Rapture ... soon?

[Spiritual Israelite]

I don't believe it's nonsense understanding that being possessed by evil is what comes naturally to man whose heart has not been made new through knowledge of the Holy Spirit within them. Demon possession is to have our hearts, and minds under the power of evil. When we are cleansed by Christ, we are given a new heart/mind through a new spirit within us.

Do you deny the existence of an evil, supernatural spirit being named Satan like he does? Do you deny that angels and evil spirits/demons exist like he does?

 

[David in NJ]

I did not say otherwise. Take your time for once and read what I actually said. Read my post again and read what I was responding to that you said.

You said this:


So, I am disagreeing with you about this and telling you that the strong man is Satan and that his house is Satan's kingdom and his goods are those who Satan oppresses in various ways including demon possession.

You said here: "It is the fallen angels/spirits under satan whom JESUS is casting out of people"? What is "it" here? I thought you were referring to the strong man there. No?

So, clarify your understanding of Matthew 12:28-29.

Who is the strong man? You defined everything else like his house and his goods. If you agree with me that the strong man is Satan, then how exactly does his house get spoiled, keeping in mind that you said his house "represents the individual person who is bound by evil"? How do his goods get spoiled, keeping in mind you said his goods "represents that which has value inside the house"?

Did you look at the verses preceding Matthew 12:28-29 for context? Jesus did not only mention the demon in the demon-possessed man, but also Satan and his kingdom, so that factors in to what He was saying in Matthew 12:28-29. It doesn't seem like you're taking that into account.

From the whole context of Matt 12:22-30 JESUS calls the evil spirits as a "strongman" when they are oppressing/possessing an individual.

The pharisees who hated the Authority of JESUS sought to blame Him as being the leader of these evil spirits.

JESUS addressed that specifically as well:
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them:
“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

 

[rwb]

This is interesting information that I never really considered. I'll have to give it more thoughtful study.

It's as though the serpent is man's conscience, that in the beginning knew neither good nor evil. But still a part of man whom God created "very good." Did our conscience become enticed to disobey God through lust of the flesh, we saw something forbidden that looked really good, and our desire to be as God? The serpent it defined as a snake, but comes from a primitive root defined - properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate:—× certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) × enchantment, learn by experience, × indeed, diligently observe. Interesting!

 

[rwb]

Do you deny the existence of an evil, supernatural spirit being named Satan like he does? Do you deny that angels and evil spirits/demons exist like he does?

Of course not! I don't believe TS is denying the existence of evil/good spirit beings either. The question is how do they exist if not through the hearts and minds of fallen man, or man who is in possession of a new spirit (heart/mind/will)? The one in unbelief of his father the devil, the one in faith having a new spirit (heart/mind/will) after the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[TribulationSigns]

@rwb I see that you liked this post. You actually agree with this nonsense? If so, then that's honestly disappointing.

My testimony will be nonsense to those who refuse to receive the love of the Truth. Like I said, the traditional belief is hard to break. Only the Spirit of God can show you as He did with me.

Now you asked about Luke:

Luke 8:32-33

• "And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
• Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked."

You are completely missing what Christ is teaching here. Yes, Luke 8:32–33 was a literal event. I do not deny this. BUT Scripture itself tells us these things “happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition” (1 Cor. 10:11). If you stop at the surface, treating it as nothing more than a historical curiosity, you cut yourself off from the spiritual truth God is revealing.

Christ did not perform miracles merely for spectacle — every miracle pointed to deeper realities of His kingdom. In Luke 8, the swine feeding on God's mountain (ie. church). They are symbolically unsaved professed Christians. The man possessed by “legion” represents the multitudes bound by spirit of Satan; Christ sets him free, showing His power to deliver souls of HIS people! The spirit of Satan entering the swine is not some random trivia; God recorded it to teach us something about the end of those who reject His truth. Didn't you realize that in the Old Testament swine were “unclean” animals (Lev. 11:7–8; Isa. 65:4). Jesus Himself uses “dogs” and “swine” as metaphors for those who trample holy truth (Matt. 7:6). And Revelation shows unclean spirits gathering the world to its destruction (Rev. 16:13–14) and the lake of fire as the final end of Satan and all who follow him (Rev. 20:10,15). Do you know why the swine will end up in the lake to be perished? Mine, mine...that lake sounds familiar.. What lake do you think Christ was talking about here? Find that out in the book of Revelation where all unsaved people end up in!

By refusing to see this, you’re not being “faithful to the text” — you’re being blind to the text. Scripture interprets Scripture. Christ is the One who said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 8:8). He demands spiritual discernment, not carnal literalism that most people do here. As you should already know the Bible is full of types, shadows, and figures that point to ultimate spiritual realities (Col. 2:16–17; Heb. 10:1).

