ANGELS and DEMONS

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ANGELS &
DEMONS
The Bible Answers
Edward D. Andrews
Christian Publishing House

Cambridge, Ohio
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Copyright © 2017 Christian Publishing House
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in articles, other
publications, book reviews, and blogs, no part of this book may be reproduced in
any manner without prior written permission from the publishers. For
information, write, support@christianpublishers.org
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Updated
American Standard Version of the Holy Scriptures, 2016 edition (UASV).
ANGELS & DEMONS: The Bible Answers
Authored by Edward D. Andrews
ISBN-13: 978-1-945757-52-5
ISBN-10: 1-945757-52-3
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 Explaining Angels...............................................................1
Review Questions....................................................................................8
CHAPTER 2 Explaining Satan the Devil.................................................9
Review Questions..................................................................................16
CHAPTER 3 Explaining the Demons.....................................................17
CHAPTER 4 Genesis 6:2 Who were the “sons of God”?.....................23
CHAPTER 5 Genesis 6:2 Who were the “Nephilim”?..........................25
CHAPTER 6 No One Has Seen God At Any Time...............................27
CHAPTER 7 Who Is Michael the Archangel?......................................30
Review Question....................................................................................31
CHAPTER 8 Rebellion in the Spirit Realm...........................................32
CHAPTER 9 Can Satan the Devil Control Humans.............................36
CHAPTER 10 Our Struggle against Dark Spiritual Forces.................49
CHAPTER 11 Why has God Permitted Wickedness and Suffering?..63
CHAPTER 12 Does God Step in and Solve Our Every Problem
Because We are Faithful?.................................................................................72
CHAPTER 13 Why is Life So Unfair?...................................................78
Review Questions................................................................................104
GLOSSARY of Related Biblical Terms................................................105
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Other Books By Edward D. Andrews..................................................107
Bibliography............................................................................................122
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CHAPTER 1 Explaining Angels
This chapter is by John Macartney Wilson, but it has been updated,
corrected and Expanded upon by Edward D. Andrews.
I. Definition and Scripture Terms.
The word angel is applied in Scripture to an order of supernatural or
heavenly beings whose business it is to act as God’s messengers to men, and as
agents who carry out His will. Both in Hebrew (malʼakh′) and Greek (aggelos),
the word is applied to human messengers (1 Ki 19:2; Lu 7:24); in Hebrew, it is
used in the singular to denote a Divine messenger, and in the plural for human
messengers, although there are exceptions to both usages. It is applied to the
prophet Haggai (Hag 1:13), to the priest (Mal 2:7), and to the messenger who is
to prepare the way of the Lord (Mal 3:1). Other Hebrew words and phrases
applied to angels are bene ha-‘elohim (Ge 6:2, 4; Job 1:6; 2:1) and bene ‘elim
(Ps 29:1; 89:6), i.e. sons of the ‘elohim or ‘elim; this means, according to a
common Hebrew usage, members of the class called ‘elohim or ‘elim, the
heavenly powers. It seems doubtful whether the word ‘elohim, standing by
itself, is ever used to describe angels, although Septuagint so translates it in a
few passages. The most notable instance is Ps 8:5; where the Revised Version
(British and American) gives, “Thou hast made him but little lower than God,”
with the English Revised Version, margin reading of “the angels” for “God”
(compare Heb 2:7, 9); qedhoshim “holy ones” (Ps 89:5, 7), a name suggesting
the fact that they belong to God; ìr, ìrim, “watcher,” “watchers” (Da 4:13, 17,
23). Other expressions are used to designate angels collectively: codh, “council”
(Ps 89:7), where the reference may be to an inner group of exalted angels;
èdhah and qahal, “congregation” (Ps 82:1; 89:5); and finally tsabha’,
tsebha’oth, “army,” “armies,” as in the familiar phrase “the God of armies.”
In New Testament, the word aggelos, when it refers to a Divine messenger,
is frequently accompanied by some phrase which makes this meaning clear, e.g.
“the angels of heaven” (Mt 24:36). Angels belong to the “heavenly host” (Lu
2:13). In reference to their nature they are called “spirits” (Heb 1:14). Paul
evidently referred to the ordered ranks of supra-mundane beings in a group of
words that are found in various combinations, namely, archai, “principalities,”
exousiai, “powers,” thronoi, “thrones,” kuriotetes, “dominions,” and dunameis,
also translated “powers.” The first four are apparently used in a good sense in
Col 1:16, where it is said that all these beings were created through Christ and
unto Him; in most of the other passages in which words from this group occur,
they seem to represent evil powers. We are told that our wrestling is against
them (Eph 6:12), and that Christ triumphs over the principalities and powers
(Col 2:15; compare Ro 8:38; 1Co 15:24). In two passages the word archaggelos,
“archangel” or chief angel, occurs: “the voice of the archangel” (1 Thess. 4:16),
and “Michael the archangel” (Jude 1:9).
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1. Angels in the Old Testament.
2. Nature, Appearances, and Functions:
Everywhere in the Old Testament, the existence of angels is assumed. The
creation of angels is referred to in Ps 148:2,5 (compare Col 1:16). They were
present at the creation of the world and were so filled with wonder and gladness
that they “shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). Of their nature, we are told nothing. In
general, they are simply regarded as embodiments of their mission. Though
presumably the holiest of created beings, they are charged by God with folly
(Job 4:18), and we are told that “he putteth no trust in his holy ones” (Job
15:15).
As to their outward appearance, it is evident that they bore the human
form, and could at times be mistaken for men (Eze 9:2; Ge 18:2, 16). There is no
hint that they ever appeared in female form. The conception of angels as winged
beings, so familiar in Christian art, finds no support in Scripture (except,
perhaps Da 9:21; Re 14:6, where angels are represented as “flying”). The
cherubim and seraphim are represented as winged (Ex. 25:20; Isa 6:2); winged
also are the symbolic living creatures of Ezek (Eze 1:6; compare Rev. 4:8).
Cherubim
cher’-u-bim, cher’-oo-bim (kerubhim, plural of cherub, kerubh): Through
the influence of the Septuagint, “cherubim” was used in the earlier English
versions, also as a singular, hence, the plural was made to sound “cherubims.”
The etymology of the word cannot be ascertained.
As Guardians of Paradise:
In Genesis 3:24 the cherubim are placed by God, after the expulsion of
Adam from the garden of Eden, at the east thereof, together with the “flaming
sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.”
As Bearers of the Throne:
As attendants of God, they bear the throne upon which He descends from
His high abode. Thus, in the description of a visible manifestation to humankind
of God in Psalm 18:1-50, we read:
Psalm 18:9-10 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
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He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
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He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
Hence, Jehovah, or, as the fuller title goes, Jehovah of armies, is repeatedly
styled “You who are enthroned upon the cherubim” (Ps 80:1; 99:1; 1 Sam. 4:4,
and elsewhere). There is certainly no trace here of bull figures: bulls do not fly.
The underlying conception is, it seems, rather, to be that of the storm cloud.
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Compare
Psalm 104:3 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
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He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
he rides on the wings of the wind;
In the Vision of Ezekiel
But the function of the cherubim as bearers and movers of the Divine
throne is brought out most clearly in the vision of Ezekiel (chapter 1, with which
compare chapter 10). In chapter 1 the prophet designates them as “living
creatures” (chayyoth); but upon hearing God’s words addressed to the “man
clothed in linen” (10:2) he perceives that the living creatures which he saw in
the first vision were cherubim (10:20); hence, in 9:3 the chariot or throne, from
which the glory of God went up, is spoken of as a cherub. The following is a
description in detail of the cherubim as seen by Ezekiel. They are represented as
four living creatures, each with four faces, man, lion, ox (replaced in the parallel
chapter by cherub), and eagle (1:10; 10:14), having the figure and hands of men
(1:5,8), and the feet of calves (1:7). Each has four wings, two of which are
stretched upward (1:11), meeting above and sustaining the “firmament,” that is,
the bottom of the Divine throne (1:22; 10:1), while two are stretched downward,
conformable the one to the other, so as to cover their bodies (1:11,23). In
appearance, the living creatures resemble coals of fire (compare 10:2,6 f, where
the “man clothed in linen” is bidden fill both his hands with coals of fire from
between the cherubim), burning like torches, the fire flashing up and down
among the creatures, a bright fire out of which lightning goes forth (1:13). Thus,
the creatures run and vanish as the appearance of a flash of lightning (1:14). The
cherubim do not turn as they change direction, but always go straight forward
(1:9,17; 10:11), as do the wheels of the cherubic chariot with rings full of eyes
round about (1:18; 10:12). The cherubim represent the spirit, or will, in the
wheels: at the direction of the spirit, the wheels are lifted up from the bottom
and the chariot moves upward (1:19 f; 10:16 f). The cherubim are thus the
moving force of the vehicle.
Relation to Seraphim and Other Angels
Some 90 times, the Scriptures mention the cherubs, and from the
description of their duties and responsibilities it is obvious that they, too, hold a
special position among the angels. (Gen. 3:24; Ezek. 10:1-22) Ezekiel’s
cherubim are clearly related to the seraphim in Isaiah’s inaugural vision (Isa 6:1-
13). Like the cherubim, the seraphim are the attendants on God as He is seated
upon a throne high and exalted; they are also winged creatures: with two, they
cover their faces, and with two, they cover their feet, and with two, they fly.
Like the Levites in the sanctuary below, they sing a hymn of adoration: “Holy,
holy, holy, is Jehovah of armies: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
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In Revelation 4
The “four living creatures” of Revelation 4:6 ff are clearly modeled upon
Ezekiel, with supplementary touches from Isaiah. Full of eyes before and
behind, they are in the midst of the throne, and round about it. One resembles a
lion, the other a calf, and the third a man, and the fourth a flying eagle. Each of
the creatures has six wings.
Revelation 4:8 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
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And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes
all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
Ornamental Cherubim in the Temple of Solomon
In the temple of Solomon, two gigantic cherubic images of olive-wood
plated with gold, ten cubits high, stood in the innermost sanctuary (the debhir)
facing the door, whose wings, five cubits each, extended, two of them meeting
in the middle of the room to the throne, while two extended to the walls (1 Ki
6:23-28; 8:6-7; 2Ch 3:10-13; 5:7-8). The Chronicler represents them as the
chariot of Jehovah (1 Ch 28:18). There were also images of the cherubim carved
on the gold-plated cedar planks which constituted the inner walls of the temple,
and upon the olive-wood doors (1 Ki 6:29,35; 2Ch 3:7); also, on the bases of the
portable lavers, interchanging with lions and oxen (1 Ki 7:29-36). According to
the Chronicler, they were also woven in the veil of the Holy of Holies (2 Ch
3:14).
In the Temple of Ezekiel
Ezekiel represents the inner walls of the temple as carved with alternating
palm trees and cherubim, each with two faces, the lion looking on one side, the
man on the other (Ezek. 41:18-25).
In the Tabernacle
In the Tabernacle, there were two cherubim of solid gold upon the golden
slab of the “lid,” or “mercy-seat,” facing each other, with wings outstretched
above, so as to constitute a throne on which the glory of Jehovah appeared, and
from which He spoke (Ex 25:18-22; 37:7-9; Num. 7:89; Heb. 9:5). There were
also cherubim woven into the texture of the inner curtain of the Tabernacle and
the veil (Ex 26:1, 31; 36:8, 35). There were no cherubim in the temple of Herod,
but the walls were painted with figures of them (see Talmud Yoma’ 54a). In the
times of Josephus, no one knew what the Scriptural cherubim looked like (Ant.,
VIII, iii, 3). – William Owen Carver
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Seraphim
Sera·phim′ (seraphim): A plural word occurring only in Isa 6:2 ff–Isaiah’s vision o
term in Hebrew is uncertain. Saraph in Nu 21:6; Isa 14:29, etc., signifies a fiery serpent.
fire-god, Nergal, was Sharrapu. In Egypt there have been found eagle-lion-shaped figures
is applied the name seref. The equivalent English term is “griffin.”
It is probable enough that popular mythology connected fire with the attendants o
among different peoples, and that burning lies at the base of the idea in all these sugges
however, that in Isaiah’s use there is nothing of the popular legend or superstition. These
powerful, respected and impressive beings whose forms are not at all fully described. T
and wings. The six wings, in three pairs, covered their faces and feet in humility and r
sustaining them in their positions about the throne of Jehovah. One of them is the agent
the altar, not with his own power or person) the sin from the lips of the prophet.
These mighty heavenly creatures are angels, clearly of a very high position in God
shown attending at God’s throne. Seraphim are in Jewish theology connected with che
three highest orders of attendants on Jehovah and are superior to the angels who are m
errands. As the cherubim in popular fancy were represented by the storm-clouds, so
serpentine flashes of the lightning; but none of this appears in Isaiah’s vision.
In the New Testament, the only possible equivalent is in “the living ones” (“beasts”
in Re 4:1-11; 5:1-14, etc. Here, as in Isaiah, they appear nearest Jehovah’s throne, suprem
– William Owen Carver
As above stated, angels are messengers and instruments of the Divine will.
As a rule, they exercise no influence in the physical sphere. In several instances,
however, they are represented as destroying angels: two angels are
commissioned to destroy Sodom (Ge 19:13); when David numbers the people,
an angel destroys them with pestilence (2Sa 24:16); it is by an angel that the
Assyrian army is destroyed (185,000 warriors in one night) (2Ki 19:35); and
Ezekiel hears six angels receiving the command to destroy those who were
sinful in Jerusalem (Eze 9:1, 5, 7). In this connection should be noted the
expression “angels of evil,” i.e. angels that bring evil upon men from God and
execute His judgments (Ps 78:49; compare 1Sa 16:14). Angels appear to Jacob
in dreams (Ge 28:12; 31:11). The angel who meets Balaam is visible first to the
ass, and not to the rider (Nu 22:1-41ff). Angels interpret God’s will, showing
man what is right for him (Job 33:23). The idea of angels as caring for men also
appears (Ps 91:11f), although the modern conception of the possession by each
man of a special guardian angel is not found in the Old Testament.
As above stated, angels are messengers and instruments of the Divine will.
As a rule, they exercise no influence in the physical sphere. In several instances,
however, they are represented as destroying angels: two angels are
commissioned to destroy Sodom (Ge 19:13); when David numbers the people,
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an angel destroys them with pestilence (2Sa 24:16); it is by an angel that the
Assyrian army is destroyed (185,000 warriors in one night) (2Ki 19:35); and
Ezekiel hears six angels receiving the command to destroy those who were
sinful in Jerusalem (Eze 9:1, 5, 7). In this connection should be noted the
expression “angels of evil,” i.e. angels that bring evil upon men from God and
execute His judgments (Ps 78:49; compare 1Sa 16:14). Angels appear to Jacob
in dreams (Ge 28:12; 31:11). The angel who meets Balaam is visible first to the
ass, and not to the rider (Nu 22:1-41ff). Angels interpret God’s will, showing
man what is right for him (Job 33:23). The idea of angels as caring for men also
appears (Ps 91:11f), although the modern conception of the possession by each
man of a special guardian angel is not found in the Old Testament.
2. The Angelic Armies:
Jehovah of armies: (Heb. jhvh tsaba) literally means an army of soldiers,
or military forces (Gen. 21:22; Deut. 20:9). It can also be used figuratively, “the
sun and the moon and the stars, all the armies of heaven.” (Deut. 4:19) In the
plural form, it is also used of the Israelites forces as well. (Ex. 6:26; 7:4; Num.
33:1; Psa. 44:9) However, the “armies” in the expression “Jehovah of armies” is
a reference to the angelic forces primarily, if not exclusively.
The phrase “the army of heaven” is applied to the stars, which were
sometimes worshipped by idolatrous Jews (Jer. 33:22; 2Ki 21:3; Zep 1:5); the
name is applied to the company of angels because of their countless numbers
(compare Da 7:10) and their glory. They are represented as standing on the right
and left hand of Jehovah (1Ki 22:19). Hence God, who is over them all, is
continually called throughout Old Testament “the God of armies,” “Jehovah of
armies,” “Jehovah God of armies”; and once “the prince of the host” (Da 8:11).
One of the principal functions of the heavenly host is to be ever praising the
name of the Lord (Ps 103:21; 148:1f). In this army, there are certain figures that
stand out prominently, and some of them are named. The angel who appears to
Joshua calls himself “prince of the army of Jehovah” (Josh 5:14f). The glorious
angel who interprets to Daniel the vision which he saw in the third year of Cyrus
(Da 10:5), like the angel who interprets the vision in the first year of Belshazzar
(Da 7:16), is not named; but other visions of the same prophet were explained to
him by the angel Gabriel, who is called “the man Gabriel,” and is described as
speaking with “a man’s voice” (Da 9:21; 8:15f). In Daniel, we find occasional
reference made to “princes”: “the prince of Persia,” “the prince of Greece” (Da
10:20). These are angels to whom is entrusted the charge of, and possibly the
rule over, certain peoples. Most notable among them is Michael, described as
“one of the chief princes,” “the great prince who standeth for the children of thy
people,” and, more briefly, “your prince” (Da 10:13; 12:1; 10:21); Michael is
therefore regarded as the guardian angel of the Jews. Some (notably Kosters)
have maintained that the expressions “the sons of the ‘elohim,” God’s “council”
and “congregation,” refer to the ancient gods of the heathen, now degraded and
wholly subordinated to Jehovah. This rather daring speculation has little support
in Scripture; but we find traces of a belief that the patron-angels of the nations
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have failed in establishing righteousness within their allotted sphere on earth,
and that they will accordingly be punished by Jehovah their over-Lord (Isa
24:21f; Ps 82:1-8; compare Ps 58:1f the Revised Version, margin; compare Jude
1:6).
3. The Angel of the Theophany:
This angel is spoken of as “the angel of Jehovah,” and “the angel of the
presence (or face) of Jehovah.” The following passages contain references to
this angel: Ge 16:7 ff–the angel and Hagar; Ge 18:1-33–Abraham intercedes
with the angel for Sodom; Gen. 22:11 ff–the angel interposes to prevent the
sacrifice of Isaac; Gen. 24:7, 40–Abraham sends Eliezer and promises the
angel’s protection; Gen. 31:11 ff–the angel who appears to Jacob says “I am the
God of Beth-el”; Ge 32:24 ff–Jacob wrestles with the angel and says, “I have
seen God face to face”; Ge 48:15 f–Jacob speaks of God and the angel as
identical; Ex 3:1-22 (compare Ac 7:30 ff)–the angel appears to Moses in the
burning bush; Ex 13:21; 14:19 (compare Nu 20:16)–God or the angel leads
Israel out of Egypt; Ex 23:20 ff–the people are commanded to obey the angel;
Ex 32:34 through Ex 33:17 (compare Isa 63:9)–Moses pleads for the presence of
God with His people; Jos 5:13 through Jos 6:2–the angel appears to Joshua; Jg
2:1-5–the angel speaks to the people; Jg 6:11 ff–the angel appears to Gideon.
A study of these passages shows that while the angels and Jehovah are at
times distinguished from each other, they are with equal frequency, and in the
same passages, merged into each other. How is this to be explained? It is
obvious that these appearances cannot be the Almighty Himself, whom no man
hath seen, or can see. In seeking the explanation, special attention should be paid
to two of the passages above cited. In Ex 23:20 ff God promises to send an angel
before His people to lead them to the promised land; they are commanded to
obey him and not to provoke him “for he will not pardon your transgression: for
my name is in him.” Thus the angel can forgive sin, which only God can do,
because God’s name, i.e. His character and thus His authority, are in the angel.
Further, in the passage Ex 32:34 through Ex 33:17 Moses intercedes for the
people after their first breach of the covenant; God responds by promising,
“Behold mine angel shall go before thee;” and immediately after God says, “I
will not go up in the midst of thee.” In answer to further pleading, God says,
“My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Here a clear
distinction is made between an ordinary angel and the angel who carries with
him God’s presence. The conclusion may be summed up in the words of
Davidson in his Old Testament Theology: “In particular providences one may
trace the presence of Jehovah in influence and operation; in ordinary angelic
appearances one may discover Jehovah present on some side of His being, in
some attribute of His character; in the angel of the Lord He is fully present as
the covenant God of His people, to redeem them.” The question still remains,
Who is theophanic angel? To this many answers have been given, of which the
following may be mentioned: (1) This angel is simply an angel with a special
commission; (2) He may be a momentary descent of God into visibility; (3) He
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may be the Logos, a kind of temporary preincarnation of the second person of
the Trinity. Each has its difficulties, but the last is certainly the most tempting to
the mind. Yet it must be remembered that at best these are only conjectures that
touch on a great mystery. It is certain that from the beginning God used angels
in human form, with human voices, in order to communicate with man; and the
appearances of the angel of the Lord, with his special redemptive relation to
God’s people, show the working of that Divine mode of self-revelation which
culminated in the coming of the Savior, and are thus a foreshadowing of, and a
preparation for, the full revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Further, than this, it is
not safe to go.
III. Angels in the New Testament.

1. Appearances:
Nothing is related of angels in the New Testament which is inconsistent
with the teaching of the Old Testament on the subject. Just as they are especially
active at the beginning of Old Testament history, when God’s people are being
born, so they appear frequently in connection with the birth of Jesus, and again
when a new order of things begins with the resurrection. An angel appears three
times in dreams to Joseph (Mt 1:20; 2:13, 19). The angel Gabriel appears to
Zacharias, and then to Mary in the annunciation (Lu 1:1-80). An angel
announces to the shepherds the birth of Jesus and is joined by a “multitude of
the heavenly host,” praising God in celestial song (Lu 2:8 ff). When Jesus is
tempted, and again during the agony at Gethsemane, angels appear to Him to
strengthen His soul (Mt 4:11; Lu 22:43). The verse which tells how an angel
came down to trouble the pool (Joh 5:4) is now omitted from the text as not
being genuine. An angel descends to roll away the stone from the tomb of Jesus
(Mt 28:2); angels are seen there by certain women (Lu 24:23) and (two) by
Mary Magdalene (Joh 20:12). An angel releases the apostles from prison, directs
Philip, appears to Peter in a dream, frees him from prison, smites Herod with
sickness, appears to Paul in a dream (Ac 5:19; 8:26; 10:3; 12:7 ff; Ac
12:23; 27:23). Once they appear clothed in white; they are so dazzling in
appearance as to terrify beholders; hence they begin their message with the
words “Fear not” (Mt 28:2-5).
2. The Teaching of Jesus about Angels:
It is quite certain that our Lord accepted the main teachings of the Old
Testament about angels, as well as the later Jewish belief in good and bad
angels. He speaks of the “angels in heaven” (Mt 22:30), and of “the devil and
his angels” (Mt 25:41). According to our Lord the angels of God are holy (Mr
8:38); they have no sex or sensuous desires (Mt 22:30); they have high
intelligence, but they know not the time of the Second Coming (Mt 24:36); they
carry (in a parable) the soul of Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom (Lu 16:22); they
could have been summoned to the aid of our Lord, had He so desired (Mt
26:53); they will accompany Him at the Second Coming (Mt 25:31) and
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separate the righteous from the wicked (Mt 13:41, 49). They watch with
sympathetic eyes the fortunes of men, rejoicing in the repentance of a sinner (Lu
15:10; compare 1Pe 1:12; Eph 3:10; 1Co 4:9); and they will hear the Son of
Man confessing or denying those who have confessed or denied Him before men
(Lu 12:8 f). The angels of the presence of God, who do not appear to correspond
to our conception of guardian angels, are especially interested in God’s little
ones (Mt 18:10). Finally, the existence of angels is implied in the Lord’s Prayer
in the petition, “Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth” (Mt 6:10).
3. Other New Testament References:
Paul refers to the ranks of angels (“principalities, powers” etc.) only in
order to emphasize the complete supremacy of Jesus Christ. He teaches that
angels will be judged by the holy ones (1 Cor. 6:3). He attacks the incipient
Gnosticism of Asia Minor by forbidding the worship of angels (Col. 2:18). He
speaks of God’s angels as “elect,” because they are included in the counsels of
Divine love (1 Tim. 5:21). When Paul commands the women to keep their heads
covered in church because of the angels (1 Cor. 11:10) he probably means that
the angels, who watch all human affairs with deep interest, would be pained to
see any infraction of the laws of modesty. In Heb. 1:14 angels are (described as
ministering spirits engaged in the service of the saints. Peter also emphasizes the
supremacy of our Lord over all angelic beings (1 Pet. 3:22). In Revelation,
where the references are obviously symbolic, there is very frequent mention of
angels. The angels of the seven churches (Rev. 1:20) are the guardian angels or
the personifications of these churches. The worship of angels is also forbidden
(Rev. 22:8 f). Especially interesting is the mention of elemental angels–“the
angel of the waters” (Rev. 16:5), and the angel “that hath power over fire” (Rev.
14:18; compare Rev. 7:1; 19:17). In Rev. 12:7 ff we are told that there was a war
between Michael with his angels and the dragon with his angels.
1. Development of the Doctrine.
In the childhood of the race, it was easy to believe in God, and He was
very near to the soul. In Paradise there is no thought of angels; it is God Himself
who walks in the garden. A little later the thought of angels appears, but, God
has not gone away, and as “the angel of Jehovah” He appears to His people and
redeems them. In these early times, the Jews believed that there were multitudes
of angels, not yet divided in thought into good and bad; these had no names or
personal characteristics but were simply embodied messages. Till the time of the
captivity, the Jewish angelology shows little development. During that dark
period, they came into close contact with a polytheistic people, only to be more
deeply confirmed in their monotheism thereby. They also became acquainted
with the purer faith of the Persians, and in all probability viewed the tenets of
Zoroastrianism with a more favorable eye, because of the great kindness of
Cyrus to their nation. There are few direct traces of Zoroastrianism in the later
angelology of the Old Testament. It is not even certain that the number seven as
applied to the highest group of angels is Persian in its origin; the number seven
was not wholly disregarded by the Jews. By the time of Babylonian captivity,
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the consciousness of sin had grown more intense in the Jewish mind, and God
had receded to an immeasurable distance; the angels helped to fill the gap
between God and man.
In the New Testament we find that there is little further development, and
by the Spirit of God, its writers were saved from the absurdly puerile teachings
of contemporary Rabbinism. We find that the Sadducees, as contrasted with the
Pharisees, did not believe in angels or spirits (Ac 23:8). We may conclude that
the Sadducees, with their materialistic standpoint, and denial of the resurrection,
regarded angels merely as symbolical expressions of God’s actions. It is
noteworthy in this connection that the great priestly document (Priestly Code, P)
makes no mention of angels. The Book of Revelation naturally shows a close
kinship to the books of Ezekiel and Daniel.
Regarding the rabbinical developments of angelology, some beautiful,
some extravagant, some grotesque, but all fanciful, it is not necessary here to
speak. The Essenes held an esoteric doctrine of angels, in which most scholars
find the germ of the Gnostic eons.
1. The Reality of Angels.
A belief in angels, if not indispensable to the faith of a Christian, has its
place there. In such a belief there is nothing unnatural or contrary to reason.
Indeed, the warm welcome which human nature has always given to this
thought, is an argument in its favor. Why should there not be such an order of
beings, if God so willed it? For the Christian, the whole question turns on the
weight to be attached to the words of our Lord. All are agreed that He teaches
the existence, reality, and activity of angelic beings. Was He in error because of
His human limitations? That is a conclusion which it is very hard for the
Christian to draw, and we may set it aside. Did He then adjust His teaching to
popular belief, knowing that what He said was not true? This explanation would
seem to impute deliberate untruth to our Lord and must equally be set aside. So,
we find ourselves restricted to the conclusion that we have the guaranty of
Christ’s word for the existence of angels; for most Christians that will settle the
question.
The visible activity of angels has come to an end because their mediating
work is done; Christ has founded the kingdom of the Spirit, and God’s Spirit
speaks directly to the spirit of man. This new and living way has been opened up
to us by Jesus Christ, upon whom faith can yet behold the angels of God
ascending and descending. Still they watch the lot of man, and rejoice in his
salvation; still, they join in the praise and adoration of God, Jehovah of armies,
still, can they be regarded as “ministering spirits sent forth to do service for the
sake of them that shall inherit salvation.”
Review Questions
 How do we define and explain the terms used for angels?

