Miraculous Healing, Speaking in Tongues, Expelling Demons: Do Miracles Come From God or Satan?
Healing is defined as the restoration of health to a person who is emotionally, mentally, or physically ill. The Bible, God’s Word, reports on impressive miraculous healings performed through God’s spirit—his active force. Long before Jesus Christ came to earth, pre-Christian Hebrew prophets performed miracles with God’s help. Nevertheless, Jesus Christ is especially known for his spectacular healings. Certain first-century Christians also received the gift to heal the sick through God’s holy spirit.
When Jesus Was on Earth: Healing Every Sort of Disease With Ease
During his earthly life, Jesus Christ convincingly demonstrated that it is possible to eliminate every form of suffering. In doing so, he provided a preview of what he will accomplish on a grand scale worldwide after Armageddon through the almightiness of our Creator, Jehovah. His miraculous healings frequently took place in public before numerous eyewitnesses.
By the power of the holy spirit, Jesus healed every disease and every infirmity without exception. In the Bible, his activity is described as follows:
“(Matthew 9:35) And Jesus set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the Kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity.”
Jesus healed with absolute ease. The Holy Scriptures prove this with the example of a leper:
“(Mark 1:40-42) There also came to him a leper, pleading with him even on his knees, saying to him: “If you just want to, you can make me clean.” At that he was moved with pity, and he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him: “I want to! Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy vanished from him, and he became clean.”
Especially when a person has been suffering for many years and, humanly speaking, there is no hope left, a miraculous healing seems impossible. Yet, through the active force of Jehovah God, Jesus healed even chronic, decades-long suffering in the blink of an eye:
“(John 5:5-9) But one man was there who had been sick for 38 years. 6 Jesus saw the man lying there, and being aware that he had already been sick for a long time, he asked him: “Do you want to get well?” 7 The sick man answered him: “Sir, I do not have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down ahead of me.” 8 Jesus said to him: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 Instantly the man became well, and he picked up his mat and began to walk.”
How You Can Recognize Whether a Healing Comes From God
As the Bible passages show, Jesus was able to heal people of every sort of disease and infirmity. But what if someone who performs miraculous healings or expels demons today cannot do this? Would this not be proof that the source for miraculous healings is not the same source that Jesus Christ drew upon: the holy spirit (according to the Bible, God’s active force)? And with the early followers of Jesus, it was also the case that they could heal all diseases. Read Acts 5:15, 16 in the Bible regarding this: “…and they were one and all cured.” Is everyone really restored to health today? And if not, what clear sign would that be? Has the almighty power of the true God somehow waned? Or could that be a clear sign of a different source? With Jehovah God, it is certainly not the case that he sometimes lacks the power and sometimes has it. Which clearly proves that miraculous healings or other miracles, if they fail even a single time, must have a different source.
Why Were First-Century Christians Able to Perform Miraculous Healings?
The miracles of Jesus made it unmistakably clear that he was the promised “Christ” (Greek) or “Messiah” (Hebrew), which translates to “Anointed One.” At the same time, they served as a preview of the future global blessings after Armageddon. But for what purpose did Jesus’ followers in the first century also receive miraculous powers?
Through signs, wonders, and distributions of holy spirit, God gave a clear witness. He proved to the world at that time that the newly established Christian congregation had his full blessing and originated from him. The Bible book of Hebrews confirms this:
“(Hebrews 2:3-4) …how will we escape if we have neglected so great a salvation? For it began to be spoken through our Lord and was verified for us by those who heard him, while God joined in bearing witness with signs and wonders and various powerful works and with the holy spirit distributed according to his will. ”
When Were Miracles, Miraculous Healings, and Powerful Works to Cease?
The signs performed by God served a clear purpose: they identified the early Christian congregation beyond doubt as God’s organization. Once this fact was irreversibly established, ongoing proof through miracles was no longer necessary. Consequently, the miraculous gifts were to cease as soon as their purpose was fulfilled.
The Bible explicitly explains in the first letter to the Corinthians that these gifts were limited in time:
“(1 Corinthians 12:29-30; 13:8, 13) Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform powerful works, do they? Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they?… Love never fails. But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with… Now, however, there remain faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Gifts such as healing or speaking in foreign tongues were therefore to pass away. Faith, hope, and love, on the other hand, were to remain. In particular, true, unselfish love is the clear identifier of the true Christian congregation in modern times.
Are There Still Miraculous Healings Today?
In recent history and present times, miraculous healings are also reported. Such events occur, for example, in religious services of various clergymen of Christendom. But even outside of Christianity, witch doctors, medicine men, or voodoo priests perform alleged healings, often employing fortune-telling and magic. Some so-called “psychic healers” claim, in turn, that their methods are completely free of religion.
In view of this diversity, a crucial question arises: MUST all these phenomena necessarily come from God?
Do Miraculous Healings Have to Come From God—or Do They Come From Satan?
According to God’s Word, the Bible, today’s miracles and healings by no means come automatically from Jehovah (the biblical name of the true God). The Bible reveals that extraordinary acts can likewise be performed by the opposing side—by Satan, the Devil. Satan is a powerful spirit creature who rebelled against God. The name “Satan” translates to “Resister.”
In the Bible, we are warned against the deceptive tactics of this resister:
“(2 Thessalonians 2:9-10) But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved.”
Comparison: Miracles Through God’s Power vs. Miraculous Works of Satan
Today’s miraculous healings differ in fundamental ways from the healings documented in the Bible:
- Success Rate: In Bible times, all without exception who sought help were cured (Acts 5:15, 16). Today, on the other hand, many people remain uncured when visiting faith healers or going on pilgrimages to shrines.
