QUESTIONS & ANSWERWS (115)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The Bible leaves us with some questions to which we have no answers.

1.    Example:  What happened to Joseph, the human father of Jesus?

2.    NOTE:  There is an answer to the question.  The Bible, however, does not provide us with an answer.

 

B.   The same thing could happen with questions that are asked for our Q&A sermons on the first Sunday of the month. 

 

C.   However, that is not the case most of the time.  Usually, there are answers that can be given to the questions that you ask.  Our prayer is that the answers are beneficial to you.

 

D.   This is our Q&A sermon for October.  In this lesson, we will examine three questions.

 

I.             QUESTION #1:  SATAN, DEMONS, DEVILS, AND EVIL SPIRITS

 

A.   What is the definition of Satan, demons, devils, and evil spirits?

 

B.   It is easy to define Satan.

1.    Satan is the archenemy of God and all humanity.

a.    As soon as Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, Satan tempted Him (Matt. 4:1-11).

b.    In the parable of the wheat and tares, a man sows good seed in his field (Matt. 13:24), and an enemy comes and sows tares in his field (Matt. 13:25).

c.    Satan was actively involved in the crucifixion of Jesus (John 13:2).

d.    Jude reveals how Michael the archangel contended with the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 9).

e.    Revelation 12:7

 

And there was war in heaven:  Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.

 

f.     He is a real being who still seeks man today (1 Pet. 5:8).

 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

 

2.    Who are demons, devils, and evil spirits?

a.    The devil definitely has angelic beings in his camp.

1)    We just read that Michael found against the dragon “and his angels” (Rev. 12:7).

2)    Jesus said that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41).

b.    When evil men die, their evil spirits go into the hadean realm into a place often called torments where they await judgment (Luke 16:22b-23a).

 

…the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in

torments…

 

1)    The rich man stands in contrast to Lazarus who went to a place of comfort in Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22, 25).

2)    The word “hell” in Luke 16:23 is not Gehenna, that is, eternal hell.  It is the word “hades” the unseen realm of the dead.

c.    During the ministries of Jesus and the apostles, we read about devils, demons, and evil spirits being in habiting the bodies of human beings on the earth.

1)    The KJV refers to them as “devils” (Matt. 4:24).  The modern translations usually translated the Greek term as “demons” (See Matt. 4:24, ESV). 

2)    They are also called “evil spirits” in four places (Luke 7:21; 8:2; Acts 19:12, 13).

3)    The question is:  Who are these devils, demons, or evil spirits?

d.    Answer:

1)    Two alternative:

a.    There are some who believe that the demons are the spirits of evil men who were allowed to exit the hadean realm for a time and dwell in humans during the miraculous age.

b.    Others believe that these “evil spirits” are the devils who aligned with the devil and serve him.

2)    This writer/speaker is of the opinion that the demons who possessed individuals in the first century were the angels aligned with Satan.

a)    There is no indication that the spirits of evil men were released from the hadean realm to inhabit human beings. 

b)    The devil’s angels were reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment.  When Jesus appeared to cast them out, they sometimes asked Him a question:  “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?  art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matt. 8:29).

c)    In Matthew 9:34, the devil is referred to as “the prince of the devils.”  This seems to a group of spirit beings over which Satan has specific authority.

d)    In James 2:19, James said that “the devils also believe and tremble.”  This does not appear to be the spirits of evil men, but a group of evil spirits differing from men.

e.    The devil angels no longer literally possess the bodies of human beings.  However, they do continue to work and operate on behalf of their prince (Eph. 6:12).

 

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.

 

II.           QUESTION #2:  Pardoned from Hell

 

A.   Stated:  Has anyone gone to hell and who was pardoned or resurrected therefrom?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Based on the teaching of Luke 16:19-26, I do not believe anyone has died and gone to hell yet.

a.    Lazarus was a beggar who died and went to Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:23).

b.    The rich man of Jesus story died and went to “hades” and was in torment (Luke 16:23).

c.    From his place in the hadean realm, the rich man could see Lazarus. 

d.    However, there was a great gulf that separated them from one another (Luke 16:26).

2.    When Jesus returns, there will be a resurrection of the dead.  All those who are in that place called “hades” will appear at the Judgment (Rev. 12:13).

 

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them:  and they were judged every man according to their works.

 

3.    Therefore, no one has been pardoned and taken from hell.

4.    Of all those who have been resurrected from the dead, were any of them taken from the realm of torments in hades and brought back to this world?

a.    There are 9 individuals and one group of individuals who have been raised from the dead recorded in the Bible.

b.    There are only two about whom we might question where they went upon their deaths.

1)    The dead man thrown into Elisha’s tomb who came to life again (2 Kings 13:21).

2)    The widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11-17).

c.    Based upon the other instances of resurrection, we would be safe to say that all those who were raised from the dead were raised out of the place of comfort in the Hadean realm.

5.    IMPORTANT POINT:  No one who was raised from the dead spoke any words about their death and resurrection that are recorded in the Bible.

 

III.         QUESTION #3:  Philippine Mission Work

 

A.   Stated:  Who will we be supporting during the month of October with all of the money that is contributed over budget?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    We will be supporting the mission work in the Philippines.

2.    It involves a couple by the name of Michael and Deborah Stock whose work is overseen by the Piedmont Road church of Christ in Marietta, GA.

 

 

3.    The location of the Philippines

 

4.    General Background

a.    The Philippines are situated in the Western Pacific Ocean.  They consist of about 7,640 islands.

b.    They are known as an archipelagic country.

c.    The Philippines are named for Philip II of Spain (1543).

d.    Their official name is The Republic of the Philippines.

e.    Population:  109 million people

f.     Capital:  Manila

 

 

g.    Government:  Unitary Presidential Republic

h.    The Philippines is composed of many ethnic groups who speak 182 languages.  The official languages of the country are Filipino and English.

i.     The two major religions are Catholic and Muslim.

5.    The work in the Philippines

a.    The Stocks began their work in full-time in the Philippines in May, 2012.

b.    The focus of their work has been in Bohol.

 

 

6.    Recent Summary

a.    In July 2024, we conducted our sixth church planting in Carmen, Bohol. The eighth church planting since we’ve been in the Philippines for 13 years.

b.    After one year Carmen has 21 members. All the congregations we work with continue to grow.

c.    We continue our mentoring program to train young men to preach the gospel, and Lord willing have a desire to be elders in a future. 3 have gone on to preaching schools.

d.    When the process of building a church building for Tagbilaran City and Lord willing, it will be completed before the end of this year.

 

      

 

e.    Souls saved:

1)    In 2024, 57 souls were added to Christ in baptism.

2)    In 2025, 39 souls

3)    From May 2013 to date over 1,100 souls.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   We have looked at three questions:

1.    What is the definition of Satan, demons, devils, and evil spirits?

2.    Has anyone gone to hell who was pardoned or resurrected therefrom?

3.    Who will we be supporting during the month of October with all of the money that is contributed over budget?

 

B.   We have learned at least three things:

1.    Satan, demons, devils, and evil spirits are real and are our enemies.

2.    All individuals who die await the final judgment in one of two places in the hadean realm:  Abraham’s bosom or torments.

3.    The Stock are doing a good work in the Philippians and are in need of our Christian liberality to continue the work there.