Bible Questions and Answers

Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Probably for the same reason that he spoke in parables

Mark 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Those who wanted to believe had to work out the implications of the parables for themselves. The same logic applies to Beelzebub.

Beelzebub began as a deity invented by the inhabitants of Ekron.

2 Kings 1:2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. 3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?

Baalzebub was fictitious; the idol of Ekron was not a god and had no power.

The Jews should have understood that there is no power other than God.

In heaven God’s will is done perfectly. Hence the prayer:

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

There is no such thing as a rebellious angel who provokes men to sin. Neither can angels die. If angels can sin and die then the promise of being made equal to them means that we will be no better off than we are now.

Luke 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Satan does not have an army of supernatural beings who have nothing better to do than take over the minds of unfortunate human beings (what would be the point?). The whole concept of a fallen angel with an army of evil angels is so ludicrous that it beggars believe in rational men.

When we come to a proper understanding of the word of God, the devil and Satan are rightly discerned as figures of speech for the evil which lies within the hearts of men.

Mark 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

That which opposes God comes from within men and not from a fallen angel without.

If we do not understand this then we are doomed to fall into the same errors of comprehension as the Jews.

Jesus could not cast out devils by Beelzebub the prince of the devils because no such entity existed.

It is of no avail to point out that such a power does not exist to those who prefer to believe that it does. One must begin with the lack of logic in teaching that such an entity would destroy itself.

It should be plain to New Testament readers that the works ascribed to this fictitious fallen angel are all aimed at self destruction. A case in point is the crucifixion itself. If Satan, a fallen angel, was instrumental in bringing it about he must have been aware from his knowledge of scripture that he was being complicit in his own destruction.

John 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

A supernatural being with an ounce of common sense would have done his best to prevent the crucifixion.

All power in heaven and earth is now in the hands of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

There is no power (nor has there ever been) in the hands of a fallen angel. The opposition to God still comes from within men and they do not understand the truth of their situation.

Peter became Satan when he opposed Jesus.

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Notice that his offence was to savour the things that be of men.

I hope you have found this helpful.

God bless you,
Glenn