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 What activities and roles have angels played in the Old
Testament?
 Who were the “sons of God”?
 Who were the “Nephilim”?
 How do we explain the angelic visible manifestations to
humans?
 How do we explain that some Bible persons say they saw
God face to face and yet John 1:18 says that no man has ever
seen God?
 What activities and roles have angels played in the Old
Testament?
 What did Jesus teach us about angels?
 What do other part of the New Testament teach us about
angels?
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CHAPTER 2 Explaining Satan the Devil
This chapter is by Louis Matthews Sweet, but it has been updated,
I. Definition.
A created but superhuman, personal, evil, world-power, represented in
Scripture as the adversary both of God and men.
II. Scriptural Facts concerning Satan.
1. Names of Satan:
The most important of these are the Hebrew and Greek equivalents noticed
above. These words are used in the general sense justified by their etymological
significance. It is applied even to Jehovah Himself (Nu 22:22, 32; compare 1Sa
29:4; 2Sa 19:22; Ps 109:6, etc.). The word "Satan" is used 24 times in the Old
Testament. In Job (1:6 f) and Zech. (3:1 f) it has the prefixed definite article. In
all cases but one when the article is omitted it is used in a general sense. This
one exception is 1Ch 21:1 (compare 2Sa 24:1), where the word is generally
conceded to be used as a proper name. This meaning is fixed in New Testament
times. We are thus enabled to note in the term "Satan" (and Devil) the growth of
a word from a general term to an appellation and later to a proper name. All the
other names of Satan save only these two are descriptive titles. In addition to
these two principal names a number of others deserve specific enumeration.
Tempter (Mt 4:5; 1Th 3:5); Beelzebub (Mt 12:24); Enemy (Mt 13:39); Evil One
(Mt 13:19, 38; 1Jo 2:13-14; 3:12, and particularly 1Jo 5:18); Belial (2 Co 6:15);
Adversary (antidikos), (1Pe 5:8); Deceiver (literally "the one who deceives")
(Re 12:9); Dragon (Great) (Re 12:3); Father of Lies (Joh 8:44); Murderer (Joh
8:44); Sinner (1Jo 3:8)--these are isolated references occurring from 1 to 3 times
each. In the vast majority of passages (70 out of 83) either Satan or Devil is
used.
2. Character of Satan:
Satan is consistently represented in the New Testament as the enemy both

of God and man. The popular notion is that Satan is the enemy of man and
active in misleading and cursing humanity because of his intense hatred and
opposition to God. Mt 13:39 would seem to point in this direction, but if one
were to venture an opinion in a region where there are not enough facts to
warrant a conviction, it would be that the general tenor of Scripture indicates
quite the contrary, namely, that Satan’s jealousy and hatred of men has led him
into antagonism to God and, consequently, to goodness. The fundamental moral
description of Satan is given by our Lord when He describes Satan as the “evil
one” (Mt 13:19, 38; compare Isaiah’s description of Jehovah as the “Holy
One,” Isa 1:4 and often); that is, the one whose nature and will are given to evil.
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Moral evil is his controlling attribute. It is evident that this description could not
be applied to Satan as originally created. Ethical evil cannot be concreated. It is
the creation of each free will for itself. We are not told in definite terms how
Satan became the evil one, but certainly, it could be by no other process than a
fall, whereby, in the mystery of free personality, an evil will takes the place of a
good one.
3. Works of Satan:
The worldwide and age-long works of Satan are to be traced to one

predominant motive. He hates both God and man and does all that in him lies to
defeat God’s plan of grace and to establish and maintain a kingdom of evil, in
the seduction and ruin of mankind. The balance and sanity of the Bible is
nowhere more strikingly exhibited than in its treatment of the work of Satan.
Not only is the Bible entirely free from the extravagances of popular
Satanology, which is full of absurd stories concerning the appearances, tricks,
and transformations of Satan among men, but it exhibits a dependable accuracy
and consistency, of statement which is most reassuring. Almost nothing is said
concerning Satanic agency other than wicked men who mislead other men. In
the controversy with His opponents concerning exorcism (Mr 3:22f and
parallel’s), our Lord rebuts their slanderous assertion that He is in league with
Satan by the simple proposition that Satan does not work against himself. But in
so saying He does far more than refute this slander. He definitely aligns the
Bible against the popular idea that a man may make a definite and conscious
personal alliance with Satan for any purpose whatever. The agent of Satan is
always a victim. Also, the hint contained in this discussion that Satan has a
kingdom, together with a few other not very definite allusions, are all that we
have to go upon in this direction. Nor are we taught anywhere that Satan is able
to any extent to introduce disorder into the physical universe or directly operate
in the lives of men. It is true that in Lu 13:16 our Lord speaks of the woman who
was bowed over as one “whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years,” and
that in 2Co 12:7 Paul speaks of his infirmity as a “messenger of Satan sent to
buffet him.” Paul also speaks (1Th 2:18) of Satan’s hindering him from visiting
the church at Thessalonica. A careful study of these related passages (together
with the prologue of Job) will reveal the fact that Satan’s direct agency in the
physical world is very limited. Satan may be said to be implicated in all the
disasters and woes of human life, in so far as they are more or less directly
contingent upon sin (see particularly Heb 2:14) On the contrary, it is perfectly
evident that Satan’s power consists principally in his ability to deceive. It is
interesting and characteristic that according to the Bible Satan is fundamentally
a liar and his kingdom is a kingdom founded upon lies and deceit. The doctrine
of Satan, therefore, corresponds in every important particular to the general
Biblical emphasis upon truth. “The truth shall make you free” (Joh 8:32)–this is
the way of deliverance from the power of Satan.
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Now it would seem that to make Satan pre-eminently the deceiver would
make man an innocent victim and thus relax the moral issue. But according to
the Bible man is particeps criminis in the process of his own deception. He is
deceived only because he ceases to love the truth and comes first to love and
then to believe a lie (2Co 1:10). This really goes to the very bottom of the
problem of temptation. Men are not tempted by evil, per se, but by a good which
can be obtained only at the cost of doing wrong. The whole power of sin, at least
in its beginnings, consists in the sway of the fundamental falsehood that any
good is really attainable by wrongdoing. Since temptation consists in this attack
upon the moral sense, man is constitutionally guarded against deceit and is
morally culpable in allowing himself to be deceived. The temptation of our Lord
Himself throws the clearest possible light upon the methods ascribed to Satan
and The temptation was addressed to Christ’s consciousness of divine sonship; it
was a deceitful attack emphasizing the good, minimizing or covering up the evil;
indeed, twisting evil into good. It was a deliberate, malignant attempt to obscure
the truth and induce to evil through the acceptance of falsehood. The attack
broke against a loyalty to truth which made self-deceit, and consequently deceit
from without, impossible. The lie was punctured by the truth and the temptation
lost its power. This incident reveals one of the methods of Satan–by immediate
suggestion as in the case of Judas (Lu 22:3; John 13:2, 27). Sometimes,
however, and, perhaps, most frequently, Satan’s devices (2Co 2:11) include
human agents. Those who are given over to evil and who persuade others to evil
are children and servants of Satan (See Mt 16:23; Mr 8:33; Lu 4:8; Joh
6:70; 8:44; Ac 13:10; 1Jo 3:8). Satan also works through persons and
institutions supposed to be on the side of right but really evil. Here the same
ever-present and active falseness and deceit are exhibited. When he is called
“the god of this world” (2Co 4:4) it would seem to be intimated that he has the
power to clothe himself in apparently divine attributes. He also makes himself
an angel of light by presenting advocates of falsehood in the guise of apostles of
truth (2 Co 11:13,15; 1Jo 4:1; 2 Th 2:9; Re 12:9; 19:20). In the combination of
passages here brought together, it is clearly indicated that Satan is the instigator
and fomenter of that spirit of lawlessness which exhibits itself as hatred both of
truth and right, and which has operated so widely and so disastrously in human
life.
4. History of Satan:
The history of Satan, including that phase of it which remains to be

realized, can be set forth only along the most general lines. He belongs to the
angelic order of beings. He is by nature one of the sons of Elohim (Job 1:6). He
has fallen, and by virtue of his personal forcefulness has become the leader of
the anarchic forces of wickedness. As a free being, he has merged his life in evil
and has become altogether and hopelessly evil. As a being of high intelligence,
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he has gained great power and has exercised a wide sway over other beings. As
a created being the utmost range of his power lies within the compass of that
which is permitted. It is, therefore, hedged in by the providential government of
God and essentially limited. The Biblical emphasis upon the element of
falsehood in the career of Satan might be taken to imply that his kingdom may
be less in extent than appears. At any rate, it is confined to the cosmic sphere
and to a limited portion of time. It is also doomed. In the closely related
passages 2Pe 2:4 and Jude 1:6 it is affirmed that God cast the angels, when they
sinned, down to Tartarus and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved
unto judgment. This both refers to the constant divine control of these insurgent
forces and also points to their final and utter destruction. The putting of Satan in
bonds is evidently both constant and progressive. The essential limitation of the
empire of evil and its ultimate overthrow are foreshadowed in the Book of Job
(chapters 38 through 41), where Jehovah’s power extends even to the
symbolized spirit of evil.
According to synoptic tradition, our Lord in the crisis of temptation
immediately following the baptism (Mt 4:1-25 and parallel) met and for the time
conquered Satan as His own personal adversary. This preliminary contest did
not close the matter but was the earnest of a complete victory. According to
Luke (Mt 10:18), when the Seventy returned from their mission flushed with
victory over the powers of evil, Jesus said: “I saw Satan fall (not “fallen,” ASV)
like lightning from heaven.” In every triumph over the powers of evil, Christ
beheld in vision the downfall of Satan. In connection with the coming of the
Hellenists who wished to see him, Jesus asserted (John 12:31), “Now judgment
is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” In view of his
approaching passion, he says again (Joh 14:30), “I will not speak with you much
more, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in me.” Once
again in connection with the promised advent of the Spirit, Jesus asserted (John
16:11) that the Spirit would convict the world of judgment, “because the ruler of
this world has been judged.” In Hebrews (2:14-15) it is said that Christ took
upon himself human nature in order “that through death he could destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” In 1 John 3:8 it is said, “The Son
of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” In
Revelation 12:9 it is asserted, in connection with Christ’s ascension, that Satan
was cast down to the earth and his angels with him. According to the passage
immediately following (12:10-12), this casting down was not complete or final
in the sense of extinguishing his activities altogether, but it involves the
potential and certain triumph of God and his holy ones and the equally certain
defeat of Satan. In 1 John 2:13 the young men are addressed as those who “have
overcome the evil one.” In Revelation 20:1-15 the field of the future is covered
in the assertion that Satan is “bound a thousand years;” then loosed “for a little
time,” and then finally “cast into the lake of fire.”
A comparison of these passages will convince the careful student that
while we cannot construct a definite chronological program for the career of
Satan, we are clear in the chief points. He is limited, judged, condemned,
15
imprisoned, reserved for judgment from the beginning. The outcome is certain
though the process may be tedious and slow. The victory of Christ is the defeat
of Satan; first, for Himself as Leader and Savior of men (John 14:30); then, for
believers (Lu 22:31; Ac 26:18; Rom. 16:20; Jas 4:7; 1 Jo 2:13; 5:4, 18); and,
finally, for the whole world (Rev. 20:10). The work of Christ has already
destroyed the empire of Satan.
III. General Considerations.
There are, no doubt, serious difficulties in the way of accepting the
doctrine of a personal, superhuman, evil power as Satan is described to be. It is
doubtful, however, whether these difficulties may not be due, at least in part, to
a misunderstanding of the doctrine and certain of its implications. In addition, it
must be acknowledged, that whatever difficulties there may be in the teaching,
they are exaggerated and, at the same time, not fairly met by the vague and
irrational skepticism which denies without investigation. There are difficulties
involved in any view of the world. To say the least, some problems are met by
the view of a superhuman, evil world-power. In this section, certain general
considerations are urged with a view to lessening difficulties keenly felt by some
minds. Necessarily, certain items gathered in the foregoing section are here
emphasized again.
1. Scripture Doctrine of Satan Not Systematized:
The Scriptural doctrine of Satan is nowhere systematically developed. For
materials in this field, we are shut up to scattered and incidental references.
These passages, which even in the aggregate are not numerous, tell us what we
need to know concerning the nature, history, kingdom, and works of Satan, but
offer scant satisfaction to the merely speculative temper. The comparative lack
of development in this field is due partly to the fact that the Biblical writers are
primarily interested in God, and only secondarily in the powers of darkness; and
partly to the fact that in the Bible doctrine waits upon fact. Hence, the malign
and sinister figure of the Adversary is gradually outlined against the light of
God’s holiness as progressively revealed in the providential world-process
which centers in Christ. It is a significant fact that the statements concerning
Satan become numerous and definite only in the New Testament. The daylight
of the Christian revelation was necessary in order to uncover the lurking foe,
dimly disclosed but by no means fully known in the earlier revelation. The
disclosure of Satan is, in form at least, historical, not dogmatic.
2. Satan and God:
In the second place, the relationship of Satan to God, already emphasized,
must be kept constantly in mind. The doctrine of Satan merges in the general
doctrine concerning angels. It has often been pointed out that the personal
characteristics of angels are very little insisted upon. They are known chiefly by
their functions: merged, on the one hand, in their own offices, and, on the other,
in the activities of God Himself.
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In the Old Testament Satan is not represented as a fallen and malignant
spirit, but as a servant of Jehovah, performing a divine function and having his
place in the heavenly train. In the parallel accounts of David’s numbering of
Israel (1 Sam 24:1; 1Ch 21:1) the tempting of David is attributed both to
Jehovah and Satan. The reason for this is either that `the temptation of men is
also a part of his providence,’ or that in the interval between the documents the
personality of the tempter has more clearly emerged. In this case, the account in
Chronicles would nearly approximate the New Testament teaching. In the Book
of Job (1Ch 1:6), however, Satan is among the Sons of God and his assaults
upon Job are divinely permitted. In Zechariah (1Ch 3:1-2) Satan is also a servant
of Jehovah. In both these passages, there is the hint of opposition between
Jehovah and Satan. In the former instance, Satan assails unsuccessfully the
character of one whom Jehovah honors; while in the latter Jehovah explicitly
rebukes Satan for his attitude toward Israel (see G. A. Smith, BTP, II, 316 f).
The unveiling of Satan as a rebellious world-power is reserved for the New
Testament, and with this fuller teaching the symbolic treatment of temptation in
Gen is to be connected. There is a sound pedagogical reason, from the viewpoint
of revelation, for this earlier withholding of the whole truth concerning Satan. In
the early stages of religious thinking it would seem to be difficult, if not
impossible, to hold the sovereignty of God without attributing to His agency
those evils in the world which are more or less directly connected with judgment
and punishment (compare Isa 45:7; Am 3:6). The Old Testament sufficiently
emphasizes man’s responsibility for his own evil deeds, but super-human evil is
brought upon him from above. “When willful souls have to be misled, the spirit
who does so, as in Ahab’s case, comes from above” (G. A. Smith, op. cit., 317).
The progressive revelation of God’s character and purpose, which more and
more imperatively demands that the origin of moral evil, and consequently
natural evil, must be traced to the created will in opposition to the divine will,
leads to the ultimate declaration that Satan is a morally fallen being to whose
conquest the Divine Power in history is pledged. There is, also, the distinct
possibility that in the significant transition from the Satan of the Old Testament
to that of the New Testament we have the outlines of a biography and an
indication of the way by which the angels fell.
3. Satan Essentially Limited:
A third general consideration, based upon data given in the earlier section,
should be urged in the same connection. In the New Testament delineation of
Satan, his limitations are clearly set forth. He is superhuman, but not in any
sense divine. His activities are cosmic, but not universal or transcendent. He is a
created being. His power is definitely circumscribed. He is doomed to final
destruction as a world power. His entire career is that of a secondary and
dependent being who is permitted a certain limited scope of power, a time-lease
of activity (Lu 4:6).
Rebel Angels
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The understanding that the “sons of God” were disobedient angels, an
interpretation that has been around since the beginning is the best choice. The
same expression “sons of God” is found in Job 1:6 and Job 38:7 and is applied
to angels. This interpretation is supported by the apostle Peter as well, for he
writes, “he [Jesus] went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they
formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while
the ark was being prepared.” (1 Pet. 3:19-20) Moreover, Jude adds weight to this
position as well, when he writes, “the angels who did not stay within their own
position of authority but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains
under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 6)
These rebel angels had the power at one time to materialize in human form,
just like the ones that remain faithful to Jehovah God, as they delivered
messages for Him. (Gen. 18:1, 2, 8, 20-22; 19:1-11; Josh. 5:13-15) The “proper
dwelling” that Jude speaks of is heaven, to which these angels abandoned, to
take on human form, and have relations that were contrary to nature with the
“the daughters of man.” (Dan. 7:9-10) The Bible intimates that these rebel
angels were stripped of their power to take on human form, as you never hear of
it taking place again after the flood, only spirit possession after that. These
disobedient angels are now “spirits in prison,” who had been thrown into
“eternal chains under gloomy darkness,” which is more of a condition of limited
powers, not so much a place, like a maximum-security prison.―1 Peter 3:19; 2
Peter 2:4; Jude 6.
While rebel angels no longer have the power or the ability to materialize in
human form, they can possess other humans other than God’s true servants and
they can control the world affairs under the guidance of the god of this age,
Satan the Devil. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 11:13-15) Truly, there really are invisible
“world rulers,” demon rebel princes who have been assigned a role in their
control of the world under the authority of their prince of darkness himself,
Satan the Devil. Satan the Devil has been using his power through rebel “angels
who did not keep to their own domain but deserted their proper dwelling place
[in heaven], he has kept in eternal bonds under deep [spiritual] darkness [known
as Tartarus (2 Pet.2:4)] for the judgment of the great day.”
Michael is the only archangel and as the highest-ranking angel, like the
highest-ranking general in the army, Michael stands directly under the authority
of God, as he commands the other angels, including Gabriel, according to the
Father’s will and purposes. Michael, the Archangel, whose name means, “Who
is like God?”); he disputed with Satan over Moses body. (Jude 9) Michael with
Gabriel stood guard over the sons of Israel and fought for Israel against demons.
(Dan. 10:13, 21) He cast Satan and the demons out of heaven. (Rev. 12:7-9) He
will defeat the kings of the earth and their armies at Armageddon, and he will be
the one given the privilege of abyssing Satan, the archenemy of God. – Rev.
18:1-2; 19:11-21.
4. Conclusions:
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These three general considerations have been grouped in this way because
they dispose of three objections which are current against the doctrine of Satan.
(1) The first is, that it is mythological in origin. That it is not dogmatic is a
priori evidence against this hypothesis. Mythology is primitive dogma. There is
no evidence of a theodicy or philosophy of evil in the Biblical treatment of
Satan. Moreover, while the Scriptural doctrine is unsystematic in form, it is
rigidly limited in scope and everywhere essentially consistent. Even in the
Apocalypse, where naturally more scope is allowed to the imagination, the same
essential ideas appear. The doctrine of Satan corresponds item for item, to the
intellectual saneness and ethical earnestness of the Biblical world-view as a
whole. It is, therefore, not mythological. The restraint of chastened imagination,
not the extravagance of mythological fancy, is in evidence throughout the entire
Biblical treatment of the subject. Even the use of terms current in mythology (as
perhaps Ge 3:1, 13-14; Rev. 12:7-9; compare 1 Pet. 5:8) does not imply more
than a literary clothing of Satan in attributes commonly ascribed to malignant
and disorderly forces.
(2) The second objection is that the doctrine is due to the influence of
Persian dualism. The answer to this is plain, on the basis of facts already
adduced. The Biblical doctrine of Satan is not dualistic. Satan’s empire had a
beginning, it will have a definite and permanent end. Satan is God’s great enemy
in the cosmic sphere, but he is God’s creation, exists by divine will, and his
power is relatively no more commensurate with God’s than that of men. Satan
awaits his doom. Weiss says (concerning the New Testament representation of
conflict between God and the powers of evil): “There lies in this no Manichaean
dualism, … but only the deepest experience of the work of redemption as the
definite destruction of the power from which all sin in the world of men
proceeds” (Biblical Theology New Testament, English translations of the Bible,
II, 272; compare G.A. Smith, op. cit., II, 318).
(3) The third objection is practically the same as the second, but addressed
directly to the doctrine itself, apart from the question of its origin, namely, that it
destroys the unity of God. The answer to this also is a simple negative. To some
minds, the reality of created wills is dualistic and therefore untenable. But a true
doctrine of unity makes room for other wills than God’s, namely of those beings
upon whom God has bestowed freedom. Herein stands the doctrine of sin and
Satan. The doctrine of Satan no more militates against the unity of God than the
idea, so necessary to morality and religion alike, of other created wills set in
opposition to God’s. Just as the conception of Satan merges, in one direction, in
the general doctrine of angels, so, in the other, it blends with the broad and
difficult subject of evil.
Review Questions
What does the Bible say about the rulership of the world?
What did the Devil show Jesus, and what offer did he make to him?
According to the Bible, who is “the god of this world”?
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What does this information about Satan’s rulership help us to understand?
What would Satan like to do to us, so what must we do?
Why can we not see the Devil?
Why do many persons believe that God created the Devil?
What kind of persons are the angels?
What do the words “Devil” and “Satan” mean?
Who made Satan the Devil?
How did this angel speak to Eve, and what did he tell her?
How did this angel become Satan the Devil?
What is a wrong view regarding the appearance of the Devil?
How did Eve respond to the Devil’s lie?
What claims did the Devil make?
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CHAPTER 3 Explaining the Demons
This Blog Article is by Louis Matthews Sweet but it has been updated,
The word daimon or daimonion seems originally to have had two closely
related meanings; a deity, and a spirit, superhuman but not supernatural. In the
former sense the term occurs in the Septuagint translation of Deut. 32:17; Ps
106:37; Ac 17:18. The second of these meanings, which involves a general
reference to vaguely conceived personal beings akin to men and yet belonging to
the unseen realm, leads to the application of the term to the peculiar and
restricted class of beings designated “demons” in the New Testament.
II. The Origin of Biblical Demonology.
An interesting scheme of development has been suggested (by Baudissin
and others) in which Biblical demonism is brought through polytheism into
connection with primitive animism.
1. The Evolutionary Theory:
A simple criticism of this theory, which is now the ascendant, will serve
fittingly to introduce what should be said specifically concerning Biblical
demonology. (1) Animism, which is one branch of that general primitive view of
things which is designated as spiritism, is a theory that all Nature is alive (see
Ladd, Phil. Rel., I, 89 f) and that all-natural processes are due to the operation of
living wills. (2) Polytheism is supposed to be the outcome of animism. The
vaguely conceived spirits of the earlier conception are advanced to the position
of deities with names, fixed characters, and specific functions, organized into a
pantheon. (3) Biblical demonology is supposed to be due to the solvent of
monotheism upon contemporary polytheism. The Hebrews were brought into
contact with surrounding nations, especially during the Persian, Babylonian and
Greek periods, and monotheism made room for heathenism by reducing its
deities to the dimension of demons. They are not denied all objective reality but
are denied the dignity and prerogatives of deity.
2. Objections to the Theory:
The objections to this ingenious theory are too many and too serious to be
overcome. (1) The genetic connection between animism and polytheism is not
clear. In fact, the specific religious character of animism is altogether
problematical. It belongs to the category of primitive philosophy rather than of
religion. It is difficult to trace the process by which spirits unnamed and with
characteristics of the vaguest become deities--especially is it difficult to
understand how certain spirits only are advanced to the standing of deities. More
serious still, polytheism, and animism have coexisted without close combination
or real assimilation (see Sayce, Babylonia, and Assyria, 232; Rogers, Religion
of Babylonia and Assyria, 75 f) for a long course of history. It looks as if
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animism and polytheism had a different raison d'etre, origin, and development. It
is, at least, unsafe to construct a theory on the basis of so insecure a connection.
(2) The interpretation of heathen deities as demons by no means indicates that
polytheism is the source of Biblical demonology. On general principles, it seems
far more likely that the category of demons was already familiar, and that
connection with polytheism brought about an extension of its application. A
glance at the Old Testament will show how comparatively slight and
unimportant has been the bearing of heathen polytheism upon Biblical thought.
The demonology of the Old Testament is confined to the following passages:
Lev. 16:21-22; 17:7; Isa 13:21; 34:13; Deut. 32:17; Ps 106:37 (elsewhere
commented upon). Gesenius well says of Lev. 16:21 that it is "vexed with the
numerous conjectures of interpreters." If the prevalent modern view is accepted,
we find in it an actual meeting-point of popular superstition and the religion of
Jehovah. According to Driver (HDB, I, 207), this item in the Levitical ritual
"was intended as a symbolical declaration that the land and the people are now
purged from guilt, their sins being handed over to the evil spirit to whom they
are held to belong, and whose home is in the desolate wilderness remote from
human habitations (verse 22, into a land cut off)." A more striking instance
could scarcely be sought of the way in which the religion of Jehovah kept the
popular spiritism at a safe distance. Lev. 17:7 refers to participation in the rites
of heathen worship. The two passages--Isa 13:20-21; 34:13-14--are poetical and
really imply nothing as to the writer's own belief. Creatures both seen, and
unseen supposed to inhabit places deserted of man are used, as any poet might
use them, to furnish the details for a vivid word-picture of uninhabited solitude.
There is no direct evidence that the narrative of the Fall (Gen. 3:1-19) has any
connection with demonology (see HDB , I, 590 note), and the suggestion of
Whitehouse that the mention of satyrs and night-monsters of current mythology
with such creatures as jackals, etc., implies "that demons were held to reside
more or less in all these animal denizens of the ruined solitude" is clearly
fanciful. It is almost startling to find that all that can possibly be affirmed of
demonology in the Old Testament is confined to a small group of passages
which are either legal or poetical and which all furnish examples of the
inhibiting power of high religious conceptions upon the minds of a naturally
superstitious and imaginative people. Even if we add all the passages in which a
real existence seems to be granted to heathen deities (e.g. Num. 21:29; Isa 19:1,
etc.) and interpret them in the extreme sense, we are still compelled to affirm
that evidence is lacking to prove the influence of polytheism in the formation of
the Biblical doctrine of demons. (3) This theory breaks down in another still
more vital particular. The demonology of the Bible is not of kin either with
primitive animism or popular Sere demonism. In what follows we shall address
ourselves to New Testament demonology--that of the Old Testament being a
negligible quantity.
III. New Testament Demonology.
The most marked and significant fact of New Testament demonology is
that it provides no materials for a discussion of the nature and characteristics of
22
demons. Whitehouse says (HDB, I, 593) that New Testament demonology "is in
all its broad characteristics the demonology of the contemporary Judaism
stripped of its cruder and exaggerated features." How much short of the whole
truth this statement comes will appear later, but as it stands it defines the
specific direction of inquiry into the New Testament treatment of demons;
namely, to explain its freedom from the crude and exaggerated features of
popular demonism. The presence among New Testament writers of an influence
curbing curiosity and restraining the imagination is of all things the most
important for us to discover and emphasize. In four of its most vital features the
New Testament attitude on this subject differs from all popular conceptions: (a)
in the absence of all imaginative details concerning demons; (b) in the emphasis
placed upon the moral character of demons and their connection with the ethical
disorders of the human race; (c) in the absence of confidence in magical
methods of any kind in dealing with demons; (d) in its intense restrictions of the
sphere of demoniacal operations.
A brief treatment under each of these heads will serve to present an
ordered statement of the most important facts.
(a) In the New Testament we are told practically nothing about the origin,
nature, characteristics or habits of demons. In a highly figurative passage (Mt
12:43) our Lord speaks of demons as passing through "waterless places," and in
the story of the Gadarene demoniac (Lu 8:31) the "abyss" is mentioned as the
place of their ultimate detention. The method of their control over human beings
is represented in two contrasting ways (compare Mr 1:23 ff; Lu 4:33 ff),
indicating that there was no fixed mode of regarding it. With these three scant
items, our direct information ceases. We are compelled to infer from the effects
given in the limited number of specific instances narrated. And it is worthy of
more than passing mention that no theoretical discussion of demons occurs. The
center of interest in the Gospels is the person of Jesus, the sufferers, and the
cures. Interest in the demons as such is absent. Certain passages seem to indicate
that the demons were able to speak (see Mr 1:24,26,34; Lu 4:41, etc.), but
comparing these statements with others (compare Mr 1:23; Lu 8:28) it is seen
that no distinction is drawn between the cries of the tormented in the paroxysms
of their complaint and the cries attributed to the demons themselves. In other
particulars the representation is consistent. The demons belong to the unseen
world, they are no longer incapable of manifestation except in the disorders
which they cause, they no longer have the power for materializations (as they
did prior to the flood), no grotesque narratives of appearances and
disappearances, no morbid dealing with repulsive details, no license of
speculation in the narratives.
(b) It is also clearly to be noted that while in its original application the
term daimonion is morally indifferent, in New Testament usage the demon is
invariably an ethically evil being. This differentiates the New Testament
treatment from extra-canonical Jewish writings. In the New Testament demons
belong to the kingdom of Satan whose power it is the mission of Christ to
23
destroy. It deepens and intensifies its representations of the earnestness of
human life and its moral issues by extending the sphere of moral struggle to the
invisible world. It clearly teaches that the power of Christ extends to the world
of evil spirits and that faith in Him is adequate protection against any evils to
which men may be exposed. (For significance of this point see Plummer, Luke
(ICC ), 132-33.)
(c) The New Testament demonology differs from all others by its negation
of the power of magic rites to deliver from the affliction. Magic which is clearly
separable from religion at that specific point (see Gwatkin, Knowledge of God,
I, 249) rests upon and is dependent upon spiritism. The ancient Babylonian
incantation texts, forming a surprisingly large proportion of the extant
documents, are addressed directly to the supposed activities and powers of
demons. These beings, who are not trusted and prayed to in the sense in which
deities are, command confidence and call forth prayer, are dealt with by magic
rites and formulas (see Rogers, op. cit., 144). Even the Jewish non-canonical
writings contain numerous forms of words and ceremonies for the expulsion of
demons. In the New Testament, there is no magic. The deliverance from a
demon is a spiritual and ethical process.
(d) In the New Testament, the range of activities attributed to demons is
greatly restricted. According to Babylonian ideas: "These demons were
everywhere; they lurked in every corner, watching for their prey. The city streets
knew their malevolent presence, the rivers, the seas, the tops of mountains; they
appeared sometimes as serpents gliding noiselessly upon their victims, as birds
horrid of mien flying resistlessly to destroy or afflict, as beings in human forms,
grotesque, malformed, awe-inspiring through their hideousness. To these
demons all sorts of misfortune were ascribed--a toothache; a headache, a broken
bone, a raging fever, an outburst of anger, of jealousy, of incomprehensible
disease" (Rogers, op. cit., 145). In the extra-canonical Jewish sources the same
exuberance of fancy appears in attributing all kinds of ills of mind and body to
innumerable, swarming hosts of demons lying in wait for men and besieging
them with attacks and ills of all descriptions. Of this affluence of morbid fancy
there is no hint in the New Testament. A careful analysis of the instances will
show the importance of this fact. There are, taking repetitions and all, about 80
references to demons in the New Testament. In 11 instances the distinction
between demon-possession and diseases ordinarily caused is clearly made (Mt
4:24; 8:16; 10:8; Mr 1:32,34; 6:13; 16:17-18; Lu 4:40-41; 9:1; 13:32; Ac 19:12).
The results of demon-possession are not exclusively mental or nervous (Mt
9:32-33; 12:22). They are distinctly and peculiarly mental in two instances only
(Gadarene maniac, Mt 8:28 and parallels, and Ac 19:13 f). Epilepsy is specified
in one case only (Mt 17:15). There is distinction made between demonized and
epileptic, and demonized and lunatic (Mt 4:24). There is distinction made
between diseases caused by demons and the same disease not so caused
(compare Mt 12:22; 15:30). In most of the instances no specific symptoms are
mentioned. In an equally large proportion, however, there are occasional fits of
mental excitement often due to the presence and teaching of Christ.
24
Rebel Angels
The understanding that the “sons of God” were disobedient angels, an
Peter 2:4; Jude 6.
While rebel angels no longer have the power or the ability to materialize in
human form, they can possess other humans other than God’s true servants and
they can control the world affairs under the guidance of the god of this age,
Satan the Devil. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 11:13-15) Truly, there really are invisible
“world rulers,” demon rebel princes who have been assigned a role in their
control of the world under the authority of their prince of darkness himself,
Satan the Devil. Satan the Devil has been using his power through rebel “angels
who did not keep to their own domain but deserted their proper dwelling place
[in heaven], he has kept in eternal bonds under deep [spiritual] darkness [known
as Tartarus (2 Pet.2:4)] for the judgment of the great day.”
Michael is the only archangel and as the highest-ranking angel, like the
highest-ranking general in the army, Michael stands directly under the authority
of God, as he commands the other angels, including Gabriel, according to the
Father’s will and purposes. Michael, the Archangel, whose name means, “Who
is like God?”); he disputed with Satan over Moses body. (Jude 9) Michael with
Gabriel stood guard over the sons of Israel and fought for Israel against demons.
(Dan. 10:13, 21) He cast Satan and the demons out of heaven. (Rev. 12:7-9) He
will defeat the kings of the earth and their armies at Armageddon, and he will be
the one given the privilege of abyssing Satan, the archenemy of God. – Rev.
18:1-2; 19:11-21.
25
Conclusions
A summary of the entire material leads to the conclusion that, in the New
Testament cases of demon-possession, we have a specific type of disturbance,
physical or mental, distinguishable not so much by its symptoms which were
often of the most general character, as by its accompaniments. The aura, so to
say, which surrounded the patient, served to distinguish his symptoms and to
point out the special cause to which his suffering was attributed. Another unique
feature of New Testament demonology should be emphasized. While this group
of disorders is attributed to demons, the victims are treated as sick folk and are
healed. The whole atmosphere surrounding the narrative of these incidents is
calm, lofty and pervaded with the spirit of Christ. When one remembers the
manifold cruelties inspired by the unreasoning fear of demons, which make the
annals of savage medicine a nightmare of unimaginable horrors, we cannot but
feel the worldwide difference between the Biblical narratives and all others, both
of ancient and modern times, with which we are acquainted. Every feature of the
New Testament narratives points to the conclusion that in them we have
trustworthy reports of actual cures. This is more important for New Testament
faith than any other conclusion could possibly be.
It is also evident that Jesus treated these cases of invaded personality, of
bondage of depression, of helpless fear, as due to a real superhuman cause, to
meet and overcome which He addressed Himself. The most distinctive and
important words we have upon this obscure and difficult subject, upon which we
know far too little to speak with any assurance or authority, are these: "This kind
can come out by nothing, save by prayer" (Mark 9:29).
Review Questions
 What are demons?

