoption of children
- ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise are made nigh by the blood of The Promised Seed / Christ
- Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God
- To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known the manifold wisdom of God by the congregation of believers from all time / church
- According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord
- Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3)
“walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called…Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” (Ephesians 4:1-16)
That vocation and calling is nothing less than taking dominion back from the Adversary.
“thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. ” (Revelation 5:1-10)
The death sentence imposed by virtually all cultures throughout time on persons guilty of murder demonstrates that the need for redemption was carried forward in the conscience of all humans.
The death of family members had a profound psychological effect upon the Iroquois…Essentially, they felt that they needed restitution in some form or another for the dead relative...The first was for a warrior to bring back the scalp of an Indian from the killer’s tribe and to present it to the grieving person…The other two options involved a live captive: the Iroquois either vengefully tortured the prisoner to death or adopted him or her into the tribe.
And adoption as a child of God is exactly what the Christ’s redemption accomplished for all of humanity.
“ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:15-16)
Being a child of God is not about receiving “blessings” of beautiful homes, expensive cars, the latest style clothes year after year at the expense of other nations whose own resources – like oil in the Middle East and labor in China – don’t benefit their own people. It’s about using our God-given blessings to empower others to escape the destruction caused by sin in this world – demonstrating the love of God for humanity.
“there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but The Chosen Heir / Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossian 3:11-15)
The path to peace is found in individuals living, in reality, the ideal that all humans matter. This is the essence of the commandment to love, i.e. identify with, unite with, one another by:
- forgiving others’ financial, emotional, social, and immoral acts against us by accepting our losses,
- accepting the limitations on the transgressors’ ability to make atonement / reparations for the losses they have caused us to suffer, especially ephemeral conditions like time, relationships, appreciation, gratitude, and care,
- and elevating our former stranger to the status of friend by making them a social equal.
What does this say about the Religious Right of America in 2025?
Kingdom Come 