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Spiritualism:
Of God and Devil;
Angels, Demons, and so much more...

By Ken Raggio


"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world," 1 John 4:1.

"Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards,
to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:31.

The world is full of spirits. The Father of all spirits is God. In eternity past, NOTHING but the Spirit of God existed. God was the FIRST SPIRIT, and all other spirits (i.e., angels) were originally created by Him.

But sin and rebellion among God's created spirits has produced nightmarish chaos in the spiritual universe. Above all, there is enormous conflict between the holy spirits that are of God and the unholy spirits that have chosen to rebel against or oppose God. That is the essence of Spiritual Warfare. There is a measureless amount of hostility, subversion and deception that takes place every minute of every day in the unseen world of spirits.

You ARE affected by spirits every single day, whether you believe in them or not. For your eternal security, you need to know with certainty what spirits are in the world, and which of them are good and which are bad.

This is a vast subject, and ignorance is NOT bliss. If you allow unholy spirits to have uninhibited influence in your life, you are at grave risk for a spiritual disaster.

I will begin by initiating you into the universe of spirits. Knowledge is responsibility. To know is to be responsible. But NOT TO KNOW is lethal. If you know the difference between a holy spirit and an unholy spirit, your will be able to judge righteous judgment with respect to the spirits you entertain, and keep yourself from the evil.

First, review this glossary to familiarize yourself with the names and definitions of spiritual entities. Then I will have something more to say.


God - The Only Eternal Spirit, and Original Father of all Spirits (John 4:24).

Angels - Spiritual creatures made by God. Two-thirds remain in Heaven, one-third were cast down to the earth in Lucifer's rebellion (Revelation 12:3-4). One hundred million surround the Throne of God (Daniel 7:10; Revelation 5:11). Angels also serve as ministering spirits to those who shall be the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14). Also included are cherubim, seraphim and other unique heavenly creatures.

Demons, or Devils - Sinful, fallen angels. Every demon was once a holy angel in the presence of God, but has been cast out because of rebellion. God never created an evil spirit. All evil spirits are willful, sinful rebels against God.

Satan, Lucifer, The Devil - The first sinner and first fallen Creature-Angel. Leader of all sin, rebellion, murder and lies, and the Chief of all fallen angels.

Familiar Spirit - A demon that studies and becomes familiar with human behavior, and often poses or imposters as a person, or as the soul of one deceased. While many people believe that the deceased linger or return as ghosts, the Biblical reality is that the spirits of men NEVER return to earth. These "ghosts" are only familiar spirits (demons) who pose as the souls or spirits of the deceased. For more explanation, see my article The Witch Of Endor.

Initiate - One who has been introduced to a spiritualistic encounter

Master, or Sage - A familiar spirit purporting to be, or impostering as a deceased person, especially one considered to be wise.

Séance - A meeting in which a spiritualist supposedly communicates with the spirits of dead humans or other spirits, but is actually communicating with familiar, evil spirits.

Poltergeist - A ghost/spirit that supposedly causes physical disturbances (i.e., rattling windows, sounds of footsteps, etc.)

Medium | Channel | Guru - A human through whom spirits supposedly communicate to other people

Necromancer | Spiritualist - One who allegedly communicates with and is obsessed with the dead, ghosts. Actually, they are communicating with demons, not the spirits or souls of the dead.

High Priest, Priestess | Coven | Witch | Warlock | Mystic - One who has power or influence with evil spirits and conducts spiritual activities by that authority; sometimes conducting sacrifices, offerings, prayers, etc.

Hypnotism | Mesmerism | Spell | Charm | Enchantment | Hoodoo | Curse | Potions | Incantations | Mind Control | Sorcery | Magic - The practice of altering a person's behavior so that the subject can be controlled or influenced by the hypnotist, spiritist, witch, priest, sorcerer, etc.

