Tehom-at

Demonic History & The Rites of Exorcism

Chapter 5: Through Dry Places

he influence of demonic intrusions into the beliefs and philosophy of mankind is not that difficult to detect. Yet while it has become greater and more dangerous over time, it has also become less obvious. While there have been many in centuries past who considered themselves too “modern” to believe in gods and supernatural forces of any kind, including the Biblical Creator, they have nevertheless fallen victim to the worldview and superstitions of those who have.

While occult philosophy has become more sophisticated with the passage of ages, it is no less demonic, no less dangerous, now than it was in the ancient days. A prime example of this subtle transformation in method is alchemy. Now, it may surprise some readers to see the art listed here, as it is generally thought to be a precursor to the true sciences like chemistry, rather than anything to do with the spirit or the mind. Let the reader be educated: the “science” of alchemy had (has?) far more to do with the human spirit than with turning lead or mercury into more precious metals.

“Over ten years of close study, [Jung, a noted psychologist,] came to see that alchemy is a great deal more than an attempt to make gold. It is an attempt to penetrate the Mystery itself – the mystery Jung came to identify with the Unconscious – and to discover the laws of the secret working of the universe. Alchemy was the distinctive form taken by magic in the seventeenth century; the Philosopher’s Stone it sought was nothing less than man’s ultimate control over death. In modern terminology, we might say it was man’s attempt to learn to make contact, at will, with the ‘source of power, meaning and purpose’ in the depths of the mind, to overcome the dualities and ambiguities of everyday consciousness.”

Later, the same author notes, “The secret sought by the alchemists was, according to Jung, the secret of the transmutation of consciousness into the godlike state, ultimate ‘individuation.’ He associated it also with the aim of the yogis – and it is significant that unusual ‘powers’ over matter are regarded by Hindus as a natural by-product of the spiritual transformation of the yogi – as with the alchemists.” [1]

This is a most apt illustration of the demons’ ability to adapt their deceptions to the zeitgeist, the “spirit of the age.” Yet the vital issue is this: while the forms of Satanism may be as different as Yoga, Alchemy and Secular Humanism, the underlying principles have remained the same. The fallen angels are still attempting to have man exalt himself to a “godlike state,” essentially following in the path of Lucifer. And as mentioned in previous chapters, the ultimate aim is to find a way to obtain “control over

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death.” If the corrupt spirits can create an immortal sinner, then death, disease, destruction and sorrow would all become eternal realities, rather than the transient intruders Yahweh has thus far allowed them to be. What the Serpent (a major symbol in alchemy) began in Eden, he continues to do today.

And let the reader not imagine for a moment that “Secular Humanism” is an exception. There is a strong link between secularism and the occult – the former is simply the sorcery of this skeptical age. Remember: the destruction of Nimrod’s Babylonian system was idolatry, but Lucifer was corrupted because he fell in love with his own beauty. (Ezekiel 28:17) In Humanism, man becomes his own idol, and this is even closer to Satan’s true philosophy than witchcraft ever was. If the essence of Araphel is truly understood: that selfishness, an abuse of individual freedom and thus the potential for transgression and sin, is the very foundation of the Satanic kingdom, the scales fall away from one’s eyes.

As one theologian so aptly put it, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist and a magician with the same delight.” [2]

It has not taken our spiritual enemies long to discover than in these “sophisticated times” it is easier to make a materialist than a magician, and it has certainly appeared to be the case that the IOC principle is more effective if the puppeteers are invisible. This is not to say that occult practices have ceased or grown less common. The very essence of Babylon is that it is “confusion,” and seeks to breed more confusion. The depths of tehom are not picky about what manner of soul they consume.

Considering what we have learned thus far from the Bible’s examples, we find four degrees of possession, Anchorage, Influence, Tutelage, and finally Dominance or “full blown” possession. We have noticed that there was a sharp increase in the more overt forms of possession as a response to the Messiah’s ministry on earth. Based on the Scriptures that prophesy particular events for the last days of human history, we expect to see this phenomenon once again, and very soon.

The idea that these are, in fact, “the last days” holds much importance for the exorcist. Not only does it bid him or her “prepare” for the onslaught of demonic forces, in addition it almost perfectly identifies the philosophy that will be directed against the spiritual healer’s ministry. Aside from seeking to withdraw loyalty from Yahweh, Occultism and Humanism have another key teaching in common as well.

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The typical pagan view of time, and the creation, is that existence is an unending series of cycles, such as is demonstrated by figure 5.1. This, in a sense, is the cosmic Leviathan, another Biblical name for the dragon of water and chaos. (Psalm 74:14, Isaiah 27:1) Its name, literally translated, means “That which gathers itself together in coils,” or loops. There is a point of creation once in every age; existence continues for a time, but after an allotted period things fall apart, or collapse inward, or suffer the effects of a cataclysm, and then there is a return to nothingness. From this nothingness, the spark of creation is once again applied, and the process starts over once more.

