The bible says there are dark spiritual forces at work behind the scenes and even implies these spirits are what the various polytheist cultures around the world worship as gods. In the book of Titus, Paul quotes Epimenides describing Cretans as untrustworthy and corrupt, and if we look closely we may see the spiritual source of their behavior.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Supernatural Beings
Essays about the various supernatural entities mentioned in the bible.
Angel Worship and False Angels
In the new testament, we are warned about false human teachers, but there are also deceiving spirits to avoid. Jesus warns us about false prophets and false messiahs in Matt 24:24 and Mark 13:22. Colossians 2:8-10 says to reject corrupt theology based on the philosophies of worldly spiritual teachings. 1 John 4:1-4 says to test the spirits and ignore the ones that steer people away from what Jesus and his apostles taught. Gal 1:8 warns about false gospel preached by anyone including fallen angels. 2 Cor 11:13-15 says that false teachers pretending to be godly is like how Satan pretends to be an angel of light. Also, Col 2:18 says angels shouldn’t be worshiped or prayed to.
Continue readingCherub and Noah’s Ark
I once read about an interesting concept concerning the Cherubs that surround God’s throne and Noah’s Ark. I don’t think it’s an important theological point but I thought it was interesting either way. Noah had three categories of animals on his Ark along with his family. Unclean land animals (carnivores, scavengers, certain kinds of herbivores), clean land animals (herbivores, with specific right anatomy), and flying creatures both clean and unclean (Genesis 7:2-3). The four Cherub can be seen in this representation.
Continue readingA Tale of Two Seeds
Who is Satan? Is Satan attacking people in the Old Testament or is this God’s judgment? The bible says God doesn’t tempt us (James 1:12-15), but it is Satan that tempts us (Matthew 6:13). Yet oftentimes in the old testament when bad things happen scripture says that God was testing Israel (Deut 8:16, Deut 13:3, Judges 2:22). It seems that the revelation of Satan’s role is revealed more and more throughout scripture until the time of the messiah. The Gospel reveals him as the true enemy because he is the serpent whose head will be bruised by the messiah (Gen 3:15). Satan is rarely mentioned in the old testament so some people believe that Satan either is a metaphor or is an agent of God to exact judgment, rather than a rebel. However, Jesus and the apostles pointed to a real spiritual enemy of God seeking to devour us (1 Pt 5:8).
Continue readingTrinity vs One God
Is God three people or one person? The Bible says God is one (Deut 6:4). Yet the Gospels suggest Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. John 1:1-14 says, in the beginning, was the Word, and the Word with was God and was God and the Word became flesh as Jesus. Matthew 1:23 quotes from Isa 7:14 and Isa 8:8-10 saying that a virgin will conceive a child and his name with being Immanuel (God with us). Daniel 7:13 alludes to a messianic king called the “Son of Man”, that goes into God’s space and rules the world. Lastly, Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man in many places like in Luke 5:24, where he shows that like God the Father, has the authority to forgive sins. The Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus (John 1:32-34) will be given to us (John 14:16-17), and the Holy Spirit is God’s presence from the Tabernacle/Temple in the old covenant. The concept of Oneness vs Trinity is debated all the time because it goes beyond our comprehension.
Continue readingSatan’s True Agenda
In recent years subliminal messaging in various media has promoted the idea that Satan works for God as an executioner of God’s judgment rather than against God’s will. It’s even accepted by some that Satan is a misunderstood victim of God’s wrath rather than an enemy that will receive punishment on Judgment day. If that’s true then why was Jesus sent to defeat him?
Continue readingNephilim, Giants, and Demons
What are demons? The Bible says they are unclean spirits, but what is an unclean spirit? What are the Nephilim? Are they angels, the sons of God (a divine council), or giants? Are they connected to demons somehow?
Continue readingThe Hosts of Heaven
To the ancient world the sun, moon, and stars were seen as living creatures not just balls of gas or rock. That is why pagan cultures worshipped them, but to the Israelites, they were just members of the host of heaven who serve God. Who are the Hosts of Heaven? The Host of Heaven is sometimes referred to as Elohim (“gods”) collectively, as the body of heaven while God is the head of heaven. Kind of like Jesus as the head and the believers as the body of Christ. It can also be viewed as the Godhead or Trinity (but Jews didn’t have this revelation in the old testament).
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