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Spirit Beings ABOVE Angels

Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by Dr. Bob, Sep 12, 2004.

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  1. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    OTHER SPIRIT BEINGS (more powerful, knowledgeable than angels)
    1. Cherubs Ezekiel 10
    Many times in O.T. to describe building and decoration in the Tabernacle (Exodus) and Temple (I Kings) Hebrew: ker-oob' of uncertain derivation; AV - cherubims 64, cherub 27
    as guardians of Eden
    as flanking God's throne
    as an image form hovering over the Ark of the Covenant
    as the chariot of Jehovah (fig.)

    2. Seraphs Isaiah 6
    Hebrew: saw-rawf' AV - fiery serpent 3, fiery 2, seraphim 2
    serpent, fiery serpent poisonous serpent (fiery from burning effect of poison) in Numbers 21
    seraph, seraphim majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon God

    3. Watchers/Holy Ones Daniel 4

    4. Beast
    Animal or carcass
    Daniel 7
    Revelation 4 "beasts" giving messages of the seals
    Greek: zo-on = brute, mindless creature - self-will; used 30 times for Antichrist in Revelation

    5. Living Creatures Ezekiel 1; Ezekiel 10:17ff
    Living thing (no other description except often "green" in color of life)

    6. Demons - see next post
     
    #1 Dr. Bob, Sep 12, 2004
  2. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    DEMONS

    The Scriptures say much about demons. Man communicates with them; they influence man's thinking and destinies. That they obsess believers and possess unbelievers is unmistaken. The realm of the "spirit world" is just as real and near as the physical world.
    The New Testament is very clear in its teaching about demons; sadly the translation of the AV 1611 leads to much confusion on the subject. Both the word for Devil and the two Greek words for demon are all interpreted as one word: "devil". But the Devil is a fallen angelic being (a cherub); demons are not!

    A. THE EXISTENCE OF DEMONS
    1. Existence Recognized by Jesus
    By speaking of them and to them
    Matthew 12:27-28; 8:28-32; 10:8
    Mark 16:17

    2. Existence Recognized by Seventy
    Jesus appointed these men to minister in His name
    They confronted demons and demonic influences
    Subjected them by the name of Jesus
    Luke 10:17

    3. Existence Recognized by Paul
    Gave warning against the danger:
    I Corinthians 10:20-21
    I Timothy 4:1
    Acts 16:14-18
    James 2:19
    Revelation 9:20

    4. Existence Recognized by Old Testament Authors
    Account existing in the Torah
    Septuagint translates "idols" and "lords" as demons
    Deuteronomy 32:17
    Psalm 96:5; 106:37-38

    5. Existence Recognized by Classical Writers
    a. In Homer a demon = a god or deity
    b. Post-Homer a demon = intermediary between the gods and mankind

    B. THE ORIGIN AND DEPICTION OF DEMONS
    1. Limited Revelation on Demonic Origin
    Created beings akin to men but belonging to the unseen realm
    At one time had bodies, but now are entirely spirit beings
    Incapable of being manifest except in results

    Modern demonic worship enhances demon power and nature with myriad of details/experience
    No Bible details on demons (Hollywood and science fiction writers come up with morbid conjecture)
    Only connection with human race is in moral disorder
    No confidence in magical (exorcism) methods in dealing with demons
    Very restrictive sphere of demonic activity

    2. Abode and Destiny of Demons
    Matthew 12:43
    Waterless places
    Final Judgment of Demons
    Luke 8:31
    Abyss - perhaps tied to bottomless pit which is opened in Revelation and demonic creatures issue forth

    3. Scriptural Depiction of Demons
    False Gods (small "g")
    Acts 17:18 only N.T. reference
    Deuteronomy 32:17 indicates idolatrous images were visible symbols of invisible demons
    Numbers 21:29
    Isaiah 19:1 life "behind" the idol
    In Septuagint all are translated "demons"
    sedim "lords"
    elilim "idols"
    se'irim "satyrs" or "he goats" Isaiah 31:21

    4. Non-Biblical References
    Plato demon = root word "knowing/intelligent" one in between the gods and man
    Where did they come from? Writers said they were spirits from people in a former life
    From "gap" in Genesis 1:1-2
    Cannot be from fallen angels who retain their celestial bodies

    5. Reaction of Man to Demons
    Great Fear
    Imagined Jesus' miraculous power to be demonic
    Mark 3:22-30
    John 7:20; 8:48; 10:20

    C. THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF DEMONS
    1. They are Personal Intelligences
    Personal characteristics and actions
    Intelligence
    Matthew 8:29-31
    Luke 4:35, 41
    James 2:19

    2. They are Spirit Beings
    Demons = Evil Spirits and Unclean Spirits
    Matthew 8:16
    Luke 10:17, 20
    Used interchangeably by Synoptic writers
    Matthew 17:18 vs Mark 9:25
    Luke 8:2-3

    3. They are Satan's Emissaries
    Subject to Satan
    Matthew 12:22-30
    Do his Will
    Satan is a King of the demons

    4. They are a Multitude in Number
    Satan cannot be omnipresent
    Legions of demons make it seem so
    Mark 5:9
    Luke 8:30
    Matthew 12:26-27

