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What Are "Devils" and "Unclean Spirits"?
By Mahlon Wickey May, 2012
Many of today’s believers will confess that they have no interest or desire to seriously study the translated words in their Bibles. But they STILL believe in certain doctrines, and generally they are unable to TRULY explain WHY they believe in these certain doctrines. They only know that their pastor believes in them, and he is very "skilled" to explain certain scriptures to prove (or disprove) certain doctrines that are believed (or not believed) by millions of believers. He is able to give "good" sermons, so therefore he no doubt "knows" what he is talking about, which obviously would make him "right" when explaining doctrines.
But many pastors generally do NOT want to explain doctrines since they are only interested to convince their congregations to just "love Jesus". Therefore believers "know" that they love Jesus, and it would be just wonderful if their friends, neighbors, and relatives would also just "love Jesus". Believers generally are NOT told that an HONEST study of scripture is one way to love Jesus. But they are more or less "con"-vinced (deceived) that an HONEST study of scripture is a waste of time, simply because their pastor is HIRED to teach the Bible, so therefore it is his DUTY to study scripture to get doctrines "right". I am NOT judging believers or pastors, but we have to admit that this is the theological "pattern" that modern Christianity is on.
The belief systems of modern Christianity are generally BASED on what millions of people hear at church services, and also BASED on centuries old "Christian" traditions and doctrines. In the modern "Christian" way of thinking to search for theological TRUTH is not all that important, and the danger of theological deception is of no concern since millions of believers seem to be "comfortable" with what they believe (or NOT believe). Believers generally accept the "Christian" doctrine about devils and unclean spirits, and in their minds the Bible is very CLEAR about these evil spirit BEINGS since the Bible "supposedly" talks about REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits.
This article will attempt to explain WHY devils and unclean spirits are mentioned in the Bible, and if (yes, IF) devils and unclean spirits are simply SPIRITS from REAL "personal" evil spirit beings (as generally believed by our modern churches).
Many modern churches believe that there were angels that rebelled against God sometime in the far distance past, and these angels became known as "fallen" angels, or also known as devils, demons, and unclean spirits. The Bible indeed talks about the "angels that sinned" (2Peter 2:4), but did these angels then become devils, demons, and unclean spirits? These many modern churches seem to be at a major loss to explain WHY an ALL-KNOWING God would create angels destined for rebellion and FAILURE to become "fallen" angels that "supposedly" became devils, demons, and unclean spirits to be on the "loose" to do their evil deceptive work of "possessing" millions of their helpless victims!
Modern Christianity is generally on the theological premise that REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits INSPIRE certain religious-minded people to worship "other gods". Yes, it is common knowledge that the lunacy, madness, and insanity of the wicked acts of terrorism and suicide bombings are INSPIRED by a certain religion of a certain false "god". But there is another type of insanity that is much more subtle and "hidden" but JUST as wicked as so-called terrorism! Yes, the insanity of wicked men in control of banks and the flow of MONEY are able to cause financial uncertainties, ruin, and havoc in order to CONTROL nations.
What type of insanity INSPIRES wicked men in government to REFUSE to govern according to logic, facts, and common sense that would bring TRUE peace and TRUE prosperity to nations? Are not nations in an endless pursuit for peace and prosperity, and what type of insanity would want to PREVENT this?
Insanity is defined as lunacy, madness, craziness, and the unsoundness of mind that most certainly could apply to wicked men ruling the governments of this evil world/age. There are indeed evil SPIRITS that INSPIRE this lunacy, madness, craziness, and unsoundness of mind, but are these spirits from evil SPIRIT beings or from evil HUMAN beings? We shall see.
Many of our nation’s elected politicians will also NOT govern according to logic, facts, and common sense, and they are very "skilled" to explain how our nation’s problems and difficulties can be solved "their way". Yes, certain politicians that are elected to SERVE our people are the PROBLEM, and by their BLIND desire for authority and POWER these politicians are a direct obstacle in solving many of our nation’s problems. But there is that political "tug of war" in congress between the "forces" of good and evil, but WHY are the political "forces" of evil and insanity generally favored?
