and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled Saul. 1Sa 16:14

 1Sa 16:14  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

Saul’s failure to obey Yahweh caused a bad predisposition of mind and heart, against which God’s spirit offered Saul no protection

What does this tell us one Yahweh is in control of the evil spirit not Satan the demon. Second the spirit of Yahweh is his holy spirit. The evil spirit does God’s will not Satan’s will. The Hebrew word translated “evil” may refer to the character of the spirit or to its effect upon Saul. If the latter, another translation option might be “an injurious spirit”; cf. NLT “a tormenting spirit.” 

Thus the holy spirit or spirit of Yahweh is supernatural the evil spirit is not, it is a feeling of ill will between two parties as the above usage show us and the spirit of Yahweh is always used thought-out the Hebrew Bible as the holy spirit 

1Sa 16:15  And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

They believe that this is an affliction sent by God. Where is satan in all this?

1Sa 16:16  Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

They recommend that they find a skilled musician, insisting that when the musician plays, Saul will be well. They make no suggestion that anything supernatural is occurring.

Now do you recommend that the best response to an attack by one of satan's minions is to play some music, in order to send it away? If not - why not?

1Sa 16:23  And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

Whenever David plays, Saul is 'refreshed and well', and the 'evil spirit' goes away. There is no suggestion that anything supernatural is occurring. We are told very bluntly that music causes evil spirits to leave, though we know that this 'evil spirit' returned to Saul at times.

1Sa 18:10  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.

Does the text say that the supernatural minion of satan, or a troubled spirit sent by God as an affliction? The evidence, I believe, points to the latter. This interpretation is also verifiable. Show me someone 'possessed' with an evil spirit, and let's have some good music and see what happens. 

1Sa 19:9  And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

The real problem for people who believe that these 'evil spirits' referred to in these two places of the Old Testament are supernatural beings, is that they cannot escape the fact that Scripture insists that supernatural means are not required to send them away. Just some good music is all that is necessary.

And the reason why these passages remain such a stumblingblock to thise who believe that they refer to supernatural beings, is that these 'evil spirits' are described in the Scriptural record as:

1) Being sent by God to do His will, not as the minions of satan.

2) Behaving in a manner identical to psychological distress.

The fact that these 'evil spirits' are sent away by taking steps which people naturally use to soothe their troubled feelings, is very telling. 

So What was that 'evil spirit' sent by God to Saul?

I believe it was a psychological affliction. Let's see what an earlier 'evil spirit' sent by God is:

Quote

Judges 9:

22When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, 

23Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

1) If these 'evil spirits' are supernatural beings who are the buddies of satan and do his evil will, then why does God always send them?

2) How do you send an supernatural evil being 'between' two groups of people? Do they have to share?

3) What do other translations say?

TLB:

22-23Three years later God stirred up trouble between King Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, and they revolted.

Quote

NAB:

22 When Abimelech had ruled Israel for three years,

23 God put bad feelings between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who rebelled against Abimelech.

Quote

NKJV:

22 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, 

23 God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

Quote

NLT:

22 After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years, 

23 God stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the people of Shechem, and they revolted.

Quote

CEV:

22 Abimelech had been a military commander of Israel for three years, 

23-24 when God decided to punish him and the leaders of Shechem for killing Gideon’s seventy sons.

So God turned the leaders of Shechem against Abimelech.

Quote

TEV:

22 Abimelech ruled Israel for three years. 

23Then God made Abimelech and the men of Shechem hostile to each other, and they rebelled against him.

Jud 9:23  Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

That is God let develop a bad attitude between Abimelech and the landowners of Shechem

lying spirit from God 1 Kings 22

19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ 22 The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 23 Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”




While it is not in God's nature to lie, it apparently is a separate matter entirely to ask whether God can and will send people a strong delusion (through whatever means He chooses) so that they would believe a lie. Some might question the moral overtones of such actions, but the Bible doesn't. An important principle to understand and believe about God is that by the very nature of who He is, He is not bound by the same laws that He has given to man. We are commanded to not kill, and it is a sin of the highest order if we do so. But God can and does take life when He so chooses. One other point to keep in mind when thinking about God's actions of this sort: the people - as in this case and as stated in 2 Thes. 2 - whom God negatively influences are those who have already chosen - against all reason - to head down a wrong and sinful path. God wouldn't send strong delusion to people who are bent on loving and serving Him.

