“A Thorn in the Flesh, A Messenger of Satan…”

{11/29/11

I wrote this post almost two years ago, and I notice people have been reading it again. So I thought I would post it anew. The other reason for posting it again is that I am horribly convicted by what I wrote in faith then. I must admit that, at the moment, I have fallen horribly short of this truth from the Lord! Father, help me to turn and see your Truth here, in all of its fullness, once again. Amen.}

This is the follow-up post to Suffering, Enduring & Overcoming: “…Some Strange Thing Happening…”. So you might want to read that post first, if you so choose.

The Apostle Paul speaks of his life-altering revelations from the Lord: the first of which was on the road to Damascus (Acts 22: 1-21), and the second when Paul was caught up to the third heaven.

Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ (Paul himself) who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to MY WEAKNESSES. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, A MESSENGER (angel) OF SATAN to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord THREE TIMES that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for POWER IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12)

Most theologians, and “churches”, teach that the “thorn in the flesh” was some form of illness which effected either Paul’s eyesight, or caused him to have seizures (epilepsy). But in reading a book by G.H. Pember, I have come to believe that most theologians, and “churches”, are mistaken, since they seem to ignore the last part of this verse: …a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from exulting myself. Here is what Pember has to say about Paul’s thorn in the flesh:

…We shall then see that the thorn in the flesh was no mere disease or infirmity, but precisely what it is said to have been, that is, an angel of Satan sent to buffet the Apostle. This ever active foe would be perpetually assailing him with the many hindrances and annoyances, which are so well known to the true servant of Christ; would often be whispering in his ear incongruent, evil, and even foul thoughts, certain, should he fail to cast them off before they became his own, to check the inflow of spiritual power from the Holy Ghost; would sometimes draw over him a feeling of nervous lassitude, a weakness and feebleness of body and mind, just at the critical moment when it was necessary that he should be strong; would bring about disconcerting incidents, craftily devised to shake his faith, or to irritate his temper; and, in short, would baffle and thwart him at every turn, taking the fullest advantage of any circumstance that could be used for his discomfort and discouragement. Henceforth, then, this dread spirit would be ever hovering near the Apostle, who would be able to do the work for which he had been sent forth, only by dint of ceaseless prayer and a humble walk before his God–a life of peril and danger, of creeping ever, as it were, along the brink of a precipice, which must have powerfully counteracted any tendency to undue elation.

Thus a comprehension of this instructive incident throws much light upon the hindering and damaging influence which Satan is able to exercise against true believers…

(The Great Prophecies of the Centuries Concerning the Church: pages 175-76)

Lucifer: The Fallen "Morning Star" (Isaiah 14: 12)

The nominal “church” seems to stay away from anything dealing with Satan, the Devil. The nominal “church” appears to be fearful of being accused of “political-incorrectness”, especially when it comes to acknowledging the presence, and evil power, of Satan and his minions; even though the Word of God makes clear that the father of lies exists and seeks to devour those who belong to the Christ:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle IS NOT against flesh and blood, BUT AGAINST the RULERS, against the POWERS, against the WORLD FORCES OF THIS DARKNESS, against THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. (Ephesians 6)

8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5)

So it isn’t surprising that the clergy would ignore, or stay away from, the “messenger of Satan” portion of this scripture: after all, the “church” can’t afford to alienate the apostate “Christian” who supports her.

I believe that Pember’s description of Paul’s thorn, the messenger, is probably much closer to the truth than these other, more accepted, theological explanations. Whatever this thorn was, it had to be beyond the normal suffering that comes from some form of illness; since Paul suffered many things that most human beings will never experience:

But in whatever respect anyone else is bold—I speak in foolishness—I am just as bold myself. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? (2 Corinthians 11)

It seems to me, with all of this constant turmoil, danger, and pain, in the Apostle’s life, that bad eyesight, or even an occasional seizure (as bad as that might have been), would not have been enough to make Paul plead (implore) with the Lord, three times, that IT might leave him.

Paul states,

Concerning this I implored the Lord THREE TIMES that IT (the THORN, the MESSENGER OF SATAN) might leave me…

Why would we assume that Paul has implored the Lord to remove an illness, when no illness is described (poor eyesight and epilepsy are conjecture) or even mentioned? Wouldn’t the Apostle have, in the case of sickness, implored the Lord to HEAL his illness, if “IT” truly was an illness plaguing him, as opposed to requesting “IT” might leave him? In other words, it seems that Paul is referring to an evil entity that is attacking him, an evil entity much like the one Pember describes!

{Yes, I know that because Paul used the term “thorn” to describe this particular misery, that “IT” refers to the “thorn”. But that still doesn’t explain the second part of the verse: “a messenger of Satan”, or “an Angel of Satan”. A messenger, or angel, in the word of God, is always a spiritual entity!}

Also, Paul ends the verse with this statement:

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul says, then, that he is well content with Weaknesses, Insults, Distresses, Persecutions, Difficulties: these afflictions seem to be pointing at more than just suffering from a single form of disease. It seems to me that these afflictions are describing what the THORN, the MESSENGER, was delivering, almost constantly, to the Apostle.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you..." (John 14: 27)

In conclusion: if we are truly seeking the Lord and His Way, His Truth, and His Life, and we find ourselves wondering about the fiery ordeal that surrounds us, as if some strange thing were happening, then we might want to remember the Apostle’s thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, and what our response should be to this fiery ordeal: enduring, praying, resting, and maintaining our Faith in the Lord. The Lord promises us that we will have tribulation in this life, but He also promises He will be with us throughout all of our trials and tribulations:

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)

“Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him. (Job 13: 15)

So whether we believe Paul’s thorn was an angel of Satan assigned to him or merely a disease, we should, at the least, discern that suffering and enduring will be a portion of our walk with the Lord. Suffering and enduring are an essential portion of our sojourn in this life, because our WEAKNESSES (our brokenness, our contrite heart) can help keep us from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life: an idolatrous love for this world system of Satan, which will ultimately drive the Spirit away from us (grieving the Spirit). In our utter WEAKNESS (dependence on Him), then, the Lord can work His perfect will and purpose in, and through, our lives: His Power is Perfected In Our WEAKNESS, not our fleshly strength!