Zacharias 13:2 Unclean spirit out of the earth

[anon91549587]

hello again, its me the annoying pebble in your shoes.

So , how do i defend the claim that demonic possessions no longer exist in this modern age because the demonic possessions in the bible have already served the purpose of showing that Christ is the messiah.
And that Jesus did instant exorcisms whereas possessed there were cases in which many many many sessions were needed.
Full article here
http://www.melrose-drive.org/resources/2015/04/16/exorcism-and-demon-possession

This christian group uses Zach 13:2 and 1 Corin 13:8-13 to prove their point.

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.​

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I had a pastor, who is Polish but was raised in Germany. His grandpa actually fought the Nazis in World War II. He said that his grandfather actually had nightmares of being in hell and the demons talking to him in German. Demons exist, regardless of whether or not someone believes them.

 

[Inbonum]

Why you have to answer them? Why you have to defend it?
You cannot persuade those who don’t believe in it. One of the Satan’s tricks is to convince people to believe that he doesn’t exist. It is hard for many modern people to believe in “middle age story” and I leave that opinion to them to trust it until they maybe face opposite reality someday.
Don’t go into that discussion. It is useless and takes time.

 

[anon91549587]

@CathF I want to not be caught with my pants down . I want to defend the faith.

 

[Inbonum]

@calisthenics That article is written by protestants on their own page and that is what many of them believe.
Zach 13:2 and 1 Corin 13:8-13 are not only arguments they use, you will see many arguments that even don’t have any relation to religion but are used to prove that possesion doesn’t exist which came from false teaching that Satan is just metaphor of evil in this world and not real spiritual creature. That is also unfortunately teaching of many “modern” catholics and theologians.
I still wouldn’t go uninvited into that discussion because in many cases it is just waste of time, if someone would attack me on my beliefs I would maybe answer. We don’t have to answer everything and silence doesn’t always mean that they won.
I cannot save whole world and persuade everyone to believe in something I believe. Sometimes it is better move on and PRAY for those who don’t believe than trying to win arguments.
Don’t go into demonology or detailed research on demons.
Try to know your faith better to defend it better, by reading Cathecism, Bible, Church Fathers, documents etc.
This also could be helpful for start:
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2c1p7.htm

73. What Does the Church Teach About Satan and Demons? | St. Therese Church

www.sttheresechurchalhambra.org

And this:

Does the Catholic Church believe in the devil?

The priest you saw on television, if he said what you say he said, is mistaken. Based on the teaching and example of Jesus (Mt 4:1-11; 12:22-30; Mk 1:34; Lk 10:...

www.catholic.com

 

[anon91549587]

I went through all the links . Thank you , perhaps i will just keep silent and exercise humility if a conversation comes up .

 

[JGD]

The article (linked in your opening post) recognizes that demon possession still occurred after Jesus ascended, during the time period covered by the book of Acts. However, Christian history didn’t end with Acts. Unfortunately, most Protestants (and probably many Catholics as well) are unaware of all the writings left by Christians throughout the following 2000 years; probably have never read biographies of the saints.

I remember a priest saying that when missionaries would first enter a pagan country there was often a lot of demon activity. But, he said, as the number of Masses increased, the amount of demon activity decreased.

I think we often forget the power of the graces Jesus pours out in the Mass, where through the priest, He continues to present to God His sacrifice on Calvary for our redemption.
(cf. John’s vision on a Sunday while exiled on Patmos)

Rev. 5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth;

 

[JGD]

Full article here
http://www.melrose-drive.org/resources/2015/04/16/exorcism-and-demon-possession

If the article is actually what’s being discussed, you might point out a couple of the errors it contains.

1. The article implies all the exorcisms in the gospels and Acts were “immediate”. This is incorrect. In Mark 9:14-29, the apostles tried, but were unable to cast the demon out of the boy. When they asked Jesus why, He said it could be done only with fasting and prayer. (It takes more than a day to fast!!!)
2. The author also says that once the demons were cast out “they were gone, never to return again”. Well, we don’t know that for sure as there is no record of what happened with those people in their following years (except for Mary Magdalene).
   In Matthew 12 Jesus lets us know it is possible for demons who have been cast out to return.

Mt. 12:43-45 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, but he finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and brings with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. (also Luke 11:23-26)