1Ki 22:22-23 - the prophets of Ahab were ‘lying in the spirit’: ‘the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets’. Comparison Mic 2:11 - identified false prophets as those who ‘walk in the spirit and lie’




"God is a God of truth and there is no unrighteousness in Him" (verse 4);




But when circumstances call for it, He may, as a man without unrighteousness deceives a wild beast, to its capture and destruction, "send strong delusion" upon the perverse, "that they may believe a lie" (2 Thess. 2:11). On this principle we read,




"If the prophet (that is, the idolatrous prophet: see context) be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I, the Lord, have deceived the prophet" (Ezekiel 14:9).




And again in the parable uttered before Ahab by Micaiah, the prophet of Yahweh:




"There came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord and said, I will persuade him (Ahab, to go up to battle). And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, . . . Go forth and do so. Now, therefore, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets" (1 Kings 22:21-23).




Applying this principle to the case in hand, we may understand that God stirred up Rebekah to deceive Isaac, that Isaac might be defeated in the wrong use of the divine gift of blessing which rested upon him.




The difficulty in understanding such instances, arises principally from our preconceived notions on the subject of "morality." Human speculation, alias philosophy falsely so-called, has evolved the assumption that "morality" (as men speak) is a fixed element in the constitution of things; and to this "morality," they have imagined God is as much subject as His creatures. The fact is-as the Scriptures reveal and nature accurately studied attests-that there is no such thing as fixed morality at all. The question of right and wrong is determinable in all things by the appointment of the eternal Creator. It is a simple question of what He has commanded. With Him is sovereign and irresponsible authority.




"None may say unto Him, What doest Thou?"






He may command a man to kill, and it is then sin not to kill, as in the case of Saul with the Amalekites; and righteousness to kill, as in the case of Samuel with Agag, on the same occasion; while when He chooses to command, "Thou shalt not kill," he that even hates his brother becomes a murderer. This simple principle relieves the subject of the world of difficulty that human philosophy has created. It explains, too, how it is that the belief of the gospel is righteousness, and enables us to realise how unutterably out of the right way is the present generation, with all their educated contempt for the promises and the commandments of God.




1 Kings 22:19-23 gives perhaps the most detailed picture of the Heavenly council. God told them His desire- for Ahab to die at Ramoth-Gilead. He then asked which Angel wanted to effect this- "Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one (Angel) said on this manner, and another said on that manner". We thus learn that like us, on hearing God's desire the elohim all have different ways of trying to fulfil it.

One "Spirit" (Angel) suggested that He would put a lying spirit in the mouth of Ahab's prophets, and this was the suggestion chosen and enabled by God. This shows that the Angels do not all automatically know the best way of bringing about God's purpose, and therefore they need to seek His advice and perhaps discuss things amongst themselves first before acting. Note that "all the host of Heaven" were there around the throne of God participating in this decision. And so all the Angels are involved in the decisions God and the Angels make about us. Lk. 15:6 implies the same. The division of the Angels into groups on His right and left is interesting. Why would it be mentioned, if it were insignificant? All the Angels are of God's nature and obedient to Him, there are no sinful Angels. But there are Angels of evil, Angels specifically tasked with bringing evil (see on Ps. 78:49). We think of the Angel called "the destroyer" at Passover time, who was restrained by the Passover Angel from destroying the Israelite firstborn. And so one wonders whether "the destroyer" was one of those on the left hand side, and the Passover Angel one of those on the right hand.

