Every once in a while when I encounter some guy in a chat room that claims that the Moroni was a demon that appeared to Joseph Smith. It happened just last night (4/30/14) in a paltalk chat room. I find the claim to be very interesting coming from a christian who pounds the Bible at me like the person last night. It is one thing to say Joseph Smith just made it up or he imagined something but to say that Moroni was a demon is at least an admission that Joseph actually saw something real. Sometimes they cite 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 for some reason that I don't get. Anyway I find the the whole claim to be very problematic for them. First they apparently don't understand what an angel of light is.
Is Satan an "Angel of Light"?
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (KJV): "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NASB): For such men are (A)false apostles, (B)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even (C)Satan disguises himself as an (D)angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, (E)whose end will be according to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (Amplified Bible): "For such men are false apostles [spurious, counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah). And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. [But] their end will correspond with their deeds."
Paul speaks of men who are are false apostles who have "transformed" or "disguising" or "masquerading" as the true apostles of Christ in verse 13. These men are pretending to be something that they are not. From www.dictionary.com
masquerade (v): 5 to go about under false pretenses or a false character; assume the character of; give oneself out to be: to masquerade as a former Russian count. 6. to disguise oneself.
disguise (v): 1 to change the appearance or guise of so as to conceal identity or mislead, as by means of deceptive garb: The king was disguised as a peasant. 2. to conceal or cover up the truth or actual character of by a counterfeit form or appearance; misrepresent: to disguise one's intentions.
Verse 14 says Satan also "transforms, disguises, or masquerades" himself as an angel of light. Not that Satan is actually an angel of light. If Satan was by definition an angel of light, he would not have to "transforms, disguises, or masquerade" himself as an angel of light. That would be as silly as a human being transforming or masquerading themselves as a human being. Satan has to pretend to be something that he actually not which is an angel of light.
Paul is comparing what these false apostles are doing to what Satan can do. They are pretending to be something in order to deceive. True apostles and true angels of light do not transform or pretend to be true apostles or angels of light. Paul says these false apostles might disguise or transform themselves to appear as ministers of righteousness but God knows who they are and they will they will eventually be punished for their works or deeds. They can deceive many men but they can not deceive God. God knows who the true angels of light and true apostles are from the false ones that are counterfeits.
What really is an angel of light?
Angel: Greek aggelos ( http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/l...32&Version=kjv ) and means "a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God"
Light: Greek phos ( http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/l...57&Version=kjv ) and means
1) light
a) the light
1) emitted by a lamp
2) a heavenly light such as surrounds angels when they appear on earth
b) anything emitting light
1) a star
2) fire because it is light and sheds light
3) a lamp or torch
c) light, i.e brightness
1) of a lamp
2) metaph.
a) God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality
b) of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it
c) that which is exposed to the view of all, openly, publicly
d) reason, mind
1) the power of understanding esp. moral and spiritual truth
The bold definitions appear to have the closest relation to what the angel would be associated with. A heavenly light or an angel or messenger of heavenly light. An angel or messenger of truth, or an angel or messenger of God since God is light.
Angels or messengers of light simply are angels or messengers of God. Satan can "transform" or masquerade himself as angels of God to deceive people but the fact that Satan can do this does not make Satan any more of a valid "angel of light" than it does for those false apostles who masquerade as true apostles as valid apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I really don't understand why some people use 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 in relation to Moroni or anything with the LDS faith or doctrine.
Now to the meat of the issue. Could have Moroni have been a demon? According the the New Testament. and specifically 1 John 4:2-3 the answer is no.
The question is did Moroni confess that Jesus came in the flesh or not by word or deed? Moroni played a critical role in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in the restoration. The Book of Mormon all about Jesus Christ and his coming in the flesh to take upon him the sins of the world. There are many passages that state in one way or another that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
There can be no question that the Book of Mormon and Moroni testified that Jesus came in the flesh. Back to the test found in 1 John 4:1-3 "Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God..." If every spirit confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, and Moroni and the Book of Mormon testify that Jesus came in the flesh, that means that either 1) Moroni and the Book of Mormon are from God and is not a demon or 2) 1 John 4:1-3 is a lie.
The way I see it, if you don't believe the the LDS view, that is fine but its better to say that Moroni did not exist or Joseph Smith just imagined it. Saying Moroni actually existed but was a demon can be a problem if one accepts 1 John 4:1-3
Is Satan an "Angel of Light"?
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (KJV): "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NASB): For such men are (A)false apostles, (B)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even (C)Satan disguises himself as an (D)angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, (E)whose end will be according to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (Amplified Bible): "For such men are false apostles [spurious, counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah). And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. [But] their end will correspond with their deeds."
