Page 231 - THE REVELATION OF THE THIRD HEAVEN and THE MEAT OF THE WORD

Rev 22:13). Power from devil spirits has been around affecting men from the
beginning of mankind (Gen 3:1, 5:1-2, Ezekiel 28:15, Rev 12:4).

Sometimes evil powers confess true things (Acts 16:17). Sometimes there are men
who are close to God and have supernatural gifts but who are not Israelites or
Christians as with the early Balaam (Num 22:9) who sinned in going with the men
without being called (Num 22:21). Straddling between God and Satan can not last
(Mat 7:18-20). Balaam was for example a soothsayer who practised divination
(Num 22:7, 24:1, Josh 13:22) who was yet a prophet (2 Pet 2:16) in that he
prophesied (Num 23:16, 20, 24:2). He initially sinned and repented (Num 24:1)
but sinned again by introducing idol worship and fornication to Israel (Num 31:16,
Rev 2:14). The manifestation of power from God and from devil spirit possession
was mixed in certain Old Testament people such as Balaam (Num 22:9, 2 Pet 2:15,
Jude 11), but fruit of the Spirit is never mixed in the same way with bad fruit (Mat
7:18-20).

Devil spirits can be the source of false prophecies (1 Kings 22:22-23, 2 Chron
18:21-22, Jer 23:13) and false doctrine which is called wormwood (Jer 23: 15).
Devil spirits are still under the ultimate jurisdiction of God, acting under licence,
and can be said therefore to have communication with God and at times have stood
before him (1 Kings 22:21-23, 2 Chron 18:20-22). Devil spirits can be cast out by
the mention of Christ’s name even by unbelievers (Mat 7:21-23 “never knew”).
Satan and his devil spirits do not do this (Mark 3:23-26).

People can be with the purposes of Christ but not appear to men to be as such
(Mark 9:39-40, Luke 9:50), only those acting in accordance with Christ’s will are
not against Him (Mat 12:30, Mark 9:39-40, Luke 9:50, 11:23). The default that
applies to all unsaved people is that they are acting in accordance with Satan’s
wishes and the natural course of this world under the influence of the spirit that
works disobedience as well under the influence of the flesh which is also evil (Eph
2:2-3). Thus their basic spirits are affected by this evil and they follow Satan (Eph
2:2) and the overall mind is also affected (Eph 2:3). A man can be in fellowship
with the Church and yet men not recognise this (Mat 12:30, Mark 9:39-40, Luke
9:49-50 “us”, 11:23).

Devil spirits can produce non-loving ‘miracles’ (Mat 12:33, Gal 5:22, Rev 16:14).

The “wise men” were not magicians or devil-spirit inspired but Godly men (Mat
2:1, 11).