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How Were Demons Able to Recognize Jesus as the Son of God?

Our men's Bible Study this morning dealt with the Garasene man who had the demon called "Legion" because they were many.  The demons recognized Jesus and pleaded with him not to throw them in the bottomless pit before their time.  Was this because Jesus was in heaven when they rebelled with Satan and were cast out?

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  • 2 months ago
    Favourite answer

    Driving out demons is an action that the Lord performs in all of the Gospels. However, in a few accounts of this action, which is one of the key ways that the Lord Jesus uses to demonstrate the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God, we learn of an interesting detail: the demons know who he is. They, like Peter in his confession in Matthew 16, indicate clearly the identity of the Lord. “You are the Son of God.” 

    We clearly read also that the Lord rebukes the demons also in Luke, not permitting them to speak.

    Why does he do this? Perhaps it’s not only because his time has not yet come, but also because the Kingdom of God, both in biblical times and today, can only be announced by the gestis verbisque

    With this in mind, a question for our reflection: if the demons can recognize Jesus, why can’t many of us? Why can’t many see Jesus? Why are many blinded to his presence among us, refusing to recognize that he is powerfully standing in our midst?

  • Mr.K
    Lv 5
    2 months ago

    In the beginning, all of God's angels were perfect and righteous, including the ones who eventually rebelled. These demons who possessed that man were well aware of Jesus' prehuman existence as God's Spokesman and the chief of all angels. [See John 1:1 & Joshua 5:13, 14]

  • ?
    Lv 4
    2 months ago

    Edit: You miss the point completely, but you can be forgiven because it is known cognitive dissonance. And years of conditioning by watchtower publications. In your answer you criticize translators for inserting ‘their own interpretation’ by “adding the definite article into their text”. And yet a few sentences later, have to agree with them.

    Your use of vine and his interpretation of (1 Peter 3:19) proves nothing at all as the question isn’t about the “spirits of antediluvian people” but about demons.

    As for your views on (Eccl 9:5-10; Ps 146:4) I dealt with those quite adequately by showing how you ignored the context of the whole book of Ecclesiastes here.

    https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20...

    An interesting question David, and it raises the question of the origin of demons. Some theologians teach that Rather than being ‘Fallen Angels’ demons are actually the disembodied spirits of dead Nephilim giants who perished at the time of the great flood.

    One presenting this View Dr. M. Heiser is found here:

    https://blog.logos.com/where-do-demons-come-from/

    I am not saying that I accept all that Heiser states, but he does present quite a compelling case. Especially in his book “the unseen realm”.

    Now let me deal with the answer presented by the JW teem, who states;

    “Jesus was not 'pleading' with the demons to change, since they were not sons of Adam, but were once sons of the true God.”

    Now if Heiser is correct and you would have to read the evidence he puts forward in his book ‘the unseen realm’. Then demons were NOT once true sons of God.

    Teem also states:

    “What is interesting is how many translators insert their interpretation in the texts. Many translations add the definite article into their text, "the Son of God" whereas the Greek actually reads: "a son of God".”

    Then he presents us with 5 example scriptures of ‘a son of God’ to prove his point.

    Teem says he finds this interesting, what I find interesting is that he totally ignores the 28 times that Jesus is referred to as ‘the son of God’ even in his own mistranslation of the scriptures the NWT.

    c.f. (Matt 16:16, Matt 26:63, Mark 3:11, Luke4:41, Luke 22:70, John 1:34, John 1:49, John 3:18, John 5:25, John 11:4, John 11:27, John 20:31, Acts 9:20, 2 Cor 1:19, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 4:13, Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 6:6, Hebrews 7:3, Hebrews 10:29, 1 John3:8, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 5:5, 1 John 5:10, 1 John 5:12, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:20 and Revelation 2:18.).

    In these scriptures from the NWT, this title is given by Demons, scribes, John the Baptist, Nathaniel, Martha, John the apostle, Paul the Apostle, and Jesus Himself, who really ought to know whether or not he is ‘a son of God’ or ‘the son of God’.

