Almost a superstitious attitude about teaching about Satan prevailed.
They taught very little about him, thus most of us were largely untaught
in this matter.
They taught a simplistic picture of the Christian life:
You get saved and born again, baptized in water, baptized in the Holy
Spirit with the evidence of tongues - and then you have no more
problems.
Satan loved that. The less we know about him, the better it is
for him to deceive us.
I have the inclination to go in depth
with this study because so many Christians of today have no clue about
Satan other than the fact that he is a fallen angel and that he is bad.
The
Christian faces a foe who is not appeased, relentless and pitiless, he
diabolically plots the Christian's overthrow. Filled with demonic hatred
for God and the people of God, he is the Christian's arch-enemy.
It
may come as a surprise to you to learn that Satan is the fourth person
of importance in the universe; but unfortunately, it is true. Consider:
First
is the Holy Trinity, God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit.
Next is Satan, the unholy devil, who is equipped with
supernatural wisdom and power second only to that which God Himself
possesses. Also, he has a burning ambition to exalt himself to the place
of deity at the expense of crushing everyone in his path. He is
cruelty, deceit, malice personified.
Yet, Satan always has sought
to hide under a cloak of anonymity. His strategy is to hide his true
identity.
First, he suggests to susceptible men that he does not exist
at all; that the idea of a devil is but a figment of imagination.
Surprisingly enough, multitudes of people accept this lie. For them,
evil is but the absence of good, and people do wrong simply because they
do not do right. The conception of a wicked spirit who lures them to
evil is unthinkable.
Next, Satan likes people to think of him as a
leering, tempting joker. Dressed in a bright red suit, equipped with
horns and a tail and carrying a pitchfork, he is pictured as the monarch
of hell, surrounded by inmates enjoying a rollicking good time.
This is
the image gleefully seized upon and exploited by the press and
comedians and tattoo artist etc... Nothing pleases Satan more than this
unbelievable characterization of himself.
The true nature of
Satan is understood by comparatively few. As a consequence, he has plied
his nefarious trade to the eternal doom of billions.
His particular
targets for attack are those who are God's children by faith in Jesus
Christ. He seeks to nullify their Christian testimony by leading them
into sin, and by filling their lives with worldly pursuits and
ambitions.
A large part of the answer to this ever present danger
is an understanding of the truth regarding Satan. Every Christian
should have firmly fixed in mind the devil's purpose, ambition, and
strategy. Coupled with this should be a healthy respect for his power.
With this knowledge, the Christian will understand that he cannot live a
successful life in his own strength. Then he will learn that God never
intended he should, but that the power of the risen Christ would be
available moment by moment to bring victory over Satan's wiles.
THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD
The
word omniscience is not, strictly speaking, a biblical term. The word
itself is not found in the Bible. It is a philosophical/theological word
that has come into wide usage because, like the word trinity, it
correctly describes the biblical evidence.
The word means to see or know
all things.Time dims our remembrance of much that has happened. God is
not like that. He always knows what is past, present, and future, for he
is omniscient.
Job 37:16
Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?
1
John 3:19-20 [19]
This then is how we know that we belong to the truth,
and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence [20] whenever our
hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows
everything.
Psalms 147:5
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
He sees all that occurs in every place and keeps watch upon the just and the wicked.
Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
God knows everything in nature, every star and every sparrow.
Psalms 147:4
He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
He watches all mankind and considers each person's works. He sees the ways of men, and He examines all each man's goings.
Psalms
33:13-15 [13]
From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;
[14] from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth -- [15] he
who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
Proverbs 5:21
For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.
He watches all mankind and considers each person's works. He sees the ways of men, and He examines all each man's goings.
Psalms
33:13-15 [13]
From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;
[14] from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth -- [15] he
who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
Proverbs 5:21
For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.
He knows all man's deeds and experiences.
Psalms
139:2-3 [2]
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my
thoughts from afar. [3] You discern my going out and my lying down; you
are familiar with all my ways.
He knows all man's words.
Psalms 139:4
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
He knows all man's sorrows.
Exodus
3:7
The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in
Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I
am concerned about their suffering."
It seems sometimes as if He
does not know man's sorrows. It must have seemed so sometimes to Israel
in Egypt, but He did, and in time He proved it.
He understands all our motives. He understands our thoughts from a distance.
Psalms
139:1-2 [1]
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. [2] You know
when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
1
Chronicles 28:9
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your
father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing
mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive
behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if
you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
God's knowledge extends to minutest particulars.
Matthew
10:29-30 [29]
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of
them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. [30]
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
God has always known everything that will ever happen.
Acts
15:16-18 [16]
'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen
tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, [17] that the
remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things' [18] that have been known for
ages.
Isaiah 46:9-10 [9]
Remember the former things, those of
long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none
like me. [10] I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please
God knows from the beginning what each individual man will do.
1 Peter 1:20
He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Mark 13:32
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Matthew
20:17-19 [17]
Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the
twelve disciples aside and said to them, [18] "We are going up to
Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and
the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death [19] and will
turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On
the third day he will be raised to life!"
Exodus 3:19
But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him.
Acts
3:17-18 [17]
Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did
your leaders. [18] But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold
through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.
2 Kings 7:1-2 [1]
Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs
of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria." [2] The officer on
whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, "Look, even if
the LORD should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?"
"You will see it with your own eyes," answered Elisha, "but you will not
eat any of it!"
Psalms 41:9
Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
Galatians
1:15-17 [15]
But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by
his grace, was pleased [16] to reveal his Son in me so that I might
preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, [17] nor did I
go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I
went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
1
Peter 1:1-2 [1]
... To God's elect, ... [2] who have been chosen
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the
sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and
sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
The whole plan of the ages and each man's part in it has been known to God from all eternity.
Ephesians
1:9-12 [9]
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to
his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, [10] to be put into
effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment -- to bring
all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
[11] In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to
the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose
of his will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to hope in
Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 3:6, 8-9
[6]
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs
together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together
in the promise in Christ Jesus. ... [8] ... I am ... to preach to the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [9] and to make plain to
everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was
kept hidden in God, who created all things.
Colossians
1:25-26 [25]
I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to
present to you the word of God in its fullness -- [26] the mystery that
has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to
the saints.
There are no afterthoughts with God. Well may we exclaim:
Romans
11:33
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Satan wanted to be like God! He declared:
1. Isaiah 14:14
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
And we all know what happened to him:
Satan's
burning ambition from the very beginning has been to replace God,
actually to be God, and to sit on His throne. Strange as it may seem,
God will allow the devil to attempt this for a brief period. Wow!
The
last book of the Bible is taken up almost in its entirety with the
description of the horrors of the tribulation period. The Holy Spirit,
who has been a deterring, restraining force against evil, will be
withdrawn from the earth with the Church (II
Thess.
2:6,7).
Satan will then raise up his man, the Antichrist, to assume
dictatorship. At this point, perhaps in order to bring about the
consummation of evil and its eventual judgement, God will send upon the
earth what is called "strong delusion"; the people will believe Satan's
lies (II
Thess. 2:11-12).
In
an unbelievably short time, the Antichrist will rise to the position of
world dictator. Using peaceful means at first, through the media of
religion, politics, and economics, he will climb a short path to the
top. To facilitate this rule of his tool, the devil will give to this
depraved man his own wisdom and power.
At first, Antichrist will appear
to allow God's name to be honored, but soon he will require worship of
the devil on a worldwide scale. Evidently, the Jewish nation will refuse
this when the Man of Sin sets up his image (Matt. 25:15), with the
result that the armies of Antichrist will converge upon the Holy Land.
At this earth's darkest hour, relief will come as the heavens part and
Christ returns to the earth, to defeat Antichrist and his hosts and to
take in His own holy, blessed hands the reins of power.
Then He will set
up a Kingdom which shall endure eternally (Rev. 20:1-15).
The destiny of Satan is as sure as his past. God has
pre-written
his end. There seems little doubt that in the closing days of this
present age of grace, the devil's pernicious activities against the
cause of God will be increased greatly (Rev. 12:12).
Not only does Satan continue to direct the vast network of
anti God
control over the world with its manifold ramifications, but his
particular animosity is expressed against the Gospel of Christ and those
who proclaim it (II Cor. 4:4).
Satan's supernatural, uncanny and
penetrating knowledge should never be underestimated. His special
delight is to bring about the falling into sin and consequent
uselessness of the Christian worker. Knowing full well that within
Christians there remains the old sinful nature, the devil uses this
means of leading the Lord's people into compromise and sin. No Christian
in himself is a match for this sinister enemy.
There are still
those today who want to be like God. Knowing all things. Not hard to understand who is behind their activities!
With regard to most of the world's activities, that enormous breadth of
endeavor and accomplishment, Satan's plan has been that of
substitution.
He has used the great advances of science and other achievements.
Education has come under his special favor. The emphasis has been upon
man's accomplishments without regard to God's
enablement.
Man's selfish pride and love of self have been encouraged to the full.
Anything and everything which contributes to man's self~praise and
self~worship have been given wide publicity and acceptance.
On the other
hand, anything which would tend to show sinful character of the human
heart, and the desperate need of the saving grace of God, has been
sidetracked, soft-pedaled, and mocked by the devil.
It is well to
repeat: Satan still has access to the very throne of God in heaven.
Frequently he goes there to accuse the saints of unrighteousness (Job
1:6-10). Notice Revelation 12:9,10, wherein is described the great
accuser's eventual fall:
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old
serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which
deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
"And
I heard a loud voice saying in heaven. Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ; for
the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our
God day and night."
Satan's warfare against believers is
unceasing. Were it not for the defense of our great Advocate, the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Christian's position would be in jeopardy (Heb. 7:25).
Leaders
of these false systems are described in Paul's inspired critique. They
are said to "Speak lies in hypocrisy," which means that they know
better, but still deal in these spurious teachings. They are hypocrites.
In their hearts they are aware that their systems are fraudulent.
The
consciences of false teachers are seared, hardened by sin. Conscience
is a God-implanted instrument to help men to recognize error and to turn
from it. But conscience can be ignored. When continually disregarded,
it becomes inoperable and fails to warn the sinner. This is what has
happened to demon~influenced teachers.
No one knows how many
demons there are in the spiritual realm around the earth...but they are
there none the less...loose, free to do the treacherous will of Satan
until their final doom with their fiendish master.
Influence of
human beings is clearly presented in Scripture. Although the subject is
not prominently featured in the Old Testament, the New Testament abounds
in references to demon influence and
expulsions.
Just
how is it possible for a spirit being to indwell and control a human
being for evil purposes is not explained in the Word of God. Yet, of
course, there is the antithetical truth that the child of God is both
indwelt and directed by the Holy Spirit. Belief in the possibility of
demon influence is increased when we remember that the natural human
being possesses a fallen nature.