The Humanist view of time is generally that the earth is not only very old, but will continue, relatively unchanged, for another almost ineffable period of time. According to the predictions of astrophysicists, “The Sun has been shining brightly, at almost exactly the same rate (a constant luminosity), for 4.5 billion years.” [3] More significantly, “The Sun is 4.6 billion years old and is estimated to live in this stable phase another 4.6 billion years.” [4] Many Christian groups have accepted this latter view, either seeing the return of Christ as a “mystical,” symbolic advent represented by the improvement of the human culture, or placing it so far into the future that it has little bearing on their day-to-day lives.

Now, the pagan view has the creation extending for a long time down through many ages, though which, in many cases, the same souls are either reincarnated through the cycles, or learn how to transcend them. The secular/modernist view has the current creation extending for a long time down through one age, after which there is – for every life – either a spiritual existence in a hereafter, or nothing at all until the next “big bang,” should there be another. The thing that is common to both is that they have the creation extending for a long time.

What does this do to the Gospel? Peter tells us, “There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of: that by the Word of God the Heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.

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“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2Peter 3:3)

The scoffers are predicted to be ignorant of two things; first, that there was a judgment on the world in the days of Noah – hence the belief that there were no “days of Noah,” and that the world has continued down through time suffering only from natural disasters. Second, that there is a judgment to come – hence the belief that there is still “much time” to fill with pleasures that neither truly satisfy in this life, nor prepare a person for the life to come.

This idea, common to occult paganism, mystery religions, and secularism, effectively removes the concept of a coming judgment. Now, for the sincere Christian, our actions are not dictated by a fear of judgment. To be sure, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) The idea of a judgment is not designed to “scare good Christians into obedience,” but rather to help us show the unconverted their need to partake in the love that casts out fear, and to prepare for a fiery cleansing that will not harm them, but make them pure. (1 Peter 4:12, 13) It is only those who will not turn to the Throne that experience destruction in the glory of Yahweh. (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

Peter tells us, right after mentioning the judgment, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8, 9)

The Almighty may be moving at His own pace, but He is not deliberately delaying the fulfillment of His promises. No, rather, He is holding back the judgment so that men will have a chance to repent and be saved. Here again is the “veil” of Araphel in action as a positive principle. While the demons have perverted it, using the time Yahweh grants as a forum for all manner of unrighteousness, the wise man takes the opportunity to build his spiritual house on the Rock of our Salvation, that he may survive the coming storm of demons and trials. (Matthew 7:24, 25)

There is an age to come, but it is not one of a cycle, nor is it an endless continuation of this current state. The Scriptures tell us of the time ahead, the time after the judgment. It will be endless, and it will be – as hard as it may be for humans used to this world to grasp – perfect. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie

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down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:6-9)

Why is it important for Satan’s plan that he has his followers envisioning practically endless ages, but of earthly pleasure and life with no accountability to the Creator? This is, of course, an oversimplification of the view of many non-Christian groups, yet the element of “lots of time,” and the thought that one can improve his or her standing in the “cycle of existence” through good works is fairly common in the various traditions. But why is this idea so prevalent on these spiritual paths? It is because Lucifer knows the principles that Christians also know, that “as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23: 7a)

A man with evil thoughts will produce an evil life. By contrast, to the righteous it is said, “According to your faith be it unto you.” (Matthew 9:29) The aims to which a man will direct his thoughts, whether they are good or evil, will ultimately determine his character. If he believes in endless ages, he will work toward securing his existence and enjoyment for those endless ages. Consider – what good is immortality if the world is about to end? What will an enduring physical perfection profit if the words of the Scriptures are true, and there will come a day soon when the very elements “shall melt with fervent heat?” (2Peter 3:12)

The aim of the yogis is thereby confounded. The ultimate goal of the alchemist is thus without fruit. Those who seek to transcend the wheel of reincarnation will discover, when it is too late, that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) If Satan manages to convince his followers that there is “time, endless time” in which to follow their inclinations, they will never come to the point where they can look critically at their impulses, and judge for themselves why they have truly been put on this earth.

Satan seeks to produce an immortal sinner, yes; but he knows that just as a Christian’s everlasting life begins with faith, (Hebrews 11:1) so the proposed immortal depravity of his armies must begin with faith. They must believe in the goal, or they will not work toward it. They will never attempt to create this reality – first in their intentions, and then in their outward experiences – if they cannot first visualize it.

