Union with Christ and Abiding in Him; the Lost Gem

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

Have you ever been frustrated with the gap between your head knowledge of God and your heart experience of the Living God? Of course you have; and so have I. I can speak with such certainty because I have never met a person who was completely satisfied with their experience of God moment by moment. The Gap, as I’m calling it, is ubiquitous and in a sense will always be with us before we see God face to face. When you understand the biblical tension between the now and not yet, then so much of the bible will become intelligible. However, I think that the gap does not need to be nearly as large as it usually is for most of us.  How do we overcome it?

May I ask another question: how would you define the gospel or what a Christian is? There is more than one way to answer that, but Paul never used the term ‘Christian’, and when it is used in the NT (3 Times) it is probably not a term of endearment. For Paul, by far his favorite way of referring to Christians are those who are ‘in Christ.’ About 160 times in his writings that or a similar phrase is used. That little prepositional phrase is sooooo easy to overlook when reading the bible, but once you see its significance you begin to see it almost everywhere! When Paul is addressing people in an epistle, he will often refer to them as so and so ‘in Christ.’ The church of (blank) in Christ Jesus. What is being referred to is our union with Christ. ‘In Christ’ is shorthand for the most central motif in all the bible—our union with the Triune God through Christ. We are in Christ, and Christ is in us (John 14)—and as a result, we are to abide in the Lord. It is interesting how Pauline John sounds in his gospel, or the reverse.

I actually delayed doing this segment because it is so rich, and so crucial, that I never felt that I was ready or adequate to explain it. I still don’t..but am plunging ahead. We NEED to grasp this teaching.

We live as pilgrims in a foreign land. Nevertheless, I am convinced that knowing our union with Christ is the key to substantially decreasing the size of the The Gap. Yet many Christians are ignorant of this notion of union with Christ. Union with Christ—what is that?

Satan is the great identity thief; he confuses Christians as to who they are in Christ; to close our eyes to being ‘in Christ.’ He wants us to struggle and see ourselves as ‘in me.’..which is terrible news and recipe for anxiety ridden life. Satan muddles our essential identity as people who are no longer ‘in Adam’ and are now ‘in Christ’. It answers the age old question: who am I? Identity!  Being in Christ includes being forgiven of our sins but it is so much more.

 To say that we are in union with Christ contains two elements: we are in Christ, and Christ indwells us. Our union is unchangeable, unalterable (cannot be increased or decreased) instantaneous and irreversible. But our abiding in Christ is what we do; it is our active communing with the Christ with whom we are in union.  I am not going to exegete this text in Ephesians, but I chose it to show how prevalent this notion of ‘in Christ’ is. But being in union with Christ is like having an indissoluble umbilical cord between you and the Lord Jesus in heaven.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 (full stop—all of our spiritual blessings find their origin in our union with Christ) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world (union with Christ is from eternity past to eternity future), that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined usb for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making knownc to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guaranteed of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,e to the praise of his glory.

11 times in 13 verses he speaks of us being’ In Christ’! This is picked almost at random because it so common that it is a phrase that one easily passes over without ever really seeing it. But for Paul it was everything! Some have said that both in the OT and NT union with Christ is the central motif. And the apostle John was so similar in his assertions to Paul, using pictures of our union, like the vine in Jn 15.

1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is youra life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.(Col.3:1-4)

The first thing to note about our union with Christ is that it extends from eternity past to eternity future.

And that Christ is our very life.

The Colossian Christians were under attack. It seems that false teachers were preying on new converts, who are so susceptible. They have come to Christ and freed from occult bondage in mighty way, but as time passes they inevitably discover that this sin is still in them; bondage broken but they still wrestle with the world, the flesh and the devil. So, they are ripe for false teachers who come along and say: “Are you frustrated? Well, what Paul said is all well and good but to get fullness, you need to do x,y and z.” The key word of these false teachers seems to have been ‘fullness/pleroma’—and this seems to be a proto-gnostic type heresy. The key to false teachers was that they sought to add to Christ to bring them to fullness of spiritual reality. But in reality, in Christ is all the fullness and to be in Christ is to have all the fullness. That is why it says in Eph 1 all spiritual riches are found in Him. Same in Col.

30 And because of hime you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Cor.1:30-31)

This is why in chapters 1 and 2 of Col. Paul stresses how all the fullness of deity dwells in Christ bodily. To be united with Him who is fullness of deity is to experience full fullness; why seek angels (as we do today as well) to round out or top off Jesus Christ, when angels are infinitely inferior to Christ—He made them! But more importantly, why look to angels and (supernatural experiences) or human traditions to make you more spiritual when you already have all you need in Christ? How many believers hop from one conference, video, experience or book to the next because they are restless—seeking some something that will add to ‘just having Jesus.’ We do not need more; what we need is to understand more fully what it is that we have already, as Paul prays in Eph 1 and 3. As I said, few Christians have even begun to plumb the depths of the meaning of our union with Christ. It is not talked about very much from pulpits, which is odd given how often it is mentioned.

What does it mean to be saved than to be united with our savior? So, the eminent theologian John Murray asserted: ‘Nothing is more central or more basic than union with Christ…it is the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation.” The accomplishment and application of redemption is brought to our experience via our union with Christ.

Elsewhere he likens it to the hub of a bicycle wheel—all the salvation blessings flow out like spokes from this central core. We come to experience all of Christ and all He did by our union with Him. Christ came, lived, died, rose and ascended so that He might bring us into vital union with Him. He speaks of this in His High Priestly prayer in John 17.

We must not separate what Christ has done FOR us from the person of Christ who indwells us. We must not separate the benefits from the Benefactor. Union with Christ first brings us into vital union with the Person of Jesus Christ, and His death and resurrection FOR US.

1. Let us first look at our being ‘in Christ’. In Rom. 5 we are born into the world ‘in Adam’ as our representative, and when he sinned, we sinned with him. It is as if we were there with him because he was our federal head/representative. When Adam sinned, we inherited his guilt and corrupted spiritual nature which has darkened every aspect of our humanity and left us spiritually dead (Eph 2:1). Guilty and totally corrupted and darkened.There are only two kinds of people in the world: those who are still ‘in Adam,’ and thus spiritually dead and under God's wrath, and those who are ‘in Christ’ and have been regenerated and baptized with the Holy Spirit, which water baptism represents—and united with all our new Adam accomplished for us.

But being united to Christ by faith, our new representative is Jesus Christ. Everything He did He did as our representative. Now the astonishing thing is that, starting with the Incarnation, if we are in Christ, then we were with Him in all these salvation events. Since we are in Christ and He is our very life, then we can say: that we were united with Him in His incarnation; His 33 years of perfect obedience to the law and to the Father, it is as if we were living that perfect life. His righteousness is imputed to us.