    5. They are Degraded and Debased
    Vile, malignant, of lowest moral order
    Matthew 10:1; 12:43; 8:28
    Mark 1:23-24
    Luke 4:33, 36; Luke 9:39
    Degrees of wickedness
    Matthew 12:42-45
    Parallel to physical universe
    They are Disembodied Spirits
    Distinct/Separate from Fallen Angels
    In previous period that had bodily form
    Matthew 12:43-44
    Mark 5:10-14
    Jewish Belief = separate from angels
    Acts 23:9
    Empowered by Satan

    D. THE POWER AND WORK OF DEMONS
    1. They Have Knowledge
    Knew Jesus and recognized His authority
    Discriminated between individuals
    Recognized future doom
    Matthew 8:29, 31
    Mark 1:23-24
    Acts 19:13-15
    James 2:19
    Luke 8:31

    2. They Enter/Control Humans and Animals
    Influence over individuals - obsession
    Possessed by Holy Spirit (true Christian) cannot allow demonic possession at same time
    Obsess = state or act of influencing
    Cannot hold complete control
    Entering individuals - possession
    Saul - I Samuel 16:14; 18:10; 19:9
    Mark 5:8, 11-13
    Matthew 4:24; 8:16, 28, 33
    Acts 8:6-7; 16:16
    This will continue to some degree in all ages
    Do more as "angel of light" than "roaring lion" in modern society
    Stirred up in activity during the earthly ministry of Jesus
    Perhaps limited until end of age, near 2nd coming of Christ??
    I Timothy 4:1-2
    II Thessalonians 2:2-3

    3. They Afflict Men with Infirmities
    Physical/Mental Affliction
    Speech - Matthew 9:32-33
    Sight - Matthew 12:22
    Insanity - Luke 8:26-35
    Suicidal depression - Mark 9:22
    Personal injury - Mark 9:18
    Inhuman strength - Luke 9:18
    Physical defect/deformity - Luke 13:11-17
    Once they gain possession, they can come and go at will
    Luke 11:24-26
    Luke 9:37-42

    4. They Are Overcome by Christ Alone
    God is Most Powerful
    Legitimate cure every time
    Matthew 4:24; 8:16
    Mark 9:29
    Power from Christ to Heal
    To disciples, Matthew 10:1; Mark 9:38
    To early Church, Acts 5:16; 16:16
    To unbelievers, Acts 19:11-19
    Victory Assured
    Revelation 12:7
    Worship of the God over the Demons/Idols
    10 Commandments (no others "gods")

    Warned against "Playing" with Spirit World
    Danger of theft of salvation, Romans 8:38
    Danger of worshiping, Colossians 2:18
    Danger of deception by Satan, I Cor. 11:14
    Danger of heeding false message, Gal. 1:8
     
    #2 Dr. Bob, Sep 12, 2004
  3. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Feel free to discuss any of these points. Since this is from a syllabus I have written and now share it for discussion, I would ask that if you use any/all of it, you give credit.

    Much of these notes are from Elemental Theology by Bancroft and Systematic Theology by Strong. In my writing, I give credit to each.
     
    #3 Dr. Bob, Sep 12, 2004
  4. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    Except for the Beast in Rev., why do you not think the others are types of angels? :confused:

    Also, I did not see in your post on demons, unless I missed it, any Biblical support for why you do not think demons are fallen angels.
     
    #4 Marcia, Sep 12, 2004
  5. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Different words, different everything about demons compared to angels.

    Angels (I did not cover them) have hundreds of references and details. They are distinct from the six other categories of spirit beings.
     
    #5 Dr. Bob, Sep 13, 2004
  6. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    "Angels (I did not cover them) have hundreds of references and details. They are distinct from the six other categories of spirit beings."
    Dr. Bob, I am truly interested, not trying to bug you or argue. This area relates very much to my ministry (and I had a spirit guide and saw spirit entities when involved in the New Age).

    How are angels and these spirit beings different from each other? I still am not understanding why seraphim, cherubs, and demons cannot be types of angels but perhaps have different names because of their roles, or, in the case of demons, their rebellion against God.

    Also, if demons are another category, did God create them as evil beings? If not, how did they become evil?
     
    #6 Marcia, Sep 13, 2004
  7. DavidsAngel

    DavidsAngel Guest

    I t6hink that God created them with free choice just like us. They had the choice to choose if they would be good or evil.

    Our God wants real love. He could have made us all to love him blindly. But he wanted us to love him because we CHOOSE too. I think it's the same for us as it is for everything and everyone.
     
    #7 DavidsAngel, Sep 13, 2004
  8. tfisher1

    tfisher1 New Member

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    Dr. Bob, what do you think of the idea that demons may be the spirits of the dead Nephalim? The Nephalim that were killed in the flood, and later by Joshua and others. I have heard the idea that the spirit of these "giants" were not human and therefore could be the "demons" that exist. ( technically, the "seed of Satan")...

    Todd
     
    #8 tfisher1, Sep 13, 2004
  9. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    We seem to be falling into myth. On the Nephilim thread, there is no evidence given that Nephilim were abnormal, monsters or weird half-breeds. This is a popular notion one finds especially on the Internet but without substance.

    I think we humans are naturally morbidly curious, and to believe that Nephilim were some kind evil half-breeds satisfies a lust for morbidity. I think this may be one reason that God does not tell us all that much about the spirit world. We would get preoccupied with it - in fact, there is a preoccupation with it in deliverance ministries and in some books on spiritual warfare.

    I still would like to see some kind of Biblical support for demons not being fallen angels.
     
    #9 Marcia, Sep 13, 2004
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