It is indeed insanity for millions of our voters to actually BELIEVE that they voted for politicians that have our people’s best interests in mind when they will use their POWER of legislation to pass INSANE laws that are designed to ROB our people of their God-given freedoms, liberty, and RIGHTS!
It is indeed insanity that certain elected politicians will blame man’s industrial progress for causing planet earth to be on the "dangerous" path known as "global warming". It is indeed insanity that we are told that our appetite for energy from fossil fuels is "destroying" planet earth, and certain elected politicians have the "solutions" that will "fix" and "save the planet". This is indeed absolute lunacy, madness, and insanity!
It is indeed insanity that our government it trying to figure out how to DEFINE marriage, and if (yes, IF) LAWFUL marriage is ONLY for one man and one woman! But this "political" insanity is only a reflection of the misguided INSANE thinking going on in the minds of millions of our deceived people!
There are other insane political agendas that are NOT based on logic, facts, and common sense from certain elected politicians that will outright LIE to promote their INSANE agendas in controlling our people. But this "political" insanity is generally accepted by millions of our deceived people simply because they actually BELIEVE the lies and half-truths that are told by self-serving politicians that have "good intentions" in serving our people. What is happening to our beloved nation?
It is NOT discussed by so-called intelligent minds the source, the cause, and the reason WHY the so-called intelligence of man can be so easily deceived to be in this state of mind called insanity. Many believers do read their Bibles, and they do talk about the "supposed" SOURCE of this mental insanity that is CAUSING all these many "difficulties" and "struggles" of our troubled nation and our troubled world. But these many believers generally ignore the scriptures that do indeed explain the TRUE source that inspires the INSANITY of the carnal human heart and mind, and WHY carnal sinful man is doomed to eventually FAIL in ruling himself.
Spiritual common sense tells us that the TRUE gospel message can only be effective with people in their RIGHT minds. Our modern churches generally believe in the POWER of "free will" to CHOOSE salvation, but they ALSO believe that the spirits of REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits are able to cause people to NOT be in their RIGHT minds. But the incredible IRONY and dilemma for our modern churches is that these people then of course would be UNABLE to use their POWER of "free will" to choose salvation.
But salvation is determined by God’s WILL and desire (NOT by man’s so-called "free will"), and it would be total insanity to believe that REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits are able to OVERPOWER the WILL and desire of an All-powerful God! Of course, evil spirits INSPIRE people to NOT be in their RIGHT minds, but are these evil spirits from REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits?
It is assumed that if we "experiment" in witchcraft and sorcery we are INVITING evil deceptive SPIRITS of REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits into our minds, and we might become "possessed" by the SPIRITS of these evil deceptive spirit BEINGS that can cause much mental torment and insanity.
But before I get into the scriptures on the subject of devils and unclean spirits I want to address the doctrine of "God", simply because we all believe everything about the creation finds its origins and beginnings "in God". We have all thought about the PERSON of God, or WHO God is, and certain religious-minded people today want to make sure that they correctly pronounce the "name" of God. But generally we seldom ever think about WHAT God is, or WHAT God is composed of.
As we all know, our beloved KJ Bibles can be misleading at times with incorrect translated words, and the KJ translators obviously believed that God is simply "a" Spirit; which is why they made sure to use a capital "S" for the term "spirit"….
John 4:24…. KJV God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
But notice that the little word "a" is NOT used in the Concordant Literal Version ….
John 4:24 CLV God is spirit, and those who are worshiping Him must be worshiping in spirit and truth."
That is the CORRECT translation of John 4:24, and "spirit" is NOT with a capital "S". Other translations also do NOT use the little word "a", but certain translations DO use a capital "S" since these translators ASSUMED that they needed to COPY our beloved KJ Bibles. I believe John 4:24 should NOT be with a capital "S" since the "spirit" REALM is NOT limited to ONE spirit, but "spirit" with a capital "S" does indeed point to ONE spirit that is separated from all other spirits (small "s"). John 4:24 should simply read; "God IS spirit". This is very important!