He is far from God. He is easily
susceptible to Satanic error, and already is a member of the worldly
kingdom of Satan; so in a sense, he is ruled by Satanic suggestion. It
is not to far a step to believe that the body of the natural man can be
indwelt by a member of the demonic host. This is not to suggest that all
people who are not Christians are demon~controlled, but rather that
there may be a thin line between the lost, depraved natural man and the
demon~influenced soul.
There is no reason to believe that demonic
control is not possible today. In fact, there are documented instances
of demonic influence (like that described in Scripture) and expellsion
on every mission field. Demon control seems to prevail in backward
unevangelized lands.
Nor is there reason to believe that demonic
control cannot assume more enlightened aspects in this century. That is
to say, while the goal of Satan is the same, to bring more and more of
the world's population under his control, his method of using his demons
could be, so to speak, on a higher plane.
Satan could dispatch his evil
demons to indwell business leaders, college presidents, unbelieving
theologians, and liberal ministers. Creating "Social gospels" of secular
humanism, that lead no one to repentance at the cross of Christ for
salvation. Making Christ just an "enlightened one" who was very good and
someone who taught us how to live, not our Saviour.
"Demonized"
people are not "Possessed". A person is not "owned" by a devil or a
demon. Unfortunately this is an area of confusion that has not been
cleared up in some of the modern translations of Scripture.
The Greek
noun daimon gives rise to a verb daimonizo, which occurs about twelve
times in the New Testament. The obvious English equivalent of this verb
is demonize, which Collins English Dictionary defines as "to subject to
demonic influence."
In the New Testament this verb occurs in the passive
form: "to be demonized." In the original KJV, it is translated
regularly as "to be possessed of [or with] a devil or devils." Most
modern versions have correctly changed devil to demon, but incorrectly
retain the form to be possessed.
The problem with this form of
words is that, to English ears, the word possess immediately suggests
ownership. To be "possessed"- by a devil or demon- implies that a person
is "owned" by a devil or demon. But there is no basis for this in the
Greek word daimonizo, which conveys no suggestion of ownership, but
means merely "subject to demonic influence."
Obviously the form
of words we use is of vital importance. It is one thing to say to a
person, "You are subject to demonic influence." It is quite another to
say, "You are possessed by the devil".
Let me say emphatically
that there is nothing in the verb daimonizo to imply possession.
Personally I believe that every born~again Christian sincerely seeking
to live for Christ belongs to Christ and is owned by Him. It is
monstrous to suggest that such a person belongs to the devil or is owned
by the devil.
On the other hand, Christians can be subject to
demonic influences. Such a Christian undoubtedly belongs to Christ, yet
there are areas of his or her personality that have not yet come under
the control of the Holy Spirit. It is these areas that may still be an
open door to demonic influence. Which explains how some seemly spiritual
men of God can suddenly do unexpected acts of carnality, like I
described at the beginning of this study on Satan.
Be on guard
and ever watchful with the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the
sword of the Word of God and the shoes of the Good News...because your
enemy goes to and fro like a lion, seeking whom he may deceive, the very
wise if he may.
Two Kingdoms ...
There is a great Kingdom
of God in the world. This Kingdom is entered into only by personal
faith in the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. When one realizes his
utterly lost condition, due to his sinful deeds; believes in his heart
that Christ actually died for him, and trusts that Saviour, a miracle
takes place.
That person is transformed immediately into a legitimate
child of God, with all his sins forgiven. He becomes a recipient of all
the rights and privileges of sonship. This transformation is called
becoming a Christian, being converted, being born~again (Romans 6:23;
John 3:3-7, 16-18; Eph. 2:8,9).
A spiritual relationship is thus
created between the believer and God the Father; the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Saviour, the Holy Spirit, the indwelling Guide. The main sphere of
activity for the believer in this hostile world is the local church,
organized to provide instruction, encouragement, and opportunities to
futhur the will and work of God.
An outstanding mark of God's
presence in this Kingdom is the willing confession to the effectiveness
of the work of Jesus Christ and the worthiness of His Person. True
believers give wholehearted testimony to the fact that Christ is the
second person of the blessed Trinity; that He was the One predicted on
the pages of the Old Testament. In the fullness of time, He was born of a
virgin, in Bethlehem of Judea.
At about the age of 30, this
person called Jesus of Nazareth began His public ministry. For three and
one-half years, He publicly demonstrated His claims to deity. He healed
the sick and cleansed the lepers. He forgave and cleansed the sinful
and raised the dead. He spoke as none other had ever spoken.
All
of this was but a preliminary to the death of Jesus. Although it was by
cruel and wicked hands that he was apprehended and crucified, the record
is clear.
No one could have laid hands upon the Son of God without His
own permission. He freely offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of
the world (John 10:17,18). One day, while the sun hid its face, and the
earth shuddered, Jesus Christ died as the Lamb of God for the sins of
the world. In three days, He rose from the dead. Some days later,
promising to return, He ascended to heaven.
The Kingdom of God is
limited to those who have embraced this confession and received the
Saviour. In the New Testament this body of believers is called the
Church ( Eph.5:23; Col.1:18,24).
There is another kingdom in the
world. This is the kingdom of evil, with the devil as its father. On one
occasion the Lord Jesus Christ was disputing with some very religious
Jews. In their foolish pride they were boasting of their ancestral
connection with Abraham and disparaging Christ's claims concerning God,
His heavenly Father. To thesethe Lord spoke some astonishing truth:
"Ye
are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of
his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44).
This
is indeed amazing and terrifying. If these self-righteous Pharisees
were said to have Satan as their father, and if membership in the
Kingdom of God is entered into only by personal faith in Jesus Christ as
Saviour, then it would seem as if almost the entire world holds
membership in the kingdom of evil, and is related to Satan as their
father.
The apostle John, writing some years later, states this
very thing: "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth
[is under the power] of the wicked one [that is, the devil]" ( I John
5:19)
Many people would concede that there are some unfortunate
people in the world under the control of the devil. These would include
the vile, the drunken, thieves, adulterers, and blasphemers. While
undoubtedly such sinners are in the kingdom of evil, their sinful
activities can be traced to the innate transgressions of the human heart
(Jer.17:9; Matt. 15:19).
The scope of the devil's sway is far
wider than that of the realm of the overtly evil, the outwardly sinful.
Any who are not to be found under the banner of the crucified and risen
Saviour are included. Satan disapproves of gross sinful display. His
inner desire is for worship. The drunkard in the gutter is no credit to
him. Satan would be God, and so makes a bid for the intellectual, the
liberal, the highly cultured.
Any who do not sincerely own Jesus
Christ as their personal Saviour find their place in the kingdom of
evil. Satan is the head of that kingdom and is become their father.
This
is not a flattering position in which to be in, but it is true as the
words of Christ Himself. Depart from and repudiation of this brotherhood
of the devil is accomplished when one turns to Christ and trusts Him,
believing the Gospel. The believer is translated from the kingdom of
evil into the Kingdom of God's dear Son (Col. 1:13).
Do you know Jesus? Have you turned from your sin and asked Him into your heart?
Defeat at the cross...
It
seems evident that when Satan caused our first parents to sin in the
Garden of Eden, he wrested from them the authority with which God had
intended them to rule over His dominions. From that day to this, Satan
has been the prince of this world.
Both the physical world and mankind
have been under his control. This is revealed in the temptation of the
Lord (Matt. 4:8,9). Satan showed Christ the kingdoms of the world in
panorama. He offered to give Christ those kingdoms if He would but fall
down and worship him.
This offer of Satan seems a hollow boast
until we realize that he did ruthlessly seize control of the earth from
Adam. So his proposition to Christ was a bona fide one.
One of
the reasons our Lord came into this world was to regain from Satan the
authority which he wrongfully possessed. God's method of doing this was
to deal completely with the matter of sin.
It is the fact of sin
which gives power to Satan. When sin entered the human picture, Adam and
Eve became slaves to it. Satan, who had brought about their temptation,
assumed control over the physical world and the world of human beings.
Yet,
God ultimately holds control, and no one is more aware of this than
Satan. The earth, its physical forces, and its human life, are
intrinsically God's. It has pleased the Lord to refrain from instant
(BAM!) destruction of Satan, in order to bring about a complete and
final reckoning with sin. Essentially, Satan is the evil person he
became because of his sin. In like manner, human beings are lost, sinful
creatures because of their sin.
The Lord Jesus Christ came into
the world to deal with sin once and for all. He is in Himself God's
complete answer to this question. Whereas, the penalty of sin is death,
the death of Christ fully paid the penalty. Sin was thus acknowledged to
be what God says it is. But the penalty of this virulent thing is
overcome. The price is paid. Death for the sinner is accomplished in the
death of the sinner's substitute (Rom. 5:6-8).
In His death,
Christ also destroyed or nullified the authority of Satan ( I John 3:8;
Heb. 2:14). It is by the cross that the false claims of Satan were
invalidated. The cross, in all its horror, was a mighty victory for God
and righteousness. It was the declaration of deliverance and liberty for
all those enslaved by Satan. As of that moment, Satan's defeat, which
had been prophesied, was demonstrated. "And having spoiled
principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing
over them in it [ the cross]" (Col.2:15).
New Testament Opposition...
In
the New Testament the truth concerning the devil receives full
treatment. While Satan always has been bitterly opposed to the will and
the way of God, his most powerful hostility is exercised against the
incarnate Son of God. The devil understood that the Incarnation was the
method by which God intended ultimately to bring the plans of Satan to
final and complete judgment. Therefore, the fiend marshaled his forces
to thwart in every way the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
At
the time of the Saviour's birth, Satan instigated the beastly plot
through Herod the Great to destroy the infant King (Matt. 1:16-18). At
the age of 12, the Boy Jesus was overlooked and left behind by
preoccupied parents (Luke 2:42-49).
A number of times during the three
and one half years of Christ's ministry on the earth, attempts were made
upon His life (John 5:18). At Nazareth, the religious leaders, inspired
by Satan, attempted to push Him over a cliff. In the temple, they took
up stones to kill Him. Leaders of the people sent officers to arrest
Him.
However, it was in the Garden of Gethsemane that the
fiercest battle was waged. Christ had known in advance of this imminent
conflict with the devil. He had announced, "The prince of this world
cometh, and hath nothing in Me" (John 14:30). This meant that the
victory was not to be Satan's. There was nothing in Him to which Satan
could appeal.
The death of Christ had been prophesied. It must be
accomplished on the cross- the Lamb of God dying for the sins of the
world. If this death occured in any other way, the Word of God would be
nullified. In the darkened heart of a fiend was the plot to crush out
the life of the Son of God as He prayed.
The words of the
suffering Saviour are the strongest that the original Greek contains.
Christ said His soul was "exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death"
(Matt.26:38). The evangelist Mark wrote that the Lord was "sore amazed
and very heavy" (14:33). Luke tells of "an agony...his sweat was as it
were great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (22:44).
It
is the prayer of the Savior that the intensity of the struggle is
revealed. Three times He asked the Father that if He were willing, this
cup should pass from Him. It is unthinkable that Christ was referring to
His death on the morrow. He had set His face to go straight to the
cross. The cup of Gethsemane was death by unseen demon forces. God sent
an angel to strengthen His Son, and Satan was defeated in his attempt to
kill Christ.