- Free of Charge: Jesus and the early Christians always healed the sick completely free of charge. Jesus gave the clear instruction: “You received free, give free” (Matthew 10:8). Today’s faith healers, by contrast, often demand large sums of money or donations.
- Resurrecting the Dead: Through God’s power in the Bible, even dead people were brought back to life. Such indisputable miracles do not occur with today’s healers.
Why Does Satan Perform Miracles? The Warnings of the Bible
Satan the Devil and his demons (rebellious angels) pursue the goal of luring people away from the true God, Jehovah, and misleading them. To make this deception perfect, they often employ impressive signs.
Jesus Christ issued a clear warning against such machinations:
“(Matthew 24:24) For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will perform great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones.”
Jesus did not warn against insignificant trifles, but against “great signs and wonders.” This proves that Satan possesses the power to cause astonishing things. Since Satan usually does not appear visibly to humans, he uses human instruments—such as individuals who falsely claim to be a prophet or an envoy of Christ.
By Their Fruits You Will Recognize Them
How can one distinguish whether a miracle comes from God or from the Devil? Jesus provided his followers with a clear criterion for testing:
“(Matthew 7:15-23) Be on the watch for the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them… Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’”
This Bible passage vividly demonstrates: People can apparently expel demons or perform miracles in Jesus’ name without being recognized by Jesus. Since such people do not act according to God’s will, their power comes from a different source—from Satan, the Devil, whose goal is deception.
It Can Cost Life: The Dangers of False Miracles
Miracles, miraculous healings, and the (alleged) expelling of demons can be extremely dangerous. Why? As we could read in God’s Word, the Bible, the Devil pursues a purpose with powerful works and with lying signs and wonders and with every deception. What purpose? To mislead. Away from the truth that leads to everlasting life. Satan pursues the goal that people do not accept the love of the truth and are not saved. Let us recall once more the words from the Bible book of Thessalonians: “(2 Thessalonians 2:9-10) But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved.”
Jesus Christ said:
“(Luke 9:24-25) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake is the one who will save it. Really, what good does it do a man if he gains the whole world but loses himself or suffers ruin?”
How Do Jehovah God and Jesus View Occult Practices?
Both Jehovah God and Jesus Christ strictly reject it when humans involve themselves with powers that originate from the Devil. Already in the Old Testament, God warned his people against all forms of occultism:
“(Deuteronomy 18:10-12) There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, anyone practicing magic, anyone who looks for omens, a sorcerer, anyone binding others with a spell, anyone who consults a spirit medium or a fortune-teller, or anyone who inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to Jehovah…”
Anyone who seeks or performs sham healings through satanic power puts their everlasting life at stake. No temporary health advantage outweighs the loss of the prospect of permanent life in Paradise.
A Better Hope: Complete and Permanent Healing Through God
God promises that after his imminent intervention in world affairs—the war of Armageddon (Revelation 16:14, 16)—all diseases will disappear forever. Then, through his holy spirit, God will perform genuine miraculous healings globally and permanently.
The Bible gives us these wonderful promises for the future after Armageddon:
- No More Sickness: “(Isaiah 33:24) And no resident will say: ‘I am sick.’”
- End of Pain and Death: “(Revelation 21:4) …and he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
God’s Servants Today Do Not Perform Miraculous Healings
True servants of God do not perform miraculous healings today. Biblical prophecies show that the miraculous gifts of the first century were to cease. Since we are today immediately before Armageddon, the miraculous gifts brought about by God have long since ceased. After Armageddon, God will then bring about permanent, global healing.
Anyone today who believes they perform miracles or speak in tongues through God’s power may act in good faith, but unknowingly allows themselves to be used by the Devil. The Bible urges us to allow our views to be corrected:
“(2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.”
How Can True Christians Really Be Recognized Today?
True followers of Jesus are not identified today by spectacular miracles, speaking in tongues, or expelling demons. Jesus named a completely different identifying mark:
“(John 13:35) By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.”
True Christians are recognized by their sincere love for one another. While many religions contradict themselves and teach or practice unscriptural things, true Christians adhere strictly to God’s Word. For example, they never kill one another in wars, but exemplify the love commanded by Jesus.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are the only religion who practice this love
If you love somebody, you don’t want to harm him. And especially not to kill him. And this is the sign, according to the Bible, which shows clearly, who is on God’s side or on the side of the devil. We can read this in the Bible in the Bible book of first John 3:10-15 “The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Whoever does not practice righteousness does not originate with God, nor does the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not like Cain, who originated with the wicked one and slaughtered his brother. And for what reason did he slaughter him? Because his own works were wicked, but those of his brother were righteous.
13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed over from death to life, because we love the brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life remaining in him.”
In the many wars of this and the last century, only Jehovah’s Witnesses were standing neutral as a religion. One example: the only religion in the concentration camps of Hitler Germany were Jehovah’s Witnesses. One main reason was, that there didn’t slaughter people in the war.
Answers to Questions
Do all miraculous healings and miracles come from God?
No, according to the Bible, miraculous healings today do not come from God. Satan and demons can likewise perform great signs and lying wonders in order to mislead people.
Why were there miraculous healings in the first century, and why did they cease?
The miracles in the first century served as proof that Jesus was the Messiah and that the early Christian congregation had God’s blessing. After fulfilling this purpose, the miraculous gifts ceased, as foretold in 1 Corinthians 13:8.
How can true Christians be recognized in modern times?
True Christians today are recognized not by miraculous healings or speaking in tongues, but according to John 13:35 by genuine love among themselves and by their precise alignment with God’s Word.
What hope is there for a permanent healing of all diseases?
The Bible promises global and permanent healing through God’s power after Armageddon. According to Revelation 21:4 and Isaiah 33:24, sickness, pain, and death will then pass away forever.