Question & Answer #2

1. What happens after death?

• Although this becomes a sad thought as we think of loved ones and people who have not believed on the Gospel of Christ, it is still an amazing thing to say that what happens after death:

Is your choice.

The two sides of the coin are this: Eternal life in Heaven or eternal damnation in Hell. 

There is much discussion among theologians as to exactly what this transition to either state looks like, is there an intermediate state while awaiting a New Heaven and New Earth, and so on, and so on. But let me offer you a few of the definite. 

• Both places are real (Matthew 10:28; John 3:13).

• Heaven is unspeakably wonderful (1 Corinthians 2:9). Hell is unimaginably torturous (2 Thessalonians 1:9). 

• Your spirit will be translated to one of these places, but as for those in Heaven, there will be a bodily resurrection in which you will receive a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:50-58).
• If you have not made Heaven your eternal residency, do not wait. Understand your current situation of depravity and sinfulness, and believe that Jesus Christ came to Earth, died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again to save you from that state of being and has offered you a Heavenly inheritance (Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:11-14). Here there will be no more suffering or anguish, but life everlasting (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:1)!

2. Can Christians be demon possessed?

• In order to answer this question, we need to address two preliminary matters. First of all, one must understand what a demon is. Second, one must understand what possession is. Once we understand those two matters, we can understand what our standing in Christ has to do with both of these matters. 

A demon is an angel, who followed Satan in his prideful revolt against God (Luke 10:17-18; 2 Peter 2:4). This celestial event, may bring up other discussions about free will and what angels can and cannot do, but what is important for this discussion is this-

Demons, like angels, are spirits.

Saying this, spirits have a number of capabilities that humans in this mortal state do not.  One of these is indeed to fill the empty crevices of human souls. This is what is referred to as possession.

The Bible records many instances of demon-possessed individuals within the Bible, and it is worth noting that individuals could have more than one demon residing within them (Luke 8:30). 

Now contrast this kind of possession to when we receive the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit also resides within the soul of humanity, but in this case, there can only be one Spirit. The implication of the Biblical truth, “once saved, always saved,” is applicable in this conversation as well. 

When an individual is saved, they are sealed until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). Demons no longer have access to drive the soul and body of a human. You are possessed by the Holy Spirit and therefore slaves to Christ, as Paul’s depicts in Romans 1:1. 

But I should offer this warning. No longer can a Christian be possessed, however understand, there will continue to be demonic influences. These influences are something that we will wrestle with the remainder of our lives while we are still in our flesh, but we can remain strong in our faith by equipping the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17).

3. Is being slain in the Spirit biblical?

• My answer must first come from this brief notation: There are a lot of things Biblical, but much less within this category is applicable. In Genesis 19:30-38 Lot’s daughters made their father drunk and became impregnated by him. This story is Biblical, but that does not mean that God condones the actions of this narrative as righteous. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

There are a few examples of Scripture that charismatic movements will use in order to justify being “slain in the Spirit.” “Slain in the spirit,” in simple terms to those who practice this, meaning forced to the ground, to lay prostrate supernaturally being overcome by the Holy Spirit.

This terminology is not used in Scripture and the examples by which this happens are far from today’s practice and primarily outside our dispensation. Here are some passages by which a charismatic practitioner may implore as a defense for being slain in the Spirit:

Gen 15:12; Exo 40:35; Dan 8:27; Daniel 10:5-18; Ezekiel 1:28; Matthew 17:6; John 18:6; Acts 9:4; 10:10; Revelation 1:10-18.

I want you to notice that none of these experiences are within our dispensation. Hopefully that simplifies a lot. But for those who would argue that Acts 9:4 and 10:10 are within this dispensation. Let us examine the context. 

Saul here in this story (Acts 9:3-5), was not “slain in the Spirit.” He did not possess the Holy Spirit at this time. He encountered the risen, glorified Christ, which in nature, will elicit the same reaction when we reside with Him in Heaven. 

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

Saul’s experience is very similar in fact to another, often quoted Scripture. Matthew 17:6. In this pericope, the disciples fall prostrate in the presence of the transfigured (glorified) Christ and in response to the Father’s voice. Once again, I need to reiterate, the Spirit did not yet abide in the disciples.

In our current dispensation, we live in a time where similar miraculous gifts have ceased. But warranted, I can give one Biblical example of someone who was slain by the Spirit. 

In Acts 5:1-11, we have an example of someone who possessed the Holy Spirit and was slain by it. 

“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”

These two individuals were very much “slain in the Spirit” and were lying and tempting the Holy Spirit. Once again, I argue this is outside of our dispensation, but, if someone really is hankering for an example. There you go.

But overall, my answer is no. Being slain in the Spirit is not a Biblical principle to apply to your Christian faith.