Has God changed throughout the years? No, God is the same, yesterday, today, and forevermore. God has not changed and will never change. God still thinks the same way about matters Today, as He did in the early days. That’s why the Bible is reliable and still powerful and the truth. People are the ones, who change. They even change the Bible, so that the Word of God fit in their lives and they can do their own will and live like the world. Instead of changing their lives to the Word of God, they change the Word of God to their lives. That’s why the salt has lost its favor and has no or little power. Jesus said, that Christians should be the salt of the earth. But nowadays, there’s hardly any difference between the world and Christians. But what does the Bible say about doctors and medicine? Has God blessed doctors or not?
The war between the two kingdoms
It is important to realize that there is a constant spiritual war going on between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness, which is the kingdom of the devil. The day you repented and gave your life to Jesus Christ and became born again, you were delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of God.
Before you became born again, you were bound by your sinful nature and you served your old master and father the devil, who blinded you with his lies and let you walk in darkness.
The devil (darkness) represents sin, iniquity, unrighteousness, captivity, carnality; pleasing your self, pleasing the lust and desires of the flesh, and death. The ultimate goal of the devil is to destroy you and take you to hell; Hades.
But when you made Jesus Christ your Saviour and Lord and became born again, you were transferred to another Kingdom with a new Master and a new Father.
Your new Master lets you walk in the light. Jesus and God’s Kingdom represent truth, holiness, righteousness, (spiritual) freedom, love, joy, peace, goodness, walking after the Spirit, and eternal life.
Before the fall, man was created in the image of God and came under God (the Trinity) in authority. Man had been given authority over the earth, angels, animals, etc. When sin entered, man gave his rulership and authority to the devil. Therefore the devil (fallen angel) had authority over fallen man. The devil became the father of fallen man and everyone, who would be born of the seed of fallen man would have his nature.
But through the redemptive work of Christ, the position of fallen man had been restored. Everyone, who would be born again in Jesus Christ would become a new creation; a new man. The new creation received all authority in Jesus Christ, to rule over the devil and his angels (Read also: Jesus restored the position of fallen man).
The redeemed man versus the unredeemed man
The unredeemed man; the old creation (fallen man) is carnal and still under the devil’s authority. But the redeemed man; the new creation (new man) is seated in Christ and has all authority in Christ over the devil and angels.
Now, with all this in mind, let’s have a look at diseases, sickness, and healing.
Let’s have a look at the origin of sickness and if medical science and doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, etc. are from God or not.
If God blessed doctors,
why does God call Himself Jehovah Rapha?
In the Old Testament, we do not read a lot about diseases. If someone became ill, then God healed that person according to His law. It often happened, that when people became disobedient to God, they became ill. We read this among others, in Numbers, the Book of Kings, and Chronicles.
God said, that if we keep His commandments He will take away all sickness and disease (i.e. Exodus 23:25 and Deuteronomy 17:15).
What does the Bible say about doctors?
King Asa
What does the Bible say about doctors? Let us go to 2 Chronicles 15 and read the story of King Asa. King Asa was obedient to God and kept His commandments except for the high places. King Asa did not take the high places away but left them. King Asa trusted the Lord and relied on Him and God was with King Asa. God gave nations into his might until King Asa no longer relied on God and went his own way.
The heart of King Asa did not go out to God anymore. God was no longer his source. God was not his Jehovah Nissi, and not his Jehovah Jireh anymore. King Asa had denied God. King Asa had replaced God with another king; an earthly king of Syria, a human.
Hanani, who was a prophet of God, went to Asa to warn him. But King Asa did not listen to his words and became ill.
King Asa did not show any mercy to God. He did not repent of his ways, nor did he seek God, No!!
King Asa called for the physicians (translation from Hebrew Rapha). In our time we call these physicians, doctors. This was an abomination to God. These physicians couldn’t heal King Asa and King Asa died:
Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah. And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand.
“Yet in his disease, he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians”
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.
And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him. (2 Chronicles 16:6-14).
What does Jehovah Rapha mean?
