Q: Satan's Attacks or God's Work?

How can you differentiate between what are God's works and what are Satan's attacks if in the case that the event is bad. Sometimes God puts you through tough times so that He can reveal Himself more easily to you, but how do you know that those tough times are not created by Satan?  When Satan attacks you, how do you know that's not God trying to reveal Himself to you?

This is a very thoughtful question. Sometimes we unwittingly go through our problems and struggles in life not seeing that God has a greater purpose for our suffering. Or we lose sight of the spiritual, and are convinced that all that exists is what we see: the physical. There are a few points I’d like to make from the Bible:

Satan DOES attack

There IS indeed spiritual warfare; it’s real. Eph 6:13 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” That is to say, that Satan is at work, tempting, lying, fixing circumstances against Christians. However, that is not to say that Satan is to blame for every bad thing that happens to us.

God DOES work

It is also true that God tests us to grow our faith. He is not as concerned with our physical or financial wellbeing as he is with our faith. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” How exactly does this work? Well, somehow, when we go through trials in life, it forces us to not look within and be so self-absorbed. When our eyes are off of ourselves and our ambitions, we can focus them on God. It’s sort of like a wake-up call to us when we get so caught up in our routines. Though it’s natural to want to avoid pain and suffering, Paul argued that it was good for us to see the bigger picture and take joy in it. Romans 5:3-4 says, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

God uses EVERYTHING

Here’s the kicker: to God, everything can be an opportunity for Him to reveal Himself more to you. Whether it is an intentional attack from Satan (spiritual warfare), or whether it is God putting you through trials to refine you, they serve one and the same purpose: His glory through our sanctification. In both causes of suffering, our response ought to be the same: to turn to God. And in that lies our true source of comfort from the pain.

How do we know everything can be used as an opportunity for God? Well, I’ll point out one great example that you should look into if you have the time. In the story of Job, Satan needed to ask for permission from God to inflict suffering on Job. God allowed it in his sovereignty and love. After losing several family members and all of his earthly riches, by the end of the book, we see that Job’s faith had been proven strong and was even bolstered by his experience of trial. All this was possible, even though it was Satan’s idea to test him. A great theme in the story of the entire Bible is how God turns “bad things” (such as spiritual warfare and opposition from Satan) into good things for His purpose. Job was an example of this. You can also see this clearly in the story of Joseph (Gen 37-50). Perhaps the greatest examples of these are in the life of Jesus, how God turned a suffering betrayed saviour into the hope for our world. When you believe in a sovereign God, that transcends time, sees everything, is more powerful than anything… it should all make sense how God is able to use everything for our good, and ultimately, His glory.

[Answered by Mark Cheng, Agape Counselor]

Q: Is there really a religion called Satanism?

A:  The term "Satanism" can be seen in 5 different ways:

(a) Satanism can refer to those people who actually worship Satan but who do not engage in any type of criminal or ritual abuse
(b) Satanism can refer to those who worship Satan and DO engage in criminal activities and ritual abuse
(c) Satanism can refer to those who use the language of worshiping Satan but through an expression of hedonism and anti-Christian lifestyle and philosophy. 
(d) Satanism can refer to any type of witchcraft
(e) Satanism can refer to practices that some dabble in the occult and use satanic imagery as a form of rebellion against social norms

As you can see, there is a wide variety of what people consider "Satanism".  In reaction to Satanism, Christians have 2 main views.  Firstly and most importantly, the Christian worldview asserts the sovereignty of God over Satan.  Secondly, as Christians, we do not ignore the evil in the world.  We recognize that there is spiritual warfare and thus do not take lightly to the evil that persists in this world. 

For more information, you can visit Got Questions here.

[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Psychic Activities?

Q: Are psychic activities such as palm reading or horoscopes considered Satanic activities? Should I believe in these things? I have found, in the past, that horoscopes prove to be true.

It depends on how you define "Satanic" activities. Psychic activities may not appear to be "satanic" because you are not part of a cult that worships Satan, etc. but I believe these activities are influenced by Satan, and thus, when you participate, you are allowing Satan to manipulate and hurt you. The fine folks at GotQuestions write this about psychic readings:

Satan pretends to be kind and helpful. He tries to appear as something good. Satan and his demons will give a psychic information about a person in order to get that person hooked into spiritism, something that God forbids. It appears innocent at first, but soon people can find themselves addicted to psychics and unwittingly allow Satan to control and destroy their lives. Peter proclaimed, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). In some cases, the psychics themselves are deceived, not knowing the true source of the information they receive. Whatever the case and wherever the source of the information, nothing connected to spiritism, witchcraft, or astrology is a godly means of discovering information. How does God want us to discern His will for our life? God’s plan is simple, yet powerful and effective: study the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and pray for wisdom (James 1:5).

