Disadvantages Histograms

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE BIBLE BASICS

6.3

DEMONS

The previous two sections have explained why we believe that the devil or Satan is a being or personal monster. If we accept that there is no such being, then it appears likely that the demons which are regarded as the servants of the devil, does not exist. Many people seem to believe that God gives us the good things of life, and the devil and his demons give us bad things, and take away the good things God gives us.

The Bible clearly teaches that God is the source of all power (see Study 6.1), and that he is responsible for the good things and bad of our lives:

"I form light and create darkness ... I make peace and create evil. I the Lord do all these things "(Isaiah 45:7).

" On behalf of the evil Lord came down from the gate of Jerusalem "(Micah 1:12).

" the trumpet is blown in the city and the people not be afraid? Is there any harm in the city, the Lord hath not done? "(Amos 3:6).

Therefore, when we receive evidence, we should accept that they come from God, not blaming the devil or demons. Job was a man who lost many good things with which God blessed him, but he said: "These demons have taken me all that God gave me." Listen to what he said

Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, is the name of the Lord "(Job 1:21).

" Shall we receive good from God and not trouble get? "(Job 2:10).

Once we understand that all things are of God, when we have problems in life can pray to God that he remove it, and if he does not, We can be sure we are giving the order to develop our character, and that ultimately is for our good:

Son mine, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him because the Lord loves [no demons] discipline, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as sons, for what son is he whom the father does not discipline? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons "(Hebrews 12:5-8).

GOD OF ALL POWER SOURCE

God

is the source of all power:

"I am the Lord, and no one else is no God besides Me" (Isaiah 45:5).

"There is no God but me. There is no God [the Hebrew word for 'God' really means 'power'], I know not," says God (Isaiah 44:8).

"The Lord is God, and there is none beside him (Deuteronomy 4:35).

Such verses occur again and again throughout the Bible. As God is the source of all power and the only God, therefore he is a jealous God as often reminds us (Exodus 20:5, Deuteronomy 4:24).

God becomes jealous when people begin to believe in others gods, if you say: 'You are a great God, a powerful God but actually I think that despite that there are other gods before you, auque not be as powerful as you. " That's why we can not believe that there are demons or a devil in existence as the true God. This is precisely the error committed by Israel. Much of the Old Testament to show how Israel deals displeased God by believing in gods while there. In the Bible we see that the 'demons' in which people believe today are precisely those same false gods whom Israel believed.

IDOLS ARE DEMONS

In 1 Corinthians, Paul explains why Christians should have nothing to do with idol worship or believe in such things.

In biblical times people believed that demons were minor gods to which they could worship to a termination of the problems that came to life. Therefore, models were demons who were like idols and worshiped them. This explains why Paul uses interchangeably the words "devil" and "idol" in his letter:

"What the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, not God, and do not want you yourselves with devils ... but if anyone says to you: This was sacrificed to idols, do not eat it because of the one who told "(1 Corinthians 10:20,28). So idols and demons are actually the same. Notice how Paul says that they sacrificed" to hell [idols] , not God, the devils were God, and since there is only one God, it is clear that demons have no power at all, not gods. This is explained more clearly in 1 Corinthians 8:4:

"Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol [is equivalent to a demon] is nothing in the world and there is only one God." An idol, or a evil has no existence at all. There is only one true God, or power in the world. Paul continues (vs. 5.6):

"For though there be that are called gods" ... (As there are many gods and many lords) [as people believe in many types of demons today, a demon because you lose your job, another reason for his wife to leave, etc.] To us [ true believers], however, there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things [good and bad, as we saw in the previous references]. "

More proof that people of days of the New Testament believed that demons were idols or 'gods' is found in Acts 17:16-18. Described here as Paul preached in Athens, which was a "city of idols", so worshiped many different idols. After listening to Paul preach the gospel, people said: "It seems to be a setter forth of strange gods [demons], because he was preaching the gospel of Jesus and the resurrection." So people thought that "Jesus" and "resurrection" demons and idols were new to them was becoming known. If you read the rest of the chapter, you will see how Paul proceeds to teach the truth to these people, and in v.22 he says: "You are very religious," [literally dedicated to the worship of demons] and he explains how God is not present in their demons, or idols. Remember that God is the only source of power. If he is not the demons, then the demons have no power because no other source of power in this universe - that is, do not exist.