 Were demons created by God?
 What is demon possession?
 What is the purpose of demonic activity?
 Why do Christians need to put up a hard fight against
demonic activity?
 To the Greeks to whom Paul preached, what were demons?
26
CHAPTER 4 Genesis 6:2 Who were the “sons of
God”?
By Edward D. Andrews
Who were the “sons of God” that fathered the Nephilim? Some have
suggested that they were worshipers of God, as opposed to the other wicked
men. This could hardly be the case if we follow the context. The account says
that their marriage to “the daughters of man” caused the wickedness to increase
substantially. Noah and his family of a wife, three sons, and their wives were the
only ones walking with God at that time. Gen 6:9; 8:15, 16; 1Pe 3:20.
Therefore, if we were to suggest that these “sons of God” were merely
men, this would beg the question, why would their offspring be referred to as
“the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown,” more so than the other
wicked men, or especially Noah and his family? Moreover, the question arise as
to what would be so special, if they were just men, for the account to mention
their marriage to “the daughters of man” as though that was special in some
way? Men had been marrying women and having children for some 1,500 years
at this point.
The understanding that these “sons of God” were disobedient angels, an
same expression “sons of God” is found in Job 1:6 and Job 38:7, and is applied
the ark was being prepared.” (1 Pet 3:19-20) Moreover, Jude adds weight to this
position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains
messages for Him. (Gen 18:1, 2, 8, 20-22; 19:1-11; Jos 5:13-15) The “proper
“the daughters of man.” (Dan 7:9-10) The Bible intimates that these rebel angels
were stripped of their power to take on human form, as you never hear of it
taking place again after the flood, only spirit possession thereafter. These
powers, not so much a place, like a maximum-security prison. 1 Pet 3:19; 2 Pet
2:4; Jude 6.
27
Review Questions
 Who were the sons of God?

 Explain your answer.
28
CHAPTER 5 Genesis 6:2 Who were the
“Nephilim”?
By Edward D. Andrews
Some scholars have argued that the Nephilim was simply nothing more
than wicked men like Cain were. They base their argument on the statement of
“and also afterward” in verse 4, as they say the Nephilim “were on the earth in
those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came into the daughters of
man and they bore children to them.” In other words, the Nephilim was on the
earth before the “sons of God had relations with “the daughters of man.”
This position does not outweigh the correct interpretation that the “sons of
God”, who were rebel angels, took on human form, had relations with the
“daughters of man,” and produced a mighty offspring of half-man, half-angelic.
There are some translations, which have moved the phrase “and also afterward”
closer to the beginning of verse 4, which would identify the Nephilim with the
“mighty men.” For example: “In those days, as well as afterward, there were
giants [Heb., hannephilim] on the earth, who were born to the sons of the gods
whenever they had intercourse with the daughters of men; these were the heroes
[Heb., haggibborim] who were men of note in days of old.” Gen 6:4, AT, NIV,
and TEV.
The Greek Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament
made between 280 and 150 B.C.E., also agrees that both the “Nephilim” and
“mighty men” are one and the same, using the word gigantes (Giants) to
translate both expressions. If we look at the context, we will see that in verses 1
through 3, the “sons of God” were taking wives for themselves, and that God
had tired of this rebellious behavior and said of man, “his days shall be 120
years.” Thus, in verse 4, we see that the Nephilim was in the earth “in those
days.” “In those days” was obviously referring to when God made the statement.
Therefore, it showed that this ongoing situation continued, “also afterward,
when the sons of God came into the daughters of man and they bore children to
them.” What about Number 13:33?
Numbers 13:33 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
33
There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the
Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were
in their sight.”
The Nephilim were the offspring of angels and women (Ge 6:4), who
perished in the Flood. There is little doubt that there were some large men in
Canaan, which are referred to in other parts of the Scriptures, but only here in
Numbers chapter 13 are they referred to as the Nephilim. Why? Because “the
men whom Moses sent to spy out the land” were fearful of trying to take the
land of Canaan, so they concocted “a bad report,” to strike fear in the hearts of
29
the Israelites, so they brought up the Nephilim, whom all Israelites knew as pre-
flood giants. (Nu 13:31-33; 14:36-37)
Therefore, the Anakim were not descendants of the pre-Flood Nephilim.
The plan of the spies to distort the truth to cause a panic worked, as fear spread
throughout the camp. This was so effective, the people wanted actually to return
to Egypt, where they had just escaped after 215 years of brutal slavery. The
hybrid of materialized angels and women, i.e., the Nephilim, died in the flood of
Noah’s day, meaning it was impossible for there to be descendants. The men
whom Moses sent to spy out the land used this baseless lie to exert power over
the faithless Israelite camp. The Israelites accepted the lie and felt it was a
mistake to follow God’s command to take the Promised Land.
Review Questions
 Who were the Nephilim?

 Explain your answer.
30
CHAPTER 6 No One Has Seen God At Any Time
Edward D. Andrews
John 1:18 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten god 1 who is in the
18
bosom of the Father,2 that one has made him fully known.

Critic: The critic would point out that John 1:18 clearly says that “no one
has ever seen God,” while Exodus 24:10 explicitly states that Moses and Aaron,
Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel “saw the God of Israel.”
Worse still, God informs them in Exodus 33:20: “You cannot see my face, for
man shall not see me and live." The critic with his knowing smile says: ‘This is
a blatant contradiction.’
John 1:18 (NASB): No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten
God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (Italics NASB.)
Exodus 24:10: And they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet
as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.
Exodus 33:20: “But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not
see me and live.”
Answer: Exodus 33:20 is one-hundred percent correct: No human could
see Jehovah God and live. The apostle Paul at Colossians 1:15 tells us that
Christ is the image of the invisible God, and the writer informs us at Hebrews
1:3 that Jesus is the “exact representation of His nature.” Yet if you were to read
the account of Saul of Tarsus (the apostle Paul), you would see that a mere
partial manifestation of Christ’s glory blinded Saul (Acts 9:1–18).
When the Bible says that Moses and others have seen God, it is not
speaking of literally seeing him, because first of all, he is an invisible spirit
person. It is a manifestation of his glory, which is an act of showing or
demonstrating his presence, making himself perceptible to the human mind. In
fact, it is generally an angelic representative that stands in his place and not him
personally. Exodus 24:16 informs us that “the glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount
Sinai,” not the Lord himself personally. When texts such as Exodus 24:10
explicitly state that Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the
elders of Israel “saw the God of Israel,” it is this “glory of the Lord,” an angelic
representative. This is shown to be the case at Luke 2:9, which reads: “And an
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them [the shepherds], and they were filled with fear.”
1
Jn 1:18: WH NU “only-begotten god”, P66 ‫ *א‬B C* L syrhmg,p; [V1] “the only-begotten
God,” P 33‫א‬copbo; [V2] “the only-begotten Son.” AC3(Ws)QYf1,13 MajVgSyrc
751
2
Or at the Father’s side
31
Many Bible difficulties are cleared up elsewhere in Scripture; for example,
in the New Testament you will find a text clarifying a difficulty from the Old
Testament, such as Acts 7:53, which refers to those “who received the law as
delivered by angels and did not keep it.” Support comes from Paul at Galatians
3:19: “Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the
offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in
place through angels by an intermediary.” The writer of Hebrews chimes in at
2:2 with “For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and
every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution. . . .” As we travel
back to Exodus again, to 19:19 specifically, we find the support that it was not
God’s own voice that Moses heard; no, it was an angelic representative, for it
reads: “Moses was speaking and God was answering him with a voice.” Exodus
33:22–23 also helps us to appreciate that it was the back of these angelic
representatives of Jehovah that Moses saw: “While my glory passes by . . . Then
I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be
seen.”
Exodus 3:4 states: “God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’
And he said, ‘Here I am.’” Verse 6 informs us: “I am the God of your father, the
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Yet, in verse 2 we
read: “And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the
midst of a bush.” Here is another example of using God’s Word to clear up what
seems to be unclear or difficult to understand at first glance. Thus, while it
speaks of the Lord making a direct appearance, it is really an angelic
representative. Even today, we hear such comments as ‘the president of the
United States is to visit the Middle East later this week.’ However, later in the
article, it is made clear that he is not going personally, but it is one of his high-
ranking representatives. Let us close with two examples, starting with Genesis
32:24–30:
Genesis 32:24-30 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
24
When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of
25
his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated as he wrestled with
him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will
not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your
name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 And he said, “Your name shall no longer be
called Jacob, but Israel,3 for you have struggled with God and with men and
have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So
Jacob named the place Peniel,4 for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet
my soul has been preserved.”
3
Meaning he contends with God
4
Meaning face of God
32
It is all too obvious here that this man is simply a materialized angel in the
form of a man, another angelic representative of Jehovah God. Moreover, the
reader of this book should have taken in that the Israelites as a whole saw these
angelic representatives and spoke of them as though they were dealing directly
with Jehovah God himself.
This proved to be the case in the second example found in the book of
Judges where an angelic representative visited Manoah and his wife. Like the
above-mentioned account, Manoah and his wife treated this angelic
representative as if he were Jehovah God himself: “And Manoah said to the
angel of the Lord, ‘What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we
may honor you?’ And the angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Why do you ask my
name, seeing it is wonderful?’ Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the
Lord. And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen
God.”—Judges 13:3–22.
Exodus 33:11 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
11
Thus Jehovah used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his
friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his servant Joshua the son of
Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. (Bold mine)
The context here is not that Moses was literally looking at Jehovah God
face to face. It is a manner of speaking, such as two people emailing one
another, saying: ‘we need to talk about this face to face.’ This could be done by
way of a phone call. This manner of speaking simply means a two-way
conversation short of seeing the other person. We have to keep in mind that
Moses’ dealing with God was not like other prophets, for they received their
messages in visions. Moses on the other hand:
Numbers 12:6-8 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
6
And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord
make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.
7
Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I
speak mouth to mouth,5 clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of
Jehovah. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
Thus, how is it that Moses and the men “saw the God of Israel,” because
God himself told Moses, “for man shall not see me and live.” This appearance of
God to Moses and the others was by means of a vision.
And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the sons of Israel; they
11
beheld God, and ate and drank. (Bold mine)

Angels as Representatives
5
I.e., face to face; an expression that is referring to the manner of the communication.
33
Jehovah God, the Creator of the universe has no need to come from his
heavenly abode, to earth, to have dealings with his human creation. There are
only three definite times when Jehovah’s voice was heard here on earth, and this
was specifically when Jesus was on earth. (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; John 12:28)
Otherwise, He simply used angelic representatives to deliver his messages to
man. The Mosaic Law was the most important information that God has
delivered to man, and his angelic representatives delivered it. The apostle Paul
wrote: “Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the
offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in
place through angels by an intermediary.”—Galatians 3:19.
To further support this, Stephen also mentions that Moses’ dealings were
with an angelic representative, not God Himself, Acts 7:38: “This is the one who
was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at
Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.” Just
as the President of the United States would send an ambassador to another
country, Jehovah God sent his angelic representative, with the angel speaking
for God as though he were personally there. When the angel of Jehovah comes
to visit a human, for the Hebrew people it was taken as though Jehovah himself
came.
Exodus 3:2-6 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
2
The angel of Jehovah appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst
of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the
bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “Let me turn aside to see this great
sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When Jehovah saw that he turned aside to
see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I
am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the
place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God
of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
We should take note of two things going on here. As Moses interacted
with this angelic representative of God, he spoke to him as if he were speaking
directly to God. Second, the angelic representative followed a similar pattern,
when he spoke as though he were God Himself, saying: “I am the God of . . .”
But Moses said to Jehovah, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in
10
the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and
slow of tongue.”
Below is an account from the book of Judges. Please take note of several
points as you carefully read it: (1) this is another account of a man speaking with
an angelic representative, (2) verses 11-12 explicitly tells us that this is
Jehovah’s angel, not Jehovah Himself, (3) yet in verses 14-16, we find that this
34
angel is represented as though he were Jehovah Himself. Thereafter, take special
note of what Gideon says in verse 22.
Judges 6:11-18 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
Now the angel of Jehovah came and sat under the oak 6 at Ophrah,
11
which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out
wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of
Jehovah appeared to him and said to him, “Jehovah is with you, O mighty
warrior.” 13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us,
why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that
our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt?’
But now Jehovah has forsaken us and given us into the hand7 of Midian.” 14 And
Jehovah turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel
from the palm8 of Midian; do not I send you?” 15 And he said to him, “Please,
Jehovah, how can I save Israel? Look, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I
am the least in my father's house.” 16 And Jehovah said to him, “But I will be
with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” 17 And he said to him,
“If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who
speak with me. 18 Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring
out my gift and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay till you return.”
Judges 6:22 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
And Gideon realized that he was the angel of Jehovah; and Gideon said,
22
“Alas, O, my lord Jehovah! For now I have seen the angel of Jehovah face to
face.”
The reader would do well to read all the account of Manoah and his wife,
Samson’s parents. Here you will find that the angelic representative of Jehovah
was spoken of as “the angel of Jehovah” and “the angel of God.” Yet, in verse
22, Manoah says to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God.”
– Judges 13:2-18, 22.
Having laid this groundwork, we can understand why Abraham chose to
address one of the angelic representatives as though he were speaking to
Jehovah himself: “Jehovah appeared unto him” (Gen 18:1) The angel had come
in the place of Jehovah, but to deliver a message that specifically came from
Jehovah Himself.
Without demeaning either Jehovah God or His representative, you may
wish to think of the angelic representative as being the cellphone tower that
sends Jehovah’s voice to the cell phone, which would be viewed as Jehovah God
Himself speaking. Therefore, we can better appreciate how Abraham, Moses,
6
Or terebinth
7
Lit palm of the hand with the sense of control (power)
8
Lit palm of the hand with the sense of control (power)
35
and Noah viewed the angelic representatives as though they were speaking
directly to God Himself. Like the cell phone, they were hearing God’s voice
message, but not seeing God directly. Therefore, getting back to the words of
John, they are true, but do not contradict the other accounts: “No one has ever
seen God” (John 1:18) What Abraham, Moses, and Manoah saw were angelic
representatives and not God Himself.
Review Questions
 Why is there no contradiction when we say that no one has seen

God?
36
CHAPTER 7 Who Is Michael the Archangel?
Archangel: (Gr. archangelos) Michael is the only spirit named as an
archangel in the Bible. Nevertheless, some Bible scholars believe that ‘it is
possible that there are other’ archangels. However, the prefix “arch,” meaning
“chief” or “principal,” indicates that there is only one archangel, the chief angel.
Yes, Gabriel is very powerful, but no Scripture ever refers to him as an
archangel. If there were multiple archangels, how could they even be described
as an arch (chief or principal) angel? In the Scriptures, “archangel” is never
found in the plural. Clearly, Michael is the only archangel and as the highest-
ranking angel, like the highest-ranking general in the army, Michael stands
directly under the authority of God, as he commands the other angels, including
Gabriel, according to the Father’s will and purposes. Michael, the Archangel,
whose name means, “Who is like God?”); he disputed with Satan over Moses
body. (Jude 9) Michael with Gabriel stood guard over the sons of Israel and
fought for Israel against demons. (Dan. 10:13, 21) He cast Satan and the demons
out of heaven. (Rev. 12:7-9) He will defeat the kings of the earth and their
armies at Armageddon, and he will be the one given the privilege of abyssing
Satan, the archenemy of God. – Rev. 18:1-2; 19:11-21.
Michael Fights for God’s Sovereignty
The spirit person or creature named Michael is only mentioned by name
five times in the Bible. Nevertheless, when he is mentioned, he is always in the
midst of some very serious intense action. We have Michael in the book of
Daniel battling wicked angels. In the Epistle of Jude, Michael is found disputing
with Satan. In the book of Revelation, he is waging war with Satan the Devil
and his demon army. Michael is the heist ranking angel, who is always found in
Scripture defending the sovereignty of God, living up to his name, which means
“Who Is like God?”
Michael is like the highest-ranking officer within a military, who is so
powerful; there is no enemy, which could ever defeat him. Revelation states,
“war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels made war with the dragon,
and the dragon and its angels waged war.” Michael is the leader of an army of
God’s faithful angels, including Gabriel. Michael is under the command of Jesus
Christ himself. – Matt 13:41; 16:27; 24:31; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Pet. 3:22; Rev.
19:14-16.
Michael the archangel is spoken of in the following texts:
Daniel 10:2, 13, 20-21 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
2
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 13 The prince of the
kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief
princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 20 Then he
said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight
37
against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, look, the prince of Greece will
come. 21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth, and there is
none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.
Chapter 10 of the book of Daniel precedes the final vision that was given
to Daniel, the battles between The Kings of the South and the North.
Thus, Satan the Devil has been using his power through rebel “angels who
did not keep to their own domain but deserted their proper dwelling place [in
heaven], he has kept in eternal bonds under deep [spiritual] darkness [known as
Tartarus (2 Pet.2:4)] for the judgment of the great day.” – Jude 1:6.
powers, not so much a place, like a maximum-security prison. – 1 Peter 3:19; 2
Peter 2:4; Jude 6.
While there is little doubt that demons are very dangerous, very powerful,
and very strong, we still need not dread them. After the flood, their power was
limited, and God does use the good angels to protect his servants from demons.
After the flood, the rebellious angels returned to heaven, they were not permitted
back into the faithful angel’s intimate, enlightened spirit family with God.
Rather, they were cut off from any spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and
understanding from God; thereafter, only a dark outlook for the future. As was
mentioned above, these rebel angels were confined to a condition of spiritual
darkness known as Tartarus. (2 Pet. 2:4) God restrained them with “eternal
bonds under deep [spiritual] darkness.” Again, while they no longer have the
power or the ability to materialize in human form, they can possess other
humans other than God’s true servants and they can control the world affairs
under the guidance of the god of this age, Satan the Devil. – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4;
11:13-15.
It is the prophetic book of Daniel that we find out how “the world-rulers of
this darkness, … the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places” have been
exercising control over the world since ancient times. Daniel was deeply
concerned about his fellow countrymen who had returned to Jerusalem after
seventy years of Babylonian captivity. He prayed on their behalf for three
weeks. A good angel was sent to Daniel by God to comfort him but was
delayed, so he informed Daniel, saying, “The prince [rebel angel] of the
kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days” – Daniel 10:2, 13.
38
The angel was clearly not referring to the Persian King Cyrus, who at that
time found favor in Daniel and the Israelite people. Moreover, no human could
ever hold back a powerful angel for three weeks, for we remember it took but
one angel to slaughter 185,000 Assyrian mighty warriors in one night. (Isaiah
37:36) Therefore, this opposing ‘prince of Persia’ could only be a rebel angel of
the Devil, in other words, a demon whom Satan gave control over the Persian
Empire. Later in the account, the angel of God would state that he would have to
fight once against “the prince of Persia” and another demon rebel angel prince,
“the prince of Greece.” (Dan. 10:20) Truly, there really are invisible “world
rulers,” demon rebel princes who have been assigned a role in their control of
the world under the authority of their prince of darkness himself, Satan the
Devil.
On Daniel 10:13 John Walvoord writes, “This prince is not the human king
of Persia, but rather the angelic leader of Persia, a fallen angel under the
direction of Satan, in contrast to the angelic prince Michael who leads and
protects Israel. That the angel described as ‘the prince’ of Persia is a wicked
angel is clear from the fact that his opposition to the angelic messenger to Daniel
was given as the reason for the twenty-one-day delay in the answer.” 9 Max
Anders writes, “Every conservative commentator agrees that this verse and
similar references in verses 20–21 indicate that fallen angels, to some extent,
control and protect earthly kingdoms. We learn in verse 20 that Greece also had
such a ‘prince,’ and apparently, as we read in 10:13, Michael may be the
guardian angel of Israel.”10 This author would go beyond both Walvoord and
Anders and say that Michael is the only archangel (chief or principal), who is
over all of the faithful angels and is the protector of God’s faithful servants.
Daniel 12:1 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
12 “Now at that time [at Armageddon] Michael [the archangel, the most
powerful angel], the great prince who stands up for the sons of your people,
will arise. And there will be a time of distress [the great tribulation] such as
never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your
people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
At the time of Daniel “Michael may be the guardian angel of Israel” or
(Anders) “Michael who leads and protects Israel” (Walvoord) would be correct
but being that, as Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will
be taken away from you [Israel] and given to a nation [Israel of God,
Christianity] (Gal. 6:15-16), producing the fruit of it.” (Matt 21:45) He later
went on to say of Israel, “‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and
stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children
9
Walvoord, John. Daniel (The John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries) (p. 246). Moody
Publishers. Kindle Edition.
10
Anders, Max. Holman Old Testament Commentary – Daniel (p. 284). B&H Publishing.
Kindle Edition.
39
together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were
unwilling. Look, your house [being the chosen people] is being left to you
desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see me until you say,
‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matt 23:37-39) The latter
words mean that the Jews were no longer God’s chosen people and that
the Israel of God, Christianity was replacing them, of any of the Jewish people
wanted to be one of God’s people again, they needed to accept Jesus Christ and
convert from the Jewish religion to Christianity, ‘coming in the name of Christ.’
So, I would agree in a limited way with Anders and Walvoord that Michael
served as a protection for Israel, yet it was ancient Israel, but he now serves as a
protection for the Israel of God, true Christianity. He is not a guardian angel of
individual persons though, but he does assign angels to prevent rebel angels
from slaughtering true Christians.
Jude 1:9-10 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued
9
about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a judgment against him in
abusive terms, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these men speak evil of
the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by
instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are corrupting
themselves.11 (See Deut. 34:5-6)
David Walls and Max Anders write, “In an interesting peek behind the
historical curtain that we do not get in the Old Testament, we learn that Michael
was sent to bury the body of Moses when he died atop Mount Nebo (Deut. 34).
According to Jewish tradition (supported by this passage), the devil argued with
him about it, apparently claiming for himself the right to dispose of Moses’
body. (For Jewish sources, see Bauckham, WBC 50, 65–76.) Michael, powerful
as he was, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against the devil, but
said instead, The Lord rebuke you!”12
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels made war with the
7
dragon, and the dragon and its angels waged war,

The heavenly sky-drama marches ahead. The woman and her child fade
out. Michael and his angels fade in; so do the angels of the dragon. John sees a
great sky-battle, war in heaven. Try and picture this like a Star Wars kind of
space battle. This portrays in symbols the truth of Ephesians is 6:12: ‘For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly realms.’ Many Bible students have puzzled over why
11
Or they are destroyed
12
David Walls and Max Anders, I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude, vol. 11, Holman New
Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 263.
40
Christ is not portrayed as the leader of the good angels. Michael has a secure
place in Scripture as the only named archangel, “ruler of angels,” which is
certainly his role here (Jude 9). Christ as the supreme heavenly warrior is
revealed only in chapter 19. As the fourth character in the drama, Michael has a
bit part. This is the only verse in all of Revelation in which he appears.” [4] With
all due respect to Kendell H. Easley, who says “Michael has a bit part,” you
need not talk despairingly, “bit part,” about Michael the archangel to prop up
Jesus Christ, as Michael is only one of two angels mentioned in the Bible and he
is the head, the chief, the principal angel over all other angels and has been
serving Christ as a protector of his people since the rebels in the Garden of Eden
were expelled.
Review Question
 Who is Michael the archangel?

 How has Michael fought for God’s sovereignty?
 What is his rank among the angels?
41
CHAPTER 8 Angelic Rebellion in the Spirit
Realm
When God first create the angels, they were all good, including the one we
refer to now as Satan the Devil, as well as the demons. One angel, AKA Satan
the Devil, thought too much of himself and started craving the worship God
received. Likely, he reasoned, God already has an untold number of angels
worshipping him, why can I not have the humans on earth.
Genesis 1:28 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
28
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply
and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and
over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the
earth.”
Genesis 2:9, 15-17 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
And out of the ground Jehovah God caused to grow every tree that is
9
pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the
garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 15 And Jehovah God took
the man and set him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and to keep it. 16 And
Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, “From every tree of the garden you
may freely eat, 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall
not eat,13 for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.”14
It was God’s intention that his first couple, namely, Adam and Eve were to
procreate, and cultivate the Garden of Eden until it covered the entire earth,
filled with humans worshipping him. – Genesis 1:28
If the first couple had not rebelled, they and their offspring could have
lived forever. – Genesis 2:15-17
One of the angels in heaven (who became Satan), abused his free will
(James 1:14-15). He then willfully chose to rebel against God. Satan used a
lowly serpent to contribute to Adam and Eve abusing their free will, and
disobeying God, believing they did not need him, and could walk on their own.
– Genesis 3:1-6; Job 1-2.
God removed the rebellious Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.
(Gen. 3:23-24) The first human couple had children, but they all grew old and
eventually died. (Gen. 3:19; Rom. 5:12), just as the animals died. – Ecclesiastes
3:18-20
13
Lit eat from it
14
Lit dying you [singular] shall die. Heb moth tamuth; the first reference to death in the
Scriptures
42
Genesis 6:5 (AT) tells us just before the flood of Noah, that “the
wickedness of man on earth was great, and the whole bent of his thinking was
never anything but evil.” After the flood, God said of man, “the bent of man’s
mind may be evil from his very youth.” (Gen 8:21, AT) Jeremiah 10:23 tells us
“that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can
understand it?” Yes, the man was not designed to walk on his own. However,
the man was also not designed with an absolute free will, but free will under the
sovereignty of his Creator. The imperfect man is mentally bent toward
wickedness, fleshly desires, to which Satan has set up this world, so it caters to
the fallen flesh of imperfect humans. The apostle John tells us, “For all that is in
the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life, is
not from the Father but is from the world.” – 1 John 2:16.
Getting back to Genesis 1:27 that says, “God created man in his own
image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them,”
which means that man is born with a moral nature, which creates within him a
conscience that reflects God’s moral values. (Rom 2:14-15) It acts as a moral
law within all imperfect humans but even more so, those who have trained the
conscience with God’s Word. However, it has an opponent as fallen man also
possesses the “law of sin,” ‘missing the mark of perfection,’ the natural desire
toward wickedness.
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which
Jehovah God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God actually say,
‘You15 shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the
serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat, 3 but from the
tree that is in the midst of the garden, God said, ‘You shall not eat from it, nor
shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 And the serpent said to the woman, “You
shall not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be
opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” knowing good and
evil.
Later Bible texts establish Satan the Devil as the one using a serpent as his
mouthpiece like a ventriloquist would a dummy. Anyway, take note that Satan
contradicts the clear statement that God made to Adam at Genesis 2:17, “you
will not surely die.” Backing up a little, we see Satan asking an inferential
question, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
First, he is overstating what he knows to be true, not “any tree,” just one tree.
Second, Satan is inferring, ‘I can’t believe that God would say . . . how dare he
say such.’ Notice too that Eve has been told so thoroughly about the tree that she
even goes beyond what Adam told her, not just that you ‘do not eat from it,’ no,
‘you do not even touch it!’ Then, Satan out and out lied and slandered God as a
liar, saying that ‘they would not die.’ To make matters much worse, he infers
15
In Hebrew you is plural in verses 1–5
43
that God is withholding good from them, and by rebelling they would be better
off, being like God, ‘knowing good and bad.’ This latter point is not knowledge
of; it is the self-sovereignty of choosing good and bad for oneself and act of
rebellion for created creatures. What was symbolized by the tree is well
expressed in a footnote on Genesis 2:17, in The Jerusalem Bible (1966):
This knowledge is a privilege which God reserves to himself and which
man, by sinning, is to lay hands on, 3:5, 22. Hence it does not mean
omniscience, which fallen man does not possess; nor is it moral discrimination,
for unfallen man already had it and God could not refuse it to a rational being. It
is the power of deciding for himself what is good and what is evil and of acting
accordingly, a claim to complete moral independence by which man refuses to
recognize his status as a created being. The first sin was an attack on God’s
sovereignty, a sin of pride.
The Issues at Hand
(1) Satan called God a liar and said he was not to be trusted, as to the life
or death issue.
(2) Satan’s challenge, therefore, took into question the right and legitimacy
of God’s rightful place as the Universal Sovereign.
(3) Satan also suggested that people would remain obedient to God only as
long as their submitting to God was to their benefit.
(4) Satan all but said that humankind was able to walk on his own, there
being no need for dependence on God.
(5) Satan argued that man could be like God, choosing for himself what is
right and wrong.
(6) Satan claimed that God’s way of ruling was not in the best interests of
humans, and they could do better without God.
Job 1:6-11 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
6
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves
before Jehovah, and Satan also came among them. 7 Jehovah said to Satan,
“From where do you come?” Then Satan answered Jehovah and said, “From
roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 Jehovah said to Satan,
“Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth,
a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then
Satan answered Jehovah, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you not made
a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have
blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the
land. 11 But put forth your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely
curse you to your face.”
44
4
Satan answered Jehovah and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has
he will give for his life. 5 However, put forth your hand now, and touch his bone
and his flesh; he will curse you to your face.”
This general reference to “a man,” as opposed to explicitly naming Job, is
suggesting that all men [and women] will only obey God when things are good,
but when the slightest difficulty arises, he will not obey. If you were put to the
test, would you prove your love for your heavenly Father and show that you
preferred His rule to that of any other?
God Settles the Issues
There is one thing that Satan did not challenge, namely, the power of God.
Satan did not suggest that God was unable to destroy him as an opposer.
However, he did challenge God’s way of ruling, not His right to rule. Therefore,
a moral issue must be settled.
An illustration of how God chose to deal with the issue can be
demonstrated in human terms. A neighbor down the street slandered a man, who
had a son and daughter. The slanderer said that he was not a good father, i.e., he
withheld good from his children and was so overbearing, to the point of being
abusive. The slanderer stated that the children would be better off without
their father. He further argued that the children had no real love for their
father and only obeyed him because of the food and shelter. How should the
father deal with these false, i.e., slanderous accusations? If he were to go down
the road and pummel the slanderer, it would only validate the lies, making the
neighbors believe the accuser is telling the truth.
The answer lies with his family as they can serve as his witnesses. (Pro
27:11; Isa 43:10) If the children stay obedient and grow to be successful adults,
turning out to be loving, caring, honest people with spotless character, it proves
the accusations false. If the children accept the lies and rebel and grow up to be
despicable people, it just further validates that they would have been better off
by staying with the father. This is how God chose to deal with the issues. The
issues that were raised must be settled beyond all reasonable doubt.
If God had destroyed the rebellious three: Satan, Adam, and Eve; he would
not have resolved the issues of
(1) Whether man could walk on his own,
(2) if he would be better off without his Creator,
(3) if God’s rulership were not best, and
(4) if God were hiding good from man.
(5) In addition, there was an audience of untold billions of angelic spirit
creatures looking on.
If God destroyed without settling things, these spirit persons would be
following God out of dreadful fear, not love, fear of displeasing God. Moreover,
45
say He did kill them and start over, and ten thousand years down the road (with
billions of humans now on earth), the issues were raised again, He would have
to destroy billions of people again, and again, and again all throughout time,
until these issues were laid to rest.
What God has done is, allow time to pass, and the issues to be resolved.
Man thought he was better off without God and could walk on his own. In
addition, man has attempted every kind of rulership imaginable, and one must
ask, ‘have they proven themselves better than rulership under the sovereignty of
their Creator?’ (Proverbs 1:30-33; Isaiah 59:4, 8) Sadly, the issues must be taken
up to the brink of destroying man. (Rev 11:18) Otherwise, the argument would
be that if given enough time, they could have turned things around. If man goes
up to the point of destroying himself and Armageddon comes at the last minute,
it will have set a case law, solved the issue, and the Bible can serve as the
example forever. If the issues of God’s sovereignty or the loyalty of His created
creatures, angelic or human, is ever questioned again, we would have the Holy
Bible that will serve as a law established based on previous verdicts of not
guilty, please see below.
What Have the Results Been?
(1) God does not cause evil and suffering. Romans 9:14.
(2) The fact that God has allowed evil, pain, and suffering have shown that
independence from God has not brought about a better world. Jeremiah 8:5, 6, 9.
(3) God’s permission of evil, pain, and suffering has also proved that Satan
has not been able to turn all humans away from God. Exodus 9:16; 1 Samuel
12:22; Hebrews 12:1.
(4) The fact that God has permitted evil, pain, and suffering to continue has
provided proof that only God, the Creator, has the capability and the right to rule
over humankind for their eternal blessing and happiness. Ecclesiastes 8:9.
(5) Satan has been the god of this world since the sin in Eden (over 6,000
years), and how has that worked out for man, and what has been the result of
man’s course of independence from God and his rule? Matthew 4:8-9; John
16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 John 5:19; Psalm 127:1.
Satan’s impact on the earth’s activities has carried with it conflict, evil and
death, and his rulership has been by means of deception, power and his own
self-interest. He has demonstrated himself an unfit ruler of everything.
Therefore, God is now completely vindicated in putting an end to this corrupted
rebel along with all who have shared in his evil deeds.―Romans 16:20.
God has tolerated evil, sickness, pain, suffering, and death until our day in
order to resolve all the issues raised by Satan. We are self-centered in thinking
that this has only pained us. Imagine that you are holding a rope on a sinking
ship that 20 other men, women, and children are clinging to when your child
loses her grip and falls into the ocean. You can hold the rope, saving 20 people,
46
or you can let go and attempt to rescue your daughter. God has been watching
the suffering of billions from the day of Adam and Eve’s sin. Moreover, it has
been His great love for us, which causes Him to cling to the rope of issues,
saving us from a future of repeated issues. Nevertheless, he will not allow this
evil to remain forever. He has set a fixed time when He will end this wicked
system of Satan’s rule.
6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a
delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desirable to make one wise, and
she took of its fruit and ate, then she also gave some to her husband when with
her, and he ate.
One must recognize that the freedom given to a child to make decisions on
their own means they are given responsibilities and are trusted to carry out those
responsibilities. Moreover, it does not mean that the act of decision making
alone, for the sake of making them, were going to end with good results. A child
must learn and grow from being taught by their father and mother, and as they
demonstrate that, they are ready for more freedom and responsibility; then, they
will receive it. God did not create Adam and Eve so that there was no need for
growth, no need to learn. He gave both man and woman intelligence so that they
could grow in knowledge and understanding, wisely making application to what
they were learning. Of both Adam and Eve God said, “Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness.” This means that the inner person within the first
human pair would have possessed the same qualities in their decision-making
skills as their Creator. If their love and respect for God and all he had done
grew, it would have only been natural that they would have wanted to please
him.
There was one law that the first couples were given, which would allow
them to evidence their love and appreciation, as well as grow from their
experience of obeying this law. “And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying,
‘From every tree of the garden you may freely eat, but from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it
you shall surely die.’” (Gen. 2:16, 17) They had an entire Garden of trees to eat
from, as “God caused to grow every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good
for food.” (Gen. 2:9) What did this mean? It meant that they lacked nothing
regardless of this one restricted tree. It also meant that to obey or not obey was
within their free will, and they were not lacking anything that would have
contributed to their disobeying. Nevertheless, Adam, who was to be the father of
humankind, had to learn that while he was given the earth as his domain, it still
belonged to God as the rightful Ruler. Psalm 24:1, 10.
As you can see, humankind’s continued existence in paradise, with
perfection, was dependent upon obedience, his continued acceptance of God as
his sovereign.
47
It was God’s intention that his first couple, Adam, and Eve, were to
procreate and cultivate the Garden of Eden until it covered the entire earth, filled
with perfect humans worshipping him. – Genesis 1:28
If the first couple had not rebelled, they and their offspring could have
lived forever. – Genesis 2:15-17
One of the angels in heaven (who became Satan), abused his free will
(James 1:14-15), chose to rebel against God, and he used a lowly serpent to
contribute to Adam and Eve abusing their free will, and disobeying God,
believing they did not need him, and could walk on their own. – Genesis 3:1-6;
Job 1-2.
We have many Bible examples, who showed a lack of self-control, and the
consequences that resulted. The very first case was the angel that became Satan
(Gr., “resister”) the Devil (Gr., “slanderer”), who entertained the desire of taking
hold of the sovereignty (right to rule) of God, but failed to dismiss such
thoughts, and so set about tempting humankind. Genesis 3:1-6; John 8:44; James
1:14-15; 1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9
44
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s
desires. That one was a manslayer from the beginning, and does not stand in the
truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own
character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
What important questions did Satan in the Garden of Eden and with the
man Job raise? Does God have a right to rule humans or is man capable of self-
rulership? Does God carry out his rulership in the best interests of humans?
Satan challenged the rightfulness and the righteousness of God’s rulership. Was
God’s right to rule really in the best interests of humans? Satan inferred that
such an idea was preposterous and excessively restrictive. (Gen 2:16-17; 3:1-5)
Satan challenged the loyalty and integrity of all created beings, by saying they
serve God, not out of love for him, but for selfish gain only. He argued that
whenever humans fall under hardship, he will abandon God if it lifts the
difficulties he is facing. (Job 1:6-1; 2:1-5: Luke 22:31) Satan accused God of
lying, being a cruel dictator, who deprives freedom and good from humans.
Satan labels God as a failure because he was unable to carry out the purpose of
creating the earth, to have it full of perfect humans, worshiping him.
It is our responsibility to understand the issues raised, and why God has
allowed suffering to enter the human family. Once we have a full grasp of the
facts, we can live a life that will serve as evidence that Satan is a liar and the
father of all lies. (John 8:44) We need to make our gospel message such that
God is the sovereign of the universe, and rightfully so, because he ‘created all
things, and by his will, they existed and were created.’ (Rev. 4:11; Psa. 83:18)
We will then be in harmony with our prayer, “Your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew
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6:9-10) We want to walk with God, as he will lead us in the way we should
walk, as he is “the only wise God.” (Rom. 16:27) Because “Your adversary the
devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” – Peter 5:8.
Other Angels Rebel
6 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the
ground, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons16 of God17 saw that the
daughters of men were beautiful;18 and they took wives for themselves,
whomever they chose.
Jude 6 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
6
And the angels who did not keep to their own domain but deserted their
proper dwelling place, he has kept in eternal bonds under deep darkness for the
judgment of the great day,
Angels Materialized as Humans
Genesis 6:4, 11; 7:23 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
4
The Nephilim19 were on the earth in those days, 20 and also afterward,
when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to
them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 11 Now the
earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.
23
And he blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from
man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted
out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with
him in the ark.
16
Septuagint angels
17
This refers to angelic sons of God. See Job 1:6; 38:7; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6
18
Lit good
19
The Nephilim were giant offspring resulting from the sexual relations between sons of God
(i.e., angels) and the daughters of men (i.e., human women).
20
I.e., the days when Adam and Eve, and their descendants, began having female offspring.
All of the Nephilim were destroyed in the flood of Genesis 7.
49
Peter 2:4; Jude 6.
Wicked Angels Return to the Spirit Realm

