| SPIRIT, ACCORDING
TO SCRIPTURE
Section
5 - Metaphysical Beings ( I )
iv)
Metaphysical Beings
God’s creation, extending
from below the earth, on the earth, and stretching to the utmost reaches
of the universe, includes creatures that are physical and tangible as well
as those which our human senses are not normally capable of being aware
of. With the aid of highly sensitive instrumentation and of hi-tech multimedia
dissemination of information, we can know much of the physical world. But,
beyond the tangible, is an entirely unknown creation hinted at by sources
both legitimate and illegitimate.
From Scripture, the only
record from a source acceptable to us, we get glimpses into a vast world
of spirit beings that our minds can hardly imagine. Of these creatures
of God we read of hierarchies of ‘angels’, of ‘elders’, of fantastic creatures
existing in celestial regions as well as of those from below the earth’s
surface. Yet, even from the quite detailed descriptions given, our minds
find it hard to picture the realities.
Messengers
Usually translated ‘angels’
from the Greek ‘aggelos’ (anggelos), ‘messenger’. In Scripture,
this word is used of one who carries a message, whether human,
such as John the Baptist (Mt.11:7-10), his disciples (Lk.7:24), our Lord’s
disciples (Lk.9:51,52), the spies sent (Jas.2:25), an affliction (2Cor.12:7),
etc., or celestial couriers, concerning whose nature we are not
informed, for the word speaks only of office. The term ‘angel’ is
avoided because it is misleading and cannot be used of human messengers.
Even a physical disability may be termed a messenger (2Cor.12:7). [Adapted
from Keyword Concordance CLNT]
Spirits who are messengers
These are a special class
of creation and seem to operate throughout the universe, as celestials
and terrestrials. Scripture makes many references to these beings who,
unlike humans, are not made of flesh and bones but who are, nevertheless,
real.
Heb.1:7
And, indeed, to the messengers He is saying,
"Who is making His messengers
blasts, And His ministers a flame of fire."
KJV And of the
angels he saith,
Who maketh his angels spirits,
and his ministers a flame of fire.
Lk.24:39 Perceive
My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and perceive,
for a spirit has not
flesh and bones according as you behold Me having.
Spirits cannot die. The source
of energy for these beings seems to be some form of light or radiation.
So, to immobilise and restrain some disobedient ones, God imprisons them
in darkness and gloom in a place called Tartarus:
Jude 6
Besides, messengers who keep not their own sovereignty, but leave their
own habitation, He has kept in imperceptible bonds under gloom for
the judging of the great day.
2Pet.2:4 For
if God spares not sinning messengers,
but thrusting them into
the
gloomy caverns of Tartarus,
gives them up to be kept
for chastening judging;
1Pet.3:18-20
…vivified in spirit, in which, being gone to the spirits in jail
also, He heralds to those once stubborn, when the patience of God awaited
in the days of Noah while the ark was being constructed,…
Scripture indicates that such
spirits do not participate in procreation - perhaps because they were not
designed for such a function and may not have the faculties to perform
or benefit from these acts.
Mt.22:30
For in the resurrection neither are they marrying nor taking in marriage,
but are as messengers
of God in heaven.
Though they cannot, normally,
be perceived by our senses, Scripture refers to many occasions when they
have appeared to men and women for very special reasons. It also tells
us of categories and hierarchies within their ranks. Though they may have
specialised functions, their common service is as divine couriers. We are
also told of obedient and disobedient spirits. Of the latter class are
some very powerful ones among the celestials as well as some of lesser
ranks among the terrestrials.
And, though they cannot be
seen by humans, Scripture indicates that these messengers have a longing
to know what God is doing with the people He calls.
1Pet.1:12
To whom [the prophets] it was revealed that, not to themselves,
but to you they dispensed
them, of which you were now informed
through those who are bringing
the evangel to you by holy spirit dispatched from heaven,
into which messengers
are yearning to peer.
Lk.15:10 Thus,
I am saying to you,
there is coming to be joy
in the sight of the messengers of God over one sinner repenting.
In this administration of grace,
powerful hierarchies of messengers are scrutinising, with personal interest,
the demonstration of God’s wisdom through His dealings with the ecclesia.