Every form of occultism in the world practices this kind of visualization on some level. It is one of the keys to witchcraft – but visualization in itself is not a bad thing. The use of signs and symbols began with Yahweh Himself, who gave us the rainbow to represent a covenant, (Genesis 9:13, Revelation 4:3) and the sacrifices of animals to represent the infinite gift of His Son. (1Corinthians 5:7) Prophets saw spiritual truths in ways they could

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understand and express, although they realized that it was merely “the appearance of the likeness of the glory” of that which they were beholding. (Ezekiel 1:28)

It is said of the Almighty that He “calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17) It is a principle of creation that Yahweh forms things by “calling” them into existence. Of the beginning it is said, “And Elohim said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) “And Elohim said, ‘Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear,’ and it was so.” (Genesis 1:9) Over and over again we see this pattern in the first chapter of Genesis: the Creator says, and it is so. “For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” (Psalm 33:9)

We will return to this idea in a moment, but first it is important to recognize and understand this sacred truth: mankind is created in the image of Yahweh. (Genesis 1:27) This means, almost everything that is true for the Godhead in the spiritual realm is true for humanity in the physical. The relationship between Christ and His collective Bride, the Church, represents the union between a husband and his wife. (Ephesians 5:31, 32) That is just one among many applications, but one specific parallel has key importance for the exorcist.

We are told this of conversion: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Yahshua, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) The “belief” requirement should be obvious, since religious matters are specifically matters of faith; but what of the first part, that confession is necessary as well? This is not a doctrine that is isolated to the verse in Romans. We find that the saints overcome the enemies of Yahweh “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11)

Further still, it is said that the Father “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son” (Colossians 1:13) The reader should see that Yahweh and His people have something in common. Before a thing can come to pass, it must be spoken. In His dealings with mankind, we are told of the Almighty, “Surely Adonai Yahweh will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) First, He will proclaim His will, and then He will bring it to pass. Christ, the Creator by the power of the Father, (Ephesians 3:9) is called the Word. (John 1:14) Just as the Father creates by the vehicle of His Word, speaking and then doing… so man that is created in the image of Yahweh actually creates by his word. Actions do not necessarily “speak louder than words” in many aspects of the spiritual realm.

Visualization allows us to create things in our minds, and words help us to make these thoughts in our heads “real,” for they can be used to affect the physical world. We can communicate our ideas to others; we can draw on

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paper what we perceive in our minds’ eyes. The occult arts have made much use of this principle by way of mantras, incantations and magical “spells,” but these are merely counterfeits for the true – and there is a true for this counterfeit. Men are told to “pray,” even when they are alone, (Matthew 6:6) and we are told that “if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us; and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” (1 John 5:14, 15)

Not only do we have the privilege of prayer, we also have the power of dominion, the power to command. We are told of the beginning of days, “And Elohim said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.’ So Elohim created man in His own image, in the image of Elohim created He him; male and female created He them. And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said unto them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.’” (Genesis 1:26-28)

Twice in that passage we are told that humanity was to have “dominion” over this earth. In falling from grace, however, we find that human beings lost their headship over the planet. Yahweh said unto the first pair, after they had given in to the tempter’s deceptions, “cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:17b-19)

Death entered the world on that day, for whereas man was to have power over the earth, so now the earth would one day close over every man in his grave. There were also immediate effects. Nature would respond differently now, bringing forth dangerous and unpleasant plants, and becoming more difficult to master for the purpose of growing food. The evidence of man’s lost dominion is also revealed in the New Testament, when Christ speaks openly about our enemy. All the symbols that referred to Satan in the older Scriptures were explained plainly by the Son of Yahweh, and He tells us that Lucifer had become “prince of this world,” (John 14:30) who was able to offer the Messiah “all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them,” if He would but worship the chief of demons. (Matthew 4:8) The apostle Paul considers him “the god of this world [who] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.” (2Corinthians 4:4)

The Gospel, the “Good News” of the Bible, is that the story does not end here. The Scriptures tell us “as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19) By the Sacrifice of Christ, Elohim regained the inheritance

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lost by Adam, and thereafter we are told that the Holy Spirit was sent as a Comforter until He should return to cleanse the world of all sin. (John 14:16) But now, in speaking of the Holy Spirit that was given to mankind, an interesting word is used. Paul says, “Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.” (2Corinthians 5:5) The same word, earnest, is used in 2 Corinthians 1:22, again of the Spirit.

The word in Greek is arhabbon, which literally translated means, “money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid.” [5]

The Holy Spirit was given to mankind as a “down payment” on the transaction that took place on the Cross. This is what makes us witnesses to the sovereignty of Christ on this earth; and now, because we have this Spirit, mankind again has a level of dominance. Just as authority was given to Adam in Eden, so authority was given to the “last Adam,” (1Corinthians 15:45) and He in turn has given it to His followers, as we shall see.

