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Christians, Beware
of the Occult Invasion
Introduction
The quest for the supernatural has opened a "Pandora’s box" in our already beleaguered world. Drugs, alcoholism, immorality and deviant practices have become commonplace. The latest fad for excitement is witchcraft, voodooism, spiritism, black magic, occultism and the supernatural. Skeptics smirk away such phenomena. Why? Only the superstitious and less educated are taken in by the spiritualist huckster with his bag of voodoo tricks. Certainly there are frauds, but Christian Scripture is clear—there is a demon world. Be aware and beware of entrapment!
Our younger generation stands in jeopardy of the supernatural and occult plague sweeping through the Western World. Youth is curious and eager to explore. Just as they have fallen victim to drugs, so now they yearn to experience something from another world. Without proper information they expose themselves to wicked and ugly forces, impervious of the peril and terror they hold. You can help. Be informed. Inform your children of the pitfalls of the dark spirit world. The consequences of ignorance are as dangerous as willful disobedience.
Occultism (Latin, "occultus") refers to things hidden, secret, and mysterious. Characteristics of the occult are secret or hidden operations or events that seem to depend on human powers that go beyond the five human senses, and supernatural angelic or demonic forces. [handbook, Hoover p149]
Occultism has not only stealthily invaded the evangelical church, but it has bombarded every level of society. The purpose of this book is to alert and forewarn Christian believers of the severe perils of demonic activity, to increase their awareness of the pervasive influences of occultism today, and to arm them with Scriptural knowledge for their protection.
1. The
Testimony of Jesus Christ
Many Christians are not aware of the occult threat in the world today. Other Christians are very much aware of demon activity and point to the testimony of Jesus as an explanation.
At the time of Jesus’ first advent, a frenzy of demon activity captured many minds in a nation gone astray. As the cohorts of Satan, demons mustered all of their forces to thwart the plan of God. The nation’s rejection of Jesus as Messiah was a goal they dared pursue. Little did they realize this contingency already was in God’s plan.
Profiles of Demonic Behavior
From the New Testament record we are informed of the following profiles of demonic behavior:
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Demoniac in country of Gergesenes,
city of Gadarenes
Mark 5:1-21
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
[1]; 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.
[2]
5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
[3]
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?
[5] I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
[6]
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.
[7]
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.
[8]
Matt. 8:28-34
8:28b two possessed with devils [two men, one more prominent] coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce...
8:29 art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
[6]
Luke 8:26-40
8:27
a certain man which had devils long time, and wore no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
[1] |
Characteristics
[1] Dwelt among tombs; wore no clothes.
Degrading influence on humans.
[2] Super-human strength—could not be bound or tamed.
One possessed becomes out of control.
[3] No rest—day and night crying and cutting himself.
Relentless agony. Violent, compulsive behavior.
[4]
Seeing Jesus, worshipped him. Recognized Jesus.
[5]
Demons knew Jesus was Son of the Most High God. Have much knowledge.
[6] Demons feared being tormented before the time.
Knew it was not yet time for their judgment.
[7]
Legion. Multiple demons can possess a person.
[8] Demons requested to enter swine who were then crazed and drowned.
The intense desire of demons to control human or animal bodies for their diabolical advantage, to the detrimental destruction of those possessed. Resist leaving their host. Animals cannot be possessed without permission.
Additional Supportive Information from the Gospels
God’s power is greater. Jesus “with the finger of God” cast out devils. (Lk. 11:20) Demons feared Jesus would destroy them. (Mk. 1:24) Power was given to the 12 to cast them out. (Mt. 10:1,8; Mk. 3:14; 6:7,12) Power was given to the 70 to cast out demons. (Lk. 10:17) Jesus’ word more powerful [he wasn’t even there]. (Mk. 7:29) Evil spirits fell down before Jesus. (Mk. 3:11)
Demons knew Jesus was the Holy One of God.
(Mk. 1:24,34) Demons knew Christ was the Son of God. (Mk. 3:11; Lk. 4:31)
Possession by unclean spirits was an unpleasant and degrading experience. Can inflict self-injury. Person was blind and/or dumb. (Mt. 9:32; 12:22; Mk. 9:17; Lk. 11:14) Person was torn, cried in loud voice. (Mk. 1:26) Person was a lunatic and sore vexed, fell into fire and water. (Mt. 17:14-18) Person was torn, foamed and gnashed with teeth, pined away, fell into fire and waters, left as one dead. (Mk. 9:18-26) With a loud noise, man was thrown in their midst. (Lk. 4:33-35)
Rebuked by Jesus. (Mk. 1:25; 9:25) Jesus charged them that they should not make him known. (Mk. 3:12) Jesus told them not to speak for they knew he was Christ. (Lk. 4:31)
Multiple demons in person.
(Lk. 11:26) Mary Magdalene had seven devils. (Mk. 16:9; Lk. 8:3)
Can be resisted. Jesus’ example. Devil leaveth him. (Mt. 4:11; Lk. 4:13)
All Bible-believing Christians accept that the
demons were active at Christ’s first advent. Most recognize
there will be demonic “signs and wonders” at the Christ’s second
advent. Before we pursue the status of occultism today, we need
clarification on who the demons are,
where they came from, and why they desire to infiltrate our
world today. |