Eph.3:10,11
that now may be made known
to the sovereignties
and the authorities among the celestials,
through the ecclesia, the
multifarious wisdom of God,
in accord with the purpose
of the eons, which He makes in Christ Jesus, our Lord;
God’s Messengers
When Adam and Eve were driven
from the garden after their disobedience in the matter of the eating of
the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God set messengers,
of the class cherubim, to prevent them from returning. Scripture
also speaks of a class called seraphim.
Gen.3:24
And He is driving out the human,
and is causing him to tabernacle
at the east of the garden of Eden. And He set the cherubim, and
a flaming sword turning itself, to keep the way of the tree of the living.
Isa.6:2 Seraphim
are standing above it with six wings, six wings to each one.
With two it is covering
its face, and with two it is covering its feet, and with two it is flying.
During the time of Abraham there
were numerous incidents involving messengers. A messenger consoled, encouraged,
and instructed Hagar, Sarai’s maid, after she had run off from her mistress
(Gen.16:7-9). Messengers in the appearance of three men promised Abram
and Sarai that they would have a child in the coming year (Gen.18). Messengers
in the form of two men saved Lot and his daughters when Sodom and Gomorrah
were being destroyed for their iniquity especially in their homosexual
preferences (Gen.19).
The history of Moses bears
record of various incidents involving messengers. In the incident of the
burning bush, it was a messenger of God, not God Himself, that he
saw. This messenger was delegated to be His spokesman, speaking for
God. It was also a messenger that spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai -
even in the giving of the law! The apostle John, writing many years after
Christ’s resurrection and subsequent ascension, states unequivocally that
‘No one has ever gazed upon God…’ (1Jn.4:12) and that ‘God no
one has ever seen…’ (Jn.1:18).
Act.7:30-38
And, at the completion of forty years, a messenger was seen by him
in the wilderness of mount
Sinai, in the flame of a thorn bush fire.
Now Moses, perceiving it,
marvels at the vision. Yet, at his approaching to consider it,
the voice of the Lord came:
I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. Now
Moses, coming to be in a tremor, dared not consider it….
this one has God commissioned
to be a chief as well as a redeemer, a justice,
with the hand of the
messenger who was seen by him in the thorn bush….
This is he who came to be
in the ecclesia in the wilderness with the messenger,
who speaks to him in
mount Sinai,… (see also Ex.3:1-6)
Act.7:52,53
Which of the prophets do not your fathers persecute?
And they kill those who
announce before concerning the coming of the Just One,
of Whom now you became the
traitors and murderers--
who got the law for a mandate
of
messengers and do not maintain it!"
In the book of Ezekiel, though
no actual mention of ‘messengers’ is found, a number of creatures are described,
having very unusual features. These titillate the imagination about what
is yet to be revealed to us in the heavenly realms at the proper time.
And, though these are not called messengers, that appears to be their function
in the revelation. See Ezek.1:4-28 and 10:1-22.
In the book of Daniel, too,
there are many incidents involving beings who carry messages from God.
Gabriel and Michael are two prominent ones with the appearance of men (see
also Lk.1:26; Jude:9; Rev.12:7).
Dan.8:15-17
…coming is it when I, Daniel, had seen the vision and am seeking for understanding,
behold, standing in front of me is one having the appearance of a master.
I am hearing a human voice
between the banks of the Ulai, and it is calling and saying, "Gabriel,
make this one to understand the sight." Then he is coming to stand beside
me.
At his coming I am frightened
and falling on my face. And he is saying to me,
"Understand, son of humanity,
that for the era of the end is the vision."
Dan.10:4-6 …
I came to be on the bank of the great stream; it is the Hiddekel.
I am lifting my eyes, I
am seeing and behold, one man clothed in linen:
His waist is girded with
certified gold of Ophaz, his body is as topaz,
his face is as the appearance
of lightning, his eyes are as torches of fire,
his arms and his feet are
as the sparkle of scintillating copper,
and the sound of his words
is as the sound of a throng.
Dan.10:11,12
Then he is saying to me, "Daniel, man of coveted qualities,
understand the words which
I am speaking to you and stand upright, for now am I sent to you." And
at his speaking with me this word, I stand quivering. Then he is saying
to me,
"You must not fear, Daniel,
for from the first day on which you gave your heart to understand and to
humble yourself before Yahweh your Elohim, your words were heard,
and I came because of your
words;
Dan.10:18,19
Then continuing, touching me is one having the appearance of a human.
He is encouraging me and
saying, "You must not fear, man of coveted qualities!