 And, we were crucified and died with Him (Gal, 2:20; 2 Cor 5:21; Rom. 6:1ff)

 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

There is a very real sense in which when Jesus hung on the cross, we were with Him. As our substitutionary penal atonement, Jesus died for our sins. ‘Huper’ is Greek word ‘for us’ and since we are united with the whole Christ then we are united with the whole of what He did. He died for us and He accomplished what He set out to do.

Next, we were with Christ when He was entombed.(Rom. 6:4) The Holy Spirit was perfectly united with the corpse of Jesus in the grave, just as Christ is united through the Holy Spirit with our dead bodies. We were raised with Him, ascended and glorified with Him, and now in some wonderfully mysterious/mystical way, our life is now hidden in heaven with Christ (Col. 3:1ff) and we reign with Him; that is eternal security. Even our dead, rotting bodies in the grave are in union with Christ because our bodies matter to God—and they will be raised incorruptible on the Last day. 1 Cor 15; 2 Cor 5. And it is as if Jesus considers Himself incomplete as long as all those whom the  Father has given Him are not with Him.

And the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thess 4) 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,d that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Dead in Christ? What can that mean since glorified saints have never been more alive.

Paul cannot be talking about glorified souls because they are not dead—they are in Christs presence. He is referring to our bodies, which are ‘sleeping.’ What a lovely truth that even our corpses are precious to our Lord and are in Him! And at the Second Coming He will raise our bodies from the grave and make them wonderfully glorified bodies, such His own is now.

I have thought about this and the decaying bodies of believers are holy to God, so I do not think the demonic can mess with them but I do think that demons inhabit cemeteries because of the bodies of unbelievers, which are unholy. Why do so many foolish folks seek to have experiences in cemeteries? There are many sad tales of people being followed home by unclean spirits because of doing this.

These realities are so amazing Paul actually invented new words to convey our being crucified and raised with (Greek-syn)Christ. And we read in Rom 8:11 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

We can rest in Christ and cease anxiously striving and trying to prove ourselves through our looks, actions, ministries ect. We are in union with Christ NOW, and this union is unbreakable.

Christ has so closely identified Himself with us that He asked Saul why was he persecuting Him?! To touch those ‘in Christ’ is to touch Him. This is a union of extraordinary closeness.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.b The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Cor.5:17)

We have a new identity in Christ. Many speak of the battle of the old man and the new man, but this is confusion. The old man (identity) is gone forever—that would be like Adam and Jesus  fighting inside us!! But indwelling sin does remain. So, the new man does battle with sin, world and devil—but not with old self/man. I have heard even the finest theologians get confused on this point. With Christ, we have died to old identity and to tyranny of sin. In heaven the very presence of sin will be evacuated.

When we are baptized (as children or adults—there are good arguments for both) we are given a new name. When I was born my parents named me Mark Andrew Hunnemann, which is quite a mouthful! It became what I responded to as it represented me. It was/is my name…its me. Someone says ‘Mark Hunnemann’ I know who they are talking about.

 In baptism the old name of Adam is replaced by the name of the Triune God (Jesus said baptize them in the Name….), in whose name we are baptized. Paul refers to this in Romans 6. So, our baptism and the Lord’s Supper both celebrate our union with Christ and each other. It certainly is a devilish thing that we fuss and fume over amount of water to baptize with when the focus is on being ‘immersed’ (if you will) into the new identity of being in Christ. We have placed on us the mark of our union with the Triune God. That is why Luther, when troubled, would often say to himself-“I have been baptized.” We have a new identity. So many today are on an unconscious quest to discover who they really are. But being ‘in Christ’ is our new identity. It is a glorious new identity which entails all that Jesus accomplished and the Holy Spirit applied to us.

2. Not only are we in Christ, but through the Holy Spirit, He is in us--Christ indwells us. So He not only gives us a new identity but new power to live holy lives. Union with Christ is of the most intimate nature. Christ comes into our entire beings as a homemaker (John 14) 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him (John 14)

Christ was telling His disciples that it was to their benefit that He ascend and send the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the agent of the Trinity, so when He indwells us, then the entire Trinity indwells us. Indeed, in a lovely reality, the Triune God comes into us as a homemaker. Those of you ladies who are homemakers know what this entails and think of the dignity this homemaking of God gives to your calling, as it patterns after God’s own crowning work in us. But let us focus on God and His indwelling of us and how we not only have a new identity, but because the Trinity indwells us we have a new power. There was a massive change inside of us at regeneration and then we were united to Christ by faith and this power of the omnipotent God now indwells our feeble and frail bodies. Regardless of whether you feel His presence is not the issue—His presence is more certain than our fluctuating feelings.

What Christ did for us on the cross in defeating sin and becoming a curse for us, He now indwells us to give us the power to live in a way pleasing to God. In Col. we are then told to put off the old man and put on the new man. Some communions still have the practice of providing new and clean clothes for all those who undergo baptism. We are to become who we are in fact. The imperitives are grounded in the indicatives of our union with Christ. An indicative is a statement of fact and imperative is a command. So, before we are TOLD to be like Christ, we are filled with Christ, so that we have the power to become in practice what we are in fact.

Remember that the pattern for Christ was suffering and then glory, so we who are in union with Christ are to follow that same pattern: we shall suffer here but it shall prepare us for glory.

The beauty of union with Christ is that the guilt and power of sin are both dealt with.

“How few of us are experimentally (experientially) acquainted with this privilege of holding immediate communion with the Father in love.” So said the great Puritan, John Owen. The Trinity now has made His home in us and we are to abide in the Vine. How is this done? Union is a fact, but abiding is something that we do. It was George Mueller of Bristol England who stated that he made it his first priority of the day to get his heart happy in the Lord; which is another way of talking of abiding. I think that is a helpful way to view reading/prayer as a means of abiding. God has given us His means of grace by which we abide in Him. The temptation is always there to drift. May the Lord put a short leash on us and gently but quickly pull us back when we begin to drift away from sweet communion with Christ.

See this lovely quote from Calvin:

“We see that our whole salvation and all its parts are comprehended in Christ. We should therefore take care not to derive the least portion of it from anywhere else. If we seek salvation, we are taught by the very name of Jesus that it is of Him. If we seek any other gifts of the Spirit, they will be found in His anointing. If we seek strength, it lies in His dominion; if purity, in His conception; if gentleness, it appears in His birth. For by His birth He was made like us in all respects, that He might learn to feel our pain. If we seek redemption, it lies in His passion; if acquittal, in His condemnation; if remission of the curse, in His cross; if satisfaction, in His sacrifice; if purification, in His blood; if reconciliation, in His descent into hell; if mortification of the flesh, in His tomb; if newness of life, in His resurrection; if immortality, in the same; if inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom, in His entrance into heaven; if protection, if security, if abundant supply of all blessings, in His Kingdom; if untroubled expectation of judgment, in the power given to Him to judge. In short, since rich store of every kind of good abounds in Him, let us drink our fill from this fountain, and from no other.”  Institutes of Christian Religion