Figure 5.2 gives a much-abbreviated history of the spiritual transactions governing the earth. In the beginning, Yahweh owned all things by virtue of His having created them. He gave this dominion to man, who was created in His image. When man sinned, Satan became the “prince of this world,” but when the Messiah appeared He said, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” (John 12:31)

Because of His victory on the cross, the Heavenly beings acknowledge, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12) And having received these things, He entrusted us with a large measure thereof, “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” (2Peter 1:3)

We recall from the last chapter an idea to which I intended to return, and it is this, that Christ cast out demons “with His word.” (Matthew 8:16) Just as the Word created light in the beginning, and life on earth, so the Word releases the prisoners of Satan. The same power that spoke the cosmos into existence from nothing, drawing order out of tehom, is able to bind the creatures of the “deep” and command them to depart from their human hosts. The specifics of this procedure follow, but the very existence of the method of exorcism comes from the idea that the Savior transferred this power to His followers.

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The cross was the beginning of the re-creation of the universe and, once again, the Almighty gave man dominion over certain aspects of the earth. But whereas before he was given authority over the living things of the earth, in the re-creation he is given the ability to command even spiritual beings, under the right circumstances. The Messiah won a victory over the world, this is so; (John 16:33) but, as we have already read, He overcame even the spiritual weapons arrayed against Him. “And having spoiled Principalities and Powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)

Not only did He have the power to cast out demons even before His “open” victory on the Cross, but we are told, “And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” (Matthew 10:1)

Just as the Holy Spirit was given to mankind as a “down payment” of a transaction yet to be completed, so the Son of Man had the power of His triumph before it was actually brought to pass. His ability to do this was an ability we all have – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) By faith, Yahshua laid claim to His yet-future victory. By faith, we lay claim to that yet-future life eternal. By faith, the Messiah had power over the evil spirits that drew close on every side during His earthly ministry. By faith, we have power over these very spirits as time draws to a close. The final holy people on this sinful earth, those perfect representations of Christ (Ephesians 4:13) who will once again stir the open wrath of evil angels, will have two major characteristics. 1) They will be faithful to the commandments of God, and 2) they will have the “faith of Jesus,” the very faith that He had when He was here. (Revelation 14:12)

This is why exorcism works, because the very authority of Christ has been given to His people; He has become the Head, and the Church is His Body, (Colossians 1:18) which follows the direction of the Head and acts accordingly.

The bigger issue, of course, is not that we can cast demons out, but that the authority He gives us provides dominance over all the spiritually significant things of the world, including the principles of righteousness and sin. Whereas Adam failed in the face of temptation, those in Christ will succeed, for “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not,” (1John 3:6a) and this is the very thing that brings judgment to Lucifer, showing his Araphelian religion to be false.

The Messiah told His empowered disciples, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any

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means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:18-20)

The very Heaven from which Satan fell has become the source of his undoing. The powers of the Divine Kingdom are instilled in the followers of Christ, and their names are inscribed in the Book of Life, (Revelation 3:5) utterly undoing Satan’s plan to the first rung, because he cannot corrupt all of humanity. Unable to justify himself, because our names are written in Heaven, Lucifer will face judgment, and he will have an end.

Until then, it is proven that he will have an end because the followers of Christ have power even now over fallen angels, those once of the number that “are greater in power and might.” (2Peter 2:11)

As we noted before, the power the Messiah gives His disciples is not limited to exorcism by any means. He tells us that, “nothing shall by any means hurt you.” When the Savior healed, it was not merely of spiritual maladies, but physical as well. He gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and life to legs that had been crippled for years. Significantly, He did so by the very means he used against wicked spirits, by the power of His word.

We note this additional incident recorded in Scripture, “And when [the disciples] had sent away the multitude, they took [Yahshua] even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow; and they awake Him, and say unto Him, ‘Master, carest thou not that we perish?’

“And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, ‘Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?’

“And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, ‘What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’” (Mark 4:36-41)

The Creator made flesh addressed the lifeless elements as if they were human. Naturally, the winds have no ears, nor the sea understanding, so it is apparent that the Messiah spoke to the storm for the express purpose of demonstrating His power to those in the ship. In all His dealings with humanity, the Almighty seeks to draw human beings into an understanding of His ways. He says to us, “Come now, and let us reason together.” (Isaiah 1:18a) He pleads with those who turn away from Him, “O my people, what have I done unto thee? And wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me.” (Micah 6:3) All that needed to be accomplished for the salvation of man could have been done without any overt display, yet Christ declared, “In secret have I said nothing.” (John 18:20b)

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Some have misunderstood the way that Yahshua “spoke” to diseases, and lifeless forces. There are many people, even among those who claim to believe that the Bible is the Word of Yahweh, who have difficulty accepting the Gospel record as accurate, particularly regarding the miracles. There are some who seek to explain all the supernatural events surrounding the Savior’s mission by resorting to conjecture and supposition regarding the way things “might” have happened. The demons, they say, were merely mental illnesses, or an expression of “the evil inherent in every human soul,” since the Savior addressed them just as He did ordinary sicknesses or even the storm. This is merely another attempt to limit both the reality of the spiritual realm and the creative power of Elohim. Ultimately, it boils down to an attempt to avoid supernatural judgment, the very aim of the materialist (secularist) and the magician (occultist).