The Bible strongly condemns spiritism, mediums, the occult, and psychics (Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-13). Horoscopes, tarot cards, astrology, fortune tellers, palm readings, and séances fall into this category as well. These practices are based on the concept that there are gods, spirits, or deceased loved ones that can give advice and guidance. These “gods” or “spirits” are demons (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). The Bible gives us no reason to believe that deceased loved ones can contact us. If they were believers, they are in heaven enjoying the most wonderful place imaginable in fellowship with a loving God. If they were not believers, they are in hell, suffering the un-ending torment for rejecting God’s love and rebelling against Him.

You can read the entire article HERE. What about horoscopes?

Astrology, then, opposes biblical teaching in at least two ways: it advocates faith in something other than God, and it is a form of divination. We cannot determine God's will for our lives through horoscopes. As Christians, we are to read the Bible and pray to God in order to gain wisdom and guidance. Consulting a horoscope is a violation of God's means of communicating with His children. We strongly believe that horoscopes should be rejected by Christians.

Read the entire article, "Should Christian consult horoscopes?" HERE.

Summarily, I would strongly urge you to stay about both psychic readings and horoscopes. Besides what I just shared with you, I also the ability of these activities to predict the "truth" comes from their vagueness. If a statement is vague enough, you can draw whatever meaning you want from it.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Is it possible to be demon possessed or dead locked?

If so, what is the reason behind it and how does it occur? Is there a possibility that anyone can be possessed at any time? To answer your 3 questions, I've consulted other authors (click on the links to read their full articles) who are well-versed in this massive subject.

Q1: Is it possible to be demon possessed or dead locked?

According to Scripture, since the Holy Spirit lives in a Christian (Romans 8:9-11, 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19), it would seem unlikely that the Holy Spirit would allow a demon to possess the same person. GotQuestions writes this:

This is sometimes a controversial issue; however, we strongly hold to the belief that a Christian cannot be possessed by a demon. We believe there is a distinct difference between being possessed by a demon and being oppressed or influenced by a demon. Demon possession involves a demon having direct control over the thoughts and/or actions of a person (Luke 4:33-35; 8:27-33; Matthew 17:14-18). Demon oppression or influence involves a demon or demons attacking a person spiritually and/or encouraging him/her into sinful behavior (1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7). Notice that in all the New Testament passages dealing with spiritual warfare, we are never told to cast a demon out of a believer (Ephesians 6:10-18). Believers are told to resist the devil (1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7), not to cast him out.

On the other hand, "we know from the Bible that demons can and do possess those who do not belong to Christ, and Scripture gives some examples of people being possessed by demons."

Q2: If so, what is the reason behind it and how does it occur?

Pastor Driscoll says it is Satan's influence:

In his war against God, the Serpent not only has the fallen angels who are now known as demons, but also has people who are allies in his army either by demonic possession, demonic influence, or simply living according to their sinful nature and flesh (2 Pet. 2:4; Rev. 9:1; 12:3–4). Such people include false prophets who speak for the Serpent (2 Pet. 2:1), false apostles who begin ministries for the Serpent (2 Cor. 11:13), false Christians who divide churches (Gal. 2:4), and false teachers who teach heretical doctrine for the Serpent (2 Pet. 2:1).

Q3: Is there a possibility that anyone can be possessed at any time?

Again, there is a different answer depending on whether you are a Christian or not. While Christians can be influenced by a demon (e.g. Peter was influenced by one in Matthew 16:23), "most theologians believe that a Christian cannot be possessed because he has the Holy Spirit abiding within (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:19), and the Spirit of God would not share residence with a demon." Conversely, those who do not belong to Christ can be influenced AND possessed by demons at any time.

What are some possible symptoms of demon possession? GotQuestions says this:

There is a wide variety of possible symptoms of demon possession, such as a physical impairment that cannot be attributed to an actual physiological problem, a personality change such as depression or aggression, supernatural strength, immodesty, antisocial behavior, and perhaps the ability to share information that one has no natural way of knowing. It is important to note that nearly all, if not all, of these characteristics may have other explanations, so it is important not to label every depressed person or epileptic individual as demon-possessed. On the other hand, western cultures probably do not take satanic involvement in people’s lives seriously enough.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Halloween is coming up, and I'm also curious, but is it sinful/wrong for Christians to celebrate Halloween?