1 Kings 22:21 A spirit God makes His Angels "spirits" (Ps. 104:4), and Angels are in view here. But the word 'spirit' has a wide range of meaning. It can refer to power, but also to the thought which is then expressed through the power of action. The Angel is here called a "spirit" because the idea was to place a thought in the mind or spirit of the false prophets, and thereby Ahab. Came outThis is the same word as in :22 "I will go out". The Angel was as it were demonstrating how he intended acting. And stood before YahwehIt was the true prophets who stood before Yahweh (1 Kings 17:1). The connection is to show that the true prophets were represented by the Angels in the court of heaven, and this Angel was as it were on their side. And said, ‘I will entice him’- Ahab had been persuaded or enticed to do evil by Jezebel, and had enticed or persuaded Jehoshaphat to go to battle. But this was because he had himself been persuaded or enticed by God. 1 Kings 22:22 Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’ He said, ‘I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets’. He said, ‘You will entice him, and will also prevailGod deceived prophets to speak things in His Name which were actually false (1 Kings 22:20-22; Ez. 14:9). He chose Israel's delusions by making their idols answer them (Is. 66:3,4). Jeremiah feared God had deceived him (Jer. 20:7)- showing he knew such a thing was possible. Dt. 13:1-3 warns Israel not to believe prophets whose prophecies came true although they taught false doctrines, because they may have been raised up to test their obedience. God deceived Israel by telling them about the peace which would come on Jerusalem in the future Kingdom; they didn't consider the other prophecies which were given at the same time concerning their imminent judgment, and therefore they thought that God was pleased with them and was about to establish the Messianic Kingdom; when actually the very opposite was about to happen (Jer. 4:10). This is why the Bible is confusing to those who aren’t humble to God’s word. Go out and do so’- This describes the Angels being sent out from the court of Heaven to do God’s word. So when we read of God sending lions (2 Kings 17:25,26), sending wild beasts and famine (Lev. 26:22; Ez. 5:17; Dt. 32:24), sending locusts (Joel 2:25), it would seem that Angels are sent forth from God’s throne in order to command animals to obey God’s word. And moreover, He sends an evil spirit between men (Jud. 9:23) and stubborn hearts are also sent from God (Ps. 81:13). The same Angels who are sent to control the animals can also therefore work to give men certain attitudes of mind. 1 Kings 22:23 Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning youThis was exactly what Micaiah had said before about Ahab, and Ahab intuitively knew that this was coming.

Elisha, bones relic-worshiping 2Ki 13:20, 21

 Through God’s spirit upon Elisha, he had performed 15 miracles up to this point. But even after his death he is used by Jehovah for a 16th miracle. Elisha had been faithful till death, approved by God. The record relates that after Elisha’s burial another man was being buried when a marauding band of Moabites caused the burial party to throw the man into Elisha’s burial place and flee. Upon touching Elisha’s bones, the dead man came to life and stood upon his feet.—2Ki 13:20, 21.

A miracle performed in connection with Elisha (posthumously) was the immediate raising to life of a man whose dead body was thrown into Elisha’s burial place and touched his bones. This was proof that it was God’s power, not Elisha’s, that performed the miracles Elisha had accomplished, and it was a powerful attestation or a seal of God as to the genuineness of his faithful prophet.—2Ki 13:20, 21.

Certain advocates of the veneration of relics cite 2 Kings 13:21, which says: “It came about that as they were burying a man, why, here they saw the marauding band. At once they threw the man into [the prophet] Elisha’s burial place and went off. When the man touched the bones of Elisha, he immediately came to life and stood upon his feet.” This was a miracle involving the lifeless bones of one of God’s prophets. But Elisha was dead and “conscious of nothing at all” at the time of the miracle. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) Hence, this resurrection must be attributed to the miracle-working power of Jehovah God, who effected it by means of his holy spirit, or active force. It is also noteworthy that the Scriptures do not say that Elisha’s bones were ever venerated.

The account at 2 Kings 13:21 tells how a dead man came to life after coming in contact with the bones of the prophet Elisha, but there is no record that Elisha’s bones were worshiped either before or after that miracle. It was God that performed that miracle, not the bones; so it was proper that all veneration, worship, glory, honor and praise be given to God and not to the lifeless bones.

Some in Christendom advocate devotion to relics because of what is said at Acts 19:11, 12, where we read: “God kept performing extraordinary works of power through the hands of [the apostle] Paul, so that even cloths and aprons were borne from his body to the ailing people, and the diseases left them, and the wicked spirits came out.” Please note that it was God who performed those extraordinary works through Paul. The apostle himself did not perform such works independently, and he never accepted veneration from any human.—Acts 14:8-18.

It is not a matter of having bravery or pluck to defend a theological dogma, right or wrong. Instead of hardihood, who has the honesty to examine God’s sacred and infallible Word of truth on the matter? Those who have will find that the Scriptures do not support the relic-worshiping practice at all. In the particular cases mentioned in Acts 5:15 and Acts 19:12 there is no question that God performed great miracles by the hands of Peter and Paul. Nevertheless, those men did not allow other creatures to bow down to, worship or venerate them as long as they were alive. Why, then, would anyone want to worship their bones after they are dead? (Acts 10:25, 26) 

The Testimony of Truth Gnostic Teaching on Martyrdom

The Testimony of Truth Gnostic Teaching on Martyrdom

The Testimony of Truth

The foolish - thinking in their heart that if they confess, "We are Christians," in word only (but) not with power, while giving themselves over to ignorance, to a human death, not knowing where they are going nor who Christ is, thinking that they will live, when they are (really) in error - hasten towards the principalities and authorities. They fall into their clutches because of the ignorance that is in them. For (if) only words which bear testimony were effecting salvation, the whole world would endure this thing and would be saved. But it is in this way that they drew error to themselves. ...
... (3 lines unrecoverable)
... they do not know that they will destroy themselves. If the Father were to desire a human sacrifice, he would become vainglorious.

