Demonology--Part 2

God allows Satan to use demons as preventatives in the lives of Christians. This is demonstrated in the lives of the disciples. The other eleven were deceived about Judas being the one who would betray the Lord. Satan used Peter’s sentimental feelings to rebuke (present active infinitive of epitimao, which means to reprove, censure, or rebuke) Jesus Christ when He announced His death and resurrection (Matt. 16:21-23). Nothing but spiritual ignorance would cause a Christian to rebuke his Savior. Spiritual ignorance caused Peter to censure Christ, but he received a greater rebuke from the Savior: “Get behind Me, Satan” (Matt. 16:23 NASB). Christ told Peter that he reasoned (present active indicative of phroneo) like a man. Peter had to learn that Jesus Christ must suffer, die, be raised out from among the dead, and ascend to the right hand of the Father, and that the Holy Spirit must come and regenerate all the Father had given to Jesus Christ before He will establish the kingdom.

Paul had to cope with a messenger of Satan to prevent his being lifted up with pride after his experience of being caught up into the third heaven: “And because of the extraordinary revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the sphere of the flesh, a messenger of Satan, in order that he may beat me, lest I be lifted up with pride. Concerning this I asked the Lord three times that he may depart from me, And He has said to me: My grace is sufficient for you; for my power is being perfected in the sphere of weakness. Most gladly therefore I shall boast in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell upon me” (II Cor. 12:7-9—translation).

Satan was using one of his angels to give Paul a thorn in the flesh. Since the fallen angels have become demons, this was a demon of Satan. The lack of definition of the thorn in the flesh is more beneficial to us than if it had been explained. We know only that the thorn was something in the flesh, physical, and intensely mortifying to pride. It caused suffering and physical weakening. The thorn was not removed by the Lord, and it was not exorcised by Paul. The result of the thorn was that it kept Paul from being lifted up with pride (II Cor. 12:7), enabled him to experience the power of Christ (v. 9), and taught him the true purpose of hardships, persecutions, and personal difficulties (v. 10). Paul responded by glorying in his weaknesses. He boasted in them that the power of Christ might rest on him.

The Lord Jesus warned His disciples against deception. He had pronounced judgment on Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37-39). As He was leaving the temple, the disciples came to Him with questions: “And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things [the destruction of Jerusalem and its related events which He had just announced] be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3 NASB). Before answering their questions, Christ warned them against being led astray: “And Jesus replied and said to them: you be continually seeing to it [blepete, present active imperative of blepo, which means to see, beware of, to see to, or watch] that no one may lead you astray [planese, aorist active subjunctive of planao, which means to lead astray or cause to wander]” (Matt. 24:4—translation). The Greek word for “lead astray” (planao) is found 38 times in the New Testament; the noun form plane is found 10 times; and the adjective form planos is found 5 times, showing the importance of seeing to it that we not be led astray. The disciples to whom the Lord spoke needed this command or Christ would not have given it. Anyone who fails to watch does not have grace with which to heed the command of our Lord. The person who thinks he cannot be deceived is already deceived by his own subterfuge.

No one can judge the motives of another, because he cannot see the heart. How then can we determine whether one is seeking to lead us astray? How can we get evidence to determine what a person believes? Motives of the heart must be revealed. They are revealed in two ways: (1) by what a person says and sometimes by what he does not say, and (2) by what one does and by what he fails to do.

Christians are commanded to not be deceived. In I Corinthians 6:9-10, the verb planao is used as a present passive imperative: “…Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (NASB). In Galatians 6:7, it is used as a present passive imperative: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (NASB). This verse is explained in verse 8—“For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life” (NASB). This is within the context of verse 6—“And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches” (NASB). Each seed produces its kind; therefore, seed sown to the flesh will reap corruption. The Christian must crucify the flesh with all its affections and lusts. The flesh takes on many different forms, such as immorality, self-interest, self-ambition, neglecting the things of the Lord, etc. Christ came into the world for the benefit of the elect. As recipients of God’s grace, we have been saved to help others. In order to fulfill this responsibility, we must crucify and not feed the flesh. In I John 2:26, planao is used as a present active participle: “These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you” (NASB). In Revelation 2:20, it is used as a present active indicative. The warning was against being led astray by the prophetess Jezebel.

Paul told this to the assembly in Thessalonica: “For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit” (I Thess. 2:3 NASB). The apostle was free from objectionable methods. The word of God explains the methods to be employed for spreading God’s word (I Thess. 2:1-12). Paul preached the gospel without false representations or resorting to flattering words. He used the noun plane in Ephesians 4:14 to show that indoctrination was to enable the Ephesian saints to be no longer infants tossed to and fro with every teaching by the craftiness of deceitful, scheming men: “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14 NASB).

Believers can be deceived, but they cannot become apostates. The only persons who can apostatize are individuals who have mentally embraced truth apart from grace. The apostate cannot be converted before he is regenerated. If anyone converts him, he only converts him from one apostate condition to another; therefore, he becomes twofold more a child of hell. On the other hand, Christians may wander away from truth through forgetfulness or neglect, but they can be converted (James 5:19, 20). Forgetfulness in our lives is a defect, but forgetfulness with God is an attribute. As long as we are in the flesh, we will have that defect and need to be continually reminded: “So the word of the LORD to them will be, Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there...” (Is. 28:13 NASB). This is the way we are taught. Christians most likely to be led astray are those who lack indoctrination; or if they have been indoctrinated, they have forgotten much of what they thought they learned. As the recipients of God’s grace, there are basic principles that we do not forget.

There are four areas in which we are at war: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm” (Eph. 6:12 NASB).

First, our conflict is with the rulers (archas, a plural Greek noun which means beginning, ruling power, or authority). Since our conflict is not with flesh and blood, it is with evil leaders in civil authority. Even with civil government, our conflict is only with the demonic forces who work through these rulers. In the past, civil government was not as bad as it is in these last days. Civil government is a human institution that formulates law without direct reference to Scripture for temporal welfare and prosperity which applies to all its subjects. Assembly government cannot intrude civil government and command unbelievers to live a Christian life which they are incapable of doing. Hence, the assembly intensifies her influence by keeping separate from the civil government (Rom. 13:1-7; I Pet. 2:13-20).

Second, our conflict is with the authorities (exousias, a plural Greek noun which means supernatural power, ruling power, and is equivalent to our English word authorities). Christian conflict with civil government only as the demonic forces work through these authorities. (See Luke 22:47-65; Col. 1:13; II Thess. 3:9; Eph. 2:2.)

Third, our warfare is against the world rulers (kosmokratoras, a plural noun which means world rulers). This is a compound noun made up of kosmos and krateo, meaning superior, subdue, or world ruler of spiritual darkness. This compound noun is used only in Ephesians 6:12. It has been said Paul was referring to human world-powers with an added dimension by saying “of this darkness.” (See Col. 1:13; Luke 22:53; II Cor. 4:4.) Is there any doubt that Paul is talking about the devil’s domain?

Fourth, Paul affirms that Christians are in battle with the spiritual forces of Satan by saying, “…against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12 NASB). All these authorities are under the supreme authority of Jesus Christ (John 19:10, 11; I Pet. 3:22).

The battle is hand to hand contact, severe, and continuous. Therefore, it is expedient that we worship by bowing ourselves in adoration at the feet of the sovereign God (John 4:23, 24), walk worthy of our calling (Eph. 4:1), walk worthy of the Lord (Col. 1:10), and walk while we have the light (John 12:35). Furthermore, we must clothe ourselves with the armor God has provided in order to endure the conflict (Eph. 6:11-18).