Are the pagan deities 'real'?
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We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through Whom we live.
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That passage does not mean that pagan gods are non-existent. But it does mean that they are FALSE GODS. The fact that they are very real spirit beings -- DEMONS -- is stated here:
1 CORINTHIANS 1O: NOTE THAT DEVILS MEANS DEMONS
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
1 CORINTHIANS 1O: NOTE THAT DEVILS MEANS DEMONS
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
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Pagan deities are Biblical described as demons. They require sacrifice for evil intent. Pagan rituals required pain or social destruct. Human sacrifice, blood letting, or all types of sexual immorality that would strain the civil in Civilizations. They are probably fallen angels masquerading as a god in order to distract people from the one true God.
Jeremiah 7:30-31 "For the sons of Judah have done that which is evil in My sight,” declares the Lord, “they have set their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, and it did not come into My mind."
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A pagan is, generally speaking from a Christian standpoint, anyone who rejects the authority of the One True God Whom we know personally as Jesus Christ. Saying God required human sacrifice is not entirely correct, for Jesus is God incarnate. Fact: Jesus willingly gave His life that those who believe in Him may attain to life ever after. This is Christianity 101.
Your false idols are very real.
Bringing this back to Genesis: some of my favorite "stories" are there, starting with Abraham and Sarah, and the exploits of their descendants down to Joseph especially, a favorite with many. Joseph saved his people from starvation and explains how the Hebrews ended up in Egypt, first as free peoples, and then as slaves, who Moses was raised up to lead out of bondage, another picture of where all sinners are (in bondage).
Reading through this account, of Moses entreating Pharaoh to let his people go, you may notice that many plagues are brought upon the Egyptians. What you may not know (though it is explicitly stated in the text), is that these plagues were to demonstrate to the Egyptians God's total sovereignty over all the gods and false idols of the most powerful nation in the world. This is seen most clearly at the final plague where God says, “and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment” (Exodus 12:12). Likewise in Numbers 33:4 He states that the plagues were an attack on the gods of Egypt. Pharaoh himself was considered a god by his people. Doing a study on the vast array of these false gods and idols can be very interesting, not losing sight of the fact that God displays His power specifically in order to show that He is the only true God and the only One Who is worthy of worship.
Your false idols are very real.
Bringing this back to Genesis: some of my favorite "stories" are there, starting with Abraham and Sarah, and the exploits of their descendants down to Joseph especially, a favorite with many. Joseph saved his people from starvation and explains how the Hebrews ended up in Egypt, first as free peoples, and then as slaves, who Moses was raised up to lead out of bondage, another picture of where all sinners are (in bondage).
Reading through this account, of Moses entreating Pharaoh to let his people go, you may notice that many plagues are brought upon the Egyptians. What you may not know (though it is explicitly stated in the text), is that these plagues were to demonstrate to the Egyptians God's total sovereignty over all the gods and false idols of the most powerful nation in the world. This is seen most clearly at the final plague where God says, “and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment” (Exodus 12:12). Likewise in Numbers 33:4 He states that the plagues were an attack on the gods of Egypt. Pharaoh himself was considered a god by his people. Doing a study on the vast array of these false gods and idols can be very interesting, not losing sight of the fact that God displays His power specifically in order to show that He is the only true God and the only One Who is worthy of worship.
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The final catastrophe God brought on Egypt was when God passed “through the land of Egypt” (Exodus 11:12) and “struck every firstborn male in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:29). The Hebrews were instructed to mark the door of their homes with the blood of a lamb. God said, “the blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you: when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13).
Many Jews still observe this Passover tradition today, and it is in fact for Christians a foreshadowing of Christ's blood covering/atoning for our sins that we may escape the penalty of sin, which is death (the second death).
Many Jews still observe this Passover tradition today, and it is in fact for Christians a foreshadowing of Christ's blood covering/atoning for our sins that we may escape the penalty of sin, which is death (the second death).
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Those who followed them regarded them just as real as Christians regard God as being real.
All seemed to require sacrifice whether human, animal or otherwise.
It strikes me as interesting that other cultures and religious beliefs have a respect for other deities not their own - but this doesn't seem to hold true for many Christians.
The Hebrew God originally required human sacrifice as well, but the practice seems to have been abolished fairly early on.
All seemed to require sacrifice whether human, animal or otherwise.
It strikes me as interesting that other cultures and religious beliefs have a respect for other deities not their own - but this doesn't seem to hold true for many Christians.
The Hebrew God originally required human sacrifice as well, but the practice seems to have been abolished fairly early on.