Shamanism - Spirits controlled by shamans (Buddhist or other priests, as in Eskimo and Indian beliefs)

Occultism | Cabalism | Esoterics - Any esoteric or secret doctrine

Clairvoyant | Soothsayer | Diviner | Auger | Mantic | Fortune-teller | Crystal Ball Gazer | Card, Palm, Tea Leaf Reader | Psychic - One who foretells by occult (secret) means

Voodoo - Sorcery using charms, fetishes, incantations

Astrology | Horoscopes - Illicit beliefs purporting the supernatural influence of stars, sun, moon on human affairs

Transcendentalism - Superhuman thought - the purported ability to see past, present, or future

Mental Telepathy | Extra Sensory Perception - The supposed transfer of thoughts outside 'normal' sensory channels; psychic phenomenon

Prophet | Seer - one who sees (past, present, future) happenings. Some prophets are of God. Others are false prophets, operating by evil spirits.

Psychometry - Psychic divining through physical contact

Psychokenesis | Mind-over-matter - Thought affecting physical objects (i.e., bending a spoon by thought)

Vision | Dream | Hallucination | Impression - Mental experiences having psychic or spiritual connotations or influence. Can be godly or evil.

Deja vu - An experience thought to have previously occurred

Wizard | Conjurer | Magician | Sorcerer - One who exercises power in witchcraft, magic and sorcery

Satanist, Satanism | Diabolism - Belief in and worship of Satan or other devils

Exorcism - The act of commanding demons to remove from habitations, human or otherwise

Astral Projection | Out-of-Body Experiences - Supposed occurrences at a 'higher' level than normal human perception

Ouija - A tool supposedly for communicating messages between the physical and spirit realms (i.e., Ouija board)

Ectoplasm - A vaporous, luminous glow allegedly appearing on a medium during a spiritualistic trance

Spiritual Warfare - conflicts between Godly and demonic forces

Signs, Wonders, Miracles - Supernatural occurrences in nature

Jesus Christ - God incarnate in the man born of the virgin Mary

Sons of God - Humans in which God's Holy Spirit dwells

Word of God - The infallible order of God

Heaven - The realm of God, His Angels, and all righteous spirits

Hell - The place of eternal captivity for all who reject God's authority

Earth - The battle zone between Heaven and Hell, occupied by forces of both regions.


Now, the reason that I listed and defined all the various spiritual items above is to focus your attention upon the fact that we live in a very dynamic spiritual environment.

Before God ever created anything in the universe, He was a solitary, holy, infinite, invisible Spirit.

He created His angels even before he created anything material. Before atoms and molecules, God created angels.

Can I demonstrate from the scriptures that angels were already in existence before the worlds began?

Yes.

God enquired of Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? ...When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Job 38:4-7. These "morning stars sang." The natural stars were not created until the fourth day of Creation. These "sons of God shouted." God's first human son, Adam, was not created until the sixth day of Creation. The STARS and SONS in Job 38:4-7 must have been the angels. Nothing else could fulfill this saying.

Before the material heavens and earth were formed, and before man was created, "all the sons of God (angels) shouted for joy" as they witnessed Creation taking place.

So angels rejoiced in the presence of God from the beginning of Creation.

Before God scooped into the dust of the earth and created the first man, Adam; before Satan rebelled; before any devil ever sinned or rebelled; the holy angels of God observed Creation taking place.

From that point, most people are not aware of the chronology of events. Let me apprise you.

Do you know WHEN God created the Garden of Eden? It was AFTER Adam was created. This is a very important point to comprehend.

Here is the evidence:

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed," Genesis 2:7-8.

Those two verses clearly show us that GOD MADE ADAM BEFORE HE MADE THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

Why is that important?

Because OTHER VERSES reveal that LUCIFER was in the Garden of Eden BEFORE HE SINNED!

Ezekiel 28 contains an allegory about the King of Tyre which most theologians agree reveals the history of LUCIFER himself - Satan - the Devil.

"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; ...Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: ...Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee," Ezekiel 28:13-15.

Here is proof that Lucifer - "the anointed cherub" - was IN EDEN, the Garden of God, UNTIL INIQUITY WAS FOUND IN HIM!

Why is that significant?

Because it proves to us that Satan WAS STILL A HOLY ANGEL when Adam was created.

Furthermore, Satan was STILL A HOLY ANGEL when God created the Garden of Eden.

Furthermore, Satan committed his first INIQUITY IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN!

We can conclude from this reading that Satan AND Adam were BOTH in the Garden of Eden, BOTH WITHOUT SIN.

Lucifer committed the first sin entirely by himself. Here is the record of what he did that was evil.