Old Testament Incident...
Following the
victory in the Garden of Eden, Satan is next seen in sharp outline in
his contention with God about saintly Job. The time is about 2000 BC.
Job, a very rich land owner in the land of UZ, was outstanding in his
spiritual life. Even the testimony og god concerning him was to the
effect that Job was "a perfect [mature] and upright man, and one that
feared God, and eschewed evil" (Job 1:1).
The style of writing
employed in the inspired book of Job is that of poetic religious drama.
The first scene shows the prosperity, happiness, and righteousness of
Job. The next scene shifts to heaven and the throne of God. Evidently,
this is one of the occasions on which the various angels in charge of
administering the Lord's vast holdings in the earth came to report on
the state of the universe. We note that in brazen shamelessness Satan
accompanies them to give his report of earthly conditions.
God
challenges Satan by calling his attention to the blameless character of
His servant Job. Satan counters by arguing that Job lives righteously
simply because God grants him favors; he finds that it pays off
handsomely to serve the Lord. Satan's fiendish insinuation is that Job
is not serving from a sincere, loving heart, but for strictly selfish
reasons. Satan's challenge to God is that if Job were stripped of his
abundance, he would turn on God and curse Him to His face.
How
amazing is the effrontery of this impudent, vindictive, irreverent
creature! One wonders that God does not immediately blast him into
nonexistence...BAM! But God intends to use Satan. He gives permission
for Satan to take from Job all his possessions but not his health nor
his life. Exulting, Satan goes from the presence of the Lord to afflict
the innocent Job.
The next scene is that day of unspeakable
tragedy. In one 24~hour period, Job is subjected to a succession of
unthinkable catastrophes, which leave him without possessions, home,
children. Yet, the scene closes with Job's bowing before the will of God
and in complete sincerity resigning himself to whatever God will send.
Job does not blame God nor charge Him with wrong motives. Placing
himself in the hands of the Lord, he bows his heart before Him and
waits.
Really, the victory here is one for God. It is proven that
God has not purchased the loyalty of Job with His bounteous gifts.
Satan is utterly wrong. His charge that God is acting in duplicity is in
error. God and His faithful servant Job are completely vindicated.
The
drama continues. The next scene is another report day, when the sons of
God (the angels) present themselves before the Lord. As previously,
Satan comes with them. Again God throws down the challenge to Satan with
reference to Job.
Satan's scathing reply is that he is still right, and
that Job's loyalty to God is only "skin deep". If Job's health were
taken from him, Satan contends, his false character would be only too
apparent. Again God consents, giving Satan permission to afflict Job in
his body, but not to kill him. Satan gleefully goes forth to lay upon
Job's body an excruciatingly painful and loathsome disease.
The
writer of the Book of Job continues with a long discussion by four
friends of Job, on questions to his misfortunes. They have come to
comfort, but they remain to blame him. Job, though somewhat shaken,
again yields himself to the will of God and accepts from Him what He has
allowed. God is vindicated once more in His faith in His servant.
Some
startling facts appear here. Evidently Satan is in possession of
considerable power in the earth. He seems to have authority to stir up
robbers, brigands, and thugs to attack and rob Job (1:15,16). Evidently,
to some degree he controls the wind and sends it forth in fury (1:19).
He sends down fire (lightning) from heaven (1:16).
Notice a still
more striking fact: Satan has access to heaven, to the throne of God,
is able to talk with the Lord, and even to contradict Him. Many reasoned
that such an encounter of the Holy God with a creature so vile would be
impossible. The very holiness of God, it is said, would reach out to
turn the creature into oblivion...BAM! But this is not so, for Satan
came not only once but twice into the presence of God with the angels.
Consider,
too, the well-known character of Satan again asserting itself. He is
the enemy of God and the accuser of the people of God. The purpose of
his appearance before God was to vilify the character of one of God's
servants whom God already had declared perfect and upright.
A New
Testament counterpart to Job, in a way, was the apostle Peter, as
pictured in Luke 22:31. Our Lord revealed to Peter that Satan had
requested permission to "sift him as wheat", to tempt God's servant.
This was granted, with the sad result that Peter grievously sinned. He
failed the test.
The significant teaching in this is that Satan's
machinations, although cunning, are restricted. HE COULD NOT TOUCH
JOB'S POSSESSIONS NOR HIS HEALTH WITHOUT GOD'S EXPRESS PERMISSION. Nor
dared he to tempt Peter until the Lord allowed him to do so.
Satan's Demons...
The
Scriptures indicate that the work of Satan is accomplished by a host of
spirit beings called "demons". The meaning of the Greek word daimonion
is demon. Daimonion, occurs about sixty times in the gospels, Acts and
Revelation. "Demons" are "unclean spirit" and also "evil spirits".
The
original King James Version regularly translates daimonion as "devil".
This has led to endless confusion. The English word devil is actually
derived from the Greek word diabolos, which has no direct relationship
with daimonion. Diabolos means "slanderer". In all but three occurrences
in the New Testament, it is a title of Satan himself. In this sense it
is used only in the singular form. There are many demons but only one
devil.
Satan is given this title because his primary activity is
to slander- that is, to defame a person's character. First and foremost,
Satan defames the character of God Himself in the Garden of Eden, when
he suggested to Adam and Eve that God was not treating them fairly by
withholding from them the knowledge of good and evil.
Second, Satan
defames the character of all those who in any way represent God. This is
his primary weapon against the servants of God. All the main
translations subsequent to the KJV have observed the distinction between
diabolos and daimonion, and have translated diabolos as "devil" and
daimonion as "demon".
Unfortunately, there is another area of
confusion that has not been cleared up in some of the modern
translations. The Greek noun daimon gives rise to a verb daimonizo,
which occurs about twelve times in the New Testament. The obvious
English equivalent of this verb is demonize , which Collins English
Dictionary defines as "to subject to demonic influence".
In the New
Testament this verb occurs only in the passive form: "to be demonized".
In the original KJV, it is translated regularly as "to be possessed of
[or with] a devil or devils". Most modern versions have correctly
changed devil to demon, but incorrectly retain the form to be possessed.
The
problem with this form is that, to English ears, the word possess
immediately suggests ownership. To be "possessed"- by a devil or demon-
implies that a person is "owned" by a devil or demon. But there is no
basis for this in the Greek word daimonizo, which conveys no suggestion
of ownership, but means merely "to subject to demonic influence".
Obviously
the form of words we use is of vital importance. It is one thing to say
to a person, "You are subject to demonic influence". It is quite
another to say, "You are possessed by a demon", or worse still, to say,
"You are possessed by the devil".
Let me say emphatically that
there is nothing in the verb daimonizo to imply possession. Personally I
believe that every born again Christian sincerely seeking to live for
Christ belongs to Christ and is owned by Him. It is monstrous to suggest
that such a person belongs to the devil or is owned by the devil.
On
the other hand, a born again Christian can be subjected to demonic
influences. Such a Christian undoubtedly belongs to Christ, yet there
are areas of his or her personality that have not come under the control
of the Holy Spirit. It is these areas that may still be subject to
demonic influence.
The child of God is warned that he is faced
with certain spiritual enemies (Eph. 6:11,12). First the devil is named,
then refrence is made to "spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places". Also, there is mention made of "the prince of the power of the
air, the spirits that are now at work in the hearts of the sons of
disobedience" (Eph.2:2).
It seems clear enough that the warning includes
the mulitudes of demons who join in the warfare Satan is waging against
God and the people of God.
These beings possess non-material
bodies. Yet, they are personalities, as Satan is a personality. They
operate above the laws of the natural realm and are invisible.
As spirit
beings, they have an intellectual nature and seem to possess superhuman
knowledge. Without doubt, they are present in certain spiritistic
phenomena for ocultic purposes of today. They masquerade as spirits of
the departed through channelers.
As to their moral nature, like
their head they are evil and depraved. This is in contrast to the angels
of God, who are sinless. The moral depravity of demons is shown in
Scripture by the harmful effects some of them produced in their victims
(mark 1:26; Luke 4:35).
Fleshly uncleanness and base sensual
gratifications are the result of demon influence over the human
personality. Demons figure largely in the moral collapse of any people
who yield to gross sinfulness.
Our Lord had many bouts with the
demon world. Demons seemed to know who He was (Mark 1:24); they
acknowledged Him as God's Son (Mark 5:7); they obeyed Him (Matt.8:16);
they sought to conceal His Saviourhood ( I John 4:1-3).
This host
of evil creatures opposes God's purposes and hinders man's welfare.
Eventually, all demons will be consigned to the lake of fire and
brimstone, along with Satan, where they will be Tormented forever
(Matt.25:41; Rev. 20:10).
The Devil's Doom...
What lies
ahead for this fiend? A great deal, and his time is short. The next
great event on the calendar of God is the translation of the church.
This thrilling occurrence (Forget "Special~effects" this is gonna top em
all) will bring about the immediate transfer of every child of God to
heaven
( I Thess.4:13-18). This also will be the signal for the
beginning of the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21), a seven year period of
unprecedented sin, anarchy, and judgement on the earth.
Satan's
burning ambition from the very beginning has been to replace God,
actually to be God, and to sit on His throne. Strange as it may seem,
God will allow the devil to attempt this for a brief period. Wow!
The
last book of the Bible is taken up almost in its entirety with the
description of the horrors of the tribulation period. The Holy Spirit,
who has been a deterring, restraining force against evil, will be
withdrawn from the earth with the Church (II Thess. 2:6,7).
Satan will
then raise up his man, the Antichrist, to assume dictatorship. At this
point, perhaps in order to bring about the consummation of evil and its
eventual judgment, God will send upon the earth what is called "strong
delusion"; the people will believe Satan's lies (II Thess. 2:11-12).
In
an unbelievably short time, the Antichrist will rise to the position of
world dictator. Using peaceful means at first, through the media of
religion, politics, and economics, he will climb a short path to the
top. To facilitate this rule of his tool, the devil will give to this
depraved man his own wisdom and power. At first, Antichrist will appear
to allow God's name to be honored, but soon he will require worship of
the devil on a worldwide scale.
Evidently, the Jewish nation will refuse
this when the Man of Sin sets up his image (Matt. 25:15), with the
result that the armies of Antichrist will converge upon the Holy Land.
At this earth's darkest hour, relief will come as the heavens part and
Christ returns to the earth, to defeat Antichrist and his hosts and to
take in His own holy, blessed hands the reins of power. Then He will set
up a Kingdom which shall endure eternally (Rev. 20:1-15).
The
devil will be imprisoned in the abyss for 1,000 years, after which he
will be released for a season. During his time of freedom, he will lead a
final revolt against God. Swift judgment (BAM!) will follow, and he
will be cast into hell, the lake of fire from which he shall never
emerge, not for all eternity (Rev. 20:7-10). The Antichrist, the false
prophet, and the demons will share his fate. Here is the end of the
enemy of God and the foe of his people.