Peace be yours! Steadfast!
Now be steadfast!"…
Dan.12:1-3 "In
that era shall stand up Michael, the great chief, standing over
the sons of your people. Then comes to be an era of distress such as has
not occurred since there came to be a nation on the earth, till that era…
In the Greek Scriptures, commonly
called the New Testament, there are records also of human interaction with
messengers who play crucial roles in many important incidents. This is
especially true of the Circumcision writings. Messengers of God have the
responsibility of serving those allocated for salvation.
Heb.1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits commissioned for service
because of those who are
about
to be enjoying the allotment of salvation?
The messenger, Gabriel, was
sent to announce the coming birth of John the baptist, as well as of his
commission to prepare the people of Israel for the coming of their Messiah,
to his father.
Lk.1:11-20
Now there was seen by him a messenger of the Lord, standing at the
right of the altar of incense. And disturbed was Zechariah at perceiving
it, and fear fell on him.
Now the messenger said to
him, "Fear not, Zechariah, because hearkened to is your petition, and your
wife Elizabeth shall be bearing you a son, and you shall be calling his
name John.
And there will be joy for
you, and exultation, and many shall be rejoicing at his birth,
for he shall be great in
the sight of the Lord. …
And answering, the messenger
said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands before God,
and I was dispatched to
speak to you and to bring you this evangel. And lo!
silent shall you be and
not able to speak until the day on which these things may be occurring,
because you do not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their
season."
John the baptist, the son of
Elizabeth who was Mary’s relative, is also called a messenger of God.
Mk.1:2-4
according as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, (Lo! I am dispatching
My
messenger before Thy face, who shall be constructing Thy road in front
of Thee.):
"The voice of one imploring:
`In the wilderness make ready the road of the Lord! Straight...be making
the highways'" of Him! John the baptist came to be in the wilderness and
is heralding a baptism of repentance for the pardon of sins.
Mt.11:7-15 Jesus
begins to be saying to the throngs concerning John,
"What do you come out into
the wilderness to gaze at?… A prophet to perceive?
Yes, I am saying to you,
and exceedingly more than a prophet. This is he
concerning whom it is written,
`Lo! I am dispatching My messenger before Thy face,
who shall be constructing
Thy road in front of Thee.' …
Messengers are specially prominent
in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ, bearing momentous
announcements and delivering urgent instructions. Gabriel, the messenger
of good news to Israel, carried the wonderful announcement concerning the
birth of Jesus to Mary.
Lk.1:26-38
Now in the sixth month, the messenger Gabriel was dispatched from
God to a city of Galilee, which is named Nazareth, to a virgin, espoused
to a man whose name is Joseph, of the house and kindred of David. And the
name of the virgin is Miriam.
And, entering to her, the
messenger said,
"Rejoice, favored one! The
Lord is with you, you blessed among women!"
Now she, perceiving it,
was agitated at his word,
and she reasoned what manner
of salutation this may be.
And the messenger said to
her, "Fear not, Miriam, for you found favor with God.
And lo! you shall be conceiving
and be pregnant and be bringing forth a Son,
and you shall be calling
His name Jesus.
He shall be great, and Son
of the Most High shall He be called.
And the Lord God shall be
giving Him the throne of David, His father,
and He shall reign over
the house of Jacob for the eons.
And of His kingdom there
shall be no consummation."
Yet Miriam said to the messenger,
"How shall this be, since I know not a man?"
And answering, the messenger
said to her, "Holy spirit shall be coming on you,
and the power of the Most
High shall be overshadowing you;
wherefore also the holy
One Who is being generated shall be called the Son of God.
And lo! Elizabeth, your
relative, she also has conceived a son in her decrepitude,
and this is the sixth month
with her who is called barren,
seeing that it will not
be impossible with God to fulfill His every declaration."
Now Miriam said, "Lo! the
slave of the Lord! May it come to be with me
according to your declaration!"
And the messenger came away from her.
To the shepherds in the field,
also, a messenger announced the birth of the Saviour, and some of the heavenly
host joined him in praise of God.
Lk.2:8-15
And shepherds were in the same district in the field fold, and maintaining
watches at night over their flock. And lo! a messenger of the Lord
stood by them,
and the glory of God shines
about them, and they were afraid with a great fear.
