Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 5/25/2005

Question
Hello Pastor Carpenter,
Last night in Bible study the question about whether or not Satan has the power to actually heal a person was brought up. Rev. 13 talks about healing but there are so many views on that passage about if the beast is an actual being or the Roman empire etc, etc. I am wondering if there is any other Biblical basis either for or against Satan's power to heal (not just deceive). I hope this all made sense and I thank you in advance for you ministry.
God Bless,
Victoria

Answer
Hi Victoria,

Thanks for this question.  Please forgive my late response.  I believe that the Beast spoken of in Revelation 13 is a human being and a world ruler.  As far as your question about healing...yes, I believe that Satan and his servants can perform all kinds of miricals that mock the real ones.  Below I will paste some scriptures to support that statement.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Matthew 24:24
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Revelation 16:14
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Revelation 19:20
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Exodus 7:11-12
11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that these scriptures help you understand Revelation 13 a bit better.

In Christ
Pastor Don