6
Satan answered Jehovah, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you not
made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You
have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the
4
The understanding that these “sons of God” were disobedient angels, an
50
Peter 2:4; Jude 6.
2 Peter 2:4 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into
4
Tartarus21 and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;

The Bible intimates that these rebel angels were stripped of their power to
take on human form, as you never hear of it taking place again after the Flood,
only spirit possession thereafter. These disobedient angels are now “spirits in
prison,” who have been thrown into “eternal chains under gloomy darkness
[Tartarus],” which is more of a condition of limited powers (1 Pet. 3:19; 2 Pet.
2:4; Jude 6), not so much a place, like a maximum-security prison. – Matt. 28:2;
Rev. 22:8.
Satan Cast Out of Heaven
Revelation 12:7-9, 12 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

7
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels made war with the
dragon, and the dragon and its angels waged war, 8 but they were not strong
enough, nor was a place found for them any longer in heaven. 9 And the great
dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan,
who deceives the whole inhabited earth; he was thrown down to the earth, and
his angels were thrown down with him. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you
who dwell in them! Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to
you in great wrath, because he knows he has a short time.”
For many, it is a challenge to determine, who or what is behind our
difficult times, which includes our mental health issues. With our imperfections
and the violent, oppressive world that we live in, there is little wonder why we
find no happiness, or at least very little. Who or what is to blame for all of this.
Moreover, is there anything that we can do to remove some of the problems we
have, or, at least, limit them? Yes, there are answers as to where the fault lies,
and what we can do to improve our circumstances as we have seen in the above.
Spelling it out more plainly, there are four factors to our stress and difficult
times (1) We are imperfect and live in an imperfect world, compounded by the
fact that God’s Word says we are mentally bent and lean toward doing bad. We
read, “When the LORD saw that the wickedness of man on the earth was great
and that the whole bent of his thinking was never anything but evil, the LORD
regretted that he had ever made man on the earth.” (Gen. 6:5, AT) (2) We have a
wicked spirit creature, Satan the Devil, who is misleading the entire world of
humankind. We read, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil
21
Greek verb tartaroo (to “cast into Tartarus”) the angels who sinned were cast into the
pagan mythological Tartarus, a place of torture or torment. Rather, it was a condition that restrained
some of their former powers, such as materializing in human form.
51
prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Pet
5:8) (3) We live in a world that caters to the imperfect flesh. We read, “For all
that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride
in possessions, is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is
passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides
forever.” (1 John 2:16-17) (4) We are unable to understand our inner person,
which the Bible informs us is wicked: “The heart is deceitful above all things
and desperately sick; who can understand it?” The apostle Paul tells us, “just as
sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death
spread to all men because all sinned.” There is only one major factor in all four
parts that will have an effect on the other two, you. Jeremiah 17:9; Romans
5:12.
Yes, we create our own stress. Because (1) we do not understand our true
imperfection, and our imperfection is easily misled by point number (2), Satan.
Moreover, we are easily enticed by point number (3-4), the world and its desires,
as well as our heart. We read, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and
enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived gives birth to sin,
and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (Jam 1:14-15) Only by an
active faith in Christ, and a true understanding of our imperfection, can we hope
to function in an imperfect world, defeat Satan, gain control over our imperfect
flesh, allow God to read our heart and help us not to fall victim to our own
desires of the eyes.
It does not take long for us to realize that we live in an imperfect world,
imperfect in the extreme! For example, we think of the Islamic radical, who flew
two commercial jets into the Twin Towers in New York City (killing 3,900
people), now famously known as 9/11 (because it happened on September 11),
the Holocaust (six million Jews were killed), or a natural disaster that wipes out
hundreds of thousands of lives. Crimes so intense, they paralyze us, as well as
the recent Florida school shooting.
One may wonder how a loving God can allow thousands of years of this to
go on, and at the same time, we are told, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) Within this
book we have given you the biblical answer to that seeming contradiction: a
loving God allowing thousands of years of pain and suffering.
Deep into in these last days, Satan is like a crazed armed robber who
realizes the bank is surrounded and there is no way out, and time is short. This is
why; Christians must have prepared themselves, for the even worse difficult
times that lie ahead. The main target of Satan at this stage is taking as many true
servants of God with him as he can at Armageddon.
Was Satan Punished?
Yes.
COMMON QUESTION: Why did God not destroy the Satan, Adam, and
Eve right away?
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I would follow up with what would have happened if God had chosen that
path. Hundreds of billions of angels with free will were watching, and they
knew of the issues raised. What would their love of God have been like if God
did not address the issues raised? Was Satan, right? Was God lying? Would free
will creatures, spirit and humans, be better off? Will God just destroy us over
anything? First, the spirit creatures would have followed God out of dreadful
fear, rather than fear of displeasing the one they loved so much up to that point,
like a child to a parent. Second, what happens if the issue is raised a hundred
thousand years after a restart and there are 30 billion perfect humans on the
planet? Would God simply destroy everyone again and start over. Do we think it
wise that he does this reboot every time or was it not better that he settled the
issue once and for all?
POINT: Satan raised Issues of sovereignty in the Garden of Eden.
POINT: Can humans walk on their own; do they really need their Creator?
Are they better off without God?
POINT: Was God lying and withholding?
When a teenager becomes a rebel in our house, we have a choice: (1)
severe punishment or (2) teach them an object lesson.
HUMANS AND ANGELS are a created product no different than a car
coming off of an assembly line, i.e., (1) they owe their existence to their creator
and (2) they were created to function based on the design of the creator. If we
take a ford escort and treat it like a heavy-duty four-wheel-drive truck and go off
roading (not what the car was designed to do), what will happen?
God wisely chose to teach both angels and humans an object lesson.
Neither was designed to walk on their own. Both angel and human were given
relative freedom (under the sovereignty of God), not absolute freedom. They
were not designed to choose what is right and what is wrong on their own. They
were given God’s moral standards by way of an internal conscience. How can
we tell a rebel that we do not have absolute freedom, we are better off under the
umbrella of our creator’s sovereignty, we cannot walk on our own? They will
just reject it as a rebel teenager would.
OBJECT LESSON: We let them learn from their choice, no matter how
painful it is, and hard love means that we do not step in until the lesson is fully
learned. Humankind was essentially told, “Oh, you think you can walk on your
own, well go ahead, we will see how that works out.” After six-thousand-years,
God could actually use a common saying among young people today: “How is
that absolute freedom working out for you?”
When will the lesson fully be learned? Humankind will walk right up to
the very edge of the cliff of killing themselves, actually falling over, when God
will step in and stop the object lesson. To stop it anytime before, will cause
doubts. If it had been stopped a century ago, the argument would have been;
God simply stepped in before we got to the scientific age because he knew we
53
were going to find true peace and security, along with something to give us
eternal life. However, if humanity has actually fallen over the edge of the cliff
and the destruction of us is definite, and God steps in, no argument can be
raised, the object lesson is learned.
Why Was Satan Not Kicked Out of Heaven Right Away?
Satan stayed in his realm, just as humans stayed in theirs. God changed
nothing right away because he would have been accused of adjusting the pieces
on the chessboard to get the desired outcome, i.e., cheating. When will Satan be
kicked out of heaven? Satan and the Demons lost access to the person of God
long ago, and they lost some of their powers, such as being able to materialize in
human form, like they did when they took human women for themselves at the
flood, producing the Nephilim.
Satan would be thrown to the earth very shortly before the end of his age
of rulership, when “he knows that his time is short.” (Rev 12:9-12) This, then,
means that Satan will be thrown from heaven likely sometime before the Great
Tribulation and Christ’s return. Revelation 12:12 says, “‘Therefore, rejoice, O
heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the
devil has come down to you in great wrath because he knows that his time is
short!'”
Notice that it is at a time, when “Satan knows that his time is short!” What
comes next for Satan? He will be abyssed, thrown into a super-maximum-
security prison for a thousand years (for lack of a better way to explain it) while
Jesus fixes all that Satan has done. After the thousand years, he will be let loose
for a little while, and he will tempt perfect humans, and sadly some will fall
away. In the end, Satan and those humans will be destroyed, and Jesus will hand
the kingdom back over to the father.
Review Questions
 What rebellion took place in heaven?

 What took place in Noah’s day?
 Where did the wicked angels return to when the flood took place?
 In the Gospel of John, how does Jesus describe Satan?
 What should Christians prepare for and what is the primary goal
of Satan at this time and up unto Armageddon?
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CHAPTER 9 Can Satan the Devil Control
Humans?
Satan and his demons have the world of mankind in their control to the
point that Jesus could say, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one
[i.e., Satan].” (1 John 5:19) The apostle Paul writes,
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
3
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are
perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the
unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God.
By unbelievers Paul has in view non-Christians (1 Cor. 6:6; 7:12–15;
10:27; 14:22–24). First, the unbelievers of verse 4 are a subset of those who are
perishing in verse 3. In other words, the two are the same. Second, the
unbelievers are not persons, who have never heard the truth. No, rather, they are
persons who have heard the truth and have rejected it as foolish rubble. This is
how this writer is using the term “unbeliever” as well. Technically, how could
one ever truly be an unbeliever if they had never heard and understood the truth,
to say they did not believe the truth? Therefore, to be an unbeliever, one needs
to hear the truth, understand the truth, and reject that truth (i.e., not believing the
truth is just that, the truth).
In What Way Has Satan Blinded the Mind of the

Unbeliever?

12
Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, 13 and
are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel
would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. 14 But their minds
were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the
same veil remains unlifted, because it is taken away only by means of
Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their
hearts; 16 but whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now
the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 But
we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are
being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the
Lord, the Spirit.
Let us start by looking at an example of blind minds within Scripture. This
was not a case of physical blindness, but mental blindness. There was a Syrian
military force coming after Elisha, and God blinded them mentally. If it had
55
been physical blindness, then each of them would have to have been led by the
hand. However, what does the account say?
2 Kings 6:18-20 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to Jehovah
18
and said, “Please strike this nation 22 with blindness.” So he struck them with
blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 Then Elisha said to them,
“This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the
man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria.
When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O Jehovah, open the
20
eyes of these men, that they may see.” So Jehovah opened their eyes and they
saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
Are we to believe that one man led the entire Syrian military force to
Samaria? If they were physically blind, they would have to have all held
hands. Were the Syrian military forces not able physically to see the images that
were before them? No, rather, it was more of an inability to understand them.
This must have been some form of mental blindness, where we see everything
that everyone else sees, but something just does not register. Another example
can be found in the account of the men of Sodom. When they were blinded, they
did not become distressed, running into each other.
Definitely, Paul is speaking of people, who are not receptive to truth,
because their heart is hardened to it, callused, unfeeling. They are not
responding because their figurative heart is opposed. It is as though, God handed
them over to Satan, to be mentally blinded from the truth, not because he
disliked them per se, but because they had closed their hearts and minds to the
Gospel. Thus, no manner of argumentation is likely to bring them back to their
senses.
However, at one time Saul (Paul) was one of these. Until he met the risen
Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was mentally blind to the truth. He was well
aware of what the coming Messiah was to do, but Jesus did none of these things
because it was not time. Thus, Paul was blinded by his love for the Law, Jewish
tradition, and history. So much so, he was unable to grasp the Gospel. Not to
mention, he lived during the days of Jesus ministry, studied under Gamaliel,
who was likely there in the area. He could have even been there when Jesus
impressed the Jewish religious leaders, at the age of twelve. Therefore, Saul
(Paul) needed a real wake-up call, to get through the veil that blinded him.
Hence, a mentally blind person sees the same information as another, but
the truth cannot or will not get down into their heart. I have had the privilege of
talking to dozens of small groups of unbelievers, ranging from four people to ten
people in my life. I saw this in action. As I spoke to these groups, inevitably, I
would see the light going off in the eyes of some (they would be shaking their
22
Or people
56
heads in agreement as I spoke). However, others having a cynical look, a
doubting look (they would be shaking their heads in disgust or disapproval), and
they eventually walked away. This is not saying that the unbeliever cannot
understand the Bible; it is simply that they see no significance in it, as it is
foolishness to them.
Ways In Which Satan the Devil Wields Influence
Deception
Paul warns Christians to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be
able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (Eph. 6:11) 41,000 so-called
Christian denominations today call themselves Christian. All claim to be the
truth and the way and most are false Christianity that Jesus warned us about in
the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 24:11 Update American Standard Version (UASV)
11
And many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray.
What is a prophet? The primary meaning is one who proclaims the Word
of God, a spokesperson for God. Therefore, a false prophet would be a
spokesperson giving the impression that he is a spokesman for God, but really
he is far from it. These ones are very subtle and deceptive in their ability to
present themselves as a person representing God. Some modern day examples
would be, Jim Bakker, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, T.D. Jakes, Joyce
Meyer, Juanita Bynum, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Pat Robertson, and Joel
Olsteen. Of course, these are just some of the televangelists, who are false
prophets, with tens of millions of followers. Other false prophet religious leaders
have tens of millions of followers as well. Then, there are charismatic Christian
denominations that number over 500 million followers. These ones claim gifts
of God (faith healing, speaking in tongues, etc.), which clearly are anything but.
The true Christians are falling away in great numbers, being led astray by these
false prophets, and those who have not fallen away, truly need to remain awake!
The apostle Paul wrote,
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 Update American Standard Version (UASV)
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves
13
as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an

angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not a great thing if his servants also disguise
themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their
deeds.
On these verses, Richard L. Pratt Jr, writes, “11:13–14. Why was he so
determined? Paul explained that these so-called super-apostles were actually
false apostles. They were deceitful and only masquerading as apostles of
Christ. Of course, those who followed these false apostles would have insisted
57
that Paul was wrong. So he countered their anticipated objection by noting that
the false apostles’ deceit was no wonder. After all, even Satan himself
masquerades as an angel of light. 11:15. Paul accused the false apostles of
being servants of Satan and of imitating his tactics. They masquerade[d] as
servants of righteousness (cf. Rev. 2:9; 3:9). The work of these false apostles
led many into unrighteousness, as opposed to Paul’s apostolic ministry of
righteousness (see 2 Cor. 3:9). Paul asserted that these false apostles would
ultimately receive what their actions deserve[d]. Although this statement
carried serious overtones of final judgment, Paul also had in mind that these
opponents would be exposed before the church and removed from their
positions when he arrived. God would judge them.”23
Spiritism
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 Update American Standard Version (UASV)

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his
10
daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices
witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a
spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For whoever
does these things is detestable to Jehovah; and because of these detestable
things Jehovah your God will drive them out before you.
Satan misleads people in the same way as in the days of Moses, but rather
with a modernist cool look. If we think Ouija boards games, where a board
printed with letters, numbers, and other signs, to which a planchette or movable
indicator points, supposedly in answer to questions from people at a séance, talk
to a dead spirit, or spirit forces of some sort. We still have supposed spirit
mediums today that some Christians go to, where a person uses his or her
psychic or intuitive abilities to see the past, present and future events of a person
by tuning into the spiritual energy surrounding that person. However, what
about heavy metal Christian bands? Are they a form of evangelism to Christian
your or are they Satanic?24
Discernment is keenly selective judgment. In other words, we have the
ability to judge well, and our ability to determine is finely tuned and able to
sense minor differences, distinctions, or details, to obtain spiritual direction and
understanding. A Christian who has both knowledge and discernment is able to
make decisions that if Jesus were in our place, and in our imperfect human
condition, he would have made the exact same decision. One way that we can
use discernment is in our sharing of the biblical truths with others who possess
different worldviews and backgrounds, so as to save some. The apostle Paul
said,
23
Richard L. Pratt Jr, I & II Corinthians, vol. 7, Holman New Testament Commentary
(Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 423.
24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuasP603pts
58
19
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so
that I may gain more. 20 And so to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain
Jews; to those under the law I became as under the law, though I myself am not
under the law, that I might gain those under the law. 21 To those without law I
became as without law, although I am not without law toward God but under the
law toward Christ, that I might gain those without law. 22 To the weak I became
weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I
might by all means save some. 23 But I do all things for the sake of the gospel,
that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
Keep in mind that, even though Paul said, “I became as,” so that he might
become all things to all men, so as to save them, he never became anything that
would be contrary to God’s will and purposes. A good/bad example of this
would be the modern day Christian heavy metal bands, who by all appearances,
is just like the worldly ones. Such bands are nine parts world to one
part Christian. Can we imagine young Timothy, Paul’s student, and traveling
companion, being a member of Stryper, Vengeance Rising, Deliverance,
Believer, Tourniquet and P.O.D? Much of modern-day Christianity, has become
like the world in their misguided attempt to evangelize the world. They are nine
parts world to one part Christian. This so-called evangelism is an excuse for
loose conduct, i.e., an excuse to be worldly under the guise of ‘saving some.’
While we are using a hyperbolic extreme example here of being like the world,
to save some out of the world, which is complete foolishness, there are many
other minor to major examples within modern day Christianity. Jesus used
hyperbole, which is to over exaggerate to emphasize a point, but sadly, in our
day, we do not need to over exaggerate because our example found in these so-
called Christian metal bands is a reality.
Those arguing that heavy metal Christian bands are evangelism are false
teachers. They are twisting the Scriptures, which seem correct, but are not, so as
to mislead. Please read this material before watching his video
(http://tiny.cc/i788ly), so the truth stands out clearly. This man is arguing for
contextualization, seeker-movement, or seeker sensitive methods of evangelism,
as was mentioned in the above portion of this article.
What this commentator is doing is offering texts that are true; then,
offering texts that are not being interpreted correctly, so we have a mixture of
truth and lie.
He said there were verses that back up the belief that music can be
harmful, likely inferring that it only applies to the secular heavy metal bands,
not Christian metal. He quotes John 17:16 and Romans 12:2,
16
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Romans 12:2 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
59
2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that
which is good and acceptable25 and perfect.
He then says, “Music is neutral, it is neither good nor bad, but depends on
how you use it.”
This is the Truth
This point is actually correct and dismisses his entire argument that
Christian metal can be used as an evangelism tool. He then goes on to say “there
are many Bible verses to support this view,” wherein he quotes Psalm 98:4 and
150:5. We have quoted them for you below.
4
Make a joyful noise to Jehovah, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Psalm 150:5 English Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
5
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals.
This is the False
He is using verses that were designed for servants of God singing praises
to God, not music that is designed to cater to the flesh, to be Satanic like, so the
worldly ones will consider God. He is misinterpreting these verses, twisting
them so they give the appearance of being truth, just as he wants unsuspecting
ones to accept Christian metal as being the truth.
His weak argument is that ‘we need Christian Metal to reach those who are
into the metal music genre because people from the church have no other way of
reaching them.’ Really, the only place we can find metal music fans is at
concerts. They cannot be found in their home, on the phone, on the internet, at
work, in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, or other places in society? The
reason that the church cannot reach these ones is the same reason they cannot
reach billions of others. They do not go out into their communities to share the
gospel. The church has not trained the churchgoers to share their faith
effectively. These latter points are the problems of evangelism. The solution is
not to partake of the table of demons or be like the world, so as to save some.
The solution is to train church leaders in evangelism, who in turn train the
churchgoer in evangelism, so that they can use all facets of reaching the people,
including metal fans.
25
Or well-pleasing
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Leading Questions
These infer that there is but one correct answer and it guides the listener to
that answer.
Q: After reading Matthew 7:13-14, does this not suggest there are two
courses in life, one that leads to destruction, which many are on and one that
leads to life, which few are finding?
A: Yes
Q: After reading Matthew 7:15, does this not suggest there will be some
who appear as innocent as sheep, but really are false prophets to the point of
being ravenous wolves?
A: Yes
Q: After reading Matthew 7:16-20, what is it that will help us identify
these false prophets?
A: Their fruit
Q: After reading Matthew 7:21, who does Jesus say are the only ones who
will enter into the kingdom.
A: Jesus said only those doing the will of the Father.
Q: After reading Matthew 7:22, will there be those who believe that they
are doing the will of the Father?
A: Yes
Q: After reading Matthew 7:23, will Jesus accept their excuses for failing
to do the will of the Father?
A: No
Clarifying Questions
These questions can be used in one of two ways. First, they can be used to
clear up something that the listener said. Second, they can be used to clarify that
the listener fully understands what something means.
NOTE/Q: The term prophet has two basic meanings. First, it means one
who proclaims a message. Second, it means one who foretells the future. What
does the term “prophet” mean here?
A: It means one who proclaims a message.
Q: What did Jesus mean by many being on the path of destruction? Was
Jesus referring to his disciples (i.e., Christians) and those of religions other than
Christianity?
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A: The many Jesus referred to was his disciples, coming Christians.
Q: How do you know that the many who are on the path to destruction are
the disciples of Jesus Christ?
A: Just after Jesus talks about the two paths, Jesus said ‘be careful of false
prophets.’ Then, a few verses later he says “Not everyone who says to me,
‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven …”
Q: Are these false teachers found within Christianity and why are they so
hard to recognize?
A: If it is the many Christian disciples, who are on the path to destruction;
then, the teachers who taught them must have been Christian teachers. They are
hard to recognize because Jesus compared them to sheep. In other words, they
come across as innocent appearing.
Q: What did Jesus mean by the term “fruit”?
A: In other words, we would recognize them by their words and deeds.
Q: Based on who can enter into the kingdom, ‘those doing the will of the
Father,’ what should we know?
A: What the will of the Father is?
Q: Did the many on the path to destruction believe they were doing the will
of the Father?
A: Yes
Q: Jesus started out by talking about two paths and false teachers, correct?
A: Yes
Q: False teachers imply false teachings, correct?
A: Yes
Q: What did Jesus say he would say to those who thought they were doing
the right thing or thought they were teaching the right thing but were not?
A: ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Q: We have false teachers, who are difficult to recognize, as they appear as
innocent as sheep. Recognizing them can only be accomplished by recognizing
their fruit (words and deeds), as well as knowing the true will of the Father.
Does it not then seem prudent on our behalf that we should apply 2
Thessalonians 2:10 and 2 Corinthians 13:5?
A: Yes, the ones, who are deceived by these false teachers, will perish
because they refused to be receptive to the truth. Therefore, we need to be in a
constant mode of examining ourselves, as well as our beliefs, to see whether we
are really in the truth.
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2 Thessalonians 2:10 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
and with every unrighteous deception26 for those who are perishing,
10
because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
5
Keep testing yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Keep examining
yourselves! Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in
you, unless indeed you fail to meet the test?
False Religion
1 Timothy 4:1-3 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

4 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from
the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by
means of the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, whose conscience is seared as
with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and command to abstain from
foods that God created to be partaken of with thanksgiving by those who have
faith and accurately know the truth.
4:1. Paul turned from his triumphant hymn of Christ to a stark warning:
the Spirit clearly says that in later times troublesome things will happen
within the church.
The phrase later times refers not to some coming event but to the sweep
of time from Christ’s ascension to his future return. It covers everything in
between, from Paul and the early church, to Luther and the Reformation, to
Wesley and the Great Awakening, to us. These are the “later times,” the last
days. This great epoch of the church is the final stage of human history before
the triumphal return of Jesus Christ.
These words from Paul are just as relevant to our churches as they were
for those in the first century. They will continue to be valid for believers in
the future last days. The troubles which Paul describes have been happening
throughout history to the present time, at other times with guerrilla tactics and
scattered damage, often with frontal assaults and great devastation to the
church.
Paul predicted that some will abandon the faith. Apostasy has been
around as long as human history. Paul dealt with it in his own day (1 Tim.
1:19; 2 Tim. 2:17–18), and the casualty list is high in our time. Even so, the
church will triumph.
2. The teachers (4:1–2)
26
Lit seduction
63
To deny the truth and abandon the faith, people would follow deceiving
spirits and things taught by demons. Despite the assault of the physical
world upon our senses, we live in a spirit-saturated environment. There is not
a moment when we are outside the interplay of spirituality, for we are spirit
beings. The very faculty of the human will is spiritual. Whatever we choose to
believe or do is founded in our spiritual nature.
When Paul wrote about following deceiving spirits and things taught by
demons, he was not necessarily envisioning Satan worship or drug-led
transcendentalist theology. There is a wide variety of ways in which Satan
peddles his twisted inventions. All deceptions come from Satan’s realm, but
he uses many genteel ways to fashion these lies, spreading ideas which are
anti-God.
The apostle John wrote, “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus
Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which
you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world” (1 John 4:2–
3).
John’s words cover a whole range of teachings, some religious in nature
such as cults and various world religions and others antireligious as in popular
philosophies. All find their source in demons. The false teachings find
receptivity in those who are hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been
seared as with a hot iron. Such people perpetuate the lies of Satan and his
hosts.
Not only were these false teachers peddling in lies; they were doing so
under the guise of spirituality, under the pretense of being godly. Hypocrisy
was anathema to Jesus; it received particular condemnation from him. Such a
posture misrepresents God to others; it has a potent capacity for leading others
away from the loving Father. Paul warned the Ephesian believers, “Even from
your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away
disciples after them” (Acts 20:30).
Paul described the psychological workings of false teachers: their
consciences have been seared. “Such people are not serving our Lord Christ,
but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of
naive people” (Rom. 16:18). The conscience is the human capability to
discern right and wrong, and it is connected to the will. A good conscience,
one guided by faith, enables a person to navigate life’s moral issues. But a
seared conscience is left scarred, unable to assess truth and error, incapable of
producing godly behavior.
Sometimes we think in apocalyptic terms relative to the dangers and evil
of the “last days.” Certainly as time draws to a close, evil increases. But evil
does not always present itself as crime, drugs, and brutality. Such
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manifestations issue from a degeneration of beliefs, values, ideas, and
conscience that have filtered through society for a long time. Evil frequently
begins in decent places—in philosophical discussions at the university, in
debates at seminary, in sermons at church. Falsehood often comes dressed up
and attractive.
God’s simple call to faith in his Son is often abused either through
legalism or libertarianism. In Paul’s day, the tendency in the church was
toward legalism, which he proceeded to describe.
3. False teaching (4:3)
Rules are good when used to maintain proper boundaries in life and to
create a harmonious and orderly existence. But when adherence to rules
becomes an attempt to placate God or to earn righteousness or salvation, they
become deadly. Rules elevate human achievement and devalue the goodness
of God. There is only one way to restore and maintain relationship with the
holy God—trust in his Son, Jesus Christ.
4:3. Paul wrote of the legalists as those who forbid people to marry
and order them to abstain from certain foods.
Legalism enslaves people to joyless toil. Such systems misrepresent the
God of grace and belittle the work of Christ on the cross. They lead people
down a path of grinding effort, at the end of which there is no God—only
insecurities, mental anguish, and more labor.
The particulars of a legalistic system are not as important as its
assumptions. In fact, the legalist often uses convincing arguments that have
the ring of truth. Forbidding people to marry, for instance, may have come
from Jesus’ own teaching about Paradise-to-come in which there would be no
marriage. Abstaining from certain foods may have been rooted in the Genesis
account of paradise-past when vegetarianism seems to have been the rule.
There is nothing wrong with singleness, nor is there anything wrong
with maintaining a strict diet. But the Word of God is twisted when these
particulars are put forth as demands, as absolutes in gaining God’s approval.
Nowhere in Scripture is marriage forbidden. In fact, it is honored and
instituted by God from Creation. Paul described the advantages of single life
as allowing extra time for serving God, but he did not make singleness a rule.
Dietary restrictions were a Jewish concern dating back to the giving of
the Law, but in Acts 10 God opened up the storehouses of creation. Nothing
which comes from God is forbidden as long as it is received with
thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
Disciplines are good in controlling our spirit and guiding us, but they
must never become law. The law of God for righteousness has been fulfilled
65
by Christ; our task is to abide in him.27
How to avoid the Satan’s influence
As Christian, we need not live in constant fear or dread, or excessive

anxiety that somehow we are going to come under the control of Satan and his
demons. The Bible makes it all too clear on how we can successfully oppose the
Devi. See the next chapter.
Review Questions
 How has Satan blinded unbelievers?