Our part-Abiding. What is the first thing you think of upon awakening? What must I do today?…I do..I..I…I?  Instead we should ask: Lord, what shall WE do today? I have an 87 year old friend and prayer warrior who says every morning: ‘Lord, what shall we do today?” In addition to that, I frequently add: I am in union with You, please help me to abide in You as intimately as is possible this side of heaven. God desires deep intimacy with us, and abiding in Christ is the key to bridging the gap between our head knowledge and heart knowledge. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15)

I heard recently the experience of Hudson Taylor, the founder of China Inland Mission which touched countless lives. He died in 1905 but  not before seeing extraordinary fruit in China. But he labored for a number of years and suffered terrible trials before he had a life altering experience of discovering union with Christ. It is not that he got something he did not have before, but as Paul prayed in Eph that we would understand more fully the extent of God’s love for us; to more fully possess our possessions, as one man put it; to know more fully what we already know. Any good pastor knows that a big part of pastoral work is patiently explaining to people what Paul was praying for in Eph 3—a deeper awareness of the depth of God’s love. One day as Taylor was laboring under immense weight, he received a letter from a friend which outlined the freedom of knowing and resting in our union with Christ and learning to abide and rest in that union. (this is not passive rest because we must fight) Learning that apart from abiding in Christ we can do nothing. Nothing! Notice the dual emphasis on us in Christ, and He in us, and then the call to ABIDE. Another word might be communion with…walking intimately with.

His son wrote a few decades later that this event was no ephemeral passing fad—his dad was forever changed, and he never seemed perturbed amidst the most stressful situations. He knew in his heart the beauty of his union with Christ—with the whole Christ and all He did. When Taylor understood the implications of being in Christ it melted his heart and he was a changed man. He saw God’s sovereignty and He released his anxieties into the arms of Him whom he was in intimate union with. He learned to abide in his union amidst the terrible tragedies he suffered.

Extravagant grace and radical discipleship are often presented as two opposite ways of pursuing the Christian life; but both are drawn together in union with Christ. While some fall prey to hyper-grace and others to heavy burden of striving for radical discipleshsip, both the beauty of grace and the call to mirror holiness are wed together in our union with Christ. Union with Christ is the key to balance in the Christian life.

But Christ is always greater than our experience of Him, and cannot be reduced to our experience.

My prayer is that by understanding our union with Christ, and the utter security that entails, that we would be forever changed as well. Our anxiety ridden striving would cease. We are accepted in the Beloved , now-we do not have to prove ourselves to God or anyone. Yes, we strive against the world, flesh and devil until we die BUT we now know how much God loves us and that the power of sin to enslave us has been broken. We view ourselves as being in Christ and united to every aspect of His saving life and death, resurrection and ascension. The immense security and sense of significance that should flow from this awareness is staggering. We have a new identity and a new power.

Apart from Christ we can do nothing but sin, but in Christ we can begin to drink deeply from the wells of Living Water. May you begin to experience a depth of communion with the Triune God that you’ve never known, and experience joy unspeakable, IN CHRIST.

Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook forma

Satan and Demons

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

Satanas, or Hebrew for Satan means Adversary or opponent, and it carried over into the Greek as diabolos—or devil, which means slanderer. The bible has at least 22 different names for Satan, our enemy. How did they come about?

Who are they, where did they come from, and what do they do? I should not have to say this but I do: the bible alone is our all-sufficient and only inspired source of information regarding these beings. Specifically, to use the book of 1 Enoch to ‘fill in the gaps’ of our knowledge does two awful things at once: it implies that the Word of God is insufficient (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17), and using details from this non-canonical book in this manner is adding to the bible, which is explicitly forbidden, condemned by the Holy One who wrote His Word, and a curse is levelled at those who do (Rev. 22:18-19). It is one thing to use a book to help understand the historical setting, but it is quite another thing to use it as ‘template’ through which the bible is read and interpreted, which is being done in increasing frequency. Details regarding Satan and demons from 1 Enoch are being added to the biblical narrative and that is unspeakably prideful. It must stop now. If bible is silent, then we are to be humble and accept that-Deut. 29:29 29“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

How did the notion of a red dressed character, with a pitchfork, who looks like he just left a Halloween party, become an image of Satan? In Medieval Christianity, they believed that Satan’s main sin was pride, and the image was intentionally meant to mock him as a means of defense. They knew he did not really look like that. They thought it would wound his pride…and insult and repel him… he’d slink away. Unfortunately, the next generation kept the imagery but not the explanation.

Satan and his demons are fallen angels. There are elect angels (1 Tim. 5:21, just as elect humans) and non-elect angels. They were/are all angels, of varying kinds and ranks, and they rebelled—but all angels. Now, there are two and only two kinds of supernatural beings—good and bad angels, with many biblical nicknames, so to speak. Satan and demons are pure evil—utterly depraved.

In Genesis 1:31 God declares His benediction upon on the whole of His creation, and we can assume that would include the spirit realm. So, sometime between 1:31 and 3:1 there was a spiritual rebellion in angelic realm. One possibility is that Lucifer was assigned to guard Adam and Eve, hated the newly revealed plan in which he would be subordinate to them, and his fall was essentially simultaneous with human Fall..or slightly before.

3 When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, 4you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:.’
12 “Howyou are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
13 You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;c
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
15 But you are brought down to Sheol,
to the far reaches of the pit.

The prophets often spoke of more than they knew, and I have a hard time seeing how this can only properly apply to human king. Plus, we know that Satan is the ‘god of this world’ so he is the ultimate wicked force behind this human wicked nation (under God sovereignty). But beneath all this is pride. Perhaps in Ezek 28 we have more hints, I don’t know—but we see a guardian cherub in garden. That would place Satan near garden and that he was designed as a warrior.

How Satan, who was sinless and had no external temptation could have sinned is a mystery, but he did.

I think the classic teaching that they fell with him is truth—help explain all the false religion soon after Fall.. I know Heiser and other appeal to Gen. 6:1-4 as fall of angels. However, Dr Wayne Grudem, spent several days studying the ancient Jewish literature on this sin (Midrash, Talmud, Josephus, Philo and apocrypha. Found 18 places where this sin discussed: 9 thought they were humans and 9 thought they were angels. Reading Heiser one gets the impression that it was uniform interpretation amongst second Temple Jews—not true.

I have studied this text and the context is contrast of seed of serpent and seed of woman, leading up to flood, with 4 verses devoted to this episode, with no commentary by Moses. Plus, it says they married and bible says angels do not marry. And this I know: women are being sexually assaulted by demons but they are not getting pregnant. Perhaps it is due to cross species—human with angel….like pig mating with gorilla—not offspring.

What do they do? Destroy and lie. John 8:44/Cain; ‘did God say/”

Demonic influence leads to self-destruction. Any addictive behavior can lead to this. And he hates the truth—exposing his lies, including this.
Satan in OT--6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satanb also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.