For the Son of Man clothed himself with their first-fruits; he went down to Hades and performed many mighty works. He raised the dead therein; and the world-rulers of darkness became envious of him, for they did not find sin in him. But he also destroyed their works from among men, so that the lame, the blind, the paralytic, the dumb, (and) the demon-possessed were granted healing. And he walked upon the waters of the sea. For this reason he destroyed his flesh from [...] which he [...]. And he became [...] salvation [...] his death ...
... (4 lines unrecoverable)
... everyone [...] how many they are! They are blind guides, like the disciples. They boarded the ship; at about thirty stadies, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. These are empty martyrs, since they bear witness only to themselves. And yet they are sick, and they are not able to raise themselves.

But when they are "perfected" with a (martyr's) death, this is the thought that they have within them: "If we deliver ourselves over to death for the sake of the Name we will be saved." These matters are not settled in this way. But through the agency of the wandering stars they say they have "completed" their futile "course", and [...] say, [...]. But these [...] they have delivered themselves ...
... (7 lines unrecoverable)


... but they resemble [...] them. They do not have the word which gives life. (The Testimony of Truth)

Study 

The Testimony of Truth the author is anonymous—it challenges the idea that God wants people to die as martyrs

The word "martyr" is from martus, elsewhere rendered witness, it indicates one who bears witness to the truth 

3144. martus ► Strong's Concordance
martus: a witness

Original Word: μάρτυς, υρος, ὁ

  in a legal sense: Matthew 18:16; Matthew 26:65; Mark 14:63; Acts 6:13; Acts 7:58; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28. 

 in an historical sense: Acts 10:41; 1 Timothy 6:12; (2 Timothy 2:2); 

one who is a spectator of anything, e. g. of a contest, Hebrews 12:1; 

with a genitive of the object, Luke 24:48; Acts 1:22; Acts 2:32; Acts 3:15; Acts 5:32 G L T Tr WH; Acts 10:39; Acts 26:16; 1 Peter 5:1; 

with a genitive of the possessor 'one who testifies for one', Acts 1:8 L T Tr WH; ; with a genitive of the possessor and of the object, Acts 5:32 Rec.; μάρτυρα εἶναι τίνι, to be a witness for one, serve him by testimony, Acts 1:8 R G; ; (Luke 11:48 T Tr WH). 

He is said to be a witness, to whose attestation appeal is made; hence, the formulas μάρτυς μου ἐστιν ὁ Θεός, Romans 1:9; Philippians 1:8;

It's author is challenging the radical christian bishops who encourage "martyrdom" and accuse them of complicity in murder

Its focus on martyrdom also indicates composition during a period of persecution, making a date prior to the early fourth century more likely

Testim. Truth is clearly not sympathetic to Christians who confess before the Roman authorities and consequently suffer martyrdom. The author describes the ignorance and error of martyrs-by-death as follow:

The Testimony of Truth
The foolish - thinking in their heart that if they confess, "We are Christians," in word only (but) not with power, while giving themselves over to ignorance, to a human death, not knowing where they are going nor who Christ is, thinking that they will live, when they are (really) in error - hasten towards the principalities and authorities. They fall into their clutches because of the ignorance that is in them. For (if) only words which bear testimony were effecting salvation, the whole world would endure this thing and would be saved. But it is in this way that they drew error to themselves. ...... they do not know that they will destroy themselves. If the Father were to desire a human sacrifice, he would become vainglorious. (The Testimony of Truth)

This text depicts “so-called Christians” who undergo martyrdom at the hands of persecutors as misguided fools, who mistakenly believe that “death for the sake of the name will offer them salvation

According to Testim. Truth then, ignorance fosters a misguided desire for martyrdom— “they do not know they will destroy themselves”

 If the Father were to desire a human sacrifice, he would become vainglorious. (The Testimony of Truth)

The author of Testimony of Truth notes that if God were to desire human sacrifice, then he would be guilty of vanity

"We are Christians," in word only (but) not with power, For (if) only words which bear testimony were effecting salvation, the whole world would endure this thing and would be saved. (The Testimony of Truth)

Testim. Truth casts the idea that a simple confession, “mere words,” saves as so easy that it is ridiculous

