September 16, 2011
The Mastermind
of all Evil,
Satan the Devil
There is little to no thought given to HOW Satan and his demons are involved in keeping this world under his destructive control.
As prince of the POWER of the air (by which he influences yielded human instruments) he is at work with the sons of disobedience and is moving this world forward toward destruction! Ephesians 2:2.
Satan is employing the same tactic today as he did with his use of Balaam to counsel Balak how to cause Israel to sin against God. Because of following that counsel and luring Israel into their camp to commit idolatry and harlotry with the women of Moab brought about the deaths of 24,000 Israelite men by God (Numbers 25:1-18; 31:16).
Since Satan could not of himself destroy Israel, he knew if he could cause the people of Israel to sin against God, then He, God, would exact a terrible penalty on His people. This is exactly the same ploy Satan is yet using in his effort to destroy Israel and the world today.
The Pre-Flood World of Noah
Satan also influenced the yielded pre-Flood world in sins that were so great that God saw they were beyond redemption! Due to the deplorable sinful condition of mankind at that point in time the LORD God saw He had no choice but to destroy all of them.
Though it grieved Him to do it, He then brought about a worldwide Flood upon all humanity drowning perhaps two or three billions of people, more or less (Genesis 6:1-7, 11-13, 17; 7:21-23).
Looking ahead in time, the awesome and wonderful God of love that He is, knew He would resurrect them back to human life. This will be at a time when Satan’s influence will have ended and there will be sufficient godly teachers to teach them that only His— God’s way— works for good!
To those of understanding, Satan’s powerful influence on mankind today can easily be seen through his continued use of insidious wiles for the same destructive purpose of mankind today; just as he was able to do in that ancient world (Ephesians 6:12).
To accomplish his deadly purpose there has always been the need of yielded influential human instruments through-out human history; and he has had no lack of them (Revelation 12:9; Ephesians 2:2). As the result his diabolical destructive effort continues today leading Israel into the Great Tribulation; and later the Gentile world to Armageddon.
And Satan’s deadly purpose would be successful in this nuclear age were it not for Jesus Christ returning at just the right time to prevent it (Revelation 19:11-21). Then Christ will exile Satan and his demons for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-3).
Demonic Movies Produced by Hollywood
H
ollywood
is definitely under Satan’s influence and guidance with horror
and demonic movies.
It seems that any and everything that comes to the imagination is
used to shock and
frighten
people, along with explicit
sexual and violent movies of all kinds (Ephesians 2:2; 6:12).
It is well realized that young and old are attracted to those kinds of movies and televisions shows. Since they have proven to be very profitable Hollywood continues making them. Satan knowing human beings as he does takes full advantage of the greed and uses it to further his purpose.
Some little time ago there was an article making known that violence and blood no longer shocked people for they have become accustomed to their display. It was said that writers are searching for new ways to shock people. One they came up with is having people VOMIT on screen!
The Occult Explosion of Today
There is also the occult that is directly associated with Satan and his demons! Men and women are using various areas of the occult that makes possible a closer relationship with the super-natural spirit world! The grave danger from such a direct contact is that it often makes possible their possession and sometimes premature deaths.
The people of ancient Israel were deeply involved in the occult as are people today. This is just another reason for sending Elijah to Israel then, and in our time as well.
T
o
further our understanding of this danger, let us consider the
terrible demonic occult being delved into by multi-millions of people
today.
This is a growing, fascinating, and enchanting subject to many men and women as we will see in the following demonic areas that are in wide-spread use today.
Without really grasping the unseen depths of what they are doing, the peoples of Israel and the nations of this world are heavily involved with the evil spirit world today in one way or another.
For the past 30 years or more there has been a much greater and widespread interest in the occult than in former years! It has been thought of as a breakthrough in true supernatural knowledge – of the present – and of the end time.
Among those involved are people who sincerely believe the occult is the only real hope in this age of technology and materialism, while others view the occult as the most evil sign of the age.
A
strology
is by far the biggest area of popular attention. Books printed on
occultism deal with the subject of astrology and are readily
available to anyone. It has gained appeal through public endorsement
by a wide range of celebrities, from Hollywood stars to members of
the political and intellectual communities.
Adolph Hitler, along with others of his hierarchy, fully believed in the occult! They actually made decisions in their warfare against the world based on what was learned from these spirit sources. The very symbols, such as the swastika and iron cross, were pagan symbols from the spirit world.