    Perhaps the reason that the “many translators added the definite article into their text, “the son of God” as teem states, is because in Greek its use depends on whether the noun its accompanying is masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural.

  • 2 months ago

    They remembered him from heaven.

  • TeeM
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

    Edit: So many words, so many errors:

    Thank you for proving the accuracy of the NWT.

    In a quick check or your cited verses the Greek actually says: 'the Son of God'.

    And if you had actually read my original comment, I said:

    "Yes, it is true Jesus is 'the' Son of God," 

    But as to accuracy of translation, I went on to say: "but that isn't what Satan said."

    Vine stated "nor is there evidence that the spirits of antediluvian people are actually ‘in prison’)" 

    So which scholar is correct?

    On this point I will agree with Vine, since those who have died 'know nothing nor are they conscience of anything', and 'their thoughts have perished'. [Eccl 9:5-10; Ps 146:4]

    Oh I forgot, you don't believe those words are inspired.

    -------

    Since Jesus is God's Firstborn, the beginning of God's creation.

    Since Jesus was God's master worker, and all other creation came through Jesus.

    Jesus was alive and knew every angelic being prior to their down fall.

    What is interesting is how many translators insert their interpretation in the texts.

    Many translations add the definite article into their text.

    "the Son of God" where as the Greek actually reads: "a son of God".

    “3 And the Tempter approached and said to him: “If you are a son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”” (Matthew 4:3)

    “6 and said to him: “If you are a son of God, throw yourself down, . . .” (Matthew 4:6)

    “40 and saying: “You who would throw down the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are a son of God,. . .” (Matthew 27:40)

    “3 At this the Devil said to him: “If you are a son of God, . . .” (Luke 4:3)

    “. . .“If you are a son of God, . . .” (Luke 4:9)

    Yes, it is true Jesus is 'the' Son of God, but that isn't what Satan said.

    Getting to the comment made by 'Legion', he specifically said:

    "Son of the Most High God"

    Thus this demon was identifying Jesus as the Son of Jehovah

    “19 And in this state he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who had formerly been disobedient when God was patiently waiting in Noah’s day, while the ark was being constructed, in which a few people, that is, eight souls, were carried safely through the water.” (1 Peter 3:19, 20)

    Commenting on this text, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says: 

    “In I Pet. 3:19 the probable reference is, not to glad tidings (which there is no real evidence that Noah preached, nor is there evidence that the spirits of antediluvian people are actually ‘in prison’), but to the act of Christ after His resurrection in proclaiming His victory to fallen angelic spirits.”

    Jesus was not 'pleading' with the demons to change, since they were not sons of Adam, but were once sons of the true God.

    “ 7 When the morning stars joyfully cried out together, And all the sons of God began shouting in applause?” (Job 38:7)

    Thus they can't or won't receive forgiveness for their sins.

    This preaching was to confirm the sentence of death upon them.

  • 2 months ago

    In reality ,Jesus is the true messenger of GOD send down for the Israelite during his era, nothing more and nothing less.

  • 2 months ago

    true. the demons used to be Angels of God till they tried with Satan to overthrow God. Thanks for the question.

  • Anonymous
    2 months ago

    supernatural, it is            

  • Anonymous
    2 months ago

    Translation from a historical view:

    Khazars or NEANDERTHALS while in AKLEBAUN recognized JESUS THE BLACK JEW as the most spiritual being of the land and the time. Probably had many followers.

    Jesus recognized these beasts had vision. Evil visions....he was good at recognizing the darkness amongst his heavenly kingdom in AKLEBAUN 🌍.

    Beasts recognized the visions came while within CIVILIZATION. And didn't want to be cast out back into their NATURAL HABITAT.

    They instantly start plotting on Jesus and his kingdom....🌍

    The rest is HISTORY.....🤔

    Edit: beginnings of a long pattern of Jews becoming cast outs.....🤔

    Notice I said Jews and not BLACK Jews.......umm🤔

  • The author of the story needed them to be able to perceive his status.

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