Satan's Future...
The
destiny of Satan is as sure as his past. God has pre-written his end.
There seems little doubt that in the closing days of this present age of
grace, the devil's pernicious activities against the cause of God will
be increased greatly (Rev. 12:12).
Not only does Satan continue
to direct the vast network of antiGod control over the world with its
manifold ramifications, but his particular animosity is expressed
against the Gospel of Christ and those who proclaim it (II Cor. 4:4).
Satan's
supernatural, uncanny and penetrating knowledge should never be
underestimated. His special delight is to bring about the falling into
sin and consequent uselessness of the Christian worker. Knowing full
well that within Christians there remains the old sinful nature, the
devil uses this means of leading the Lord's people into compromise and
sin. No Christian in himself is a match for this sinister enemy.
With
regard to most of the world's activities, that enormous breadth of
endeavor and accomplishment, Satan's plan has been that of substitution.
He has used the great advances of science and other achievements.
Education has come under his special favor.
The emphasis has been upon
man's accomplishments without regard to God's enablement. Man's selfish
pride and love of self have been encouraged to the full. Anything and
everything which contributes to man's self~praise and self~worship have
been given wide publicity and acceptance.
On the other hand, anything
which would tend to show sinful character of the human heart, and the
desperate need of the saving grace of God, has been sidetracked,
soft-pedaled, and mocked by the devil.
It is well to repeat:
Satan still has access to the very throne of God in heaven. Frequently
he goes there to accuse the saints of unrighteousness (Job 1:6-10).
Notice Revelation 12:9,10, wherein is described the great accuser's
eventual fall:
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old
serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world;
he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
"And
I heard a loud voice saying in heaven. Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ; for
the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our
God day and night."
Satan's warfare against believers is
unceasing. Were it not for the defense of our great Advocate, the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Christian's position would be in jeopardy (Heb. 7:25).
Satan's Ministers...(Ministries?)
The
apostle Paul had no easy task. Satan opposed him at every turn. After
Paul had come to a community, faithfully preached the Gospel, and there
established a church, his footsteps were dogged by false teachers who
sought to destroy the work God had established through him. Under the
inspiration of the Spirit, Paul revealed the true character of those
false teachers:
"For such are false [scammers] apostles,
deceitful [dishonest] workers, transforming themselves [masquerading
posers] into the apostles of Christ. "And no marvel; For Satan himself
is transformed [masquerades] into an angel of light. "
Therefore it is no
great thing [surprise] if his ministers also be transformed
[masquerade] as the ministers of righteousness; [Hebraic restoration,
remnant restoration,etc...] whose end [doom] shall be according to their
work" (II Cor. 11:13-15).
The false teachers of whom the Apostle
spoke here were mainly Judaizing teachers. Their teaching was that
Christ was not sufficient; that God's revelation to the jews was still
in force; that it was necessary for new Christians to be circumcised, to
observe the Sabbath, to keep the Law of Moses.
Obviously, Satan
has no aversion to religion as such. So much of it is not hostile to him
and does his kingdom no harm. Rather, this seems to be one of his most
useful media. Whereas, Judaism originally had been a revelation from
God, until Christ fulfilled it every jot and tittle, in Paul's day it
had become false teaching, denying that Christ had come. Those who
continued to teach it were under the control of Satan, said the Apostle.
Later
there were to arise many heresies, stressing one particular teaching to
the disparagement of others. These, too, came under the category of
Satanic teaching. The norm or standard for the recognition of the true
and the false was given clearly by the Apostle John:
"Beloved,
believe not every spirit [do not believe every so~called spiritual
utterance], but try [test] the spirits whether they are of God; because
many false prophets are gone into the world. "Hereby know ye the Spirit
of God [in this way you can recognize the Spirit of God]: Every spirit
that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh [in human form]
is of God:
"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of Antichrist
[this is the utterance of Antichrist], whereof ye have heard that it
should come; and even now already is it in the world" (I John 4:1-3, KJV
and The Amplified Bible)
Note the wide latitude with which Satan
operates. First he hides his diabolical nature and masquerades as a
minister of light. This is in accord with his true character as a
deceitful counterfeit, who stoops to anything to bring about the
accomplishment of his will. This includes the complete damnation of
human souls for whom the fiend cares nothing. He only wants them to
share his final doom.
Satan distorts the doctrines of God. These
teachings are the things of God and properly belong in the category of
those who love God and his Son. But Satan wrests them from their
rightful context and for purposes of deception uses them to mislead and
delude.
The same treachery is found in Satan's ministers. They,
too, masquerade as exponents of righteousness. They clothe themselves in
a cloak of duplicity and misrepresentation. All of this is done
knowingly. Deep in the heart of the Satanic minister is the knowledge
that all of this is false, double-dealing, sinful. But the conscience of
this faithless minister does not operate. He does not alter his life,
but continues to be a fraud, a phony.
Much of what the world
acknowledges as Christianity is both admitted by and promulgated by the
devil in his system. The lifeless, ritualistic forms with their various
manifestations are not in any way offensive to the Satanic program.
These are the "saying" of prayers, counting beads, burning candels,
various orders of meaningless service. In fact, anything religious which
seems to soothe the soul without the necessity of accepting the shed
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is permissible.
Great unspiritual
church organizations lend themselves to Satanic cooperation, especially
when they devote themselves to world movements for peace, social
betterment, and the alleviation of disease and poverty, without the
Gospel message of the Saviour from sin.
Particularly does Satan
work in the field of the aesthetic. He would be enthusiastic about Hugh
church buildings, massive pipe organs, richly clad clergy. All of these
outward trappings tend to take the mind and heart of the seeker after
God from that which is vitally important to that which is only
counterfeit.
The way to determine whether a religion is true or
false is to consider the place given Christ in its teaching. Is He the
center? Is the emphasis on His virgin birth, His sinless life, His
vicarious death, His physical resurrection, His eternal deity?
Satan's cults...
In
his battle against God for the souls of men, one of the most successful
tactics Satan has used is to offer imitation religions. Such religions
are patterned closely after the true worship of God.
In times
past Satan has tried various methods to defeat the truth, such as
frontal assaults by burning of Bibles, persecution, imprisonment,
torture, and death of Christians. In this previous century the main
attack was on the varacity of the text of Scripture.
However, the
emphasis in these "latter times" seems to be that of counterfeiting,
offering mankind elaborate systems of religion, devoid of the one
element which will lift lost humanity; that is, the saving work of the
Son of God on the cross. We call these false systems cults.
The Apostle Paul specifically warns of them:
"Now
the Spirit speaketh expressly [distinctly declares], that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits
[deceiving spirits], and doctrines of devils [the things that demons
teach, channeling etc...];
"Speaking lies in hypocrisy [doing this
through hypocrisy of liars]; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron [men with seared consciences]; forbidding to marry, and commanding
to abstain from meats [these teachers forbid certain kinds of food],
which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which
believe and know the truth [foods which God created for our
enjoyment]...
"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these
things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ" (I Tim 4:1-3,6,
KJV and the Amplified Bible).
We note in this passage the
predicted growth of the cult attack. The "latter times" are the end of
the age of grace, a time which is now upon us. The Holy Spirit has borne
distinct witness to this type of assault. First, He showed that it
would take place when some would leave the faith, the true worship of
God, to turn to the teachings of deceiving spirits.
No reason is given
for this apostasy, except that perhaps some people succumb to error
because they have not been rooted and grounded in the truth. Evidently
the apostasy is to be composed of numbers who claimed to be believers at
one time.
The false system to which weak Christians sometimes
are drawn is dominated and directed by deceiving spirits, without doubt,
evil spirits. The teaching is designated as that of demons. Recognizing
that in spite of his cunning the devil rarely has been known to
originate teaching- rather to counterfeit it- it is implied here that
the teaching of demons will be much like the truth, but without the
power thereof.
It is not difficult to see today a startling
fulfillment of this prophecy before our very eyes. Scores of cults
calling themselves churches. Their leaders are called ministers; they
sing Gospel hymns; their choirs perform; they have Sunday Schools,
missionary programs, humanitarian interests. So, to the uninitiated,
they cannot be distinguished from the true church of Christ.
Some
cults use the Bible or part of it. They loudly proclaim that they
subscribe to the Bible's teachings as well as to their own particular
books. In actual practice, however, they select from the scriptures only
those teachings which do not conflict with their particular brand of
deception.
In no way do they subscribe to or teach the whole Bible ot
the complete truth about the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Shakespeare never spoke more truly than when he wrote: "The devil can
site Scripture for his purpose." Cultists take verses out of context and
deal as deceitfully with the Word of God as with its Author.
Leaders
of these false systems are described in Paul's inspired critique. They
are said to "Speak lies in hypocrisy," which means that they know
better, but still deal in these spurious teachings. They are hypocrites.
In their hearts they are aware that their systems are fraudulent.
The
consciences of false teachers are seared, hardened by sin. Conscience
is a God-implanted instrument to help men to recognize error and to turn
from it. But conscience can be ignored. When continually disregarded,
it becomes inoperable and fails to warn the sinner. This is what has
happened to demon~influenced teachers.
Part of their teaching
lies in the field of human relations. They attempt to interfere with
marriage and the home. They pay attention to non-essentials, making a
great matter out of the eating of meats and certain foods. In the New
Testament, there is no prohibition against any food. Paul declared that
all foods are to be received with thanksgiving.
The most
noteworthy feature about cults is their subtlety. They are supported by
the cunning of the fiend. The wisdom of demons guides them. Great
numbers of people are deceived by them. Often cultists espouse
charitable or humanitarian causes. They make a great show of worldly
wisdom. They are rich and increased with goods. Their buildings, for the
most part, are extensive and their appointments expensive. In the eyes
of the world, they are a success.
Actually, they are poor and
miserable, blind and naked. They are dishonesty personified, and they
are bound, eventually, for the lake of fire.
Demon Influence...
No
one knows how many demons there are in the spiritual realm around the
earth...but they are there none the less...loose, free to do the
treacherous will of Satan until their final doom with their fiendish
master.
Influence of human beings is clearly presented in
Scripture. Although the subject is not prominently featured in the Old
Testament, the New Testament abounds in references to demon influence
and expulsion.
Just how is it possible for a spirit being to
indwell and control a human being for evil purposes is not explained in
the Word of God. Yet, of course, there is the antithetical truth that
the child of God is both indwelt and directed by the Holy Spirit. Belief
in the possibility of demon influence is increased when we remember
that the natural human being possesses a fallen nature.
He is far from
God. He is easily susceptible to Satanic error, and already is a member
of the worldly kingdom of Satan; so in a sense, he is ruled by Satanic
suggestion. It is not to far a step to believe that the body of the
natural man can be indwelt by a member of the demonic host. This is not
to suggest that all people who are not Christians are demon~controlled,
but rather that there may be a thin line between the lost, depraved
natural man and the demon~influenced soul.
