Whence Cometh Satan? (Part 3 of 3)

Here is something else to consider: What do you do if one is found to be possessed with one of these evil spirits? And how do you know if one is possessed by an evil spirit?

Of course, Hollywood has given us the stereotypical view of how one behaves when possessed by a devil, or demon, as they often call it. Shown are all sorts of histrionics, aberrant and abhorrent behavior from the one possessed. You might hear guttural, evil-sounding voices emanating from the possessed one’s mouth, even a male’s voice coming from a female.

While all these effects may or may not be observed, I think they represent at best a very small portion of those actually possessed. It must also be remembered that Satan and his ministers can be very deceptive.

“And no marvel [i.e, marvel not]; for 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.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Whence Cometh Satan? (Part 2 of 3)

So, what exactly was this war in heaven fought over? Of course, we have no way of really knowing, save the heavens become open to us. Nevertheless, perhaps we can paint a picture of what might possibly have occurred, relying heavily upon conjecture. But that’s what we’re all about here: expressing opinions.

Let us look back and try to imagine the scene that took place.

We know this war took place in heaven, a place where one wouldn’t ordinarily think of as having conflict of any kind, let alone a war. I believe this war took place before Adam and Eve were placed on earth in their physical forms. I also believe this war occurred before “the morning stars [i.e., daughters of God] sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).

Of course, there’s no way to know for sure, except there does seem to be a logical pattern of progression here. First, a war fought in heaven. Second, the conclusion of the war. Third, God’s announcement of the physical creation of the earth and the laying of its cornerstone.

Whence Cometh Satan? (Part 1 of 3)

A lot of sermons have been preached about Satan. However, I wonder how many people, preachers included, actually know who Satan is and where he came from. Do we know why he is so determined to fight against God and all those who seek to do good in Christ’s name? Do we know why he is so hateful and downright evil?

To answer these questions, we have to go back before the physical creation of the earth, for that is where we first meet the one we call Satan, otherwise known as Lucifer, or the Devil.

There’s a curious verse in the epistle of Jude (KJV) that refers to the “first estate.” Nothing further is mentioned, nor is there any other reference to it in the entire Bible. Even so, I think we can make some assumptions regarding this verse.

“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 6).

What of So-Called Past Lives? (Part 2 of 2)

The question may then be asked: Why were the sons and daughters of God so excited about the laying of the earth’s foundations and cornerstone​, whatever the latter may have consisted?

Could it not be anticipation for something they had been looking forward to for a very long time? Could it be they understood God was creating a new home for them in a new setting? New opportunities for growth and development?

With a new setting came different types of bodies to deal with, consisting of grosser material, but fashioned after the manner of their spirit bodies, which were created in the image and likeness of God. Trials and suffering would be part of their learning experiences, although they had no way of knowing or understanding the lengths, widths and depths of that sorrow and suffering. These would be the refiner’s fire spoken of in “Who Are We? (Part 2)”.

What of So-Called Past Lives? (Part 1 of 2)

There’s a lot of talk in the alternative press and publishing industry these days about past lives some claim they have experienced. Oddly, most of these supposed past lives seems to have taken place in ancient Egypt or the supposed Atlantis, two centerpieces of a lot of modern cultism. Coincidence? Perhaps, but I don’t believe in coincidences.

What typically happens is someone goes to a hypnotist. Under hypnosis, the subject is regressed to his birth and then just continues backward . . . all the way to ancient Egypt or Atlantis! The subject is then able to relate, often quite accurately, events of some person who lived during that time period—usually someone who can be checked on.

Not only have most of these hypnotized people lived in ancient Egypt or Atlantis, a large preponderance of them seem to have inhabited the bodies of various royal households. Another coincidence?

Did Adam And Eve Need to Fall?

Many Christians believe that if Adam and Eve had not partaken of the forbidden fruit, we would be living joyful lives in the Garden of Eden with them, even to this day. If not in the garden itself, then certainly somewhere else on the paradisaical earth that was their pre-fall home.

Think about it. There would be no death, no sickness, nothing but happiness and joy! Doesn’t that sound wonderful indeed?

But is it realistic?

No sickness would be nice, but no death?

It’s been estimated some 20-30 billion people have lived on earth since the beginning of human habitation on this planet. I personally think it’s closer to the 30 billion mark. Add to that our current 6+ billion people and you have quite a handful.

Overpopulation, anyone?

Who Are We? (Part 3 of 3)

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:11-12).

These are they who have received God. However, it isn’t enough to merely receive God; God must, in turn, receive them (review Hebrews 12:5-7). And when God receives one such, he chastens them. He tries them in the furnace of affliction that they might be refined as silver and gold.

“Wherefore come out from among them [i.e., unbelievers, infidels and idol worshipers], and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing [temples with idols] ; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

Again, we see God taking the role of father (Father) to us, calling us his sons and daughters . . . if we separate ourselves from the unbelievers, etc.

Who Are We? (Part 2 of 3)

If we are truly sons and daughters of God as the scriptures tell us (see Who Are We? (Part 1 of 3), then what about all the scriptures that tell us we may become sons and daughters of God? This certainly presents a spiritual conundrum. But there is an answer.

Adam and Eve were created in a paradisaical state. Yet, God introduced the idea of death to them, even though they likely had no conception of what that meant. How could they? Nothing had ever died before! Still, God warned them not to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil or they would die.

