Bible Question:

Is God the only One who can truly heal? Today, healings are reported in occult religions. The Bible teaches that Christ healed as compelling evidence that He was the Messiah. Some say Satan cannot perform supernatural works but only super normal ones and can only work through the natural process of healing. Some say Satan can only remove a sickness that he put upon them, and then let the body recover naturally. Can Satan make people sick and heal people too?

Bible Answer:

Can Satan heal? A search of the Bible reveals that healing is referred to over 150 times in the Bible, depending upon the translation. However, there are no statements in the Bible that say Satan or demons have healed or can heal. Yet, one question that we must ask is, “Are there any examples in Scriptures that suggest or reveal Satan can heal?” Another question is, “Are there any comments by Christ that reveal Satan can heal or cannot heal?” What follows will answer these questions.

Can Satan Heal

Can Satan Heal?

We will examine two important examples and one teaching from Christ that will help us learn if Satan can heal. The first example is that of the Egyptian magicians who copied the plagues of Aaron. The second example is the statement that the antichrist’s fatal wound was healed. The teaching from Jesus is found in Matthew 12:25-29.

Egyptian Magicians Duplicated Plagues

The first example is found in the book of Exodus when Moses stood before Pharaoh and performed signs and wonders were performed.  The sign that was performed occurred when Aaron cast his staff to the ground and it became a snake (Exodus 7:8-10). Then Pharaoh’s wise men, sorcerers and magicians did the same with their “secret arts” (Exodus 7:11-13). Moses and Aaron next turned water into wine and so did the court magicians (Exodus 7:14-25). Then Moses and Aaron, as well as, the court magicians brought frogs upon the earth (Exodus 8:1-15). But after Moses and Aaron brought flies on the land, the court magicians could not (Exodus 8:16-19) and declared in verse 19,

This is the finger of God. Exodus 8:19 (NASB)

Then we are told the magicians could not duplicate Aaron’s signs and wonders that caused cattle to die (Exodus 9:1-7), brought a plague of boils (Exodus 9:8-17), causing hail (Exodus 9:18-35), creating a plague of locust (Exodus 10:1-20; bring darkness on the land (Exodus 10:21-28), and causing the death of the first born (Exodus 11:1-3; 13:15-16).

It is important to notice that Egyptian court magicians could only duplicate the first three of the ten plagues. They could not heal the pharaoh’s son and bring him back to life after he died. That is, the power of the court magicians was limited. They could not heal. This means Satan could not heal.

Antichrist’s Fatal Wound That Was Healed

The second example is found in Revelation 13:3 where we are told that in the future the antichrist will have a “fatal wound” that will be healed.

I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast . . . Revelation 13:3 (NASB)

Then verses 11-14 state,

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. Revelation 13:11-14 (NASB)

Since Satan will empower the antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10), some people have claimed that these verses reveal that Satan has the power to raise the dead, including raising the antichrist. They reason this reveals Satan can also heal. But this conclusion is wrong for two simple reasons. The first reason is found in verse 3 where we are told one of his heads “as if it had been slain.” Notice that verse 1 tells us the antichrist has seven heads. Obviously, the antichrist will not have seven heads. The reference to heads is not about a man’s head, but seven nations. Therefore, this is not about a healing. Second, notice the word “if” in verse 3 implies that the head was not actually cut off. The world will be deceived into believing a lie. Therefore, we conclude that Revelation 13:3, 11-14 does not describe a healing miracle. So, Satan did not perform a healing.

If Satan Casts Out Satan, He Is Divided

Now we will consider the teaching from Jesus in Matthew 12:26-28. In this passage we are told that when Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees He said,

“If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Matthew 12:26-28 (NASB)

Here Jesus revealed that Satan will not cast demons out of someone who is demon possessed. Why? If he did, he would be working against himself. Why would he command one of his demons to possess someone, and then perform an exorcism to remove the demon? There are two important points to notice. First, if Satan did exorcise one of his demons, then he has accomplished nothing. Second, if he did, then it would only be an act of deception. In both cases, Satan has not healed. It is all deception. That is, Satan cannot heal. But notice that Jesus’ point is that Satan will perform a healing of casting out a demon. The truth is, Satan cannot heal illness or injury.

Only God Can Heal

The final section reveals that only God can and does heal. We will start with Matthew 4:23-24 which says,

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Matthew 4:23-24 (NASB)

Here we are reminded that Jesus healed and cast out demons. Even when the apostles healed people, they were not the ones who actually performed their healings. Peter reminded a man that Jesus Christ, our God, performed the healing.

Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. Acts 9:34 (NASB)

At the end of the gospel of John, the apostle tells us that all the signs recorded in the gospel of John were done so that we will believe Jesus is the Son of God; that is, that Jesus was and is God.

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31 (NASB)

It is clear from John 10:31-33, 36 that “Son of God” and “God” are interchangeable terms.  That is, John recorded the signs so that people will believe that Jesus was and is God. The point is that healing is the exclusive power of God. In summary, the gospels teach that Jesus Christ could and did heal people and cast out demons.

This conclusion is supported by many Old Testament verses. One of them is Deuteronomy 32:39. In this passage, God is speaking.

See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
Deuteronomy 32:39

God says He puts to death and gives life. It is He who wounds and heals. That is, no one else other than God can heal. Job says,

For He inflicts pain, and gives relief;
He wounds, and His hands also heal.
Job 5:18 (NASB)

A familiar passage is,

Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Psalm 103:3 (NASB)

The last verse declares that God is our healer. No one else is our healer.

I, the LORD, am your healer. Exodus 15:26 (NASB)

No one else can heal. God and God alone can heal.

Conclusion:

Can Satan fake a healing? Yes! He can only fake a healing because he cannot actually heal. Only our God can heal. The ability to heal was one of the proofs that Jesus Christ was and is our God.

Suggested Links:

Where did Satan come from? – Creation and Fall of Satan
Satan’s Power — What Power Does Satan Have?
Is there any biblical evidence for rebuking Satan?
2 Pharisees Blaspheme Jesus Again
Is Satan a serpent, dragon, devil or a cherubim? — The Evil One
Did Lucifer or Satan sin because he was created with sin?