The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - KEEP FREE FROM EVERY FORM OF SPIRITISM

One of the ways that wicked spirits mislead men and women is through spiritism. What is spiritism? It is getting in touch with the wicked spirit creatures, being misled by them either directly or through a human or other medium. The Bible warns us to keep away from every practice associated with spiritism, because spiritism brings a person under the influence of the demons. - GALATIANS 5:19-21; REVELATION 21:8.

God condemns every kind of spiritism. The Bible tells us what some of those disapproved things are: divination, magic, looking for omens, sorcery, blinding others with a spell (hypnotism, black magic, and so forth), consulting a spirit medium or a fortune teller and inquiring of the dead. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Isaiah8:19) All of this is demonism, and those to who turn to such practices make themselves enemies of God. - LEVITICUS 19:31; 1 CHRONICLES 10:13, 14.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Live - THE DEVIL IS THE "RULER OF THIS WORLD"

 Three times in the Bible book of John we read that the Lord Jesus Christ called the Devil "the ruler of this world. (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) At 2 Corinthians 4:4 he is referred to as "the god of this system of things." Does this mean, then, that all nations of the earth are under the control of Satan the Devil? The Bible answers: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19) The Devil, as "ruler of the world," exercises great influence on men, overreaching them and even controlling political governments. - REVELATION 16:13, 14. 

If you will open your Bible to Revelation 12:9, you will see that the Devil is described as "the great dragon." In the next chapter, verses 1 and 2, we are told that this dragon, the Devil gave power and a throne and great authority to what is symbolically called the "wild beast" out of the sea. What is symbolic "wild beast"? Well, over what authority does hold authority? What did he offer to Jesus Christ? "All the kingdoms of the inhabited earth." (Luke 4:5-8) Jesus quickly rejected that offer, but he did not deny that the Devil ruled over the political kingdoms of the earth. In harmony with this Revelation 13:7 says concerning the symbolic "wild beast," that "authority was given it over every tribe and people and tongue and nation."  Further, with what did the prophet Daniel identify certain beasts? With "kingdoms," or political governments. (Daniel 7:2-7. 17. 23) That the symbolic beasts of Daniel's vision and the "wild beast" of Revelation have a similar meaning is seen from the fact that both accounts refer to the same kind of creatures: a lion, a bear, a leopard and a ten-horned beast. (Revelation 13:1, 2) So the "wild beast" represents the Devil's entire political organization that exercised beastlike rule over the earth throughout the centuries until now. No wonder Jesus Christ said: "My kingdom is no part of this world." And no wonder that his followers would be no part of the world either, that is, they would avoid getting involved in its affairs. - JOHN 18:36; 17:14-16. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - OTHER SPIRIT CREATURES MAKE THEMSELVES DEMONS

 The Devil was not the only spirit creature to turn to disobedience and wickedness. God had created a great number of holy angels, millions of them. Daniel 7:10 reveals a portion of them as being 100,000,000. The Bible record at Genesis 6:1-5 explains that before the flood of Noah's day some of these spirit "sons of God" materialized as men, that is, they left their place in heaven as spirit creatures and clothed themselves with Babylon bodies. And why? To enjoy human passions by marrying the good-looking daughters of men. This was an act of disobedience to God, and the Bible associates it with the actions of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah who 'went after flesh for unnatural use.' (Jude 6, 7) So, too, it was against their heavenly nature for angels to come down and seek human flesh with which to have sex relations. Their course brought bad results, including a freakish offspring, "mighty ones" called Nephilim.  By their rebellious action, those spirit sons of God turned themselves into demons and put themselves on the side of the Devil, who is the ruler of the demons." - MATTHEW 9:34. 

When the global flood of Noah's day destroyed all the wicked humans, the unfaithful angels dissolved their fleshy bodies and returned to the spirit realm. But they were not allowed to become part of God's organization of holy angels again. Instead, they were confined in a debased condition of spiritual darkness. (2 Peter 2:4) Sine the Flood, God has not permitted these demonic angels to materialize in the flesh as they did before then. Yet they can still exercise dangerous power over men and women. In fact, with the help of these demons Satan is misleading the entire inhabited earth." (Revelation 12:9) The increase in wrongdoing that can see all over the earth today should alert us to the need to be on guard against being misled by them. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - A SELF -MADE DEVIL

 So, too, with the perfect spirit creature. The possibility was there of his using the human pair for his own purpose rather than carrying out what God wanted. As a free moral agent, he not only considered it but also failed to dismiss it from his mind, it led him to sin. Just as a formerly honest man can make himself a thief by stealing, so this spirit creature made himself Satan by acting as a resister of God; and he make himself the Devil becoming a slanderer of God, because that is what those names mean.