And the messenger said to
them, "Fear not,
for lo! I am bringing you
an evangel of great joy which will be for the entire people,
for today was brought forth
to you a Saviour, Who is Christ, the Lord, in the city of David.
And this is the sign to
you: you will be finding a Babe, swaddled and lying in a manger.
And suddenly with the messenger
there came to be a multitude of the heavenly host,
praising God and saying,
"Glory to God among the Highest!
And on earth peace,
Among men, delight!"
And it occurred, as the
messengers came away from them into heaven, that the shepherds spoke to
one another, saying, "By all means we may be passing through to Bethlehem,
and we may be perceiving
this declaration which has come to pass,
which the Lord makes known
to us."
Joseph, the foster-father of
Jesus, was informed about the circumstances concerning the expectant condition
of Mary, and was given specific instructions to ensure the safety of the
family.
Mt.1:20,21
Now at his brooding over these things, lo!
a messenger of the Lord
appeared
to him in a trance, saying,
"Joseph, son of David, you
may not be afraid to accept Miriam, your wife,
for that which is being
generated in her is of holy spirit.
Now she shall be bringing
forth a Son, and you shall be calling His name Jesus,
for He shall be saving His
people from their sins."
Mt.2:13 Now,
at their retiring into their country, lo!
a messenger of the Lord
is appearing in a trance to Joseph, saying,
"Being roused, take along
the little Boy and His mother and flee into Egypt, and be there
till I should speak to you,
for Herod is about to be seeking the little Boy to destroy Him."
Mt.2:19,20 Now
at the decease of Herod, lo!
a messenger of the Lord
is appearing in a trance to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
"Being roused, take along
the little Boy and His mother and go into the land of Israel,
for they are dead who are
seeking the soul of the little Boy."
At the beginning of the ministry
of Jesus to ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel’ (Mt.10:6,7 and 15:24),
after withstanding Satan’s trials in the wilderness and dismissing him,
messengers came to minister to Him.
Mt.4:9-11
And he said to Him,
"All these to you will I
be giving, if ever, falling down, you should be worshipping me."
Then Jesus is saying to
him, "Go away, Satan, for it is written, The Lord your God
shall you be worshipping,
And to Him only shall you be offering divine service."
Then the Adversary is leaving
Him. And lo! messengers approached and waited on Him.
At Gethsemane, too, after He
had prayed and submitted His will to that of His Father, in preparation
for His suffering and death on the cross, a messenger attended to Him.
Lk.22:42-44
saying, "Father, if it is Thy intention, carry aside this cup from Me.
However, not My will, but
Thine, be done!"
Now a messenger from
heaven was seen by Him, strengthening Him.
And coming to be in a struggle,
He prayed more earnestly,
and His sweat became as
if clots of blood descending on the earth.
At the Resurrection of our Lord
a messenger rolls away the stone that sealed the tomb and announced to
the women that He had risen from the dead.
Mt.28:2-7
And lo! a great quake occurred, for a messenger of the Lord, descending
out of heaven and approaching, rolls away the stone from the door and sat
upon it.
Now he was, to the perception,
as lightning, and his apparel white as if snow.
Now from fear of him the
keepers quaked and became as the dead.
Now, answering, the messenger
said to the women, "Fear you not!
For I am aware that you
are seeking Jesus, the Crucified. He is not here,
for He was roused, according
as He said. Hither! Perceive the place where the Lord lay. And, swiftly
going, say to His disciples that He was roused from the dead,
and lo! He is preceding
you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Lo! I told you!"
At His Ascension, too, there
were messengers who announced the manner of His return from heaven.
Act.1:10,11 And
as they were looking intently into heaven at His going, lo!
two men stand beside them
in white attire, who say also,
"Men! Galileans! Why do
you stand, looking into heaven?
This Jesus Who is being
taken up from you into heaven shall come thus,
in the manner in which you
gaze at Him going into heaven."
During the Pentecostal Administration
messengers were in attendance on many occasions. The apostles were freed
from jail and told to preach in the sanctuary. Philip was instructed to
expound Scripture to the Ethiopian eunuch, resulting in his baptism. Cornelius,
the Roman centurian, was told to send for Peter (who had received a directive,
in a vision, to agree to meet with Cornelius), resulting in the baptism
of Cornelius, his whole household and some friends.
Act.5:18-21
and laid hands on the apostles and place them in public custody.
Yet a messenger of the
Lord, during the night, opens the doors of the jail.