S
cripture
also indicates the head (named the
Beast in Scripture,
(Revelation 19:19-20)
of the newly revived Holy Roman
Empire will be heavily involved
in the occult
as well (Daniel 8:23; 11:21).
General George Patton of the 3rd army in World War II believed in reincarnation. He believed he had lived in the past and used knowledge from ancient wars upon which he based many of his decisions and was very successful.
The belief has grown even in certain religious circles that the occult makes known events of the end time and many seek to know what they and the world will soon be facing.
This is exactly what King Saul in ancient Israel did when he found he was cut off from God! In his desperation to know what the near future held for him and Israel in their war against the Philistines he sought out a medium for the help he needed at this critical juncture (I Samuel 28:6-19). In so doing he made a terrible error in judgment and sinned greatly by seeking help from this witch.
All readers of the Bible should know that dependence on astrology for answers to life’s problems violates one of the basic 10 Commandments – that against idolatry: “I am the LORD your God . . . You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:2, 3).
Violation of this law carried the death penalty in the theocracy of Israel (Deuteronomy 17:2-5). King Saul was led to his death for having consulted this medium instead of God (I Chronicles 10:13).
T
he
whole structure of astrology revolves around the zodiac – an
arbitrarily arranged belt in the heavens.
It has been used to describe the overall character of the particular age of history in which we find ourselves. The horoscopes of today actually represent the zodiac as it was 2,000 years ago. In one very real sense, then, every horoscope is out of date.
Then there is witchcraft and magic. Interest in it is a popular force of current attention. Witchcraft is a method of enlarging one’s mind to develop ESP awareness – getting on the same wavelength with Satan’s evil spirit world! And many people achieve this!
Examples of the Use of Witchcraft
There are those who will use a small forked branch of a peach tree or something similar for locating a place to dig for water.
When it is thought to be over a place where water can be found the carrier will feel a strong pull downward with the object he or she is using. There is no question but that this has to be of the supernatural for there is no other logical explanation.
Since this is not of God, it has to be of the demon world.
T
he
same is true with Ouija Boards. This is just another method of
seeking spiritualistic or telepathic messages. It often works, but
the information they receive is from a demon and totally unreliable.
God does not work that way.
There are those who have sat with a pencil in hand and paper in front of them, or sitting before a keyboard, and suddenly some supernatural power will take over and begin typing or writing.
Communicating with the Demon World
Demons will even talk to those who are receptive to them. I have counseled with such people over the years. Once this level has been reached there seems to be no way for one to free oneself from them outside of a miracle from God. There are those who commit suicide to be freed from them.
In all of these examples, as well as others that could be used, the purpose is to lead a person on to become receptive for further involvement— then, the possession of their minds by these evil spirits.
Mental institutions house many such people! They are given tranquilizers to neutralize and control their minds and they become very docile under such treatment. In that state of mind the demon or demons can no longer effectively use them.
Instructions from God
God commanded the children of Israel: “Regard not them that have familiar spirits (demons), neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God (Leviticus 19:31, 20:6; an example: Acts 16:16-18).
The people of Israel failed to follow the laws God designed to bring them peace, prosperity and happiness. Instead: “. . . They left all the commandments of the LORD their God . . . and worshiped all the host of heaven” (II Kings 17:16).
God put forth a challenge to such people who dabble and live by what they learn from those who are manipulated and used by the evil spirit world: “. . . let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you from these things that shall come upon you. Behold . . . they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame. . . .” (Isaiah 47:13-14).
As far as is known, all areas of astrology and witchcraft are practiced in all the tribes of Israel today as it was at that time. There are the multiple millions of people who read their daily horoscopes in the newspapers, seek out fortune-tellers (sorcerers) to aid them in their decisions regarding the future and what it holds for them. This reaches all the way to the top levels of government.
The Snake Attracts Its Victims
S
atan
the devil is referred to in Scripture as that old serpent the devil
(Revelation 12:9; Genesis 3:1, 4). It is an interesting fact
of life that people as a whole are fascinated by snakes and will view
all kinds in zoos or wherever they may be seen. From behind a plate
glass they appear docile and harmless, even the very deadly ones.