Of course, some might say, "Might it not have been simply a mistake that he made? Could he not have apologized and so ended the matter there?" In answer, we need to keep in mind that perfect individual is different from us. When he uses his free will, the choice that he makes is not due to weakness. They can admit their mistakes, apologize and change their course. But when a perfect creature chooses to do wrong, he does it deliberately and he does not later turn back to doing good. This was the case with the one whom made himself the Devil.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - A SELF-MADE DEVIL

 But in what way did the Devil originate? obviously, the God 'whose work is perfect' would not create someone wicked. (Deuteronomy 32;4) He would create intelligent creatures with whom he could associate. Such would be contrary to reason and God's love. -PSALM 5:4-6 [5:5-7, DY]. 

So, the invisible spirit who later became the Devil must have at one time have been perfect, without defect as a creation of God, just like all the other millions of angelic "sons of God." (Job 38:7) How then, did he go bad? After the creation of the first man and woman, this particular spirit creature entered a course of rebellion against God. He developed a desire to be worshipped and so enticed Adam and Eve to rebel against God. How did he do this? The Bible shows that a serpent spoke to Eve, telling her a lie. As a result she disobeyed God. Then she caused her husband to join her in revolt against God, But who actually put the idea of rebellion into Eve's mind. Was it a mere snake with no speech organs? No, there was someone behind the serpent making it appear as if it were talking. We know that some skilled humans can speak words with their lips nearly shut, as if a nearby animal or a dummy is talking. How much easier for a superhuman invisible person to do this? God made Balaam's ass speak. (Numbers 22:28) In Eden, Satan used the serpent, and so the Bible identifies the Devil, or Satan, as the original serpent," hence the one who really introduced rebellion and wickedness into the universe. - REVELATION 12:9; 2 CORINTHIANS 11:3. 

But you may wonder, if this highly intelligent spirit really was perfect, how could he turn to wickedness when there no one to tempt him? The Bible answers that it was by his thinking upon a wrong idea. (James 1:14, 15) There is nothing wrong in itself with seeing the possibilities in a certain situation. For example, a person in someone else's home may see money lying on a table. The possibility of his taking that money and putting it into his pocket is there. But, since that would be stealing, he should not even consider it. Or, if the idea does come into his mind, he ought to dismiss it. but if he keeps the idea in his mind and allows it to grow, then wrong desire develop. Soon this may move him to commit an act of wickedness. 

Next time: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - A SELF-MADE DEVIL - Conclusion 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - Are There Wicked Spirits?

JESUS CHRIST, who came to earth from the spirit realm, acknowledged the existence of wicked spirits. You may recall that he often spoke of the Devil, and he called him "the father of the lie" and a "manslayer." (John 8:44) For our own protection in this time when lying and murder are on the increase, we do well to examine this subject. 

Many persons, of course, do not believe that there are wicked spirit creatures. Even some who claim to use the Bible that Satan the Devil is only a quality of evil, not and invisible spirit person. But do the facts agree with their belief? What about Jesus Christ own experience with the Devil tempted him? The Bible tells us that the Devil  showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said to him: "All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me."  "Go away, Satan! For it is written, it is Jehovah your God you must worship.' " Then the Devil left Jesus. - MATTHEW 4:1-11.

During that experience, by whom was Jesus Christ tempted? By a real person or by a mere quality of evil? If he was tempted by a mere quality of evil, in whom did the quality dwell? Was this evil in Jesus Christ? If so, then it could not be true that in him there was no sin. Yet the Bible, God's Word of truth makes it very clear that Jesus was "guileless," undefiled, separated from the sinners." (Hebrews 7:26) The Bible also says: "He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth." (1 Peter 2:22) So Jesus could not have been carrying on a conversation with "evil" in his own self. He was talking to a living spiritual creature. Thus the Scriptures and sound reasoning make clear that Satan is real live person in the invisible realm. - 1 PETER 5:8.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RULER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

 During his earthly ministry Jesus constantly directed attention to the kingdom of God. He taught his followers to pray: "Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done, in heaven as well as on earth." And he urged them to "keep, on, then seeking first the kingdom" (Matthew 6:10, 33) Many of his parables drew attention to the Kingdom. He made it the theme of his preaching. (Matthew 9:35) By his miracles of healing and raising the dead, he showed on small scale what will take place on earth under the kingdom of God. At that time sickness will come to an end, blind eyes will opened, deaf ears unstopped, and crippled arms and legs will be healed. What a blessing that will be! - REVELATION 21:3, 4.

