When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

Matthew 16:13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

With the previous two posts (Read this first, then this,) there is enough background to look at the question. Jesus asks, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

There are great watersheds in history. The Bible is replete with them. The fall of man, Noah’s flood, the Exodus… These events are recorded for our learning. As great as they are, none compares to the birth of Jesus. And as His disciples ministered with Him intimately they were privy to an idea that may not have ever been given a voice. Here is Jesus asking a question to lead His friends to a particular personal watershed conclusion.

They said, “Some say that You are John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Matthew 16:14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The answer sounds pretty much academic. This is the answer many will give. It is just a matter of the facts. People are talking about Jesus.

Without thinking through it too much, the undercurrent in the response shows that the people expected some kind of resurrection. How else could Jesus be one of those as reincarnation is not real?

There must be a resurrection.

I don’t think that the identities of the folks mentioned were the answer He desired them to see. Jesus asks them a question that moves form academic third person to intimate first person.

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Matthew 16:15 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Of any other watershed moment that we could think of, none compares to this question each of us must answer. Here’s why. Your eternity hinges on your response to it. It isn’t a coincidence that it was asked right at the Gates of Hell.

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:16 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

As it is recorded, Peter doesn’t hesitate. He declares the truth. This is the matter, that it is the one most important question we encounter in this life… Who is Jesus Christ?

To some, He’s a good teacher. To others, He’s a mensch. There are still others that will deny He is even real.

To those who know Him, He is the King (Christ, Mashiach.) He is the Son of the living God. This isn’t the first such declaration of the disciples (see Matthew 14:33.)

This confession, though is slightly different. It’s a poignant phrase “Son of the living God.” It is a stark contrast to the unique location of veneration of pagan gods. Ones people worship here in spirit. But they are are not alive and have a body as Jesus is.

What I am saying is that Pan was a Titan. Pan was a real god-king… He is a nephilim.

But nephilim, having physical bodies die, their spirits do not. Nor are their spirits eligible for resurrection. These disembodied spirits are what the Bible calls demons. Demons are not fallen angels, and Nephilim are not fallen angels.

Jesus spoke of the entities.

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through dry places seeking rest, but finds none.

Matthew 12:43 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”

Matthew 8:31 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

These demons look for bodies to inhabit. The account of the demoniac (Matthew 8:28-34) shows this plainly. When Jesus cast legion from the man, they asked permission to be put into a herd of swine. There are hints to other ideas here, demons exercise rights of having dominion. The other idea is the utter destruction they wreak.

All of what we have discussed is important to this location. It is the entrance to the netherworld of dead spirits. They’re dead because they no longer have bodies. Spirits do not die as the body does.

Now to drive up to another point… As we have discussed augmented humanity and the bondage that captivates many today. Reading Revelation 13, we see that there is a point where their is going to be a total rejection of Jesus. The control this coming prince will have will be an augmentation to humanity.

He causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, so that no one may buy or sell, except he who has the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Revelation 13:16–17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Clearly, people at that time are willingly taking on the identity of the beast. The scenes recorded in revelation are horrific and very spiritual. We are introduced to real spirits that hate humans.

The boom of Revelation is chiastic in nature, that means it isn’t necessarily linear. It’s linear accounts interwoven. When that is understood, we can examine a sentence that is often overlooked.

In those days men will seek death but will not find it. They will desire to die, but death will elude them.

Revelation 9:6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Death will elude them. Remember the promised augmentation from the serpent in the garden. The serpent promised she wouldn’t die, but would be augmented to be like God.

The educated conjecture is that the mark comes with a sort of biological enhancement that can hinder death. It is not a far stretch to think that this mark alters DNA to something human +. This would make the person that takes it to not have a Kinsman for redemption. After all, this is a seed war… A war of genetics.

Soon, we will discover how important this is. in the next installment, we will look at the response of Jesus.

Jesus is the only One Who has life to give.