Ministration of Angels

UP to this point we have assumed, for convenience, that there is but one devil—Satan. Properly there is but one devil. Dr. Ramsey says, "The word Daimon in the N. T. is usually rendered by one word, devil. But this is evidently improper, as it would lead us to believe that there are many devils, whereas there is, and can be, but one. . . . Daimon in the N. T. always means an evil spirit who is under Satan's control, a demon. The word Satan means an adversary, an opposer. It is never found in the plural number, so that the sacred writers acknowledge but one being of that name."

We have seen that Satan, by his creation, was highly exalted in Heaven. We have proved that Christ has the supreme command of all the armies of Heaven. Before Satan fell, probably he held a very high command among the angels. If this be the case, there were, of course, mighty commanding angels, principalities and powers, under his command. When he rebelled against God, many of these looking upon him as their commander, sympathized with him, rebelled with him, and were cast out of Heaven with him. After their fall, it appears that Satan retained the same command over them that he had before. Thus in Matt. 9:34, he is called "the prince of the devils;" in Eph. 2:2, "the prince of the power of the air;" in 2 Cor. 4:4, "the god of this world." All these titles show that he now occupies the position of king or ruler of the fallen angels.

In Rev. 12:7-9, we read: "And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels. . . . He was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him." This shows that Satan is ruler or king over the fallen angels. In Eph. 6:11,12, Paul mentions some of the orders of the angels who fell with Satan. "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world; against wicked spirits [margin] in high places." We are wont to place too low an estimate on the majesty and power of Satan and his angels, making them like unto ourselves, or even lower. This is wrong. We naturally stand in awe of the mighty men of earth, such as a great king or a mighty warrior. But what are they, compared with the prince of evil angels! These are the enemies with whom we have to contend; so we ought to be acquainted with their character, and thus be better prepared to resist them.

How many angels fell with Satan we do not know. Jude speaks of "the angels which kept not their first estate," hence there were a number of them. On one occasion when Jesus talked with them, they said, "Our name is Legion, for we are many." A legion is about five or six thousand. Again we learn that there was war in Heaven between the angels of God and the angels of Satan. This would seem to show that the fallen angels were very numerous. In the former part of this work we showed that the good angels are marshaled in the most complete order, being divided into armies, then subdivided into companies, etc. These are commanded, according to their number, by angels of different ranks. This always insures union of action, and gives strength to the forces employed.

Knowing the cunning and wisdom of Satan, reason would teach us that he would not neglect so important a means of strength. The Scriptures prove that this conclusion is correct, by the different titles which they use to designate the fallen angels. Thus, 1. Satan is called "the prince of the devils," that is, supreme ruler, Matt. 9:34. Paul several times mentions, 2. "Principalities" (plural number), Eph. 6:12. 3. "Powers" Col. 2:15. 4. "Rulers," Eph. 6:12. 5. "Angels," Rom. 5:38. 6. "Wicked spirits," etc. Satan is said to have a kingdom. Matt. 12:26. Now we readily understand what composes a kingdom. As a basis there must be a territory and the common people; then the petty officers; next those of a higher rank; then still higher and higher, till we reach the king cabinet, and last and highest of all, is the king himself. He has the general oversight of the whole kingdom. He does not go personally to every village and school district to arrange matters but he sends his servants who do his bidding and then report to him their success. This order is observed by the angels of God, and why not by the angels of Satan? If Satan has a kingdom, he must have some order and unity of action, or else he would be as Jesus said, "divided against himself," and then "how could his kingdom stand?" No; Satan is not so foolish as to neglect so important a means of success. The steady, united, and persevering effort, which wicked spirits have ever made against God's people and his truth, demonstrates that they are all united and directed by the masterhand of Satan.

Then we may suppose with Milton that "Satan, seated high on a royal throne," oversees the whole of his kingdom, and sends out his angels to all parts of the earth, with orders how to act and what to do. These make a regular report to him of their success and failures. He sends more or less aid to his servants in different parts of the earth just as the case demands, the same as a skillful general disposes of his troops according to the emergency of the case. "Satan's seat," or the headquarters of his kingdom, in the apostles' days, was at Rome. Rev. 3:13. Doubtless he follows the progress of Christianity, as that is his worst enemy. In view of this fact, Peter warns his brethren as follows: "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Pet. 5:8.