You may need let go of traditional teaching and listen to what God is telling you, for these things were written for our learning (Rom. 15:4) and are examples for us (1 Cor. 10:6,11). If you don’t “compare spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13), you will always miss the Spirit’s teaching.

The point is Christ is showing us a spiritual reality in Luke 8 — a miracle that we, with Spirit of Christ, can free legion of souls from their evil spirit and the warning of the end for all professed believers (swine) of the congregation (mountain) who end up having the spirit of Satan! That is all what it is really about.

 

[TribulationSigns]

I agree. From the heart the mouth speaks. The evil within is through our natural nature, having an evil heart in unbelief. That's why when we are born again, we are no longer natural man, we've become supernatural spiritual man with a new heart and new spirit. Natural man is of the devil having the same heart and spirit of evil as their father, the Devil.

Ezekiel 11:19-21 (KJV) And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (KJV) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

It sounds like you are getting it! Amen!

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

Of course not! I don't believe TS is denying the existence of evil/good spirit beings either.

Yes, he is. He has made that clear in several posts in the past. He denies the existence of non-physical spirit beings called angels or demons. So, I was concerned that you were agreeing with him about that.

The question is how do they exist if not through the hearts and minds of fallen man, or man who is in possession of a new spirit (heart/mind/will)? The one in unbelief of his father the devil, the one in fai

I don't know what you mean by this. Can you explain? It comes across like you are equating man's fallen spirit with fallen evil spirits. But, above, you are not denying the existence of evil/good spirit beings. So, please explain your beliefs. Do you believe there are non-material (non-physical) spirit beings that scripture calls angels, demons (or evil spirits)? If so, that is different from what TS believes.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

My testimony will be nonsense to those who refuse to receive the love of the Truth.

I receive the love of the truth, so you're wrong yet again. It's amazing how people like you never tire of being wrong.

Like I said, the traditional belief is hard to break.

There's no reason to break it because it's so obvious. You apparently just have a desire to be different or something, so this is what you have come up with. Total nonsense.

Only the Spirit of God can show you as He did with me.

He has shown me that you have no idea of what you're talking about as it relates to this topic.

Now you asked about Luke:

Luke 8:32-33

• "And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
• Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked."

You are completely missing what Christ is teaching here. Yes, Luke 8:32–33 was a literal event. I do not deny this.

You did deny it by saying it was all symbolic in your other post. You need to be more clear and stick with one story.

BUT Scripture itself tells us these things “happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition” (1 Cor. 10:11). If you stop at the surface, treating it as nothing more than a historical curiosity, you cut yourself off from the spiritual truth God is revealing.

Regardless of the spiritual teaching that Jesus was intending there, you are denying that there were many evil spirit beings called demons inside the one demon-possessed man. That's the issue here. Stop dodging it. You tried to get around that with a bunch of nonsense related to including other people and their spirits. No, the many spirits were within the one demon-possessed man. That is undeniable. Yet, you deny it, anyway.

Christ did not perform miracles merely for spectacle — every miracle pointed to deeper realities of His kingdom. In Luke 8, the swine feeding on God's mountain (ie. church). They are symbolically unsaved professed Christians. The man possessed by “legion” represents the multitudes bound by spirit of Satan; Christ sets him free, showing His power to deliver souls of HIS people! The spirit of Satan entering the swine is not some random trivia; God recorded it to teach us something about the end of those who reject His truth. Didn't you realize that in the Old Testament swine were “unclean” animals (Lev. 11:7–8; Isa. 65:4). Jesus Himself uses “dogs” and “swine” as metaphors for those who trample holy truth (Matt. 7:6). And Revelation shows unclean spirits gathering the world to its destruction (Rev. 16:13–14) and the lake of fire as the final end of Satan and all who follow him (Rev. 20:10,15). Do you know why the swine will end up in the lake to be perished? Mine, mine...that lake sounds familiar.. What lake do you think Christ was talking about here? Find that out in the book of Revelation where all unsaved people end up in!

By refusing to see this, you’re not being “faithful to the text” — you’re being blind to the text. Scripture interprets Scripture. Christ is the One who said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 8:8). He demands spiritual discernment, not carnal literalism that most people do here. As you should already know the Bible is full of types, shadows, and figures that point to ultimate spiritual realities (Col. 2:16–17; Heb. 10:1).

You may need let go of traditional teaching and listen to what God is telling you, for these things were written for our learning (Rom. 15:4) and are examples for us (1 Cor. 10:6,11). If you don’t “compare spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13), you will always miss the Spirit’s teaching.