What does Jehovah Rapha mean? Jehovah Rapha means God is our Healer, and no one else is. There are only two kingdoms, we don’t have any more options.
When we look at the story of King Asa; we read, that he did not seek God, who is Jehovah Rapha, in his illness. Therefore, he didn’t seek the Kingdom of God. Instead, King Asa sought the other kingdom, which is the kingdom of darkness. Yes, King Asa sought help from the devil, who is the ruler of the other kingdom.
The devil inspired the physicians and gave them the knowledge and he worked through the hands of these physicians (doctors).
The physicians (doctors) were not from God but from the devil. If King Asa had repented of his deeds and turned back to God and had sought God for healing in his illness instead of seeking the doctors (physicians) for healing, God would have healed King Asa, for sure. But King Asa didn’t do that.
Origin of sickness and disease
Sickness and disease are the results of demonic spirits (spiritual realm) operating in the flesh (natural realm). The sickness and diseases, which are visible and measurable in the body are manifestations of the damage that has been caused by demonic spirits. For example, deafness and dumbness is a manifestations of a deaf and dumb spirit, a tumor is a manifestation of a cancer demon and forgetfulness is the manifestation of an Alzheimer’s demon.
As long as you don’t acknowledge sickness and disease coming from demonic spirits (demons manifesting themselves in a body or a soul), and if you don’t acknowledge that the origin of sickness is in the spiritual realm, but instead consider sickness and diseases as a natural bodily reaction of a natural cause, you will never be able to heal people in the Name and power of Jesus Christ.
You shall not be able to walk in faith and lay hands on sick people as Jesus did.
You must understand that the devil’s ultimate goal is to destroy people and he has his fallen angels (demons or evil spirits) do everything they can to accomplish his goal.
The devil sends his messengers to people with the commandment to seduce the people and then steal, kill, and destroy the people. The demon can only return to his master when he accomplishes his mission.
Where do doctors come from? What is the origin of medical science?
Let’s have a look at ancient cultures and the roots of modern science:
- The Hebrews had their health laws given by God, Jehovah Rapha (Book of Leviticus)
- Sumerian medicine (4000 BC) was based on astrology.
- Egyptian medicine (1500 BC) priests, who were initiated in medical knowledge and many specialists in one particular disease.
- Persian medicine (1000 BC) showed an affinity with the Hebrew health laws and underlies the Islamitic health rules.
- Greek culture developed medicine in 3000 BC. Medicine became a science based on research. In this science, views were developed based on the right balance between healthy and unhealthy. This could be realized by a proper way of living and a healthy environment. A well-known doctor was Alcmaeon (500 BC). The medical school of Kos had brought forth the father of Western medicine: Hippocrates (460-377 BC). Hippocrates had a profound understanding of human suffering and put the doctors in the service of the patients. Hippocrates was a capable doctor and scientist. He is the one, who is usually credited for applying humorism, which is also called the doctrine of the four temperaments as a medical theory. This theory holds that the human body is filled with four basic substances, called humors, which are in balance when a person is healthy. All diseases and disabilities supposedly result from an excess or deficit of one of these four humors. These deficits could be caused by vapors that are inhaled or absorbed by the body. The four humors are black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. During the 17th century, medical science based on scientific research went through a revolutionary development.
This is just a very short summary of the origin of medical science. But it shows that doctors and medicine go way back. Doctors already existed before Jesus came to the earth.
Remember the story of King Asa, who also turned to a medicine man. Every group of people (culture) had, and still has, its own healers and its own way of healing people. The people of Israel had Jehovah Rapha (God), Who healed them.
The Oath of Hippocrates
Before doctors can practice medicine, they must swear by an oath. The oath originally came from the oath of Hippocrates. Let’s have a look at the original oath of Hippocrates.
We can distinguish four parts in the oath of Hippocrates:
- A diversity of gods are called as a witness.
- An agreement where the young doctor swears to obey the regulations of the professional association. In this agreement are the principles of good fellowship recorded.
- A summary of ethical codes.
- A declaration where the reputation of the doctor depends upon his loyalty to the oath.