These are the foes with whom we have to contend. Not weak, foolish creatures, or mortal men, but mighty angels, who once trod the streets of the heavenly Jerusalem, who once ate of the fruit of the tree of life, who looked on while God made the earth, who are familiar with the starry worlds, and who are full of knowledge, cunning, and devices. O man, these are thy foes! Paul truly said, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places." The world is in the hands of Satan; every fort is occupied by his officers, every city is guarded by his troops, and every village owns his authority. Woe to the man who attempts to go through his land without a pass from him! Death to the traitor who dares to hoist any other flag than his! But, alas! the soldiers of Jesus must "go through the enemy's land." Heaven help them, or how can they do it! Hear the experience of an old soldier of the cross, who had got almost through: "Are they ministers [soldiers] of Christ? (I speak as a fool). I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews [a company of Satan's soldiers] five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren [spies]; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness," etc. 2 Cor. 11:23-27.

This is the way he fared, and the way that all must fare who undertake the journey.

We are, emphatically, in the enemy's land—an enemy who is strong, experienced, vigilant, and cunning. Those who reach the happy land must fight their way through inch by inch. Satan leaves no means untried by which he may destroy the people of God. Again, Paul says, "We are not ignorant of his devices," thus implying that he employs cunning deceptions to accomplish his purposes. Again he says, "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil," that is, his cunning tricks.

If a man fully sets out to be a child of God, the devil is incensed. One of his subjects has rebelled, one of his slaves has resolved to be free. Every effort is now made to recapture him. More evil angels are sent to watch his actions, throw darkness over his mind, and temptations in his way. But their influence can be cast off by steadfastly resisting them. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Cry earnestly to Jesus, "the captain of our salvation," the mighty conqueror. He has conquered Satan, and the devils tremble at his authority. Says the poet,

"Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees."

Those who think they can overcome the devil in their own strength are mistaken. They do not consider his power and cunning. None less than the Son of God could conquer him; how then can we hope to do it alone? But if we cry to the Lord, he will send his angels to aid us. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Ps. 34:7. This is the only safety for the child of God while passing through the enemy's land.

"POSSESSED WITH DEVILS."

What is the meaning of this and kindred terms so often used in the Bible? Persons possessed with devils acted strangely. Some times they were "exceedingly fierce," Matt. 8:28; "no man could bind them, no, not with chains;" they dwelt among the tombs, Mark 5:3,4; they would cry out and cut themselves, verse 5; they would throw themselves into the fire and into water, Matt. 17:15; they knew Jesus, and cried that he was the Son of God, Luke 8:28; etc. Now it is expressly said that these persons were possessed with devils, Matt. 8:28, that the devil had entered into them, etc., Luke 8:30. It is manifest that the devil had in some way gained possession or control of these persons so that he spoke and acted through them, or made them act just as he pleased. All their actions were attributed directly to the devil, and not to themselves. Mark 9:17-26.

It is a well-known and settled fact that there is such a thing as mesmerism. By means of this, one person of strong nerves and a strong will can so mesmerize another of weaker nerves and will as to gain entire possession of him, body and mind. Then the mesmerizer can put his own thoughts into the mind of his victim, and make him speak and act just as he pleases. In short, the person so mesmerized becomes simply the passive agent, or medium, of the person who has mesmerized him.

Just so I understand it is with persons possessed by the devil. They have allowed Satan to actually mesmerize them until he has gained complete control of them, mind and body. Then he uses them as mediums through whom to speak and act.

Modern spiritualism, and the work of the spirit mediums, is nothing less or more than this. The spirits (of devils) magnetize the mediums, and thus gain control of their organs, and then speak through them.

Judge Edmonds, a noted believer in spiritualism, speaking of a manifestation through Dr. Dexter, medium, says :—

"It was conducted throughout with unusual, and indeed unknown, violence. He (the spirit) took entire possession of the doctor, not merely his arm," etc.

Prof. Brittan, another spiritualist, says:— "We may further add, in this connection, that the transe mediums for spirit intercourse are equally irresponsible. Many of them are totally unable to resist the powers which come to them from the invisible and unknown realms."—Telegraph's Answer to Mahan, p. 10.

In many cases the spirits treat their mediums just as they did those possessed in the days of Jesus. Here is an example given by Dr. Gridley. Of a medium, he says :—

"These spirits would pinch and pound him, twitch him up and throw him down, yell and blaspheme." "They forbade his eating, to the very point of starvation. He was a perfect skeleton; they compelled him to walk day and night, with intermissions, to be sure, as their avowed object was to torment him as much and as long as possible." Astounding Facts from the Spirit World, pp. 253, 254.

Compare this with Luke 8:26-30, and it will be seen that they are identical. This shows how the devil, both now and in the time of Christ, possessed men. I have conversed with persons who had once been thus under the control of evil spirits. They state that this influence when once a person falls under it, is so strong that it is almost impossible to break away from it. It will control them and make them act against their wills. Our only safety is in walking closely with God where he can protect us.