In the New Testament
times, demonstrations of demonic control were usually physical and
violent (Matt. 9:32,33; 12:22-30; Mark 9:22; Luke 8:26-36). Demons were
seen to bring about in men sickness, dumbness, deafness, deformity,
insanity, and suicidal mania. The Lord did not explain how such
affliction comes to be, but taught that such control is of Satan (Luke
11:14-26; 13:16).
There is no reason to believe that demonic
control is not possible today. In fact, there are documented instances
of demonic influence (like that described in Scripture) and expulsion on
every mission field. Demon control seems to prevail in backward
unevangelized lands.
Nor is there reason to believe that demonic
control cannot assume more enlightened aspects in this century. That is
to say, while the goal of Satan is the same, to bring more and more of
the world's population under his control, his method of using his demons
could be, so to speak, on a higher plane.
Satan could dispatch his evil
demons to indwell business leaders, college presidents, unbelieving
theologians, and liberal ministers even presidents. Creating "Social
gospels" of secular humanism, that lead no one to repentance at the
cross of Christ for salvation. Making Christ just an "enlightened one"
who was very good and someone who taught us how to live, not our
Saviour.
"Demonized" people are not "Possessed". A person is not
"owned" by a devil or a demon. Unfortunately this is an area of
confusion that has not been cleared up in some of the modern
translations of Scripture. The Greek noun daimon gives rise to a verb
daimonizo, which occurs about twelve times in the New Testament.
The
obvious English equivalent of this verb is demonize, which Collins
English Dictionary defines as "to subject to demonic influence." In the
New Testament this verb occurs in the passive form: "to be demonized."
In the original KJV, it is translated regularly as "to be possessed of
[or with] a devil or devils." Most modern versions have correctly
changed devil to demon, but incorrectly retain the form to be possessed.
The
problem with this form of words is that, to English ears, the word
possess immediately suggests ownership. To be "possessed"- by a devil or
demon- implies that a person is "owned" by a devil or demon. But there
is no basis for this in the Greek word daimonizo, which conveys no
suggestion of ownership, but means merely "subject to demonic
influence."
Obviously the form of words we use is of vital
importance. It is one thing to say to a person, "You are subject to
demonic influence." It is quite another to say, "You are possessed by
the devil".
Let me say emphatically that there is nothing in the
verb daimonizo to imply possession. Personally I believe that every
born~again Christian sincerely seeking to live for Christ belongs to
Christ and is owned by Him. It is monstrous to suggest that such a
person belongs to the devil or is owned by the devil.
On the
other hand, Christians can be subject to demonic influences. Such a
Christian undoubtedly belongs to Christ, yet there are areas of his or
her personality that have not yet come under the control of the Holy
Spirit.
It is these areas that may still be an open door to demonic
influence. Which explains how some seemly spiritual men of God can
suddenly do unexpected acts of carnality, like I described at the
beginning of this study on Satan.
Be on guard and ever watchful
with the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the sword of the Word
of God and the shoes of the Good News...because your enemy goes to and
fro like a lion, seeking whom he may deceive, the very wise if he may.
Present Activity...
It is tremendously important to know the strategy of the Christian's enemy!!!
The
Scriptures present the only reliable information concerning him. We
learn that Satan's bitterest hatred is directed against the preaching of
the Gospel.
The word "Gospel" means good news, The Good News is
that although all men are condemned sinners, are lost, and are on their
way to an eternity of torment, God loves them deeply and sincerely. More
than that: Through the sacrificial death of His Son on the cross, God
has provided a way by which He can pardon sinners and make them members
of His family. All this He has done on the basis of His grace,
absolutely free.
This is God's answer to the lying, malevolent
machinations of the devil. It is easily understood why Satan would
oppose this message with all the intensity of his nefarious character:
"
But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the
god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe
not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image
[expression]of God, should shine unto them" (II Cor. 4:3,4).
In
this connection, Satan does not oppose religion as such, by which is
meant any attempt to approach God by any other way than through the shed
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Consider, for a moment, the
religions of the heathen. Scattered across the world are literally
hundreds of millions of religious people. Some worship idols of wood and
stone; some, a god named Allah, with Mohamed as his prophet. Other
religionists emphasize ritual and ceremony to the exclusion of personal
faith in a living crucified, and resurrected Saviour. In fact, these
religions are already Satan-controlled through his network of demons:
"But
I say [this is what I mean], that the things which the Gentiles
sacrifice [to idols, etc.], they sacrifice to devils [demons] and not to
God; and I would not that ye should have fellowship [communion] with
devils [demons]" (I Cor. 10:20).
Here the apostle was writing to
the church at Corinth, a city given over to the worship of idols and the
gods of mount Olympus. Paul pointed out that such worship was not
harmless but actually demon worship. As such, no Christian could
countenance it. This became a principle by which all religions are to be
judged. If the way of approach is not through Christ, then it is by way
of demons and directed to the devil! If the truth were known, indeed,
almost the entire world is today worshiping the devil.
Satan's Names...
In the
Scriptures there are more than 40 titles and descriptive names given to
the devil. They are highly revealing of his character. Most frequently
he is called Satan, meaning adversary; next, the devil, or slanderer .
In the New Testament, this word is often used in the plural. In every
case it refers not to Satan, but to demons, or fallen spirits who do the
will of Satan. Properly, they should be designated as demons, not
devils.
Other descriptive designations are: Abaddon (Hebrew) and
Apollyon (Greek) (Rev. 9:11); accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10);
Beelzebub, the prince of the devils (demons) (Matt. 12:24); Belial (II
Cor. 6:15); the deceiver of the whole world (Rev. 12:9); the wicked one
(Matt 13:19); a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
Satan's
relationship to the world, with particular refrence to his power and
authority, is shown in names like these: the god of this world ( II Cor.
4:4); the prince of this world (John 12:31); the prince of the power of
the air (Eph. 2:2). His tremendous prestige is revealed strikingly by
his being called the one in whom the whole world lies ( I John 5:18,
19).
The scope of the devil's evil machinations is shown further
by such titles as: the great dragon, that old serpant (Rev. 12:9); the
tempter (Matt. 4:1-10); a murderer (John 8:44); the sinner from the
beginning (I John 3:8).
It is impossible to underestimate the
malevolence, the importance and the influence of this person. The
Scriptures give wide recognition to his desperate, deadly character.
While moral evil is his basic attribute, at the same time he is the very
embodiment of all sorts of evil. His cruel, wicked nature was best
described by the Lord Jesus Christ in calling him "a murderer from the
beginning" (John 8:44).
Murder, in his case, was the first intention he
had in trying to separate Almighty God from that which was eternally and
rightfully His: the first place in the universe He had created.
Further, Satan abode not in the truth. His was a total turning from
integrity. Consequently, there remained no truth in him at all. All of
his utterances are lies, and he has coined his own fabric of falsehood.
All untruth proceeds from him, who became the very father of lies, he
has his own infernal vocabulary.
To add to the horror, this
malicious, murderous creature is loose in the world, aided and abetted
by unnumbered groups of fallen spirit beings. Thank God, "greater is He
that is in you, than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4).
Satan's Ambition...
Many
people in this world hold to the idea that everything vile, despicable,
and wicked comes from Satan. This is not wholly true. The heart of man
is in itself responsible for a multitude of sinful thoughts and deeds (
Jer. 17:9; Matt. 15:19; Gal. 5:19-21).
The burning desire of
Satan is to be worshiped. This was revealed plainly in his rebellion
against God ( Isa. 14:13,14); in his tempting of our first parents in
the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:5); in his subsequent tempting of the Lord
Jesus Christ when He was on earth (Matt. 4:9).
The immorality,
the disgrace, the degradation of mankind are not necessarily gratifying
to Satan. Probably he would like to disclaim the drunkard, the
prostitute, the theif, the gangster. Nevertheless, these are all part of
his realm.
Doubtless the devil would perfer to espouse the good,
the true, and the beautiful. He would sponsor all causes of charity and
humanitarianism. Arts and sciences he would desire to control. He wants
to be highly respectable.
Nor does Satan despise the vast field
of education. Schools, colleges, universities he would direct subtly
into goals of his choosing. Even religious enterprises without spiritual
power he would like under his special direction.
What Satan
loathes with deadly hatred is truth of God. What he utterly detests and
seeks to abolish is the Gospel, which proclaims that all men are by
nature sinners, incapable of saving themselves. He abhors the truth of
Christ's incarnation, of His glorious resurrection which made valid that
death.
Satan's ambition is rather for peace than conflict. He is
not desirous that the world become a shambles. Men might call upon God
in their desperation! No, Satan's policy is to foster an orderly,
spiritually dead civilization. He does not object to "big business" and
technological advances as long as Christ is left out of the picture.
Although
the Scriptures definitely outline Satan's coming doom and the failure
of his plan to take over the earth, in some mysterious way the devil
hopes to defeat God. Although Satan must be aware of his eventual fate,
such is this egotistical, self-worshiping, audacious foe of God and
man...
Why Doesn't God?...
God was forced to bring upon
man the punishment He had decreed for disobedience. Mankind is now
possessed of a sinful, fallen nature. "The wages of sin is death." (Rom.
3:23). Heartache, sorrow, disease, disappointment are now the lot of
the human race. Apparently Satan has triumphed.
But the question
arises: If this is a moral universe, why is a creature like Satan
allowed to exist? Why is he not confined to eternal torture? If God is
all-powerful ( and we know He is), why does He permit Satan's continuing
rebellion against Him and His people? Why doesn't God interfere? To
answer, we must view life, and particularly eternal life, from the
divine perspective, not the human.
God is concerned with bringing
many sons home to glory ( Heb. 2:10 ). But there must be a right basis
on which He can do this. He has determined that man must choose whether
he will love the good and turn from evil; take His way instead of
Satan's. This ability to do good cannot be based upon the inherent
righteousness of man, for since the Fall, no man is good. "There is none
righteous, no, not one" ( Rom. 3:10). Nevertheless, God can inpute full
and complete righteousness to sinful man on one basis. This is the act
of faith which man exercises when he accepts the substitutionary
sacrifice of the Son of God on his behalf. It is Christ's righteousness
which God inputes to man. Herein is the grace of God.
On the
other hand, already God has decreed the doom of Satan. His sin is
unforgivable. There is no redemption for fallen angels. The devil's
place of everlasting incarceration and torment is in readiness ( Matt.
25:41). God's reckoning with Satan will take place in God's good time
and will glorify Him.
So God permits Satan to proceed with his
nefarious works. There may be in the mind of God another reason: It must
be demonstrated, as well as decreed, that sin is a damning, blasting,
blighting thing. It is necessary for God to display its horrendous
effects; and even in the eons of endless eternity, the background of the
horrors of sin will remain as a contrast to God's perfect
righteousness.
The earth, too, will furnish an object lesson of
the failure of Satan to govern through the Man of Sin, the Antichrist,
his tool in the ages to come. While for a season it seems that God has
withdrawn His hand, He is showing Satan's incompetence.
