How does Satan communicate?

Satan was a created cherub (Ezekiel 28:14)," TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 28:14), one of the angelic orders. As such, he operates in the realm of spirits. Though fallen, he remains a spirit being.

Two references will suffice to show his work in the spirit realm. In Acts 5:3," TARGET="_blank">Acts 5:3, Peter asked Ananias, "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?" Since the human spirit is related to knowledge, to the mind (1 Corinthians 2:11)," TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 2:11), Satan is able to insinuate thoughts into the human mind.

The soul is also part of man’s spirit being and relates to the emotions (Matthew 12:18; 26:38)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 12:18; 26:38). Since the Lord tempts no man with evil (James 1:13)," TARGET="_blank">James 1:13), it seems necessary to understand that "an evil spirit from the Lord" (1 Samuel 16:14)" TARGET="_blank">1 Samuel 16:14) that afflicted Saul was permitted by God, not directed by Him. This evil spirit affected Saul’s emotions, bringing him into a form of depression and violent anger.

The conclusion, then, is that Satan communicates with men through their mind and emotions.

In both of these cases, Satan’s communication does not override the responsibility of the individual. Ananias was responsible for the acts he committed in response to Satan’s initiative. As strong as Satan is, we can resist (James 4:7)" TARGET="_blank">James 4:7) his mental and emotional attacks. Our will determines our response to Satan’s communication.

D. Oliver
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Does the New Testament contain references to musical instruments in the church?

Does the word "singing" (1 Corinthians 14:15;" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:19) imply musical instruments?

The basis of this question is the derivation of the word, "psallo," used 5 times in the New Testament and translated "sing," "sing psalms," or "making melody." The noun translated "psalm" (psalmos) comes from this verb. W. E. Vine gives the meaning as "primarily ‘to twitch, twang,’ then, ‘to play a stringed instrument with the fingers,"’ and adds that it means "in the New Testament, ‘to sing a hymn, sing praise."’ Similarly, Vincent states, "The verb, however, is used in the New Testament of singing praise generally."

The derivation of a word adds color to the meaning but does not define the word. Ephesians 5:19" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:19 uses both forms of the word in a way that clearly removes them from the thought of an accompanying instrument. The noun, "psalms," is linked with speech and not music, "speaking to yourselves in psalms. The verb, "sing," cannot involve instrumental music when Paul says, "making melody in your heart."

D. Oliver

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How does an elder

How does an elder’s role differ from a deacon’s?

Deacons are servants who have a particular work to do. The assignment of the work is often evident in the use of the word (Ephesians 3:7, 6:21;" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 3:7, 6:21; Colossians 1:23, 25, 4:7;" TARGET="_blank">Colossians 1:23, 25, 4:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:2;" TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 3:2; 1 Timothy 4:6)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 4:6). The deacons in 1 Timothy 3" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3: are responsible to hold the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience (v 9). They are to be faithful with the truth that God has revealed. While the elders care for the flock and hold "fast the faithful word" to both comfort the believers and protect them from those who contradict the truth (Titus 1:9)," TARGET="_blank">Titus 1:9), deacons have a more general responsibility to "the faith." They serve in communicating God’s Word. The assembly looks to them for spiritual service with preaching the gospel, teaching the saints, working with children and young people, and various related responsibilities. Elders, because they are "apt to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2)," TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3:2), may also serve as deacons, but deacons are not necessarily elders.

Wise elders will encourage as many as possible who have the ability (or even the potential of ability) and qualifications (vv 8-13) to serve in deacon work. This is not an official position or a title to claim. It denotes a responsibility entrusted by the assembly’s guides. Elders make a mistake when they limit deacon work to themselves, even if it seems easier or others seem hesitant to accept deacon work or the elders have greater ability than others.

D. Oliver
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Are angels always men or are there women angels too?

Angels are neither male nor female since they are spirit beings. They don't need a body like a human does (Colossians 1:16)." TARGET="_blank">Colossians 1:16). However, they can and do appear to us in human form. Although not common, there are some examples of angel appearances to people in the Bible. These are all in the form of men. Abraham thought he was entertaining three men visitors in his tent in Genesis 18:1-20." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 18:1-20. Angels appeared to Lot in Genesis 19:1-20." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 19:1-20. Lot thought they were two men until they started to perform great acts of un-human power. Zechariah 5:9" TARGET="_blank">Zechariah 5:9 mentions two women, but not clearly identified as angels.

