“My Name is Legion; for we are many”
(Mark 5:9, NKJV)
In the previous teaching we looked at a few of the many Christian traditions and commonly-accepted practices which have no Biblical foundation. As Bruxey Cavey attests – “If following Jesus is our goal, it will radically change how we read, interpret and apply the Bible.” The fact is that many of our perceptions of how we should deal with Satan and the kingdom of darkness is based on fictitious accounts that have been repeated so often they are considered to be true. In the light of 2 Cor 2:10-11 we alas need to repent – We have been deceived; we are clearly completely unaware of Satan’s true plans.
A while back we pointed out that the devil can do little more than speak – the dragon has a mouth from which he spews his “doctrine of demons” (Rev 12:15-16; 1 Tim 4:1). As his other name is Legion (Mark 5:9), which means a multitude, many – he also has a multitude of different names, and thus identities. Most of these names are illustrative of the fact that he creates illusions through words. Let us look at a number of the devil’s characterising proper names –
- Accuser (Rev 12:10) – especially within a punitive context
- Cunning snake (Gen 3:1) – specifically in terms of language
- Devil (Matt 4:1) – someone who curses and slanders identities – “to traduce, calumniate, slander, accuse, defame”
- Father of the Lie (John 8:44) – he cannot speak the truth
- False Witness (Isa 32:7) – “destroy… with lying words”
- Instigator/Inciter (1 Chr 21:1) – Attacks through words
- Opposer (1 Pet 5:8) – again in the milieu of the law (as attorney)
- Roaring Lion (1 Pet 5:8) – he is merely like a lion, the emphasis here lies on the sound that he makes, roaring – “to raise a loud and inarticulate cry”
- Seducer of the Entire World (Rev 12:9) – seduces people, especially through misleading teaching
- Sower of Discord (Prov 6:19; James 3:14-16; Matt 15:19) – sows discord through lies, especially between brothers
- Tempter (Matt 4:1 &3) – especially through suggestion.
Matt 15:18 provides this guideline – “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.” Thus – all unclean, and demonic spirits, are defiled (Matt 10:1; Mark 1:27; Mark 3:11; 5:13; 6;7; Acts 5:16; 8:7), and can be linked to words/language.
In Rev 16:13-14 this frightening truth is made clear – “And when I saw these unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them … “
- Sela: Ask the Spirit of God to point out to you the implications of this teaching.
- Read: 2 Sam 4-6
- Examine how this has been fulfilled: 2 Sam 5:24
