The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 410

The European Union in Prophecy
they are leagued together for the dishonour of God and the destruction of men. United
with Satan in his rebellion, and with him cast out from heaven, they have, through
all succeeding ages, co-operated with him in his warfare against the divine authority.
We are told in Scripture of their confederacy and government, of their various orders,
of their intelligence and subtlety, and of their malicious designs against the peace and
happiness of men.
Old Testament history presents occasional mention of their existence and
agency; but it was during the time when Christ was upon the earth that evil spirits
manifested their power in the most striking manner. Christ had come to enter upon
the plan devised for man's redemption, and Satan determined to assert his right to
control the world. He had succeeded in establishing idolatry in every part of the earth
except the land of Palestine. To the only land that had not fully yielded to the
tempter's sway, Christ came to shed upon the people the light of heaven. Here two
rival powers claimed supremacy. Jesus was stretching out His arms of love, inviting
all who would to find pardon and peace in Him. The hosts of darkness saw that they
did not possess unlimited control, and they understood that if Christ's mission should
be successful, their rule was soon to end. Satan raged like a chained lion and defiantly
exhibited his power over the bodies as well as the souls of men.
The fact that men have been possessed with demons, is clearly stated in the New
Testament. The persons thus afflicted were not merely suffering with disease from
natural causes. Christ had perfect understanding of that with which He was dealing,
and He recognized the direct presence and agency of evil spirits. A striking example
of their number, power, and malignity, and also of the power and mercy of Christ, is
given in the Scripture account of the healing of the demoniacs at Gadara. Those
wretched maniacs, spurning all restraint, writhing, foaming, raging, were filling the
air with their cries, doing violence to themselves, and endangering all who should
approach them. Their bleeding and disfigured bodies and distracted minds presented
a spectacle well pleasing to the prince of darkness. One of the demons controlling the
sufferers declared: "My name is Legion: for we are many." Mark 5:9. In the Roman
army a legion consisted of from three to five thousand men. Satan's hosts also are
marshaled in companies, and the single company to which these demons belonged
numbered no less than a legion.
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