We do not know what the tree of knowledge of good and evil was, nor what sort of fruit it bore. What we do know is that by eating it, Adam and Eve would die. The only thing we can assume is whenever they partook of this forbidden fruit, some sort of change came over their bodies that made dying possible. We don’t know what that change was; we may never know. But something happened, and as a result of their disobedience, they became subject to death and were ushered out of their paradisaical glory.

Whatever changes took place in Adam and Eve’s bodies must also have taken place in the bodies of all the animals, for they became wild and ferocious, or at least wild. So, we know the change wasn’t necessarily in the fruit itself because the animals didn’t eat the fruit, but yet they, too, were subject to death.

Who Are We? (Part 1 of 3)

“Who are we?” is certainly one of the most important and widely discussed religious and philosophical questions known to mankind. Yet, when all the arguments have been laid on the table, there is still no consensus among the various parties.

The wise philosophers (in their own eyes) depend on their innate reasoning powers to reach their conclusions. Yet, those conclusions vary widely. There are as many opinions as there are philosophers.

The great religions of the world—Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, etc.—do not fair any better. They cannot even agree on a single God, let alone the answer to this important question. Sadly, Christianity, with its multitude of factions, is not united on the issue, either.

Nevertheless, being of the Christian faith, I must ask: Who does the Bible say we are?

Is There One Creation Story or Two? (Part 3 of 3)

Day 6 opens with the creation of “the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so” (Genesis 1:24). You’ll again note that each living thing was to reproduce after its kind, not evolve from one living thing into something else. Christian Darwinians take note.

Then came the creation of the male and female, formed in the image and likeness of God himself. Many feel this was the creation of Adam and Eve. But was it?

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:26-27).

Interestingly, the Hebrew word for man is ’adam (small a), while the word for Adam is ’Adam (large A—both minus the diacritical marks). ’adam (small a) means “ruddy, i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)” (James Strong, Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press, 1973.)

Is There One Creation Story or Two? (Part 2 of 3)

Day 2 begins:

“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.” (Genesis 1:6-8).

At this point I’m assuming the earth had coalesced into a globe of its present size and shape. As Day 2 begins, the earth was surrounded by a cocoon of water of some sort. This is not unlike a babe being surrounded by a placenta of waters. Of course, the waters surrounding the earth may have been far more extensive than a cocoon. We have no way of knowing, but I like the symbology of the earth being wrapped in a womb of water. As to there being water in outer space, you might want to check out the article,
“Water in Space More Abundant than Expected”.

But what is a firmament? The Hebrew word suggests “an expanse” or “visible arch of the sky.” The Hebrew word for heaven suggests “the sky,” “perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move.” It also refers to “the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve”—basically, the sun and everything you can see in the night sky. Based on the Hebrew, it would appear the firmament is none other than the earth’s atmosphere. (See the NASA photo below.)


Earth’s atomosphere (a NASA photo)

Is There One Creation Story or Two? (Part 1 of 3)

It has long been an established “fact” that Genesis 1 is the chronology of the physical creation of the earth. But is it really?

At first glance, it would certainly seem so. Everything appears to follow a certain logical order leading up to the creation of the male and female in verses 26-28. Yet, there are other indications that there may be more than meets the casual eye on this subject.

Whatever the case may be, there is so little information in the creation story as to leave one with many more questions than answers. And perhaps it was intended to be so. Either that, or we have lost a great deal of information over the ages through multitudes of translations and apparent omissions.

Remember also: This was Moses’ version of what he saw. I’m sure he was quite speechless after seeing all this. Think of the time Moses lived in. I would have to wonder if he even had the vocabulary to verbalize what he saw. Hence, we have this really short version in our Bibles.

Personally, I don’t believe God ever intended Genesis 1 to be a full account of the creation of heaven and earth. If he did, then why don’t we have it?

Is There a Mother in Heaven? Part 3 of 10—We Must Know God

Whether there is or is not a Mother in heaven is determined in large part on what kind of a God our Father in heaven is. Would you agree to that?

If God is as the Catholic and other churches describe him, then we can pretty much rule out there being a Mother in heaven. If, on the other hand, our heavenly Father is a personal God, the door is at least open to the idea. Let’s see why this is so.

Here’s what Jesus said:

Is There a Mother in Heaven? Part 2 of 10—What Kind of God?

What if there were a Mother in heaven? How would that impact what we know about God, who is also known as our Father in heaven?

I guess it all depends on what we think we know about God. As it is, different Christian sects teach so many different things about God, they seem, at times, to be worshiping different Gods. Yet, they all operate under the banner of Christianity.

While this isn’t the time for a long exposition on what the Bible actually teaches about God, we have to start somewhere. And that somewhere is the Catholic Church.

Is There a Mother in Heaven? Part 1 of 10—Two Questions

This is the sort of subject matter you’re more likely to hear in New Age circles than you are in Christian circles. Yet, I’m sure there are many sincere Christians who have wondered whether or not we have a Mother in heaven. It’s only natural.

Unfortunately, the Bible is silent in the matter, and I’m guessing our pulpits are as well.

Or are they?

On Being a Biblical Apologist

For those not familiar with the concept of an apologist, I will say a few words. The word apologist is derived from the Greek apologia, meaning, “a speaking in defense” (Webster’s NewWorld Dictionary, Second Concise Edition, 1982). Specifically, it refers to “a person who writes or speaks in defense or justification of a doctrine, faith, action, etc.” (ibid.).

However, the concept most of us are familiar with is found in the second definition of the word apology: “an acknowledgment of some fault, wrong, etc., with an expression of regret” (ibid.). This is not what this blog is all about. (By the way, the first definition of the word apology is essentially the same as that of apologist, so it definitely has the longer history.)