1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel (2 Chron. 21:1)
36 They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
37 They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons; but no mention of exorcisms
NT. Jesus speaks a word and they leave-people marvel. Sign kingdom had arrived.
I have done a study of demons and they are not the spirits of dead Nephillim-that is based on unbiblical source. The bible sees Satan as ‘the prince of demons’, which suggests an identity of nature, but difference in rank. We see this in Matt.9:34 4But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”. Most natural rendering is he is the prince of similar beings. ..not lowly spirits of dead hybrid giants.

“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25Knowing their thoughts, he said to them (Matt. 12:24)

We see in Matt 25 that devils angels are synonymous with what had been called demons and unclean spirits before are eternally sentenced to hell.

Just as God is Lord of Hosts, Satan copies and is lord of his infernal army. Demons, unclean spirits, devils angels, elemental spirits, principalities and powers, cosmic powers,ect are all synonyms for fallen angles subordinate to Satan, as general.

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon..

What do they do? (kill and lie) Gen, 3:1ff ‘did God say..?” Why would brother kill his own brother?
1. Destroy/kill—John 8:44 murderer…occult activities (Hitler diary..today I made covenant with Satan) have you ever seen self-destructive tendencies of people under demonic influence?
2. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Cor. 11:3)
9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
With the rise of occult and fascination with paranormal doors are being opened left and right and our culture is becoming demonized.
3. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14)—he can be smooth, suave, plausible sounding.
They can appear as anything—they know which buttons to push to attract us
I have encountered directly demons on dozens of occasions. I have had them communicate with me via text and phone calls.
7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothersb has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Hindering truth or effective gospel witness. (temptation, fear, pride, doubt, envy, confusion)
Demons/Satan cannot read minds—but keen observers and transmit information (psychic detectives). They can be in one place at a time.

. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Today—12—70—whole church. We live in time of Acts. dwell in us”? 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (Eph 6)
18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Balance: we fight against the world, the flesh (indwelling sin) and demons. In book of Acts and epistles the usual approach was to deal with sin and obedience. In Corinth with all its problems, he never said to cast out demon of pride, envy, incest, litigation.

26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. (Eph. 4:26-27) Habitual sin can lead to giving devil a foothold.

Can a Christian be possessed? No! But we can so open ourselves through persistent serious sin that we can be so oppressed it almost looks like possession.

Should Christians speak directly to demon or pray to God? Command demon directly…that is NT pattern.

Should we be concerned with generational sins? If there is a long history of addiction, pray that God would break futile ways of life by precious blood of lamb and command any spirits to leave.

18knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Folks who are dealing with oppression are often very open to gospel. Jesus has won the victory Col 2:15

Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.

The Historical Fall & It’s Radically Comprehensive Consequences

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

(Genesis 1-4)
After the Creation of the universe and  Adam and Eve, the Fall occurred. I will return next time to what it means to be made in God’s image. You know the story—which I insist occurred in space and time because the Bible does,—not some mythological fairy tale. Adam and Eve disobeyed the direct command of God. We have no idea of how long they remained in garden before being tempted and sinning I want to focus on the consequences of the Fall more than of the event itself.

1, This event occurred in real space/ time history as Adam and Eve were real people. Jesus affirmed Adam as historical as did prophets and apostles. Jesus is second man and last Adam, and just as his sin was imputed to us, so our sins are imputed to Jesus.

2. We do not speak nearly as often as we should of the reality and comprehensive extent of the effects of the Fall. We basically pay it lip service and let it go. It altered everything about the world—not just spiritually. The curse of the Fall has extended its tendrils into every nook and cranny of the universe, on macro and micro level. Indeed the very cosmos itself groans as a result of the their sin—Romans 8. But I maintain that your experience of the exterior world and your experience of your interior world (your own self, psyche) will remain largely mysterious and obtuse if you lose sight of the full ramifications of the Fall. Literally it bent everything. We live in a Fallen world friends. What does that mean? For one, it means that absolutely nothing is perfect; everything is imperfect. It has enormous explanatory power.

Frankly what we sometimes blame Satan for is simply due to living in a Fallen world. If we ever consciously or unconsciously set up and either/or between perfection or nothing, we always get nothing. Whether a perfect church, potential marriage partner, work environment, ect EVERYTHNG has been bent to some degree..and thorns and thistles of some kind are present.

Specifically, what are the consequences of the Fall?

1. Man was separated from God—origin of spiritual death. What was threatened in 2:17 became reality in 3:8. 9 in where we see them hiding from the very God who they used to walk with intimately. This was/is worst consequence bc in Romans 5 and elsewhere we see that Adams sin, as the federal head of human race, was imputed to all of his posterity. Since the Fall, all people enter this world united with Adam and are spiritually dead. Spiritual zombies—biologically alive and spiritually dead. Eph 2:1 Find salvation as it speaks of in protoevngelion. 3:15. We need to speak more of the nature of this sin—how it was imputed to us, and the radical corruption that ensued. and its affect on us spiritually and well do that soon.

2. Physical death—2:17, 3”19 Instead of killing them immediately as God said and they desrved, he graciously extended their lives. Yet this explains the origin of human death…as well as suffering, disease…

We must remember that death is abnormal. Not as most people think today—death is an unfortunate but inevitable fact of life. There is a discontinuity between the world as God created it and the world we live in now. This is tremendously important bc of how it explains the origin of death and how God and can be good in the case of death and suffering. Let me use a story from Albert Camus, the French Existentialist, to illustrate this issue—The Plague. There was a priest who lived in a village. One day a terrible plague broke out. There was enormous suffering and death. The priest felt and agonizing dilemma bc since God made the world as it is, then if he helped those who were suffering, then He would be fighting against God. But if obeyed God by letting God’s nature run its course, then he would be obeying God but betraying his beloved villagers who needed him, who were suffering. He ended up helping them…

Do you feel the dilemma? If this world in all its death and suffering is normal, if it is as God made it, then we have no basis for fighting against it…and we have no way of explaining how God can be good in light of this awful suffering we experience. But the Fall gives us a titanic answer! It explains that the world we live in is abnormal; death is abnormal. Jesus could weep and express anger, as Greek shows, when he confronted the death of his friend Lazarus. Death is the violent disruption of the vibrant flow of life—the ripping asunder what God had joined together—the soul and body. So, the Fall gives us an explanation for the problem of evil.  The original creation was deathless and perfect but we messed it up.

What about God’s knowledge of the Fall prior to it? Well, I have to stop there, all I can do is deal with the reality we all live in and not jump into abstractions.

