GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
October 25, 2018
Angels # 10
Pastor Rick Bettez
There is no definitive way to determine that a fallen angel is affiliated with a false god from ancient history other than to fully examine the power, and/or the effect that a false god had on mankind.
Examining the template of who Satan is and what his agenda seems to be, a Bel can then determine the ancient false gods of Biblical history, coming to a conclusion as to the depth of influence of Satan and his fallen army pertaining to these false gods.
Gen 3- We see the design for a false god (idol) needs to first, discredit as well as distract from the one true God.
It will resemble spirituality and in many cases have an element of truth or scripture woven within its fabric of false doctrines.
Ezk 28, Isa 14 – a false god always seeks to be like the one true God. A false god will require dedicated worship, it is usually unforgiving and it will endorse sacrifice or suffering from its followers. Indicators of demonic worship are a demand for full compliance as well as possession.
Dan 7:25 ‘He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
Attacking Christ & His followers, also attempting to alter historic events is symbolic of demonic influence.
Lev 20:27 Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones, their blood-guiltiness is upon them.’”
Demon possession was the basis for capital punishment in Israel, Leviticus 20:27. So serious was demon possession that capital punishment was prescribed by God for this practice.
Idolatry, 1 Corinthians 10:19-21. Wherever idolatry is practiced today there are demons behind the idols.
Drug addiction; illicit drug use leads to demon possession in the case of unbelievers, or demon influence in the case of those who are born again.
Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery (pharmakeia), enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
The phallic cult -
(sexual perversions) is a basis for contact with demons, Isaiah 2:6; Luk 8:2.
Jezebel influenced Israel to accept the phallic cult
(1Kin 16:31).
Luk 8:2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Isa 2:6 For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east (qedem), and they are soothsayers(`anan) like the Philistines, and they strike bargains with the children of foreigners.
2Cor 2:15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial (Satan or evil), or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
Gal 5:7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
Mental attitude sins left to dominate the soul bring demonic influence. Many cases of neurosis and psychosis are cases of demon influence (Mar 5) where the demon-possessed individuals had all of the characteristics of psychosis.
Religious sensitivity training, Isaiah 8:19. This is designed to turn the body & soul over to some higher power, the New Age movement is a prime example.
(fallen angels/demons, satanic ideology).
Isa 8:11 For thus the LORD spoke to me with mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,
Demons are the gods of nations, often the rulers of nations are demon possessed.
Psalm 96:5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
The firstborn judgement included the judgement of demons,
Exodus 12:12 For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the LORD.
Isa 19:3 “Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be demoralized within them; and I will confound their strategy,
So that they will resort to idols and ghosts of the dead and to mediums and spiritists.
Therefore the Jews, to be protected from this type of religious infiltration, were prohibited from making sacrifices to demons,
Child sacrifice was inspired by demons, it has been practiced since ancient times dating back to the Canaanite god Molech (Psalm 106:37-39). Egyptian Royalty had sacrificial rituals but the focus was not on children.
Psa 106:35 But they mingled with the nations and learned their practices
Many Bible scholars are convinced some of these so-called divine beings could indeed do amazing acts because they were demons, or fallen angels, disguising themselves as gods.
Deu 32:17 “They sacrificed to demons who were not God, to gods whom they have not known, new gods who came lately, whom your fathers did not dread.
Ashtoreth
Also called Astarte, or Ashtoreth (plural), this goddess of the Canaanites was connected with fertility, sexual prosperity & maternity. Worship of Ashtoreth was strong at Sidon. She was sometimes called a consort or companion of Baal.
Baal
Baal, sometimes called Bel, was the supreme god among the Canaanites, worshiped in many forms, but often as a sun god or storm god. He was a fertility god who supposedly made the earth bear crops and women bear children. Baal had many siblings or children that were all under his authority as gods.
Rites involved with Baal worship included cult prostitution and sometimes human sacrifice. Child sacrifice, sexual perverse rituals surrounding virgins and blood also came from Baal worship.
Chemosh
Chemosh, the sub-doer, was the national god of the Moabites and was also worshiped by the Ammonites. Rites involving this god were said to be cruel also and may have involved human sacrifice.
Dagon
This god of the Philistines had the body of a fish and a human head and hands in its statues. Dagon was a god of water and grain.
Ancient Egypt had more than 40 false gods, although none are mentioned by name in the Bible. They included Re (Rah), creator sun god; Isis, goddess of magic; Osiris, lord of the afterlife; Thoth, god of wisdom and the moon; and Horus, god of the sun.
When difficulty or pain arise, a Bel will apply what he/she has retained and that which is trusted to work in their lives. Pressure pushes people to react forgetting to take the time to respond.