Heavenly Hosts and Dark Forces: Angels and Demons in Religion


Book Description

Angels and demons, the eternal symbols of good and evil, have intrigued humanity for ages. Heavenly Hosts and Dark Forces: Angels and Demons in Religion is a comprehensive guide that delves into the intricate and profound roles these spiritual beings play across a spectrum of faiths. From the Abrahamic traditions to Eastern religions, Indigenous beliefs, and modern spiritual practices, this book offers a detailed exploration of how angels and demons are depicted in sacred texts, religious rituals, and popular culture, enlightening readers about their profound significance. Whether viewed as celestial protectors or malevolent adversaries, angels and demons continue to captivate the human imagination. Through historical analysis, theological insights, and cultural perspectives, Heavenly Hosts and Dark Forces reveal the timeless influence of these beings on human spirituality and moral thought. The book also examines their ongoing relevance in contemporary society, where angels and demons remain potent symbols in literature, film, and art. What you will find in this book: The origins and evolution of angels and demons across various religious traditions An exploration of angels in Abrahamic faiths, including their roles as messengers, protectors, and warriors Insights into demonic figures, from ancient mythology to modern interpretations A look at how Eastern religions perceive angels and demons, focusing on spiritual balance and karma An examination of Indigenous beliefs, where spiritual beings are deeply connected to nature and community The impact of angels and demons on human psychology and moral development How these beings are represented in popular culture, from movies to video games A discussion on the continuing relevance of angels and demons in modern spirituality Heavenly Hosts and Dark Forces invites readers on a journey through the sacred and the sinister, offering a rich and nuanced exploration of the spiritual forces that have shaped—and continue to shape—our understanding of the divine. By providing a comprehensive understanding of the portrayal and significance of angels and demons in various religious traditions, the book significantly contributes to our understanding of the divine and its impact on human spirituality and moral thought.




Angels: A Very Short Introduction


Book Description

What are angels? Where were they first encountered? Can we distinguish angels from gods, fairies, ghosts, and aliens? And why do they remain so popular? This Very Short Introduction investigates stories and speculations about angels in religions old and new, in art, literature, film, and the popular imagination.




The Shepherd of Hermas


Book Description




The Kingdom of the Occult


Book Description

The Kingdom of the Occult delivers the timely followup to Dr. Martin's best-selling The Kingdom of the Cults This book takes Dr. Walter Martin's comprehensive knowledge and his dynamic teaching style and forges a strong weapon against the world of the Occult-a weapon of the same scope and power as his phenomenal thirty-five year bestseller, The Kingdom of the Cults (over 875,000 sold). Chapters include: Witchcraft and Wicca, Satanism, Pagan Religions, Tools of the Occult, Demon Possession and Exorcism, Spiritual Warfare, etc. Features include: Each chapter contains: Quick Facts; History; Case Studies; Theology; Resources




This Present Darkness


Book Description

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 After the film in her camera is mysteriously destroyed at a small-town festival, reporter Bernice Kreuger knows she’s found something worth covering up. She brings the investigation to her boss, Marshall Hogan. Along with the local pastor of a struggling church, Hank Busch, they find something much bigger than they expected—a demonic plot to enslave their town and, eventually, the world. The tiny college town of Ashton becomes the unlikely battleground in a cosmic clash between good and evil. Unseen by the human protagonists, armies of angels and demons wage war against one another in the spiritual realm for the souls of the people of Ashton. Up against supernatural forces, the future of the town seems bleak – but the power of prayer might be able to influence the outcome of the fight. This fast-paced thriller birthed an entirely new genre, setting the standard for spiritual suspense. It has since sold over 2 million copies worldwide, sparking a renewed interest in the concept of spiritual warfare.




Christobiography


Book Description

Are the canonical Gospels historically reliable?​ The four canonical Gospels are ancient biographies, narratives of Jesus’s life. The authors of these Gospels were intentional in how they handled historical information and sources.​ Building on recent work in the study of ancient biographies, Craig Keener argues that the writers of the canonical Gospels followed the literary practices of other biographers in their day. In Christobiography he explores the character of ancient biography and urges students and scholars to appreciate the Gospel writers’ method and degree of accuracy in recounting the life and ministry of Jesus. Keener’s Christobiography has far-reaching implications for the study of the canonical Gospels and historical Jesus research. He concludes that the four canonical Gospels are historically reliable ancient biographies.




The Sibylline Oracles


Book Description

This is the extended and annotated edition including * an extensive annotation of almost 10.000 words about the oracles in religion * an interactive table-of-contents * perfect formatting for electronic reading devices THE Sibyls occupy a conspicuous place in the traditions and history of ancient Greece and Rome. Their fame was spread abroad long before the beginning of the Christian era. Heraclitus of Ephesus, five centuries before Christ, compared himself to the Sibyl "who, speaking with inspired mouth, without a smile, without ornament, and without perfume, penetrates through centuries by the power of the gods." The ancient traditions vary in reporting the number and the names of these weird prophetesses, and much of what has been handed down to us is legendary. But whatever opinion one may hold respecting the various legends, there can be little doubt that a collection of Sibylline Oracles was at one time preserved at Rome. There are, moreover, various oracles, purporting to have been written by ancient Sibyls, found in the writings of Pausanias, Plutarch, Livy, and in other Greek and Latin authors. Whether any of these citations formed a portion of the Sibylline books once kept in Rome we cannot now determine; but the Roman capitol was destroyed by fire in the time of Sulla (B. C. 84), and again in the time of Vespasian (A. D. 69), and whatever books were at those dates kept therein doubtless perished in the flames. It is said by some of the ancients that a subsequent collection of oracles was made, but, if so, there is now no certainty that any fragments of them remain.




Demons


Book Description

The truth about demons is far stranger—and even more fascinating—than what's commonly believed. Are demons real? Are they red creatures with goatees holding pitchforks and sitting on people's shoulders while whispering bad things? Did a third of the angels really rebel with Satan? Are demons and "principalities and powers" just terms for the same entities, or are they different members of the kingdom of darkness? Is the world a chaotic mess because of what happened in Eden, or is there more to the story of evil? What people believed about evil spiritual forces in ancient biblical times is often very different than what people have been led to believe about them today. And this ancient worldview is missing from most attempts to treat the topic. In Demons, Michael Heiser debunks popular presuppositions about the very real powers of darkness. Rather than traditions, stories, speculations, or myths, Demons is grounded in what ancient people of both the Old and New Testament eras believed about evil spiritual forces and in what the Bible actually says. You'll come away with a sound, biblical understanding of demons, supernatural rebellion, evil spirits, and spiritual warfare.




Everything the Bible Says About Angels and Demons


Book Description

Readers' fascination with angelic beings--both dark and light--continues to grow. Numerous authors have given their ideas about angelic beings, but it's time to hear what God has to say. All the scriptural references on the subject have been collected and explained in a clear and concise format. The book's length and focus make it perfect for readers on the go who love the Word of God.




Angels Elect and Evil


Book Description

What are angels like? How many kinds are there? Are mental disorders caused by their influence? Long favored by scholars, this classic has now been rewritten to give us accessible scriptural answers to our questions about the spirit world.




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