Title: 13
Author: JOEG
Last saved by: Matthew C. Lawson
Company: Auth Co

© 2002 Joe Griffin	                                   ▼                     02-05-12-B.JSH-651/

The Inscrutable Question: Evidence Test #1: Rules of Engagement Regarding Demons: Corporal Possession & Geographic Restrictions, Mk 1:13; Rev 18:1-2
5.	Further, we learn from Mark that the Lord also had to deal with the constant harassment of wild animals:
Mark 1:13 - And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to him.
6.	Animals can be demon possessed as we have learned from the serpent in Genesis 3 and the swine in Mark 5.  Jesus Christ in His undiminished deity has authority over the fallen angels and will not allow them to enter into any area, corporally or geographically, without His permission.  The former is evident in the Mark 5 passage where the demon legion is ordered out of the man but allowed to enter into a drift of hogs.
7.	The principle of geographic restrictions on demons is taught in:
Revelation 18:1 - After these things, I saw another angel who had great authority [ seraph rank ] descending from heaven and the earth was illuminated by means of his glory.
v. 2 - Then he shouted with a powerful voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!  In fact, it has become the habitation of demons and is the prison [ fulak», phulake ] for every unclean spirit and is the cage for every unclean and hated bird.”
8.	“Babylon the Great” represents religious Rome in the Tribulation.  Throughout history there is an ongoing struggle between political power and religious power.  Lucifer seeks to gain control by influencing both.
9.	In the latter half of the Tribulation, Lucifer needs the political power of the Revived Roman Empire more than he needs the religious power of the Empire and thus the former destroys the latter.
10.	The world headquarters for ecumenical religion is based in the city of Rome and is destroyed by political Rome.  Nothing is left in the destroyed complex but the bodies of those who served there, carrion birds, and disembodied demons.
11.	The word fulak», phulake has the basic meaning of “watching” or “guarding.”  With regard to those who violate established standards it means “prison.”  It is used twice in Revelation 18:2, first to describe the imprisonment of demons within the destroyed ecumenical compound and secondly to describe it as a cage for the carrion birds who feast on the corpses of the religious leaders who were killed in the assault.
12.	We have also learned from the study of the funeral, cortège, and burial of Moses that elect angels were instructed by the Lord to form a perimeter around the Abarim Mountains to restrict demon entry.
Jude 9 - Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
Deuteronomy 34:6 - And the Lord buried Moses in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor \beth-pē´-or\; but no man knows his burial place to this day.
13.	In order to keep Moses’ burial site a secret from Lucifer and his demons, the Lord cordoned off the area with a battalion of elect angels.
14.	From this we can conclude that fallen angels are allowed to enter into certain geographic areas only by the Lord’s permission and they are restricted from leaving other geographic areas under the Lord’s prohibition.
15.	In Mark 1:13 we learn that the Lord’s evidence test with regard to life support took place in the desert which was populated by wild beasts.
16.	Elect angels ministered to Him by preventing any demon–possessed animal from causing the Lord any harm.  During this time the Lord maintained tranquility of soul based on the promise of:
Psalm 4:8 - In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, do make me to dwell in safety.
17.	From these passages we are able to draw a conclusion with regard to our own safety in the Invisible War: if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, positive to the Word of God, and utilizing His system for spiritual advance, then we may enjoy tranquility of soul about the dangers of the cosmos.  Demons are not allowed to enter into our geographic area.  It is not a stretch to conclude that our adversaries in the Islamic War are demon possessed.  Consequently, our presence insures both our own safety as well as that of others in our periphery.
18.	 If during the Lord’s 40-day fast, Lucifer sought to do Him bodily harm by means of wild beasts, this was neutralized by the protection of the elect angels.
19.	From his own personal involvement, Lucifer’s strategy was to delay his questioning until the Lord was in a weakened physical condition and more susceptible to his tactics.
20.	During the 40 days, the Lord was tempted to commit sins motivated by His deprivation.  We have no record of the Lord’s management of these testings other than the fact that He endured the entire period in status quo impeccability.
21.	At the end, in a weakened, famished, and ravenous condition, the Lord was suddenly subjected to evidence test #2.

Grace Doctrine Church Media Ministries:	     www.gracedoctrinechurch.com        www.joegriffin.org     www.gdcmedia.org