Mark 16:5" TARGET="_blank">Mark 16:5 shows us a young man at the tomb of Christ who was actually an angel. At the ascension of Christ in Acts 1:10" TARGET="_blank">Acts 1:10 , two men dressed in white appeared to the disciples to tell them that Jesus would return in the same glorious manner some day. These are presumed to be angels sent with a divine message.

Angels always appear as full-grown adults. Cherubs are not sweet, valentine card infants with wings. They are six-winged creatures who guard the throne of Christ (Isaiah 6:1-6)." TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 6:1-6). John, Isaiah and others who were in the presence of angels, typically reacted in fear and reverence.

Most references to angels in the Bible say nothing about wings, and in passages like Genesis 18-19," TARGET="_blank">Genesis 18-19, it is certain that no wings were visible.

Shad David Sluiter

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Do worshippers offer animal sacrifices during the Millennial reign?

Do worshippers offer animal sacrifices during the Millennial reign?

Yes. At the end of Ezekiel 39," TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 39, God speaks of gathering His people from the lands of their enemies and pouring out His Spirit on them (vv 25-29). The last nine chapters, from 40 to 48, picture the Millennial temple and city. Seven of those nine chapters refer to offerings and to the priests who offer them. The city and the temple are literal, for the rebuilding of the city (40:2-3) and the return of the glory of God (43:2) are linked with the literal destruction of the city (40:1) and the departure of God’s glory (43:3). Therefore we must also interpret the priests and the sacrifices literally.

D. Oliver
Which of the offerings will be offered? (Zechariah 14:21)" TARGET="_blank">Zechariah 14:21)

The last nine chapters of Ezekiel include references to all five of the major offerings. The sin offering is mentioned 14 times, the trespass offering four times. Eighteen times Ezekiel refers to the burnt offering(s), and 14 times to the meal offering(s). "The sacrifice" is mentioned three times, twice in conjunction with the burnt offering; the other time the priests are boiling it - not burning it - in preparation for eating. This would refer to the peace offering.

D. Oliver
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Please explain Romans 11:26, "All Israel shall be saved."

Please explain Romans 11:26," TARGET="_blank">Romans 11:26, "All Israel shall be saved."

This statement occurs in the dispensational section of Romans (chapters 9-11) where Israel, mentioned 12 times, is the main subject. Chapter 9 shows God's sovereignty in Israel's past election. Chapter 10 reveals God's righteousness in Israel's present rejection, because of refusing the gospel and their Messiah. Chapter 11 unveils God's wisdom and faithful ness in Israel's future restoration. God cast off Israel nationally, not individually and finally (11:2). Paul was an Israelite, in the remnant called out to form part of the church with believing Gentiles "according to the election of grace" (11:5). "Blindness in part is happened to Israel..." (11:25). The unbelieving in Israel have been blinded. Those Jews who have believed the gospel have the veil taken from their minds. In like manner, "All Israel shall be saved" nationally, not individually. All believers in Israel who repent and accept the Lord Jesus as their Messiah will inherit the kingdom. Unbelievers in the nation will be destroyed at the second advent of Christ (Zechariah 13:8, 9)." TARGET="_blank">Zechariah 13:8, 9). The setting aside of Israel was according to divine purpose (Hosea 3:4, 5;" TARGET="_blank">Hosea 3:4, 5; Acts 15:14-18)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 15:14-18), but only "until the fulness of the Gentiles (believers gathered from the Gentiles during this church age, the many days," Hosea 3:4)" TARGET="_blank">Hosea 3:4) be come in."

J. Abernathy

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What was the wise woman

What was the wise woman’s line of reasoning in 2 Samuel 14:4-14" TARGET="_blank">2 Samuel 14:4-14?
The woman followed the example of the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:1-7," TARGET="_blank">2 Samuel 12:1-7, by getting the king to decide a hypothetical case which Joab and she had invented. When he did so, she told him (v. 13) that he was setting a bad example to the people of God, by not acting himself in accordance with the decision he had given in the case of others, and bringing home the banished Absalom, En verse i she backs this with another argument. God Himself, she points out, has devised means that His banished be not expelled from Him (referring doubtless to the cities of refuge which God had provided so that the manslayer should not have to leave the country). Why then should not David act as God does?
She thus struck two chords that were sure to find an echo in David’s heart. He would wish to set God’s people a good example, and he surely would like to act as God did. Had he not shortly before sought out the grandson of his bitter enemy, Saul, in order that he might show “the kindness of God” to him (2 Samuel 9: 3)" TARGET="_blank">2 Samuel 9: 3)? Of course her reasoning was bad, for she was persuading him to act at the expense of justice; and God’s “means” were not for wilful murderers such as Absalom. But “the king’s heart was toward Absalom” (v. i), so he was not difficult to persuade. His son was brought back, and all seemed well. But two factors had been ignored, the claims of God’s broken Law, and the unchanged heart of the offender; and the result was a harvest of sorrow to be reaped later.
With regard to the first two clauses of v. 14, she apparently meant to suggest that, like water spilt on the ground, that which was past, i.e. the death of Amnon, could not be recalled. Possibly also, that life is too short to be wasted in a prolonged quarrel.