Isaiah 14 contains another allegory, comparing the fate of the evil King of Babylon with the fate of Lucifer himself.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned," Isaiah 14:12-20.

What is revealed in these verses?

1. Lucifer is fallen from heaven.
2. Lucifer is cut down to the ground.
3. Lucifer weakened the nations.
4. Lucifer said in his heart,

A. "I will ascend into heaven."
B. "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God."
C. "I will sit upon the mount of the congregation."
D. "I will ascend above the height of the clouds."
E. "I will be like the Most High."

5. Satan will be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
6. Those who see him will narrowly look upon him.
7. (The King of Babylon) will be cast out of his grave like an abominable branch.
8. The seed of evildoers shall never be renowned (considered famous).

For all of time, Satan (Lucifer) has made it his business to overthrow God's creation, particularly mankind, and take dominion over the Kingdom of God.

Satan is the PRIMARY EVIL SPIRIT of all evil spirits.

He is a usurper. He wants everything God has - from the heavenly throne to the smallest earthly entity. Satan wants to take everything he can take from God.

Satan is also a MURDERER and a LIAR.

Jesus revealed these facts Himself: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it," John 8:44.

So Satan AND every evil spirit under His influence are USURPERS, MURDERERS, and LIARS.

Ultimately, the most devastating damage that Satan and his minions can inflict upon the Kingdom of God is to overthrow mankind, by seducing men away from God and deluding them to believe in evil spirits rather than the one Holy Spirit of God.

Satan cannot inflict damage to the throne of God.

Satan cannot defile the streets of gold or the gates of pearl.

Satan cannot destroy the remaining angels.

He can only operate in the earth realm among other devils and among men. He is the ruler and the prince of the air. His strata is earth.

He cannot destroy the earth, because God has reserved that for a particular time and place.

Satan's worst blow to the Kingdom of God is to deprive men of their relationship with God.

Therefore, Satan and his forces are obsessed with overpowering men, by interfering with their communications with God, subverting men, lying to men, misrepresenting God by employing seducing spirits and false doctrines and a variety of supernatural means intended to deceive.

Meanwhile, God is the great, sovereign Spirit. God is the Spirit of Truth. There are no lies in God.

He is the Holy One of Israel. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the God of visions, dreams, and angelic visitations.

He is the God of wrath who covered the dry land with a flood in Noah's day.

He is the God of mercy who parted the Red Sea and made dry land for Israel's deliverance in Moses' day.

He is the God who sent rain, fire, whirlwinds and bread from the skies.

He is the God who brought water from a rock, snakes from a shepherd's rod, light out of darkness, and a man out of dust.

Our God touched Jacob's thigh, buried Korah and his fellow rebels alive, poured fire on Elijah's altar, caused leprousy on Miriam's skin, withered Jeroboam's arm, and turned Nebuchadnezzar into a maniac.

But He also made a baby in a ninety year-old womb, turned the Nile River to blood, sunk Jericho's walls, flew Elijah out in a chariot of fire, and accompanied three men through a fiery furnace.

He formed eyeballs in the sockets of a blind man, touched the dumb man's tongue to miraculously speak the language of the day, and made a crippled man's legs to walk.

The Spirit of God revealed the coming flood to Noah.

His angel called Isaac by name before he was conceived, then prevented Abraham from wielding a knife on him at Mt. Moriah.

His angel renamed Jacob, Israel. His Spirit planted dreams in Joseph, the Butler, the Baker, and Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

The Spirit of God was fire and a voice in a desert bush to Moses. Passing over Egypt, His Spirit visited death upon the subjects of the rebellious Egyptian king. God's Spirit was a fire to lead Israel by night, a cloud to lead them by day, and His angel revealed supernatural battle plans to Joshua.

God's Spirit showed Samuel the sins of Eli the priest, and revealed the thoughts of Saul's heart. His spirit waited on David to arrive at Jesse's house, and filled Solomon's temple with glory clouds.

His Spirit revealed great future sights to Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Micah. His angel guided Zechariah and Elizabeth and Mary and Joseph. His star shined for the wise men, and his angels showed the shepherds' way.