The point is Christ is showing us a spiritual reality in Luke 8 — a warning of the end of all unclean spirits and those who follow them.

You need to let go of your contrarian spirit who wants to impress people by going against the grain when it's not called for, such as in a case like this. Sometimes things are obvious in scripture. But, you make them convoluted for no reason.

I will ask you again since you didn't answer. Do you think Jesus was tempted by His own spirit in the desert for 40 days and nights since you deny that He was being tempted by an evil spirit being named Satan?

 

[Traveler]

The rapture and return of Christ to set up his kingdom are two separate events. The signs do indicate the rapture is close but the day and hour is no going to be revealed

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

The rapture and return of Christ to set up his kingdom are two separate events. The signs do indicate the rapture is close but the day and hour is no going to be revealed

2 Thessalonians 1:7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

Do you not think that the day when Jesus comes, which is when He will "be glorified in His saints" and "admired among all those who believe", is the day that the rapture will occur? Paul taught that the rapture and Christ's return are the same event in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-5:3 and in this passage as well. Jesus taught that in Matthew 24:29-31 and Mark 13:24-27, also.

 

[TribulationSigns]

It's as though the serpent is man's conscience, that in the beginning knew neither good nor evil. But still a part of man whom God created "very good." Did our conscience become enticed to disobey God through lust of the flesh, we saw something forbidden that looked really good, and our desire to be as God? The serpent it defined as a snake, but comes from a primitive root defined - properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate:—× certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) × enchantment, learn by experience, × indeed, diligently observe. Interesting!

Good. Indeed!

Here is an example. If I created a perfect automobile, and then left it out in the rain for 20 years and it rusted, that therefore it was never created perfect? That's not logical, right. It was perfect until the day it began to rust. Likewise, Adam (as well as Eve) was perfect until the day that he disobeyed God's word, and brought in death.

Ezekiel 28:15

• "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee."

The tradition belief that Ezekiel 28 is talking about Satan rebellion in heaven which is not the case but that is a subject for discussion later. So here is Biblical proof that something can be created perfect, and yet sin. If the Bible is our authority, the question is now moot. Adam was perfect in all his ways from the day when he was created until that very day that iniquity (sin) was found in him. It was not found in him because God created it in him, but was found because Adam and Eve of themselves LUSTED after the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was their "desire," that was against the will of God, that corrupted that perfection. The spirit that lusted to envy is a spirit that is friend to the world, and all the things therein, and a spirit that is an enemy of God.

James 4:5

• "Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?"

Your own spirit, not a supernatural being from outer space, the 3rd heaven or mythical purgatory. Man created his own evil spirit, and that was possible because God made man perfect, but not a Robot. The children of Israel had such a spirit and as a result they all perished in the wilderness because of unbelief. Not because God is merciless, but as our example illustrating every man is tempted away of his own lust and enticed, and that lust conceives and brings forth sin

1st Corinthians 10:6

• "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted."

Just as Israel about to enter into the promised land, the New Testament messengers as stars falling from heaven (sign of the end), spirit of disobedience in mankind, and the mountain retreat for true peace and safety from the fiery storms. These things are written for our consideration because the time is near. We either Keep God's word faithfully, or we shall be deceived by those corrupting it. If Biblical history has taught us anything, it is that the carnal mind is never under authority of God's word, and is oft offended by symbolic or Spiritual truths of Scripture. Always has been.

Romans 8:7

• "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

 

[TribulationSigns]

LOL. You spew so much nonsense.

I can sense a lot of bitter in your mouth, SI. It does sounds like you have been quickly offended by my testimony that caused you to have an unteachable spirit. I was a lot like you when I first heard something like this before. Give yourself some time to think and mediate on God's Word on the matter.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

I can sense a lot of bitter in your mouth, SI.

I do have a disdain for false teaching, yes. I will never apologize for that.

It does sounds like you have been quickly offended by my testimony that caused you to have an unteachable spirit.

LOL. You are the unteachable one here. I have nothing to learn from you. Meanwhile, you lap up every word that your hero Tony Warren speaks. I know you must have gotten this false teaching from him.

I was a lot like you when I first heard something like this before. Give yourself some time to think and mediate on God's Word on the matter.

LOL. Are you a comedian? Do you think I just started studying scripture today? I don't need any more time to understand that you have no idea whatsoever of what you're talking about as it relates to this topic.

 

[Spiritual Israelite]

I can sense a lot of bitter in your mouth, SI. It does sounds like you have been quickly offended by my testimony that caused you to have an unteachable spirit. I was a lot like you when I first heard something like this before. Give yourself some time to think and mediate on God's Word on the matter.

