In a novel I am about to rewrite, I have God setting 12 scepters around a safe haven to protect them from the evil that has befallen the world after the fall. Once they outgrow their land, they anoint scepter-bearers to lead groups to settle new territory. More on this in the history thread (here).

My question to you is whether or not a scepter-bearer or anyone else for that matter could use the powers of the scepter to do evil things like murder? There are other powers that could indirectly be used for evil, such as the vision power as a spy tool for the enemy, or earth power to cause an avalanche on a village, etc. For more info on the scepter's powers, go (here).

Thanks for your comment Inesdar. Keep them coming. Here's something for you to chew on.

I would say the scepters have miraculous power...and I guess that means God is the one empowering them every time they are used. However, they do not work by God's "will" as much as the bearer's strength. By that I mean, they don't work only when God wants them too, but always work as long as the bearer has enough strength to be a conductor between the Spirit inside him and the "spirit" in the scepter. I don't know what I would call the power base within the crystals, so I am saying "spirit" with quote marks.

I guess I see them as similar to our bodies. God made them with inherent powers and then we choose how we use our strength. God still has control over our bodies so that He can heal and use for His purpose, but we are still allowed in His sovereignty to become sick and sin. As creation groans under the punishment of the fall, so too could the utilization of His creation - the scepters - by being used for evil.

As humans can be possessed by demons, could the scepters be possessed? My first thought is no, because I can't think of biblical evidence for a possessed item - only living beings. Are there evil places on this planet that when the scepter is taken there, its powers are replaced with evil? - Almost like the spirit of good was removed and then filled by seven demons (kind of like the story where if the house/body is cleansed without protection more demons will return than were there in the first).

You're right, I changed my mind on the source of power mid-post, it would be inherently powered

If God cannot coexist with evil, then maybe the scepter loses the powers that God originally gave it, and in return for the evil power within the bearer (if he is possessed) develops powers slightly different (evil slant)?

For example, if the purple stone produces vision, this could as well but it would include all the demonic spirits that demons see as well. If the white stone produces light to fight against the darkness, then the stone turns black and emits darkness.

Yes, I would need to show a change in the heart of the bearer. Just to be clear, these scepters were created after the Fall.

That's a different story, and actually, I almost wrote it. I'm afraid that would change too much of what I've already written and it doesn't really fit with the scepters being a protection. One of their many powers is a shield against the demons. I just want to keep it with the powers I've laid out.

Evil is a corruption of good. Man takes God's gifts all the time and turns them to evil purposes. We've seen this over, and over, and over. I don't think your scepters would be any different, unless you choose to make them so. If they were entrusted to man, man could corrupt them. So theologically, I think you're good there.

I'm inclined to agree with Vanya; men do take the things of God and turn them to evil so it sounds fine to me as well.

Thanks for your input everybody!

In church today Pastor preached on Abraham and he said that when a covenant was made between two people they were in essence casting a curse on the other person if they did not fulfill their end of the bargain (hence the bloody mess of cutting animal(s) in half and walking between them). I had an image in church of twelve men being selected to be scepter bearers and having a scene where they walk between 12 ox carcasses. Then when some of them break their covenant, the spirit leaves them (like Saul) and they corrupt their scepters to use them for evil.

How does that sound?

I'd say they are optional, but I'll keep some of the Hebrew customs. It paints a good picture though doesn't it?

I can add that in that covenant they were being cleansed of their sins to start fresh, and that such a ceremony represented the most serious of promises. The bearers would have an "If I don't fulfill my end, let me be as these animals," kind of attitude.

My quote above may not connect to what I mean without including the next verse. What I'm trying to say is that animals were used as sacrifices for covenants. I still need to research some more on why the animals were killed and they walked in the middle, but I believe it was to illustrate the above idea of "If I fail on my end, let me be as one of these animals."



This further illustrates the idea that the covenant to receive the power of the scepters as protection from evil would be "purified" (v22) from corruption of sin.

That is worth considering, though it may be too obvious of a Christian symbol. The animals I use should have meaning, and not just random. I don't know what the meaning of 12 oxes or bulls would be. Abraham used a heifer, a goat, a ram, a dove, and a young pigeon.