Demons in Christianity

[Desert Snake]

I do not believe in either Satan as the devil, or demons. Yes, I am a Christian, with Southern Baptist roots.

For starters, Satan is a Hebrew term, and it means Adversary or Acuser, depending on its context. Everywhere in the OT that the Hebrew uses Satan, it is actually ha-satan. Ha in Hebrew = the. So it is essentially saying "The Satan" or more accurately "The Accuser." The term is a title, not a name.

Demons in the NT are usually some type of disease or affliction that Jesus cured. Epilepsy, blindness, deafness, etc. Nothing supernatural about diseases and afflictions. Curing them was still a miracle, minus the demonology. Ancient man did not have an understanding of medical science like we do today.

My belief in God includes Him being omnipotent and the creator. If Satan or demons truly existed and were His arch enemy, God could simply snap His divine fingers and uncreate them. Satan is subject to God's will and divine authority. He can't do anything without permission. Christianity tends to make Satan out as a god or demigod, but since there is only one God...

'devil' doesn't mean illness. Jesus was casting out demons left and right when He walked among us.

 

[Shuttlecraft]

(re demons)..They've been around ever since my father was kid. Not sure why they (there's definitely more than one) like to hang around where we are..

They can't touch you if you're a true Christian..

"He shall give his angels charge over you to keep you safe" (Psalm 91:11)

 

[Nada]

They've been around ever since my father was kid. Not sure why they (there's definitely more than one) like to hang around where we are.

CDWolfe, I don't think you read Rev. 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

If Satan or The Adversary was merely afflictions, then how does a medical ailment create deception? How then are medical afflictions fight Michael? Michael an his angels are spirit beings; they're not subject to ailments as physical people are.

Read Ezekiel 28:12-19. Particularly notice that the King of Tyre is described as a covering cherub--a cherub is an angel. Any dictionary search provides this meaning.

I think you also ignored when I said "stars" are metaphoric for angels. But I don't like to debate or involve in any sort of contention. If you don't agree with me, that's fine.

Many people think that the reference about the King of Tyre refers to satan the devil.This is incorrect.The cherub reference is a figure of speech and not to be taken literally.

Ezekiel 28:12-14 is figurative speech.It does not mean the literal Garden of Eden.It does the same in Joel 2:3. Those who do God's will and enjoy his good pleasure are likened to a well-watered garden. (Isa 58:8-11) The Cherub reference in Ezekiel 28:14 is like the Cherub reference in Genesis 3:24. 24*So he drove the man out, and he posted at the east of the garden of E´den the cherubs and the flaming blade of a sword that was turning continuously to guard the way to the tree of life.

So we can see that this is speaking figuratively in Ezekiel 28:14.

In Ezekiel 28:2-19 it explains that the King of Tyre is only a man,not a god.2 “Son of man, tell the leader of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says:
“Because your heart has become haughty, you keep saying, ‘I am a god.
I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the sea.’
But you are only a man, not a god,
Though in your heart you feel that you are a god.

So we can see he is not an angel or the devil.It is merely an haughty man.

 

[CDWolfe]

'devil' doesn't mean illness. Jesus was casting out demons left and right when He walked among us.

I agree that devil does not mean illness. What does that have to do with my previous posts?

The demons you refer to are nothing more than diseases or afflictions that ancient man did not understand. An example would be this verse:

Matthew 17:15
KJV - Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick [lunatic], and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

ESV - Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.

NIV - Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

In 1611, they did not know what epilepsy and seizures were. They certainly did not know in the time of Jesus. However, we do know in this day and age thanks to modern medical science.

Continuing with that same chapter, look at verse 18:

KJV - And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

ESV - And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.

NIV - Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

The KJV uses the term devil (contrary to your statement) and places the blame directly on Satan, but modern translations change it to demon, which is more accurate of the Greek term. However, they all equate the disease/affliction to being possessed. The last time I checked, epilepsy was not a supernatural event. It is more rational to simply understand that they did not understand.

 

[Nada]

I agree that devil does not mean illness. What does that have to do with my previous posts?

The demons you refer to are nothing more than diseases or afflictions that ancient man did not understand. An example would be this verse:

Matthew 17:15
KJV - Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick [lunatic], and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

ESV - Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.

NIV - Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

In 1611, they did not know what epilepsy and seizures were. They certainly did not know in the time of Jesus. However, we do know in this day and age thanks to modern medical science.

Continuing with that same chapter, look at verse 18:

KJV - And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

ESV - And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.

NIV - Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

The KJV uses the term devil (contrary to your statement) and places the blame directly on Satan, but modern translations change it to demon, which is more accurate of the Greek term. However, they all equate the disease/affliction to being possessed. The last time I checked, epilepsy was not a supernatural event. It is more rational to simply understand that they did not understand.

No,Demons are real.They are angels who turned against God and followed satan.

 

[Nada]

I agree that devil does not mean illness. What does that have to do with my previous posts?

The demons you refer to are nothing more than diseases or afflictions that ancient man did not understand. An example would be this verse:

Matthew 17:15
KJV - Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick [lunatic], and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

ESV - Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.

NIV - Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

In 1611, they did not know what epilepsy and seizures were. They certainly did not know in the time of Jesus. However, we do know in this day and age thanks to modern medical science.

Continuing with that same chapter, look at verse 18:

KJV - And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

ESV - And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.

NIV - Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

The KJV uses the term devil (contrary to your statement) and places the blame directly on Satan, but modern translations change it to demon, which is more accurate of the Greek term. However, they all equate the disease/affliction to being possessed. The last time I checked, epilepsy was not a supernatural event. It is more rational to simply understand that they did not understand.

How are you going to make a sacrifice to an illness? 1 Corinthians 10:20, 21
20 No; but I say that what the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers with the demons. 21 You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah* and the cup of demons; you cannot be partaking of “the table of Jehovah” and the table of demons.

James 2:19 You believe that there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder.

 

[Nada]

I agree that devil does not mean illness. What does that have to do with my previous posts?

The demons you refer to are nothing more than diseases or afflictions that ancient man did not understand. An example would be this verse:

Matthew 17:15
KJV - Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick [lunatic], and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

ESV - Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.

NIV - Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.

In 1611, they did not know what epilepsy and seizures were. They certainly did not know in the time of Jesus. However, we do know in this day and age thanks to modern medical science.

Continuing with that same chapter, look at verse 18:

KJV - And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

ESV - And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.

NIV - Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

The KJV uses the term devil (contrary to your statement) and places the blame directly on Satan, but modern translations change it to demon, which is more accurate of the Greek term. However, they all equate the disease/affliction to being possessed. The last time I checked, epilepsy was not a supernatural event. It is more rational to simply understand that they did not understand.

Do not be mislead brother......

 

[CDWolfe]

Do not be mislead brother......

I'm not. I just don't get bogged down in all the supernatural mysticism that surrounds Christianity.

My belief in God includes Him being omnipotent. If there truly was a Satan as the devil, or demons, He could simply uncreate them, if He so desired.

Stopping here, because this forum is not for debates.

 

[Shuttlecraft]

..My belief in God includes Him being omnipotent. If there truly was a Satan as the devil, or demons, He could simply uncreate them, if He so desired..

The earth is a TESTING GROUND and God is deliberately letting Satan have free rein to test us-
"All creation groans in pain from the beginning til now" (Romans 8:22)
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life.." (James 1:12)
Waddya say Bob?

"Take the pain! TAKE THE PAIN!"