3. Man was separated from himself-origin of psychological problems. Do you really think that perfect humans had deep psychological issues? 3:7,10 Prior to Fall they were naked and unashamed but after they were naked and ashamed. Nakedness in the bible is a profound motif which expresses how the entry of sin introduced shame and guilt feelings. Since the Fall, everyone born (not Jesus) was born with cracks in their psyches. We all have psychological issues—some worse than others. We can be unintentionally cruel to people, like Jobs counselors, if we try to attribute all emotional/psychological issues with demonic. Some deliverance ministers need a refresher course on the comprehensive effects of the Fall so that they will not be trying to toss out a demon which is simply caused by imbalance in brain chemistry. I do not know about you, but not a day goes by that I am not acutely aware of my psychological brokenness—some inherited and some caused by life’s battering ram. All of us, without exception, have broken places but we have become so accustomed to them that we think they are normal. Or, the circles we hang out in may look down on us for not being 'victorious'.

I don’t have time to develop this but the gospel can bring substantial healing to some psychological issues—especially guilt feelings. Justification deals directly with forgiving our guilt before God…and the guilty feelings that ensue. There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom. 8:1

4. Man separated from other men—origin of sociological problems or mans inhumanity to man, See Adam accusing Eve…3:12…and Cain killing Abel.4:8 God’s very good creation in 1:31 has degenerated terribly due to Fall. The lovely fields of Edenic Paradise have turned into killing fields.

5. Man separated from nature—origin of environmental problems, and fear. 3:17ff. The original cultural mandate has been abused and we’ve raped creation. And instead of the animals coming to Adam to be named they now have instinct to flee from us…sad.

6. Nature separated from nature-origin of violence and decay in creation.1:29, 30—Romans 8. Nature is red in tooth and claw. Carniverous activity…survival of the strongest.

7. Man separated from evil angels and conflict between folowers of Christ and Satan—spiruatal warfare  3:15.
Note how comprehsnsive these effects are. Do you see that now? And how life and this world is inexplicable apart from accurate understanding of the Fall.

We usually focus on Adams sin and how it effects us spiritually and that is primary. It is what plunged us into radical ruin…spiritual death.
It has enormous explanatory power.
Man separated from God-origin of spiritual problems, spiritul death
Origin of physical death, disease
Man separated from others--origin of relational confict and violence
Man separated from himself—origin psychological problems
Man separated from nature—origin of pollution, and fear between us and animals
Separation of nature from nature—origin of violence in nature.

Do you see how the Fall sheds so much light on us as well the world we live in? Let us recapture a deeper understanding of the reality and effects of the Fall—and how that accents the beauty of the cosmic scope of Christ’s redemption.

The goal of the drama of redemption is to not just restore pristine glory of Eden, but much further…Paradise will be here on earth. A renewed heaven and earth. Rev. 21, 22

Still, very very lovely. Not just as proof of existence of God but it is beautiful.

Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.

REFLECTIONS ON THE CROSS OF CHRIST: Why Did Jesus Die?

Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die (an overview of the atonement)

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

1.to absorb the wrath of God

2.to please His Heavenly Father

3.to learn obedience and be ‘perfected’

4.to achieve His own resurrection from the dead

5.to show the wealth of God’s love and grace for sinners

6. to show His own love for us

7.to cancel the legal demands of the Law against us

8.to become a ransom for many

9.for the forgiveness of our sins

10.to provide the basis of our justification

11.to complete the obedience that becomes our righteousness

12.to take away our condemnation

13.to bring us to faith and keep us faithful

14.to make us holy, blameless, and perfect

15.to give us a clear conscience

16.to obtain for us all things that are good for us.

17.to heal us from moral  and physical sickness

18.to give eternal life to all who believe in Him

19.to deliver us from the present evil age.

20.to reconcile us to God

21.TO BRING US TO GOD

22.so that we might belong to Him

23.to give us confident access to the holiest place

24.to become for us the place where we meet God

25.the Eternal High Priest brings the Old testament Priesthood to an end.

26.to become a sympathetic and helpful High Priest

27.to free us from the futility of our ancestry

28.to free us from slavery to sin

29.that we may die to sin and live to righteousness

30.that we would die bear fruit for God

31.to enable us to live for Christ and not ourselves

32.to make the Cross the ground of all our boasting

33.to enable us to live by faith in Him

34.to give marriage its deepest meaning

35.to create a people passionate for good works

36.to call us to follow His example of costly love and humility

37.to create a band of crucified followers

38.to free us from bondage to fear of death

39.that we should be with Him immediately after death

40.to secure our resurrection from the dead.

41. to disarm the rulers and authorities (Satan/demons)

42.to unleash the power of God in the gospel

43.to destroy hostility between races

44.to ransom people from every tribe, language, people, and nations

45.to gather His sheep from around the world

46.to show that we are not saved by rituals or good works

47.to rescue us from final judgment

48.to gain His joy and ours

49.so that we would be crowned with glory and honor

50.to show that the worst evil is meant by God for good.  (see John Piper, Fifty Reasons Jesus came to Die).

Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.

What is the Greatest Benefit of the Gospel?‏

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple. 

(Psalm 27:4)

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

(2 Corinthians 4:4-6)

I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. (Philippians 1:23)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…

(1 Peter 3:18)

What is the greatest and most glorious benefit of the gospel?

Justification and forgiveness of sins? But why were we justified and forgiven?

Eternal life? But what IS eternal life? (see John 17: 1ff)

Receiving the Holy Spirit or being adopted into God’s family? But why did God do both of these?

Perhaps the defeat of Satan and death? But is the defeat of these an end in itself, or was this defeat designed to overcome an obstacle and attain a greater benefit?

What is the primary reason God humiliated Himself and took on human flesh?

And why did Christ die and rise again (primary reason)?

We live in narcissistic times where even the gospel has been tainted by self-interest. Let me state this clearly: The gospel’s greatest gift is…..God!  GOD is the gospel! The ultimate goal of the gospel is seeing and savoring—delighting and displaying—the beauty of the glory of Christ. The ultimate aim of the gospel is the display of God’s glory and the removal of every obstacle to our delighting and savoring Him as our highest treasure.

Everything that Jesus did to accomplish redemption for us, and everything He did to apply redemption (see John Murray’s Redemption: Accomplished and Applied) to us, was done to overcome obstacles that hindered us from fully glorifying and enjoying God. That does not minimize the importance of each step in our redemption. Instead, once we understand WHY the Trinity has done so much in accomplishing and applying our redemption, then each of those gospel diamond facets (e.g. justification, adoption, effectual calling. etc.) becomes all the more glorious and wonderful! At great cost to Himself, the Holy Trinity accomplished and applied redemption to us SO THAT we might glorify and enjoy Him forever. (see 1 Peter 3:18 above, etc)

But there has been a shift away from God as the all-satisfying gift of God’s love. The gospel has shifted from God’s love as the gift of HIMSELF to this love as the gift of a mirror in which we like what we see. I’m not denigrating the latter but surely it should not have primacy in our understanding of the gospel.