 

He reflects that those who claim to witness via death are like the disciples, as “blind guides,” confused at the shore of Sea of Galilee (33,21-24).35 On the futility of their efforts, he remarks

These are empty martyrs, since they bear witness only to themselves. And yet they are sick, and they are not able to raise themselves. (The Testimony of Truth)

The author rejects the notion that a martyr’s death brings perfection and automatic salvation, and adds that the only “witness” martyrs bear is to themselves 

Note Exposing the misguided motives and “emptiness” of a martyr’s death

The description of their erroneous logic continues: “When they are ‘perfected’ with passion (paqos), this is the thought they have within them, ‘If we deliver ourselves over to death for the sake of the name, we will be saved’”

But when they are "perfected" with a (martyr's) death, this is the thought that they have within them: "If we deliver ourselves over to death for the sake of the Name we will be saved." These matters are not settled in this way. But through the agency of the wandering stars they say they have "completed" their futile "course", and [...] say, [...]. But these [...] they have delivered themselves ... (The Testimony of Truth)

This, therefore, is the true testimony: When man comes to know himself and God, who is over the truth, he will be saved, and he will crown himself with the crown unfading. (The Testimony of Truth)

Having rejected testimony by death, Testim. Truth redefines appropriate martyrdom as an individual enterprise centered on knowledge, relating, “This, therefore, is the true testimony When one knows himself and God who is over the truth, he will be saved, and he will be crowned with the crown unfading” (44,30-45,6).

Heracleon disparaged literal martyrdom, arguing that it was useless to confess Christ with a martyr’s death and yet to have denied him by one’s conduct (Strom. 4.71–72). Heracleon is said to have argued that “there is confession with faith and conduct, and there is vocal confession. Vocal confession takes place also in the presence of authorities, and most people wrongly think that this alone is truly confession. Yet hypocrites are capable of making this same kind of confession” (Strom. 4.71.1–2).

Church History

The following is taken form Eureka Vol 1 by Dr. John Thomas 1868:

We suspect Irenaeus was infected with this depth of the Satan, for he speaks of "the martyrs" hastening to Christ; as though they would enter into his presence before the resurrection! Nay, we are now sure of it; for further on, in his account of the persecution at Lyons and Vienne, he says of Vettius Epagathus who suffered death, "he was, and is still a genuine disciple of Christ, following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" -- a quotation seventy years after John's death, from Apoc. xiv. 4. Now Vettius could only "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" after his death, upon the principle of immediate translation to heaven, which was styled "the birthday of martyrdom." In another place, he speaks of "eternal fire in hell" for the apostate.

Ignatius was an elder of the ecclesia at Antioch, but possessed of a fanatical desire for martyrdom, which was contrary to the instruction of the Lord Jesus, who said, "when they persecute you in one city, flee to another." But instead of this, when the Emperor Trajan came to Antioch, about A.D. 107, on his way to the Parthian war, Ignatius voluntarily delivered himself up to Trajan, into whose presence he was introduced. "What an impious spirit art thou," said the emperor, "both to transgress our commands, and to inveigle others into the same folly to their ruin!"

Ignatius, who had been an episcopal in the Star-Angel of the ecclesia at Antioch for thirty-seven years, twenty-six years of which he was officially contemporary with the apostle John, came to Smyrna on his way to Rome A.D. 107, whither he was sent by order of Trajan, "to be thrown to the wild beasts for the entertainment of the people."

Polycarp was put to death sixty years after Ignatius, A.D. 167. If he was one of those in Smyrna to whom the Spirit saith, "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty -- but thou art rich;" and if he continued "rich in faith" to the end, (which his martyrdom is no proof of, as many of "the synagogue of the Satan" also suffered),

Many of the Satan's synagogue who rejoiced in Jezebel, possessed spiritual gifts, and could speak with tongues, and prophesy, and understand mysteries, and had the knowledge, and the faith to remove mountains, and bestowed their goods to feed the poor; and not only in some cases gave their bodies to be burned; but in crowds rushed to martyrdom, till the pagan authorities refused to kill them; and told them to become their own executioners. Still, as Paul intimates, they were nothing; for they were destitute of "love." So it is now.

Multitudes had a rage for martyrdom, and gave their bodies to the fire in expiation of iniquity, transgression, and apostasy. These were "those who committed adultery with Jezebel," the clerical fathers, and "her children," who looked up to those fathers as the deluded people of "the religious world" look up now to the clergy who deceive them, regarding them with awe as their "spiritual guides" and "fathers in Cod."