THE 'HELL' OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WERE IDOLS

Returning to the Old Testament, there is more proof that "demons" is the same as idols. Deuteronomy 28:22-28,59-61 predicted that mental illness would be one of the punishments for worshiping idols or demons. This explains why the New Testament are linked to the demons of mental illness. But it should be noted that the language of demons is related to diseases, not to sin. There we read that Christ cast out demons of envy, murder, etc. Should also be noted that the Bible speaks of people have a demon or disease, not the demons causing the disease. It is significant that the Greek version of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) used the word 'daemon' for 'Idol' in Deuteronomy 32:17 and Psalm 106.37, this is the word that has been translated as "demons" in the New Testament. Psalm 106:36-39 describes errors and compares Israel to the idols of Canaan with the demons

"And [the children of Israel] served their idols, which were the cause of his ruin. They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, they offered in sacrifice to the idols of Canaan ... Were contaminated and their works, and prostituted by their deeds ".

is clearly demonstrated that the demons are just another name for idols. God describes his demon worship as worship of" their work ... his actions "because their belief in hell was the result of human imagination created the idols they were" works ". So those who today believe in demons are believing in things that have been imagined by men, the creation of men, rather than what God has taught us.

Deuteronomy 32:15-24

describes the wrath of God when His people believe in demons: Israel "scoffed at the Rock of his salvation. Him to jealousy with strange gods, angered him with abominations. Sacrificed devils, and not to God to gods whom they knew not ... not your fathers feared ... and [God] said: I will hide my face from them ... they are a perverse generation, children infidels. They moved me to jealousy with what is not God led me to anger with their idols ... I will heap evils upon them. "

So God describes demons as well as idols, abominations and vanities, which things to believe in vain, that have no existence. Belief in demons shows a lack of faith in God. It is not easy to have faith that God provides everything, both good and bad, in life. It is easier to think that bad things come from another, because once you say that come from God, then we need to have faith that God will remove or will ultimately be helpful for us.

DEMONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

But you can say, "What about all the passages in the New Testament that clearly speak of demons?

One thing we must make it clear: the Bible can not contradict the word of God Almighty. If we are told clearly that it is God who brings us problems, and that they are the source of all power, then the Bible can not also tell us that the demons (lesser gods opposed to God) who bring us these things. It seems significant that the word "demons" only occurs four times in the Old Testament and always refers to the worship of idols, but it occurs many times in the gospel accounts. We suggest that this is because at the time the Gospels were written, was the everyday language to say that any disease not could be understood was the fault of demons. If demons really exist, and are responsible for our illnesses and problems, then we should read more about them in the Old Testament. But do not read there at all about them in this context.

DEMONS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

say that demons were cast out of someone is to say they were healed of mental illness, or disease was not understood at that time. People who lived in the first century tended to blame everything that they could not understand imaginary creatures called "demons." As mental illness was difficult to understand the level of knowledge doctor who had, people referred to those people afflicted as' possessed by a demon. " In the days of the Old Testament, an evil spirit or impure language that was related to a disturbed mental state (Judges 9:23, 1 Sam 16:14, 18:10). In the days of the New Testament, the language about evil spirits and demon possession had come to refer to those suffering mental illness. The association between demons and disease are shown in the following: "They brought to him [Jesus] many possessed, and with the word cast out demons ... to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah [in the Old Testament ] saying, Himself took our infirmities and carried our diseases "(Matthew 8:16,17). So the human illness and diseases are the same as being possessed by" demons "and" evil spirits ".

People thought Jesus was crazy and said that this was because he had a demon: "He has a demon and is mad" (John 10:20, 7:19-20, 8:52). For therefore believed that demons caused insanity.

healing the sick

When "possessed" were healed, they said they were returning to their "right mind" (Mark 5:15 ; Lc. 8:35). This implies that being "demonized" was another way of saying someone was mentally ill, ie not of sound mind.

is said that the "possessed" were "healed" or "healed" (Matt. 4:24, 12:22, 17:18), implying that demon possession is another way of describing the disease.

