The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 411

The European Union in Prophecy
At the command of Jesus the evil spirits departed from their victims, leaving
them calmly sitting at the Saviour's feet, subdued, intelligent, and gentle. But the
demons were permitted to sweep a herd of swine into the sea; and to the dwellers of
Gadara the loss of these outweighed the blessings which Christ had bestowed, and
the divine Healer was entreated to depart. This was the result which Satan designed
to secure. By casting the blame of their loss upon Jesus, he aroused the selfish fears
of the people and prevented them from listening to His words. Satan is constantly
accusing Christians as the cause of loss, misfortune, and suffering, instead of allowing
the reproach to fall where it belongs-- upon himself and his agents.
But the purposes of Christ were not thwarted. He allowed the evil spirits to
destroy the herd of swine as a rebuke to those Jews who were raising these unclean
beasts for the sake of gain. Had not Christ restrained the demons, they would have
plunged into the sea, not only the swine, but also their keepers and owners. The
preservation of both the keepers and the owners was due alone to His power,
mercifully exercised for their deliverance. Furthermore, this event was permitted to
take place that the disciples might witness the cruel power of Satan upon both man
and beast. The Saviour desired His followers to have a knowledge of the foe whom
they were to meet, that they might not be deceived and overcome by his devices. It
was also His will that the people of that region should behold His power to break the
bondage of Satan and release his captives. And though Jesus Himself departed, the
men so marvellously delivered, remained to declare the mercy of their Benefactor.
Other instances of a similar nature are recorded in the Scriptures. The daughter
of the Syrophoenician woman was grievously vexed with a devil, whom Jesus cast out
by His word. (Mark 7:26-30). "One possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb" (Matthew
12:22; a youth who had a dumb spirit, that ofttimes "cast him into the fire, and into
the waters, to destroy him" (Mark 9:1727); the maniac who, tormented by "a spirit of
an unclean devil" (Luke 4:33-36), disturbed the Sabbath quiet of the synagogue at
Capernaum--all were healed by the compassionate Saviour. In nearly every instance,
Christ addressed the demon as an intelligent entity, commanding him to come out of
his victim and to torment him no more. The worshipers at Capernaum, beholding His
mighty power, "were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word
is this! for with authority and power He commandeth the unclean spirits, and they
come out." Luke 4:36.
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