Paul speaks of men who are are false apostles who have "transformed" or "disguising" or "masquerading" as the true apostles of Christ in verse 13. These men are pretending to be something that they are not. From www.dictionary.com
masquerade (v): 5 to go about under false pretenses or a false character; assume the character of; give oneself out to be: to masquerade as a former Russian count. 6. to disguise oneself.
disguise (v): 1 to change the appearance or guise of so as to conceal identity or mislead, as by means of deceptive garb: The king was disguised as a peasant. 2. to conceal or cover up the truth or actual character of by a counterfeit form or appearance; misrepresent: to disguise one's intentions.
Verse 14 says Satan also "transforms, disguises, or masquerades" himself as an angel of light. Not that Satan is actually an angel of light. If Satan was by definition an angel of light, he would not have to "transforms, disguises, or masquerade" himself as an angel of light. That would be as silly as a human being transforming or masquerading themselves as a human being. Satan has to pretend to be something that he actually not which is an angel of light.
Paul is comparing what these false apostles are doing to what Satan can do. They are pretending to be something in order to deceive. True apostles and true angels of light do not transform or pretend to be true apostles or angels of light. Paul says these false apostles might disguise or transform themselves to appear as ministers of righteousness but God knows who they are and they will they will eventually be punished for their works or deeds. They can deceive many men but they can not deceive God. God knows who the true angels of light and true apostles are from the false ones that are counterfeits.
What really is an angel of light?
Angel: Greek aggelos ( http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/l...32&Version=kjv ) and means "a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God"
Light: Greek phos ( http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/l...57&Version=kjv ) and means
1) light
a) the light
1) emitted by a lamp
2) a heavenly light such as surrounds angels when they appear on earth
b) anything emitting light
1) a star
2) fire because it is light and sheds light
3) a lamp or torch
c) light, i.e brightness
1) of a lamp
2) metaph.
a) God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality
b) of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it
c) that which is exposed to the view of all, openly, publicly
d) reason, mind
1) the power of understanding esp. moral and spiritual truth
The bold definitions appear to have the closest relation to what the angel would be associated with. A heavenly light or an angel or messenger of heavenly light. An angel or messenger of truth, or an angel or messenger of God since God is light.
1 John 1:5: "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
Angels or messengers of light simply are angels or messengers of God. Satan can "transform" or masquerade himself as angels of God to deceive people but the fact that Satan can do this does not make Satan any more of a valid "angel of light" than it does for those false apostles who masquerade as true apostles as valid apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I really don't understand why some people use 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 in relation to Moroni or anything with the LDS faith or doctrine.
Now to the meat of the issue. Could have Moroni have been a demon? According the the New Testament. and specifically 1 John 4:2-3 the answer is no.
1 John 4:2-3: "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God"
The question is did Moroni confess that Jesus came in the flesh or not by word or deed? Moroni played a critical role in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in the restoration. The Book of Mormon all about Jesus Christ and his coming in the flesh to take upon him the sins of the world. There are many passages that state in one way or another that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
Mosiah 7:27-28 "And because he said unto them that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that God should come down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth—And now, because he said this, they did put him to death; and many more things did they do which brought down the wrath of God upon them. Therefore, who wondereth that they are in bondage, and that they are smitten with sore afflictions?"
Ether 3:14-16: "Behold, I am he who was aprepared from the foundation of the world to bredeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the cFather and the Son. In me shall all mankind have dlife, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my esons and my daughters. And never have I ashowed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man bbelieved in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own cimage? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this abody, which ye now bbehold, is the cbody of my dspirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh. And now, as I, Moroni, said I could anot make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he bshowed himself unto the Nephites."
3 Nephi 11:10-15: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying: Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."
Ether 3:14-16: "Behold, I am he who was aprepared from the foundation of the world to bredeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the cFather and the Son. In me shall all mankind have dlife, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my esons and my daughters. And never have I ashowed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man bbelieved in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own cimage? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this abody, which ye now bbehold, is the cbody of my dspirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh. And now, as I, Moroni, said I could anot make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he bshowed himself unto the Nephites."
3 Nephi 11:10-15: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying: Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."
There can be no question that the Book of Mormon and Moroni testified that Jesus came in the flesh. Back to the test found in 1 John 4:1-3 "Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God..." If every spirit confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, and Moroni and the Book of Mormon testify that Jesus came in the flesh, that means that either 1) Moroni and the Book of Mormon are from God and is not a demon or 2) 1 John 4:1-3 is a lie.
The way I see it, if you don't believe the the LDS view, that is fine but its better to say that Moroni did not exist or Joseph Smith just imagined it. Saying Moroni actually existed but was a demon can be a problem if one accepts 1 John 4:1-3
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