Of course, God is "a" spirit BEING, and God also has "a" Spirit (capital "S"), but I do not believe this is what Christ was talking about in John 4:24. Christ simply said "God IS spirit", and we do NOT have to put a spiritual "twist" or "spin" to what Christ said! In other words, God is COMPOSED of "spirit", and to say that "God is A Spirit" instead of saying that "God IS spirit" changes what Jesus Christ TRULY said in John 4:24! Some believers of course would say that this is just frivolous on my part, or it is "splitting hairs", or it does NOT matter IF God is "a" Spirit, or IF God "is" spirit. I say it matters very much what Jesus Christ TRULY said and MEANT in John 4:24!
Since God is composed of "spirit" means that God does FILL all of creation, and God is everywhere simply because the realm of "spirit" is everywhere. Spirit is the energy and POWER of God, and therefore it is the energy and POWER that maintains and controls the whole creation! Spirit is the energy and POWER of how everything in Mother Nature "works" in our physical world. Again, God is everywhere all the time, and therefore God is ABLE to HEAR all prayers spoken at the SAME time! God had NO beginning and has NO ending simply because the realm of SPIRIT and eternity had no beginning and has no ending!
The theological concept of God composed of spirit (NOT "a" Spirit) goes a long way in defining the source of the power of God, and WHAT the power of God truly is, and HOW the eternal realm of "spirit" SERVES the eternal ALL-powerful God.
Here is another misleading scripture in our beloved KJ Bibles….
Romans 11:36 (KJV) For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
The statement, "For of him" is NOT the original inspired wording. It should simply read, "OUT of Him", as shown in the Concordant Literal Version….
Romans 11:36 CLV seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is all: to Him be the glory for the eons! Amen!
Take notice that the word "out" is missing in our beloved KJ Bibles, and is also missing in other translations as well. Based on the CLV it simply means that ALL of creation came OUT of God, and did NOT come out of what we would call NOTHING. Yes, we have all heard countless times the statement that God simply spoke the creation into existence out of NOTHING. But all of creation came out (yes, OUT) of God; and a PERSONAL God most certainly is NOT what we would call "nothing"!
I repeat, God IS "spirit" which is HIMSELF, and that would mean ALL of creation came OUT of God’s own creative power that expresses HIMSELF; which is His WILL, desire, and pleasure! Again, everything in all of creation consists of things that came OUT of God’s personal WILL, desire, and pleasure that expresses HIMSELF, and His spiritual power and energy is IN (yes, IN) ALL of creation, and this power and energy regulates, maintains, and controls the whole creation!
God is called by the name of "Jehovah" (H3068); which means self-existent one. God alone "exists" on His OWN power, and everything else in creation (visible and invisible) does NOT exist on its OWN power, or exist APART from God’s energy, power, and control. Everything in creation came OUT of God, through God, and for God’s WILL, desire, and pleasure!
Colossians 1:16-17 is also misleading in our beloved KJ Bibles….
(KJV) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
The inspired original Greek reads "in Him"; it should NOT read, "all things were created by him, and for him", and it should also NOT read, "by Him all things consist". It should instead read "in Him" as explained in the Concordant Literal Version….
Colossians 1:16-17 CLV for in Him is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Him and for Him, (17) and He is before all, and all has its cohesion in Him."
It is interesting that the word "cohesion" is used, and it means the act of sticking together, united by natural attraction, connection, and dependent. Jesus Christ is united, attracted, connected, and dependent to all things of the whole creation (visible and invisible), and all things in creation are likewise united, attracted, connected, and dependent to be IN CHRIST.
There is a difference in saying that the creation was made "IN Him" instead of saying the creation was made "BY Him". Of course, the creation was made BY HIM, but that is NOT the context of what Paul is saying in Colossians 1:16-17. The major point is that the original inspired words are "in Him", and NOT "by Him" which changes the context. The correct context of Colossians 1:16-17 is that ALL of creation (visible and invisible) came OUT of God’s personal SELF (His nature and character), and is united, connected, attracted, and dependent to be IN CHRIST. Yes, the visible and invisible things are all a part of the whole creation; which would therefore include the invisible good and evil spirit (yes, SPIRIT) creation.
Carefully read, study, and believe Hebrews 1:3….