In Luke 10:9 Jesus told his 70 apostles to go out and "heal the sick", what they did. When they returned they said (v.17): "Even the demons submit to us in your name." Once again, demons and disease are described alike. Sometimes the apostles healed people in the name of Jesus, and here is an example of this (see also Acts. 3:6, 9:34).

everyday language

So we see that in the New Testament was everyday language to describe someone as possessed by demons if he was mentally ill or had a disease that nobody understood. The cultural belief contemporary Greek and Roman era that demons could possess people, and therefore create mental illness. Those "Christians" who believe in the existence of demons are really saying that the contemporary pagan beliefs in this area were perfectly correct. The Bible is written in language people can understand. Just because it uses everyday language, that does not mean the Bible or Jesus believed in demons. Similarly in Castilian have the word 'lunatic' to describe someone who is mentally ill. Today, we use the word 'lunatic' to describe someone who is insane, but it means we believe that dementia is caused by the moon.

If these words were recorded and re-read within 2000 years (if Jesus had not returned) people might think we believe that the moon causes dementia, but they would be wrong because we are only using everyday language, as Jesus did 2000 years ago. Similarly, we describe a hereditary disorder as' St. Vitus' dance ', which is caused either by' San Vito 'or a' dance ', but that using everyday language, we call it the dance of San Vito '. It is clear that Jesus was not born on December 25, however, this writer still uses the term 'Christmas day' when referring to that day, but I do not think we should keep that day as the celebration of the birth of Christ. The names of a few days of the week are based on the pagan worship of idols: Monday has to do with the moon, Tuesday, with the planet Mars, etc. Using these names does not mean that we share the pagan beliefs of those who originally coined our language. "Influenza is also a term commonly used today. Strictly means' influenced by demons. " When Daniel was called 'Belteshazzar', a name that refers to a pagan god, the inspired record of Daniel 4:19 also calls it 'Belteshazzar', without pointing out that the word reflected a misunderstanding. I talk about 'Papa' as a means of identifying someone, even though I think it's a mistake to believe that he really is a 'papa' or father (Matthew 23:9).

In Ezekiel's day was a myth that the land of Israel was responsible for the misfortunes of those who lived there. This was not true and yet, God reasons with Israel using the idea was then popular. "Thus saith the Lord: For they say unto you, devour men, and killer of the children of your nation has been, therefore [the land] shall no longer devour men ... saith the Lord" (Ezek. 36:13,14). There was a common pagan belief that the sea was a monster who wanted to swallow the earth. While this is clearly wrong, the Bible often uses this expression in order to help readers grasp the idea being presented. See Job 7:12 (Moffat translation), Amos 9:3 (Moffat), Jeremiah 5:22, Psalm 89:9, Habakkuk 3:10, Matthew 14:24 (Greek text), Mark 4:37. Assyrian mythology called 'Rahab' this rebel sea monster, and this is exactly the name given to the sea monster of Egypt in Isaiah 51:9.

Since the Bible is inspired of God, it is impossible that the Bible is just reflecting the pagan influences that were common at the time it was written. It must be that God is consciously alluding to contemporary beliefs in order to show that he is the ultimate source of power, he is who controls the 'monster' of the sea, so that this does the will of God. Therefore, God corrected the fundamental error of the beliefs of these people that were active forces in the world that were not under the control of God, and therefore by implication were bad. However, in this case, the Bible is not out of his way to refute the folly of believing that there is a huge monster lurking in the sea or the sea is a monster.