The original oath of Hippocrates
I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:
To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art; and that by my teaching, I will impart a knowledge of this art to my own sons, and to my teacher’s sons, and to disciples bound by an indenture and oath according to the medical laws, and no others.
I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion. But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts. I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art. In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or men, be they free or slaves. All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all humanity and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my life.
The revised oath of Hippocrates
In the US, and many other countries the original oath has been revised and an example of one is as follows:
I solemnly promise that I will to the best of my ability serve humanity—caring for the sick, promoting good health, and alleviating pain and suffering.
I recognize that the practice of medicine is a privilege with which comes considerable responsibility and I will not abuse my position. I will practice medicine with integrity, humility, honesty, and compassion—working with my fellow doctors and other colleagues to meet the needs of my patients.
I shall never intentionally do or administer anything to the overall harm of my patients. I will not permit considerations of gender, race, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, nationality, or social standing to influence my duty of care. I will oppose policies in breach of human rights and will not participate in them. I will strive to change laws that are contrary to my profession’s ethics and will work towards a fairer distribution of health resources. I will assist my patients to make informed decisions that coincide with their own values and beliefs and will uphold patient confidentiality.
I will recognize the limits of my knowledge and seek to maintain and increase my understanding and skills throughout my professional life. I will acknowledge and try to remedy my own mistakes and honestly access and respond to those of others. I will seek to promote the advancement of medical knowledge through teaching and research. I make this declaration solemnly, freely, and upon my honor.
We can conclude, that modern Western medicine is based upon Greek philosophy and has become a science. This medical science has been developed over the years, due to scientific research and medical science is still developing.
What about pharmacies and medical symbols?
In ancient Greek mythology, Asclepius is considered the god of medicine. Asclepius was the son of Apollo and Coronis. Asclepius shared, with Apollo, the epithet Paean (“the Healer”). Apollo carried the baby Asclepius (which he took from the womb of Coronis, the mother of Asclepius) to the centaur Chiron, who raised Asclepius and instructed him in the art of medicine. Asclepius represents the healing aspect of the medical arts. The daughters of Asclepius are:
- Hygiea (“Hygiene”, the goddess/personification of health, cleanliness, and sanitation),
- Iaso (the goddess of recuperation from illness),
- Aceso (the goddess of the healing process),
- Aglaea/Aegle (the goddess of beauty, splendor, glory, magnificence, and adornment),
- Panacea (the goddess of universal remedy).
Asclepius was associated with the Roman god Vediovis. Zeus killed Asclepius with a thunderbolt, because he raised Hippolytus from the dead and accepted gold for it.
Other myths say, that Asclepius was killed, because after bringing people back from the dead, Hades thought, that no more dead spirits would come to the underworld, therefore he asked his brother Zeus to remove him. This angered Apollo, who in turn murdered the Cyclopes, who had made the thunderbolts for Zeus
The rod of Asclepius, a snake-entwined staff, is still the symbol of medicine today. This symbol (the Asclepius rod) is not only used by doctors, but also by pharmacies, especially the symbol with the bowl, from which the serpent is drinking from. This bowl is a symbol of Hygiene, the daughter of Asclepius and the goddess of health.
We all recognize these symbols above, but do you also know their meaning and their origin?
Does the medical symbol represent the serpent of brass on the pole
The symbol of the rod does not represent the serpent of brass on the pole, which Moses made and was a foreshadowing of Jesus’ death on the cross, as so many people think (Read also: Why was the serpent of brass a foreshadowing of the Jesus’ death on the cross).
The staff in the picture in the upper left corner is an old astrology symbol and is also called ‘Caduceus’. The staff with the wings was carried by the Greek god Hermes (also the Roman god Mercury). The snakes represent dualism, which will eventually result in harmony.
In the picture on the bottom left, we see the rod of Asclepius, which is also called Aesculapius staff. This Asclepius staff was carried by the Greek god Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. The serpent entwined is called Epidaurus and was used in healing rituals (Read also: The throne of satan).
The bowl represents Hygieia, the goddess of health and the daughter of Asclepius. The serpent is being fed out of the bowl (Picture in the middle and upper right). So Hygieia feeds the serpent.