 How does Satan use deception?
 How does Satan use Spiritism?
 Why are so-called Christian heavy metal bands satanic?
 How does Satan use false religion?
27
Knute Larson, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, vol. 9, Holman New
Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 202–204.
66
CHAPTER 10 Can Satan the Devil Read (Know)
the Thoughts of the Human Mind?
Of course, we cannot be dogmatic about this, but we can infer from the
Scriptures and draw a conclusion based on reason and logic that neither Satan
nor his demon rebels can read our thoughts.
Take a moment and consider the descriptive names ascribed to Satan. He is
called [Heb. sa·tan′; Gr. sa·ta·nas′] translated Satan meaning (Resister), [Gr. di·a
′bo·los] translated Devil meaning (Slanderer), [Heb., na·chash′; Gr., o′phis]
translated Serpent, which is synonymous with (Deceiver), [Gr. peirazō)]
translated Tempter meaning to test, and [pseustes] translated Liar meaning a
person who repeatedly conveys false or deceptive information. (Job 1:6; Matt.
4:3; John 8:44; 2 Cor. 11:3; Rev. 12:9) None of these descriptive names indicate
or suggest that Satan has the powers to read our minds.
Then, we look to our heavenly Father Jehovah and his Son, Jesus Christ. In
the Hebrew Old Testament, the Father is described as one who “tests hearts”
(Prov. 17:3; 1 Chron. 29:17), which means he examines the heart, with the heart
being used figuratively as the center of a person's thoughts (mind). Again, it says
of the Father that he “looks on the heart” (1 Sam 16:7), which also informs us
that Jehovah sees what is in our hearts, namely, in our thoughts (mind). “And
there is no creature hidden from his [the Father's] sight,” declares Hebrews 4:13,
“but all things are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must
give an account.” Few Christians would be surprised that the Father has the
ability to examine hearts, that is read (know) the thoughts of the human mind.
The Son, Jesus also has the ability to read (know) the thoughts of the human
mind. he resurrected Jesus declared: “I am he who searches mind and heart, and
I will give to each of you according to your works.” – Revelation 2:23.
There is no Scripture in the entirety of the Bible that says Satan the Devil
has the ability to examine human hearts and read or know human thoughts
(mind). Bible critics would say that we are using the fallacy of arguing from
silence, (Latin: argumentum ex silentio), where one expresses a conclusion that
is based on the absence of statements in historical documents (the Bible in our
case), rather than their presence. The Bible critic would partially correct if that
were our only evidence, but we are told by the inspired apostle Paul, who is
reassuring us that Christians “are not ignorant of [Satan’s] designs.” (2 Cor.
2:11) Thus, we can infer from Paul's words that if Satan has the ability to know
our thoughts, a very serious power indeed, we would have been made aware of
this. In Scripture, we were made aware of the rebel angels having the ability to
materialize in human form before the flood, a power that they lost after the
flood. We were made aware of demon possession. Certainly, a power such as the
ability to know what humans are thinking would be made known to us since
God by way of Paul says that we “are not ignorant of [Satan’s] designs.”
67
Now, we are not to say that Satan does not have the ability to discern our
weaknesses and vulnerabilities, as he does. Humans live a lifespan of 80-90-
years and Satan has been observing human behavior for well over 6,000 years,
along with his tens of millions of his demon rebel angels. Each faithful human
can be watched individually throughout their lives. While reading minds would
be better, watching every second of our pattern of behavior is a close second. He
knows the entertainment we prefer when in public and when in private. He
knows exactly how long we look at something. He sees every single facial
expression we make about every single action and interaction, which largely
conveys what we are thinking. If Google, Amazon, and Facebook track our
every move to market to us exactly what we desire by watching us from a
distance, imagine a demon watching you up close and personal.
Satan is of a far higher intelligence than all imperfect humans that has ever
lived. Just as he used his craftiness in the Garden of Eden with Eve, lies,
deception, and misinformation, he has been using it all along with us. (Gen. 3:1-
5) Google is the most powerful internet entity in the world because 67.6 percent
of all searches are done on Google. They can easily influence how we think by
using algorithms to put before us certain information. While Satan cannot read
minds, Christians need to be concerned about what thoughts Satan is putting into
their minds. (1 Tim. 6:5) The Deceiver wants Christians to be “men [and
women] of depraved mind and deprived of the truth. (1 Tim. 6:5) Satan's world
is inundated with morally corrupt information and entertainment. If Christians
are to survive the air of deception and the moral decay that surrounds them, they
must not “be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind.” Christians must “think so as to have a sound mind.” (Rom. 12:2-3)
Sound in Mind: (Gr. sophroneo) This means to be of sound mind or in one’s
right mind, i.e., to have understanding about practical matters and thus be able to
act sensibly, ‘to have sound judgment, to be sensible, to use good sense, sound
judgment.’–Acts 26:25; Romans 12:3; 2 Timothy 1:7; Titus 2:6; 1 Peter 4:7
Christians also must protect their minds with “the helmet of salvation.”
(Eph. 6:17) The helmet of salvation pictures the Roman soldier’s metal
protective headgear. It does not refer to our salvation in Christ. First
Thessalonians speaks of the helmet of the “hope of salvation,” which is probably
a parallel idea. That being the case, taking the helmet of salvation could be
understood as resting our hope in the future and living in this world according to
the value system of the next.
While Satan is a very powerful enemy with tens of millions of demonic
rebel angels, we need not have a morbid fear of him and his henchmen. James
4:7 assures us: “Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you.” If Christians pay
attention to this counsel, they too will be able to declare, like Jesus, that Satan
has no hold on us. – John 14:30.
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CHAPTER 11 Our Struggle against Dark
Spiritual Forces
Living in the modern scientific-minded world of the 21 st-century, most no
longer believe in wicked spirit forces, demons. The truth of the matter is if such
spirit creatures exist, their belief in them is irrelevant, and the effect is felt by
every living person on earth. Even for those of us, who accept the demons as
being true, because we are disciples of Jesus Christ, we are not immune from
their activity. In reality, we have an even bigger target on our backs, because we
do not give into their influences, and are the enemy of their fight against God.
Listen to the words of Paul,
The Whole Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-20 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on
the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes
of the devil. 12 For our wrestling28 is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the
wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you will be able to
13
resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm,
therefore, with your loins girded29 about with truth, and having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, 15 and with your feet shod with the preparation
of the gospel of peace; 16 in all things, taking up the shield of faith with which
you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God.
Through all prayer and petition praying at all times in the Spirit, and
18
with this in view, keep awake with all perseverance and making supplication for
all the holy ones. 19 Pray also for me, that the words may be given to me when I
open my mouth, so that I may be able to speak boldly in making known the
mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; 30 that in it I
may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
We may be thinking that it seems very unlikely that any human can be at
odds with a demonic spirit creature, and come out victorious as they have
28
Or struggle
29
(an idiom, literally ‘to gird up the loins’) to cause oneself to be in a state of readiness–‘to
get ready, to prepare oneself.’–GELNTBSD
30
Lit a chain
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unimaginable superhuman abilities. It is only possible by our reliance on Christ
Jesus. We must have a complete grasp of God’s Word, and apply it in a
balanced manner in our lives each day. Only by doing so, can we be freed from
the bodily, moral, emotional and mental harm that those under demonic or
satanic control have gone through. (Ephesians 6:11; James 4:7)31
Defending the Loins, the Breast, and the Feet
Girding Your Loins with Truth
The loins are the area on each side of the backbone of a human between
the ribs and hips. At the time that the Apostle Paul wrote this to the Ephesians,
soldiers wore a belt or girdle-like you see in the image of Roman soldiers. It was
2 to 6 inches in width. This belt served a double duty: (1) to protect the soldier’s
loins, (2) but also serve in supporting his sword. When a soldier girded up his
loins, this meant he was getting ready to go into battle. This soldier and his belt
served as the perfect analogy, of how a Christian is to put on the belt of biblical
truth, to protect his life. The truths of Scripture should be pulled tight around us,
helping us to live a life that is reflective of that truth, and so that we can use that
Bible truth to defend the faith, contend for the faith, and save those who doubt.
(1 Pet. 3:15, Jude 3, 21-22) If we are to accomplish these tasks, we will have to
study carefully the Bible and consider its contents. Prophetically, it was said of
Jesus, “your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8) If Jesus came under attack by
the enemy of truth, he was able to refer to biblical truth from memory. (Matthew
19:3-6; 22:23-32)
Isaiah 30:20-21 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
And though Jehovah32 give you the bread of distress and the water of
20
oppression, yet your Teacher33 will no longer hide himself, but your eyes shall
behold your Teacher. 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
31
Paul made sure believers recognized that as new people who have been granted new life in
a new family with new relationships they still would endure spiritual warfare. The closing portion of
Paul’s letter explained his account of the Christian’s conflict with evil forces.
Believers must adorn themselves with the armor of God in order to stand against the devil’s
schemes. Five defensive weapons are identified: (1) the enabling nature of truth that resists lying and
false doctrine; (2) the covering quality of righteousness that resists accusations of conscience and
despondency; (3) the stabilizing quality of peace that resists slander and selfishness; (4) the
protective ability of faith that resists prayerlessness and doubt; and (5) the encouraging nature of
salvation that resists fear and disappointment.
Two offensive weapons are included in the armor of God: (1) the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God, and (2) prayer. It is fitting that this prayerful and meditative letter concludes with
an exhortation to prayer and a request for prayer. (Dockery 1998, 581)
32
One of 134 scribal changes from YHWH to Adhonai.
33
Lit your teachers. The Hebrew verb is plural to denote grandeur or excellence.
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“This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the
left.
30:20–22 The text emphasizes that God “gives” (nātan) his people
different experiences (also in v. 23; cf. Eccl 3:1–12), including times of
adversity or punishment for sin. In Isaiah’s situation he did not intervene
immediately when the Assyrians invaded: instead, he allowed the Assyrian
attack on Judah to defeat 46 walled cities and take 200,150 people captive. But
in the future some “teachers/a Teacher” will instruct the people in the way that
they should walk.155 NIV takes these as teachers (probably prophets) who will
guide the people in God’s ways, but Oswalt argues that the singular verb points
to a divine Teacher, God himself, who will instruct his people. God will no
longer hide himself in the sense of seeming distant or of a failure to act on their
behalf (45:15; 59:1–2; Ps 27:8–9; 4:3–4; 102:1–2). His presence will be seen,
for he will be active among them, instructing in the way they should walk. This
pictures God, the teacher, giving moral instruction to his people with his own
voice (cf. 2:2–4; Ps 25:8–14) so that they will stay out of trouble. The Lord will
gently teach his disciples in “the way” (haderek) of God, instructing them in the
disciplines of godliness so they will not turn in any other moral directions (right
or left). This reminds one of God’s original instructions for his people to follow
his instructions (Deut 5:32–33; 17:19–20; Josh 1:7–8; 23:6–7).
God’s presence and his teaching will result in the total rejection of idols
(30:22) covered with a thin layer of gold or silver to make them look important.
Once the people’s eyes are opened and they hear God’s instructions, the people
will see the foolishness of trusting in lifeless images that can do nothing. The
people became defiled (ṭimmēʾtem Lev 15:31; 20:3; 2 Kgs 23:16; Jer. 7:30) by
these idols, but in the future their defilement or desecration of these statues of
wood will show an utter disrespect for the gods these idols represent (cf. 2:20;
13:17; 31:7; 44:15–17). They will no longer reverence or treat these idols as
holy, but will reject them and throw them out, as if they were getting rid of an
object that was repulsive. As Oswalt suggests, “blessings can be received only
after the abandonment of one’s own efforts and a complete commitment to
God.”34
Breastplate of Righteousness
The breastplate of the soldier was a piece of armor that covered the chest,
protecting one of the most important organs, the heart. As all Christians likely
know, we have a figurative heart, which is our inner person, and it needs special
protection because it leans toward wrongdoing. (Gen. 8:21) Therefore, we must
cultivate a love for God’s Word and the standards and values that lie within. (Ps
34
Gary V. Smith, Isaiah 1–39, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, The New American Commentary
(Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2007), 520–522.
71
119:97, 105) Our love for the Word of God should be to such a depth that we
would reject “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of
life.” (1 John 2:15-17) In addition, once we have developed such a desire for
right over wrong, we will be able to avoid paths that would have otherwise led
us to ruination. (Ps 119:99-101; Amos 5:15) Our greatest example in everything,
Jesus Christ, evidenced this to such an extent that Paul could say, “You have
loved righteousness and hated wickedness.” (Hebrews 1:9)
Shod Your Feet with the Preparation of the Gospel of

Peace
Roman soldiers needed suitable footwear, which (1) kept the soldier’s
footing sure in battle, and (2) allowed him to march some 20 miles during a
campaign while wearing or carrying some 60 pounds of armor and equipment.
Thus, Paul’s ongoing analogy of the armor of a Roman soldier was right on
target, as the appropriate footwear for the readiness of a Christian evangelizer
active in spreading the gospel message is even more relevant. The importance is
shown by Paul again in his letters to the Roman congregation, when he asks how
the people will get to know God if the Christian is not willing and ready to bring
it to him, as he preaches and teaches? (Romans 10:13-15)
Once again, we must look to our exemplar Jesus Christ as he says to the
Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, “For this purpose I was born and for this
purpose I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who
is of the truth listens to my voice.” For three and a half years, Jesus walked
throughout the land of Palestine, preaching to all who would listen, giving the
ministry a top priority in his life. (John 4:5-34; 18:37) If we, like Jesus, are eager
to declare the good news, we will find many opportunities to share it with
others. Furthermore, our being absorbed in our ministry will help keep us
spiritually strong. (Acts 18:5)
The Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, and the

Sword of the Spirit
Thureon is the Greek word rendered “shield,” which refers to a shield that
was “large and oblong, protecting every part of the soldier; the word is used
metaphorically of faith.”35 This shield of faith would and will protect the
Christian from the “the fiery darts of the wicked one.” In ancient times, the
darts36 of the soldiers were often hollowed out having small iron receptacles,
35
W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger and William White, Jr., vol. 2, Vine’s Complete Expository
Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 571.
36
6.36 belos, ous n: a missile, including arrows (propelled by a bow) or darts (hurled by
hand)—‘arrow, dart.’ In the NT belos occurs only in a highly figurative context, to bele …
peporomena ‘flaming arrows (or darts)’ Eph 6:16, and refers to temptations by the Devil. ―Louw
and Nida 6.36.
72
which were filled with a clear colorless flammable mixture of light
hydrocarbons that burned. This was one of the most lethal weapons as it caused
havoc among the enemy troops unless the soldiers had the large body shields
that had been drenched in water and could quench the fiery darts. In fact, the
earliest manuscripts repeat the definite article, literally “the darts of the evil one,
the fiery (darts),” emphasizing the fact that they were, above all, destructive. If a
soldier’s shield caught fire, he would be tempted to throw it down, leaving
himself open to the enemy’s spear.
What does the highly metaphorical language of the fiery darts depict and
how does this weaken or undercut our faith? It may come in the form of minor
persecution if we live in the Western world, such as being ridiculed for our
Christian faith, even verbally assaulted by Bible critics. Another fiery dart may
be the temptation to put money over ministry. Then, there is a constant
temptation from Satan’s world to lure us into immorality. You would have to be
blindfolded not to see sexually-explicit images hundreds of times per day as it is
used to sell everything. It is not only the images but also the mindset. I will give
you just one example, and please excuse the graphic nature. The modern day
junior high school children (13 and 14 years old); literally view oral sex as being
no different than kissing one another on the lips.
If we are to protect our Christian family, our congregation of brothers and
sisters, and ourselves, we must possess “the shield of faith.” Faith is not a
simple belief in Jesus Christ as some misinformed ones might tell us; rather it is
an active faith in Jesus Christ. James tells at 1:19 “You believe that God is one;
you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder!” The demons and Satan
believe in the existence of Jesus Christ, and yet this brings them no salvation
whatsoever. Faith comes from taking in an active knowledge of the Father and
the Son, to the point of building a relationship, a friendship based on the deepest
love, and the committing of oneself to the point of turning your life over
completely. It is regular prayerful communication, understanding and valuing
how he protects us. (Joshua 23:14; Luke 17:5; Romans 10:17)
Again, we turn to our great exemplar, Jesus Christ, who demonstrated his
faith throughout some very trying times. He completely trusted the Father to
accomplish his will and purposes. (Matt. 26:42, 53, 54; John 6:38) A great
example of this trust can be found when Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane.
He was in great anguish because he knew that he was going to be executed as a
blasphemer of his Father, and even then, he fell with his face to the ground and
prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I
will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Not that he was backing out of the
execution, the ransom that is, but he wanted to be executed for another reason,
other than a blasphemer. Jesus was an integrity keeper, which brought great joy
to the Father. (Pro. 27:11) As we face difficult times in the world that is
alienated from God, we will do well to imitate Jesus great faith, and not give
ours under the pressures of the world that lies in the hands of the evil one.
Moreover, our faith will be refined if we trust in God, evidencing our love for
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him, by applying his Word in our daily walking with him. (Ps 19:7-11; 1 John
5:3) The immediate gratification that this world has to offer could never
compare with the blessings that lie ahead. (Pro. 10:22)
Not long ago, those trying to curb the use of drugs within the American
youth had the saying, “the mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Our next piece of
armor of God would be a very useful tool for protecting the Christian mind, the
helmet of salvation. The Apostle Paul said to the Thessalonians, “we must stay
sober and let our faith and love be like a suit of armor. Our firm hope that we
will be saved is our helmet,” because it protects our Christian mind. (1 Thess.
5:8) Even though we may have accepted Christ, and have entered onto the path
of salvation, we still suffer from imperfect human weaknesses. Even though our
foremost desire is to do good, our thinking can be corrupted by this fleshly
world that surrounds us. We need not to be like this world but rather openly
allow God to alter the way we think, through his Word the Bible, which will
help us fully to grasp everything that is good and pleasing to him. (Rom. 7:18;
12:2) You likely recall the test that Jesus faced, where Satan offered him “all the
kingdoms of the world and their glory.” (Matt. 4:8-10) Jesus response was to
refer to Scripture, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘you shall worship the Lord
your God and him only shall you serve.’” Paul had this to say about Jesus,
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the
right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
We need to understand that the above examples of faith does not come to
us automatically. If we are focusing on what this current system of things has to
offer, as opposed to focusing on the hopes that are plainly laid out in Scripture,
we will be weak in the face of any severe trial. After a few stumbles, it may be
that we suffer spiritual shipwreck and lose our hope altogether. Then again, if
we frequently feed our minds, or concentrate the mind on the promises of God,
we will carry on delighting in the hope that has been offered us. (Romans 12:12)
If we are to keep our Christian mind in the hope that lies ahead, we need to
possess the Sword of the Spirit. The book that reveals heavenly Father, his will
and purposes, i.e., the Bible is stated to be “living and active, sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of
marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” This Word, if
understood correctly, applied in a balanced manner, can transform our lives, and
help us avoid or minimalize the pitfalls of this imperfect life. We can depend on
that Word when we are overwhelmed, or temple to give way to the flesh, and
when the Bible critics of this world attempt to do away with our faith. (2 Cor.
74
10:4-5) We need to heed the words of the Apostle Paul to his spiritual son,
Timothy:
14
You, however [Timothy], continue in the things you have learned and
were persuaded to believe, knowing from whom you have learned them [Paul,
who Timothy traveled with and studied under for 15 years], 15 and that from
infancy37 you have known the sacred writings [the whole Old Testament],
which are able to make you wise for salvation through trust 38 in Christ Jesus.
16
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be fully
competent, equipped for every good work.
3:14–15. Each of us is susceptible to this dangerous trap of deception

unless we obey Scripture vigilantly. Following Christ is more than a one-time
decision or an occasional church service or kind act. True Christianity involves
continual dependence and obedience to Christ the king. Paul told Timothy to
continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of. Our faith
is proved by its endurance.
Two elements are necessary for faithful living. First, we must possess
knowledge of the truth. Truth enlightens a person about what is right and wrong,
what constitutes purpose and happiness. We cannot trust or love which we do
not know. The second element is conviction or belief. We express our belief
system in the daily decisions we make and the behaviors in which we engage.
No one acts contrary to belief (though we may act contrary to our professions of
belief).
Paul also wanted Timothy to consider those from whom you learned
[truth], and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures. Once
again he had Timothy’s mother and grandmother in mind (see 2 Tim. 1:5).
Timothy was schooled in the Old Testament writings and had learned the need
for forgiveness, the provision of God, and the necessity of faith. He had also
been discipled by Paul, learning Christ and the church. In each case, Timothy
had not only been given knowledge; he had been witness to godly lives.
These people served as examples to Timothy about the truth of God, the
need for endurance, and the reward of faithfulness. Each person had staked his
or her life on the revelation of the Scriptures which, according to Paul, are able
to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
3:16. The power of the Bible to affect change and demand obedience
resides in the fact that all Scripture is God-breathed. The Bible originates with
37
Brephos is the period of time when one is very young–‘childhood (probably implying a
time when a child is still nursing), infancy.
38
Pisteuo is “to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance—‘to believe in, to have
confidence in, to have faith in, to trust, faith, trust.’
75
God. Claims of origins carry great significance because authority lives in the
Creator. This is why people invest such Herculean efforts in trying to disprove
God as the earth’s Creator and in questioning the authenticity of the Bible.
Admitting to God’s authorship is an acceptance of his authority over every
aspect of life. By stating that Scriptures are God breathed, Paul established the
Bible’s claim as God’s authoritative Word over all people.
The Scriptures were written by men “as they were carried along by the
Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). The picture is that of a sailboat being moved along by
the wind. Indeed, men wrote the Bible, but the words and substance of what they
wrote came from God. This makes the Bible useful. Paul listed four main uses
of Scripture, all of which intertwine with one another.
Teaching involves instruction. Since Timothy was feeling the attacks of
false teachers, Paul encouraged the young pastor to continue in teaching correct
doctrine and correct living. The Scriptures must be known so people will grasp
their need of salvation and so the confessing community will adhere to its
instructions on proper Christian conduct.
Rebuking and correcting are the disciplinary authority of Scripture.
Because the Bible is God’s Word and because it reveals truth, it exercises
authority over those who deviate from its standard. “Rebuking” points out sin
and confronts disobedience. “Correcting” recognizes that a person has strayed
from the truth. Graciously, lovingly, yet firmly, we should try to guide the errant
individual back into obedience.
Many times the Old Testament relates Israel’s disobedience to God, how
the people suffered God’s chastisement for their rebellion, and how God
corrected their sinful habits. The New Testament continues with stories and
instructions, warnings regarding disobedience, disciplinary actions for those
who fail to heed God’s revelation, and teachings on proper conduct.
Training in righteousness is the counterpoint to correction. The
Scriptures give us positive guidance for maturing in faith and acceptable
conduct.
3:17. The goal of all this instruction, discipline, and training is not to keep
us busy. God intends that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for
every good work. We study the Bible, we rely upon God’s Spirit, his revelation,
and the community of the faithful to keep us on track—obedient and maturing in
faith. Continuing in this commitment will enable us to do whatever God calls us
to do. Timothy could withstand the attacks of false teachers, the abandonment of
professing believers, and the persecution that surrounded him because God had
equipped him for the task. God never calls us to do something without first
enabling us through his Spirit and the power of his truth to accomplish the task.
We neglect the Scriptures at our own peril. Through them we gain the
ability to serve God and others. The Scriptures not only point the way; through
the mysterious union of God’s Word and faith, they give us the ability to serve. 39
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John MacArthur says, “Whether confronting Satan’s efforts to distrust
God, forsaking obedience, producing doctrinal confusion and falsehood,
hindering service to God, bringing division, serving God in the flesh, living
hypocritically, being worldly, or in any other way rejecting biblical obedience,
this armor is our defense.40
After his baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus went out into the wilderness
for forty days and forty nights, which left him weak and hungry. It was then that
Satan tempted Jesus, waiting until he was in a weakened condition. Read
carefully as Satan offers the first temptation to Jesus:
Luke 4:3 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
And the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this
3
stone to become bread.”
Jesus’ First Temptation

First, Satan played on Jesus’ natural desire for food, as he deliberately
waited until Jesus was in a weakened state from fasting. In addition, Satan knew
that Jesus was the Son of God, as he had been in heaven with him. Notice how
he is attempting to attack Jesus’ hunger, by starting his accusation with “if,” to
get Jesus to use his powers for selfish gain. In other words, he wanted Jesus to
be annoyed and say, ‘You know I am the Son of God, so watch as I turn these
stones into bread!’ Was Jesus tempted into a selfish act, a needful feeling of
proving himself right? No, Jesus did not permit Satan to bait him into rebellion.
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread
4
alone.’”41
Jesus’ Second Temptation
Luke 4:5-7 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
And he led him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited
5
earth in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to him, “To you I will give all
this authority and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to
whomever I wish. 7 Therefore if you bow down before me, it shall all be yours.”
One way of being emphatic in the Greek language is to front word(s)
before others, and in this case, the second person pronoun (soi, “to you”) was
39
Knute Larson, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, vol. 9, Holman New
Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 305–307.
40
MacArthur, John (2005-05-09). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations
57514-57516). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
41
Quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3
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fronted to the beginning of the Greek sentence by Luke to show just how
important this question was. The English is not able to bring this out well, but
the Greek makes it all too clear. What Satan was saying, is a bit like what a car
salesperson might say,42 ‘Look, this deal is for you and you alone!’ Did Jesus
even slightly consider Satan’s offer? No, he responds,
Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God
8
and serve him only.’”
Jesus’ Third Temptation,

Luke 4:9-10 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
9
And he led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the pinnacle of the
temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from
here; 10 for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’
Notice that Satan even quotes Scripture, but of course twists it to suit his
misleading benefits. This temptation is much more subtle than one might think.
Satan wanted Jesus to get caught up in himself, and take the easy way out, as
opposed to the humble three and half year ministry that lay ahead. If Jesus had
stood on the top of the pinnacle of the temple, at a time of the day when
everyone was out, with all gathered to see him there; it would have made his
ministry easier. Because if he had leaped in front of thousands of onlookers, and
angels came to rescue him before he hit the ground, many would have had faith
in him, based on his showmanship. However, Jesus knew his Father’s will was
for him to have an education ministry of three and a half years, a ministry of
humility. Moreover, how did Jesus feel about doing the will of the Father? Here
are his own words, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to
accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)
Matthew 4:7 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your
7
God to the test.’”43

On many other occasions, Jesus used the Scriptures to help unsuspecting
people escape Satan’s influences, as well as those of the overbearing Jewish
religious leaders, who were twisting the Scriptures for their ill-gotten gains.
Jesus made more than 120 references or quotations from the Old Testament
Scriptures, from over half the books of the Hebrew Old Testament, in his three
42
I borrowed the car salesman analogy off of Dr. Darrell Bock, but it is a bit revised.
43
A quotation from Deut. 6:16
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and half year ministry. This may appear to be trivial when you think of a three
and half year ministry. However, notice what John says about Jesus, “Now Jesus
did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in
this book.” (John 20:30)
John also said, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were
every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain
the books that would be written.” (John 21:25) Thus, if we take everything Jesus
said in the Gospels, it would only amount to 3-4 hours of speaking. Now
imagine four speakers at a religious assembly, giving an hour talk each, and
each of them referencing or quoting some 30 Scriptures in their allotted hour.
These would be considered highly biblical talks. Moreover, Jesus usually never
had any scrolls in front of him. Therefore, his quotes and references were from
memory. In the famous Sermon on the Mount, he directly or indirectly
referenced dozens of Scriptures from memory.
Our Need to Pray
After giving us the complete suit of spiritual armor, Paul goes on to tell us,
Ephesians 6:18 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
18
Through all prayer and petition praying at all times in the Spirit, and with
this in view, keep awake with all perseverance and making supplication for all
the holy ones.
6:18 And pray in the Spirit