Another example is the description of lightning and storm clouds as a "crooked serpent" (Job 26:13, Isaiah 27:1). This was evidently alluding to the pagan belief that contemporary lightning and cloud formations were really frightening visions of a huge snake. These passages do not expose the folly of such an idea, or try a scientific explanation. Instead, they emphasize that God controls these things. The attitude of Christ to the prevailing belief in demons is identical at this point, his miracles clearly showed that the power of God was absolute and complete, not limited by the superstitions of men concerning the so-called "demons." Those who believe that the New Testament stories about 'demons' prove that these people really are forced to accept that the sea is really a monster, and that lightning is actually a huge snake. This is certainly a powerful argument, there must be a recognition that the Bible uses everyday language in which it is written, not necessarily support the beliefs that form the basis of that language. We have shown that our own use of language is similar. The Bible does this in order to confirm the kind of basic truths that we believe in Trials 6.1 and 6.2, that God is almighty, he is responsible for our troubles, sin comes from within us. All these things can make sense when we recognize the greatness of the power of God to save. The so-called 'hypercritical' are constantly digging up links between the language of Scripture and the beliefs and concepts surrounding cultures in which the Bible was inspired and written. These are understandable when one understands that the Bible uses language that can refer to local beliefs, but does so in order to highlight that Jehovah, the only true God, is much larger than the small men's beliefs which have been known to those who first read the inspired words straight out of the mouth of the prophet.

With this in mind, it is surprising how many examples can be found in the New Testament about the everyday language that was used without that this has been corrected. Here are some examples:

- The Pharisees accused Jesus of working miracles by the power of a false god named Beelzebub. Jesus said, "If I cast out demons by Beelzebub. Who do your children cast them?" (Matthew 12:27). 2 Kings 1:2 tells us clearly that Beelzebub was a false god of the Philistines. Jesus said: 'Bear in mind that 2 Kings 1:2 says that Beelzebub is a false god, so the accusation you can not be true. " No, he spoke as if Beelzebub there, because I was interested in getting their message to the people he preached. Thus, just as Jesus was talking about casting out devils, he said "Actually, they do not exist", he just preached the gospel in everyday language.

- Acts 16:16-18 contains the words of Luke, spoken under inspiration: "We were met by a girl who had a familiar spirit [Greek text: Python spirit]." Python was the name of a false god in which they believed some in the first century, probably was the god Apollo. So there was definitely Python, but Lucas does not say that she was "possessed by a spirit of Python which, incidentally, does not exist." In the same way the gospel accounts that Jesus did not say 'Cast out demons, by the way, does not actually exist, "That's just everyday language to refer to the disease'.

- Luke 5:32 Jesus slogan telling the wicked Jews:" No I have come to call the righteous. "He was inferring: 'I came not to call those who believe they are right'. But Jesus spoke to them in their own terms, even though technically, he was using bad language. Luke 19: 20-23 shows Jesus using the wrong words man of talent in the parable to reason with him, but he does not correct the wrong words used by the man.

- The Bible often speaks of the sun 'sale' and that 'puts', this is a humane way of putting it, but it is not scientifically correct. It also speaks of the disease in the language technically 'wrong' by 'demons'. Acts 5:3 Ananias tells how he deceived the Holy Spirit. Actually this is an impossibility, however what Ananias meant to do is designated as a fact, even if it was not.

- There are many biblical examples of language that was used, which was understandable at the time it was written, but now it is unknown to us, for example: "Skin for skin" (Job 2:4) alluded to the old practice of selling skins of equal value to a homosexual is called 'dog' in Deuteronomy 23:18. The language about demons is another example.

- The Jews of Christ's day thought they were fair because they were descendants of Abraham. Therefore, Jesus turned to them as "righteous" (Matthew 9:12,13), and said: "I know that you are descendants of Abraham" (John 8:37). But he did not think were fair, as it often made clear, and his reasoning in John 8:39-44 clearly demonstrated that they were not descendants of Abraham. So Jesus accepted people's beliefs at face value without immediately contradict, but instead showed the truth. We have shown that this was God's approach in dealing with the pagan beliefs that were common at the time of the Old Testament. The attitude of Christ regarding demons in New Testament times was the same, his miracles of divine origin left perfectly clear that the disease caused God, not another force, given that it was God who had the portentous power to heal.

