Since the fall of man there have been two opposing forces at work on our planet, one originates with God, and the other originates with satan, and throughout the history of the world, with the rise and fall of kingdoms and nations, these two supernatural forces have been at war over the domain of the human heart, a conflict in which every person is of necessity involved. Many of this world’s intellectuals have dismissed with disdain the thought that there are good and evil angels interacting with us daily, even though the Bible specifically states that this is indeed the case. Let’s read:
Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels
spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people
2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
These holy angels, as stated in the book of Hebrews are the invisible agents of God upon the earth, and they do interact with real people on a daily basis, guiding persons to Christ, and protecting the children of God from the malice of the evil one. Even though many people do not know it, holy angels have been present in the common assemblies of men, at political rallies, at amusement parks, and in the courts across the land, but we are not aware of their presence for they are masked as regular folk. This sacred truth is stated hundreds of times in the scriptures. Let’s read:
Genesis 18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
18:2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
18:3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
18:5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead [it], and make cakes upon the hearth.
18:7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave [it] unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
18:8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set [it] before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where [are] the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
As the children of God go about their daily duties, these mighty angels attend us on our way, and they keep their watch over us 24/7, so that if we were to fall into any difficulty suddenly, or if we were about to stumble into one of the many snares laid for our feet, they are right there to deliver and guide us into safe paths. When the Bible states that angels of God encamp around His people continually, it must be taken literally, for were it not for their unceasing ministry, every human being would have long since been destroyed, including those
who are avowed followers of the enemy. Let’s read:
Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard [him], and saved him out of all his troubles.
34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
34:8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.
However, the Bible also brings to light the sobering truth that there are millions of evil angels also roaming the planet, searching for opportune moments to destroy the lives and properties of anyone who is not especially guarded by God, hence the reason why as we get closer to the end of time, and unexplainable calamities begin to escalate dramatically, those skeptics who had formerly mocked at the idea of a devil, will be forced to rethink their philosophies, for things of a supernatural character will force them to the negotiating table.
The fact that a very real devil often makes forays into the human experience, is well documented in the scriptures, and before we search for answers to the many problems that are now arising out of apparently nowhere, we will need to take a closer look at the real agencies behind many of the unexplainable events that are happening in quick succession. First of all, let’s establish a few of the pertinent facts about the notorious work of evil angels in the world. (1) They can cause destruction when permitted. Let’s read:
Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
1:13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
1:14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
1:15 And the Sabeans fell [upon them], and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
(2) They can, and do cause sickness and diseases, a fact that is generally thrown out as fictitious, but one which is currently impacting our world in very negative ways, and which in the not too distant future, is scheduled to escalate at an alarming rate. Even now their work is being made manifest in dramatic ways, but the secular world generally attributes it to scientific causes, whilst the real unseen agencies mock at our so-called analysis and discoveries.
The Bible teaches us that the devil is the prince of the power of the air, and therefore he can, and does initiate hurricanes and deadly tornadoes, whenever he is given permission to do as he pleases. But we chalk it all up to global warming or other scientific factors, while the devil and his evil angels laugh at our touted intelligence. Let’s read:
Ephesians 2:1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins:
2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
Job 1:18 While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
(3) Evil angels can bring a person’s will under their direct control and force them to do the unthinkable by remote control. This often takes place when an individual or a nation deliberately chooses to do evil over an extended period of time, and thus with every indulgence and every decision in their favor, the evil angels bring their power to bear more directly and forcefully upon the person’s mind, until finally they automatically do satan’s bidding, even if they disagree with what he has stipulated. The fact that the enemy of souls can override a person’s will, intelligence, and choice is no laughing matter, for it will explain what recently took place in France. Let’s read:
2nd Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient,
2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2:26 And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
One of the great misconceptions harbored, especially in our day is the erroneous idea that a person can maintain complete control of their minds, apart from, and totally independent of Christ. Another error that abounds in philosophical circles is that every manifestation of mass murderers, and terrorist groups is the direct result of a theological belief, a medical condition, or the abuse of drugs and other banned substances.