Romans 8:32 reminds us that 10,000 gifts flow from the love of God in Christ….blood bought gifts of the gospel. But the distortion of the gospel happens when we camp on these blessings given to us instead of focusing on the Giver of these gifts. Often the gospel is presented in such a way that we are center stage instead of God. Since self-esteem has saturated our culture it is difficult for us to see when we rejoice in the gifts more that the Giver of the gifts. But all 10,000 gifts of the gospel would not be good unless they lead to a deeper enjoyment of the glory of God. Indeed, focusing on the gifts is idolatry. Focusing on the facets of the gospel diamond without seeing the beauty of the diamond as a whole would be demeaning of the diamond.

Entire Sunday School curricula, preaching styles, deliverance ministries, and Christian counseling has fallen prey to making much of us to the expense of making much of God. Instead of being theo-centric, they are anthropo-centric….man centered instead of God centered.

For example, there are many psychological benefits that flow from the gospel. However, when we think upon these things do they lead like shafts of light back up to God and His moral perfections and unspeakable glory, or do we spend most of our time looking to see what we get out of the gospel?

Another example would be Christus Victor—Christ, through the cross and resurrection—defeating death and Satan. Since I am involved in circles that deal with demonic issues, it seems that sometimes we exult in our victory over unclean spirits more than we exult in the all glorious God. It can be a subtle shift where we do praise God for His victory over Satan, but lose sight of being God-besotted people, where we supremely delight and display the glory of Christ Himself….not just what He has done through/ for us. The bible says that God is jealous and we need to remember in exorcism/deliverance ministry that God is jealous that we not love spiritual power more than Himself. Like some of you, I have seen extraordinary displays of God’s power, but let these experiences steer our eyes heavenward and take supreme delight in God Himself. It is an ‘occupational hazard’ for those who cast out demons to become enthralled with the experience/gift more than delighting in God and displaying His glory. And I would suggest that a theo-centric view of the gospel might re-shape how some of us perform deliverances. Freeing people from demonic oppression/possession is not an end itself, but so that God is glorified in the removal of an obstacle of that person fully delighting in Christ and displaying His glory. The shift can be subtle and I know I have failed here at times.
 Again, it is so easy to focus on the gifts over and above the giver of the gifts. God’s good gifts are to move us to see more of God’s glory and to savor more of His infinitely beautiful moral perfection displayed in the gospel. Even thankfulness for the cross has become for many primarily an echo of OUR worth, and not God’s worth. In 1 Corinthians 10:31 EVERYTHING should be done for the glory of God.

Why does Satan hate the gospel? For numerous reasons, but he mainly hates the gospel because it is the supreme display (especially the cross and resurrection) of the glory of Jesus. The devil wants to make Christ look bad. In the astonishing text above from 2 Corinthians, states that, just as God spoke light into existence, so also he shines the light of the gospel into sinners hearts, so that they might see the glory of God in the face of Christ. Creation…..re-creation. Satan hates the gospel because the death and resurrection are where the glory of Christ is revealed most brightly. Thus he tries to blind people to the beauty of the God of the gospel and the gospel of God. True conversion is the spiritual awakening of our souls to the glory of God as the foundation of our ultimate joy and satisfaction. Jesus died for our sins, was punished for them, had His righteousness imputed to us, so that He might bring us to Himself.

Please do not think that I am minimizing the proper enjoyment of God’s gifts. Indeed, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.(J. Edwards, John Piper) Hence, we need not have to choose between our greatest joy and God’s greatest glory! They are one and the same!  Every pore of our being was made for finding our ultimate satisfaction only in the Lord Jesus, by seeing and savoring Him, increasingly and for all eternity.

For the least deserving, and at great cost to Himself, our sovereign Creator overcame all obstacles, to monergistically and graciously give us Himself. All the texts above reveal the psalmist, Paul, and Peter as longing for one thing only—to see the glory of Christ face-to face….to see God in all His beauty. Indeed, for Christians, death is a gift which opens the door for the beatific vision.

It would be unwise, even cruel, of me to stop here. Depending upon your temperament, a call to delight and display the glory of Christ moment by moment may cause discouragement. Why? To be candid, whenever I read of or write about Christ as my supreme treasure, I have two responses: part of me yearns and rejoices in this summons to display the glory of Christ, but I am also overwhelmed with how far short I fall. I have never loved God with all of my being for even one second….and may I humbly say that neither has anybody else. The world, indwelling sin, and demons conspire to take our gaze off of Christ and fixate on something else. I am of the opinion that indwelling sin is the chief culprit of spiritual drag because we carry it around everywhere we go, whereas demons come and go. And the world would have no drag on us if it were not for that seething cauldron of filth that remains in our heart, even after salvation. I/we are sometimes too quick to fault demons for our spiritual malaise. Jesus said that our own hearts are the originating point of all manner of ungodly thoughts, actions, and words.

Nevertheless, God would not desire/demand that He be our supreme delight if, by God’s grace, we were not able to experience some substantial reality of it. Let us pray, despite how we feel, that we might see and savor the glory of God in the face of Christ, and display Christ’s glory to a dark and lost world. Soli deo gloria

Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.

The Millennium...Differing Views

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit1 and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and resealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Responsible biblical scholars differ in their interpretation of the meaning of "the thousand years" (millennium), and these verses are among the mostly controversial in Revelation. I will only be able to give a brief outline of the three main views.Since this is not an issue essential to salvation, gentleness and a desire to learn from each other should mark the way we view differ.

This book is apocalyptic in genre, and that means that there is much symbolism. The issue is how much of Revelation is symbolic and how much is "literal". It needs to be said that the use of symbols does not detract from the authority of the bible.(see ch 1 for how symbols begin...."lampstands")

Some see this book as primarily future....some see it a primarily past (fall of Jerusalem),,,,and some see it as mixture of both.

1. Premillennialists--those who believe Christ will return "pre" (before) the millennium. This is usually thought to be a literal thousand years, which will be a time of great peace and justice, with Christ physically reigning here on earth, along with believers. They tend to minimize symbolism as much as possible.I cannot deal with the differing views of the tribulation nor the notion of the rapture.However, classical premills differ from pre-trib premills in that they believe the rapture/second coming are same event.

2. Postmillenialists--those who think that Christ will return "post" (after) the millennial period, and that the gospel will triumph in changing individuals and culture, and peace and justice will reign for a thousand years (or a long time). They see a future which will be systematically transformed by the gospel, but that prior to Jesus' return there will be an unleashing of wickedness....then Christ will return for Judgment. .Not all post-mills are reconstructionists...again, I have to leave it at that.

3. Amillennialists--those who hold an "a" ( non, or non-literal view of the thousand years), and believe this "thousand years" is the same as this present church age, and that this is the "millenium" before Christ's return. As with the others, they believe in a great apostasy before Christ's literal return.What differentiates them from post mills is that, even though they believe in the extraordinary transforming power of the gospel, they do not believe in a golden age prior to Jesus' Second Coming.The victory is that deceased believers reign with Christ now...and the alive believers are more than conquerors in Christ.