Besides, leading them out,
he said, "Go, and, standing in the sanctuary,
speak to the people all
the declarations of this life."
Act.8:26-40
Now a messenger of the Lord speaks to Philip, saying,
"Rise and go at midday on
the road which is descending from Jerusalem to Gaza.
This is a wilderness." And
rising, he went. And lo! a man, an Ethiopian eunuch,
a potentate of Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians, who was over her entire exchequer,
who had come, to be worshiping,
to Jerusalem.
Besides, he was returning
and sitting on his chariot, and he read the prophet Isaiah.
Now the spirit said
to Philip, "Approach and be joined to this chariot."….
Now when they stepped up
out of the water, the spirit of the Lord snatches away Philip,
and the eunuch did not perceive
him any longer, for he went his way rejoicing.
Now Philip was found in
Azotus,
Act.10:3-32
perceived in a vision manifestly, as if about the ninth hour of the day,
a messenger of God
entering to him and saying to him, "Cornelius!"
Now he, looking intently
at him, and becoming affrighted, said, "What is it, lord?"
Now he said to him, "Your
prayers and your alms ascended for a memorial in front of God. And now
send men to Joppa, and send after a certain Simon, who is surnamed Peter.
This man is lodging with
a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is beside the sea."
Now as the messenger who
is speaking to him came away,…
When Peter had been put in jail
after the assassination of James, the ecclesia prayed to God on his behalf.
In response to this, a messenger was sent to set him free.
Act.12:5-11
Peter, indeed, then, was kept in the jail,
yet prayer was earnestly
made by the ecclesia to God concerning him……
And lo! a messenger of
the Lord stood by, and a light shines in the room.
Now smiting Peter on the
side, he rouses him, saying, "Rise quickly!"
And off fall his chains
from his hands. Now the messenger said to him,
"Gird yourself and bind
on your soles." Now he does thus. And he is saying to him,
"Throw your cloak about
you and follow me." And, coming out, he followed him.
And he had not perceived
that what is occurring by means of the messenger is true,
yet he seemed to be observing
a vision. Now, passing through the first jail and the second, they come
to the iron gate that brings them into the city, which spontaneously was
opened to them. And, coming out, they came forward one street,
and immediately the messenger
withdrew from him. And Peter, coming to himself, said,
"Now I truly am aware that
the Lord delegates His messenger,
and extricates me out of
the hand of Herod and all the hope of the Jewish people.
A messenger was sent, on the
other hand, to smite Herod for his pride.
Act.12:21-23
Now on a set day, Herod, dressed in royal attire, being seated on the dais,
harangued to them. Now the populace retorted, "A god's voice, and not a
man's!"
Now instantly a messenger
of the Lord smites him, because he gives not the glory to God,
and, becoming the food of
worms, he gives up his soul.
Like the book of Daniel, that
of Revelation tells of creatures beyond our imagination. It speaks of 7
spirits of God (Rev.1:4; 4:5; 5:6), of messengers of the 7 ecclesias (Rev.1:16,20;
2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14), speaking vultures (Rev.8:13), of messengers in
charge of the four winds (Rev.9:13-19) and also tells of 24 ‘Elders’ and
of 4 ‘animals’ (Rev.4:4-11). It also describes denizens from beneath
the earth (Rev.9:2-11).
Rev.9:2-11
And he opens the well of the submerged chaos,
and fumes ascended out of
the well as the smoke of a large furnace,
and the sun and the air
are darkened by the fumes of the well.
And out of the fumes came
out locusts into the earth,
and license was granted
them as the scorpions of the earth have license.
And it was declared to them
that they should not be injuring the grass of the earth,
nor any green thing, nor
any tree, except those of mankind who have not the seal of God on their
foreheads. And it was granted to them, not that they should be killing
them,
but that they shall be tormented
five months; and their torment is as the torment of a scorpion, whenever
it should be striking a man. And in those days men will be seeking death,
and under no circumstances
shall they be finding it.
And they will be yearning
to die, and death is fleeing from them.
And the likenesses of the
locusts are like horses made ready for battle,
and on their heads are as
it were wreaths like gold,
and their faces are as it
were human faces,
and they had hair as the
hair of women,
and their teeth are as if
they were lions'.
And they had cuirasses,
as it were cuirasses of iron,
and the sound of their wings
is as the sound of many chariot horses racing into battle.