...(i.e dress up and go trick or treating just for the entertainment of it?) But when I also mean to celebrate, I do NOT mean to acknowledge that Halloween is a good thing because it's the day of the devil. I hope this question wasn't too confusing, but hopefully you'll get the general idea?? Thanks anyways!


A: Ah, just in time for the season. Great question! Many people have been asking this as well, so trust me, you're not the only one that is confused.

Alright...so let's get one thing out of the way. If you are using the excuse of Halloween to dress provocatively, than YES it is wrong. This one day isn't an excuse to throw all moral and sense of value out the window. So please don't!

Now, I would say that partaking in the festivities of Halloween is a matter of personal choice and conviction. Yes, this holiday was once associated with paganism, occult and evil spirits...but it is no longer the case and simply looked upon as a time where we can wear costumes, get candy and hang out with friends. In essence, there is nothing wrong with this (as long as we're not celebrating the evil!).

However...there are some people that would argue it is wrong to even participate in something that is remotely associated with ghosts, witches and goblins. That stance is perfectly fine as well, as it is something they firmly believe in.

Either way it goes...as long as we are not compromising our faith and our belief, holding true to the truths of Jesus Christ and not believing or celebrating in the spirits that go against our Lord, I think this is a decision that you need to discuss with your family and for you to make on your own. Halloween is not a fundamental of our faith...going trick or treating does not mean that we are renouncing our faith in Christ. It's just something that some choose to do, and others refrain from doing so.


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Is getting angry with Satan when going through bad times bad?

A: Satan has always had a bad rep in the bible:

"He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44, NLT).

Even in Genesis, we first saw the detrimental effects he’s had on human beings... He was the originator of sin! Also, he’s the head of demons in the world. “Demons are evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world.” – Systematic Theology (Wayne Grudem). Demons are the ones who try to oppose and destroy every good work of God… but they are not all-powerful. They are limited by God’s control and have limited power. And the same goes with Satan (even if he is the head of them).

Now back to the question: Although it is clear that Satan and demons contribute to “bad things” and “bad times” we face in life, not ALL sin and bad times are caused by them.

Wayne Grudem says it best:
“In the lives of Christians… the emphasis of the New Testament is not on the influence of demons but on the sin that remains in the believer’s life. Nevertheless, we should recognize that sinning (even by Christians) does give a foothold for some kind of demonic influence in our lives. Thus Paul could say, ‘Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Eph 4:26)

What that basically means is not all bad times that happen to us come from Satan, therefore, we need to reflect on whether or not he’s the one to blame during the “bad times”. Sometimes it may mean taking a hard look at ourselves and seeing if we’ve played a part in sin as well. In short, being “angry” at Satan can be justifiable in some cases, but we cannot make him the scapegoat of all the bad things that happen.

On a side note, come to the Agape MOBS on Oct 30th or the BASIC MOBS on November 6th where we will be talking about righteous anger and looking at how and when Jesus got angry.


[answered by Pastor Shu-Ling Lee of the English Congregation]

Q: Do Angels Sin? Isn't heaven a place of no sin? How was Lucifer able to sin in heaven?

Tough question! Let's review the historical facts, according to Scripture:

1. Satan was originally an angel (Isaiah 14:12-14)

2. Satan became prideful and wanted to take God's place (Isaiah 14:12-14)

3. God cast him out of heaven (Luke 10:18)

4. This happened before the creation of mankind (Genesis 3)

Now, let's take a stab at your questions.

1. Do angels sin? Yes. Satan was an exceedingly beautiful angel who sinned and was subsequently cast out of heaven (Ezekiel 28:12-15) by God.

2. Isn't heaven a place of no sin? Yes. By this, we mean that God cannot allow human beings that are still in their sin to enter into his presence. Angels are not human beings. They are a completely different order of being. Due to their role as special servants of God, they have access to heaven. However, like human beings, they can sin. There are good angels and evil angels (i.e. demons). Thus, when Lucifer sinned, God instantly cast him out of heaven; out of his presence forever.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: God says that Satan can operate this world to a limit, but what is that limit God has set for him?

...And what happens if Satan decides to go past the limit?

