The subject of Satan and his demons is a category in God"s Word that many steer clear of.
In a recent interview on national TV, a well-known so-called pastor shared that he doesn't use the words sin or devil in his sermons because he wants to preach positive sermons. He stated that his ministry is one of a positive message to teach the people how they can be good to their fellow man, etc.
Who do you think would benefit from ministers who don't use the words devil or sin in their messages?
That's right; the devil and his demons. In this issue of Chapter and Verse, I would like to set for you some truths from God"s Word regarding Satan and his army.
If we are ever going to mature spiritually we need to know the truth about good AND evil. God always was and always will be. On the other hand, the devil and his demons are created beings and will have an end.
Ezekiel 28:12-15 12Son 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. 13Thou 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. 14Thou 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. 15Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Here we have a figure of speech referring to the king of Tyrus who is Satan. Note Verses 13 and 14. "Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God," and "Thou art the anointed cherub."
The only one of whom these things are true is Satan. There was a human king of Tyrus. However, he could not be so old as to claim he was in Eden.
Verse 15 informs us Satan was created. Actually Lucifer was created, and later had his name changed to Satan after his rebellion.
Point #1 Satan and his demons were created. God always was and always will be.
Matthew 8:28-29 28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Here we see that there will come a time when the demons will be tormented.
Mark 1:23-24 23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth: art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
Demons know their end, they know one day they will suffer destruction at the hands of Jesus.
Luke 4:33-34 33And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 34Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Note: The words "for ever and ever" are better understood as a time or age.)
Point #2: The devil and his demons will all be cast into the lake of fire and eventually destroyed. Simply put, the devil has a beginning and an end.
Skeptics will try to tell us that there are no such things as demons, and that they are a remnant of ancient myths and superstitions. Sad to say, some preachers teach the same. Now this raises the question: Who do you believe the words of a skeptic or the words of Jesus Christ?
Jesus not only believed in demonic forces, but often delivered helpless people from their power. Jesus taught that there is an enemy called Satan or the devil and he rules over a kingdom of evil spirit beings.
Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels;
It is most likely that the angels referred to here are "dark angels or demons" that revolted with Lucifer against God and fell with him.
Isaiah 14:12-15 and Revelation 12:3-4 also speak of this.
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Point #3: Demons are unclean. They encourage people in moral filth. The record increase of pornography and sex worship is due to the activity of demons.
Matthew 12:43-45 43When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walked through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44Then he saith, I will return into my house from Hence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Point #4: There are degrees of wickedness in demons. Thus it is not hard to see the relationship between the wickedness of man today and the nature of demons.
Luke 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.
Point #5: Demons are evil. Mankind grows more evil every day due to the undetected activity of demons who secretly direct the affairs of this world.
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Point #6: Beelzebub or Satan is the prince or ruler of devils.
Matthew 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
Point #7: Some sicknesses and diseases are caused by demons.
I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Point #8: We are in a spiritual war. Satan's army is highly organized and his wickedness reaches into high places.
Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Point #9: Certain demons are assigned to nations, states, and cities of the earth to hinder the purposes of the godly.
To be continued… ÿ