Movies like The Conjuring, Annabelle, Chucky, Dead Silence, Poltergeist have become beloved favorites of Horror Movie lovers. These demon-possessed creepy dolls and inanimate objects (like the box in The Conjuring) send shiver’s down the spines of viewers, satisfying a craving for a good adrenaline rush. These movies alone, have inspired several sequels and spin-offs, bringing in revenue of over a billion dollars.
After watching these Horror Movies, like Annabelle, Chucky, and The Conjuring, the majority of people calm their fears and anxieties by telling themselves that demon-possessed dolls are not real. But is this true? Or are demon-possessed dolls real?
As Christians, our first and foremost source of beliefs should come directly from The Word of God. This now begs the question, “What does The Bible say about demon-possessed dolls or inanimate objects?” Join ArieRashelle as she searches through the Scripture to find the answer to this question.
True Stories of Demon-Possessed Dolls and Inanimate Objects
Demon-Possessed Dolls: Annabelle
Annabelle is arguably the most infamous of the [true story] demon-possessed dolls. Contrary to the creepy doll used in the movie, the actual Annabelle doll was a Raggedy Ann Doll given as a birthday gift for a 28-year-old nursing student by her mother in 1970. What started as the doll seeming to simply shift positions by itself, quickly turned into the doll physically moving to random places throughout the home that she shared with her two room-mates. She would even find Annabelle on the bed of her closed bedroom when she left it on the couch.
Apparently, strange messages were left around the apartment after Annabelle was brought home, according to the different accounts of those in the home. All the notes were hand-written (in what seemed like a child’s handwriting) on parchment paper that didn’t belong to anyone in the home, and all seemed to be cries for help. Written on the notes were things like “Help Us.”
Their Reaction
The roommates went to a Medium after the doll was found on the owner’s bed with what looked like blood on her chest and the back of her hand. The Medium revealed to the roommates that a seven-year-old’s spirit was in the doll’s body. After finding this out, the spirit said that it felt comforted and safe around them and asked if it could stay. Moved by the spirits story and seemingly innocent connection to them, they agreed to allow the spirit it could stay.
Annabelle apparently attacked one of the roommates in two instances. Once, the roommate woke up to find Annabelle at his feet, and then she began to choke him. The very next day, the man was home alone and heard odd noises coming from the bedroom. So, he went to investigate but found no one in the room except for the Annabelle doll. He then proceeded to search for any sign of forced entry but found nothing. As he went to inspect the doll, he got the chilling feeling that someone was behind him. Spinning around, he saw no one there. Then suddenly, he found himself grabbing for his chest and doubled over in pain. He had been cut by an unseen entity and he was now bleeding.
Where Is Annabelle Now?
Annabelle has since been removed from the home, and now resides in a custom-made glass case, spiritually bound by a Catholic Priest’s binding prayer, in the Warren Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. The doll has since seemed to stop moving around and has chosen to stay put, as the owners did not cast the demonic entity out of the doll. Because the demon was not cast out of the doll, Ed and Lorraine Warren have forbidden anyone from ever opening the glass case or touching the doll.
Demon-Possessed Dolls: Robert
The grandfather of Robert Eugene Otto bought his grandson, Robert (nicknamed Gene), a doll for his birthday from Germany in 1904. The Robert the Doll is a one-of-a-kind, handmade doll, seeming to be made in the likeness of his original owner, by the Steiff Company of Germany in 1904.
Gene would wake up in the middle of the night, screaming as a crash was heard. When his parents entered, it was always the same response, “Robert did it. It was Robert.” Gene reportedly blamed any misbehavior on Robert the Doll. It’s even reported that when Gene would speak to Robert, Robert would respond. Throughout the home, maniacal giggles could be heard coming from the doll.
Gene died in 1974, and his home, with Robert still there, was sold. These new owners reportedly heard footsteps coming from the attic room above them where Robert resided. Once, it’s reported that a plumber heard giggling behind him. When he turned, he found Robert had moved across the room on his own.