All such, who gave their bodies to be burned, or to be thrown to the wild beasts, or to any other form of martyrdom, were mere "sounding brass and tinkling cymbals;" and heirs of the vengeance to be revealed in "the Second Death." They had not faith to give them the victory over the world; so the world overcame them by its seductions, and exposed them to be "hurt of the Second Death," which is manifested after the resurrection of the flesh. When this time arrives, the "bed" will have been prepared for Jezebel, and she will then be "cast into it;" and not she only, but with her them that commit adultery. This bed is the "great tribulation," or "sorrow," in which the antichristian apostasy is to be destroyed at the apocalypse of Jesus Christ in "the Hour of judgment;" when Babylon, the Great City, falls because of her having prostituted and debauched all the nations with her blasphemies and abominations. The ecclesiasticism of the earth and of the whole habitable, with all the clerical orders by which it is upheld, will be utterly abolished by the wrath of the Deity poured out without mixture, which they will be compelled to drink with great torment in the presence of Jesus and the Saints (Apoc. xiv. 7-11; xviii. 2). Eureka Vol 1

All this voluntary martyrdom was the result of ignorance and misdirected zeal. It was no proof of the sufferers being Christ’s Brethren. We may admit the piety and sincerity of many of them; but Paul has taught us that giving the body to be burned is no equivalent for the want of that "love," which he, after the teaching of the Christ, says is "the fulfilling of the law" -- hoping and believing all the things testified in the truth (1 Cor. 13). Martyrdom, then, is no proof of a man’s being in Christ; and without being in him, he cannot be a brother of Christ.

The most it proves is the sincerity and devotion of the martyr to his profession, whatever that may be. Hence, the martyrdom of Huss, Jerome, Cranmer, Servetus, and such like, proved the sincerity of their anti-romish and anti-calvinistic opinions; it did not alter the fact of their being eminently pious members of the Apostasy; the stain of which cannot be obliterated by body-burning, but only by an intelligent belief and obedience of the truth.

is the spirit of jealousy a demon Numbers 5-14

is the spirit of jealousy a demon Numbers 5:14 Numbers 5:30 

Numbers 5:14 

English Standard Version

and if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself,

What do other translations say?

Amplified Bible

and if a spirit (sense, attitude) of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous and angry at his wife who has defiled herself—or if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has not defiled herself—

New International Version

and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure—

Majority Standard Bible
and if a feeling of jealousy comes over her husband and he suspects his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he suspects her even though she has not defiled herself—

New American Bible
or if a man is overcome by a feeling of jealousy that makes him suspect his wife, and she has defiled herself; or if a man is overcome by a feeling of jealousy that makes him suspect his wife and she has not defiled herself—

NET Bible and if jealous feelings come over him and he becomes suspicious of his wife, when she is defiled; or if jealous feelings come over him and he becomes suspicious of his wife, when she is not defiled--

So other translations interpreter this has feelings of jealousy nothing supernatural here than

the words satan, the devil, demons are not used here 

what is meant by spirit 

The Hebrew word for "spirit" is ruach, the basic meaning of which is to breathe heavily. When the word is used of the wind, as it is on some occasions, it denotes a strong, powerful wind. Similarly the ruach (spirit) of God is said to rush suddenly and powerfully on a man (Judges 14:6; Ezek. 3:14; Acts 2:3).

 It is used here in the sense of an over-mastering rush of feeling. Jealousy is a powerful emotion, often stimulated by zeal, and people can find themselves so ruled by it as to find their normal placid personalities completely changed into the most violent and extreme passion and actions. It can cause affection to be replaced by anger towards the one previously loved for it is hardly likely that a man would experience jealousy in regard to someone of whom he is not fond.

Ru´ach and pneu´ma are both used to designate a frame of mind that causes a person to display a certain attitude, disposition, or emotion or to take a certain action or course.

This use of the Hebrew and Greek terms rendered “spirit” are basically related to breath or to air in motion is paralleled to a considerable degree by English expressions. Thus, we speak of a person as ‘putting on airs,’ or of manifesting an ‘air of calmness’ or of ‘having a bad spirit.’ We speak of ‘breaking a person’s spirit,’ in the sense of discouraging and disheartening him. 

As applying to a group of persons and the shared mind set they have, we may talk of ‘getting into the spirit of an occasion,’ or we may refer to the ‘mob spirit’ that infects them. (spirit used as a collective noun of a group of people who have the same mind) 

 Metaphorically we may refer to an ‘atmosphere of discontent’ or to ‘winds of change and revolution blowing through a nation.’ By all of these we refer to the mind working in persons, moving them to speak and act as they do.