Jesus himself is the one anointed by God as ruler of the Kingdom. However, when Jesus returned to heaven it was not the due time for to exercise that kingly power. He must await his Father's appointed time. (Acts 2:34-36) Yet, he pointed forward to the time when he would return with Kingdom power, saying: "When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separate the sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31, 32) We are living in that time of separating now. Soon Christ on his heavenly throne will use his kingly authority to destroy the wicked and deliver sheeplike ones who will inherit the earthly realm of the Kingdom. - MATTHEW 23:34, 41. 46.

By means of Jesus Christ blessings are available to all mankind, but we must exercise faith in him in other to receive them. (John 3:36) We must become his disciples and submit ourselves to him as our heavenly king. Will you do that? (We are talking about the true God, not a traditional God with holidays etc. That is not the true God) There are opposers who want to hinder you, but if you put your full trust in Jehovah you will without fail receive the blessings that God has in store for those who love him. - (PSALM 62:7, 8 [61:8 9, Dy]. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM PAIN AND SIN - Conclusion

 Jehovah God did not leave his Son dead in the grave, but raised him to life on the third day. He was given a human life again, because that would have meant that he was taking back the ransom price. But he "made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18) During a period of forty days after his resurrection he appeared visibly to his disciples a number of times, in materialized bodies, to prove that he really had been raised from the dead. Then, with the disciples looking on, he ascended heavenward and was caught out of sight in a cloud. He returned to heaven, there "to appear before the person of God for us, bearing the value of his ransom sacrifice as the great high priest. (Hebrews 9:12, 24) The requirements of divine justice had been met; relief was now available for mankind. 

Even now we may benefit greatly from the ransom. By exercising faith in it we can enjoy a clean standing before God and some under his loving care. (Revelation 7:9, 10, 13-15) When due to imperfection, we commit a sin, we can freely seek forgiveness from God on the basis of the ransom and confidence that he will hear us. (1 John 2:1, 2) Furthermore, the ransom has opened up the way for preservation through the end of this wicked system of things. It makes possible the resurrection of the dead. And it provides the basis for gaining eternal life in God's new system of things, where it will be applied to every mankind in order to wipe away all the effects of inherited sin. - 1 CORINTHIANS 15:25, 26; REVELATION 7:17.

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The Truth That Leads to Everlasting Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH - Continue

 On Nisan 14 of the year 33 C.E. Jesus' enemies put him to death on a torture steak. He could have resisted, but he did not. (Matthew 26:53, 54) He willingly laid down his life in sacrifice for us. As his apostle Peter tells us: "He himself bore our sins in his own body upon the stake, in order that we might be done with sins and live in righteousness. And by his stripes you were healed.' " - 1 PETER2:24; see also HEBREWS 2:9.

That was indeed a marvelous expression of God's love for mankind! The Bible helps us to appreciate it, saying: "God Loved the world so much that he gave his only- begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) If you are a parent who has a dearly loved son, no doubt you can appreciate, at least to some extent, what that meant to God, it surely could warm our hearts toward him to realize that he cares for us so much. - 1 JOHN 4:9-11. 

Next time: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH - Conclusion 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH - Continue

 God did not weaken and compromise as to his own laws. This would have merely encouraged further lawlessness by a bad example. Yet he did not turn his back on mankind and leave them without hope. While sticking to his laws, God lovingly provided relief, not for the willful sinner Adam, but for his offspring, who without any choice in the matter, suffered the effects of his wrong. God did this in harmony with a legal principle that he later included in the Mosaic Law, namely, "soul will be for soul." (Deuteronomy 19:21) Let see how that principle applied in the ransom provided through Jesus. 

The "living soul" Adam, who forfeited life for what he lost, another human soul, equal to Adam, was needed, one who could offer his own perfect life as a sacrifice on behalf of mankind. (1 Corinthians 15:45) No offspring of Adam's was qualified for this, because all were born imperfect. As a result they all die because they are sinners, and they have no right to human life that they can sacrifice on behalf of others. (Psalm 49:7 [48:8. Dy]) So God sent his own son to earth. Jesus was born as a human, because it was a human life that was required. But he was born without the aid of a human father, so he would be perfect as Adam was. God alone was the Father of the human Jesus, ashe had also been Adam's Father. (Luke 3:38) Thus Jesus was fully qualified to offer his life as a "corresponding" ransom." - 1 TIMOTHY 2:6; Ephesians 1:7. 

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