Friday, January 21, 2011

The Devil Inside ~

What Do You Believe...

With the recent release of ‘Season of the Witch’ and the upcoming release of ‘The Rite’ it’s a pretty good presumption to say that Hollywood has gone to hell – again.  It happens every so often; from the movie releases of Constantine, Frailty, The Serpent and the Rainbow to Stigmata, the Exorcism of Emily Rose and The Last Exorcism.  Hell, I still recall the first time I saw the Exorcist; I was seven – bad babysitter!  It has obviously left its mark. 


So where do writers get these ideas on demons and angels?  Where do we draw the lines in the fight for the salvation of mankind?  For some of us it was bred into us in the weekly grind of church on Sundays; forced religion with frilly dresses and Sunday brunch.  Most of us probably didn’t recognize the mandated education.  And those that did – well, some grew up and strayed from faith and others remained believers in God’s Grace.  But, there are those who are a bit of both – the believer that still wonders.  Questions remain. 
Is that a good thing?  Maybe.  At least fiction will never be the same.
Did you know that in Western religion and occult lore, demons are classified into various elaborate systems, and hierarchies of hell?  They have ascribed them to various characters, forms, attributes and duties.  The most complex hierarchy was devised by Johann Weyer – a Dutch physician, occultist and demonologist.  Weyer stated that in the hierarchy of demons it is estimated that there were 7,405,926 demons serving under seventy-two princes?
The statement lists were 7,405,926 demons.  Makes one wonder where they went?  Did God’s warriors cast them into the darkness?  And if so, doesn’t it beg to state the obvious that they are already in the ultimate pit of darkness?  Can a demon be forgiven?  Repent its sins?


Did you know that Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament?  According to the Books of Job and Luke, angels are ordinary people who carry messages (Job 1:14; Luke 7:24; 9:52).  That the word angel actually comes from the Greek word aggelos, which means “messenger.” The matching Hebrew word mal'ak has the same meaning.  But, are all angels good?  And wasn’t there a war?  Didn’t Lucifer fall from grace?  Isn’t that how he became the head demon?

The Bible classifies some angels as “elect” (1 Timothy 5:21) or “holy” (Matthew 25:31; Mark 8:38).  It also states that all angels were originally holy, enjoying the presence of God (Matthew 18:10) and the environment of Heaven (Mark 13:32).  There were those that opposed God under the leadership of Satan (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Ephesians 6:12). These are the angels often referred to as “demons.”

It has been written that there is actually a great unseen conflict raging that goes beyond anything we can imagine. Author Dr. John Bechtle, like many, believe it is not, however, a fight between two equal and eternal forces. That God, who created all beings, is still in charge, and once He has used the wicked angels to accomplish His purposes, He will bring them to a final defeat.



As for the War in Heaven -- The Book of Revelation, opens with the words, "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place", includes in those events a War in Heaven:
Now war arose in Heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And 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.

Most people believe that good will always conquer evil.  That Light will prevail against the Darkness.  That at the end of times God wins.  In between some of us will falter, some will wonder and some will be changed – become believers or be led astray.  But at that final hour, in the end it’s all just a matter of Faith….

 
Faith Savage ~ Demon Huntress
Available Now at
Mojocastle Press

 
K.A. M'Lady

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