To rightly understand this matter, we must make a careful study of the demonology of Christ and His disciples. What did the Savior teach about the evil spirits, and what did His eyewitnesses understand from His words? What later revelations came through the Spirit of Truth, sent to guide us into a full understanding of spiritual matters? (John 16:13)

As we already read, Yahshua claimed to have seen “Satan as lightning fall from Heaven.” He did not regard the passage in the Book of Job as mere poetic allegory or fiction when it revealed that “[Yahweh] put no trust in His servants; and His angels He charged with folly.” (Job 4:18) He did not teach that it was prophetic hyperbole when it was said to the disgraced Cherub, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” (Isaiah 14:12) To Yahshua, who had seen these things take place, the Hel’el of Isaiah’s vision was the very Satan who seeks to transmute mankind into his everlasting spiritual shelter from the wrath of a just God.

To the Savior, the devil and his followers are not natural phenomena, nor – as some severely misguided theologians have proposed – lords of torment in a fiery, subterranean kingdom of Hell. No, rather they are exiles from Heaven, trapped (to a large degree) on this earth, and doing all in their power to overwhelm mankind so completely that their charges against the justice and character of the Most High will appear justified.

The Master spoke to the wind and the waves, but He never asked them any questions. When dealing with demons, He asked their names. Legion revealed this information, and then he and his subordinates were sent into swine, which subsequently went insane and drowned themselves. (Luke 8:30-33) Realizing that if the demons gave too much information to their human victims, many of His opportunities to heal would be lost, He “suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him.” (Mark 1:34) In doing so, He addressed them as intelligent beings, capable of understanding.

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What of His disciples?

Again, while some have stated the belief that the “demons” of the Gospels were either psychological problems or an outward appearance of some inner sin, the followers of Christ did not so consider them. When a girl under demonic Tutelage, having gained the ability to predict the potential future, began to follow the apostles, we read of how the matter was resolved. “Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command thee in the name of Yahshua the Messiah to come out of her.’ And he came out the same hour.” (Acts 16:18) Like Christ, Paul addressed the spirit directly, and forced it to depart from the girl, showing that it was not a part of the girl herself, but a separate entity capable of being disassociated from her.

Note that certain diseases may also be ordered to “depart” because the microbes and viruses causing them are no more a part of the normal human body than are evil spirits, (Luke 5:13) thus it is like commanding the sea and winds. Blindness and lameness, on the other hand, were never told to “depart,” and they were never “cast out;” instead they were “healed.” (Mark 3:15) They were defects of the individual, parts of their ordinary condition, and this is not a distinction to be overlooked. The incident of Luke 8 in which the demons were sent into the pigs was, of course, a still more dramatic demonstration of the fact that the demons are not part of the possessed human to any degree. They are intruders into the normal functioning of a being.

When James is discussing the difference between intellectual belief and living faith, he uses an example of a mere head-knowledge and says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well. The devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) In other words, mere “belief” does no good if it is not true faith; and true faith, James points out, always has corresponding, visible evidence. (verse 18) The relevant information from that verse is that James considers demons to be rational beings (if we may use the term “rational” loosely) that are capable of understanding, belief and motive. We have, in previous chapters, taken this as a “given,” but we establish it here.

Peter tells us that, “God spared not the angels that sinned.” (2Peter 2:4) and Jude adds that these “angels that sinned” are “the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.” (Jude 1:6) Yahweh keeps them powerless to a degree, “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” (same verse) Clearly, the testimony of Scripture (particularly Christ and His disciples) is that the fallen angels are intelligent beings who exist entirely independent of the human host. Now, possession is the unlawful melding of the human and angelic minds, but the demons themselves existed before the human mind was formed, and do not require residence therein to survive.

Essentially, Yahshua may have spoken to both diseases and forces for the sake of His audience, but diseases don’t talk back. Demons do. He

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recognized who they were, and they recognized who He was. In the next chapter we will read that the fallen angels not only knew who Christ was, but they know His followers by name as well.

The idea that demons do not require human residence to survive deserves further examination. We have alluded to the incident in Luke 8, also found in Mark 5, many times. This is the casting out of Legion, and here we will look at the entire record, for there is more information, very relevant to exorcism, that must be obtained.

“And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When He saw Yahshua, he cried out, and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, ‘What have I to do with thee, Yahshua, thou Son of Elohim most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.’ (For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him, and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

“And Yahshua asked him, saying, ‘What is thy name?’ And he said, ‘Legion,’ because many devils were entered into him. And they besought Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep [Gk: abussos, cf. Hebrew: tehom].