This is not the case when the deadly ones are free. They can sometimes be seen as they crawl in search for prey to satisfy their hunger. Each year there are the accounts of those who get too close to them and some of them die from having been struck and having their lethal poison injected into them.
Snakes have also been viewed attracting their victims in various ways before they strike. And once they do there is very little struggle. The serpent then opens its very wide, double-jawed mouth to swallow its prey.
We would do well to keep this in mind, for that old serpent the devil has the same approach in attracting mankind to him in many different ways before he strikes (Genesis 3:1-6, 13; II Corinthians 11:3; I Timothy 2:14; Revelation 12:9, 14-15; 20:2).
Many people consult mediums for various reasons. (Mediums are defined in the Bible as sorcerers.) Satan works through these willing human beings with his fascinating use of witchcraft to entice his victims within his striking range.
O
nce
the prey is struck by a deadly serpent it does not instantly die; and
neither does one die immediately by consulting a sorcerer. However
this does provide an avenue for Satan to further work with a person
toward possession or lead them to make some terrible errors in
judgment that could lead to dreadful consequences or possibly even
death.
The media has written in the past about some president’s wives in this country consulting mediums to enable them to speak to the dead (as did King Saul – I Samuel 28:7-8). These women apparently felt the need for added help with major decisions in their roles and private lives.
MAIL ON LINE WORLD NEWS
“I see the ghost of my dear Ronnie,” says former first lady Nancy Reagan
By Jacqui Goddard last updated 11:50 PM June 2009
N
ancy
Reagan has told how she talks to the ex-President’s spirit and
even sees him at night. . . . ‘It sounds strange but . . . I
see Ronnie,’ she said. “At night, if I wake up, I think
Ronnie’s there and I start to talk to him. The fact is, I do
think he’s there. And I see him.’ . . . In her 1989
memoirs, she admitted that astrology became her ‘crutch’
after the president was shot during an assassination attempt eight
years earlier and told how she consulted the stars and planets to
help plan his schedule and security.
B
ut
President Obama was forced to telephone her and apologize for poking
fun at her beliefs when asked during a press conference last November
whether he had consulted any ex-president’s for advice. “I
didn’t want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about, you know,
doing séances,” he quipped in reply. In the Vanity Fair
interview, Mrs. Reagan remains tight-lipped about President Obama’s
apology, revealing only that she told him when he called that he’d
gotten me mixed up with Hillary’ . . .”
There is also the following article from a News Source in England:
Jacko calls to Lisa Marie, make-up artist from grave?
The (UK) Sun 2-10-2010
“
Michael
Jackson’s unsettled spirit begged ex-wife Lisa Marie Presely to
forgive him during a séance.
Jacko’s make-up artist Karen Faye said she and Lisa Marie, 42, contacted the King of Pop using a psychic last week.
Faye, 53, said: “He seemed to be on a mission to reach out to people in his life and be forgiven,” said Faye, 53. “He seemed unsettled.”
“He seemed more jovial with Lisa. The Psychic turned to me and said Michael is telling me, ‘You took such good care of me, and I am very sorry I hurt you.’ It hit me straight in the heart.”
Faye insisted the medium had “no idea” of her link to Jacko, who died in June.
She said: “There were definite, deep insights that would have been difficult to make up.” . . .”
A very prominent woman of some years ago was a sorceress and was said to have predicted the death of President Kennedy, and the shooting of President Reagan, as well as foretelling other major things to occur.
Demons Knowledgeable
The demon world does sometimes know what is to occur with future events. However, making the desired knowledge known is done with the intent to lure and then take over the mind and then destroy the individual (Mark 9:14-27).
At the same time one should realize that what they reveal may only be partially true while mixed with error. Jesus Christ tells us that Satan is a liar and the author of it (John 8:44). And that means his demons as well. They cannot be believed!
Unless these people can break free from them, their minds and lives can be so completely absorbed they sometimes end up in mental institutions, or they kill others, or themselves.
From time to time we read where a parent kills his or her children and then himself or herself. It is often said by the person that Jesus told them to do it! In actuality, this is Satan or one of his demons masquerading as Jesus Christ, for Christ would never lead someone to do such a terrible thing.
To Free Oneself from Demons is Impossible
Some few years ago one man I knew well jumped off the tallest building he could find in San Diego, California trying to break free from the torment he was receiving from demons.