Similarly, we read of Isaac and Rebekah’s “bitterness of spirit” resulting from Esau’s marriage to Hittite women (Ge 26:34, 35) 

35 And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.

Literal Standard Version
and they are a bitterness of spirit to Isaac and to Rebekah.

and of the sadness of spirit that overwhelmed Ahab, robbing him of his appetite. (1Ki 21:5) 

King James Bible
But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?

A “spirit of jealousy” could move a man to view his wife with suspicion, even to bring charges against her of adultery.—Nu 5:14, 30.

All this, which applies to normal relationships, has its application in those that exist between Yahweh and His people. One of His names is that of Qanna or Jealous (Exod. 34:14). It reminds worshippers that He demands their undivided loyalty, and that anything less than that will stimulate the spirit of Jealousy as far as He is concerned (See Ezek. 8:5). A believer's love waxes cold (see Matt. 24:21; Rev. 2:4) when alienation of affection is caused through worldly influences, and this becomes the cause of jealousy on the part of Yahweh. He clearly detects a lack of the true spirit of love which should motivate those who have embraced the covenant of faith in Christ. They become indifferent towards Him. What is the cause of this alienation of affection? Is it not the influence of the world? Does not James teach that friendship with the world is the cause of enmity with God?

 And does he not indict such who are guilty of this as being "adulteresses" whatever sex they might be literally? Hence, in the terms of this parabolic law, the spirit of jealousy can come upon God, Who is described as Israel's Husband (Isa. 54:5). In that light, this law had a significance for every Israelite, irrespective as to their normal domestic relationships.

Many of those accused of adultery in the Scriptures were physically very moral people dwelling in complete unity with their wives, but guilty of a friendship with the world that constituted them spiritual adulteresses (James 4:4). And that, we believe, is the key to this law. When a woman lacked in wifely duties, she became subject to this law of jealousy; when a believer lacks in his duties towards the Truth and towards God, he, too, incites the spirit of jealousy in God.

A Spirit of Infirmity Luke 13:10-13 Prov 17:22

A Spirit of Infirmity

Luke 13:10-13 

10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 

11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 

12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 

13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”
15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 

16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

Prov 17:22 A heart that is joyful does good as a curer, but a spirit that is stricken makes the bones dry

medical diagnosis: 

arthritis of the spine, 

self inflated bad posture maybe?

Spirit  the basic meaning of which is to breathe heavily. When the word is used of the wind, as it is on some occasions, it denotes a strong, powerful wind. Similarly the ruach (spirit) of God is said to rush suddenly and powerfully on a man It is used here in the sense of an over-mastering rush of nagtive feeling.

Spirit mind and heart (feelings) of a person 

but a spirit that is stricken makes the bones dry

 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.

psychosomatic

adjective

1. 1.

   (of a physical illness or other condition) caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as internal conflict or stress.

Look, when you get down to it, even mental states are actually only physical states, are they not? I mean, the brain is just a-a chemical supercomputer (Dr. Rodney Mckay) 

The brain creates chemicals which produce feelings and emotions

Like it or not, emotions share some very real biochemical links with your nervous system, immune system and digestive system.

Consciousness is a property of the brain, and the brain is a biochemical engine or its just a chemical super-computer.

Sin originates in the brain-flesh, not in the mind.

The Scriptures recognize the psychosomatic principle, though only in relatively recent times have medical researchers in general become aware that there is some connection between pathological conditions in the body and a person’s emotional state. Proverbs 17:22 states: “A heart that is joyful does good as a curer, but a spirit that is stricken makes the bones dry.”

 Such emotions as envy, fear, greed, hate, and selfish ambition are injurious, whereas good and sometimes remedial effects are produced through cultivating and displaying love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, and self-control, the fruitage of the spirit. (Ga 5:22, 23)

 The Scriptures do not, of course, classify all illness as psychosomatic, nor do they rule out as objectionable all consulting of and treatment by physicians. Paul called the faithful Christian Luke “the beloved physician.”—Col 4:14.

The bones are the interior supporting framework of the body, and as such are used in the Bible metaphorically to represent one’s being, especially as affected by deep feelings and emotions. Thus, the bones of a fearful individual are said to be “filled with dread.” (Job 4:14) One’s bones can shake because of extreme dejection or be “hot from dryness” because of disease. (Jer 23:9; Job 30:30) 

Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, like a strong man overcome by wine, because of the LORD and his holy words.