“And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought Him that He would suffer them to enter into them. And He suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine; and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

“When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Yahshua, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Yahshua, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought Him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear, and He went up into the ship, and returned back again.

“Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought Him that he might be with Him, but Yahshua sent him away, saying, ‘Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee.’ And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Yahshua had done unto Him.” (Luke 8:26-39)

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Now, Mark’s version does not add much information to this record, however it does state that when the demoniac first saw Yahshua, he “ran and worshipped Him,” (Mark 5:6) which will become relevant later on.

In addition, where Luke says that the demons did not want Yahshua to send them into abussos, which corresponds with the Hebrew word tehom, [6] Mark writes that, “[Legion] besought Him much that He would not send them away out of the country.” (Mark 5:10) While the word “country” there appears to give a different sense than Luke’s “deep,” the term used in Mark that is generally translated country is the word chora. The term is derived from the root chasma, from which we get “chasm” in English. A chasm, like an abyss, both denote a void, an empty space; between the spirits of the righteous and the spirits of the wicked, we are told, “there is a great gulf [chasma] fixed.” (Luke 16:26) The connotations in English aside, therefore, these two terms are equivalent as they apply to the context of demonic locality.

Aside from these two seemingly divergent elements of the accounts, there is enough information in Luke’s narrative alone for the pertinent issues to be explored.

We have already begun to look at the issue of the tehom as it applies to casting demons out. We are told that the demons did not wish to go into the tehom, and that this occurs when they are separated from the ones they are possessing. What does this mean, and why do the demons wish to avoid this state?

Here is a second place in which the same idea occurs. We will return to this and similar verses for an in-depth examination in chapter seven, but I present it now for reasons that will become obvious upon reading: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.” (Matthew 12:43) The term “dry places” is set in obvious parallel to the term “deep” in Luke and “country/chasm” in Mark.

The casting-out of demons sends them into “dry places,” and breaks the connection with the host, who can then be healed. It is also significant that in Matthew we are told that the state of the demon in its “unanchored” state is one without rest. Indeed, demons would rather be enmeshed with the spirits of animals than left to their own mental devices.

The issue of the demons finding no “rest” gives us the key to understanding an unanchored spirit’s mind. I specify unanchored as opposed to any of the other forms of possession, because it should be apparent that the four degrees outlined earlier are progressive states of control. Anchorage is the basic level from which the others flow naturally, with the possible exception of some forms of Tutelage. If an individual uses an external means of communication with a fallen angel, such as a medium or occult

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devices (e.g., an Ouija board or Tarot cards), it need not be the case that he or she is anchored by the demon, though information may certainly pass between them.

It would be difficult to imagine, on the other hand, that a demon with access to such a mind by virtue of its naked (spiritually unprotected) state would pass up the opportunity to insinuate its presence into that mind. Considering the great number of demons that occasionally share a single host, and the unpleasant state of being without one, we can clearly understand the many and stern warnings that Yahweh gives His people about any form of communication with the willfully possessed and their invisible masters. It is but a short step from association to infection.

Of that unpleasant state of demonic existence we read the following, “If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26, 27)

Some have asked the question, “Can demons be saved?” Since the fallen angels are established in the Bible as intelligent, morally culpable entities, would it not be possible for them to choose restoration over destruction?

This is not an easy question to answer simply, nor are the reasons why always readily apparent. It is not possible to understand at all unless we have a significant understanding of the character of the Almighty as He has revealed Himself to mankind.

The Scriptures tell us of our Father that He is, “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6, 7)

This passage has import for both humans and demons. Two qualities of the Almighty come through in these two verses from Exodus, and their close connection reveals accurately that the two characteristics described are inseparable. The mercy and forgiving nature of Elohim cannot be separated from His justice, and His need to have a universe free from all suffering. Both these elements of His Being spring forth from love. It is obviously true that a loving Entity will forgive confessed errors, but it is also true that a loving Entity will seek to preserve the best possible condition and circumstances for those over whom He has charge. The universe must one day, therefore, be cleansed.

This has the inescapable consequence that those who will not cooperate with others in the universe for the shared unity and peace of the creation

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must eventually be removed from it. Yahweh will not restrict free will, and one who chooses to rebel will not be forced to perform righteous acts. At the same time, the rebellious soul does not have any right to exist, because he attacks the very Source of his existence. Time is given for the wicked to repent, and Yahweh encourages this: “Say unto them, ‘As I live,’ saith Adonai Yahweh, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?’” (Ezekiel 33:11) This is His mercy, that the sinners are not immediately destroyed.

And yet, there are some who will see that evil men are not immediately punished, and make the fatal mistake of concluding, “Yahweh will not do good, neither will He do evil.” (Zephaniah 1:12) Let the reader understand, if the idea of the “ceaseless age(s)” of occultism or secularism is accepted as reality, this is a natural conclusion to draw. It is entirely logical for those outside of Yahweh’s protection and service to believe that there is no judgment, that the Almighty (if He exists at all) is deus otiosus, a “hidden god” who simply set the universe in place and sat back to watch events unfold.