I've written about Satan in a previous post and referred to this article. Here's what the article says about Satan (and his power):

Satan became the ruler of this world and the prince of the power of the air (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2). He is an accuser (Revelation 12:10), a tempter (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5), and a deceiver (Genesis 3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:3). His very name means “adversary” or “one who opposes.” Another of his titles, the devil, means “slanderer.”

It is true that Satan has some abilities to influence people. But they are limited, meaning Satan cannot go past them, no matter how hard he tries.

1. He has the ability to influence non-believers. 2 Cor. 4:4 tell us that Satan is the "god of this world" and "has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." In other words, Satan has the power to push false philosophies, evil thoughts and wrong belief systems onto those who do not know Christ. He keeps them in "darkness" (apart from God) whereas Christ brings them into the light (John 1:4-5). Here is an excerpt from an article about this very topic (read it HERE):

An example of a false philosophy might be a belief that man can earn God's favor by a certain act or acts. In fact, earning eternal life is a predominate theme around the world. Earning God's favor by works, however, is contrary to biblical revelation. Man cannot work to earn God's favor; eternal life is a free gift (see Ephesians 2:8-9). And that free gift is available through Jesus Christ and Him alone (John 3:16; 14:6). You may ask why does mankind simply not receive the free gift that enables them to truly be called children of God (John 1:12)? The answer is that Satan—the god of this world—pushes a false philosophy onto the world. Satan sets the agenda, the unbelieving world follows, and mankind continues to be deceived. It is no wonder that Scripture calls Satan a liar (John 8:44).

2. He continues to have the power to influence people after they become Christians. Listen to what Peter says concerning the devil's power: "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). This knowledge, however, should not frighten us because Jesus Christ is our Lord and he has a greater power than the devil (see Luke 4:13). In fact, Scripture tell Christians that they have the power to resist the devil (James 4:7) by relying on God's strength and truth (Ephesians 6:11). Additionally, Scripture tells us that God will not let us be tempted by Satan beyond our ability. This means there is always a way to avoid sin, even in the most confusing situations:

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:13)

Hope this helps you friend. Take heart, as Satan is limited. He is not all-powerful. In fact, one day he will be brought to justice and his influence will be put to a complete end (Revelation 20:10).

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: How could the writer know a conversation between Satan and God?

In Job, there are certain parts where there is a written conversation between the Lord and Satan. For instance, Job 1:6-12:

⁶ One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. ⁷ The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

⁸ Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

⁹ "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. ¹⁰ "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. ¹¹ But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

¹² The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

How could the writer know a conversation between Satan & God?

Good question. This is an example of how much genre matters when reading Scripture. Job is a very unique book in the Old Testament b/c it has elements of history, poetry and narrative ("prose"). If you read Job carefully, you'll notice it starts and ends as a historical story, but the bulk of it is poetic dialogue. So how should we see the conversation between God and Satan? A few things here...

1. Just because poetry is used does not mean the conversation between God and Satan is fictional. Poetry often has "a historical core without historical precision" (Raymond Dillard and Tremper Longman III, Introduction to the Old Testament, 207). When something is written in poetic form, it moves the writing from a historical event to a story with UNIVERSAL application. What is the universal application of the book of Job? It tells us to turn to God in times of suffering, even if we are angry and bitter. "Only in encounter with him will the tension of suffering be resolved" (David Clines, Word Biblical Commentary, xxxix).

2. As with all Scripture, God inspired human authors to write exactly what he wanted them to write. God worked through their unique circumstances and personalities to communicate Himself to us. So the conversation between God and Satan did happen, but was recorded by a human author in poetic language. Some scholars suggest that the conversation between God and Satan is a "contrastive dialogue," written to tells us something about both parties. God is straightforward and gracious, while Satan is cunning and argumentative.

The book of Job is not easy to understand, but I encourage you to continue to wrestle with hard texts. God will speak to you often when you read, re-read, meditate and struggle with a text. Keep the questions coming. Never stop learning and growing in your faith, despite the questions you may have.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: What is the beast of Revelation?

This is a very tough question because the beast of Revelation (chapter 13) has been under much debate over the centuries. Read the entire chapter in your Bible or HERE.

In this chapter, there are 2 beasts described. The first beast was a monster having 7 heads & 10 horns (each horn with a crown). On each head, the writer of Revelation, John, saw a name that blasphemed against God (v. 2). This beast was also "given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation" and they worshipped him (v. 7-8). In verse 3, we learn that one of the beast's heads suffered a "fatal" wound form which it was healed, and in turn, the world "marveled" at it. Lastly, we learn that the beast was "was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them," (v.7) i.e. it persecuted Christians.