The green cross originates from Greece and is a symbol of the union of pharmacies.
We can see that these symbols, which are still used today, represent doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, etc., and have their origin in Greek mythology. They represent their gods and have nothing to do with the Almighty God; the Creator of heaven and earth.
The devil is not a creator but the devil is an imitator. The devil copies everything from God. Why does the devil do that? Because the devil wants to be like God. The devil wants people to worship him. Therefore the devil has created and still creates substitutes for God, so that people don’t need God anymore but they can do everything themselves.
Where is Jehovah Rapha?
- Has Jesus ever sent someone to a physician or doctor? If so, where is it written?
- Did Jesus command his disciples to bring sick people to medicine men or physicians?
- Has Jesus ever commanded the sick to go to doctors or physicians, when He would go to the Father?
- Luke was a physician, but was he a physician in the natural realm in the spiritual realm? Because Jesus called Himself also a Physician but Jesus was not a doctor.
- If Luke would indeed be a doctor, where did Jesus send the sick to Luke? Or when did the apostles send the sick to Luke?
- If Luke was a doctor, when has he ever executed his profession? Where is it written?
- Did God send sick people to physicians, medicine men or doctors in the Old Testament?
- Where are the physicians, who are the followers and disciples of Hippocrates, mentioned in the New Testament?
Jesus healed all who were sick and oppressed by the devil. He was a man, who knew His authority and knew where sickness came from.
“By His stripes, we were healed”
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24)
Before the crucifixion, Jesus bore all our sickness and disease at the whipping post.
Peter wrote, that ‘by His stripes, you were healed’. In other words, the words in Isaiah 53:4-5 were fulfilled at the whipping post, where Jesus paid the price for fallen humanity. Healing is already done.
The woman with the issue of blood
When Jesus walked on the earth, there were already physicians (doctors). When we look at Mark 5:25-27 we read about other physicians (doctors):
And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague (Mark 5:25-29).
The woman, who had an issue of blood, had spent a lot of money on many physicians. She had spent all that she had on the doctors.
But did she get any better? No, as a matter of fact, her situation became worse!
Of course, her situation did not improve, nor was she healed, because physicians (doctors) draw from the source of the devil; the source of death.
When you use a medicine, you are not free, but in bondage. When you go to therapy, you are not free, but in bondage and eventually, it will only become worse. Because the devil never gives something for free, the devil always wants something in return. Remember, the devil’s mission is to steal, kill, and destroy and will never provide life (John 10:10).
Jesus promises a life of living in freedom and not in bondage
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (Colossians 2:8).
Paul already warned the saints in Colossians 2:4-15 for earthly wisdom; the knowledge of man, which is foolishness to God:
In these times, we’ve become so used to the world system, that we do not see the difference anymore between what is from God and what is from the devil.
We take the medical care system; doctors, hospitals, therapists, psychologists, etc. for granted and consider it normal. It’s part of our lives.
Some believers even say, that doctors are blessed ones, who are sent from God. Well, that is one of the biggest lies!
When you become born again and renew your mind with the word of God, and when you seek the things which are above and not on the earth, then your eyes will be opened and you shall find out, and experience the truth of God.
You shall discern the lies of the devil, in which you live(d) for many years. You shall discern the spirits and the spiritual realm and shall discern good and evil.
Renew your mind and get the mind of Christ
Your carnal mind, which thinks like the world, says: if you are sick or if you feel an ache you will go to the doctor or if you are depressed, you will go to a psychologist or if you experience an ache in your back you will go to a physical therapist, etc., Therefore you have to renew your carnal mind with the word of God so that it will line up with the will of God (Read also: TheWhy is renewing your mind necessary?).
All those strongholds, which are built up in your mind must be destroyed. The only way to destroy them is by the Word of God.
I would like to encourage you, to read and study the Scriptures that are mentioned in this blog post and examine it for yourself. Look into it and find out the truth of God.
It is time for the saints to arise and return to God. It’s about time to acknowledge Him in all our ways, not just a few. Let Him become our Jehovah Rapha again.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
