The Word of God and the strength of the Holy Spirit are there to guide us into all truth. John 16:13. God wants to give us insight in the invisible supernatural world. This way we are able to act well and to deal with this world in a responsible way just as God directs us.

God is the Creator of all things.

Hebrews 11:3
He has created the large universe even in the smallest details. In the original languages of the Scripture the words ‘ex nihilo’ are used. That means by His Word out of nothing. The visible has not developed from the perceptible. God needed no archetype to be able to create. His eternal strength and wisdom were more than enough to bring forth creation by His Word.

In Colossians 1:15-17 is written: Also the invisible things are created by God.

Angels are invisible creatures that are created by God. What time the angels were created we do not know. But we do know that this was before God’s visible creation. Another name for angels in the Bible is morning stars.

In Job 38:7 we read that the morning stars shouted for joy when the earth was created. A morning star shines in the morning, which means that he appears after the darkness. Angels are light bearers and they bring the good. Angels are spirits and therefore they are immortal. Their task is to minister.

Hebrews 1:14 says about this: "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Those who will inherit salvation are the people who are saved through Jesus. That means that they have received forgiveness for their sins through the death on the cross of Jesus Christ. The number of angels remains the same for ever. Angels cannot reproduce themselves and they do not die.

Matthew 22:30: "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."

There are very large quantities of angels.

§ Psalm 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands.

§ Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels.

§ Revelation 5:11 And I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders.

§ Psalm 103:20 Angels excel in strength.

§ Luke 15:10 Angels also have joy.

§ 2 Samuel 14:20 they have great wisdom

§ 1 Corinthians 13:1 they have a language of their own to communicate with each other.

§ 2 Peter 2:11 they do not bring reviling accusation against someone before God.

§ Luke 16:22 when a Christian dies, they carry him or her to Jesus.

There are several types of angels.

The word angel means: messenger or servant. There are:

§         Archangels (Michaël, Gabriël)

§         Angels that bring messages

§         Fighting or war angels,

§         Praise angels (Seraphs)

§         Protection or guardian angels (Cherubs)

What is the origin of evil and why is there so much suffering in this world?

This is a life question that men have asked through all times. It seems to be pretentious to answer this question; however the Word of God is very clear about this:

There are disobedient angels. They were also created in the beginning and they were with God and they saw God. How is it possible anyway that evil was found in them?

§ Proverbs 18:21 says: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

§ Isaiah says about this in Isaiah 14:13 "For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will also sit upon the mount of the congregation”

Here we see the considerations of the “I"-spirit; the idea of pride. Not being satisfied with what God has given.

Ezekiel 28:11-19 is also very explicit about the behaviour of an angel named Lucifer, which means 'light bearer'.
The king of Tyrus was a picture of the king of the angels in that certain area. Tyrus was an old trade city lying on a peninsula; a city which dominated the sea. It possessed therefore a position of power. The king of Tyrus was literally a powerful person, a tyrant which was totally influenced by a spiritual king namely satan. Ezekiel was told by God to strike up a lamentation, but at the same time this was a judgment song. We then see that there is being spoken of this fallen angel.

The Authorized Version of the Bible mentions in: verse 12 “You sealer of the sum, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty!” He was the keeper of a sum; he had to look after a treasure of God. He was therefore the treasurer of God. To seal means: to lock, to keep. The sum was the plan of God, His vision for the future. Therefore he was known with the mysteries of God and he started to deal with that and by doing this profaned his sanctuaries.

It is also mentioned in the Authorized Version verse 13 “the work of your drums and your pipes were with you; at the day that you were created, they had been prepared.” In this text we see that this angel formed a unity with praise and praise music. It was part of him. All required music instruments for that were ready at the time of his creation. God had a special plan with this angel. What we know anyhow, is that he was an angel with a special position and that he was very close to God.

Isaiah 14:12–17 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation. On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. “Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?”

According to Revelation 12:4 satan drew in his fall a third of the stars of heaven by his tail. These angels probably listened to the lies of Lucifer.

In John 8:44 Jesus says that Lucifer is the father of the lies. That means: the creator, the begetter of the lie. They have made a choice and became this way unfaithful to their origin, to what God as their Creator had as a purpose for them.

Jude verse 6 the King James Version speaks about angels which kept not their first estate. Or you can say: angels that were not satisfied with their degree or the angels who did not keep their positions of authority (New English Version). Or also the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode (NKJV)

2 Peter 2:4 mentions the fact that “God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgment.” Because He makes peace in His high places, Job 25:2 God wants to keep His heaven pure.

The original text mentions tartarosas meaning prison of spirits. This is the place where fallen angels undergo their punishment. There the angels are bounded with so called seirais; these are the ties of the place of the darkness which you can also translate with caves or holes. It is a provisional punishment to the judgment. So we see that a part of the fallen angels has been bound. Furthermore, we read in the book Revelation how the judgment concerning this godless world is executed. We also see how the Lamb, the Holy Spirit, the angels of God and the Community of Jesus Christ (the church) gain the victory.