KJV Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
"Express image" (G5481) means that Christ is the exact copy of God’s PERSON (G5287) that SUPPORTED the essence (true nature and character) of God. God’s true nature and character was IN the life of Jesus Christ who WAS the LORD God "Jehovah" that spoke and made himself known at certain times during the old covenant and Old Testament times. During New Testament times Jesus Christ lived his physical life and performed REAL miracles based on the fact that He was the exact copy in visible bodily form that supported the visible and invisible creation that came OUT of God’s personal SELF (His nature and character). This now brings us to the subject of "devils" and "unclean spirits".
Again, I must mention; God is composed of "spirit" which FILLS ALL of creation (visible and invisible), and therefore God is the source, and in CONTROL of ALL other "spirits". Our modern churches will confess that devils and unclean spirits are just "spirits", but they ALSO believe that they are evil spirit BEINGS.
The visible and invisible creation came OUT, came through, and was created for God (for God’s WILL, desire, and pleasure), and is united, connected, and attracted to be IN CHRIST. This of course would INCLUDE all thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers (Colossians 1:16-17), but it would therefore also INCLUDE all "devils" and all "unclean spirits" that would ALSO be united, connected, and attracted to be IN CHRIST.
It sounds repulsive and blasphemous to most believers for me to point out that so-called "devils" and so-called "unclean spirits" (in rebellion against God) are IN CHRIST! Please understand; everything about creation is maintained and controlled by the spiritual power of God that FILLS the WHOLE visible and invisible creation, and all this is done IN CHRIST!
As we all know, the term "in Christ" is found many times in the New Testament, but just what does this term truly mean? It means exactly what is implied! "IN" (G1722) means "fixed position", and ALL of creation is in a "fixed position" to be in (yes, IN) the PERSON of Jesus Christ! But we are always told that ONLY sincere believers are "in Christ", and I do AGREE it would be repulsive and blasphemous for me to say that REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits are IN CHRIST!
But it is never explained that just maybe REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits DO NOT EXIST! If (yes, IF) evil deceptive "personal" spirit BEINGS do NOT exist then they of course could NOT be a part of the invisible creation. What I am trying to explain is simply this; since REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits do NOT exist, they therefore could NOT be IN CHRIST! Now please understand this very logical and spiritual FACT!
Just what are so-called devils and unclean spirits, and where do they come from, and just what is God’s purpose for devils and unclean spirits? Are they spirit BEINGS that somehow have the POWER to deceive mankind, cause all kinds of evil, and also cause mental and physical afflictions? It most certainly would seem so from reading the many accounts of Christ "casting out" all these devils and unclean spirits. But what Christ was doing was only a very small SAMPLE and foretaste of what the "firstfruit" saints will do when ruling with Jesus Christ when they "cast out" devils and unclean spirits that will eventually RID and HEAL the whole world of all sin, evil, and deception!
The Greek word for "devils" was used sixty times in the New Testament, and the Greeks originally explained this word (G1140) as a "deity" (a god). But it was taken from G1142 that could be explained to distribute a spirit of a bad nature (evil spirit) that is easily "distributed" to carnal minds. "Devils" are simply evil spirits, but they were falsely believed as "other gods" that inspired IDOL worship. But idols were simply imagined since Paul wrote that idols are NOTHING (1Cor 8:4).
The Pharisees of Christ’s day believed in these "deities" (devils) that were simply imagined in their minds, which is why the INSPIRED use of "devils" was needed many times during Christ’s day. But the Hebrew "devils" (H8163) was translated many times as kid(s) or goat(s) used as sacrifices. Yes, Israel sacrificed "devils" themselves, and NOT necessarily UNTO "devils"! Another "oddity" is that the term "unclean spirit" was used only ONCE in the entire Old Testament (Zech 13:2).
The meaning of "spirit" is (H7307) and (G4151); which means wind, breeze, or current of air. I assure you that "spirit" is NOT wind, breeze, or a current of air! "Spirit" does NOT mean air of ITSELF, but it is BASED on the FLOWING movement of air, such as wind, breeze, or a current of air. Air of course is invisible, but we CAN see the EFFECTS of the FLOWING movement of air.