The soldier must maintain contact with his commanding officer. Prayer
helps keep one in tune with the Lord and his purposes. Perhaps prayer should
even be considered a part of the “full armor,” because a consistent prayer life is
a defense against attacks of Satan and prayer strengthens against temptation.
Prayer is said to be “in the Spirit,” since it is the Spirit who helps us pray,
interceding “with groans that words cannot express” (Rom 8:26). To pray “in
the Spirit” in 1 Cor 14:15 is to pray under the influence of the Spirit.
on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Paul told the Thessalonians to “pray continually” (1 Thess 5:17). Whatever
the occasion, God wants his children to pray regularly, consistently, and
frequently. “Prayer” (προσευχή, proseuchē) is the general word for
communication with God, including all aspects of asking, praising, and giving
thanks. “Request” (δέησις, deēsis) is a more specific word, indicating a special
request or entreaty to God. When this word for “request” is found in the N.T., it
is most often used in the context of making an entreaty on behalf of someone
else.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the
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saints.
To “be alert” (ἀγρυπνέω, agrypneō) is literally to “keep from falling
asleep.” Its use in Mark 13:33 shows that the word is synonymous with the word
γρηγορέω (grēgoreō) (“watch,” “stand guard duty”) in Mark 13:35, 37. There
is a sense, then, in which the praying Christian is standing guard to ensure the
safety of his fellow soldiers. In Samuel’s farewell speech to his people he caught
the essence of this duty when he said, “And as for me, far be it from me that I
should sin against God by failing to pray for you” (1 Sam 12:23).44
When we are enticed by our flesh, or come upon a trial, or find ourselves
discouraged, prayer can strengthen us immeasurably. (Matthew 26:41) Jesus
“offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was
able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.”
(Hebrews 5:7)
Review Questions
 What are three primary forms of protection that every Christian must
have? (Phil. 3:1; 4:8, 9; 1 Cor. 10:12, 13; 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 Pet. 1:13)
 Whose standards of righteousness are we obligated to follow, and why
is it for our best interests? (Rev. 15:3)
 If we disobey God because we have not formed a longing for his Word,
what could be the outcome? (1 Sam 15:22, 23; Deut. 7:3, 4)
 What should we keep our feet busy doing? (Matt 28:19, 20; Rom.
10:15; Ps. 73:2, 3; 1 Tim. 5:13)
 How will firmly grounded faith help us when faced with tragedy or
attacks from Bible critics? (2 Tim 1:12; 2 Ki 6:15-17)
 How does our hope of salvation help us to avoid being entangled by
disproportionate concern with material possessions? (1 Tim. 6:7-10,
19)
 On what should we at all times rely when fighting off attacks against
our spirituality or that of others? (Ps. 119:98; Pro 3:5, 6; Matt 4:3, 4)
44
Kenneth L. Boles, Galatians & Ephesians, The College Press NIV Commentary (Joplin,
MO: College Press, 1993), Eph 6:18.
80
CHAPTER 11 Why has God Permitted
Wickedness and Suffering?
“God has morally sufficient reasons for permitting the evil and suffering in
the world.” – William Lane Craig
That morally sufficient reason lies below.
“The significant issue that drove me to Agnosticism [Bible Scholar Dr.
Bart D. Ehrman is now an Agnostic] has to do not with the Bible, but with the
pain and suffering in the world.” He writes, “I eventually found it impossible to
explain the evil so rampant among us―whether in terms of genocides (which
continue), unspeakable human cruelty, war, disease, hurricanes, tsunamis,
mudslides, the starvation of millions of innocent children, you name it―if there
was a good and loving God who was actively involved in this
world.” Misquoting Jesus (p. 248)
As you will see below, Ehrman’s issue is simply a matter of starting with
the wrong assumption. Point One: He starts with ‘if God is a God of love, who
has the power to fix anything, how can there have been such horrific pain and
suffering in imperfection over the last 6,000 years?’ Point Two: He also likely
begins with the premise that ‘God is responsible for everything that happens.’ If
one starts with the wrong assumption, there is no doubt that he will reach the
wrong conclusion(s). Point One is dealt with below, but let it be said that
Ehrman is looking through the binoculars from the opposite end, the big side
through the small. When we do that, we get a narrow, focused outlook. God
looks through the binoculars the correct way, and can see the big picture.
Ehrman can only see but a fraction and a moment of time, 70 – 80 years, while
God has seen everything that has happened over these past 6,000 plus years in
the greatest of detail, and can see what the outcome would be if he had handled
things in a variety of ways.
Point Two is certainly one reason suffering and evil is often
misunderstood. God is responsible for everything, but not always directly. If he
started the human race, and we end up with what we now have, in essence, he is
responsible. Just as parents, who have a child are similarly responsible for the
child committing murder 21 years into his life, because they procreated and gave
birth to the child. The mother and father are indirectly responsible. King David
commits adultery with Bathsheba and has her husband Uriah killed to cover
things up, and impregnates Bathsheba, but the adulterine child, who remains
nameless, died. Is God responsible for the death of that child? We can answer
yes and no to that question. He is responsible in two ways: (1) He created
humankind, so there would have been no affair, murder, adulterine child if he
had not. (2) He did not step in and save the child when he had the power to do
so. However, he is not directly responsible, because he did not make King David
and Bathsheba commit the acts that led to the child being born, nor did he bring
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an illness on the adulterine child, he just did not move in to protect the child, in
a time that had a high rate of infant deaths.
The reason people think that God does not care about us is the words of
some religious leaders, which have made them, feel this way. When tragedy
strikes, what do some pastors and Bible scholars often say? When 9/11 took
place, with thousands dying in the twin towers of New York, many ministers
said: “It was God’s will. God must have had some good reason for doing this.”
When religious leaders make such comments or similar ones, they are actually
blaming God for the bad things that happened. Yet, the disciple James wrote,
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God
cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” (James 1:13) God
never directly causes what is bad. Indeed, “far be it from God that he should do
wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.” Job 34:10.
The history of humans has been inundated with pain and suffering on an
unprecedented scale, much of which they have brought on themselves. The
problem/question that has plagued many persons is, ‘why if there is a loving
God, would he allow it to start with, and worse still, why allow it to go on for
over 6,000 years?’ Some apologist scholars have struggled to answer this
question, because they are over analyzing, as opposed to just looking for the
answer in God’s Word. Therefore, if we are to answer this question, we must go
back to Adam and Eve at the time of the first sin. Many have read this account,
but I will list the texts as a refresher.
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not
17
eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.”46
45

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which
1
Jehovah God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God actually say,
‘You47 shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the
serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat, 3 but from the tree
that is in the midst of the garden, God said, ‘You shall not eat from it, nor shall
you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 And the serpent said to the woman, “You shall not
surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” knowing good and evil.
Later Bible texts establish Satan the Devil as the one using a serpent as his
mouthpiece like a ventriloquist would a dummy. Anyway, take note that Satan
45
Lit eat from it
46
Lit dying you [singular] shall die. Heb moth tamuth; the first reference to death in the
Scriptures
47
In Hebrew you is plural in verses 1–5
82
contradicts the clear statement that God made to Adam at Genesis 2:17, “you
will not surely die.” Backing up a little, we see Satan asking an inferential
question, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
First, he is overstating what he knows to be true, not “any tree,” just one tree.
Second, Satan is inferring, ‘I can’t believe that God would say . . . how dare he
say such.’ Notice too that Eve has been told so thoroughly about the tree that she
even goes beyond what Adam told her, not just that you ‘do not eat from it,’ no,
‘you do not even touch it!’ Then, Satan out and out lied and slandered God as a
liar, saying that ‘they would not die.’ To make matters much worse, he infers
that God is withholding good from them, and by rebelling they would be better
off, being like God, ‘knowing good and bad.’ This latter point is not knowledge
of; it is the self-sovereignty of choosing good and bad for oneself and act of
rebellion for created creatures. What was symbolized by the tree is well
expressed in a footnote on Genesis 2:17, in The Jerusalem Bible (1966):
This knowledge is a privilege which God reserves to himself and which
man, by sinning, is to lay hands on, 3:5, 22. Hence it does not mean
omniscience, which fallen man does not possess; nor is it moral discrimination,
for unfallen man already had it and God could not refuse it to a rational being. It
is the power of deciding for himself what is good and what is evil and of acting
accordingly, a claim to complete moral independence by which man refuses to
recognize his status as a created being. The first sin was an attack on God’s
sovereignty, a sin of pride.
The Issues at Hand
(1) Satan called God a liar and said he was not to be trusted, as to the life
or death issue.
(2) Satan’s challenge, therefore, took into question the right and legitimacy
of God’s rightful place as the Universal Sovereign.
(3) Satan also suggested that people would remain obedient to God only as
long as their submitting to God was to their benefit.
(4) Satan all but said that humankind was able to walk on his own, there
being no need for dependence on God.
(5) Satan argued that man could be like God, choosing for himself what is
right and wrong.
(6) Satan claimed that God’s way of ruling was not in the best interests of
humans, and they could do better without God.
6
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Satan answered Jehovah, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you not made
a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have
blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the
4
This general reference to “a man,” as opposed to explicitly naming Job, is
suggesting that all men [and women] will only obey God when things are good,
but when the slightest difficulty arises, he will not obey. If you were put to the
test, would you prove your love for your heavenly Father and show that you
preferred His rule to that of any other?
God Settles the Issues
There is one thing that Satan did not challenge, namely, the power of God.
Satan did not suggest that God was unable to destroy him as an opposer.
However, he did challenge God’s way of ruling, not His right to rule. Therefore,
a moral issue must be settled.
An illustration of how God chose to deal with the issue can be
demonstrated in human terms. A neighbor down the street slandered a man, who
had a son and daughter. The slanderer said that he was not a good father, i.e., he
withheld good from his children and was so overbearing, to the point of being
abusive. The slanderer stated that the children would be better off without
their father. He further argued that the children had no real love for their
father and only obeyed him because of the food and shelter. How should the
father deal with these false, i.e., slanderous accusations? If he were to go down
the road and pummel the slanderer, it would only validate the lies, making the
neighbors believe the accuser is telling the truth.
The answer lies within his family as they can serve as his witnesses. (Pro
27:11; Isa 43:10) If the children stay obedient and grow to be successful adults,
turning out to be loving, caring, honest people with spotless character, it proves
the accusations false. If the children accept the lies and rebel and grow up to be
despicable people, it just further validates that they would have been better off
by staying with the father. This is how God chose to deal with the issues. The
issues that were raised must be settled beyond all reasonable doubt.
If God had destroyed the rebellious three: Satan, Adam, and Eve; he would
not have resolved the issues of
(1) Whether man could walk on his own,
(2) if he would be better off without his Creator,
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(3) if God’s rulership were not best, and
(4) if God were hiding good from man.
(5) In addition, there was an audience of untold billions of angelic spirit
creatures looking on.
If God destroyed without settling things, these spirit persons would be
following God out of dreadful fear, not love, fear of displeasing God. Moreover,
say He did kill them and start over, and ten thousand years down the road (with
billions of humans now on earth), the issues were raised again, He would have
to destroy billions of people again, and again, and again all throughout time,
until these issues were laid to rest.
What God has done is, allow time to pass, and the issues to be resolved.
Man thought he was better off without God, and could walk on his own. In
addition, man has attempted every kind of rulership imaginable, and one must
ask, ‘have they proven themselves better than rulership under the sovereignty of
their Creator?’ (Proverbs 1:30-33; Isaiah 59:4, 8) Sadly, the issues must be taken
up to the brink of destroying man. (Rev 11:18) Otherwise, the argument would
be that if given enough time, they could have turned things around. If man goes
up to the point of destroying himself and Armageddon comes at the last minute,
it will have set a case law, solved the issue, and the Bible can serve as the
example forever. If the issues of God’s sovereignty or the loyalty of His created
creatures, angelic or human, is ever questioned again, we would have the Holy
Bible that will serve as a law established based on previous verdicts of not
guilty, please see below.
What Have the Results Been?
(1) God does not cause evil and suffering. Romans 9:14.
(2) The fact that God has allowed evil, pain and suffering have shown that
independence from God has not brought about a better world. Jeremiah 8:5, 6, 9.
(3) God’s permission of evil, pain, and suffering has also proved that Satan
has not been able to turn all humans away from God. Exodus 9:16; 1 Samuel
12:22; Hebrews 12:1.
(4) The fact that God has permitted evil, pain, and suffering to continue has
provided proof that only God, the Creator, has the capability and the right to rule
over humankind for their eternal blessing and happiness. Ecclesiastes 8:9.
(5) Satan has been the god of this world since the sin in Eden (over 6,000
years), and how has that worked out for man, and what has been the result of
man’s course of independence from God and his rule? Matthew 4:8-9; John
16:11; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 John 5:19; Psalm 127:1.
Satan’s impact on the earth’s activities has carried with it conflict, evil and
death, and his rulership has been by means of deception, power and his own
self-interest. He has demonstrated himself an unfit ruler of everything.
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Therefore, God is now completely vindicated in putting an end to this corrupted
rebel along with all who have shared in his evil deeds.―Romans 16:20.
God has tolerated evil, sickness, pain, suffering and death until our day in
order to resolve all the issues raised by Satan. We are self-centered in thinking
that this has only pained us. Imagine that you are holding a rope on a sinking
ship that 20 other men, women, and children are clinging to, when your child
loses her grip and falls into the ocean. You can hold the rope, saving 20 people,
or you can let go and attempt to rescue your daughter. God has been watching
the suffering of billions from the day of Adam and Eve’s sin. Moreover, it has
been His great love for us, which causes Him to cling to the rope of issues,
saving us from a future of repeated issues. Nevertheless, he will not allow this
evil to remain forever. He has set a fixed time when He will end this wicked
system of Satan’s rule.
27
As for both kings, their heart will be inclined to do what is evil, and they
will speak lies to each other at the same table; but it will not succeed, for the end
is still to come at the appointed time.
Unlike what many people of the world may think (the world that lies in the
hands of Satan), being obedient to God is not difficult. We simply must set our
pride aside and accept that the wisdom of God is so far greater than our own,
and accept that He has worked for the good of obedient humankind, as He loves
each one of us.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of
21
heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

1 John 2:15-17 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
15
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the
world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the
Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and its lusts; but the
one who does the will of God remains forever.
As Christians, there is a love we must not have. We must ‘not love the
world or anything in it.’ Instead, we need to keep from becoming infected by the
corruption of unrighteous human society that is alienated from God and must not
breathe in its mental disposition or be moved by its sinful dominant attitude.
(Ephesians 2:1, 2; James 1:27) If we were to have the views of those in the
world that are in opposition to God, “the love of the Father” would not be in us.
(James 4:4)
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Was Satan Punished?
Yes.
COMMON QUESTION: Why did God not destroy the Satan, Adam, and
Eve right away?
I would follow up with what would have happened if God had chosen that
path. Hundreds of billions of angels with free will were watching, and they
knew of the issues raised. What would their love of God have been like if God
did not address the issues raised? Was Satan right? Was God lying? Would free
will creatures, spirit and humans, be better off? Will God just destroy us over
anything? First, the spirit creatures would have followed God out of dreadful
fear, rather than fear of displeasing the one they loved so much up to that point,
like a child to a parent. Second, what happens if the issue is raised a hundred
thousand years after a restart and there are 30 billion perfect humans on the
planet? Would God simply destroy everyone again and start over. Do we think it
wise that he does this reboot every time or was it not better that he settled the
issue once and for all?
POINT: Satan raised Issues of sovereignty in the Garden of Eden.
POINT: Can humans walk on their own; do they really need their Creator?
Are they better off without God?
POINT: Was God lying and withholding?
When a teenager becomes a rebel in our house, we have a choice: (1)
severe punishment or (2) teach them an object lesson.
HUMANS AND ANGELS are a created product no different than a car
coming off of an assembly line, i.e., (1) they owe their existence to their creator
and (2) they were created to function based on the design of the creator. If we
take a ford escort and treat it like a heavy duty four-wheel drive truck and go off
roading (not what the car was designed to do), what will happen?
God wisely chose to teach both angels and humans an object lesson.
Neither was designed to walk on their own. Both angel and human were given
relative freedom (under the sovereignty of God), not absolute freedom. They
were not designed to choose what is right and what is wrong on their own. They
were given God’s moral standards by way of an internal conscience. How can
we tell a rebel that we do not have absolute freedom, we are better off under the
umbrella of our creator’s sovereignty, we cannot walk on our own? They will
just reject it as a rebel teenager would.
OBJECT LESSON: We let them learn from their choice, no matter how
painful it is, and hard love means that we do not step in until the lesson is fully
learned. Humankind was essentially told, “Oh, you think you can walk on your
own, well go ahead, we will see how that works out.” After six-thousand-years,
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God could actually use a common saying among young people today: “How is
that absolute freedom working out for you?”
When will the lesson fully be learned? Humankind will walk right up to
the very edge of the cliff of killing themselves, actually falling over, when God
will step in and stop the object lesson. To stop it anytime before, will cause
doubts. If it had been stopped a century ago, the argument would have been;
God simply stepped in before we got to the scientific age because he knew we
were going to find true peace and security, along with something to give us
eternal life. However, if humanity has actually fallen over the edge of the cliff
and the destruction of us is definite, and God steps in, no argument can be
raised, the object lesson is learned.
Why Was Satan Not Kicked Out of Heaven Right Away?

Satan stayed in his realm, just as humans stayed in theirs. God changed
nothing right away because he would have been accused of adjusting the pieces
on the chessboard to get the desired outcome, i.e., cheating. When will Satan be
kicked out of heaven? Satan and the Demons lost access to the person of God
long age, and they lost some of their powers, such as being able to materialize in
human form, like they did when they took human women for themselves at the
flood, producing the Nephilim.
Satan would be thrown to the earth very shortly before the end of his age
of rulership, when “he knows that his time is short.” (Rev 12:9-12) This, then,
means that Satan will be thrown from heaven likely sometime before the Great
Tribulation and Christ’s return. Revelation 12:12 says, “‘Therefore, rejoice, O
heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the
devil has come down to you in great wrath because he knows that his time is
short!'”
Notice that it is at a time, when “Satan knows that his time is short!” What
comes next for Satan? He will be abyssed, thrown into a super-maximum-
security prison for a thousand years (for lack of a better way to explain it) while
Jesus fixes all that Satan done. After the thousand years, he will be let loose for
a little while, and he will tempt perfect humans, and sadly some will fall away.
In the end, Satan and those humans will be destroyed, and Jesus will hand the
kingdom back over to the father.
Review Questions
 What issues did Satan the Devil raise in the Garden of Eden?
 How did God settle the isuues?
 What have the results been?
 Why was Satan not kicked out of heaven right away?
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CHAPTER 12 Psalm 91:11 Do You Have A
Guardian Angel?
For he will command his angels concerning you
11
to guard you in all your ways.

There is nothing within the Bible that teaches that each of us as an
individual has a guardian angel. True, Jesus once said: “See that you do not
despise one of these little ones [Christ’s disciples], for I say to you that their
angels in heaven continually see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
(Matthew 18:10) However, Jesus was not saying that each of Christ’s followers
has a guardian angel but rather he was implying that angels are actively
interested in Jesus’ disciples. Hence, Christians do not assume that because we
are faithful there will be a guardian angel on standby to protect us from every
difficulty in life.
So, are we saying that angels do not help humans? No, as Psalm 91:11
says, “For he [God] will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all
your ways.” Some Christians feel quite strongly that God has provided them
with a guardian angel that protects and guides them through life. This author
would agree with S. Edward Tesh and Walter D. Zorn, “They [angels] also serve
as “guardians” of some type (Matt 4:11; 18:10; Acts 12:7–10; Heb 1:14; and
others). But I would argue that there is no biblical support for “personal
guardian” angels …” (Psalms, The College Press NIV Commentary (Joplin,
MO: College Press, 1999), 180.) However, we are not going to be dogmatic that
there is no longer any angelic intervention in Christian lives. Nevertheless, what
we know is this: (1) angels are invisible spiritual creatures; therefore, we cannot
know to what extent God is using them in helping individuals with various
circumstances. Nonetheless, we should be thanking the Almighty for whatever
support he may have provided in the past and may choose to provide in the
future. — Colossians 3:15; James 1:17-18.
How Do Angels Aid Us Sometimes?
Faithful angels are very interested in human activities and are actively
committed to carrying out God’s will. During the creation of the earth by God,
the angels, “the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for
joy.” (Job 38:4, 7) Throughout human history, there have been “things into
which angels long to look.” (1 Pet. 1:11-12.) In God’s Word, the Bible, we can
see many incidents where God has used angels to accomplish his will and
purposes, which at times, involved protection for true worshippers. (Psalm 34:7)
S. Edward Tesh and Walter D. Zorn offer some examples, “In the Old
Testament angels are messengers of God bringing specific commands or
instructions from God (Judg 6:11ff.; 13:3–5, etc.). In time of war they may
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intervene on behalf of Israel (2 Kgs 19:35) or against her (2 Sam 24:16ff.). Two
angels (spoken of as men) protected Lot from the Sodomites, smiting the latter
with blindness (Genesis 19). At creation angels (called “sons of God”) shouted
for joy (Job 38:4–7). Daniel, after surviving his ordeal in the den of lions,
explained to the king that, because he, Daniel, was innocent of any crime, God
had sent his angel to shut the mouths of the lions (Dan 6:22).” — The College
Press NIV Commentary (Joplin, MO: College Press, 1999), 180.
Angels Were Used In the First Century
There were specific times when God’s angels intervened in the activities of
the early Christian congregation to carry out God’s will and purposes. For
example:
Acts 8:26-31 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
26
But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south
to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 27 And
he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of
Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; who
had come to worship in Jerusalem, 28 and he was returning and sitting in his
chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go
over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah
the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he
said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up
and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was
this:
“He was led as a sheep to slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
About the ninth hour of the day 48 he saw clearly in a vision an angel of
3
God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him, terrified, and
asked, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms
have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and
bring one Simon who is called Peter.
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
12 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who
belonged to the congregation. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with a
sword. 3 And when he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded to
48
That is, about 3:00 p.m.
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arrest Peter also. Now this was during the feast of Unleavened Bread. 4 And
when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to
four squads of soldiers49 to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him
out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was
made to God by the congregation.
Peter Is Miraculously Rescued
6
Now when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was
sleeping bound with two chains between two soldiers, and guards in front of the
door were keeping watch over the prison. 7 And look, an angel of the
Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the
side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his
hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals!”
And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow
me!” 9 And he went out and followed, and he did not know that what took place
through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had
passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the
city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one
street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 When Peter came
to50 himself,51 he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and
rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were
expecting.”52
QUESTION: A servant girl named Rhoda, upon recognizing the
imprisoned Peter’s voice at the door, she reported that Peter was at the gate.
Why did the disciples say: “It is his angel”?
12
When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John
whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were
praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl
named Rhoda came to answer. 14 And recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she
did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the
gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that
it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”
The disciples may have mistakenly or incorrectly believed that an angelic
messenger representing Peter was at the gate. Let’s revisit the context of Acts
12:15. If yoActs 1:15 above, please do so now.
49
Lit quaternions; a quaternion was composed of four soldiers; so, four shifts of four soldiers
50
Lit in himself
51
I.e., when Peter came to realize what was happening
52
Lit the expectation of the people of the Jews
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Herod had arrested Peter, who had previously put James to death.
Therefore, it was within reason that the disciples likely believed that Peter too
had been put to death. However, Peter was in chains being guarded by four
soldiers each on four shifts. Then, in the night, Peter was miraculously freed
from the chains and led out of the prison by an angel of the Lord. When Peter
finally understood what was going on and that it was not a vision, he said, “Now
I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of
Herod.” — Acts 12:1-11.
Upon being rescued, Peter at once went to the house of Mary, the mother
of John who was also called Mark where several of the disciples were
assembled. After knocking in the gate door, a servant girl named Rhoda went to
answer. She recognized Peter’s voice, with such an unexpected surprise, she was
likely startled, so she ran to tell the disciples without even opening the door for
Peter! Initially, the disciples refused to believe that Peter was at the gate.
Instead, they erroneously assumed: “It is his angel.”—Acts 12:12-15.
When he knocked on the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda
went to answer. Upon recognizing Peter’s voice, she ran to tell the others
without even letting him in! At first, the disciples could not believe that Peter
was at the gate. Instead, they mistakenly assumed: “It is his angel.” — Acts
12:12-15.
This is no reason to believe, as some have suggested, that the disciples
thought Peter had been executed by Herod and this was his disembodied spirit
was at the gate. No, this could hardly have been the case. What, then did the
disciples mean by “It is his angel”?
Jesus disciples being Jewish was well aware of all of the historical
accounts in the Israelite history where angels materialize in human form and
came to the aid of some of God’s people. For example, Jacob spoke of “the
angel who has redeemed me from all evil.” (Gen. 48:16) And regarding a young
child in their midst, Jesus told his followers: “See that you do not despise one of
these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the
face of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 18:10) Then, of course, there was a
couple of encounters with angels earlier in the book of Acts mentioned above.
Acts 12:15 Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
and they said unto her, `Thou art mad;’ and she was confidently
15
affirming [it] to be so, and they said, Ìt is his messenger;’

Notice that in Young’s Literal Translation the Greek noun (angelos) is
rendered as “messenger.” (“angel”). It seems that there was a belief among the
Jews at that time that each servant of God had his own personal angel. that is a
guardian angel.
Many Jews believed in the notion of an angel who was closely
associated with a person and could even take on that person’s
appearance. Note the book of Tobit, where the angel Raphael took on
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the disguise of Azarias (a relative of Tobit’s) and became a guide for
Tobit’s son, Tobias (Tobit 5:4–16). Jesus himself spoke of angels
associated with children: “See that you do not look down on one of
these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see
the face of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:10). This led to a belief in
the church about angels assigned to people for their lifetimes and who
from time to time intervene on their behalf.53
Of course, this view is nowhere directly taught within the inspired, fully
inerrant Scriptures. Nevertheless, it is still possible that when the disciples
responded to Rhoda, saying, “It is his angel,” mistakenly believed that an
angelic messenger (guardian angel) representing Peter was at the gate. This is
not a mistake in the Bible, of course, as it is a possible mistaken notion on the
part of the disciples that is being accurately recorded by Luke. This is not a
doctrinal position that is being conveyed but rather a recollection of a historical
account.
Supposed miraculous rescues throughout the history of Christianity down
to the present raise a reasonable question, If every Christian has a guardian
angel, why is it that some of God’s people are rescued, whereas many are
not? Countless millions of Christians in the last 2,000 years have died from
disease, wars, famines, and natural disasters. Undoubtedly, many of these
servants of God earnestly prayed for help. Why didn’t a guardian angel save
them?
While God’s angels are interested in our physical welfare, they are
definitely more interested in our spiritual welfare. The apostle Paul suggested
this in question form: “Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent out to
serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” (Heb. 1:14) While there
are certainly cases where God steps into humanity to come to the physical aid of
a faithful servant; this is the extreme exception to the rule. Physical help brings
momentary gains, but spiritual help can bring eternal advantages.
Many who relate miraculous angel stories, the accounts come across as
superficial and trivial. In one, an angel is said to have helped an elderly woman
to make her bed. In another, an angel reminded a shopper that he needed to buy
matches. And there are angels said to help drivers find good parking places.
Even more silly than this is a woman that prayed to her guardian angel to watch
over her care when she parked illegally so that the angel would move the traffic
police from giving her a ticket. These are stories like Santa Clause and the fairy
godmother.
Angels of God do not contradict the Word of God. The Word of God does
not change so anyone relating angelic stories that go beyond the Scriptures may
want to prayerfully reconsider. The apostle Paul wrote to some in the first
53
Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: John, Acts., vol.
2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 329.
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century: “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in
the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel; not that there is another,
but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But
even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary
to54 the one we preached to you, let him be accursed!”55 — Galatians 1:6-8.
Never does the Bible tell us, encourage us, or even suggest or infer to us
that we are to call upon angels. Jesus made this point clear in the example prayer
that he gave us. He said, “Pray in this way: “Our Father who is in the heaven
…’” (Matthew 6:9) Similarly, the apostle Paul wrote: “In nothing be anxious;
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests
be made known to God.” — Philippians 4:6.
The Bible itself reveals the names of only two of God’s faithful angels,
Michael and Gabriel. (Dan. 12:1; Lu 1:26) This limited number helps his
servants to understand angels are unique spirit persons just as humans are unique
individuals. However, no more names are given because God did not want his
servants elevating angels to a position of unwarranted honor, which angels
themselves would never seek out nor desire. Remember Jacob asked an angel to
tell him his name, but the angel refused to do so. (Gen. 32:29) Later, an angel
who physically materialized to Joshua and did not identify himself by name but
as the “commander of the army of Jehovah.” (Josh.5:14) Likewise, Samson’s
father asked an angel his name, he was told: “Why do you ask my name, seeing
it is wonderful?” (Judges 13:17, 18) God’s faithful angels are not looking for or
seeking attention for themselves but rather want us to honor God and call on his
name.
God comes to the rescue some of his faithful followers both physically and
spiritually according to his will and purposes both miraculously and by sending
an angel. Even in biblical times, these were extreme exceptions to the rule. Out
of 4,100 years of Bible history, you can find many periods of time, sometimes
centuries, when there was no miraculous activity of any sort.
For he will command his angels concerning you
11
to guard you in all your ways.