Malcolm Ross a Solares Hill Reporter’s Recount of Visiting Robert The Doll:
Malcolm Ross visited Robert and said:
“It was like a metal bar running down my back. At first, when we walked through the door, the look on his face was like a little boy being punished. It was as if he was asking himself, ‘Who are these people in my room and what are they going to do to me?’
When Malcolm Ross was told Robert’s back-story and the children’s furniture was pointed out to him, Malcolm noticed a change in the doll’s expression as if he was following the conversation. Robert’s expression changed once again when one of the men with there made a comment that Gene Otto must have been an old fool. Robert’s expression was now one of disdain.
“There was some kind of intelligence there. The doll was listening to us.”
From haunted houses to horror movies, we, as a people, have become obsessed with the supernatural, specifically possession. We see girls’ heads turn all the way around, people levitate, get telekinetic abilities all because of demon-possession, but are any of that even real? Is demon-possession real at all? Does the Bible validate the notion of people being possessed by demons and levitating or their head spinning all the way around?
If demon-possession is real, what does it look like? If we haven’t experienced something for ourselves, oftentimes, we find ourselves relying on what we’ve seen and what we’ve heard to understand a subject, even if the source is fiction. We see the words ‘based on a true story,’ and we automatically assume that every portrayal in that movie (or book) is accurate, but is that true? Is demon-possession just like in the movies?
What about Christians? If demon-possession is real, can Christians be demon-possessed? How can God live in us if we are possessed by an evil spirit? The two just seem to contradict. God can’t be where evil is. Right? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to answer these questions and more.
Luke 13:10-13 Mark 9:17-29 Matthew 11:4-6 John 9:1-7 John 5:2-9 1 Kings 18:28 Job 2:7-10 Genesis 12 Genesis 20 Mark 5:1-15 Acts 19:11-16 Acts 16:16-19 1 Samuel 28:8-14 Luke 13:16 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 Colossians 2:13-15 Isaiah 53:5-6
Demon-Possession: The Spirit of Infirmity
14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:14-16
32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
Matthew 9:32-34
21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once His fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Mark 1:21-28
Non-Demonic Infirmity
25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
Mark 5:25-34
46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”
50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
Mark 10:46-52
40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
Mark 1:40-45
1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
Mark 2:1-11
27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
Matthew 9:27-31
Demon-Possession: Cutting and Self-Mutilation
1You are the sons of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. 2 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 14:1-2
28 You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:28
Demon-Possession: Violent and Supernatural Strength
9 Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. 10 And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.
1 Samuel 19:9-10
22 Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. 23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 25 And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.
Judges 9:22-26
Demon-Possession: The Spirit of The Occult
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.”
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 7 And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the Lord said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.
2 Kings 21:1-7
9 When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.
Deuteronomy 18:9-12
16 And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 17 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only.
2 Kings 17:16-18
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying, 9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.”
Daniel 4:4-9
Explanation:
Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, had a dream that troubled him deeply, so he went to his magicians and his enchanters, all those who were demon-possessed or filled by a Spirit of The Occult, but none of them could tell him his dream. Because of this, he had to go to Daniel because he knew that the Spirit of God rested upon and Daniel. So, if no one else could determine the meaning of the dream, he knew Daniel could because he knew Daniel’s God could.
During the time of Moses, Pharaoh also had demon-possessed men who were magicians able to imitate some of the works of God that Moses did. Exodus 7:10-12, “10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.”
Christians and Demon-Possession and Demonic Legalism
There is a Christian who used to dabble in the occult, but then she found Jesus and accepted His Salvation. She even was filled with the Holy Spirit, but the demonic realm still had a legal tie over her life because she didn’t cast out that demon. Here’s her story.
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by. 6 And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua, 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.”
Zechariah 3:1-7
Explanation:
This has to occur before the Final Judgment because Joshua has not yet been changed into his immortal, pure, perfect body. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). So, this has to before The Final Judgment, and yet, Satan, the Accuser, is accusing a Christian in the Courts of Heaven.