The created realm of good and evil SPIRITS is also invisible, but we CAN see the EFFECTS of the "spirit" of revenge, contempt, vanity, lust, envy, fear, lying and deceptive spirits, and also the EFFECTS of other EVIL spirits. We CAN also see the EFFECTS of the "spirit" of love, joy, peace, cheer, kindness, and patience, and also the EFFECTS of other GOOD spirits.
These good and evil spirits determine HOW and WHAT we think, and our thoughts determine HOW and WHAT we speak, and our lifestyles and BELIEFS are also determined by these good and evil spirits. The major point is; these good and evil spirits are a direct result of KNOWING the "KNOW"-ledge of good and evil that all mankind inherited by Adam’s sin. It was God that "planted" this symbolic tree of knowledge (yes, knowledge) so that ALL mankind would know (yes, KNOW) what is "good" and what is "evil"! This knowledge is for God’s PURPOSE so that ALL mankind could be held accountable and be JUDGED to be MADE "right with God", so that ALL mankind could be SAVED during the future "ages of the ages"!
All these good and evil spirits are already WITHIN our hearts and thoughts! These spirits DO NOT come from REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits from the outside of us!
Jesus Christ explained exactly what defiles the man….
Mark 7:20-23 KJV And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. (21) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (22) Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: (23) All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
The word "defileth" (G2840) means "to make profane", but was translated as "UNCLEAN" in Heb 9:13. Christ explained that "from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts", and then Christ named the "unclean" thoughts (spirits) that defile the man, and these thoughts (spirits) come from WITHIN man. Again, they do NOT come from REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits from the OUTSIDE of man! But what about the many examples of unclean spirits that Christ "cast out"?
G169 was also used for "unclean spirit(s)", and means IMPURE, and these many examples could simply be a condition of the carnal mind that is IMPURE ("unclean") in thoughts, words, and actions. Christ "cast out" these unclean spirits (mental condition) many times by speaking the correct words to be received in the minds of mentally disabled people, and they were restored in their RIGHT MIND (Mark 5:15 and Luke 8:35).
But there are examples of unclean spirits that SPOKE to Jesus Christ; implying that they "possessed" their victims. But WHO truly spoke to Jesus Christ? We also speak words as our spirits within us determine in our thinking process that INSPIRE us to speak accordingly. Of course, it is the spirits in our hearts that truly INSPIRES the spoken words, and in that sense it is indeed our spirits within our hearts that "speak"!
Carefully read Acts 19:15-16. This was an example of a man that was controlled by an "evil spirit", and was able to overpower the men that wanted to "expel" this evil spirit. Verse 15 says that the evil spirit answered and spoke to these men. Again, we have to ask the very obvious; who TRULY spoke these words? It was this evil spirit in the heart of this INSANE man that INSPIRED him to answer and speak, and also compelled him to fight these men with superhuman strength. The source of this type of strength will be addressed soon.
Luke 4:33 is the ONLY biblical example of an "unclean devil"….
Luke 4:33 KJV And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
Why was Luke inspired to use "unclean DEVIL" instead of "unclean SPIRIT"? This was not a mistranslation, and it might simply be a theological "clue" that shows that "devils" is simply another term for "unclean spirits"? Spiritual common sense and logic tells us that so-called "devils" and so-called "unclean spirits" are all one and SAME type of evil deceptive SPIRITS!
Our modern churches will confess that there truly is NO difference if people are "possessed" by a "devil" or by an "unclean spirit", and that they BOTH are simply evil deceptive spirits, and it does not matter which spirit is doing the "possessing". But the Pharisees of Christ’s day believed (or imagined) there was a difference; which is WHY the inspired use of BOTH "devils" and "unclean spirits" was NEEDED!
Our modern churches read and believe these many examples of "devils" and "unclean spirits", and this is why (yes, WHY) most of our modern churches believe (or imagine) that there are indeed REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits. Just because Jesus Christ generally did NOT dispute the Pharisees belief in REAL "personal" evil spirit BEINGS does NOT make this belief the TRUTH! Our modern churches NEVER consider that just maybe Jesus Christ WANTED the Pharisees to REMAIN in their ignorance and unbelief!