Looking again at Psalm 91:11, we take note that God promises to protect
those who love him and trust him. What sort of protection did he mean? Well,
we notice from our study of the Scriptures, sometimes God protected some of
his people physically to preserve the genealogical line leading to the promised
Messiah. Nevertheless, many other faithful servants of God were imprisoned,
tortured, and killed in Satanic attempts to turn them away from their faithful life
course of walking with God. These ones who suffered physically found the
54
Or other than
55
Gr anathema
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courage to endure these difficult times because God protected them spiritually
so that they would not be in danger of breaking their integrity.
91 He who dwells in the hiding place* of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2
I will say to Jehovah, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
* or secret place
The 91st Psalm can be interpreted as a commitment to spiritual protection.
“The secret place of the Most High is a figurative place where the faithful
servants of God find spiritual safety and security. In other words, they find
protection from being harmed spiritually. Why is it secret or hidden? It is secret
or hidden because it is unknown to the unbeliever, as they do not know God let
alone have faith in God. This would hold true as well for the so-called believer
who is really not a faithful servant of God. Jehovah offers his protection to all
who faithfully turn to him. However, this offer of protection is no guarantee that
one will receive physical protection from an angel, but the spiritual protection is
always there. Lastly, Psalms 91 does not allow for reckless behavior.
Michael the archangel is under the command of Jesus Christ himself. (Matt
13:41; 16:27; 24:31; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Pet. 3:22; Rev. 19:14-16) Michael is a
guardian of God’s faithful servants as a whole but he is not a guardian angel of
individual persons though. However, he does assign angels to prevent rebel
angels from slaughtering true Christians. We may recall that one faithful angel
slaughter 185,000 Assyrian warriors in one night. Thus, it would be nothing for
millions of rebel angels to slaughter every faithful servant of God in one night.
So, like Job, they have a hedge of protection from such an attack or demonic
possession. However, they are not sitting around waiting to protect us from our
own human imperfection and the wicked, fallen world.
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CHAPTER 13 Does God Step in and Solve Our
Every Problem Because We are Faithful?
Praising God as the Grand Savior
Psalm 42 depicts for us the circumstances of a Levite, one of the offspring
of Korah, who found himself in exile. His inspired words can be very beneficial
to us in preserving thankfulness for friendship with fellow Christians and
continuing steadfastly while going through hostile conditions.
Thirsting for God as a Deer Thirsts for Water
The psalmist stated,
42 As a deer longs for flowing streams of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
2
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?56
A female deer cannot survive long without water. If water is low, the deer
will risk its life going out of cover to get at the lifesaving water, even though she
knows that the prey could attack at any moment. Like the deer that longs for
water because it is a matter of life or death, the Psalmist longed for God. The
word “pants” in the Hebrew means “to have a keen, consuming desire for.” His
driving passion was not for people, possessions, or prosperity but for God.”57
The Bible lands are a dry country, where the vegetation wastes away
rapidly throughout the dry season and water is a very valuable commodity, as it
is limited in the extreme. That is why the Psalmist says that he was a ‘soul
thirsting for God.’ He had been going without his essential spiritual needs being
satisfied, that is the freedom of going to the sanctuary; therefore, he asks when
he might again “appear before God.”
He had been confined because of persecution, which prevented him from
having contact with his fellow believers, which resulted in intense sadness,
unhappiness, and hopelessness, as verse three indicates.
My tears have been my food
3
day and night,
56
Some MSS read see the face of God
57
Anders, Max; Lawson, Steven (2004-01-01). Holman Old Testament Commentary –
Psalms: 11 (p. 224). B&H Publishing.
97
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
Because of this hostile situation, the Psalmist was depressed to the point of
being unable to eat. Therefore, his ‘tears were his food.’ Yes, “day and night”
tears would roll down his cheeks into his mouth. His isolation and distress were
not enough, as his enemies aggravated his wounds by provoking, ridiculing, in a
hurtful or mocking way, as they would say all day long, “Where is your God?”
He needed to find a way to reassure himself during this time of difficulty, to not
be overrun by sorrow and heartache.
Why am I in Despair?
4
These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with a voice of joy and thanksgiving,
a multitude keeping festival.
5
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
for the salvation of before him. 6 O my God, within me my soul is cast down
within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and the heights of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
Here we find the Psalmist not living in the moment of suffering, but rather
remembering a time before he was in exile. He ‘pours out his soul,’ reaching the
depths of his inner self with such passion, as he reminisces within about the
former days. The Levite recalls in his mind what life was like when he was in
his land, as he lived and worshiped with his brother and sister Israelites, as they
walked “to the house of God,” to celebrate the festival. Initially, these memories
did not bring joy, but the pain of knowing they were a thing of the past, deeply
missed.
Then, he asked himself, “Why are you cast down, O my soul and why are
you in turmoil within me”? At that moment, he realized that his hope of
salvation was not in himself, but in God. Therefore, the sweet memories indeed
brought him relief! He knew that if he patiently waited, God would act on his
behalf. He then knew that his unfavorable conditions were not going to define
his faith that, in time God would aid him in his time of need. When that moment
would happen, he would “praise him” for ‘his salvation’ and being ‘his God.’
He might have been far removed from the sanctuary, but the Psalmist kept his
God at the forefront of his mind.
98
If we ever find ourselves in difficult times, unrelenting times, we need to
follow the pattern set by the Psalmist. We need to remember that God is well
aware of our circumstances, and he will not forsake us. We must realize that the
issues that were raised by Satan in the Garden of Eden, the sovereignty of God,
the rightfulness of his rulership, and the issues raised by Satan to God in the
book of Job, the loyalty of God’s creatures, are greater than we are.
Proverbs 3:25-26 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
25
Do not be afraid of sudden panic58
or the storm of the wicked, when it comes,
26
for Jehovah will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
Before delving into the rest of Psalm 42, let us take a moment to establish
what these verses do not mean. Should we understand that these verses or any
others in Scripture teach that because we are wisely walking with God that he
will miraculously step in to protect each servant personally from difficult times,
diseases, mental disorders, injury or death? No. These sorts of miracles are the
extreme exception to the rule. Of the 4,000 plus years of Bible history, from
Adam to Jesus, with tens of millions of people living and dying, we have but a
few dozen miracles that we know of in Scripture. Even in Bible times, miracles
were not typical, far from it. Hundreds of years may pass with no historical
record of a miracle happening at all.
If we are wisely walking with God, we can be confident that bodily
disease, mental disorders, injury or early death is far less likely than if we were
not. Moreover, we can draw on the resurrection hope. Does God miraculously
move events to save us out of difficult times or miraculously heal us? Yes, he
certainly can, but it is an extreme exception to the rule. He miraculously heals
those who are going to play a significant role in his settling of the issues that
were raised in the Garden of Eden.
What God’s Word teaches us is this, that if we walk by using discernment
and exercising sound judgment from Scripture, unless unexpected events befall
us, we can be sure that we will not stumble into the difficulties that the world of
humankind alienated from God faces every day. Conversely, the wicked do not
have this protection as they reject the Word of God as foolish. In other words,
Christians live by the moral values of Scripture, which gives them an advantage
over those who do not. Therefore, God answers our prayers by our faithfully
acting on behalf of those prayers, by applying Scripture in a balanced manner. If
we have not taken in a deep understanding of God’s Word, how can we have the
Spirit-inspired wisdom, the very knowledge of God to guide and direct us in our
ways? Just because we are not being rescued when we feel that we should, this
does not mean that we have lost faith, or that God is displeased. Even though the
58
Or fear, dread, terror
99
Psalmist had no doubt that Jehovah God was coming to his aid, he still
experienced grief.
7
Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
Yes, the Psalmist’s surroundings of his exile were very beautiful; however,
they brought him back to the reality of his difficulty! Verse 7 may very well be
describing the snow on Mount Hermon when it melts. Marvelous waterfalls are
fashioned, which pour into the Jordan, causing it to increase in size. It is as
though one wave is speaking to another wave. This extraordinary spectacle of
power brought to the Psalmist’s mind that he had been consumed by distress as
if being overcome by a flood. Nevertheless, his faith in God does not waiver.
8
By day Jehovah commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
There is no doubt in the Psalmist’s mind that Jehovah God will engulf him
with his steadfast love, freeing him from anxiety. This will empower him to
praise God in song and to offer a prayer of thanks ‘to the God of his life.’
The Korahite Levite thinks,
9
I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10
As with a shattering of my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
Then, it seems that the Psalmist slips, even though he views God as ‘his
rock,’ a place of protection from one’s enemies. Yes, he now asks, “Why have
you forgotten me?” Yes, the Psalmist was allowed to remain in his
circumstances of sadness, feeling depressed, as his enemies took pleasure in
what appeared to be a victory. The psalmist speaks of himself as being criticized
in an unbearable way. So malicious was the mockery and disdain that it could be
likened ‘as with a deadly wound in his bones.’ However, the Levite again comes
to himself with self-talk, challenging his irrational thinking with rational
thinking.
100
Wait for God

11
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
It is not the troubles of the Psalmist, which actually caused him to feel bad.
It is what he told himself that contributed to how he felt. Self-talk is what we tell
ourselves in our thoughts. In fact, self-talk is the words we tell ourselves about
people, self, experiences, life in general, God, the future, the past, the present; it
is specifically all the words we say to ourselves all the time. Destructive self-
talk, even subconsciously, can be very harmful to our mood: causing mood
slumps, our self-worth plummeting, our body feeling sluggish, our will to
accomplish even the smallest of things is not to be realized, and our actions
defeat us.
Intense negative thinking of the Psalmist led to his feeling forsaken,
resulting in painful emotions, and depressive state. However, his thoughts based
on a good mood were entirely different from those based on his being upset.
Negative thoughts that flooded his mind were the actual contributors of his self-
defeating emotions. These very thoughts were what kept the Psalmist sluggish
and contributed to his feeling abandoned. Therefore, his thinking was also the
key to his relief.
Every time the Psalmist felt down because of his irrational self-talk, he
attempted to locate the corresponding negative thought he had to this feeling. It
was those thoughts that created his feelings of low self-worth. By offsetting
them and replacing them with rational thoughts, he actually changed his mood.
The negative thoughts that move through his mind did so with no effort, and
were the easiest course to follow, because imperfect human tendencies gave him
that way of thinking, a pattern of thinking. However, the Psalmist challenged
those irrational thoughts of being forsaken with rational ones, saying that he
would hope to God and that he would continue to praise him as in the end God
is his salvation, even if that salvation comes in the form of a resurrection.
The centerpiece of it all is our Christlike mine. Our moods, behaviors and
body responses result from the way we view things (fleshly or spiritual). It is a
proven fact that we cannot experience any event in any way, shape, or form
unless we have processed it with our mind first. No event can depress us; it is
our perception of that event that will contribute to intense sadness, even
depression. If we are only sad over an event, our thoughts will be rational, but if
we are depressed or anxious over an event, our thinking will be bent and
irrational, distorted and utterly wrong.
101
If we are to remain rational in our thinking, we need to grasp the fact that
God does not always step in when we believe he should, nor is he obligated to
do so. As was stated earlier, he has greater issues that need resolving, which
have eternal effects for the whole of humankind. There are far more times that
when God does not step in, meaning that our relief may come in the hope of the
resurrection. However, for his servants that apply his Word in a balanced
manner, fully, God is acting in their best interest by way of his inspired, inerrant
Word.
Review Questions
 Explain how much God is involved in humanity.

 Do Christians tend to overly attribute things to God?
 How can this overly attributing cause more harm than good?
102
CHAPTER 14 Why is Life So Unfair?
On December 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot twenty
children and six adult staff members in a mass murder at Sandy Hook
Elementary School, in the village of Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut.
Before driving to the school, Lanza shot and killed his mother Nancy at their
Newtown home. As first responders arrived, he committed suicide by shooting
himself in the head.59
Parents, who sent their children to school that morning, never expected that
by the end of the day, Adam Lanza would have murdered them. Worse still,
there were signs that, if paid attention to, things may have not turned out the
way they did. These parents are certainly, what comes to mind when we think of
life being unfair.
Unfairness the World Over
The world is full of these type of accounts the world over. We have social
depravities everywhere we look. In the United States, there are hundreds of
thousands living in homeless shelters, under bridges, eating at soup kitchens,
and many have young children with them as well. On the other hand, the United
States throws away more food than any other country. Sadly, the hungry in the
United States, while truly unfair, rates very low when one considers the
inhumane conditions of other countries. In some countries, like Mexico, you
have a millionaire living in a mansion, with a poor person living in a shack next
door, and a person living in a car, living next door to him. Almost two billion
people live in such hopeless poverty and inhuman conditions that those in the
Western part of the world could never relate.
Poverty is defined as a state of want; lacking means; inadequacy. Poverty
"brings hunger, disease, high infant mortality, homelessness, and even war."
Poverty "falls on the more vulnerable groups in society, such as women, the
elderly, minority groups, and children." About 1 billion people around the world
live on less than $1 a day.60
God’s View of Fairness
Leviticus 19:15 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
‘You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the
15
poor nor defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
The New American Commentary (Leviticus) says, “Even though those who
are disadvantaged are to be treated properly, no special favors are to be given to
59
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting
60
ttp://prezi.com/8duqy_es2rmu/inadequate-living-conditions-around-the-world/
103
the poor in judicial settings (19:15; see Exod 23:3). All proceedings are to be
characterized by justice, just as God is just (Job 36:3; Pss 85:10; 89:14; 97:2;
119:42; Isa 42:6; 45:18, 19; Jer 11:20; Hos 2:19).” 61 The irony is, one of the
charges Satan made against God was that he is unfair. In addition, he said God
was not rightly exercising his sovereignty. Then, he was believing that God was
going to fairly hear his case and deal with his rebellion in a fair and just way. In
other words, he believed God would allow him to live if Satan could prove the
charges he had raised. Thus, Satan’s charge of God being unfair was self-
defeating in that he depended on him to be fair in hearing the issues. God is just
and impartial.
Deuteronomy 32:4 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
4
“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are just.
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
righteous and upright is he
“This word [rock], representing the stability and permanence of God, was
placed at the beginning of the verse for emphasis and was followed by a series
of phrases which elaborated the attributes of God as the rock of Israel. It is one
of the principal themes in this song (see vv. 15, 18, 30, 31), emphasizing the
unchanging nature of God in contrast to the fickle nature of the people.” 62 All of
God’s actions are perfect in that he expresses his attributes of justice, wisdom,
love, and power in perfect balance.
So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows
34
no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears 63 him and works

righteousness64 is acceptable to him.
Kenneth O. Gangel writes, “Cornelius and his family already were
worshipers of God and thus had some prior preparation for the gospel. Peter
could have assumed such knowledge on their part and not have to start by first
introducing the basic monotheistic message of faith in God as he did when
preaching to pagan Gentiles. Peter’s sermon at Cornelius’s basically followed
the pattern of his prior sermons to the Jews but with several significant
differences. One is found at the very outset, where he stressed that God shows
no favoritism, accepts people from every nation, and that Jesus is “Lord of all.”
61
(Rooker, Leviticus: The New American Commentary 2001, p. 258)
62
63
This is a reverential fear of displeasing God because of one’s great love for him. It is not a
dreadful fear.
64
I.e., does what is right
104
This emphasis on the universal gospel is particularly suited to a message to
Gentiles. Peter’s vision had led him to this basic insight that God does not
discriminate between persons, that there are no divisions between “clean” and
“unclean” people from the divine perspective. The Greek word used for
favoritism (v. 34) is constructed on a Hebrew idiom meaning to lift a
face.65 Peter saw that God does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnic
background, looking up to some and down on others. But God does discriminate
between those whose behavior is acceptable and those whose attitude is not
acceptable. Those who reverence God and practice what is right are acceptable
to him (v. 35; cf. Luke 8:21).” (Polhill 2001, p. 261)
From Where Does Unfairness Stem?
“but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,
17
for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.”
“The tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” resulted in man’s failure to
respect God’s decree and his sovereignty, which brought man’s fall.
And the serpent [Satan the Devil] said to the woman, “You shall not
4
surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” knowing good and evil.
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a
6
delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desirable to make one wise, and
she took of its fruit and ate, then she also gave some to her husband when with
her, and he ate.
Satan the Devil, a very powerful angelic spirit person rebelled against God,
seeking glory and power for himself. He use the serpent hanging from the tree,
like a ventriloquist uses a dummy to project his voice to deceive Eve and
inevitably cause Adam to rebel.
So he drove the man out, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed
24
the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the
tree of life.
The New American Commentary (Genesis) says, “Such imagery effectively
depicts the excommunication of the man and woman from the presence of God.
Later Israel was all too aware that an audience with God was the exclusive
65
For God’s judgment on the basis of one’s conduct, see also Gen 4:7; Rom 2:6; Rev 20:12f.
For God’s impartiality cf. Eph 6:9; Col 3:25, Jas 2:1, 9; 1 Pet 1:17; Rev 22:12. The idiom “lifting a
face” pictures God as an oriental monarch lifting the face of a petitioner. To lift the petitioner’s face
is to receive him or her with favor (cf. Esth 4:11; 5:2, where the custom is different but the import is
the same).
105
privilege of Aaron’s lineage and only at the invitation of God once a year. Our
parents squandered what men and women have longed to regain ever since.
However, not all is lost since God initiates for Israel a new way into his presence
but at the costly price of innocent blood. In spite of man’s inability to obtain life
through the garden’s tree, the tabernacle revealed at Sinai enabled Israel to live
with God, though imperfectly. The means and extent of access to God’s
presence was altered because of sin, but divine mercy overtook the wayward
man and woman. For their future generations provision was afforded through
Israel. This all, however, only foreshadowed the perfect and final passage into
the presence of God by the very body of Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses us
so that we might know life through his death (Heb. 9:6–14).” (Mathews 2001, p.
258)
44
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s
desires. That one was a manslayer from the beginning, and does not stand in the
truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own
character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John MacArthur writes, “Jesus’ words refer to the fall when Satan tempted
Adam and Eve and successfully killed their spiritual life (Gen. 2:17; 3:17–24;
Rom. 5:12; Heb. 2:14).”66
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called
9
the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth; he was thrown
down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
The MacArthur Bible Commentary says, “Satan and his demons were cast
out of heaven at the time of their original rebellion, but still have access to it (cf.
Job 1:6; 2:1). That access will then be denied, and they will be forever barred
from heaven. Devil and Satan. Cf. 20:2. Devil comes from a Greek verb
meaning “to slander” or “to falsely accuse.” He is a malignant liar (John 8:44; 1
John 3:8). His accusations against believers (v. 10) are unsuccessful because of
Christ our Advocate (1 John 2:1). Satan, meaning “adversary,” or “enemy,”
appears especially in Job and the Gospels. deceives the whole world. As he has
throughout human history, Satan will deceive people during the Tribulation (cf.
13:14; 20:3; John 8:44). After his temporary release from the bottomless pit at
the end of the Millennium, he will briefly resume his deceitful ways (20:8,
10).”67
66
67
106
Unfairness in the Last Days
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! Woe to you, O
12
earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he
knows he has a short time.”
The Holman New Testament Commentary (Revelation) says, “Satan’s
overthrow means that his accusations can never again ascend to the throne of
God. This is great news for all the holy angels. It is cause for you who dwell
in the heavens to rejoice. What brings heavenly joy causes woe to the earth
and the sea. More terrors await them from the sea beast and from the land beast
that the dragon will call up. The dragon is filled with fury, for he has never
before been so utterly defeated. He recognizes this as a sign: his time is short to
damage God and his people, so he must act quickly with renewed energy.
(Easley 1998, p. 213)
4
But as for you, O Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until
the time of the end; many will go to and fro,68 and knowledge will increase.”
The angel “Gabriel therefore was instructing Daniel to preserve “the words
of the scroll,” not merely this final vision146 but the whole book147 for those
who will live at “the time of the end” when the message will be needed. This
future generation will undergo the horrors of the tribulation (“time of distress”)
and will need the precious promises contained in the Book of Daniel–that God
will be victorious over the kingdoms of this world and that the suffering will last
for only a brief time–to sustain them.” (Miller 1994, p. 321)
Difficult Times In the Last Days
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers,
disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious
gossips, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless,
conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance
of godliness, but denying its power; avoid such men as these.
The MacArthur Bible Commentary says, “3:1 the last days. This phrase
refers to this age, the time since the first coming of the Lord Jesus. See note on 1
Timothy 4:1. perilous times. Perilous is used to describe the savage nature of
two demon-possessed men (Matt. 8:28). The word for times had to do with
epochs, rather than clock or calendar time. Such savage, dangerous eras or
epochs will increase in frequency and severity as the return of Christ approaches
68
I.e. examine the book thoroughly
107
(v. 13). The church age is fraught with these dangerous movements
accumulating strength as the end nears. Cf. Matthew 7:15; 24:11, 12, 24; 2 Peter
2:1, 2. 3:2–4 This list of attributes characterizing the leaders of the dangerous
seasons is a description of unbelievers similar to the Lord’s in Mark 7:21, 22.
3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Form refers to the
outward shape or appearance. Like the unbelieving scribes and Pharisees, false
teachers and their followers are concerned with mere external appearances (cf.
Matt. 23:25; Titus 1:16). Their outward form of Christianity and virtue makes
these individuals all the more dangerous.”69
Unfairness Removed
Romans 16:20 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of
20
our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
In the midst of his warnings, Paul reaffirms his joy, first mentioned in
Romans 1:8, over their faith and obedience. But he does not want them to be
naive about their faith. His wise (sophos) about what is good and innocent
(akeraios) about what is evil parallels Jesus’ words to his disciples when he
sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God (Matt. 10:16): “Therefore be as
shrewd (phronimos) as snakes and as innocent (akeraios) as doves.” From a
different direction, it is similar to what he told the church in Corinth: “In regard
to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults” (1 Cor. 14:20). The life of faith
must be received with the innocence and purity of faith of a child (Mark 10:15)
but lived in the maturity and reality of an adult who knows there is a war going
on.
The harshness of Paul’s words, will soon crush, is cast in stark contrast to
the backdrop of his earlier declaration, I am full of joy. Both are true in the
Christian life, joy in the midst of war. The joy comes from knowing that the war
has been and will be won. Our part (the Roman church’s part) is to be alert and
vigilant until the final armistice. It is the grace of God that empowers us to
understand, and stand in, the conflict.70
Do Not Love the World

1 John 2:15-17 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the
15
world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust
69
70
Kenneth Boa and William Kruidenier, Romans, vol. 6, Holman New
Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers,
2000), 461–462.
108
of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the
Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and its lusts; but the
one who does the will of God remains forever.
The End of the Age
Matthew 24:1-3 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
24 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when 71 his
disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to him. 2 And he said to
them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here
will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”
3
As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him
privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign
of your coming,72 and of the end of the age?”
Here in verse three, we have Jesus and the disciples taking a seat on the
Mount of Olives, looking down on the temple below. The temple compound was
the ninth wonder of the ancient world. Jesus had just told the disciples that this
marvel was going to be so devastated in a coming destruction, “there will not be
left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Looking down,
the disciples asked Jesus what they thought to be but one question, not knowing
the answer that Jesus would give, showed it to be three separate questions. Of
course, the initial question (1) was their wondering when the destruction that
Jesus spoke of was coming. There second portion of that question was (2) what
will be the sign of your coming. The third portion of the question was (3) the
end of the age.73 Herein, we will focus on questions (2) and (3). In short, (1) the
destruction of Jerusalem took place in 70 C.E., just 37-years after the death,
resurrection, and ascension of Christ.
They ask these questions about the destruction of Jerusalem and the
temple, his own second coming (… [parousia], presence, common in the papyri
for the visit of the emperor), and the end of the world. Did they think that they
were all to take place simultaneously? There is no way to answer. At any rate
Jesus treats all three in this great eschatological discourse, the most difficult
problem in the Synoptic Gospels. … It is sufficient for our purpose to think of
71
Lit and
72
Or presence (Gr parousia), which denotes both an “arrival” and a consequent “presence
with.”
73
Whether one sees this as two questions or three questions is not that big of a difference. If it
is two questions; then, the coming/presence of Christ and the end of the age are being treated as one
event. However, if there are three; then, the coming/presence of Christ and the end of the age are
being treated as two events. Either way, you have Christ’s coming/presence and the end of the age. If
the Greek word parousia carries the sense of both the arrival of Christ and his presence for a time
before the end of the age, as explained by Vine’s Expository Dictionary, this seems to better support
it being a three part question. How long that interval is between the arrival, the presence and the
conclusion, no one can truly know.
109
Jesus as using the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem which did happen
in that generation in a.d. 70, as also a symbol of his own second coming and of
the end of the world (… [sunteleias tou aiōnos]) or consummation of the age. In
a painting the artist by skilful perspective may give on the same surface the
inside of a room, the fields outside the window, and the sky far beyond.
Certainly in this discourse Jesus blends in apocalyptic language the background
of his death on the cross, the coming destruction of Jerusalem, his own second
coming and the end of the world. He now touches one, now the other. It is not
easy for us to separate clearly the various items.74
In “what will be the sign of your coming,” the Greek word behind
“coming” (parousia) needs a little more in-depth explaining.
Parousia … lit., “a presence,” para, “with,” and ousia, “being” (from eimi,
“to be”), denotes both an “arrival” and a consequent “presence with.” For
instance, in a papyrus letter a lady speaks of the necessity of her parousia in a
place in order to attend to matters relating to her property there. Paul speaks of
his parousia in Philippi, Phil. 2:12 (in contrast to his apousia, “his absence”; see
absence). Other words denote “the arrival” (see eisodos and eleusis, above).
Parousia is used to describe the presence of Christ with His disciples on the
Mount of Transfiguration, 2 Pet. 1:16. When used of the return of Christ, at the
rapture of the church, it signifies, not merely His momentary “coming” for His
saints, but His presence with them from that moment until His revelation and
manifestation to the world. In some passages the word gives prominence to the
beginning of that period, the course of the period being implied, 1 Cor. 15:23; 1
Thess. 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:1; Jas. 5:7-8; 2 Pet. 3:4. In some, the course is
prominent, Matt. 24:3, 37; 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 John 2:28; in others the conclusion
of the period, Matt. 24:27; 2 Thess. 2:8.75
“What will be the sign of your coming” As we can see from the context
of Matthew 24 and Vine’s Expository Dictionary, parousia, describes not only
the arrival of Christ, but his presence as well. This does not give us the sense of
a coming and some swift departure. Rather, the presence aspect is a period of
time that we cannot know the exact length of, so it does no good even to
speculate by adding adjectives, like a “lengthy” or “short” presence.
“the end of the age” What is meant by the Greek word aion, which is
translated “age.” It refers to a certain period of time, an epoch, or age.
74
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press,
1933), Mt 24:3.
75
The reader should be aware that the Greek word parousia does mean presence, the word is
derived from para (with) and ousia (being). However, it does not denote the idea of invisible as the
Jehovah Witnesses attest to. See W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s
Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson,
1996), 111.
110
aion (αἰών, 165), “an age, era” (to be connected with aei, “ever,” rather
than with ao, “to breathe”), signifies a period of indefinite duration, or time
viewed in relation to what takes place in the period.76
What period of time is being referred to here? If we look at God’s use of
Moses to help in the Exodus of his people from Egypt, and Moses penning of
the Mosaic Law, we would say that from the Exodus to the sacrifice ransom
death of Christ was an “age” (period of time or epoch) where the Israelite nation
was the only way to God. Then, Jesus entered humanity into another age by his
ransom sacrifice, which runs up unto his second coming/presence and the end of
this age of Christianity.
Jesus answers this two or three-part question throughout the rest of
Matthew 24 and chapter 25. Matthew gives us Jesus’ presentation of the events
that lead to Jesus coming and presence, to set up his kingdom to rule over the
earth for a thousand years. Most will be shocked by my saying “over” the earth,
as almost all translations render Revelation 5:10 as “and you have made them a
kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
epí [2093] is in the genitive and can range from: “on, upon; over; at, by;
before, in the presence of; when, under, at the time of;”77 Below you are going to
find a list of the genitive epi within Revelation that has a similar construction.
If we are to establish that some translations are choosing a rendering
because it suits their doctrine, we must compare how they render the same thing
elsewhere. I do believe that the English is a problem in trying to say, "They shall
reign on the earth." First, because this is not a location issue: i.e., “where.” The
genitive epi is dealing not with where, but with authority over, which is
expressed by having it over … not on …
Please also take special note that the context of all of these epi genitives
that follow the active indicative verb and then are followed by the genitive
definite article and noun are dealing with authority.
The verb “to reign” is properly used of kings and queens, and here implies
complete power over the world and its inhabitants. So another way of expressing
this is “and they shall rule over the world and its inhabitants” or “they shall have
power over ....”78
Revelation 5:9-10 has a high level of theological content. It either says that
Jesus and his co-rulers are going to over the earth, or on the earth. It is
76
W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository
Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 19.
77
William D. Mounce, Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament
Words (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006), 1150.
78
Bratcher, Robert G.; Hatton, Howard: A Handbook on the Revelation to John. New York:
United Bible Societies, 1993 (UBS Handbook Series; Helps for Translators), S. 105
111
theological bias to have several cases of similar context and the same
grammatical construction, rendering the verses the same every time, yet to then
render one verse contrary to the others, simply because it aligns with one’s
theology. Please see Revelation 2:26; 6:8; 9:11; 11:6; 13:7; 14:18; 16:9; 17:18,
and then look at Revelation 5:10. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that Jesus is
going to rule over the earth.
Signs of the End of the Age

4
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.
Jesus’ disciples, like any other Jew of the day, would have seen the
destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., the first century Jewish historian, Josephus,
tells us 1,100,000 Jews were killed in the destruction of Jerusalem, with another
97,000 taken captive. (War VI. 9.3)79 Therefore, here in advance (33 C.E.), Jesus
wanted his disciples to be on the watch, to not be misled, as though the
destruction of Jerusalem (66-70 C.E.) also meant “the end of the age.”
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will
5
lead many astray.