Zephaniah continues, warning those men of whom he is speaking, “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of Yahweh’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy; for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” (verse 18) The issue of “His jealousy” has already been addressed; the Holy One is jealous for His people, for our safety and our spiritual integrity. For the very sake of those who choose to be forever joined to Him, as a wife to her husband, (Jeremiah 3:14) the ones who have chosen the other path are given a fixed time, and then no more, in which to repent.

The judgment of human beings ends just before the physical sentence of Elohim is visited on the world. In the final chapter of the final book of the Bible, the Savior and Judge of humanity tells us through His servant, “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:10-12)

Just before the reward is given to mankind, there will come a point at which Yahshua must – of necessity – leave the Sanctuary in Heaven in which He makes atonement for mankind. (Hebrews 7:25, 9:12) When He leaves this intercession the words of Revelation 22 will be pronounced, that enough time has been provided for the children of men to purify themselves, and to make themselves ready for the consummation of the Spiritual marriage.

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Of this time it is written in parable, “And the foolish [virgins] said unto the wise, ‘Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.’

“And while they went to buy the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage, and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But He answered and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, I know you not.’” (Matthew 25:8-12)

Is this exclusion of the foolish virgins “fair?” Some resolve the issue by simply saying, “Who are we to judge God?” But He invites our scrutiny, and so it is not enough to conclude that, “We cannot know,” while ignoring the very evidences of His equity. The idea of a time after which those who have neglected to prepare are shut out is fair in the final analysis; Yahweh knows that if these individuals despised His infinite mercy when they had the former opportunity, they have so corrupted themselves that they will despise it again if given another opportunity. We are told that He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” (2Peter 3:9) therefore if we believe this, we must acknowledge that anyone who can possibly be saved, will.

Now this is not to say that Yahweh will ever turn back one who has sincerely repented. The problem is that repentance itself is a gift from Heaven. Sin is not merely an action; it is a condition, for the Scriptures speak of being “in sin.” (Psalm 51:5, Numbers 27:3, Romans 6:1) The condition of being in sin is that it affects the mind, lays the spirit bare for demonic influence, and ultimately separates individuals from the very knowledge of Yahweh, who alone can save them. Paul speaks of such, saying, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate [failed] mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Romans 1:28)

A reprobate mind cannot recognize its own spiritual need. Such is the mind of the Laodiceans of Revelation, who say, “‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,’ and knowest not that [they] art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17) Salvation is a gift; it operates by grace, which is undeserved. While “the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” (Titus 2:11) not “all men” will accept it and let it bring forth fruit in their lives. It takes grace, in a sense, to accept grace; the exercise of faith is not possible outside the spiritual “environment” of unmerited favor. This is the “marvelous light” in which Yahweh dwells, and into which He invites us, (1Peter 2:9) that is the antidote to the abuse of the veil of Araphel.

If one has despised the voice of grace, by what means can Yahweh reach his heart? Sending a fiery manifestation or a mighty angelic messenger will not

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bring forth true repentance, only fear. We have the example of the Israelites trembling before the Almighty promising, “All the words which Yahweh hath said will we do.” (Exodus 19:16, 24:3b) A few chapters later (32) they were dancing around a golden calf. Fear may be enough to generate an initial interest in righteousness, (Jude 1:23) but it is not enough to sustain lasting loyalty. The foundation of Yahweh’s government is love, and those who do not let this love cast out their fear will not long remain on the holy mountain.

When men come face to face with the Divine, they do indeed acknowledge their wrongs. We are told that in the Day of Yahshua’s appearing, “every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (Isaiah 45:23, see also Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10) Yet these admissions of the Almighty’s power are coerced by the sheer enormity of the theophany. They are not spoken out of a love for righteousness, or a desire for salvation – rather, they are spoken out of a fear of judgment, and a desire for safety. So it is with human beings, and so it was with demons; salvation is a free gift, but one who tramples upon the opportunities afforded him will find that he has become a “profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:16, 17)

Esau “found no place” of repentance – he was in a “dry place,” spiritually speaking, the “deep” of chaos.

No sacrifice was ever offered for the restoration of demons. This is not because the Almighty was unwilling to provide all that was required for their redemption. The earlier verses in Hebrews speak of no sacrifice being sufficient for those who already have “knowledge” of the truth. If we know a certain amount about the character of the Most High yet choose to sin despite this, that is the very dynamic that leads some to despise the Sacrifice offered.

This is the “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost,” (Matthew 12:31) of which the prophet says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20) In the case of the “angels who sinned,” all of them once had a far greater knowledge of the Most High than any man who has ever transgressed. What sacrifice would be sufficient?