Meantime,
God holds the reins. Satan would seize more power if possible, but God
allows him so much and no more. Let no one, however, underestimate the
devil's hatred and contempt for God and His people, Satan's ability to
seduce and ruin.
Satan wins...
Time, as we know it, had
begun. Satan was now operating in the realm of human life on earth. His
tactics, as shown in the Garden of Eden, were the very same that He uses
against the children of God today.
First, note that Satan came
first to the woman. In the Scriptures, woman is designated as "the
weaker vessel" ( 1 Peter 3:7). This does not discredit her. It is part
of the plan of God, revealing His wise, benevolent attitude toward the
human race. But, in approaching the woman with this temptation, Satan
showed not only his cunning, but also his dishonorable intent.
We
must keep in mind that Satan is a spiritual being, with a spiritual
body. He spoke through the serpent, using a creature which before the
fall, must have been attractive and appealing. Because of the use of
this creature, Satan acquired another uncomplimentary title, "that old
serpent, the devil" ( Rev. 20:2 ). His first approach then, as now, was
to discredit and question the Word of God ( Gen. 3:1 ). What, he
insinuated was, "Is this really what God meant?" The woman's answer was
definite, but her fatal fault was in not calling her husband, that they
might face the temptation together.
Satan, having secured Eve's
attention, pressed the attack by specifically, categorically, denying
God's dictum. Blantly, boldly, Satan said to Eve, "Ye shall not surely
die" ( Gen. 3:4 ). He was calling God a liar, and that should have been
enough for the woman. She ought to have fled, to secure the support of
Adam. But sadly enough, she stayed to listen.
The next thurst was
a subtle one. Satan's strategy was to show that Adam and Eve were
missing something desirable. They were being denied by God, who was, he
insinuated, withholding what should be theirs. Satan told them their
eyes would be opened if they would eat the forbidden fruit ( Gen. 3:5 ).
In this was a dangerous half-truth. Their eyes were opened, but with
what consequences!
All of Satan's reasoning was along the
strongest line of temptation. Herein lay the very essence of sin, which
is love of self. The woman touched, picked, and ate, then gave to her
husband, who also ate of the forbidden fruit. The foul deed was done,
and death passed upon the whole human race. Adam and Eve had disobeyed
the will of God. Satan had won this round of the battle.
In I
Timothy 2:14, we read that " the woman being deceived was in
transgression," but that the man was not deceived. Adam knew what he was
doing. He entered the gate of sin with his eyes wide open. He
deliberately sinned. Yet Eve was at fault as well...
Adam and Eve...
The
account of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is factual. It is neither
a myth nor an allegory. God planted the Garden, and then, taking the
dust of earth, He formed the body of Adam, breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life (God's life) and man became a living soul ( Gen.
2:7). After this, God made Eve from a rib of Adam. Thus, the first
family began.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of
mankind is free will. Man is a creature with power of choice. He may
choose the will of God or his own way.
To emphasize this, God
placed a special tree in the Garden, there were other trees too. But
this one tree was forbidden. It is called the tree of knowledge of good
and evil.
The necessity for such a tree is clearly seen. Adam and
Eve were to be called upon to choose for God. But there would be no
choice if there was not a possibility to choose against God.
But
God did everything to make obedience wholly desirable. He created Adam
and Eve with strong mental faculties. They were neither beasts nor
barbarians. Their minds were keen, discerning, and they must have known
instinctively what it takes years of schooling to accuire of the
knowledge of the universe today.
God provided abundantly for
man's needs. Food was in generous supply; the climate was ideal. Adam
lacked nothing. The climax of God's gifts to him was a companion, Eve.
Futhur,
God warned of the consequences of disobedience. He solemnly set forth
the penalty which would accompany any deviation from His revealed,
perfect will.
God gave Adam work to do. Far too often lives are
wrecked from idelness. It was not so much with our first parents. "And
the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress
it and to keep it" (Gen. 2:15). God entered into fellowship with man,
and they talked together in the cool of the day (Gen. 3:8).
Then
came the test. Satan, smarting under God's judgement, sought to wreck
the Lord's new program. Man had been given dominion over that which
formerly had been Satan's domain. How would the enemy of God proceed?
This
was far from any isolated incident. As it were, all heaven held its
breath. The test was not simply whether Adam and Eve would eat the fruit
of the tree, but whether the authority of Almighty God would prevail
against determined Satanic attack.
The Devil's Doom...
What
lies ahead for this fiend? A great deal, and his time is short. The
next great event on the calendar of God is the translation of the
church. This thrilling occurrence (Forget "Special~effects" this is
gonna top em all) will bring about the immediate transfer of every child
of God to heaven ( I Thess.4:13-18). This also will be the signal for
the beginning of the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21), a seven year
period of unprecedented sin, anarchy, and judgement on the earth.
Satan's
burning ambition from the very beginning has been to replace God,
actually to be God, and to sit on His throne. Strange as it may seem,
God will allow the devil to attempt this for a brief period. Wow!
The
last book of the Bible is taken up almost in its entirety with the
description of the horrors of the tribulation period. The Holy Spirit,
who has been a deterring, restraining force against evil, will be
withdrawn from the earth with the Church (II Thess. 2:6,7). Satan will
then raise up his man, the Antichrist, to assume dictatorship. At this
point, perhaps in order to bring about the consummation of evil and its
eventual judgement, God will send upon the earth what is called "strong
delusion"; the people will believe Satan's lies (II Thess. 2:11-12).
In
an unbelievably short time, the Antichrist will rise to the position of
world dictator. Using peaceful means at first, through the media of
religion, politics, and economics, he will climb a short path to the
top. To facilitate this rule of his tool, the devil will give to this
depraved man his own wisdom and power. At first, Antichrist will appear
to allow God's name to be honored, but soon he will require worship of
the devil on a worldwide scale.
Evidently, the Jewish nation will refuse
this when the Man of Sin sets up his image (Matt. 25:15), with the
result that the armies of Antichrist will converge upon the Holy Land.
At this earth's darkest hour, relief will come as the heavens part and
Christ returns to the earth, to defeat Antichrist and his hosts and to
take in His own holy, blessed hands the reins of power. Then He will set
up a Kingdom which shall endure eternally (Rev. 20:1-15).
The
devil will be imprisoned in the abyss for 1,000 years, after which he
will be released for a season. During his time of freedom, he will lead a
final revolt against God. Swift judgment (BAM!) will follow, and he
will be cast into hell, the lake of fire from which he shall never
emerge, not for all eternity (Rev. 20:7-10). The Antichrist, the false
prophet, and the demons will share his fate. Here is the end of the
enemy of God and the foe of his people.
Satan's Future...
The
destiny of Satan is as sure as his past. God has pre-written his end.
There seems little doubt that in the closing days of this present age of
grace, the devil's pernicious activities against the cause of God will
be increased greatly (Rev. 12:12).
Not only does Satan continue
to direct the vast network of antiGod control over the world with its
manifold ramifications, but his particular animosity is expressed
against the Gospel of Christ and those who proclaim it (II Cor. 4:4).
Satan's
supernatural, uncanny and penetrating knowledge should never be
underestimated. His special delight is to bring about the falling into
sin and consequent uselessness of the Christian worker. Knowing full
well that within Christians there remains the old sinful nature, the
devil uses this means of leading the Lord's people into compromise and
sin. No Christian in himself is a match for this sinister enemy.
With
regard to most of the world's activities, that enormous breadth of
endavor and accomplishment, Satan's plan has been that of subtitution.
He has used the great advances of science and other achievements.
Education has come under his special favor.
The emphasis has been upon
man's accomplishments without regard to God's enablement. Man's selfish
pride and love of self have been encouraged to the full. Anything and
everything which contributes to man's self~praise and self~worship have
been given wide publicity and acceptance. On the other hand, anything
which would tend to show sinful character of the human heart, and the
desperate need of the saving grace of God, has been sidetracked,
soft-pedaled, and mocked by the devil.
It is well to repeat:
Satan still has access to the very throne of God in heaven. Frequently
he goes there to accuse the saints of unrighteousness (Job 1:6-10).
Notice Revelation 12:9,10, wherein is described the great accuser's
eventual fall:
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old
serpant, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world;
he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
"And
I heard a loud voice saying in heaven. Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ; for
the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our
God day and night."
Satan's warfare against believers is
unceasing. Were it not for the defense of our great Advocate, the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Christian's position would be in jeopardy (Heb. 7:25).
Satan's cults...
In
his battle against God for the souls of men, one of the most successful
tactics Satan has used is to offer imitation religions. Such religions
are patterned closely after the true worship of God.
In times
past Satan has tried various methods to defeat the truth, such as
frontal assaults by burning of Bibles, persecution, imprisonment,
torture, and death of Christians. In this previous century the main
attack was on the varacity of the text of Scripture. However, the
emphasis in these "latter times" seems to be that of counterfeiting,
offering mankind elaborate systems of religion, devoid of the one
element which will lift lost humanity; that is, the saving work of the
Son of God on the cross. We call these false systems cults.
The Apostle Paul specifically warns of them:
"Now
the Spirit speaketh expressly [distinctly declares], that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits
[deceiving spirits], and doctrines of devils [the things that demons
teach, channling etc...];
"Speaking lies in hypocrisy [doing this
through hypocrisy of liars]; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron [men with seared consciences]; forbidding to marry, and commanding
to abstain from meats [these teachers forbid certain kinds of food],
which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which
believe and know the truth [foods which God created for our
enjoyment]...
"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these
things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ" (I Tim 4:1-3,6,
KJV and the Amplified Bible).
We note in this passage the
predicted growth of the cult attack. The "latter times" are the end of
the age of grace, a time which is now upon us. The Holy Spirit has borne
distinct witness to this type of assault. First, He showed that it
would take place when some would leave the faith, the true worship of
God, to turn to the teachings of deceiving spirits. No reason is given
for this apostasy, except that perhaps some people succumb to error
because they have not been rooted and grounded in the truth. Evidently
the apostasy is to be composed of numbers who claimed to be believers at
one time.
The false system to which weak Christians sometimes
are drawn is dominated and directed by deceiving spirits, without doubt,
evil spirits. The teaching is designated as that of demons. Recognizing
that in spite of his cunning the devil rarely has been known to
originate teaching- rather to counterfeit it- it is implied here that
the teaching of demons will be much like the truth, but without the
power thereof.
It is not difficult to see today a startling
fulfillment of this prophecy before our very eyes. Scores of cults
calling themselves churches. Their leaders are called ministers; they
sing Gospel hymns; their choirs perform; they have Sunday Schools,
missionary programs, humanitarian interests. So, to the uninitiated,
they cannot be distinguished from the true church of Christ.