Satan The Accuser:
Satan is constantly accusing the Church, if all ties are broken the moment that you accept Salvation what is he accusing you of? 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” (Revelation 12:10)
Peter’s Warning To The Church:
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8-11)
Healing Is The Children’s Bread:
26 And He answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” (Matthew 15:26)
24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
The End Times and The Final Judgment were important topics during Jesus’ Ministry and after, during the Apostles’ ministries. Jesus, in fact, continuously warned the people of His time and ours about the dangers of sin and how it would separate us from God for all Eternity.
Jesus even went as far as to say that He would not only deny us before His Father if we deny Him before men but that He wouldn’t even know us if we chose to live in sin. But what does that mean that He never knew us? What about those who walked away from the Faith? Does that mean they were never truly saved? Join ArieRashelle as she searches The Scriptures to answer these questions in our latest video, I Never Knew You.
Matthew 7:21-23 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 2 Peter 2:20-22 Jeremiah 1:5
More “I Never Knew You” Verses
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32-33
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with Him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us;
2 Timothy 2:10-12
24 Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’
Luke 13:24-27
10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But He answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
5 They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them. 11 They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
Revelation 9:5-6; 11
Imagine being on earth during those days when people will seek death, but death will flee from them. How do people not die? Who is this being that it can very well stop people from dying? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find out more about the ominous being whose name is also Apollyon in her video, Who is Abaddon?: The Angel of The Bottomless Pit.
1And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2 He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.5 They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them. 7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8 their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9 they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10 They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11 They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon. 12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.
Often times, we hear that Christians need to keep their faith out of politics because politics has nothing to do with their faith. Is it possible to separate faith and politics? Should we, as Christians, vote based on our Christian beliefs? Or should we separate faith and politics? Join ArieRashelle as she digs into Scripture for answers in our latest video, Does The Law of The Land Matter?
How Do We Know If The Law of The Land Contradicts God’s Word?
First, we must know what the Word of God actually says. The only way to do that is by going to Church and spending time in the Word of God for ourselves. Paul tells us that it’s not just enough to go out and listen to someone preach. He tells us we need to take it a step further and go search the Scriptures to make sure that whatever they are teaching us lines up with the Word of God. “11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
The only way to know if laws are Godly or immoral is by knowing the difference between good and evil, which is only learned through Scripture. With that said, I understand that it can get confusing when it comes to certain laws and certain beliefs, as the Bible and its teachings are not as popular and easy-going as culture is today. See, culture is changing rapidly. It is straying, no, running farther and farther away from God. The problem with following culture, is that culture is continually changing and is different everywhere you go because the people are different and believe different things everywhere you go.
Different Cultures with Horrifying Practices:
For instance, in around 27 countries located in the sub-Saharan and North-east Africa, as well as a few Asian countries, including India, the practice of Female Genital Mutilation exists. In our culture, this sounds like an evil, wicked, and cruel practice, but these peoples that practice these rituals, to them it is just culture. For the past 700 years, the people of South Indiahave practiced religiously, I might add, the act of Baby Tossing. Every year, during the month of December, more than one hundred babies are thrown from the top of a Hindu Temple roof to a group of men standing below with a cloth intent on catching the babies. These aren’t the only cultural horrors of other countries and peoples; there are plenty more that include: eating the flesh of the dead, human sacrifice, finger amputation, feet/neck binding, and more. For a few more rituals, check out this website.
So, how can we hold to culture’s beliefs and culture’s truth, which is based on the premise that what we think is best, is best? We can’t hold to a continuously changing standard created by flawed men and women. No, instead we have to hold to the firm, established, perfect Word of God that is unchangeable. We have to believe that Jesus meant what He said in John 14:6, “I am The Way, and The Truth, and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
According to Scripture, the Joy of The LORD is our strength. It builds us up and refreshes our soul. It gives us faith and hope. It helps us overcome spiritual and physical obstacles set before us. But what is it? What is the Joy of The LORD? And how do we get the Joy of the LORD? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for Truth in our video, What Is The Joy of The LORD?