The devil knows that he has a short time. Revelation 12:12 and 1 Peter 5:8

He is also:
1. A murderer - John 8:44
2. A liar - John 8:44
3. A thief - John 10:10
4. A tempter - Luke - 8:12, Ephesians 6:11
5. A destroyer or usurper - Acts 10:38
6. A holder of captives - 2 Timothy 2:26

What a warning God has given us, by letting us have a look in the depth of time and in the invisible world. God does not abandon us. He shows us clearly and avowedly what is the issue. Satan and his fallen angels, who are called demons, know that their time is short. They will do everything to seduce people and draw them away from God. By misleading signs, he wants to present himself as an angel of light.

Also in the book of the prophet Isaiah we read the same about this satan. Isaiah 14:10-12

Isaiah 8:19 (spirits who whisper and mutter)

Spirits are given by people themselves a ‘form’: Isaiah 44:14 -20, the impotence of the idols. (A piece of wood, one half serves him to firewood, the other half becomes an idol.) Here Isaiah warns against practicing idolatry.

Isaiah 47:12-15 trusting in stars.

1 Kings 18:20-40 Elia challenges the Baal priests (= idolatry priests)

Deuteronomy 18: 9-14 No sorceries.

Ephesians 6:10-12 wrestle against principalities and powers in the heavenly places. Also Jesus Christ warns us not to concern ourselves with spirits and the supernatural world. And if you want to deal with it anyhow then do it in a correct way, Jesus says John 14:6 "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me".

Occultism

Where does this phenomenon come from?
A lot of people do not want to concern themselves with these things, because they reason: "nothing exists, that we cannot measure". Those are the people who only believe in the matter or the visible reality. We call these people materialists.

However we see people who are interested in and are busy with the supernatural in all kinds of cultures. Not only now, but also in former times, like in Babylon, Egypt etc. People are moral beings, this means: a human being can reflect over that what lies outside his own borders. And he can reflect over good and evil.

Why do people like to step outside their own borders?

§         They like to give sense and contents to their life.
§         They like to rule life.
§         They like to be able to explain things.

In itself that is not wrong. The bible says that God has put eternity in our hearts, Ecclesiastes 3.11.

The question is, however, how do we deal with that? God has not left people in insecurity. He has given us clear directions, by which the spiritual choices we have to make, become much easier.

We distinguish three large trends:
a.     The belief in personal spirits. Spirits of the ancestors.
b.     The belief in impersonal spirits. Demons.
c.      The belief in powers of nature or so called cosmic energy.

The last of these three flourishes enormously in our Western world. We are supposed to be a component of the cosmos and powers of nature would have an influence on our life. Then we are a small part in the large whole.

Within the world religions and nature-religions we also distinguish the belief in:

Personal or impersonal spirits:

Animism: Nature-religion is the belief in: personal spirits of e.g. the ancestors; a shaman can manipulate these spirits, make them feel comfortable. We see this for example in the voodoo-cult, Winti-cult, and with the Indians.

Totemic: Nature religion is the belief in: impersonal spirits that are in something. For example in a cat or bird that comes each day on the same place; or ebb and flow of the sea. People consider these as a sign of the supernatural world.

Polytheism: The belief in more than one god; like in the Hinduism. Personal and impersonal spirits. There are a lot of gods, both good and evil. By keeping the good gods satisfied, through sacrifices, these will overcome the evil ones.

Mythology: These are tales to explain certain nature phenomena. Generally gods who exert influence on the world. The word occult strictly means 'hidden'. The occultism is not the purpose itself, but it is a way to satanism.

There are three distinctions of occultism:
1.     Necromantic: Spiritualism. Calling up the dead that appear in the form of demons.
2.     Fortunetelling: Committing all kinds of forms of fortunetelling by means of demons or the spirits of the ancestors.
3.     Magic: Doing all kinds of powers and magic tricks by means of demons or spirits of the ancestors, such as curses but also so called healings.

Thus we see that all forms of worship, or asking supernatural assistance and doing miracles independent of Jesus Christ, are occult.

Paranormal

This word means literally: outside the normal or against (para) the normal. All seeking in the supernatural independent of Jesus Christ is paranormal. The way to the occult is often the way to the paranormal things. Generally it starts with superstition, so called having innocent belief in meanings of special situations and events of life. All people who have been busy with one or another form of occultism are bound or possessed by one or more demons.

Demons

Demons are personalities. They are creatures without a body, who seek a body to reveal themselves. The personality and the character of the demon are often seen in a person that is bound or possessed:
Mark 9:25 “When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"

Mark 3:11 A spirit of weakness
Also we read about spirits of lie, sickness, hatred, piety and violence. Demons can not know the human thoughts and neither do they know the future. All they say is based on lies and fantasy.

