Dear All,
For our congregational note this week, I thought perhaps we could have some fun. I have an article that lists the Top 12 Monsters in the Bible, and I thought I would share some of it with you. So here goes!
The First Zombie? In 2 Kings 13:20-21, the prophet Elisha died and was buried in a tomb. Some time later, when some men were burying another man, they saw a band of enemy Moabites coming. So they quickly threw the corpse into Elisha’s tomb, and when the corpse of the man touched the bones of Elisah, it revived and stood on its feet!
A witch and a ghost. In 1 Samuel 28, we find the story of King Saul consulting a medium from the town of En-dor (also known as the witch of Endor). Saul was distraught as an upcoming battle with the Philistines became imminent, and he had heard no word from the Lord. His desperation drove him to violate the Law of Moses that prohibited necromancy – he seeks out this woman and requests that she conjure up the dead Prophet Samuel’s spirit. The spooky thing is that Samuel does appear, even to the medium’s surprise as she screams. The ghost of Samuel predicts doom on the army of Israel.
The Nephilim are considered offspring of mortal women and fallen angels called the Watchers, according to Jewish traditions. We read about them in Genesis 6:1-4 and Numbers 13:31-33; certain versions translate the term as “giants.” We hear more about them in 1 Enoch 7-9 and 15, and they grew up to be almost 450 feet tall in one version. They ravaged the earth of its food before they killed off each other, and the Flood of Noah’s day wiped them out. Their spirits then become the evil spirits on the earth.
The Book of Revelation gives us a variety of creatures. In chapter 9:1-11, we have locust-like creatures that are released from smoke arising coming out of the abyss. With the tails of scorpions they sting humans and torment them for five months. These fierce creatures resemble horses prepared for battle, having wings that sound like many chariots, faces like men, hair like women, and teeth like lions.
The Beast with iron teeth and bronze claws is found in Daniel 7:7-8, 17-27. Daniel describes a vision of four beasts – the first like a lion with eagles’ wings, the second like a bear, the third a leopard with wings and four heads, and then a fourth beast that did not resemble any known animal. It was frightening to look at having bronze claws, iron teeth, and it devoured the whole earth. It also stomped on the remains of its victims with its feet. Another horn apart from its original ten grew up replacing three that were removed. This horn had human eyes, a mouth speaking great things, and it spoke against God.
See? You never know what you are going to find in Scripture. I hope you are enjoying your summer. Please be careful. Continue your prayers, perhaps add a minute or two to your prayer time.
Blessings to you and yours.
Karen+