W.R.

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Why did God wait 400 years to give Abraham the promised land?

Abraham believed God as to his seed, and it was “counted unto him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6)," TARGET="_blank">Genesis 15:6), but when promised the land he asked for a sign. Would he not have had it at once had he believed, without having to wait four hundred years for his descendants to inherit it?

I do not think there was necessarily any unbelief in Abraham’s asking whereby he should know that he should inherit it. God often dealt thus with his servants of old—with Moses, Gideon, Hezekiah, etc., and granted them signs to strengthen their faith. As a matter of fact, Abraham did not ask for a sign. His question brought out the basis on which God was acting, namely, on the ground of covenant. The heifer, the she-goat, and the other sacrificial victims, all spoke of Christ the One true covenant Victim. Verse i8 makes it clear that the terms of this covenant assured the land, not personally to Abraham, but to his seed, and this was, we need not doubt, the original purpose of God. Stephen understood it so, for he emphasises the fact that “God gave Abraham none inheritance in the land, no, not so much as to set his foot on” (Acts 7:5)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 7:5), nor does He in any way attribute this to Abraham’s unbelief. It would clearly have been premature for a single family to inherit a vast territory, like that indicated in Genesis 15:18-21;" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 15:18-21; nor had God’s time come to expel the owners of the soil, for “the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full.”

W.H.

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In what ways can a husband help his wife spiritually if she is afraid of telling her family she is s

In what ways can a husband help his wife spiritually if she is afraid of telling her family she is saved?

Of first concern is the fact that this will hinder her spiritual progress (Hos 6:3" TARGET="_blank">Hos 6:3a). Perhaps the problem is deeper than fear of her family. Is it a fear of losing some financial benefit? Is it the result of being manipulated by fear in her previous interactions with the family? Is there some inconsistency her family has noted in other family members who claim to be saved? Several other possibilities may exist and each requires a different response. The simplest general answer, however, is for the husband and wife to join together in continuing prayer for the salvation of those family members. As the Lord deepens the burden of both the husband and wife, He may also give her (and her husband!) the needed strength to do what is possible to see those prayers answered (comp. Mat 9:38; 10:5)" TARGET="_blank">Mat 9:38; 10:5) and those loved one delivered from perishing eternally.

D. Oliver
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Who are the beheaded saints of Revelation 20?

Question: I have a question re- the beheading reference in rev 20:4." TARGET="_blank">rev 20:4.

I am new to bible study, I had read the bible 4 times before but since June the words have different meaning to me. I do not now know if my new interpretations are in the correct direction or indicative of a misunderstanding. Or each person interprets the word differently, based on their experiences and stage in life.

I was studying Ephesians 1" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 1 and was then drawn to the letters addressed to the churches in Revelation 2 and Revelation 3" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 3 the letters seem to represent a systematic progression towards the kingdom of God while on earth.
then i was led to read Revelation 20:4" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 20:4

I have quietly approached people during conversation at my church to gauge their abilities or interests in bible interpretation, but it is hard to ask in-depth questions to people of differing backgrounds, everyone has their own opinion.

rev 20:4" TARGET="_blank">rev 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ 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. 6Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Here are my questions -