- Paul quoted Greek poets, in order to mislead those who believed what the poets taught (Titus 1:12, Acts. 17:28). What we are suggesting is encapsulated in the response of Paul to find an altar to worship, "To the unknown God", ie any pagan deity that may exist, but the people of Athens had been overlooked. Instead of reproach for his folly to believe this, Paul took, from where they were, to believe in one true God, whom they did not know (Acts 17:22,23).

- Ephesians 2:2 speaks of "the prince of the power of air." This clearly alludes to the mythological concepts of Zoroastrianism, the kind of thing that Paul's readers once thought. Paul says that once they lived under the "prince of the power of the air." In the same verse, Paul calls this "the spirit [attitude of mind] that ... operates" natural man. Previously they had believed in the pagan concept of a heavenly spiritual prince, now Paul points out that the power to which they were formally subject was his own mind. This referred to and talk about the pagan idea without specific criticisms, at the same time it shows the truth about sin.

-Acts 28:3-6 describes a deadly snake attacked Paul enroscándosele arm. People standing around decided that Paul was a murderer, whom "justice not to live." His understanding of the situation was completely wrong. But Paul did not explain this in detail, but instead performed a miracle - shook the snake bite him without it.

"Miracles of Jesus exposed the error of local beliefs, such as demons, without correcting explicitly. In Luke 5:21 the Jews made two false statements: that Jesus was a blasphemer, and that only God could forgive sins. Jesus did not correct them verbally, but instead performed a miracle which proved the falsity of those statements.

- The belief was that Jesus' actions clearly speak louder than words. He rarely complained directly misconceptions; so I did not refute the idea that the Mosaic law could not offer salvation, but he showed by his actions, such as healing on the Sabbath, which was the truth. When he was unjustly accused of being a Samaritan, Jesus never denied it (John 8:48,49, compare 4:7-9) even though his Jewish ancestry, as the seed of Abraham, was vital to the divine plan of salvation (John 4:22).

-Even when the Jews took the wrong conclusion (deliberately!) That Jesus was "making himself equal with God" (John 5:18), Jesus did not deny it explicitly, but instead argued strongly that miracles showed he was a man who acted on behalf of God, and therefore was not equal to God. The miracles of Jesus also showed the mistake of believing in demons. The miracle of Christ healing the paralytic at the pool was to show the folly of the Jewish myth that Easter time an angel touched the water of the pool of Bethesda, transmitting healing properties. This myth is scored without a direct denial of their belief, the story of the miracle of Christ is the exposure of its falsity (John 5:4).

-2 Peter 2:4 says that the wicked people going to Tartarus (translated as "hell" in many versions). Tartarus was a mythical place of the underworld, But Peter does not correct the idea, but rather uses it as a symbol of utter destruction and punishment of sin. Christ's use of the word Gehenna was similar (see Study 4:9).

REALLY DEMONS CAUSE DISEASE?

Anyone who believes that there are demons have to ask the question: "When I'm sick." Is caused by demons? " If you believe that New Testament references about demons relate to minor gods out there doing wrong, then you have to answer yes. In that case, how can you explain the fact that many diseases attributed Now the demons can heal or controlled with medication? Malaria is a classic example. Many people in Africa believed until recently that malaria was caused by demons, but now we know that malaria can be healed with quinine and other medicines. Are you then saying that when the demons are small yellow tablets down his throat, get scared and run away? Some of the diseases that Jesus healed, described as the result of demon possession have been identified as tetanus or epilepsy, which can be alleviated with medication.

A friend of mine from a village on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda. He said that people used to believe that malaria was caused by demons, but once the drugs were easily controlled it, let's blame the demons. However, when someone had cerebral malaria (causing a serious mental illness), they still blamed the demons. A doctor was in a nearby town and offered them as healing medicine against malaria, but they refused because they said they needed was something to fight the demons, not malaria. The doctor returned later and said: "I have a drug that the demons will flee," the person took forward to the medically ill, and improved. The second tablets were exactly the same as the first. The doctor did not believe in demons, but he used everyday language so that the person would understand, like the "Great Physician", the Lord Jesus, 2000 years ago.