Each of these views are to be understood in terms of interpretation of other passages (e.g. Matthew 24), and each view falls within the framework of historic Christian othodoxy. In addition, many folks adhere to a mix of these views!

v. 1-3 (cf 12:9-17) The nature of this binding of Satan is crucial to each millennial view. Premills read this as predicting a complete removal of Satan from the earth during the millennium. They argue that "shut it" and "sealed it over him" picture a removal of Satan from Earth too complete to represent the current age. Postmills also think this will be a future golden age, but believe that Christ will not return until after the end of that time. Amills note that the NT affirms that Jesus's first coming has already bound Satan (Matthew 12:29) and brought God's light to the nations (Matthew 4:14-16; Luke 2:32; Acts 14:15-17; 17:30-31) Hence, they argue that this binding of Satan for a "thousand years" refers to the gospels spread among all nations during the present age, and to the present restraint of the church's persecutors until an outbreak of rebellion before Christ's return (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8) v.4-5 "...and reigned with Christ for a thousand years".Premills think this means that resurrected believers will assist with Christ's thousand year reign as King over the earth. Amills think this means that deceased believers now (and during the entire "thousand years", which means from Pentecost to second coming) are reigning with Christ from heaven. Postmills see it as a future triumph of Christianity in the world.

Historically, there are significant differences amongst those who are premill, and there are other overlapping factors amongst the three views, but this is a humble attempt to clarify the basic three views held during the last 2,000 years. The main issue is that Jesus is most certainly returning to judge the living and the dead, and that He reigns supreme NOW.

Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.

Salvation is a Gift

Pastor Stephen Piersall
God's Preservation Ministry Soul Care
http://www.gpmsc.org/
https://www.facebook.com/GodsPreservationMinistry
http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/soul-care

There is so much talk in the news, social media, etc. about the end of times. I can understand this with all the shootings, natural disasters, threat of WW III, but we must stop and think what utmost importance in our lives is. The Great Commission in the Bible tells us what we are to be doing right now. In fact, the Disciples asked Jesus when we know of his 2nd coming, which he went into detail about what we are seeing in today’s world. However, the part that is not getting the attention is “Saving Souls.” We need not to put too many concerns of the end of times, as in the Bible, it states about Jesus second coming “it will be like a thief in the night.”

G - God so loved the world that he gave his

O - Only begotten

S - Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not

P - Perish, but have

E - Everlasting

L - Life.

To what degree are we doing our part to bring people to Jesus? Are YOU going to church with all your support? Are YOU praying and reading your Bible? Did anyone make a New Year’s resolution to bring people to God, or commit to supporting your local church?

Yes, the end of times is near, but near could be today, tomorrow, or a 1,000 years henceforth.  Let’s focus on today, and set a goal for yourself of how many people you can bring to accept the Salvation from our LORD. I would love to hear from you on December 31st.

Plan of Salvation:

Step 1 - Confess that you are a sinner. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God… for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 3:23; 6:23. Death means eternal separation from God forever in a lake of fire. Rev. 20:14, 15 but here´s the good news: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

Step 2 - Realize that you cannot save yourself and that Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8, 9 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Step 3 - Ask God to forgive and save you. If you sincerely mean it, He will. 1 John 1:8. Then simply receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:8, 10, 13 "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 1:12

Here is a sample prayer. You do not have to pray these exact words, as what you say is the truth and from your heart:

"Dear God, I know I am a sinner and that the wages of sin is death. I realize I cannot save myself, but I believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, who took my place on the cross and died for me. Please forgive me of my sins and save me. I accept Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and Savior and give my existence to Him. Thank you, Dear God, for saving me."

If you were sincere with God, your sins are forgiven, and you have a brand-new life in Christ! "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become brand new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

You will want to know what to do next and will have questions. We are here to help you in any way we can. We can also find some churches in your local area. In addition, there is another tab to this page that will give you some information about what you should do next.

God Bless You and Welcome to the Kingdom of God †

The Devil is Coming to the Big Screen

Movies about demons are certainly taking over. Not in a healthy manner. It just seems evil is taking over entertainment industry and won't be slowing down. Three more evil type movies have been promoted this week: Oculus, The Quiet Ones, and Mr. Jones. Very disturbing trailers. This is not healthy. This is bad on so many levels when one isn't of full mind thinking black magic is safe with no ramifications.

Hello my para beauties! I pray everyone has had a great weekend and the weather was good for your weekend. Spring is here finally! That always helps lifts our spirits up a tad. Out with the old in with the new. Good old spring cleaning. New goals are set for the new season and all that good stuff. Not to mention Easter is coming in which we celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ resurrected from the grave to go be with the father in heaven. Amen!

Whenever there is a holiday the glorifies Christ, Satan hates it. He will do what he can to ruin it and create strife. He mimics all the church does into his own perverted way that's taking place all over the world as we speak. How ironic these diabolical movies are coming out at the same time or close to Easter. These latest movies I see coming out are about pure evil for entertainment. Just diabolical evil. This does nothing but awaken anything out there and keep it alive. Now they do have real problems on their hands now! Law Of Attraction my friends. Attachments do happen. Harmless movie as some call it can already open some bad doors.

A demon/daemon or fiend, is a supernatural, often malevolent being prevalent in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology and folklore. The original Greek word daimon does not carry the negative connotation initially understood by implementation of the Koine δαιμόνιον (daimonion),[1] and later ascribed to any cognate words sharing the root.

In Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an unclean spirit, sometimes a fallen angel, the spirit of a deceased human, or a spirit of unknown type which may cause demonic possession, calling for an exorcism. In Western occultism and Renaissance magic, which grew out of an amalgamation of Greco-Roman magic, Jewish demonology and Christian tradition, [2] a demon is a spiritual entity that may be conjured and controlled.

Many are attempting to summon Incubus/Succubus demons for sexual pleasure and/or companionship. This they get from movies, TV shows etc...This is not safe and you will regret what you open up. Incubus/Succubus given legal ground are very hard to get rid of. We have people attempting Black Magic are fooled as they believe demons can be controlled and will do their bidding. The fact is these demons ONLY OBEY SATAN! Listen to me please....Do not be fooled. Do not let your curiosity get the better of your judgement! Seriously.....once you open yourself up to that it becomes very real. In a moment I will have scripture for you to read for yourself. I do not waiver outside of the Gospel, it's God's Word. Our instructions for life. No one is perfect. That is not what this is about. I'm receiving disturbing information and it concerns me. There is no need to summon any dark force I beg of you. You will regret it. They can NOT be safely called upon like you may think they can. You will pay a price, I promise you will. Depression is just the beginning of what you mentally suffer. These movies and books are so much more dangerous than people realize.

Written By Jennifer L Auld

How Serious is the Belief in Trapped Spirits?

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann    

My interest in the theological issue of spiritism accelerated like a rocket when I realized the titanic With the American spiritual landscape littered with the rubbish of all manner of crazy ideas and beliefs, it has the dubious distinction of being the arch-heterodox belief of the day…that is my opinion and I am prepared to defend that sentiment.