Some
cults use the Bible or part of it. They loudly proclaim that they
subscribe to the Bible's teachings as well as to their own particular
books. In actual practice, however, they select from the scriptures only
those teachings which do not conflict with their particular brand of
deception. In no way do they subscribe to or teach the whole Bible ot
the complete truth about the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Shakespeare never spoke more truly than when he wrote: "The devil can
site Scripture for his purpose." Cultists take verses out of context and
deal as deceitfully with the Word of God as with its Author.
Leaders
of these false systems are described in Paul's inspired critique. They
are said to "Speak lies in hypocrisy," which means that they know
better, but still deal in these spurious teachings. They are hypocrites.
In their hearts they are aware that their systems are fraudulent.
The
consciences of false teachers are seared, hardened by sin. Conscience
is a God-implanted instrument to help men to recognize error and to turn
from it. But conscience can be ignored. When continually disregarded,
it becomes inoperable and fails to warn the sinner. This is what has
happened to demon~influenced teachers.
Part of their teaching
lies in the field of human relations. They attempt to interfere with
marriage and the home. They pay attention to non-essentials, making a
great matter out of the eating of meats and certain foods. In the New
Testament, there is no prohibition against any food. Paul declared that
all foods are to be received with thanksgiving.
The most
noteworthy feature about cults is their subtlety. They are supported by
the cunning of the fiend. The wisdom of demons guides them. Great
numbers of people are deceived by them. Often cultists espouse
charitable or humanitarian causes. They make a great show of worldly
wisdom. They are rich and increased with goods. Their buildings, for the
most part, are extensive and their appointments expensive. In the eyes
of the world, they are a success.
Actually, they are poor and
miserable, blind and naked. They are dishonesty personified, and they
are bound, eventually, for the lake of fire.
Demon Influence...
No
one knows how many demons there are in the spiritual realm around the
earth...but they are there none the less...loose, free to do the
treacherous will of Satan until their final doom with their fiendish
master.
Influence of human beings is clearly presented in
Scripture. Although the subject is not prominently featured in the Old
Testament, the New Testament abounds in references to demon influence
and expellsion.
Just how is it possible for a spirit being to
indwell and control a human being for evil purposes is not explained in
the Word of God. Yet, of course, there is the antithetical truth that
the child of God is both indwelt and directed by the Holy Spirit. Belief
in the possibility of demon influence is increased when we remember
that the natural human being possesses a fallen nature.
He is far from
God. He is easily susceptible to Satanic error, and already is a member
of the worldly kingdom of Satan; so in a sense, he is ruled by Satanic
suggestion. It is not to far a step to believe that the body of the
natural man can be indwelt by a member of the demonic host. This is not
to suggest that all people who are not Christians are demon~controlled,
but rather that there may be a thin line between the lost, depraved
natural man and the demon~influenced soul.
In the New Testament
times, demonstrations of demonic control were usually physical and
violent (Matt. 9:32,33; 12:22-30; Mark 9:22; Luke 8:26-36). Demons were
seen to bring about in men sickness, dumbness, deafness, deformity,
insanity, and suicidal mania. The Lord did not explain how such
affliction comes to be, but taught that such control is of Satan (Luke
11:14-26; 13:16).
There is no reason to believe that demonic
control is not possible today. In fact, there are documented instances
of demonic influence (like that described in Scripture) and expellsion
on every mission field. Demon control seems to prevail in backward
unevangelized lands.
Nor is there reason to believe that demonic
control cannot assume more enlightened aspects in this century. That is
to say, while the goal of Satan is the same, to bring more and more of
the world's population under his control, his method of using his demons
could be, so to speak, on a higher plane. Satan could dispatch his evil
demons to indwell business leaders, college presidents, unbelieving
theologians, and liberal ministers. Creating "Social gospels" of secular
humanism, that lead no one to repentance at the cross of Christ for
salvation. Making Christ just an "enlightened one" who was very good and
someone who taught us how to live, not our Saviour.
"Demonized"
people are not "Possessed". A person is not "owned" by a devil or a
demon. Unfortunately this is an area of confusion that has not been
cleared up in some of the modern translations of Scripture. The Greek
noun daimon gives rise to a verb daimonizo, which occurs about twelve
times in the New Testament.
The obvious English equivalent of this verb
is demonize, which Collins English Dictionary defines as "to subject to
demonic influence." In the New Testament this verb occurs in the passive
form: "to be demonized." In the original KJV, it is translated
regularly as "to be possessed of [or with] a devil or devils." Most
modern versions have correctly changed devil to demon, but incorrectly
retain the form to be possessed.
The problem with this form of
words is that, to English ears, the word possess immediately suggests
ownership. To be "possessed"- by a devil or demon- implies that a person
is "owned" by a devil or demon. But there is no basis for this in the
Greek word daimonizo, which conveys no suggestion of ownership, but
means merely "subject to demonic influence."
Obviously the form
of words we use is of vital importance. It is one thing to say to a
person, "You are subject to demonic influence." It is quite another to
say, "You are possessed by the devil".
Let me say emphatically
that there is nothing in the verb daimonizo to imply possession.
Personally I believe that every born~again Christian sincerely seeking
to live for Christ belongs to Christ and is owned by Him. It is
monstrous to suggest that such a person belongs to the devil or is owned
by the devil.
On the other hand, Christians can be subject to
demonic influences. Such a Christian undoubtedly belongs to Christ, yet
there are areas of his or her personality that have not yet come under
the control of the Holy Spirit. It is these areas that may still be an
open door to demonic influence. Which explains how some seemly spiritual
men of God can suddenly do unexpected acts of carnality, like I
described at the beginning of this study on Satan.
Be on guard
and ever watchful with the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the
sword of the Word of God and the shoes of the Good News...because your
enemy goes to and fro like a lion, seeking whom he may deceive, the very
wise if he may.
Present Activity...
It is tremendously important to know the strategy of the Christian's enemy!!!
The
Scriptures present the only reliable information concerning him. We
learn that Satan's bitterest hatred is directed against the preaching of
the Gospel.
The word "Gospel" means good news, The Good News is
that although all men are condemned sinners, are lost, and are on their
way to an eternity of torment, God loves them deeply and sincerely. More
than that: Through the sacrificial death of His Son on the cross, God
has provided a way by which He can pardon sinners and make them members
of His family. All this He has done on the basis of His grace,
absolutely free.
This is God's answer to the lying, malevolent
machinations of the devil. It is easily understood why Satan would
oppose this message with all the intensity of his nefarious character:
"
But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the
god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe
not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image
[expression]of God, should shine unto them" (II Cor. 4:3,4).
In
this connection, Satan does not oppose religion as such, by which is
ment any attempt to approach God by any other way than through the shed
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Consider, for a moment, the
religiions of the heathen. Scattered across the world are literally
hundreds of millions of religious people. Some worship idols of wood and
stone; some, a god named Allah, with Mohammed as his prophet. Other
religionists emphasize ritual and ceremony to the exclusion of personal
faith in a living crucified, and resurrected Saviour. In fact, these
religions are already Satan-controlled through his network of demons:
"But
I say [this is what I mean], that the things which the Gentiles
sacrifice [to idols, etc.], they sacrifice to devils [demons] and not to
God; and I would not that ye should have fellowship [communion] with
devils [demons]" (I Cor. 10:20).
Here the apostle was writing to
the church at Corinth, a city given over to the worship of idols and the
gods of mount Olympus. Paul pointed out that such worship was not
harmless but actually demon worship. As such, no Christian could
countenance it. This became a principle by which all religions are to be
judged. If the way of approach is not through Christ, then it is by way
of demons and directed to the devil! If the truth were known, indeed,
almost the entire world is today worshiping the devil.
Possible Reconstruction...
It
is undeniable, from the geological point of view, that earth reflects a
long history of chaos and upheavel, and of conditions that are
distinctly harmful to life rather than perfectly suited for it. It can
be shown quite easily, from geology, that earliest record of the rocks
fits the description of Gensis 1:2.
The six days that followed
(1:3-2:1) are generally regarded, by those who hold the reconstruction
view, as 24-hour days during which God placed His ruined creation back
in order and made it suitable once again for human habitation.
Geologists
have considerable difficulty in finding evidence for such a
"reconstruction" immediately prior to the advent of the human race. It
is conceivable, of course, that the brief period of the Garden of Eden
would not be recorded in geological formations.
There is no
universal agreement on the accuracy of the reconstruction
interpretation, but it has been taught by some Christian geologists. It
offers a plausible way of accounting for the vast span of geologic time,
and of harmonizing that time with the Bible record, particularly as it
relates to the fall of Satan and the possible cursing of the earth.
We
read that the Spirit of God, who is the Holy Spirit, moved or brooded
upon the face of the waters (1:2). Perhaps this was in preparation for
the coming work of God upon the earth.
God caused, first of all,
light to emerge. This was not the creation of the sun or moon, but
probably the clearing away of the heavy blanket of foggy atmosphere
which had covered the earth.
The work of the other days followed:
the vapor was divided, with part remaining in the firmament-space-and
part collecting as hugh seas. The dry land was raised; the earth brough
forth its floral offerings; the sun and moon appeared; fish, birds, and
animals were created; and finally, all was in readiness for man's
habitation.
After God brought into existence all the creatures
(uncounted as yet), He surveyed His work and pronounced it "very good"
(1:31).
One more matter remained to be accomplished. The triune
God held a conference (1:26) to plan for the creation of a person who
was to have dominion over all the earth and its creatures-man himself.
Judgment...
All
that was involved in the judgment of Satan is not stated in Scripture.
We do know that he was relieved of his high position; that he lost his
nobility, privileges, and glory; that his character became unspeakably
despicable, so that he was spoken of by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as
" a liar and the father of it" ( John 8:44). However, he retained
access to heaven as an accuser of believers ( Job 1:6; Luke 22:31,32).
It
seems evident that in the fall of Satan, many other angels were
involved as well. These are described as "the angels which kept not
their first estate" ( Jude 6). Many Bible teachers believe it is these
who are referred to as "the third part of the stars of heaven" (
Rev.12:4). This would mean that when Satan was driven from his high
position, a third of the angelic host followed him in his rebellion
against God and His authority.
Some Bible teachers think that
these fallen angels are what are known as demons, who are still under
the control of Satan, who do his will and war against the power and
authority of God. Others seem to be mentioned as " the angels that
sinned...delivered...into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto
judgment" ( II Pet. 2:4 ).
Three expressions are used to describe
the evil spirit beings who are some of Satan's main agents in his
warfare against humanity. First, demon ( Greek, diamonion ). This is the
primary expression. The second expression used in the New Testament to
describe an evil spirit is unclean spirit. The third expression is evil
spirit.
There are many demons but only one "devil". The original
King James Version regularly translates daimonion as "devil". Diamonion
is a derivative of daimon. The refrence to the original Greek indicates
that there are two distinct entities: diamon, which is primary, and
daimonion which is derivative. The english word devil is actually
derived from the Greek word diabolos, which has no direct relationship
with diamonion. Diabolos means "slanderer". In all but three occurrences
in the New Testament, it is a title of Satan himself. In this sense it
is used only in singular form. There are many demons but only one devil.
