1) What does Bible teach about ghosts, witches, vampires? Are they real? Do we believe their existence as a Christian? What about real cases of haunting and documentary cases of their possession?
Wow! that's really awesome question and it seems you have lots of curiosity! Yes, the Bible obviously speaks about ghosts but with a slight difference. The Word of God doesn't allow for the belief in ghosts as dead human spirits. The Word of God rather talks about a spiritual group who always work against God. We call them demons. The Word of God doesn't clearly tell us about their origin but it obviously tells us these spirits are very bad, powerful and always at work against God. They are enemies of God. Next, whatever you said about ghosts, witches and vampires, these all are expressions of these bad spirits in different forms and cultures. As a Christian we believe the demons are at work even in case of appearance of spirits of dead's to deceive living peoples. And yes, there are cases of haunting but some movies are too dramatic. However many Christians in Nepal have shared testimonies about real encounter which was so much like movies. These bad spirits are powerful enough to do anything. They are able to control human mind which even Word of God records. They are able to interfere in our life through dangerous medium such as black magic, zodiac, tarot reading, palmistry, mesmerism, witchcraft and many other. This was the reason our God condemned those peoples who practiced these and we should also be careful ! We don't know where they came from but we know surely their future which is bad and worst but it is good news for us that we should not fear them! 😊 Jesus keeps us secure! They can threaten us but cannot destroy us! But be sure to stay away from anything that is connected to them!
Contextual Bible Verses:
Demons as deceptive spirits: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1, ESV).
We cannot partake with demons: 1 Cor. 10:19-22
The misery of demon possessed victims: Matt. 12:43-45
Demons do not associate with Jesus: 1 John 4:1-3
True and genuine faith in Jesus, walk with Jesus, obedience to Jesus and regular partake with Jesus is necessary to exercise authority over demons in his name: Acts 19:13-16
Condemnation of occult practices: “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, ESV).
Christ’s authority over demons: “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases” (Luke 9:1, ESV).
A genuine faith in Christ also leads to genuine authority over demons: Luke 10:20
Demonic possession and influence: “And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way” (Matthew 8:28, ESV).
Further reading: https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2018/10/what-about-christians-who-believe-in.html?m=1
2) Why did they stand against God? Does Bible tell us anything about it?
The word of God doesn't explicitly tell us the reason behind it. But those who study and research, they conclude that these spirits were good at initial phase but later became bad following the Satan who was the main rival of God. He just got pride and wanted to lift himself higher than God. He wanted to be in God's place and he also spoiled humanity so that God's plan of a beautiful family might fail. He took authority over the earth and started ruling it with terror until Jesus came and took it back from him. All other bad spirits and spiritual armies follows him and are at war against God using us or anything accessible. We don't know much detail besides this and as Deut. 29:29 says, perhaps God didn't want to make Satan the focus but Christ alone. Maybe, Satan didn't want God to create us and when he created us he made us follow him instead! This was the first sin which shows unwilling in submission to God and rather uplift oneself higher than God due to pride of one's possession! Christ indeed became humble and lived a submitted life under God's rule! 🙂🙂🙂
Contextual Bible Verses:
Satan’s pride and fall: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high’” (Isaiah 14:12-14, ESV).
Angels who sinned: “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day” (Jude 1:6, ESV).
Satan’s influence over humanity: “The serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (Genesis 3:4-5, ESV).
The world under his dominion: Matt. 4:9-11
Christ’s humility: “Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7, ESV).
Christ reclaims all the authority on heaven and earth: Matt. 28:18
Further reading: https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2015/02/why-did-god-create-satan-knowing-that.html?m=0
3) Will Satan and his followers get forgiveness?
That's really deep! The direct answer is no, they wouldn't get forgiveness at all. They had all knowledge about God better than us! They had all knowledge about his word! They knew him better than us! They fear him more than us! They were in his presence! But sadly they don't want to follow his path, no obedience, no submission, no relationship! Their desire is always exaltation not humbleness. They weren't tempted. They will never be willing to have forgiveness but always seeking chances to rebel against God. If there are enough hints for those who despite knowing truth keeps rejecting it has terrible consequence to suffer then what about Satan and demons? The book of revelation clearly shows what they will be doing in end times by raising false prophet and anti-Christ as their final attempt of rebellion! He failed and manipulated humanity to do so! It was but Christ who passed and got eternal destination reserved for us! Satan and all his team shall be destroyed in future but we shall be always with God in his eternal kingdom! remember: Belief in Christ entails commitment of one's life, lifelong obedience, and death of the self. (John 14:15, Luke 14:26, Gal. 2:20) Satan and his team is odd one out!
Contextual Bible Verses:
No redemption for fallen angels: “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment” (2 Peter 2:4, ESV).
Satan’s final rebellion: “And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10, ESV).
Knowledge and rejection of truth: “And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already” (1 John 4:3, ESV).
Belief requires obedience: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV).
Warning of willingly committed sin despite knowing Truth: Heb. 10:26-27
Rejection of God despite knowing fully who he is and its consequence: Heb. 6:4-6
Further reading: https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2017/08/why-cant-fallen-angels-repent.html?m=1
4) What about aliens, UFOs?
These are merely speculative cases. We don't necessarily have a solid proof except for vague cases that are happening around the world. Aliens can simply be the work of spiritual world. However, for the actual alien encounter cases, the Christian research puts forward the higher possibility of alien works to be demonic causing harm and manipulation to victims and promoting anti-biblical teachings.
Contextual Bible Verses:
Demonic deception: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14, ESV).
Spiritual warfare: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, ESV).
Testing spirits: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1, ESV).
For further reading: https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2015/11/ufos-are-demons.html?m=1
.png)
0 Comments