If some men, who have never seen the Almighty face to face, will be lost because they have come to the point of no return, how much more will the demons be lost, who beheld the glory of Elohim shining forth from His spiritual Tabernacle? (Revelation 15:5) They turned their back on Him, on all His majesty, for the deceptions of Satan. This is a great mystery, the intrusion of sin, yet it is one with which every human being is intimately familiar to greater or lesser degree.

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The demons had their appointed time for repentance. By the time war broke out in Heaven and the demons were cast down to the earth, (Revelation 12:7, Luke 10:18) Satan had already been given the opportunity to become “the accuser of our brethren” in Heaven. (Revelation 12:10) Their “casting down,” (cf. the Greek verb tartaroo, translated in 2Peter 2:4 as “cast down to hell”) was the sign of the end of their time for returning to the faith. After this, their minds were too darkened, too bent on the destruction of themselves and others. Yahweh knew that any overtures made toward them for reconciliation would be futile. Like human beings who have blasphemed the Holy Spirit, the very Agency of their salvation, the demons have “a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:27) This is a dry place indeed.

But now, what effect would this sure knowledge have upon an intelligent being? What would thousands of years of knowing that only doom lay ahead do to the thought processes of so mighty a creature? This is a most fearsome destiny. The only viable option is insanity. Some have questioned why Satan continues his assault on the Throne of Heaven, if he knows that Elohim is all-powerful. The answer is as simple as it is dismal – he has no other choice. He has no recourse but to attempt to convince himself and his followers that they stand a chance in the end, although deep down “he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Revelation 12:12)

As long as the demons are actively furthering their plan, are actively controlling a body of flesh, are actively plotting the downfall of mankind, they can ignore their sure destiny to a certain degree. As long as they are exercising their ability to manipulate the physical universe, they can revel in wickedness and chaos without dwelling for too long on the fiery reward of their labors. This may seem small comfort to so brilliant a set of minds, but insanity and corruption breed interesting results when mated. Even steering a herd of unclean animals back and forth is something, anything that can occupy these restless spirits. Without a host, without being able to experience the world through the activities of one who is not yet wholly condemned, the demons have nothing to do but wander, until they find another open doorway through which to enter. This is one of the primary reasons possessions occur in the first place.

One of the most irritating things about Christians, from Lucifer’s point of view, is that they know these things. He knows there will come a day when “we shall judge angels,” (1Corinthians 6:3) and when we will ask ourselves with astonishment, “Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?” (Isaiah 14:16b, 17)

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The reason why overt possessions have been rare in recent history is partly because Lucifer is biding his time until the end. It is also partly because he seeks to first undermine the knowledge described above. He seeks to weaken the Churches’ grasp of the facts of demonic reality, so that the population of earth will be unwarned, and unprepared, when he brings forth his final deceptions. We are told, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2Corinthians 11:14) “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

Who will warn of this approaching danger if the demons destroy the foundation of this knowledge in the Church? Too many cases of overt possession (i.e., Dominance) will only focus the human mind on the demons’ presence, and they will seek to understand them. The Serpent is far too wise to allow this. Instead, he works through doctrines, through his Influence on those who may even be sincere.

Paul informs the people of Yahweh, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1Tim 4:1)

Again, Paul cautions the leaders of the Church, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28-30)

It does not matter to the demons if their followers believe they are doing good works; it only matters that they destroy truth. Those within an established religious tradition, claiming to have studied the spiritual world carefully, or to have received special knowledge, are often the most dangerous. If their words are not based strictly on the Scriptures, and examined carefully for error, they themselves will become a great source of evil. As it is said, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions,” and every step taken on that road wears the furrows deeper for the next pair of wandering feet.

Because his time has grown short, however, Satan will soon “pull out all the stops.” Soon subtle Influence will not be enough to move his plans forward. We concluded the last chapter by bringing this issue to light, and I conclude this current chapter by saying that we now have enough knowledge, background and insight to begin to equip ourselves for the final struggle in the name of Yahshua our Lord.

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References:

1 – The Occult, A History, Colin Wilson, Random House Inc., 1971, pp. 248, 249, emphases added

2 – The Screwtape Letters, 1960 Edition, Preface, C.S. Lewis, Macmillan Publishing Company, N.Y., p. 3

3 – “The Lifetime of The Sun,” University of Washington, Astrology Department, http://www.astro.washington.edu/ as appears on the page: http://www.astro.washington.edu/labs/clearinghouse/homeworks/lifetime.html

4 – “Tell Me About The Lifetime of The Sun,” Stanford Solar Center, http://solar-center.stanford.edu/FAQ/Qlifetime.html - emphasis added

5 – Strong’s Concordance: entry on arrhabon, word 728

6 – Genesis 1:2, Septuagint Translation, Samuel Bagster & Sons, Ltd., London, 1851, p.1

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