There are certain graphic truths which we will have to confront individually and nationally, sooner or later, and until we do, the permanent solutions to our problems will keep evading us. One of the main reasons why we keep spinning our wheels in the mud, is because science as we know it, for the most part has dismissed the reality of fallen intelligences who roam our world, and are much more involved and acquainted with the human experience, than many are willing to admit. For starters, the Bible teaches us that we are not alone on this planet, but there are mighty, invisible forces and foes, who are directly involved with our everyday lives.
Many of these intelligences work for the up-building of humanity, and many others work to secure our destruction. And it’s only because of the mercies of God why we are permitted to carry on our existence even though millions of people do not give God the credit and the praise where it is due. But if for some reason God were to pull back the curtains and were to reveal to us what’s really taking place all around us, most folks will remain prostrate on their knees, not daring to even move or breathe.
God is directly involved in the salvation and well-being of all humanity, and on one the side of the equation, we observe where His operations in the earth, and the ministry of His holy angels are geared towards our recovery and happiness. It’s not the work of chance, but instead, the interpositions of God in our behalf. Thus, the following are just some of the many scriptures which shed some light on the invisible world, for we are not alone down here on this planet, and it’s important to establish this fact, beyond the shadow of a doubt before proceeding.
And as we read, it is the will of God that we reason soberly, the implications of the information given, so that we may make straight paths for our feet. Let’s read:
Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Psalms 136:1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
Psalms 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down
again to the depths: their soul is melted because of
trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
But there are times when after many warnings and entreaties have being given, and the inhabitants of earth stubbornly refuse to repent, then God in His mercy has no other choice but to speak to us in a “Strange” language, even through “judgments” by which we are permitted to reap the harvest we ourselves may have sown. And there are other invisible intelligences who work directly for the down-fall of the human race, whose activities are not acknowledged in many circles.
But unless we do believe, and accept the scriptural teaching on these issues, we will always be searching for external solutions to invisible and internal problems, and the resolutions we seek will keep evading us. The first two texts that we will read in the next few passages are two of the saddest in the Bible, for it shows us God’s long-suffering towards mortals, and His reluctance to permit plan “B” to come our way. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart
of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.
Isaiah 26:9 For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
10 Let favor be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.
[The Great Controversy pp. 36] By stubborn rejection of divine love and mercy, the Jews had caused the protection of God to be withdrawn from them, and Satan was permitted to rule them according to his will. We cannot know how much we owe to Christ for the peace and protection which we enjoy. It is the restraining power of God that prevents mankind from passing fully under the control of Satan. But when men pass the limits of divine forbearance that restraint is removed.
God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; every ray of light rejected, every warning despised or unheeded, every passion indulged, every transgression of the law of God, is a seed sown, which yields its unfailing harvest. The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, is at last withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no power to control the evil passions of the soul, and no protection from the malice and enmity of Satan.
John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son
of Simon.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. 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.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
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:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Thus, having established the fact that the invisible world on our planet is buzzing with activity in the form of angels, both holy and fallen, we will now focus our attention on the important issue of “The enchanted ground”- the places where satanic forces are firmly entrenched. There are specific places, and venues, and events where evil angels do congregate En-masse for two specific purposes, [1] To bind all human attendees in chains of darkness and sin, and [2] To eliminate all those who have by their choice, forfeited the invisible shield of God’s protection.
Question: Where are such places, and how can we identify those activities and venues, so as to avoid expiring before our time?
Answer: For the purpose of clarity, the enchanted ground is any place where people gather together for those purposes described in the 5th chapter of Galatians. Wherever, and whenever folks gather to indulge the lower passions of sinful human nature, wherever spirituous liquors and beverages are sold, for immediate consumption, and wherever lust and fornication are given free rein, there, evil spirits are gathered together in droves, and in most cases they show up early, to prepare the way for the capture and destruction of the unwary.
Evil angels recognize the deliberate and scheduled indulgence in sinful activity as being an integral part of their agenda and principles, and wherever people show up for the unbridled indulgence of the lower passions, satan and his angels view their choices as an endorsement of his kingdom, and thus he rightly assumes that he was invited to such a place. But the activities of demons are not however restricted only to these specific venues, however it is a guarantee that their presence will be seen and felt whenever, and wherever the following activities are indulged.