You need to ask God for wisdom instead of just relying on Tony Warren for understanding. Then you will come to know the truth about these things.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

Just make sure you don't doubt when you ask. Some people miss that part.

 

[TribulationSigns]

You need to ask God for wisdom

Of course, I get my wisdom from God—through studying His Word and through prayer. Your doubt is not my problem. Take your pride to God and answer to Him yourself.

instead of just relying on Tony Warren for understanding.

Your assumption is incorrect. Tony Warren is one of many theologians I’ve studied over the past 40 years, alongside my own studying of the Bible. I don’t simply accept what they teach — I examine their studies carefully against Scripture to see if these things are so. What I share here reflects my own amillennial belief and interpretation, developed through decades of study. Whether you like it or not, that is the position I hold.

 

[WPM]

No the problem is that you don't really understand what is the devil. The devil is indeed a literal spirit, an antichrist spirit, a spirit of disobedience, an unclean spirit, a spirit of man, and there are indeed MANY Scriptures that support that truth. I have been saying that all along. What the Scripture nowhere support is that the Devil is a supernatural being that was once a good angel in Heaven, but was cast out of heaven and now (sorta) omnipresent where he is able to inhabit reptiles and billions of unsaved people on Earth simultaneously.

I think that is a misunderstanding on your part where Christians continue the old errors of assigning spiritual truths (like a dragon in Heaven with an army of angels) to literal/physical beings in physical/literal places.

Either make the Heaven in Revelation 12 literal, the Dragon Literal, the Woman Literal, the Angels literal and the Moon and stars literal, or don't make any of them literal. But you can't have it both ways, okay?

If you think about the devil "as if" he's now jumped out of the Serpent, which you may believe he spoke through. Why then does God still call him the Serpent all throughout Scripture, even to the end in Revelation? Is this spirit Satan still in the "physical/literal" Serpent to this day, humm? If not, why is the Serpent condemned and cursed and called a murderer and Liar? The Serpent was more subtil than all, so did the Devil make him do it or was it because someone's mind was just so sharp, cunning, tricky or crafty? If you say that Satan spoke through the literal Serpent, why was the woman not surprised that the Serpent was talking? Maybe because of the same reason no one was surprised when Satan inhabited Judas. They didn't know it because Satan is a spirit, and represented his own cunning evil mind and will.



So much for your Sunday school lesson on "Satan and demons." You are missing the point here.

Look...Christ talked to and rebuked so many evil spirits in men when He came to Israel to redeem them, all symbolizing not that there was a bunch of supernatural beings that had taken over their bodies making these people insane, physically ill or they were physically necromancers, but that in their spirit they were evil. We read that Satan entered Judas and that's when he went and sold Christ for that money. Did that mean a Supernatural being jumped into Him and took Him over? Not at all! None of the apostles saw any change in Judas, no one knew he had a devil, so why do we read this, think about it! It is Because God's Word tells us that Judas was the one who held the bag of money because he was a thief. He sold Christ because he was a thief all along and he lusted after that money and his OWN evil spirit moved him to do this just as it moves thieves today to do evil things for money. They have the same evil spirit, not a supernatural fallen angel devil-type that is so taught in the churches and your favorite Sunday School! The churches believe their false traditions that they decided to have some sort of revival tents pretending to physically cast out devils today, a joke and embarrassment to the true church and true deliverance from Devils! Because, like YOU (on some subjects), they don't understand God speaks in symbolism. He did it for our learning. He never promised anyone would cast out supernatural super devils, what He promised was in our great commission, we were given power and authority to preach the gospel, that would cast out the evil spirits and bring an end to man's spiritual insanity. For they are of legion, meaning many PEOPLE with same evil spirit out there that needed to be delivered! This was what the incident with man coming with a legion points to!

Luke 8:32-33

• "And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
• Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked."

This has NOTHING to do with God talking to spiritual beings, or with a legion of Devils as stuffed into this one man, or with swine being made wicked to run into the sea, or with feeding these pigs on the side of a physical mountain. No, no no! This all was to symbolize something infinitely more important than pigs on a mountain or a man with a legion of actual physical demons making this man insane. Selah! Not any more than God having a physical donkey talk to someone in the way. God is making a point, dude, and it's not that pigs were made wicked while grazing on a hill, Donkeys can talk, or that scorpions and snakes can't harm His apostles. But no one will ever know the point when they're continuing to take a very physical approach to God's people, Kingdom and spiritual teachings.

