Questions
Biblical questions for your kind replies
Dear Brethren in Christ, Loving Greetings from India in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I work to be a minister in a small congregation. I have a few Biblical questions for your kind reply. They are : 1. Are demons fallen angels? What about so called demon possesion cases? 2.What are the tricks faith healers use to decieve people? 3. What are the reasons delusions and Hallucinations? Is Bible addressing this problem? 4.Jesus was 30 years during His baptism. How can Bible scholars prove He lived 3 and Half years after His baptism? 5.How can we caliculate Patriarchal age is 2500 years? 5. 1 Cor14:34 Tells us even Law tells women are to subject to men and to be silent. But, What about Deborah who served to be one of the Judges of Israelites? Kindly, quote number of scripture to answer my questions. Kindly, Help me and pray that I learn more.
Answers
The Bible does not directly reveal the origin of either Satan or demons. There are angels in Satan’s kingdom (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude verse 6), so obviously they are fallen. They may be the same thing as demons, but I don’t know that this can be proven. Demons no longer have the power to inhabit or possess people. Zechariah prophesied that demon possession and prophecy would cease simultaneously during the day of Messiah (Zechariah 13:1-2), and prophecy has ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). When Jesus entered hades, He bound the strong man (Satan) and plundered his goods (Matthew 12:28-29). Satan fell from power (Luke 10:17-18; John 12:31; 16:7-11; Revelation 12:7-9), and his ability to physically control people was taken away (Ephesians 4:8-10; Colossians 2:15). Satan’s power today is limited to tempting, deceiving, and persecuting us (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:1-2; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:13; 20:10), but we have the power from Christ to overcome him (1 Corinthians 10:13; Ephesians 6:11-13; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 12:11).
Charlatans still use the same kinds of deceptive tricks that false teachers have always used (cf. Acts 8:9-11; 19:13-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). They cannot do what they claim to do. A Pentecostal preacher in Belize challenged me when I taught that miraculous, spiritual gifts had ceased. In reply I challenged him to go to the cemetery with me. I said if he would raise one person from the dead, I would raise two; if he would raise two, I would raise four; if he would raise four, I would raise the rest of the cemetery. He left and never returned. No, I can’t raise the dead, but neither can he. Peter and Paul could (Acts 9:36-41; 20:9-12).
Some people have illness, whether physical or mental, which causes hallucinations. For example, it is well documented that both high fever and alcoholism cause hallucinations. Some people see what they want to see. Some deceive themselves into seeing these things in their minds (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
The length of Jesus’ ministry is determined by the number of Passover feasts He attended as is recorded in the Gospel of John. We know He attended three (John 2:23; 6:4; 13:1). John 5:1 mentions another feast Jesus attended without telling us the name of the feast. If it was a Passover, Jesus’ ministry lasted something over three years, since part of His ministry took place before the Passover mentioned in John 2:23, three years elapsed between the four Passovers, and He died immediately following the fourth Passover. If the feast of John 5:1 is not the Passover, His ministry may have lasted only two plus years.
By studying Genesis five, we can determine the length of time from the creation of Adam to the sons of Noah (1556 years). By studying the genealogies of Genesis 11:10-26, we can calculate the time between Shem, Noah’s son, and Abraham (390 years). Abraham was 100 when Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5), Isaac was 60 when Jacob was born (Genesis 25:26), Jacob was 130 when he and his family went into Egypt (Genesis 47:9), and Israel remained in Egypt 430 years to the day (Exodus 12:40-41). Israel came to the wilderness of Sinai, where the Law was given, in three months (Exodus 19:1). This closed the Patriarchal Age for Israel, making the length of the Patriarchal Age 2666 years.
First Corinthians 14:34-35 forbids women to do the kind of speaking in the context, speaking in which they are not “submissive” (verse 34). If they cannot speak at all in the worship assembly, they cannot sing (Ephesians 5:18-19). A woman must not preach to an audience with men present, for preachers should speak “with all authority” (Titus 2:15). Yes, this principle of feminine subjection was also commanded under the Law, in relationship to her own husband (1 Corinthians 14:34; cf. Genesis 3:16). This subjection also applies in the church (1 Timothy 2:11-12). Yes, Deborah was judge of Israel (Judges 4:1-2, 4-5) and issued commands to Barak the commander of the armies of Israel (Judges 4:6-7, 14), and Queen Esther gave commands to her uncle Mordecai (Esther 4:15-17). Women must be in subjection to the men in the church (1 Timothy 2:11-12; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:3) and to their own husbands in the home (Ephesians 5:22-24).