Hence the reason why it is imperative for us, to not only understand these parameters, but also to obey implicitly the all-wise instruction from the God of heaven. Danger doesn’t necessarily depend on how many serpents are lurking at the forbidden tree, but danger lies in us disregarding God’s instruction not to go near it. Whatever may be our forbidden tree, the instruction of God is plain and simple, do not go near it, nor touch it lest ye die. Thus, for purposes of clarity, the meanings of the various activities are being inserted, so as to leave no doubt in our minds as to what The Lord is referring to. Let’s read:
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery …. [ voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse. In other words, whenever adultery is taking place, there are other uninvited guests in the room], fornication….[ any Biblically, unlawful sexual intercourse, including those which take place between people who are shacking up. The “Urge to merge” is a God ordained desire, but it must be fulfilled only in the context of marriage between one man and his “Female” wife.], uncleanness ….. [moral and spiritual impurity] lasciviousness …. [feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire] 20 Idolatry.. [ image-worship or divine honor paid to any created object, or person] witchcraft ….[ The practices or art of witches including sorcery, enchantments, contact with evil spirits via movies, séance’s, the occult, Ouija boards transcendental meditation, voodoo, magic, fortune tellers, levitation and pornography] hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions… [conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch] heresies…. [ self-chosen doctrines not emanating from God] 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings… [excessive and boisterous intemperance and lustful indulgence, including those situations where alcoholic beverages are ingested without restraint, such as nightclubs, strip joints, and bars] and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Whenever, and wherever these indulgences are practiced and fostered, there is where evil spirits congregate by the millions in some cases, and thus the venues become satan’s enchanted ground. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs and Prophets pp. 459>460] Many of the amusements popular in the world today, even with those who claim to be Christians, tend to the same end as did those of the heathen. There are indeed few among them that Satan does not turn to account in destroying souls. Through the drama he has worked for ages to excite passion and glorify vice... “the masquerade, the dance, the card table, Satan employs to break down the barriers of principle and open the door to sensual indulgence. In every gathering for pleasure where pride is fostered or appetite indulged, where one is led to forget God and lose sight of eternal interests, there Satan is binding his chains about the soul.
Another issue that needs clarification is the reason why the Bible states that danger lurks in such places and at such events. Although demons and evil angels may not be seen with the naked eye, yet they often cause catastrophic damage and carnage to the human family whenever their principles and methods are adopted. And since they are invisible, we will scarcely ever see the literal manifestations of their persons, for they almost always use human agents to do their bidding, and to carry out their dirty work.
Take for instance the situation with Job, when satan was permitted to interfere with him, his family, and his belongings. In almost every catastrophe which followed, human agencies, controlled remotely by demons were used in the accomplishment of their nefarious designs. This point is critically important, and must be brought into the equation, for there are too many people now dying prematurely, and many more are scheduled to bite the dust, even though early expiration can be avoided in several of these instances. Thus, it’s important for us to accept the Biblical teaching, which warns us of an invisible foe, who can work great harm, when permitted, or when provoked by us to do so. Let’s read:
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
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?
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
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.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
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.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
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.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
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:
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.
Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.
2 And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
3 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? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
4 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
6 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
And the list goes on and on, with David being used by satan as the human agent in the destruction of 70,000 people, with Herod being used to execute thousands of Jewish children at the birth of Christ, with Pharaoh, with Judas, with Hitler, and with Bin Laden. We will almost never see a real demon in action, committing such heinous crimes, for human gents under their control are most often used to do their bidding. Let’s read:
[The Great Controversy pp. 614] The same destructive power exercised by holy angels When God commands, will be exercised by evil angels when he permits. There are forces now ready, and only waiting the divine permission, to spread desolation everywhere.
[Our High Calling. pp. 307] Let us remember that if we do not heed the cautions that God gives us, a fall is before us. Christ will not save from wounds the one who places himself unbidden on the enemy's ground. He lets the self-sufficient one, who acts as if he knew more than his Lord, go on in his supposed strength. Then comes suffering and a crippled life or perhaps defeat and death.
As with any Bible study, we will be remiss if viable solutions are not offered, for God seeks to bring these issues to light so that we may find safe haven in Christ alone. Thus, because the forces of evil are invisible, humanity needs an invisible general who is able to see invisible adversaries, and who has both the power and resources to defeat all internal and external foes. That Person is the One and only Jesus Christ, who has never lost a battle with demons and who has a proven track record of delivering satan’s captives, and setting us free. Yet we have a definite role to play in all this, for cooperation with God is the key to victory, safety, and longevity. Let’s read:
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
1st John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love 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 pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
[Patriarchs and prophets pp. 460] The heart must be renewed by divine grace, or it will be in vain to seek for purity of life. He who attempts to build up a noble, virtuous character independent of the grace of Christ is building his house upon the shifting sand. In the fierce storms of temptation it will surely be overthrown. Yet we have a work to do to resist temptation. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts.
The mind should not be left to wander at random upon every subject that the adversary of souls may suggest. “Girding up the loins of your mind,” says the apostle Peter, “Be sober, ... not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in ... your ignorance: but like as He which called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living.” Says Paul, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
This will require earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness. We must be aided by the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit, which will attract the mind upward, and habituate it to dwell on pure and holy things. And we must give diligent study to the word of God. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word.” “Thy word,” says the psalmist, “have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”
Thus it behooves us to choose wisely, and to avoid as far as possible, entering onto satan’s enchanted ground, for there is no guarantee of protection from God, for those who choose to ignore, or scoff at His warnings and entreaties. We therefore end with a passage of scripture, which enjoins us to stay the course with Christ, ever being mindful to follow the instructions and principles He has given us for our best temporal and eternal good. Let’s read:
1st peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.
God bless!