Notice what the apostle John writes about certain spirits….
1John 4:1 KJV Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Not all spirits are "of God", or of (yes, OF) the nature and character of God. There were spirits of HUMAN false prophets that John warned against. The major point is; they were NOT spirits of REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits!
Again, I must mention that Jesus Christ explained that we are defiled from WITHIN, and NOT by REAL "personal" evil spirits from the OUTSIDE (Mark 7:20-23). James 1:14 also says we are tempted, drawn away, and enticed by our OWN lusts; NOT by REAL "personal" evil spirits that somehow are able to inspire our own (yes, OWN) common LUSTS! In Judges 9:23 and 1Samuel (chapters 16 and 18) are examples of evil spirits that were sent and came FROM God, and also 1Kings 22:23 and 2Chron 18:22 are examples that God put a "lying spirit" in the mouth of certain prophets. This biblical TRUTH means that evil and lying spirits come from the ALL-KNOWING God!
I do indeed believe that ALL spirits come out (yes, OUT) of the spiritual realm of God, but some are NOT necessarily "OF God", or of (yes, OF) the nature and character of God. In that sense they are NOT "godly spirits", and therefore it could be biblically stated that they are NOT "of God" (1John 4:1).
As I pointed out before; it was God that "planted" the symbolic tree of the knowledge of BOTH good and evil, and I want to also point out that it is God that creates EVIL and darkness (H2822); which figuratively means misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, and obscurity….
Isaiah 45:7 KJV I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Why would God create the conditions for humans to SUFFER misery, etc, but ALSO create the "darkness" of ignorance and OBSCURITY? The only physical creation of God that is ruled by SPIRITS is the creation of mankind. Yes, mankind is INSPIRED to truly experience the SUFFERINGS of misery, etc, but also INSPIRED by the SPIRIT of ignorance to "mysteriously" IGNORE-(ance) the TRUTHS of God; which are in "obscurity" (in a mystery) for a divine PURPOSE. Now think about this!
God as creator of man HAS to be responsible for the ultimate destiny of man, but man is held accountable because he is INSPIRED (NOT by "free will") to choose the mixture of good and evil SPIRITS that God has PROVIDED! But BEFORE man reaches his destiny man has to FIRST suffer all kinds of misery, etc, and be in the "darkness" of ignorance and deception; which are the conditions that mankind NEEDS to be SAVED FROM!
Why did God provide "familiar" spirits that Israel was WARNED against? The word "familiar" (H178) means "necromancer" (ability to talk to the spirits of the dead). All spirits depart at the death of the body, but I believe a familiar spirit is "familiar" with these "departed" spirits of the dead, but God’s order is that the living MUST be separated from the dead. This is why this HARMFUL spirit was forbidden with a death penalty (Leviticus 20:27).
So again, why would God provide harmful spirits? The divine PURPOSE for God to provide the knowledge of BOTH good and evil, and also provide BOTH good and evil SPIRITS is that man NEEDS to be TESTED to ACT on "good" knowledge and to ACT on "good" spirits to build GOOD Godly character. After all, it was God that provided and "arranged" for the sufferings and brutal death of His only begotten Son!
All mankind is "plagued" with a mixture of BOTH good and evil spirits that God has PROVIDED. Yes, God has TOTAL control of ALL spirits of ALL mankind since ALL spirits came out (yes, OUT) of an ALL-KNOWING God! The process of SALVATION is based on mankind NEEDING to be delivered (saved) from these many harmful afflictions called "devils" and "unclean spirits". The major point is that the blessings of salvation can only be realized and made possible IF (I repeat, IF) it is NEEDED!
But most believers are INSPIRED to accept and BELIEVE that REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits do indeed EXIST, simply because the Bible "supposedly" talks about them! They also witness people that "seem" to have supernatural powers because they are able to perform magic, levitation, and other supernatural acts. Why do certain people "seem" to have the POWER to perform magic, talk to the dead, levitate, and do other "unbelievable" acts? The important point is that these unbelievable acts only SEEM to be REAL, but only in the "eyes of the beholder"! This is HOW the POWER of deception works! The POWER of "magic" comes from the deceptive SPIRITS of witchcraft and sorcery that do NOT point to REAL miracles!