Although it may seem quit realistic, it is man who starts to believe in the whispered lie. He is going to interpret or live according to it. In this way the demons can influence your life through your spirit or your thoughts. If the unclean demon in the synagogue of Capernaum had known that he would have been thrown out immediately, he had never said: "I know who You are--the Holy One of God!". (Luke 4:34)

1 Cor. 2:7-8 " But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory”

It is depending on how far a person allows demons to interfere in his or her life, how great their influence will become. The result will be: possession, binding or “only” influence. Let us look at the differences between the several influences of evil.

Influence

Satan starts by whispering in our thoughts. When this is accepted, he has found an entrance. Without doubt we can say, that everyone now and then listens to the whispering of satan. Also through the abuse of drugs the gate is opened wide. People themselves are able by their inner conscience, by their will and the universal laws of God to say 'no' against the whispers in their mind; even if they are not aware of where these thoughts come from. God spoke to Cain: “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” Genesis 4:7.

There are different forms to be busy with the supernatural:

Just realise that we can only describe a very small part of all forms that exist. There are complete libraries written about all forms of occultism.

Magic:
Ritual acts aiming at a concrete goal assisted by supernatural powers of impersonal nature. White and black magic are in fact the same. White magic is supposed to aim at good acts, black aims at evil.

Witchcraft:
The use of black or white magic explaining certain catastrophes, as well as in personal life as in the community. Impersonal. People often work with powers of nature or cosmic energies.

Talisman:
The object is supposed to be able to influence the powers in a good way and it should protect the wearer of it. Impersonal or personal of origin.

Fortunetelling:
Telling what will happen in the future by means of all kinds of objects. Things that are used for this are: coffee-grounds, reflection-mantic, a glassy ball, photos or tarot cards, chirography etc, etc….

Astrology:
The position of the stars is determinative. The position of the stars when you were born, is stipulating the walk of your life.

Sorcery: Use of a higher form of magic to be able to influence events.

Satanism: Worshipping of satan, to get this way a certain power or strength. This will always be accompanied with chaos. The flowing of blood is something that happens always in this type of satanic rituals. We see this also in performances of black heavy metal groups.

Twisting glasses and the ouijabord-play: This is also a form of spiritualism. One is busy to question impersonal and personal spirits concerning the future or the spiritual world.

Telepathies: Transmitting ideas or reading thoughts. Personal.

Forces of nature or cosmic energies.

Magnetism: Is a form of sorcery supposed to be able to influence a certain sickness or event. One works with magnetic fields and cosmic energy to abolish disturbance.

Iridology: By looking at the iris of the eye one will be able to trace certain illnesses in the body or mind.

Dowsing rod or searching with a divining rod: going over a certain place with a wedge-shaped stick, to see if there is water running or if there is a water source. By moving a needle over the hand palm, you are able to find out whether a pregnant woman gets a boy or a little girl.

Acupuncture:
Abolishing the disturbances in the meridians or life lines in the body by means of small needles, so that cosmic energy is possible to have its way again.

Hypnoses:
Bringing someone under influence of the hypnotizer. The will of the person is entirely under the power of the hypnotizer.

Powers of nature or energies

Micro and macro cosmos:
How does this work exactly? If spirits are not involved, this is where it is all about in almost all paranormal occupations. They consider us as micro-cosmos. The issue is: we are a component of the large whole. One way or another we are one with the whole, 'macro cosmos '. The powers and energies from the macro cosmos should be able to influence our, 'micro cosmos'. Sometimes there are disturbances in our body; such as sicknesses; this could be an expression of constipation in our meridians. As a result of this constipation, life energy from macro cosmos does no longer run well in our body. If this happens, some people go to an acupuncturist to raise the disturbance. Or one goes to a magnetizer.

Homeopathies:
Is based on the conception of energy. Many homeopaths try to explain their theories scientifically, but the origin of homeopathy is something else. The founder of the homeopathy was Samuel Hahnemann (18th century) and he was an occultist. His starting point was that sicknesses from man have no material nature and are therefore invisible. The vibration character of the medicine had to look like the vibration of the disturbance to be able to heal. Or you can say, the frequency of the movement must be the same, because everything is in motion.

The homeopathy would let react the organism differently, to correct and cleanse and to make it a good functioning and sensitive apparatus. Therefore it has nothing to do with taking a bit of the basic stuff, so that the body itself produces antibodies like at an influenza vaccine. It also has nothing to do with an ointment with natural ingredients. There are homeopathic remedies in which you cannot find any of the basic stuff at all.

Therefore it will only bring the vibration of the disturbed body in assessment.

In all these things we see also a huge deception of the public and fantasy or reflection of human thinking. But we must also realize that there are indeed powers we have to be very careful with. If we are busy with these things, we become an entrance for demons. For this reason: rather remain far from it. Also from the Christian tradition comes a warning not to get involved with the occult.

§ King Josiah cleansed his whole kingdom when he came to know what God was thinking about these things. II Kings 23.

§ For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8b).

God warns us very clearly. These things are an abomination to the Lord– Deuteronomy 18:9-16.
We, the people that have entered the Promised Land, shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.

God bless you,

Agnès Laurey
Pastor

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