Some time ago I was told of another man in the Church area of Hammond, LA, I had previously pastored, became so involved with demons that he blew off his head with a double-barrel shotgun to get away from them.
There are numerous people I have counseled over the years who had real demoniacal problems! It is always sad to see how their mental state became so weakened by them they could not free themselves from them.
This is a tragic problem; for it is only the few who escape once they permit themselves to enter into their striking zone.
They can only be fully freed through the divine intervention of Jesus Christ and by the use of His name by His true and faithful ministers (Matthew 10:1; Luke 10:17; Acts 19:11-12; James 4:7-10).
The Worship of Baalism and Astarte Today
Though Satan has many weapons in his deadly arsenal, the primary one he uses to deceive people is religion! This side of the Flood, he began using the worship of Baalism and Astarte!
As has already been noted, the people of Israel were so heavily involved during the time of Elijah that God sent him to try and turn them around lest He would have to destroy them (Malachi 4:6).
This worship has continued to be practiced in the nations of Israel since that time and, if anything, has grown worse today. It is questionable whether even the true members of God’s Church can grasp the enormity of this idolatry!
A
s
with Israel of old, people today look at the beautiful church
structures, the steeples, the religious symbols (that are in
actuality sex symbols, as revealed by historians), the costly and
regal robes of priests, the large professional choirs and soloists
singing to the accompaniment of beautiful music played by skilled
musicians, and all of this as background to the soft and pleading
words of the ministers asking people to come to their altars.
All of this seems so religious and right! How could it be wrong?
NOTE: Music correctly played with lyrics in harmony with the Scriptures is not wrong. In actual fact this kind of music and song should be an integral part of a true church service. This can be understood by studying the Scriptures.
It is easy to get caught up in the growth of false religions as have thousands of people who were once of us, while thinking: “How could this be so wrong?”
And many of these former members, including elders and evangelists have left the true Church and become a part of them!
T
hey
have discarded the truth they once knew and now practice
the very same teachings of the pagan priests of Baal; while
accepting what they had once apparently believed to be wrong, just as
was done in ancient Israel (II Peter 2:1-3, 15; Jude 4, 11).
T
hose
who have returned to such beliefs place no significance on what King
Jeroboam of Israel did in changing the true Sabbath to SUNDAY
(worship of the sun),
wanting to believe this was only ancient history!
As such, they have returned to the erroneous teaching of believing the Sabbath day was changed to Sunday in the New Testament.
T
hey
try to justify their beliefs by saying the Sabbath and
the Holy Days were part of the Old Covenant, and as such, no one is
required by God to observe them. This is totally untrue and absurd
to believe such a satanic lie!
It is also of no importance to them that Jeroboam also selected men of his own choosing to be priests instead of the Levites (I Kings 12:26-33). And Israel easily accepted King Jeroboam’s lead like a meek little lamb just as people do today!
These same beliefs and teachings by ministers and priests are found in our time by the world’s churches and people meekly follow them. These men and women ministers are trying to represent God, but instead are following Jeroboam’s successors, just as they were in the time of the ancient Elijah (I Kings 18:17-40).
God has been rejected in favor of the pagan beliefs that go all the way back to Nimrod and Semiramis. It was never fully rooted out then, nor has it been in our time.
W
ith
this in mind, we should realize that what is being observed today
among the tribes of Israel is essentially a continuation of what
began at the Tower of Babel and was being fully practiced
during the time of Elijah.
Considering the state of Israel at that time one should be able to see why God sent Elijah to try and turn Israel around from the idolatrous worship of Baal and Astarte. And he did this by making known to King Ahab that a severe famine was to come down hard on Israel!
For these same reasons we should understand why God sent a man in our time in the Spirit and Power of Elijah to make known, among other terrible problems that a severe famine is also to come upon Israel here in the end time. And it can now be seen to be very close at hand by those who recognize the signs of it.
The world in general is asleep to those warning signs.
To be continued—
Your servant and friend,
Don Billingsley
"Entire contents copyrighted. The Church of God. All Rights Reserved. The copyright subsisting in material quoted in this publication and trademarks appearing in this publication belong to the respective owners thereof and no claim of ownership therein is made.
http://bodyofchristonline.us/ http://cog-ff.com http://www.ezekielwatchman.org/
Brought to you by the Church of God Faithful Flock