But the apostles truly did have the POWER to perform REAL miracles, REAL healings, and Peter truly did raise the dead. Jesus Christ is the only source that was given ALL POWER and authority (Matt 28:18), and it is given according to GOD’S WILL for the divine purpose of evil and "darkness" (ignorance and obscurity). So-called ghosts, UFOs, and other "unexplained" things, and also "unbelievable" feats such as superhuman strength ALL come OUT of God for the divine purpose to KEEP mankind in deception to FULFILL an evil deceptive world/age!
In Matt 8:28-29 were two "exceeding fierce" men that were possessed by a whole "army" (Legion) of devils and unclean spirits (Luke 8:30). This incredible event shows that it took a WHOLE "army" of devils and unclean spirits to INSPIRE these men to be in WHOLE (total) torment and insanity! But is there an INSPIRED contradiction to cause doubt about this incredible event that simply might have a "hidden" message, or a theological "clue" to a very important TRUTH?
The contradiction is that two men asked Christ not to torment US "before the time", but Mark 5:7 and Luke 8:28 said that only ONE man asked Christ to not torment him. So was it TWO men or was it only ONE man ALREADY in torment "before the time"? Many believers ASSUME that "devils" are WAITING to suffer a "time" of torment, but Mark and Luke plainly say that the MAN (NOT the "devils") asked Christ not to torment him.
The SPIRIT of "devils" not only caused the one man (or the two men) to ask not to be tormented, but they also asked to NOT be sent into the "deep" (Luke 8:31). This "torment" is G928 that comes from G931, which means "going to the BOTTOM", and also means "touch stone" (used to TEST metals). The word "deep" (G12) means "bottomless pit" that will be "opened" during the symbolic events in the book of Revelation.
This torment (G931) DOES have a "bottom", but this symbolic "pit" (abyss) is "bottomless", which I believe is a symbolic term explaining that the "depths" of sin, evil, and deception CANNOT BE MEASURED (bottomless). The torment of "touch stone" TESTING in this "pit" goes to the BOTTOM (G931) of the abyss and depth of sin, evil, and deception that will be exposed to be TESTED that causes this mental torment. These words spoken by these two men (or the one man) pointed to the "time" of mental torment when the "touch stone" TESTING will be experienced by those in the symbolic "lake of fire".
Rev 20:10 (KJV) says that the symbolic "devil" and the "beast and false prophet" were cast into the "lake of fire", and shall be tormented "for ever and ever". "For ever and ever" are the words G1519 (to or into), and G165 is repeated (ages); which means this mental torment of "touch stone" TESTING is TO or INTO the glorious "ages of the ages", as explained by Rotherham, 1912 Weymouth, and Young's Literal Translation. There are at least two ages involved, and it is ridiculous and yes, it is INSANITY and lunacy to believe that "for ever and ever" means the "eternities of the eternities"! The major point is; this mental torment of "touch stone" testing is the spiritual process when ALL sin, evil, and deception will be consumed by the fire of God (the symbolic "lake of fire").
In conclusion, I want to say that God is the Father (a PARENT in control) of spirits (Heb 12:9), which includes all EVIL spirits that temporarily serve in the plan and PURPOSE of God. Yes, evil spirits are temporary but necessary, which is why we are NOT to believe (trust) every spirit (1John 4:1) since some are NOT "of God" (or NOT godly spirits). We all have evil spirits in our hearts and minds that are NOT to be trusted, but these deceptive spirits are NOT from "devils" and "unclean spirits" from the OUTSIDE that are somehow able to INSPIRE our thinking. I believe our greatest enemies are the spirits of ignorance, deception, and fear. We have all INHERITED these spirits that determine WHAT we think and believe, and HOW we act and live. We have met our common enemies and they are already IN US! They are NOT REAL "personal" devils and unclean spirits from the OUTSIDE of us!
By Mahlon Wickey May, 2012
Questions or comments?... Email: mrwickey7@gmail.com