This first beast derived its power from the dragon - the 2nd beast of Revelation 13. This 2nd beast is, in fact, the devil or Satan (Read Revelation 12:7-8, where Satan is described as a "dragon": "Now war arose in heaven, r Michael and s his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.").

What does this all mean?

First, let us understand why John wrote Revelation: "The original purpose of Revelation 13 was to show the Christians of Asia that the Roman Empire and the worship of the emperor and local deities was not of God. There was no point of compromise between this Babylon the Great and the people of God. The churches were warned that a time of persecution over these issues would befall them. The members were to stand fast in the faith of Christ, their slain Lamb, even if it led them to their death. In death or martyrdom they would witness to the fact that a greater than Caesar was alive, Jesus the Alpha and Omega. In the end, the church would win and the martyrs would reign with Christ as priests and kings"

[see the full article HERE].

Second, if you read articles or books, you'll find various opinions from various people. Some have identified the first beast as the Roman Empire of the 1st Century. The Roman Empire considered itself to be kind of savior to the world and thus, expected to be worshipped - which actually happened as many citizens bowed to the emperor and considered him to be a god. Additionally, the Roman empire persecuted the church. Some even suggest that Nero, one of the Roman emperors at the time, is the "wounded head of the beast" (13:3) as he committed suicide in the late 60 AD.

Others hold a completely different perspective, namely Revelation 13 is future prophecy. They identify the first beast will rule the world using a world government much like the Roman Empire of the 1st Century. He is what the Apostle Paul calls the "man of lawlessness" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and will rise to gain much global attention, but also horrifically persecute Christians.

So now what? A few important notes here:

1. To claim that a specific time in history is when the events of Revelation 13 goes beyond what the writer of Revelation, John, intended. We do not and cannot known when specific events of the last days will happen (Matthew 24:36).

2. The only thing Scripture tells us is that though the beasts of Revelation (i.e. Satan and his demon minions) continue to influence and dominant the world, he can never dominate the Christian, even if he takes away our earthly lives:

And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 13:7-8)

3. The good news is that Jesus Christ is greater than the Satan. His plans of redemption will not be stopped or delayed. One day in the future, God will judge Satan - the beast/dragon of Revelation (see Revelation 20:2) and those that rebel against him (Revelation 20:15).

Hope this answer clarifies things a bit. Keep the questions coming. We're trying our best!

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: Satan but not God?

Q: I was having a discussion on religion with my friend. He is an atheist and believes more in Satan than God. If we have another discussion, how should I defend my position as a believer and bring him closer to God?

Your question is timely as recently there has been a debate on Nightline on the question, "Does Satan Exist?" (see above). 

First, I would recommend you graciously explore why he/she believes in Satan and not God. What exactly does he believe about Satan? Who is Satan? What evidence is there for the existence of Satan, but not the existence of God? Does he believe in God at all? Why does he claim to be atheist if he believes in an entity such as the devil? Listen patiently and carefully, and try to understand where they are coming from. Sometimes, a person's disbelief in God is not purely scientific or intellectual. For example, they may refuse to believe in a God of love if they have suffered or been hurt or felt unloved. Since they do not feel love in their life, they conclude that a God of love cannot exist.

Second, I would say you must understand, from Scripture, who the devil is. It's going to be very hard to defend your position unless you know what the Bible says about the devil. For a good summary, visit CARM.org's article on the devil HERE. In short, Satan is a fallen angel who opposes God who is leading a rebellion against God. His primary motive is to elevate his throne above God. He counterfeits all that God does, hoping to gain the worship of the world. Additionally, Satan is the ultimate source behind every false cult and world religion. Satan will do anything and everything in his power to oppose God, and those who follow God. However, Satan’s destiny is sealed—an eternity in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10). For more information, visit this site - which has links to other questions & their answers including "If God is all-powerful, why doesn't he just kill Satan?"

Third, I would challenge your friend to really examine whether believing in Satan over God makes sense. If anything, the fact that your friend observes evil and suffering in the world (i.e. Satan's influence) means he/she is judging by a objective moral standard. Without a standard (something more than our subjective opinion about what is and is not moral), we have no right to say what is and is not evil. 

[Answered by Pastor HM, who had a friend in high school that believed in Satan, but not God]