Job 30:30 KJV

My skin is black upon me, And my bones are burned with heat.

The fear of Yahweh is ‘a refreshment to the bones.’ (Pr 3:8) A good report is said to ‘make the bones fat’ or fill them with marrow, that is, invigorate the whole body. (Pr 15:30) “Pleasant sayings are . . . a healing to the bones.” (Pr 16:24) On the other hand, negative emotions can have a harmful effect on one’s organism. “A spirit that is stricken makes the bones dry.” (Pr 17:22) A wife that acts shamefully is said to be to her husband “as rottenness in his bones.” (Pr 12:4) The harboring of jealousy toward others can also be destructive to a person physically and spiritually, and so “jealousy is rottenness to the bones.”—Pr 14:30. 

Spirit of infirmity 

Spirit not a demon, spirit refers to the human mind and heart

illnesses caused by a bad human spirit wrong mental attitude: 

Prov 17:22 A heart that is joyful does good as a curer, but a spirit that is stricken makes the bones dry

17: 22 ¶  A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

spirit that is stricken makes the bones dry compare Spirit of infirmity 

makes the bones dry arthritis of the spine caused by the sin in the flesh due to the spirit of man being stricken with bad emotions (heart, spirit) effecting the nervous system (brain), immune system (flesh) and digestive system (soul)

Prov  18:14 The spirit of a man can put up with his malady; but as for a stricken spirit, who can bear it?

18:14 ¶  The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

2Co 7:10  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

was a lame woman whose body had for 18 years been hunched over and could not stand up straight by disease—called in the narrative “a spirit of infirmity” and “Satan”—the personified adversary which is SIN. 

Caused by SIN the curse placed on Adam 

Notice the language at the end of v 12 " thou art loosed from thine infirmity." She was loosed from her infirmity - by inference before that she was bound by her infirmity. 

Look at  verse 16, Jesus speaking says, "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these  eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" (not the spirit of infirmity - but Satan)

 

What does Satan mean to you? Well simply Satan means in the Old Testament 'satan' – adversary. This woman was in an adverse situation. She had arthritis - she was buckled up, she couldn't straighten up. So can we see that the spirit of infirmity is synonymous here with the term 'satan'? She was bound by her infirmity or we might say she was bound by 'satan' and the nature of this satan was arthritis. She had been bent up with arthritis, and now she was made straight.

Satan and the spirit of infirmity are equivalent expressions

“Satan”—the personified adversary = The Sin in the flesh

Romans 5:12 That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men (by genetic inheritance) because they had all sinned

Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the “young children” are sharers of blood and flesh, he also partook of the same things, that through his death (not his life) he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death (the sin in the flesh has the power of death), that is, the Devil (devil personification of sin)

Romans  8:3 For, there being an incapability on the part of the Law, while it was weak through the flesh, God, by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, condemned the sin in the flesh 

condemned sin in a sinful nature called the body of sin

Sometimes Illnesses come from God or Yahweh not Satan the devil, demons or so-called evil spirits  (Iasiah 45:7  1Samuel 16:14,15)

Deut 28:22 The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.

Deut 28:27The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. 

28The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness (another type of so-called demon illness) and confusion of heart. 

29And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you.

What is the difference between the 'brain' and the 'mind'?

Answer:

It may seem, on the surface, that distinguishing between the brain and the mind is not important but to understand the Scriptures properly we must recognize the difference in the brain versus that which the brain produces.

The difference is seen in considering the two words, “brain” and “mind”. The brain is brain-flesh, the physical source of the impulses of man’s defiled nature. The brain is defined as, “

The dictionary says, Brain: "That part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull". In other words it is the physical member of the body that controls the biological functions of the body in addition to producing thoughts, attitudes &c.

The mind is defined as, “human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested especially in thought, perception, emotion, will, memory, and imagination” (Am. Heritage Dictionary).  

Mind: Thinking produced by the brain.

The problem is that some false teaching say that sin is a matter of morality and not as a physical law of that nature’s constitution.

The uncleanness is shifted from the physical realm of the brain’s flesh to the mental-moral

realm.

 with this information we can can understand how a person with a bad spirit makes themsleves ill 

 its all about sin did you now that the sin in the flesh which is cellular aging

we do not die because we break gods law we die because of sin which by genetic inheritance was passed on from Adam 

this is called called cellular aging that physical element of animal nature which cause all diseases and death