And they have tails like
scorpions, and stings,
and their license is to
injure mankind five months with their tails.
They have a king over them--the
messenger of the submerged chaos.
His Hebrew name is Abaddon,
and in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
As for humans, the number in
God’s creation runs into the billions from the time of Adam, and continues
to grow for now. But, what about God’s messengers? We are not given any
direct indication although Scripture does make some reference to these.
For example, in His arraignment before Pilate, Jesus indicated that he
had powerful celestial forces at His disposal.
Mt.26:53
Or are you supposing that I am not able to entreat My Father,
and at present He will station
by My side more than twelve legions of messengers?
[one Roman legion consisted
of 6,100 infantry and 726 cavalry]
The book of Revelation gives
figures for messengers, too.
Rev.5:11
And I perceived, and I hear a sound
as of many messengers around
the throne and the animals and the elders,
and their number was ten
thousand ten thousand and a thousand thousand,
Also, looking forward to the
time of the new heaven and new earth (Rev.20 and 21) as an encouragement
and motivation to Circumcision believers it is said,
Heb.12:22-24
But you have come to mount Zion, and the city of the living God,
celestial Jerusalem,
and to ten thousand messengers,
to a universal convocation,
and to the ecclesia of the
firstborn, registered in the heavens,
and to God, the Judge of
all,
and to the spirits of the
just perfected,
and to Jesus, the Mediator
of a fresh covenant,
and to the blood of sprinkling
which is speaking better than Abel.
The Influence of
Evil Spirits
Though some spirits bring
blessings and good news from God, there are others who are evil and wicked.
They seem to roam the earth, entering into and wreaking havoc among
humans, bringing a lot of suffering and anguish upon them.
During the ministry of Jesus,
there were many incidents involving evil spirits. These are called according
to their different operations, the most common being ‘demon’. Some of these
demons, also called ‘unclean spirits’ and ‘wicked spirits’, are wont to
enter into and take possession of human beings, causing behaviour that
is out of the ordinary and inflicting terrible, excruciating, suffering
and pain in those they take possession of. Some even take on special names.
See Mt.8:28-34; Mk.5:1-16; Mk.9:17-29; Lk.8:2; 8:27-33.
Jesus addressed these spirits
and, as recorded in Scripture, they even recognised Him as 'the holy One
of God' (Mk.1:23-26; Lk.4:33-36). The common people were astounded by His
absolute authority over these spirits as He commanded and drove them out
in every case (Mt.8:16,17; Mk.1:27; Lk.4:36), sometimes even, as it were,
by 'remote control' (Mk.5:25-29). Scripture records that these people 'were
astonished at the magnificence of God' (Lk.9:37-43), and that at no time
'did it appear thus in Israel' (Mt.9:32,33).
The religious authorities,
unable to counter His popularity generated through these miracles, even
accused Jesus of being possessed by a powerful spirit, Beelzeboul,
the
chief of the demons (Mk.3:22-30). This is the incident which brought
about Christ's declaration concerning 'the unpardonable sin' which many
believers have allowed to unsettle their confidence when pointing out errors
propagated by revered 'churchianity' and theology. Their predicament
is brought about by inaccurate translations of the Greek aiön.
Mk.3:29 KJV
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness,
but is in danger of eternal
damnation:
NIV But
whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven;
he is guilty of an eternal
sin.
RSV but
whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness,
but is guilty of an eternal
sin
In these, aiön is
translated never, and its adjective aiönion as its opposite,
eternal!
It is very obvious that something is seriously wrong and necessitates some
re-thinking on our part. An accurate, consistent translation should help
in understanding this passage.
Mk.3:29 CV
yet whoever should be blaspheming against the holy spirit
is having no pardon for
the eon, but is liable to the eonian penalty for the sin"--
An eon, the English equivalent
of aiön, is a period of time with a definite beginning and
a definite end. Scripture indicates that there are, at least, five eons
marked out in time. Each eon varies in length from the others. The coming
eon will span at least one thousand years and is popularly termed the Millenium.
Eonian,
the English of aiönion, refers to that which
pertains to
an
eon. In no case do these words refer to unending time. God's mercy has
no end, even though its exercise may be withheld for an eon or more. The
evangel of our salvation bears our merciful God's guarantee on our soon-coming
deliverance (Eph.1:13,14), and repeatedly assures us of the salvation of
every creature of God (Rom.5:18,19; 1Cor.15:20-28; Col.1:15-20; 1Tim.2:4-7;
4:9-11)!