Yes, this would be one of the ways that many coming in Jesus’ name
would have led the disciples astray, claiming to be the Christ (Hebrew Messiah),
namely the “anointed one.” Therefore, it would not be Christians alone, who
would be filling this role as false christs/messiahs/anointed ones.
“From Josephus it appears that in the first century before the destruction of
the Temple [in 70 C.E.] a number of Messiahs arose promising relief from the
Roman yoke, and finding ready followers … Thus about 44, Josephus reports, a
certain impostor, Theudas, who claimed to be a prophet, appeared and urged the
people to follow him with their belongings to the Jordan, which he would divide
for them. According to Acts v. 36 (which seems to refer to a different date), he
secured about 400 followers. Cuspius Fadus sent a troop of horsemen after him
and his band, slew many of them, and took captive others, together with their
leader, beheading the latter … Another, an Egyptian, is said to have gathered
together 30,000 adherents, whom he summoned to the Mount of Olives,
opposite Jerusalem, promising that at his command the walls of Jerusalem
would fall down, and that he and his followers would enter and possess
themselves of the city. But Felix, the procurator (c. 55-60), met the throng with
his soldiery. The prophet escaped, but those with him were killed or taken, and
the multitude dispersed. Another, whom Josephus styles an impostor, promised
the people "deliverance and freedom from their miseries" if they would follow
79
Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged
(Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987).
112
him to the wilderness. Both leader and followers were killed by the troops of
Festus, the procurator (60-62; "Ant." xx. 8, § 10). Even when Jerusalem was
already in process of destruction by the Romans, a prophet, according to
Josephus suborned by the defenders to keep the people from deserting
announced that God commanded them to come to the Temple, there to receive
miraculous signs of their deliverance. Those who came met death in the flames.
Unlike these Messiahs, who expected their people's deliverance to be
achieved through divine intervention, Menahem, the son of Judas the Galilean
and grandson of Hezekiah, the leader of the Zealots, who had troubled Herod,
was a warrior. When the war broke out he attacked Masada with his band, armed
his followers with the weapons stored there, and proceeded to Jerusalem, where
he captured the fortress Antonia, overpowering the troops of Agrippa II.
Emboldened by his success, he behaved as a king, and claimed the leadership of
all the troops. Thereby he aroused the enmity of Eleazar, another Zealot leader,
and met death as a result of a conspiracy against him (ib. ii. 17, § 9). He is
probably identical with the Menahem b. Hezekiah mentioned in Sanh. 98b, and
called, with reference to Lam. i. 17, "the comforter ["menaḥem"] that should
relieve" (comp. Hamburger, "R. B. T." Supplement, iii. 80). With the destruction
of the Temple the appearance of Messiahs ceased for a time. Sixty years later a
politico-Messianic movement of large proportions took place with Bar Kokba at
its head. This leader of the revolt against Rome was hailed as Messiah-king by
Akiba, who referred to him. The Jewish Encyclopedia lists 28 false Messiahs
between the years 132 C.E. and 1744 C.E.80
You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not
6
alarmed, for those things must take place, but the end is not yet.
There have been religious leaders that have been misled by the two Great
Wars of the 20th century, World War I and II, associating each of them with the
“end of the age.” The First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 C.E.),81 at times called
The Great Revolt, could have misled the disciples into thinking that the end was
imminent. Therefore, Jesus tells them that they should not be alarmed, and that
the end is not yet. This counsel of Jesus has had to be applied from First Jewish–
Roman War to the two Great Wars of the 20 th century, every time a war came
along, which seems to be an end all for humanity. Nevertheless, this one sign
alone is not enough to signal the end, because imperfect humans are prone to
war.
80
Vol. X, pp. 252-255.
81
The Second Jewish–Roman War (132–135 C.E.) Simon Bar Kokba, who claimed to be the
long awaited Messiah, led a revolt against Roman Emperor Hadrian (76-139), for setting up a shrine
to Jupiter (supreme Roman god), on the temple site in Jerusalem, as well as outlawing circumcision
and instruction of the Law in public.
113
7
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and
there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Here Jesus expounds on his previous comments about war, because the
conflicts of humankind have been so pervasive that there was a need for a
reference book, Dictionary of Wars by George C. Kohn. Therefore, while we
should take note of current events, wars, rumors of wars and even kingdom
against kingdom is not enough alone to suppose that the end is here. Therefore,
Jesus adds yet another two signs, famines and earthquakes. These two have been
a part of humankind’s history. Of course, the impact is going to be far greater
with seven billion living people on earth, as opposed to a hundred million in 100
C.E. Nevertheless, these are just the beginning. It seems that a war between the
Islamic state and Christian nations is inevitable.
8
But all these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
Wars, rumors of wars, kingdoms again kingdom, famines and earthquakes
are just the beginning of the things to come. However, they are not the goal post
that the end is imminent. Such tragedies being merely a “beginning of the birth
pains,” the end was “not yet.” Men likely cannot appreciate this verse, because
the woman only knows the pain of giving birth to a child. It is the most natural
thing in her life and yet the most painful. Therefore, consider that what comes
after this metaphorical concept is going to be far more painful for humankind.
These pains will grow in severity until the birth of the end of the age, and the
return of Jesus. Nevertheless, like any other birth that has finally reached the
end, the joy of a newborn child makes one forget the prior pains. This is true
after the tribulation, the joys from the Kingdom will outweigh the previous
pains.
9
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and will kill you, and you
will be hated by all nations because of my name.
Verse 9 of the new section, 9-12, begins with “then” (Greek tote), which
brings the reader into another section of signs, offering us more of the lines in
the fingerprint, the full picture that we are in the time of to the end. “Then” can
have the meaning coming after, or at the same time, or it could mean
simply therefore. It would seem that “then” is best understood as meaning ‘at
the same time,’ because these signs, as well as those that we covered in 4-7, and
those coming in verse 10 are of a composite sign. Meaning, you are looking for
a time when they are all happening, and on a worldwide scale.
Who are “they” that deliver Christians up to tribulation? It would those
Christians of verse 5, who were led astray, abandoning the Christian faith. The
last 30 years, this has truly seen the abandonment of Christianity, as well as
much tribulation for those that have remained faithful. What I am primarily
referring to is liberal Christianity (80 percent of Christianity), who has
114
abandoned the biblical truth, for the lie, so they can maintain a good relationship
with the world, and progressivism. Christianity has never been more hated than
it is today. Sadly, conservative Christians have been deeply opposed and
persecuted by liberal Christianity, atheists, not to mention Islam and other
religions.
Verse 9 says they will deliver you over (ESV), or hand you over (HCSB),
to tribulation. If one is handed over, he must first be seized and then delivered to
those, who are seeking to do him harm, even death. Why are the Christians
hated so? Former Christians and liberal Christians hate the stand that
conservative Christians take by truly living by God’s Word, in a world that is
anything but. Radical Islam is simply trying to impose themselves on everyone
who stands in their way of dominating the world. Thus, being handed over is a
result for one’s true faith in Jesus Christ.
And then many will fall away, 82 will betray83 one another, and will hate
10
one another.
While early Christianity suffered horrible deaths through being martyred
for simply being a Christian, the hatred today is just as vile by those that
slaughter Christians around the world. Nevertheless, persecution through social
media, news media, and by way of lawsuits, and protests in the streets, has
become the new form of persecution in the Western world. Many have fallen
away from Jesus, becoming apostates toward their former brothers and sisters,
loathing their very existence.
11
And many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray
What is a prophet? The primary meaning is one who proclaims the word of
God, a spokesperson for God. Therefore, a false prophet would be a
spokesperson giving the impression that he is a spokesman for God, but really
he is far from it. These ones are very subtle and deceptive in their ability to
present themselves as a person representing God. Some modern day examples
would be, Jim Bakker, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, T.D. Jakes, Joyce
Meyer, Juanita Bynum, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Pat Robertson, and Joel
Olsteen. Of course, these are just some of the televangelists, who are false
prophets, with tens of millions of followers. Other false prophet religious leaders
82
Lit be caused to stumble
24:10 many will be offended, lit. “caused to stumble,” suggesting professing believers who
fall away and even turn against “one another” in shocking acts of spiritual treachery. Those who fall
away in such a manner give evidence that they never were true believers (see note on v.
13 ).―MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 40393-40395).
Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
83
Or hand over
115
have tens of millions of followers as well. Then, there are charismatic Christian
denominations that numbered over 500 million followers. These ones claim gifts
of God (faith healing, speaking in tongues, etc.), which clearly are anything but.
The true Christians are falling away in great numbers, being led astray by these
false prophets, and those who have not, need to remain awake!
12
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow
cold.
The world we live in is overflowing with murders, rapes, armed robberies
and assaults, not to mention war. It has grown so pervasive that many have
grown callused to seeing the newspapers, websites and television news filled
with one heinous crime, one after another. In looking at just one city in the
United States, in 2012, 532 people were murdered in the city of Chicago, with a
population of 2.7 million. However, in San Pedro Sula of the country Honduras,
1,143 people were murdered with only a population of 719,447. Statistics from
the United Nations report 250,000 cases of rape or attempted rape annually.
However, it must be kept in mind that because of the savagery of the times, in
“many parts of the world, rape is very rarely reported, due to the extreme social
stigma cast on women who have been raped, or the fear of being disowned by
their families, or subjected to violence, including honor killings.”84
Verse 12 says that the love of “the love of many will grow cold,” and
indeed it has. There are atrocious crimes against individuals, groups, nations,
which would cripple the mind of anyone living decades ago. However, because
of seeing it every day, all day long, the world has grown hardened to the
lawlessness that exists around them. Christians carry the hope of salvation in
their heart, which Jesus addresses next.
13
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
What are we to endure? We are to endure while we maintain our walk with
God through false Christs who will lead many astray, the wars, and the natural
disasters. We are to endure while we maintain our walk with God through the
loss of many of our spiritual brothers and sisters who fall away, the betrayal of
former Christians, and the hatred of humankind who is alienated from God. We
are to endure while we maintain our walk with God through false prophets that
have arisen and lead many astray, the increase of the lawlessness in this world,
and the love of humanity growing colder. Yes, each of us, who survives to the
end of the Christian era, to the return of Christ, will be saved from Jesus’
destruction of the wicked. However, we are not to simply sit around, we have a
work to accomplish that is the last sign of the end of the age.
84
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics
116
14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the inhabited
earth85 as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
This is the last of the signs that Jesus gave that should concern us, as it is
directly related to the end of the age, and the return of Christ, namely ‘the
gospel of the kingdom being proclaimed throughout the whole world.’ Jesus
makes it very clear what he meant by “the whole world,” by then saying “all
nations” (Gk., ethnos). What Jesus meant here was more directed toward all
races, not so much the “nations” that we know the world to be divided into
today. Therefore, Jesus speaking of the whole world was a reference to “a body
of persons united by kinship, culture, and common traditions, nation,
people.”86 Today, while for the most part, nations are made up of different races,
the world is also becoming a melting pot.
In the phrase “testimony to all nations,” we find the Greek word
martyrion, which was a legal term of “that which serves as testimony or
proof, testimony, proof.”87 The testimony here that is to be shared by Christ’s
disciples has to with Jesus and the kingdom. Evidence, proof, testimony has the
ability to overcome the false reasoning of those in the world, to win them over,
as well as convict those who refuse to see the evidence for what it is. Elsewhere
Jesus said very clearly,
Matthew 11:15 Matthew 13:9 (UASV) Matthew 13:43 (UASV)

(UASV) 9
The one who has Then the
43
He who has ears

15
ears, let him hear.” righteous will shine like
to hear, let him hear. the sun in the kingdom
of their Father. He who
has ears, let him hear.
No One Knows That Day and Hour

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,
36
nor the Son, but the Father only.

While none of us can know the precise time of Jesus’ return, we do know
that we are to be busy in the work that he has given us. Regardless of the time
left, how will you use it? Here is how we should use our time before Christ’s
return. We should live as though it is tomorrow, but plan as though it is 50-
years away. What do we mean by this? We live as though Christ is returning
85
Or in the whole world
86
William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the
New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000),
276.
87
IBID, 619.
117
tomorrow, by walking with God, having a righteous standing before him. We
plan as though it is 50-years away by living a life that makes strategies for a
long-term evangelism that fulfills our end of the great commission. (Matt 24:14;
28:19-20; Ac 1:8)
Our sinful nature would not do well if we knew the exact day and hour. We
do badly enough when we simply think Christ’s return is close. You have had
religions that have set dates for Christ’s return, or are constantly saying, ‘the end
is near!’ The ones who set actual dates for Christ’s return: quit their jobs, sell
their homes, take all their money out of the bank, and take their kids out of
school, either (1) to have a good time before the end, or (2) to spend the last
couple years yelling from the rooftops that “the end is coming!”
Those who are constantly saying, ‘the end is near,’ are similar, in that they
do not take job promotions, because it would cut into their evangelism, they do
not allow their children to have university educations or plan careers, because to
them the end is near. Nevertheless, these groups are at least concerned about
their evangelism, but fail to realize, we do not know when the end is coming.
We need to find a way in the time that remains, be it 5 years, 50 years, or
500 years, to encourage and foster “sincere brotherly love,” and to display
“obedience to the truth.” What do we need to be obedient to? (1) We need to
clean up the household of Christianity. (2) We need to then, carry out the great
commission that Jesus assigned, to preach, to teach, and to make disciples!
(Matt 24:14; 28:19-20; Ac 1:8) It is our assignment, in the time remaining, to
assist God in helping those with a receptive heart, to accept the good news of the
kingdom. Yes, we are offering those of the world, the hope of getting on the
path of salvation, an opportunity at everlasting life. Just because we do not know
the day or the hour, does not mean that we should be less urgent about this
assignment. Remember Jesus’ illustration,
43
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of
the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have
let his house be broken into.
Moreover, remember Jesus’ question,
I tell you that he will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when
8
the Son of Man comes, will he find the faith88 on the earth?”
If we were to consider the chaos within Christianity today, the 41,000
different denominations of Christianity, all believing differently, could we
honestly say that Jesus would truly find the faith?
88
Or find this faith
118
Fairness Restored
1
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and
Jerusalem.
2
It will come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of Jehovah
will be established on the top of the mountains,
and will be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations will stream to it,
3
and many peoples will come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us concerning his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For the law89 will go forth from Zion,
and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.
4
He will judge between the nations,
and will correct matters for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
On these verses, Trent C. Butler writes, “2:1. This section begins with
another introduction much like Isaiah 1:1, but this one only introduces the
following sermons, not the entire book. What follows is a vision, what Isaiah …
saw. Interestingly, the first part of this vision also appears in Micah 4:1–5. The
form of this sermon sounds like a call to worship introduced by a prophetic
announcement of salvation. Apparently Isaiah and his younger contemporary
Micah both used the same call to worship from the Jerusalem temple to speak to
God's people. This would mean that God used the temple hymnody as a source
for his inspired word.”
“2:2. While the destruction of Jerusalem dominated chapter 1, the city's
function as the center of salvation for all nations introduces this section. The last
days are still within world history with separate nations acting. Israel used the
same language as her Near Eastern neighbors in talking about the national
temple as the highest mountain on earth where the deity fights battles for his
people (cp. Pss. 46; 48). The prophet Isaiah applied this language to the temple
in Jerusalem even though Jerusalem was obviously not the highest of the
mountains Israel could see. Jerusalem would be high and lifted up because God
was at work there, causing his purpose for the world to be realized in historical
events. The emphasis is not on the height of Jerusalem. The emphasis is on the
89
Or instruction or teaching
119
unheard-of foreign nations coming to Jerusalem to worship. God's hope always
encompasses the world, not just one small nation (see Gen. 12:1–4).”
“2:3–4. The prophet, as he often did, took up the popular theology of the
people's hymnody and subtly shifted it from present to future tense. Only in the
last days would Zion occupy such an exalted position. God would no longer
battle the nations. Jerusalem could no longer glory in the hope that nations
would march to her with large gifts and tribute for her victorious king. The
prophetic hope is that God's word will become the world's weapon. Military
academies and weapons will vanish. People will learn to live according to God's
ways. They will obey his teachings. Nations will come to Jerusalem, not because
a victorious king forces them to, but because they are attracted to Jerusalem by
the God who lives there and the wisdom he gives there. No longer will they have
to fight to settle their differences. In Jerusalem God will be the great Mediator
who settles all human disputes without battle. Military weapons will become
obsolete. The world's only war will be on poverty and hunger.”90
3
And he will delight in the fear of Jehovah,
And he will not judge by what his eyes see,
Nor make a decision by what his ears hear;
4
But with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
And decide with fairness for the meek of the earth;91
And he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
And with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5
Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
And faithfulness the belt of his loins.
On these verses, Trent C. Butler writes, “The wise king would enter the
royal courtroom to judge his nation correctly. As judge, the king would be
empowered with the breath of his lips, the same word translated “Spirit” in verse
2. By this he would protect the poor from the wicked, establishing the economic
justice so central to prophetic preaching. The new age established by the new
king would bring righteousness, a dominant theme for Isaiah. Coupled with
faithfulness, this clothed the king for his royal reign.”92
Isaiah 42:1 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
90
Anders, Max; Butler, Trent (2002-04-01). Holman Old Testament Commentary - Isaiah (p.
29-30). B&H Publishing.
91
“The Messiah will reverse Israel’s earlier dealings with the underprivileged (3:14, 15;
10:2).” – MacArthur, John (2005-05-09). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations
92
83). B&H Publishing.
120
42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
On this verse, Trent C. Butler writes, “This is the first of four “Servant
Songs” in Isaiah 40-55 (49:1–6; 50:4–9; 52:13–53:12). Here God formally
presented the servant to an audience, although both the name of the servant and
the nature of the audience remain mysteriously unclear. We do not have to find
answers to all our questions about the servant. We need to understand that he is
God's chosen one, God takes great delight in him, and God upholds or supports
him.”
“The servant's mission surprised Israel and it surprises us. His mission was
not to deliver Israel from captivity and exile. The mission was for the nations.
The servant gained power for his mission from the divine Spirit just as earlier
rulers and prophets had. The servant's task was to bring justice to the nations.
(For justice, see “Deeper Discoveries,” ch. 1.) Justice involves a much broader
meaning than the English term. In verse 4 it stands parallel to Torah, law or
teaching. It is the verdict handed down by a judge (2 Kgs. 25:6); the whole court
process (Isa. 3:14); the gracious and merciful judgment of God (Isa. 30:18); or
the natural right and order claimed by a person or group of persons (Exod.
23:6).”
“In our text, the term for the servant's mission apparently encompasses a
broad meaning. It refers to the natural world order and the rights expected by the
nations of the earth within that order. God restores that order with its natural
rights through his gracious and merciful judgment on the basis of his law or
teaching.”93
3
Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
“Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
93
121
and streams in the desert;
7
the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
On these verses, Trent C. Butler writes, “The revelation of God's glory
provided the background for a new prophetic commission (vv. 3-4; cp. ch. 6). If
God could change the dry wasteland so radically, how much more he could do
so for humanity! The prophet was called to encourage the weak and feeble.
Their reason for fear would vanish. God would come in vengeance. The divine
appearance would destroy the enemy (34:8) but bring salvation to the people of
God. Such salvation is not limited to a spiritual realm. The sick and disabled
would find all their reasons for having an inferiority complex destroyed.”94
20
No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young boy shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree will the days of my people be,
and the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full.
23
They shall not labor in vain
or bear children for calamity,
for they are the seed95 made up of those blessed by Jehovah,,
and their descendants with them.
On these verses, Trent C. Butler writes, “The injustices of life would
disappear. Long life would be the rule for God's people, death at a hundred
being like an infant's death that could only be explained as the death of a sinner.
All of God's people would live to a ripe old age and enjoy the fruits of their life.
The age of Messiah would clearly have dawned (cp. 11:6–9). No longer would
people lose their property and crops to foreign invaders. Each of God's faithful
people would enjoy the works of their hands. Labor would be rewarded in the
field and in the birth place. Every newborn would escape the “horror of sudden
94
95
I.e., offspring
122
disaster” (author's translation; NIV, misfortune). Curses would disappear. Every
generation would be blessed by God.”96
7
Be still before Jehovah and wait patiently for him;
do not fret because of the one who prospers in his way,
because of the man who carries out evil devices!
8
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
Fret not yourself; it leads only to evildoing.
9
For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for Jehovah shall inherit the land.
10
Just a little while longer and the wicked one will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11
But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.
On these verses, Stephen J. Lawson wrote, “David repeated his original
advice: Do not fret when men succeed. He returned to the earlier thought of
verse 2—sinners who seem to flourish for a season will eventually be destroyed
(Eccl. 3:16–17). To point this out, he used a series of contrasts between the
godly and the ungodly. Refrain from anger, he declared, because these evil
men in the final day would be cut off and die before entering eternity damned.
But those who hope in the LORD—the meek—will inherit the land (cp. Matt.
5:5). This indicated the fullness of God's blessing.”97
Revelation 21:3-4 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle
3
of God is among men, and he will dwell98 among them, and they shall be his
people,99 and God himself will be among them, 100 4 and he will wipe away every
tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning,
nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
On these verses, Kendell Easley wrote, “For the third and final time John
hears a loud voice from the throne (16:17; 19:5). The word for dwelling is
traditionally translated “tabernacle” or “tent.” When the Israelites had lived in
the wilderness after the exodus, God’s presence was evident through the tent
96
97
Anders, Max; Lawson, Steven (2004-01-01). Holman Old Testament Commentary -
Psalms: 11 (p. 199). B&H Publishing.
98
Lit he will tabernacle
99
Some mss peoples
100
One early ms and be their God
123
(Exod. 40:34). Part of the reward for Israel’s obedience to God was, “I will put
my dwelling place [tabernacle] among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk
among you and be your God, and you will be my people” (Lev. 26:11–12).
Israel’s disobedience, of course, led finally to the destruction of the temple.”
“The permanent remedy began when God became enfleshed in Jesus: “The
Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). A form of
the same verb translated “made his dwelling” in John 1:14 is now used by the
heavenly voice: he will live with them. Here, then, is the final eternal
fulfillment of Leviticus 26.”
“They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be
their God is a divine promise often made, particularly in context of the new
covenant (Jer. 31:33; 32:38; Ezek. 37:27; 2 Cor. 6:16). In eternity, it will find
full completion in its most glorious sense. One striking note here is that the word
translated “people,” while often singular in Revelation (for example, 18:4), here
is plural, literally “peoples.” This points to the great ethnic diversity of those in
heaven.”
“The great multitude who came out of the Great Tribulation received the
pledge of many blessings including the final removal of any cause
for tears (7:15–17). Now this promise extends to every citizen-saint of the New
Jerusalem. The picture of God himself gently taking a handkerchief and wiping
away all tears is overwhelming. It pictures the removal of four more enemies:
• death—destroyed and sent to the fiery lake (20:14; 1 Cor. 15:26)
• mourning—caused by death and sin, but also ironically the eternal
experience of those who loved the prostitute (18:8)
• crying—one result of the prostitute’s cruelty to the saints (18:24)
• pain—the first penalty inflicted on mankind at the Fall is finally lifted at
last (Gen. 3:16)”
“All these belonged to the old order of things where sin and death were
present. The last thought could also be translated, “The former things are gone.”
No greater statement of the end of one kind of existence and the beginning of a
new one can be found in Scripture.” (Easley 1998, p. 395)
Resurrection of Life and Judgment
John 5:28-29 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
28
Do not marvel at this, because an hour is coming when all who are in the
memorial tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good
things to a resurrection of life, and those who have practiced wicked things to
the resurrection of judgment.
When Jesus returns, he will bring many angels, and wipe out the wicked.
However, the righteous will not be destroyed, and the righteous prior to Jesus
first coming back in the first century, will receive a resurrection. The
124
unrighteous, which had never had the opportunity to know God, will also be
resurrected for a chance to hear the Good News, and then, they will be judged
on what they do during the millennial reign of Christ. (Acts 24:15) Therefore,
the punishment for sin is death, the punishment for those, who “keep on sinning
deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a
sacrifice for sins,” i.e., eternal death. However, “there will be a resurrection of
both the just and the unjust [i.e., those who never heard the Good News].” –
Acts 24:15
In death, Scripture show us as being unable to praise God. The Psalmist
tells us, “For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol [gravedom] who
will give you praise?” (Psa. 6:5) Isaiah the prophet writes, “For Sheol
[gravedom] cannot thank you [God], death cannot praise you; those who go
down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness. ‘It is the living who give
thanks to you, as I do today; a father tells his sons about your faithfulness.’” –
Isaiah 38:18-19.
Passing Over from Death to Life
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who
24
sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from
death to life.
Regeneration is God restoring and renewing somebody morally or
spiritually, where the Christian receives a new quality of life. This one goes
from the road of death over to the path of life. (John 5:24) Here he becomes a
new person, with a new personality, having removed the old person. (Eph. 4:20-
24) This does not mean that the imperfection is gone, and the sinful desires are
removed, but that he now has the mind of Christ, the Spirit and the Word of God
to gain control over his thinking and his fleshly desires. Therefore, if one has
truly experienced a conversion it will be evident by the changes in one’s new
personality from the old personality, his life, and his actions. If this is the case,
he will be fulfilling the words of Jesus, “let your light shine before others, so
that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in
heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)
Can we see one as truly a man of faith, a committed Christian, who attends
the meetings, but never carries out any personal study, never shares the gospel
with another, never helps his spiritual brothers or sisters (physically, materially,
mentally, or spiritually), nor helps his neighbor, or any of the other things one
would find within a man of faith? James had something to say about this back in
chapter 1:26-27, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue
but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure
and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in
their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” One who does
not possess real faith, will not help the poor, he will not separate himself from
worldly pursuits, he will favor those that he can benefit from (the powerful and
125
wealthy), and ignore those than he cannot make gains from (orphans and
widows), he will not know the love of God, nor his mercy. (Jas. 2:8, 9, 13)
Titus 3:5 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
5
he saved us, not by deeds of righteousness that we have done, but because
of his mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy
Spirit,
The Greek word polingenesia means to a renewal or rebirth of a new life in
Christ, by the Holy Spirit. Jesus told Nicodemus, “unless someone is born of …
Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). At the
moment a person is converted, he is regenerated or renewed, passing over from
death to life eternal. Jesus explains this at John 5:24, “the one who hears my
word and who believes the one who sent me has eternal life, and does not come
into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” The principal feature of
rebirth of a new life in Christ, by the Holy Spirit, regeneration, is the passing
over from death to life eternal.
At that point, the Spirit dwells within this newly regenerated one. From the
time of Adam and Eve, God has desired to dwell with man. God fellowshipped
with Adam in the Garden of Eden. After Adam’s rebellion, he chose faithful
men, to walk with him in their life course, to communicate with them. Enoch,
Noah, and Abraham walked with God. In the Hebrew language the tabernacle is
called mishkan meaning “dwelling place.” In both the tabernacle and the temple,
God was represented as dwelling with the people in the Most Holy. He also
dwelt with the people through the Son, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) After Jesus’ ascension, God dwelt among
the Christians, by way of the Holy Spirit, in the body of each individual
Christian, which begins at conversion.
Review Questions
 Why is life so unfair?

 How did this unfairness come about?
126
GLOSSARY of Related Biblical Terms
Abyss: (Gr. abussos) It is a very deep place, which is rendered “the
bottomless pit” in some versions (KJV). This is found the NT and refers to a
place or condition, where Satan and his demons will be confined for a thousand
years. (Rev. 20:1-3) Abaddon rules over the abyss (Rev. 9:11) The beast is of
Satan’s design and will rise from the abyss in the last days. (Rev. 11:7) The beat
will go off into destruction. (Rev 17:8) It is used as times to refer to the grave as
well.–Lu 8:31; Rom. 10:7; Rev. 20:3.
Angel: (Heb. mǎlāḵ; Gr. angelos) A supernatural spirit person who attends
upon or serves as a messenger or worker for the Father and the Son. These spirit
persons are far wiser and more powerful than humans but their power and
knowledge is absolutely nothing in comparison to their Creator. (Ps. 103:20;
Matt. 24:36; 1 Pet. 1:1-12) Angels have the power to be able to material in
human form. (Gen. 18:1-2, 8, 20-22; 19:1-11; Josh. 5:13-15) Some of these
angels became rebels. Jude tells us “the angels who did not keep to their own
domain but deserted their proper dwelling place [heaven]” (1:6), to take on
human form, and have relations that were contrary to nature with the “the
daughters of man.” (Gen 6:1-4; Dan. 7:9-10) The Bible intimates that these rebel
it taking place again after the Flood, only spirit possession thereafter. These
disobedient angels are now “spirits in prison,” who have been thrown into
“eternal chains under gloomy darkness [Tartarus],” which is more of a condition
of limited powers (1 Pet. 3:19; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6), not so much a place, like a
maximum-security prison.–Matt. 28:2; Rev. 22:8.
Archangel: (Gr. archangelos) Michael is the only spirit named as an
archangel in the Bible. Nevertheless, some Bible scholars believe that ‘it is
possible that there are other’ archangels. However, the prefix “arch,” meaning
“chief” or “principal,” indicates that there is only one archangel, the chief angel.
Yes, Gabriel is very powerful, but no Scripture ever refers to him as an
archangel. If there were multiple archangels, how could they even be described
as an arch (chief or principal) angel? In the Scriptures, “archangel” is never
found in the plural. Clearly, Michael is the only archangel and as the highest-
ranking angel, like the highest-ranking general in the army, Michael stands
directly under the authority of God, as he commands the other angels, including
Gabriel, according to the Father’s will and purposes. Michael, the Archangel,
whose name means, “Who is like God?”); he disputed with Satan over Moses
body. (Jude 9) Michael with Gabriel stood guard over the sons of Israel and
fought for Israel against demons. (Dan. 10:13, 21) He cast Satan and the demons
out of heaven. (Rev. 12:7-9) He will defeat the kings of the earth and their
armies at Armageddon, and he will be the one given the privilege of abyssing
Satan, the archenemy of God.–Rev. 18:1-2; 19:11-21.
127
Gehenna: (Gr. geenna) (Gehenna) occurs 12 times and is the Greek name
for the valley of Hinnom, southwest of Jerusalem (Jer. 7:31), where the
horrendous worship of Moloch took place, and it was prophetically said that
where dead bodies would be thrown. (Jer. 7:32; 19:6) It was an incinerator
where trash and dead bodies were destroyed, not a place to be burned alive or
tormented. Jesus and his disciples used Gehenna to symbolize eternal
destruction, annihilation, or the “second death,” an eternal punishment of death.
Hades: (hades) Hades is the standard transliteration into English of the
corresponding Greek word haides, which occurs ten times in the UASV. (Matt.
11:23; 16:18; Lu 10:15; 16:23; Ac 2:27, 31; Rev. 1:18; 6:8; 20:13, 14.) It has the
underlying meaning of 'a place of the dead, where they are conscious of nothing,
awaiting a resurrection, for both the righteous and the unrighteous.' (John 5:28-
29; Acts 24:15) It corresponds to “Sheol” in the OT. It does not involve torment
and punishment.
Tartarus: Greek verb tartaroo (to “cast into Tartarus”) the angels who
sinned were cast into the pagan mythological Tartarus, a place of torture or
torment. However, in reality, this is not a place; it is a condition, where Satan
and his angels are restrained from using some of their former powers, such as
materializing in human form.
Sheol: (Heb. sheol) Sheol occurs sixty-six times in the UASV. The Greek
Septuagint renders Sheol as Hades. It has the underlying meaning of 'a place of
the dead, where they are conscious of nothing, awaiting a resurrection, for both
the righteous and the unrighteous.' (Gen. 37:35; Psa. 16:10; Ac 2:31; John 5:28-
29; Acts 24:15) It corresponds to “Hades” in the NT. It does not involve torment
and punishment.
128
Other Books By Edward D. Andrews
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Bibliography
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—. Holman Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs . Nashville: B&H
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Borchert, Gerald L. The New American Commentary vol. 25B, John 12–21.
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Haggai, Malachi, , vol. 21A . Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman
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Peter, I, II & III John, Jude. Nashville: Broadman & Holman
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ANGELS and DEMONS

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ANGELS and DEMONS

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i

Christian Publishing House

III. Angels in the New Testament.

 How do we define and explain the terms used for angels?

Satan is consistently represented in the New Testament as the enemy both

The worldwide and age-long works of Satan are to be traced to one

The history of Satan, including that phase of it which remains to be

 What are demons?

 Who were the sons of God?

 Who were the Nephilim?

bosom of the Father,2 that one has made him fully known.

beheld God, and ate and drank. (Bold mine)

 Why is there no contradiction when we say that no one has seen

dragon, and the dragon and its angels waged war,

 Who is Michael the archangel?

Wicked Angels Return to the Spirit Realm

Tartarus21 and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;

Satan Cast Out of Heaven

Revelation 12:7-9, 12 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

 What rebellion took place in heaven?

In What Way Has Satan Blinded the Mind of the

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

Ways In Which Satan the Devil Wields Influence

as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 Update American Standard Version (UASV)

1 Timothy 4:1-3 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

How to avoid the Satan’s influence

As Christian, we need not live in constant fear or dread, or excessive

 How has Satan blinded unbelievers?

The Whole Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

Defending the Loins, the Breast, and the Feet

Girding Your Loins with Truth

Shod Your Feet with the Preparation of the Gospel of

The Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, and the

3:14–15. Each of us is susceptible to this dangerous trap of deception

stone to become bread.”

Jesus’ First Temptation

and serve him only.’”

Jesus’ Third Temptation,

God to the test.’”43

Our Need to Pray

6:18 And pray in the Spirit

Genesis 3:1-5 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Why Was Satan Not Kicked Out of Heaven Right Away?

to guard you in all your ways.

affirming [it] to be so, and they said, `It is his messenger;’

to guard you in all your ways.

day and night,

Psalm 42:11 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

 Explain how much God is involved in humanity.

no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears 63 him and works

our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Do Not Love the World

Signs of the End of the Age

Matthew 24:4 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

lead many astray.

Matthew 11:15 Matthew 13:9 (UASV) Matthew 13:43 (UASV)

He who has ears

No One Knows That Day and Hour

nor the Son, but the Father only.

 Why is life so unfair?

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