Satan
is given this title because his primary activity is to slander- that
is, to defame a person's character. First and foremost, Satan defames
the character of God Himself. He did this in the Garden of Eden, when he
suggested to Adam and Eve that God was not treating them fairly by
withholding from them the knowledge of good and evil. Second, Satan
defames the character of all those who in any way represent God. This is
his primary weapon against the servants of God.
Demons influence people.
Jesus expelled demons from people:
At
evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick
and those who were demonized. And the whole city was gathered together
at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases,
and cast out many demons, and He did not allow the demons to speak,
because they knew Him. ( Mark 1:32-34 )
Believers expeled demons from people:
And
the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip,
hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits,
crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed
[demonized]; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ( Acts
8:6-7 )
This is New Testament evangelism: The Gospel is preached
and the multitudes hear; they see the miracles and casting out of demons
and they believe; they are baptized and the Church is established. A
central element is the expelling of demons, which is often accompanied
by noisy and disorderly manifestations. Other features of evangelism
vary, but this element is central to evangelism as practiced in the New
Testament, first by Jesus, then by His disciples.
What are
demons? Demons are disembodied spirit beings that have an intense
craving to occupy physical bodies. Apparently their first choice is a
human body.
Some Bible teachers believe:
1. They are some of the fallen angels associated with Satan in his rebellion against God.
2.
They are disembodied spirits of a pre-adamic race that perished under
some judgment of God not recorded in detail in Scripture.
Scripture does not provide us with sufficient evidence to say which is correct.
It
is believed that the earth was the scene of Lucifers first activity,
being, as it were, his headquarters. So, say some scholars, as a result
of God's judgment upon the sin of Lucifer, the earth was cursed, too.
Those who hold this belief say that this is intimated in the opening
statements of the Bible where, after it is told that, "In the beginning
God created the heaven and the earth," it is declared that the earth was
"without form, and void" ( Gen. 1:1,2 )
It is unthinkable that
God would create anything that was imperfect, formless, a desolate
waste. His very nature is system and order. He is not the author of
confusion. The difficulty is solved in the "substitution of "became" for
"was" ( as allowed by the Hebrew), in Genesis 1:2. The thought is
thereby conveyed that while the earth originally was created with all
the beauty, precision, and perfection characteristic of God, something
happened to it. Later, it was changed, possibly due to the fall of
Satan.
Let us suppose for a moment that daimonions are spirits
that once occupied the bodies of members of some pre-Adamic race who led
ungodly and sinful lives. In their present condition, however, they
have no way to give expression to the various lusts and passions and
emotions they developed in their former bodies. It is conceivable that
they could find some kind of vicarious release by acting out their lusts
or passions or emotions through human bodies.This would explain one
dominant characteristic of demons: their intense craving to inhabit and
work through human flesh.
Jesus tells us:
"Now when the
unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places,
seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, "I will return to my
house from which I came", and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied,
swept and put in order." ( Matthew 12:43-44 )
We need to remember
that the Bible records only the history of the race descended from
Adam. In this connection it uses the phrase sons ( or descendants ) of
Adam. It was to redeem the members of this race that Jesus came as "the
last Adam" (Corinthinans 15:45). If other races existed before Adam, the
Bible makes no explicit reference to them.
It may be that
neither of the two theories about demons is correct- that they are
neither fallen angels nor disembodied spirits from an earlier race of
beings. However demons do exist and they do exert influence over people.
Demons manifest themselves through humanity under many diffrent names.
Although
the problem of sin is universal, the problem with demons is not. Many
members of the human race have come under the power of demons, but not
all. There is a close connection between sin and demons. If mankind had
never sinned, we would never have been vulnerable to demons.
And the remedy? Expel them. Jesus Christ is the answer!
Lucifer's Sin...
Admittedly,
there are matters in the Scriptures difficult to understand. One of
these, certainly, is the reason for the sin of Lucifer. Doubtless, both
he and the angelic host were endowed with a free will ( Free moral
agency). Yet, how it is possible for him, a being "full of wisdom" and
"perfect in his ways" to sin so grievously against God is one of the
major mysteries of all time.
A striking passage in Isaiah 14:12-17 seems to suggest the sinfulness of Satan and the enormity of his rebellion against God:
"How
art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art
thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
"For
thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt
my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north;
"I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
"Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
"They
that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying,
Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake
kingdoms;
"That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof, that opened not the house of his prisoners?"
The
beginning of Isaiah 14 has to do with the restoration and blessing of
Israel and the world. Suddenly, however, the spotlight is turned upon
the underlying cause of sin and suffering, which is embodied in the
person of Satan. He is addressed as "Lucifer," meaning bright and
shining one.
Some Bible scholars believe that this Isaiah passage
is prophetic, from the point of view of that coming time when Satan
will come to know the full punishment of the wrath of God for his
rebellion and transgression against His throne.
The particular
interest of this passage lies in the minute examination of the innermost
heart of Satan. Here is the key to his sin. Here exposed are the
motivating forces which caused his mutiny against God.
We must
bear in mind that this rebellion occured long before the time of Adam
and Eve, apparently long prior to the period when the earth lay "without
form and void" (Gen. 1:2). Open conflict raged between Satan and God,
in heavenly places.
The character of the sin of Lucifer may be
divided into five parts, all progressing from the lesser to the greater.
Essentially, the nature of the sin was the desire for self-will.
Lucifer wanted his own way instead of the way of God. Essentially, this
is the root of all sin.
In striking contrast to this was the will
of the Lord Jesus Christ when He came into this earth. During His
ministry here, He declared His desire for the Father's will rather than
His own.
The diffrence is sharply outlined when we note that
Lucifer five times used the declarative statement, "I will." Against
this we note our Saviour's earnest words, "Not as I will, but as Thou
wilt"; "I come...to do Thy will, O God" (Matt. 26:39; Heb. 10:7 ).
It
seems evident that the commission of Lucifer had been to direct the
angelic hosts in their various tasks over the universe. His was also the
high honor of guarding the throne of God. Yet, this did not satisfy
him. As the scripture outlines Lucifer's sin, the desire of his heart
seemed to be to rise to ever greater achievements, even to displacing
God from His throne. (Sounds like "Suvivor" huh? You know with all of
the competition and deceit stuff...)
Note that the first "I will"
suggests that Lucifer coveted permanent residence in Heaven ( Isa.
14:13). The next "I will" indicates that he wanted precedence above all
of God's creation. The term "stars of God" evidently refers to similar
mighty angelic creatures, such as the archangle Michael and the might
friend of Israel, Gabriel.
The third "I will" of the devil
reveals that this creature sought even further recognition and
exaltation in a particular part of heaven known as the "mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north." Perhaps it was in this place
that the very high throne of God was located.
All of this
wickedness led on to its inevitable conclusion. Lucifer, so generously
endowed with beauty and wisdom, would not be satisfied with anything but
the highest honor. He wanted to "ascend above the heights of the
clouds." In fact, he plotted to be like the Most High. In this
aspiration lay a naked desire to dethrone God, for no one can be like
the Most High without displacing Him.
Although hidden in the
heart of Lucifer, these virulent ambitions were known to God, before
whose eyes all things are "naked and opened" ( Heb. 4:13). Swift
judgement followed. Lucifer was cast down from his high position to
become Satan, the deceiver, the adversary, the archenemy of God and the
people of God. His final doom is sealed, but the execution of that
eternal sentence awaits the time and place appointed by God.
Satan's Beginning...
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth"
Genesis 1:1
When
was this? No one knows. The Bible does not tell us, but it does tell us
that God was before the beginning; that He personally acted in the
creation process; that all we see and know of the universe comes
specifically from His creative hand.
A study of the earth's
surface has led many scientist to believe that it and the universe are
very old. With this the Bible does not disagree. While the Scriptures do
not state the age of the earth categorically, there is some evidence to
support the view that the earth went through a long period of
inactivity, perhaps as the result of the judgement of God. The
geological ages might accurately describe the earth during that time. A
very interesting speculative study is to be found at:
http://www.mt.net/~watcher/stones.html
And just for fun: (O come on...can't be so serious all the time...)
http://mars-news.de/life/
http://www.eridu.co.uk/Author/Ancient_Astronauts/mars.html
In
a segment of eternity, at the beginning of time, God planned and
brought into existence both the earth and the universe surrounding it.
God also brought into existence particularly gifted beings called
angels. Spirit beings possessing spirit bodies, they are ageless.
The
ministry of the angels seems to have been to fulfill the will of God by
overseeing and controlling the star systems and heavenly bodies, and
also to control the physical forces governing the earth, such as the
seas, winds, rain, etc. Over this vast multitude of angelic beings, God
placed a special being called Lucifer, meaning "Bright and shining one".
This does not refer merely to his spirit body, but also to his mind,
his wisdom, his power, his authority. Apparently, Lucifer was appointed
by God as the authoritative leader of the vast host of angels.
An arresting passage in Ezekiel 28:11-19, the subject of which is the Prince of Tyrus, or tyre, reads as follows:
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Son
of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him,
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and
perfect in beauty.
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God;
every precious stone [was] thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the
diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald,
and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy
pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Thou
[art] the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee [so]: thou
wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the
midst of the stones of fire.
Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
By
the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee
with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as
profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering
cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Thine heart was
lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by
reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay
thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy
sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy
traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee,
it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in
the sight of all them that behold thee.
All they that know thee
among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror,
and never [shalt] thou [be] any more.
As one examines the
passage, it seems very evident that while the Prince of Tyrus actually
is addressed (28:2,12), the message beginning with verse 11 goes far
beyond an earthly prince to the king of evil who stood behind him and
prompted him in his wicked doings, even Satan himself.
Note the
superlatives used in this description. He is said to be full of wisdom,
perfect in beauty and in his ways ( 28:11,15). Coming from the prophet
of god, this statement is a revelation of God's estimate of this
infernal spirit being.
Moreover, this person is said to have been
in Eden, the garden of God (28:13). Possibly this is a refrence to a
former Eden which existed before the Garden of Eden was created, the
beauty of which lay not in floral splendor, but in mineral radiance.
Further, the special musical ability of this creature is noted. We have
voices and are able to clap our hands to make sound, he had "tabrets and
pipes". Sounds like an organ of some sort was a part of his being.
In
addition, this person is described as being "the anointed cherub that
covereth" or protects ( 28:14). God so appointed Lucifer to guard His
throne. Lucifer was a created being, possibly the most amazing, the most
gifted of all beings which God had created.
Yet, inquity was
found in this originally perfect being, with the result that God
promised to cast him out and to destroy him (28:16). The nature of his
sin and the method of God's judgement against him are described to some
degree (28:17).
A careful study of this and other passages seems
to suggest to many Bible scholars that the being here depicted is none
other than Lucifer, the captain and leader of the host of the angels.
The judgments concerning him are predicted in this passage, but their
complete fulfillment awaits the end of the present age and the further
development of the program of God.