Jesus delegated His authority
over the evil spirits to His disciples:
Mt.10:1
And, calling His twelve disciples to Him, He gives them authority
over unclean spirits,
so as to be casting them
out, and to be curing every disease and every debility.
Mk.6:7
And He is calling to Him the twelve, and He begins to dispatch them two
by two
and gave them authority
over the unclean spirits.
Lk.10:17 Now
the seventy-two return with joy, saying,
"Lord, even the demons are
subject
to us in Thy name!"
This authority was exercised
during the period covered by the book of Acts, too.
Act.5:16
Now a multitude also from the cities about Jerusalem came together,
bringing the infirm and
those molested by unclean spirits, all of whom were cured.
Act.8:6,7 Now
the throngs with one accord heeded the things being said by Philip,
on hearing them and observing
the signs which he did.
For from many of those having
unclean spirits, they came out, imploring with a loud voice.
Now many who were paralysed
and lame were cured.
Act.16:16-18
Now it occurred, at our going to prayer, a certain maid, having a python
spirit,
meets us, who afforded a
vast income to her masters, divining.
She, following after Paul
and us, cried, saying, "These men are slaves of God most high,
who are announcing to you
a way of salvation!" Now this she did on many days.
Now Paul, being exasperated
and turning about, said to the spirit, "I am charging you,
in the name of Jesus Christ,
to be coming out from her!" And it came out the same hour.
Act.19:11,12
Besides, powerful deeds, not the casual kind, God did through the hands
of Paul, so the handkerchiefs or aprons from his cuticle are carried away
to the infirm also,
to clear the diseases from
them. Besides, wicked spirits go out.
These spirits may physically
attack even those whom they have not taken possession of, and who dabble
in exorcism without God's authority to do so.
Act.19:13-16
Now some of the wandering Jews also, exorcists,
take in hand to name the
name of the Lord Jesus over those having wicked spirits,
saying, "I am adjuring you
by the Jesus Whom Paul is heralding!"
Now there were some seven
sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, doing this.
Yet answering, the wicked
spirit said to them,
"Jesus, indeed, I know,
and in Paul am I versed, yet who are you?"
And leaping on them, the
man in whom the wicked spirit was, getting the mastery of both,
is too strong for them,
so that, naked and wounded, they are escaping out of that house.
The Influence of
Celestial Spirits
Messengers have a very strong
influence on the behaviour of mankind though men may be quite oblivious
to the fact. We read of celestial warfare and of powerful messengers controlling
countries and nations, influencing their decisions and politics, both national
and international. These are the 'behind-the-scenes' instigators of the
wars and unrest over the whole world. Humanity, with its kings and their
peoples, are mere pawns and puppets in the hands of these powerful forces.
For example, Michael is the chief for the people of Israel while others
are chiefs over Persia and Greece. And even today, world events are not
controlled by human elements but by unseen and unrealised celestial powers.
The influence is so refined that these leaders and nations are unaware
that it is there, and cannot believe the fact even when alerted to it.
Dan.10:13-14
yet the chief of the kingdom of Persia was standing to confront me twenty-one
days. Yet behold, Michael, one of the first chiefs, came to help me.
And I left him there beside
the chief of the kings of Persia." Then he said to me,
"I come to cause you to
understand what will befall your people in the latter days;
for the vision is for future
days."
Dan.10:20,21
Then he is saying to me, "You know why I come to you?
Now I will return to fight
with the chief of the king of Persia.
While I am faring forth,
behold, the chief of Greece comes!
(Verily, I am telling you
what is signified in the writing of truth.)
No one will be steadfast
with me in these things save Michael your chief.
Rev.16:13,14
…out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the wild beast,
and out of the mouth of
the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as if frogs
(for they are spirits of
demons, doing signs),
which are going out to the
kings of the whole inhabited earth,
to be mobilizing them for
the battle of the great day of God Almighty.
June 2001
Back to:
....Main
menu of articles
....Section
1 - Introduction
God Himself
....Section
2 - The Power of Life
....Section
3 - The Power in God's Operations
I
....Section
4 - The Power in God's Operations
II
Proceed to:
....Section
6 - Metaphysical Beings II
....Section
7 - Conclusion
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