Question of the Week: Could the demonic Prince of Persia mentioned in Daniel have been one of their pagan deities?

Many people reading polytheism and henotheism in the Bible have attempted to put forward this theory. In order to properly respond to it, the context and full statements of each proof text need to be clarified. In making the case that the pagan deities of Persia are actually demons that bear those names, 3 things need to be proven. 1. The pagan deities revealed themselves to their cultures in a moment of history. 2. The Prince of Persia mentioned in Daniel had the identity or traits of one of these pagan deities. And 3. That scripture equates, rather than distincts, pagan deities from demons.
The first issue is the easiest to disprove. From Zoroastrianism to the Epic of Gilgamesh, none of these religions claim that their gods have interacted with this world in ways that could be associated with history. These stories either have to be dated before all of recorded history in order to have a prayer, or were written during the time of Daniel and Esther when the Jewish people had regular interaction with Persian culture. They would never consider their gods interacting with them relevant to their worship until Judaism introduced it to them as their God made it a habit to regularly reveal Himself to His people.
The second issue is answered simply by reading the passage in Daniel. Nothing is mentioned about this Prince of Persia apart from their location and their hostility towards the angel bringing the vision detailed in chapter 9. This would conclude that it was indeed a demonic entity that is further clarified in Ephesians 6:12. Spiritual warfare through prayer and fasting was engaged in by Daniel even when he wasn’t aware of it. We can take many things away from this chapter concerning the spiritual realm and our impact on it. However, the fact that this demon was in Persia and had authority there in no way associated it with Tiamat, Nebo, Shach, or the traits of their other deities.
The final point is fairly straight forward to respond to, but requires very careful reading. Those who support the existence of gods apart from the True and Living God use 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 as their proof-text that the pagan deities are actually demons in disguise. Unfortunately this isn’t what Paul said. The passage reads; “What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.” Notice that Paul doesn’t equate the demons with the pagan idols. He makes a distinction between the two of them. Idols are nothing. But the sacrifices aren’t being made to nothing. They’re being made to a fake god that doesn’t actually exist. The nature of the demonic is always found in deception. Paul’s point is that their worship is a lie, and he goes on to clarify he doesn’t want them to have fellowship with things that capitalize on lying to you about the nature of God. Isaiah 43:10 couldn’t be clearer. The pagan gods of Persia don’t exist. This demonic authority does, but it has nothing to do with the deities its influence has deceived the nation to worshipping instead of the True and Living God.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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Question of the Week: How do you comfort parents who have witnessed the death of their child?

The Bible has a lot to say about comforting those who are suffering under any kind of circumstance. There are good examples like the Apostle Paul. Romans 12:15:
And there are bad examples like Job’s counselors; Job 16:2:
Job’s counselors tried to find the reasons for Job’s suffering. Paul simply encourages weeping with them. As Levi Lusko, who also knows what it is like to lose a child, once observed; “Hurting with Hope still hurts.” Allow them to grieve. Allow them to hurt. Allow them to bring that pain before God. When it comes to the why, Jesus Himself didn’t answer that kind of question. In Luke 13:1-5: He only used the reality of things going wrong in this world to prepare for how we’ll enter the next world. And when people outright accused Him of not caring about the death of a family member, Jesus had one response. John 11:32-35:

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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Question of the Week: Was Slavery Allowed in the Old Testament?

Slavery is a very emotionally charged topic given the atrocities that have taken place within in throughout history. Like most emotionally charged topics, they can end up being seen inaccurately simply by association. In order to understand the term slavery in the Bible, we first need to clarify the term slavery itself. Slavery as portrayed through the historically debunked documentary “Roots” involving white settlers kidnapping African tribes and loading them onto ships for forced labor. While we have documentation of human rights violations and a 10% casualty rate for those who crossed the Atlantic Ocean, these ships purchased these slaves from slave markets that had already been in existence since the 7th century. The British Empire didn’t get involved in the slave trade until the 14th century, and quickly lost momentum after the Christian group led by William Wilberforce argued that the form of slavery demonstrated in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was unbecoming of a culture that held the Bible in high regard. If the Bible allowed slavery, then groups like this wouldn’t have had anything to say, let alone have accomplished their goal of abolishing the slave trade across the Western world. You can read more about the roles that Christianity actually played in the Slave Trade through the research of Sarah Foster from Pfander.