Nehemiah 8:10 Luke 2:10 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 Hebrews 10:32-39 Luke 8:15 John 15:8-11 Romans 12:2 John 17:13 John 16:20-24 1 Chronicles 16:27 Revelation 21:3-4 James 4:7-10 James 1:2-8
What Is The Joy of The LORD?
The Joy of The LORD is our Strength
10 Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’
Nehemiah 8:10
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:10-11
5 His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. 6 For You make him most blessed forever; You make him glad with the joy of Your presence. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
“I think God would want me to be happy” is a common response in today’s Church whenever we’re being spiritually corrected. But is that a fair statement? Does God want us to be happy? It would seem only right that God would want us to be happy and enjoy life to the fullest, but is that what God really wants for our lives? Is the Joy of the LORD the same as happiness? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the Truth in our video, Does God Want Me To Be Happy?
Revelation 20:11-15 Matthew 18:7-9 Matthew 26:40-41 John 21:15-19 Romans 7:14-25 Psalms 37:3-4 1 Samuel 13:14
Does God Want Me To Be Happy?
How to Have Joy
Oftentimes, we fall into this trap because we have been told that God loves everyone and just wants us to have the best. That statement in itself is true, but the problem with that statement is that we base ‘love’ and ‘best’ on cultural standards instead of Biblical standards. According to Biblical standards, God’s desire for us is to have life and life more abundantly. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be a millionaire because that’s living life more abundantly, and let me be clear, there’s nothing wrong with being a millionaire; that’s just not what God was promising.
Having life and life more abundantly had nothing to do with material things; instead, it was about living without the chains of sin, shame, anger, depression, anxiety, etc. God’s promise was FREEDOM. Freedom from the chains and strongholds of this world. And happiness is one of the biggest strongholds of this world. If we stop chasing happiness, then we can start chasing freedom. Then and only then will be filled with The Joy of The LORD. And the Joy of The LORD, that is our strength. God doesn’t want us happy, He wants us filled with His joy because happiness doesn’t lead to freedom.
The world seems to be falling straight into the trap prophesied by Paul 2,000 years ago. Even though the world seems to be hopeless, he still implores us to continue to not grow weary of doing good. But why? Join ArieRashelle as she explains why we must continue to do good, even though everything seems hopeless, in our latest video, I Will Give You Rest, But When?
Galatians 6:7-10 2 Thessalonians 3:13 Matthew 11:28-30 Hebrews 12:1-3 Matthew 11:29-30 John 16:33 2 Corinthians 4:8-18 Revelation 21:3-4
Jesus promised that He would give us rest. He gave us this promise over 2,000 years ago, yet we’re still running a race, according to Paul. So when will we have this rest? Paul even goes on to write to Timothy that difficult times are up ahead.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:8-10
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Don’t grow weary of doing good, for every good seed you are planting today will bear fruit tomorrow.
More Verses on When God Will Give Us Rest
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as He has said,
“As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 4:1-3
45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
Matthew 26:45
Now is not the time for rest. Now is the time for spiritual warfare. Yes, Jesus is on His throne. Yes, Jesus has overcome the world, but we still have work to do. We still have to fight our loved ones. We still have to fight for the lost. Look at what Jesus says,
“4 We must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:4-5
Jesus lives in and through every Christ-Following Christian. As long as there are Christians on this earth, there is light. As long as there is light, there is day. Therefore, we must work while we can. Jesus is coming back soon, and when He does, there will no longer be time for anyone to work. When Jesus comes back, He is taking His bride with Him into their Eternal Rest. Will you be one of them?