“beheaded because of their testimony” - is this the when a person surrenders completely to God and have died in the flesh, to be reborn in the spirit. the word (sword) of God has severed the spiritual head from the physical body. the person has passed through the inner door to the kingdom that exists within. The person then arrives at the realization that the kingdom inside, outside and the kingdom of heaven are one and the same.
“They had not worshiped the beast” - is the beast our "flesh body" that the holy spirit lives within. We die in the flesh , meaning give up wants, desires, defects, …
“They came to life” - a person dies to the body of flesh and awakens to the spirit within. we still walk the earth but our perspective has changed. like when the blind are given sight, it is the people blind to the kingdom of God are given sight and not blind to the kingdom of Gd
“This is the first resurrection” - is this a reference that some people enter the kingdom of God while alive as they have surrendered fully without reservation to the will of Gd. the 2nd resurrection is for others who remain blind spiritually to the kingdom of Gd. These blind people do not enter the kingdom until they die physically and are buried.
“they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” - a person that has entered the kingdom while alive in the physical body. This person while dead in the flesh but alive in the spirit is given tasks to perform. Tasks/functions/callings (refer to Ep 4:11) while completing the will of Gd. while some people remain blind to the kingdom. The thousand years refers to the rest of the physical life which will be a period of time.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
al

Answer:

The questions you pose appear can be answered with another question:

"How does one interpret the Bible, especially in regards to prophetic writings like Revelation? Literally? figuratively? Alegorically? Contextually? Culturally?

The best answer to the question of how to interpret the Bible is to view how the New Testament interprets the Old Testament.

OT prophecies and events were taken literally unless there were specific, clear, obvious reasons to do otherwise.
For example, in the Book of Daniel, there are dreams which carried figurative meanings (tall statue, tall tree cut down), yet actual supernatural events (fiery furnace, lion's den). Daniel 3," TARGET="_blank">Daniel 3, Daniel 4," TARGET="_blank">Daniel 4, Daniel 5" TARGET="_blank">Daniel 5

The King had actual dreams and Daniel was thrown to real lions, the three friends walked in literal fire.
It is not as if the fire represented a trial and the Lions were a figure of Daniel battling Satan.
In the same way, your questions about the saints who were beheaded are literal believers who John sees in the future.
The beast is the world leader - known as the antichrist.
They are real people.

In Revelation, however, there is a lot of figurative language. Fortunately, we can tell when John is describing these images because he uses the words "like" or "as". Revelation 9" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 9: 7 "And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men."

I would recommend that you start your quest by determining how you should interpret the Bible. A good book to read on the subject is "Things to Come" by J. Dwight Pentecost. It's become a standard, comprehensive reference book on Bible prophecy. However, it is different from many other prophetic books in that the first 65 pages deal with the issue of how to interpret the Bible.

Specifically, the answers to your questions:

There is no indication in the chapter to say these bodies, resurrections and people are not real. What they experience is a miracle. While the "beast" is a name given to indicate a person's beastly character, he is a real human.

“beheaded because of their testimony” - is this the when a person surrenders completely to God and have died in the flesh, to be reborn in the spirit. the word (sword) of God has severed the spiritual head from the physical body. The person has passed through the inner door to the kingdom that exists within. The person then arrives at the realization that the kingdom inside, outside and the kingdom of heaven are one and the same.

This means there will be believers in the Tribulation that will be executed for disobeying the antichrist's decree to worship his idol.
There is nothing in the context of Revelation about surrendering oneself to God.
This teaching is taught quite straightforwardly in Romans 12:1" TARGET="_blank">Romans 12:1

“They had not worshiped the beast” - is the beast our "flesh body" that the Holy Spirit lives within. We die in the flesh, meaning give up wants, desires, defects, …

This beast is a real person, a world leader who demands worship as a god.
Again, read the context of the chapter.

“They came to life” - a person dies to the body of flesh and awakens to the spirit within. We still walk the earth but our perspective has changed. like when the blind are given sight, it is the people blind to the kingdom of God are given sight and not blind to the kingdom of God

These believers are raised back to by physically alive again.

“This is the first resurrection” - is this a reference that some people enter the kingdom of God while alive as they have surrendered fully without reservation to the will of Gd. the 2nd resurrection is for others who remain blind spiritually to the kingdom of Gd. These blind people do not enter the kingdom until they die physically and are buried.

There are two literal resurrections - firstly for believers who will live in heaven.
They are saved eternally. The second resurrection is described Revelation 21" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 21 where the eternally lost are given a just sentence for their sins and condemned to a literal Lake of Fire.

“they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” - a person that has entered the kingdom while alive in the physical body. This person while dead in the flesh but alive in the spirit is given tasks to perform. Tasks/functions/callings (refer to Ep 4:11) while completing the will of Gd. while some people remain blind to the kingdom. The thousand years refers to the rest of the physical life which will be a period of time.

There will be a literal throne, a literal calendar that can mark of a literal thousand years and a literal group of people who will participate in the administration of the earth with Christ.

Shad Sluiter

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