His Spirit discerned Andrew's name, Zaccheus' desire, and the Samaritan woman's sins. His Spirit foreknew Judas' betrayal, Peter's shame, and Pilate's sentence.

His Angel announced his resurrection from the dead, and His Spirit transfigured Him.

The same Spirit spoke dozens of languages on Galilean's lips at Pentecost. His Spirit foretold Ananias of Saul’s name and address and sickness, and foretold Saul of Ananias' name and healing powers.

God's Spirit told Cornelius of Peter's name, city, address, and landlord. Then told Peter that three men were on their way. His Angel assured Paul that the storm wouldn't cost his shipmate's lives, and unlocked the prison doors for Peter.

While God's Spirit has always brought life, and joy, and peace and comfort, and healing to those who were obedient, Satan's spirit has always brought panic and despair and tragedy to those who were obedient to him.

Satan's lies caused Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit, Cain to murder Abel and his parents cast out of the garden. Satan caused Noah's generation and Sodom and Gomorrah to be destroyed.

Satan's spirits lead Balaam to his demise, filled Saul with a murderous heart, and deceived him at the witch of Endor.

Spirits of idolatry used Solomon's wives to destroy him, lured Jeroboam into rebellion against God, filled Ahab and Jezebel with wickedness and murdering.

Satan caused sin and sickness all throughout the history of man. Murder, hate, jealousy, strife, war, death in every form and fashion.

The witches and soothsayers of evil times deprived men of their relationship with God.

Pharaoh's magicians helped cause his hard, hard heart, and prevented him from believing Moses and the true power of God.

The idolatrous priests of heathen nations turned God's people's hearts away from him many times, and good never came of it.

The witch of Endor was terrorized when she realized King Saul had discovered her, because she knew that Saul's great God was much more to be feared than her own foul, demonic powers with familiar spirits.

The false prophets of Ahaz satisfied his itching ears, but Jeroboam knew that evil would come of it. While Jeroboam rejected their counsel in favor of a true man of God, Ahaz listened to their demonic advice, and was killed in battle that day.

The demons that possessed the maniac of Gaderra would have never given him rest, but Jesus' power and authority over them gave the man total release and soundness of mind. Meanwhile, the animals into which the spirits fled immediately committed suicide.

The demon in the boy child made him deaf and dumb till Jesus loosed him from them.

The unclean spirit of the young woman in Acts 16 would have deceived her forever as to the true saving power of the gospel, until Paul rebuked the spirit out of her and she truly believed the gospel.

The seven sons of Sceva did not realize the awesome destructive force of demons until they tempted them by lightly using the name of Jesus. They were rent sorely.

THERE IS NO SPIRIT OF ANY DIMENSION THAT CAN EQUAL OR COMPETE WITH THE SPIRITS OF GOD.

All Spirits of God are greater in power and force than the powers of Satan and the demons.

No man can ever have a relationship with demons that will anywhere compare with the wonderful effect of the Spirit of God on their lives.

I therefore stand upon the Word of God, protected by the Blood of Jesus Christ, authorized by His Holy Name, and empowered by His very Holy Spirit, and resist and rebuke every single spirit that is not of God. The Lord rebukes every power that comes against me and my family, in the name of Jesus.

I resist every devil around about me. I resist and rebuke every unclean spirit that attempts to influence, subvert and destroy my life or the lives of all my family members. I command the powers of spiritual darkness to be staid and stopped, hindered, bound, and defeated. I revoke every liberty they have usurped or arrived at in our lives. I rescind every permission he has found, and withdraw every liberty. I refuse to allow his continued activity in my life. I will henceforth be free to operate in the Spirit of God. I will walk uprightly and victoriously.

I stand firmly and adversely against every unclean spirit that occupies my territory in and around me. I also resist and defy every unclean spirit that might have any power at all against me. I resist every power on earth, or in the realm of darkness that might do harm of any kind to me and my family and my church, locally and around the world. I will not be a fool to allow Satan the liberties that he has occasionally taken with me.

I have absolutely no reason to fear Satan or any power he has beneath him. I will not be defeated by anything or any power he has at his disposal. I am a Jesus' name believer, and my name is in the Lamb's Book of Life, and I assert my rights, privileges, and authority against the enemy of my soul. I declare my freedom henceforth and forever more.

Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

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