Whilst it is true that these factors can play a role in influencing persons to do great harm to themselves and others, yet we must not forget that a completely normal person, outside of Christ, is capable of doing the very same things, when driven to do so at the beck and call of the enemy. This cold truth raises the bar much higher, for it takes the problem out of the hands of the medical and scientific communities, and rests it squarely in the arena of the spiritual.
Judas did not do any drugs, neither was he suffering from any known medical condition. He was not drunk, or schizophrenic as is often claimed when a person seeks to harm others and themselves. Judas was what most of us would refer to as a completely normal person, with an executive job as the treasurer of a thriving organization, complete with his briefcase, suit and tie. The only known problem, and one that is almost never brought into the equation, is that he wanted to have his own way, and was motivated by an inordinate craving for money, a very common occurrence in the world of capitalism. This is all that was needed for satan to take full control of his mind, and drive him by remote control to sell Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, and then to commit suicide. Let’s read:
John 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
13:28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent
he spake this unto him.
13:29 For some [of them] thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy [those things] that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
When The Bible says that Judas went out “Immediately” after being fully taken over by the devil, it means that from this point forward, the enemy will have full control of his mind, and Judas will be forced to do his bidding, whether he likes it or not. This sobering truth raises the prospect that currently, there are millions of apparently normal people who are fully possessed by satan and they know it not, and so it is only a matter of time, and at an opportune moment that he will bring the full force of his power to bear directly upon them, thus driving them to commit unimaginable acts of violence or depravity, out of the apparent blue.
Many people choose to laugh or scoff at what the Bible explicitly states on these matters, but their laughter will soon come to a halt when it is finally realized that we are under the control of one of two masters, and that our individual choices determine who that master will be. The same spirit that possesses the minds of terrorists and suicide bombers to do the unthinkable, is the same spirit that drove the copilot to do what he did, the difference is that one happens in the air, whilst the other happens on the earth. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit”.. “came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and [there was] a javelin in Saul's hand.
18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall [with it]. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
1st Samuel 19:9 And the evil spirit”… “was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with [his] hand.
19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
19:11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning”
The thought to slay other people or oneself, originates with satan, and the act is just the end product of what they were moved to do. The co-pilot on the German wings flight may have had medical issues or may have been suffering with depression, but the idea, and the decision to deliberately accelerate the jet at full throttle, to slam it into the mountains, originated with satan, and then the human agent just carried out his bidding. Sooner or later the world will have to face this stern, cold truth, and the remedies that are given in the scriptures will need to be closely investigated. Let’s read:
John 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father.
8:44 “And the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
(4) Evil angels can, and do override instinct, the formula by which the lower animals operate. All animals and creeping things instinctively avoid danger and their very nature recoils at the prospect of imminent death. Thus every effort to avert calamity will be naturally made on
their part when they realize they are in harm’s way.
We see it demonstrated on the news whenever there is a wild fire, for the untamed animals of the forest do not at this time prey on each other, because their instincts tell them that there is something much more urgent to be addressed, other than seeking for food, and so the wildest as well as the most docile of creatures will stand shoulder to shoulder together with one another when facing imminent danger, for instinct drives them to act in this way. But according to the scriptures, evil angels can also override their instinctive nature by taking full possession of them, and can drive dumb animals to do the unthinkable, just as occurs with human beings. Let’s read:
Mark 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
5:2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
5:3 Who had [his] dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
5:4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any [man] tame him.
5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
5:6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and
worshipped him,
5:7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
5:8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, [thou] unclean spirit.
5:9 And he asked him, What [is] thy name? And he answered, saying, My name [is] Legion: for we are many.