I can't help people like you, for example, they're (generally speaking) never going to believe it. Sadly, the truth is not for the masses. People search for truth because they have a Spirit for it, I can't deliver it and force feed them. Tradition is a hard shell to crack. Just as I'm (generally speaking) never going to convince a Catholic that there is no Purgatory and the Bible is the authority, a Dispensationalist that there is no separation between Jew and Gentile, a Baptist that Baptism doesn't have to be dunking with water to find salvation, or a Calvinist that Calvinism is a horribly inappropriate misnomer, etc., etc. I'm certainly not going to try via third-person messaging. If Christ, being the perfect Preacher couldn't convince the Judaizers that He was the Christ, why would I (who is far less equipped to do so) presume to convince professed Christians about a much more complicated issue of the conceiving and personage of Satan? I wouldn't. All I can tell you is of God's promise that God's people seek truth and know His truth when they hear it because of the Spirit. That's as compared to non-authoritative presumptions. Christ said it best:

John 16:13

• "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

Do you believe that demons or demonic spirits are real? Do you believe that the angels who fell with Satan at the beginning are demons who possess certain wicked who leave themselves open to demonic control?

 

[WPM]

I don't believe it's nonsense understanding that being possessed by evil is what comes naturally to man whose heart has not been made new through knowledge of the Holy Spirit within them. Demon possession is to have our hearts, and minds under the power of evil. When we are cleansed by Christ, we are given a new heart/mind through a new spirit within us.

Do you believe that demons or demonic spirits are real? Do you believe that the angels who fell with Satan at the beginning are demons who possess certain wicked who leave themselves open to demonic control?

 

[WPM]

Good. Indeed!

Here is an example. If I created a perfect automobile, and then left it out in the rain for 20 years and it rusted, that therefore it was never created perfect? That's not logical, right. It was perfect until the day it began to rust. Likewise, Adam (as well as Eve) was perfect until the day that he disobeyed God's word, and brought in death.

Ezekiel 28:15

• "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee."

The tradition belief that Ezekiel 28 is talking about Satan rebellion in heaven which is not the case but that is a subject for discussion later. So here is Biblical proof that something can be created perfect, and yet sin. If the Bible is our authority, the question is now moot. Adam was perfect in all his ways from the day when he was created until that very day that iniquity (sin) was found in him. It was not found in him because God created it in him, but was found because Adam and Eve of themselves LUSTED after the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was their "desire," that was against the will of God, that corrupted that perfection. The spirit that lusted to envy is a spirit that is friend to the world, and all the things therein, and a spirit that is an enemy of God.

James 4:5

• "Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?"

Your own spirit, not a supernatural being from outer space, the 3rd heaven or mythical purgatory. Man created his own evil spirit, and that was possible because God made man perfect, but not a Robot. The children of Israel had such a spirit and as a result they all perished in the wilderness because of unbelief. Not because God is merciless, but as our example illustrating every man is tempted away of his own lust and enticed, and that lust conceives and brings forth sin

1st Corinthians 10:6

• "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted."

Just as Israel about to enter into the promised land, the New Testament messengers as stars falling from heaven (sign of the end), spirit of disobedience in mankind, and the mountain retreat for true peace and safety from the fiery storms. These things are written for our consideration because the time is near. We either Keep God's word faithfully, or we shall be deceived by those corrupting it. If Biblical history has taught us anything, it is that the carnal mind is never under authority of God's word, and is oft offended by symbolic or Spiritual truths of Scripture. Always has been.

Romans 8:7

• "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

So, you see no difference between your soul and spirit and you believe your spirit can sin?

 

[rwb]

Do you believe that demons or demonic spirits are real? Do you believe that the angels who fell with Satan at the beginning are demons who possess certain wicked who leave themselves open to demonic control?

Yes, I do believe there are both demonic spirits as well as angels of God, both in Scripture called "messengers". No, I don't believe in the doctrine of fallen angels of God. That which was cast out of heaven at the birth of Christ was Satan and his demonic messengers, who before the advent of Christ had access to heaven (Job). What I'm not sure of is the way in which spirits enter into a man.

 

[rwb]

Of course, I get my wisdom from God—through studying His Word and through prayer. Your doubt is not my problem. Take your pride to God and answer to Him yourself.

Your assumption is incorrect. Tony Warren is one of many theologians I’ve studied over the past 40 years, alongside my own studying of the Bible. I don’t simply accept what they teach — I examine their studies carefully against Scripture to see if these things are so. What I share here reflects my own amillennial belief and interpretation, developed through decades of study. Whether you like it or not, that is the position I hold.

I too have learned much from Tony Warren. And Mountain Retreat is still a trove of information from several articles from several God-fearing Christian men. I too am in the habit of weighing the articles against the Bible.