EXORCISM – HELL & DEMONS
Hugh Fogelman
Exorcism 1 is defined as “the act, practice, or ceremony of exorcising;” A formula used in exorcising.”
The fear of hellfire and eternal damnation was the most powerful tool the early Church used to keep their unruly ex-pagans in line. This idea was so powerful that it has been repeated over and over and over for the last 1,680 years. Therefore, even Christians today still have this dreaded fear molded into their brains and are so afraid to think for themselves. If, by chance a Christian ever starts to think independently, they worry – they fear – “What if?”
This concept of eternal torture was enforced with libraries of books written about the Christian devil, Lucifer and demons. It is an axiom that a picture is worth a thousand words. So, to keep that threatening image―of hellfire, the lake of fire and brimstone, and eternal damnation―in front of the public Christianity has skillfully used paintings and, more recently, movies to drive home that fear. Demons are a favorite weapon that Christians use to explain their evil ways. The idea of the” power of demons” 2 is found in abundance in the Christian bible, the so-called NEW testament.
Let us take a look at the use of “demons” in the Christian bible by examining, for example, the New International Version Christian Study Bible (NIV). NIV Topic references:
· “Demon(s)” ― cites 16 verses in the four gospels;
· “Demon-possessed” ― lists another 17 chapters and verses; and
· “Demon” ― For some strange reason, the NIV needed more references and under just plain “demon.” It lists another 44 chapters and verses.
In the 513 pages comprising the NIV Study Bible showing the NEW testament (not subtracting any introductions), 77 verses mentions “demons.” Thus more than 10% of the Christian bible talks about demons. And this is not even including mentions of satan (13 times); the devil (36 times) and hell (14 times) .
The NEW testament invention of their devil/satan is portrayed as an independent stand-alone power that fights against God. This is clearly demonstrated when the New Testament says that their devil/satan is the god of earth and God is the God of heaven. Paul’s teachings to the pagan Gentiles clearly show this concept.
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4 King James Version)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, … (Acts 26:18)
Christianity is obsessed with demons, the devil/satan. Just using the NIV text, out of less than 513 pages of the NEW testament, 130 verses are devoted it “hell and damnation” in one form or another. Over one fifth of their bible – WHY? These are pagan concepts not found in the SOURCE Document, Torah. Again, one should ask why? THINK!
Eevn today. television shows are slyly/subliminally pushing Jesus verses the devil into the public’s mind with shows like Joan of Arcadia, Touched by an Angel, and Seventh Heaven.
Over
and over again, Jews and Noachides are being bombarded with the concepts of the
Christian bible! But hey, in
Footnotes:
1. Ex-or-cise
1. To expel (an evil spirit) by or as if by incantation, command,
or prayer. 2. To free from evil spirits or malign influences. Middle
English exorcisen, from Late Latin exorciz
re, from Greek exorkizein : ex-, out
of; see exo + horkizein, to make one swear (from horkos, oath). [
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth
Edition. 2000. ]
WORD HISTORY: An oath is to be found at the etymological heart of exorcise, a term going back to the Greek word exorkizein, meaning "to swear in," "to take an oath by," "to conjure," and "to exorcise." Exorkizein in turn is formed from the prefix ex-, "thoroughly," and the verb horkizein, "to make one swear, administer an oath to," derived from horkos, "oath." [ The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. ]
The word exorcise is first recorded in English in a work composed possibly before the beginning of the 15th century, and in this use exorcise means “to call up or conjure spirits” rather than “to drive out spirits,” a sense first recorded in 1546. [ The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. ]
2. De·mon 1.
An evil supernatural being; a devil. 2. A persistently tormenting
person, force. Middle English, from Late Latin daem
n, from Latin, spirit, from Greek daimn,
divine power. ." [ The American Heritage® Dictionary of the
English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. ]
Copyright © 2004, Hugh Fogelman. All rights reserved.