The first argument is simple but profound: fifty percent of Americans now believe in trapped spirits. HALF—ONE OUT OF EVERY TWO!—OF THE POPULATION HAS EMBRACED THIS ERROR…HIGHER WITH THE YOUNGER CROWD…AND GROWING FAST EVERY DAY.  No need to drone on here, but what other specific belief error comes anywhere near that quantity of people? Number of people affected should certainly be considered when determining if an issue merits being called a crucial issue, should it not?  Spiritism is a crucial issue which must be passionately addressed because more people have embraced this erroneous belief than any other heterodox belief.

Certainly one can believe in ghosts and still be saved, because Scripture clearly teaches justification by faith alone (Rom. 4; 5:1) However, the ability to discern the relative importance of theological/spiritual beliefs is vital for effective Christian life and ministry. The relative importance of certain issues/beliefs can fall within four categories. 1. Absolutes define the core beliefs of the Christian faith…what one must believe to be saved (the belief in absolute truth is a distinct issue); 2. Convictions, while not core beliefs, usually have significant impact on the health and effectiveness of the church and individuals; 3. Opinions, are less clear issues and are usually not worthy of dividing over; 4. Questions are issues which are currently unsettled. These criteria, and the seven below, are designed to help sort through the myriad of issues we face by categorizing them into four distinct levels of seriousness…hope they will help you in the future with thinking through the significance of other issues as well.

Where an issue falls within these categories should be determined by weighing the cumulative force of at least seven considerations: 1. Biblical clarity; 2. Relevance to the character of God; 3. Relevance to the essence of the gospel; 4. Biblical frequency and significance (how often in Scripture it is taught and what weight Scripture places upon it); 5. Effect on other doctrines; 6. Consensus among Christians (past and present); 7. Effect on personal and church life…all the categories should be considered collectively in determining how important an issue is to the Christian faith. The ability to rightly discern the difference between core doctrines and legitimately disputable matters will keep the church from either compromising important truth or needlessly dividing over peripheral issues. (pg. 2502 ESV Study Bible, emp. added)

In a sense, the main goal of my book is to provide the cumulative evidence (mentioned above and other) to argue that the issue of trapped spirits lies within the realm of convictions—see above for distinctiveness of four categories of issues…#2. While a biblically accurate belief regarding spiritism is not a core/absolute issue (not necessary for salvation…belief in the deity of Christ is an example of a belief that is a core issue), it is an exceedingly important conviction or teaching of the bible. Belief in ghosts, and attempting communication with them, can do serious damage to the church and to an individual’s spirituality. I should hasten to add, it IS doing serious damage right now. Let us look at the relative importance the bible gives to this issue, and the ramifications for the spiritual and emotional health of people by looking at these seven points.

1. Biblical clarity—using accepted principles of hermeneutics, Deuteronomy 18:9-14 and Leviticus 20:6-8, 27 are they key texts relative to communication with the dead (this is a distinct issue which is beyond the scope of this newsletter, but I devoted an entire article on this), and they are clear and explicit regarding the exceptional wickedness of spiritism. God as Judge used Israel as executioner of the Canaanites due to the latter’s occult practices which included spiritism. The land had become so defiled by this and other occult practices that it was vomiting them out. As I mentioned, using sound interpretive principles, it is abundantly clear that these texts have priority over all other “ghost” related texts. Then, when we look at these texts, we see that they are transgenerational in their authority. As far as biblical clarity, these texts are as clear as clear can get. There should be no debate if you under Christ’s Lordship. Remember that Jesus Himself quoted from Deut. three times when countering Satan’s climactic temptations in the wilderness.

2. Relevance to the character of God—the notion of ghosts casts a shadow over God’s omnipotence, and goodness (actually ALL the attributes of God are frontally assaulted by this notion)…what kind of God would leave deceased babies here as spirit babies? That “God” would be Satan-like. Spritism implies that the Lord is not sovereign over His creation—a godlette or McGod. “They died so quickly their souls got stuck here.” Are we to believe that manner of death can snatch believers out of God’s hands? God forbid! I could go on and on here…

3. Relevance on the essence of the gospel—the perfection of the Person and work of Christ is seriously undermined and impugned if we believe that some people get trapped when they die. What are we saved from, if death is NOT a doorway to heaven?  A McSalvation at best. While it does not utterly ruin the atonement, as denial of the deity of Christ does, it comes perilously close to it. Was Jesus’s salvation perfectly efficacious or not? Is Jesus the Son of Man, the conquering Warrior over evil and death, or not? Is it good news to believe that God’s blood was shed, only to wake up in the front porch to hell?

4. Frequency and weight—while spiritism is not mentioned often in the bible, where it is mentioned, the utmost weight or gravity is placed upon this issue (see 1 above).

5. Effect on other doctrines—pull out a book on bible doctrine and you will see how EVERY doctrine is undermined by the notion of people getting trapped here. For example, the biblical doctrine of hope is hopelessly destroyed by this belief. Hope is certainty regarding our future glory—how can one enjoy this basic fruit of the atonement when the fearful prospect of possibly being trapped here is hanging over our heads? Hope is not only an important biblical doctrine, but it is also crucial for a healthy emotional state. Another example is the believers union with Christ—we are in Christ, and indissolubly united with the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. We are already in heaven with Jesus, in a very real sense (Col.3:3). Our union with Jesus is unbreakable, and it is the hub from which all other spiritual blessings flow. What does it say about that union, if we can be separated from Christ indefinitely in a paranormal gutter-world…Satan’s home turf? The same corrosive effects occur to many other biblical doctrines. Please check it out for yourself….it may cast a whole new light on this discussion.

6. The consensus of Christians (past and present)—from the early church fathers who railed against the same pagan Gnosticism as we do today, up until today, the monolithic consensus of the doctors of the church has been that death ushers everyone immediately into their eternal destiny. I do not know of a single judicious theologian, in 2,000 years of church history, who has believed in ghosts—death has always been seen as certain entry into either eternal life or eternal death. Are we so foolish to ignore their collective wisdom?

7. Effect on personal and church life—how can you live with joy inexpressible when you are speaking to demons, and are being demonically oppressed?  Because the spirit realm is the God ordained temporary home of most of the fallen angels (rest already in hell), then when people summon spirits they immediately find themselves playing in Satan’s sandbox…and they are trespassing, which gives the demonic legal right to attach and attack. Since the notion of ghosts is so hostile to all that we call holy, then belief/speaking to the dead seriously undermines the stability of a Christian’s spiritual foundation—like a three legged table, it would not take much a “bump” to cause them to crash. As I mentioned, this belief is extremely corrosive to all it comes in contact with—other orthodox beliefs held side-by-side with it, will tend to be affected by it, and not vice versa. Kind of like when a Christian marries a non-Christian, the latter tends to pull the Christian down…having a corrosive effect on their spirituality.