5:10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
5:11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
5:12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
5:13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
This Bible study seeks to highlight the enormity of the problem the world is now facing, and it will also show the only means whereby the power of satan can ever be contained. In the previous verses we see where the legion of evil spirits, numbering anywhere from six to twelve thousand had to ask Christ’s permission first, before causing havoc and loss to the swine and their owners respectively.
This then tells us that there is only one Being in the universe that they must respect and fear, and that’s none other than The Lord Jesus Christ, hence the reason why Daniel describes those who have The Son, as being wise, for accepting Jesus as Lord and savior of our lives is not only the right thing to do, it is also the most and best intelligent choice we can ever make.
But of particular interest is the next example of your average Jane Doe, someone who like the co-pilot of the doomed flight of German wings seems to be pretty decent, and has her ducks all in a row. This woman of whom we speak seemed to be deeply interested in spiritual things, and when the good news of the kingdom of God was being preached in her area she came out in full support. This person apparently had no criminal background, and unlike the demoniac who haunted the tombs and frothed at the mouth, seemed to be unusually intelligent and was in good and regular standing in her community.
She was well dressed in the latest fashions with her hair and nails well done, and when she saw Paul and his fellows preaching the kingdom of God, she began to advertise their meetings, encouraging everyone within the hearing of her voice to attend. But there was one problem, she too, like the demoniac of Gadara was also possessed by the devil, and those seemingly good words she uttered came directly from satan. Let’s read:
Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.
16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
One of the reasons why Christ came to die for the human family, is so that we would be freed from the spiritual bondage that has enveloped us for so long, and even though atheists and secularists may deny the fact, or may deliberately choose to ignore the teachings of the Bible, yet they too are beneficiaries of God grace through Christ who died to redeem not only saints, but also sinners. The minds of mortal man must inevitably be controlled by one or the other of the two diabolically opposed forces now operating in the universe, and our destiny is directly linked to the choices we make from day to day. Let’s read:
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other”…
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth [it] empty, swept, and garnished.
12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Christ has for many centuries been calling on earth’s inhabitants to turn to Him and live. In words of solemn entreaty He has pleaded with us to accept of His grace, and so be delivered from the cruel oppression of the devil and his angels. As a longing parent yearns after the wayward child, whilst hoping, and praying, and searching desperately for ways and means whereby the self-willed one may change course, just so The Lord of heaven has been beckoning to humanity to change course, by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, for He is the only solution and remedy for this sin-sick world of ours. This sacred truth has been written in words of solemn pathos, with the hope that earth’s inhabitants will finally get the message. Let’s read:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn
ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die”….
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
God is now making a direct appeal to the inhabitants of earth, for us to reason soberly from cause to effect, and to acknowledge that we do not have the solutions for the plethora of problems we now face, for every so-called solution we come up with is certain to have loop holes that the enemy can circumvent and use to his advantage. Having two people in the cockpit at all times is a good move, but what happens if the devil suddenly takes control of both?
As individuals it is necessary that our minds be girded with the Holy Spirit at all times and in all places, so that the evil thoughts and desires that lurk in phantom form in our minds, will be subdued and uprooted before they find expression in senseless deeds of violence, or moral abandon. Hence the reason why the appeal from God to this generation is so urgent and heartfelt, for God sees what is coming upon the world in the very near future, and He is actively seeking to shield us from the sudden onslaughts of the enemy of souls, who as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour. Let’s read:
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony”…
12:12 .. “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
2nd Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Those of us who have been trifling with God’s gracious overtures to save us for many years, and to those who now sit in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of death, Jesus Christ is now speaking, making the last final calls to find shelter in Him whilst we can. The door of mercy is still open for anyone who will enter, and thus it behooves us to choose Christ, not only for the glory of God, but also because it is in our best interest, both in the temporal and eternal sense. We therefore end with a promise to those who are willing to accept of God’s salvation, for He is well able to harness the forces of evil that threaten to do us harm. Let’s read:
Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
91:2 I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence.
91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.
91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day;
91:6 [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday.
91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.
91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation;
91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
91:12 They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
91:14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.
God bless!