The question is if the Bible allows slavery. The clarification is what is meant by slavery. The four primary forms of slavery are as follows; Chattel Slavery, Indentured Servitude, Bondservants, and Employment. This spectrum is determined by one primary factor; the recognition of human rights. Chattel Slavery involves a total stripping of an individual of their human rights until they are reduced to property. They can be neglected, abused, or even killed with no legal repercussions to the slave owner. This is a similar view taken towards unborn children that aren’t legally recognized as human. Indentured Servitude would be a step up from Chattel Slavery in that a person in that state put themselves there voluntarily in order to pay off a debt. While in this state of servitude, the local government determined the rights they gained or lost in that state. It wasn’t a favorable position, but it wasn’t always inhumane either. Bondservants were slaves by choice and considered a legal member of the family. A familiar example would be the roles of butlers or maids in wealthy households. They would be included in the family’s will, be welcome as a part of the home, and expected to fulfill their duties as a servant in that home. While abuses can still take place in this state, the only reason people would voluntarily commit themselves to someone for life would be that those abuses weren’t likely to happen. Modern Employment is only comparable to slavery in function. While committing your time and energy to an employer, you are expected to do what your told when you are told to do so. Unlike Bondservants, you can leave this form of slavery at any time and retain all human rights you would have were you not employed to that company or individual.

The question as to whether or not the Old Testament allows slavery will now be answered. The Old Testament did not allow Chattel Slavery. As we read in Exodus 21:1-6: Slavery could not take place for more than 6 years, bondservanthood was an option that had to legally take place before the Elders of Israel rather than coercion, and marital rights were maintained. As we read in Exodus 21:7-11: Women were given separate rights from men. They could not be put into service the way men were. They were first betrothed to their master as the first year-long process of Hebrew marriage. Sexual Acts could not take place during this time. When the betrothal period ended, they retained the full human rights due to a wife in any other circumstance. As we read in Exodus 21:16: Kidnapping of any kind warranted the death penalty. As we read in Exodus 21:26-27: Any abuse that caused cosmetic harm to your “slave” instantly released them from your service. And as we read in Exodus 22:21: Non-Jewish Slaves and Non-Jewish Citizens were not to be treated any differently than Jewish Slaves and Citizens. The only kinds of slavery the Bible allowed were Indentured Servitude under the authority of God’s Law, Bondservanthood on a Public and voluntary basis, and Employment. By the time of the New Testament, Christians would not hold any form of office or influence in the Roman Empire for another 300 years. They were under the authority and definitions of slavery determined by the Roman Government. So in that state, Jesus and the Apostles spoke to people in that condition. They didn’t allow it. They redefined it as an illustration of our relationship with God. Since the God of the Old Testament didn’t allow Chattel Slavery in His nation, it’s safe to assume that wasn’t what He allowed to take place within His church either.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

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Question of the Week: Is it true that the generation that saw Israel restored as a nation in 1948 will not pass away until Jesus’ return?

No. People who make any claim that sets any required period of time for the Rapture to occur in is denying a very plain reality when it comes to scripture. Jesus stated in Matthew 24:36-44 that no man knows the day or the hour of His coming. This is what is known as the doctrine of immanency. From the plain things of scripture, we remember these rules when interpreting other statements made in scripture. If what we aren’t certain of conflicts with what we can be certain of, then we need to revisit our interpretation. This claim about 1948 marking the generation that will not pass away is based on the parable of the fig tree that immediately precedes Jesus’ clarification that no man knows the day or the hour. The fig tree is rightly interpreted to be Israel on the basis of several Old Testament prophets, (Jeremiah Ezekiel, and Joel mainly), and that like a fig tree blossoming shows that harvest is coming soon, so the blossoming of the nation of Israel will mark the fulfillment of the End Times Jesus was speaking of to be at the doors. This is where the fork in the road appears. What is meant by “this generation” in the passage? Those who harmonize the doctrine of immanency with this claim say that a generation simply means the people of Israel will not pass away after being restored to their land. This is the position we would take. Those that claim a date for the rapture is being set interpret a generation in the other ways scripture claims a generation lasts. Genesis 6 claims it is 120 years. Psalm 90 claims it is 70 years or 80 if they have strength. The problem is that neither of these passages claim this is a biblical generation, nor is the point Jesus is trying to make in light of the clarification He immediately proceeds to make after stating this parable. Genesis 6 simply observed that unlike the long ages Adam’s generation lived to, man’s days will become progressively shorter to that point. From centuries to perhaps one century would constitute an average lifespan post-flood. Likewise, Psalm 90 is Moses observing a simple fact in a poetic context. Men live on average 70-80 years depending on health and circumstances. To say these passages are giving us a date for a biblical generation attribute a contradiction in scripture, as well as end up contradicting Jesus’ main point. If Moses’ generation is correct, then the Rapture should have happened two years ago at the time this article is being written. If Genesis’ generation is correct, then Jesus was wrong. The Rapture is going to happen in 2068. We CAN know the day and the hour of the Lord’s return. This statement is of course sarcastic. I have more reason to trust Jesus’ plain statements than reading into Psalms and Genesis a measurement of time that isn’t necessarily there.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

Email your questions:

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Follow Twitter: @ScottR4HFollow on CCF Facebook: facebook.com/ccftucson
Watch our Frequently Asked Questions on GodTube or YouTube.