The world is rampantly pushing God out of their homes, cities, countries, and even churches. Is it possible that the world is preparing for the end, and if it is the end, could it be The Great Tribulation? And if so, what if the Church has to endure the tribulation? Does Scripture tell us when the rapture will take place compared to The Tribulation? And if the Church has to go through it, is there a way to overcome the great tribulation? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scriptures for the answers in our latest video, The Great Tribulation: Does The Church Go Through It?
John 15:18-21 Matthew 24:4-22 Daniel 11:31-32 Daniel 12:10-12 John 10:4 Daniel 11:32 Revelation 13:7 Romans 8:27 Daniel 9:27 Daniel 11:23 Matthew 24:21-22 Daniel 11:36-37 Daniel 7:24-26 Revelation 15:1-2 Revelation 15:5-8 1 John 4:17-18 Romans 8:30 1 Corinthians 6:11 Revelation 7:13-17 1 Corinthians 4:16-18
The Great Tribulation: Does The Church Go Through It?
From the days of Paul, men and women were looking forward to the rapture. Some even thought that they had missed it during the time of Paul and the other apostles. As time goes by, the world runs farther and farther away from God and His ways. We often hear that Tribulation is coming, but when exactly? Paul prophecies of the way the world will turn during the end times in his second letter to Timothy.
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
The Rapture and The Great Tribulation
Overcoming The Great Tribulation
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The idea for someone or something to move from one place to another in a blink of an eye has been an idea from ancient times. Whether by beam or simply disappearing and reappearing in another place, the idea of teleportation isn’t new. If other ancient religions believed in teleportation, did the Jews? And if they did, does that mean the Bible supports teleportation as well? Join ArieRashelle as we search through Scripture to find any basis for the science-fiction notion of teleportation in our video, Does The Bible Support Teleportation?
Matthew 19:26 Genesis 1:16-18 Matthew 27:45 Jonah 1:3 Matthew 12:38-41 Matthew 27:46 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Acts 8:38-40 Revelation 12:5-6 Revelation 4:1-2 Ezekiel 8:1-4 Matthew 4:1 Acts 2:16-20
Does The Bible Support Teleportation?
Stories of Teleportation in the Bible
Enoch
21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Genesis 5:21-24
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5
Korah
31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
Deuteronomy 16:31-33
How could they fall from the surface of the earth to the center of the earth into Sheol without dying? This has to be some form of portal, as that distance would have killed them and smashed all of their goods. I’d say that this is the Bible in support of teleportation.
Elijah
11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, ‘My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ And he saw him no more.
2 Kings 2:11-12
Ezekiel
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: ‘Blessed be the glory of the Lord from its place!’ 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake. 14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the Lord being strong upon me. 15 And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.
Ezekiel 3:12-15
1 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. 2 Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man. Below what appeared to be His waist was fire, and above His waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal. 3 He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley.
Ezekiel 8:1-4
1 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the Lord, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty-five men. And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. 2 And He said to me, ‘Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city; 3 who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This city is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’ 4 Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man.’
Ezekiel 11:1-4
24 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me. 25 And I told the exiles all the things that the Lord had shown me.
Ezekiel 11:24-25
1The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.
Ezekiel 37:1-2
1 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day, the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me to the city. 2 In visions of God He brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south.3 When He brought me there, behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway. 4 And the man said to me, ‘Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.’
Ezekiel 40:1-4
1 Then He led me to the gate, the gate facing east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of His coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. 3 And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when He came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. 4 As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, 5 the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
Ezekiel 43:1-5
Jesus
Not only does the Bible say that Jesus was teleported into heaven in the ascension, but Jesus teleports multiple times throughout the Gospels. Would this not be the Bible in support of teleportation?
5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to His throne,6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
Revelation 12:4-5
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ 4 But He answered, ‘It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”5 Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple6 and said to Him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,“‘He will command His angels concerning you,’ and“‘On their hands they will bear you up,lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”7 Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’’ 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your Godand Him only shall you serve.’”11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.”
Matthew 4:1-11
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Mark 16:19
Philip
38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 8:38-40
John
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
Revelation 4:1-2
The Rapture
30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 24:30-31
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
