Casting Out Demons

A Series of Miracles
- The Exorcism Accounts -

Introductory Observations

1. Jesus wasn’t the only exorcist of His day
Others were known as exorcists
The Disciples became exorcists
Other people used Jesus name in exorcisms

2. There was something notable about His exorcisms
He performed exorcisms by His own authority
He performed exorcisms with merely words
He performed exorcisms that others were unable to perform

3. There are five key accounts of Jesus’ exorcisms
John only records the question of whether Jesus HAD a demon

Matt Mark Luke
#1 Spirit in Synagogue 1:21-28 4:31-36
#2 The Blind/Mute Man 12:22-29 11:14-26
#3 The Plunging Pigs 8:28-34 5:1-17 8:26-39
#4 Demonized Daughter 15:21-28 7:24-30
#5 Shaking Son 17:14-21 9:14-29


1. Evil spirits can enter religious buildings (Mk 1:23, Lk 4:33)

2. The term ‘Evil spirit’ is synonymous with ‘demon’ (Lk 4:33)

3. Evil spirits know the truth about Jesus (Mk 1:24, Lk 4:34)

4. Jesus has authority over evil spirits (Mk 1:25-26, Lk 4:35)

5. Evil spirits can cause physical ailments (Mt 12:22, Lk 11:14)

6. Exorcism was connected to Messianic hope (Mt 12:23)

7. Some attributed His exorcisms to Satan (Mt 12:24, Lk 11:15)

8. Evil spirits tend to isolate their prey (Mt 8:28, Lk 8:27, 29)

9. Evil spirits seem to know their fate (Mt 8:29, Lk 8:31)

10. Many demons can inhabit one person (Mk 5:9, Lk 8:30)

11. Demons can be transferred to other creatures (Mt 8:32)

12. Some people were spooked by exorcism (Mt 8:34, Lk 8:37)

13. We can be missionaries at home (Lk 8:39)

14. Faith is a key component of exorcism (Mt 15:27, Mk 7:29)

15. Jesus was often hesitant to exorcise (Mt 15:24, Mk 7:27)

16. Evil spirits can cause deadly behavior (Mt 17:15)

17. Some demons are harder to cast out than others (Mk 9:18)

18. Even children can have an evil spirit (Mk 9:21)

19. Prayer is a key component of exorcism (Mk 9:29)

Did God Promise to Heal us Now?

The Healing of the Sick

3 Views of Healing
1. Healing on Demand (Provided in the Atonement)
2. Healing as a Miracle (God can choose to heal)
3. Healing has Ceased (Healing as a 1st century sign)

View #1 Healing on Demand
The basic principle of the Christian life is to know that God put our sin, sickness, disease, sorrow, grief, and poverty on Jesus at Calvary…One of your covenant rights is the right to a healthy body (Ken Copeland)

The Bible declares that the work was done 2,000 years ago. God is not going to heal you now—He healed you 2,000 years ago. All you have to do is receive the healing by faith…there will be no sickness for the saint of God…not a headache, sinus problem, not even a toothache—nothing (Benny Hinn)

When the Devil tries to put a symptom of sickness or disease on my body, I absolutely refuse to accept it…I’m healed by the stripes of Jesus (Jerry Savelle)

A person seeking healing should look to God’s Word, not to his symptoms. He should say, ‘I know that I am healed because the Word says that by His stripes I am healed.” (Ken Hagin)

When you have developed your faith to such an extent that you can stand on the promises of God, then you won’t need medicine (Fred K. Price)

Isaiah 53:4-5
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
View #2 Healing as a Miracle

Scriptural Refutation of View #1
1. Isaiah 53:4 was fulfilled during the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ (Matthew 8:16-17)
2. Isaiah 53:5 is about spiritual, not physical, healing
Isaiah 1:5-6, 3:6-7, 61:1, Jeremiah 3:22, Hosea 14:4
3. Isaiah 53:5 is two poetic couplets (synonymous)
4. 1 Peter 2:18-25 shows that Peter understood Isaiah 53:5 to mean spiritual (not physical) healing
5. Healing was done as a visible sign to confirm an inward reality (Matthew 9:1-8)

Scriptural Affirmations of View #2
1. A multitude of anecdotal evidence in both O.T. & N.T.
2. James 5:14-16
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

3. Many times, believers were NOT healed on demand
Job (Job 2:7), Paul (Galatians 4:13), Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23)
Elisha (2 Kings 13:14), Trophimus (2 Timothy 4:20)
4. Our bodily hope is in the future (Romans 8:21-25)
5. The early church believed God could heal, but were primarily administered to non-believers as a sign

View #3 Healing has ceased

1. Referred to as Cessationism (Luther/Calvin/MacArthur)
2. Based on Ephesians 2:20, Hebrews 2:3-4, 1 Cor. 13:8-10
3. Multiple early church fathers indicate cessationism

Numbers 22-25

This is the story of Balaam (including chapter 25, though it is often separated). It is, no doubt, a curious story in several senses. First, though Balaam comes across as mostly 'good' in these chapters, his reputation throughout the rest of the Bible is very negative. Second, it is a puzzle as to our source for this information (since it doesn't involve direct contact with Moses/Israel). Perhaps this explains the inclusion of the Midianites (they were connected to Israel in several ways). If the Holy Spirit didn't reveal this story directly to Moses, a Hebrew-Friendly Midianite source is likely (especially considering Balaam's positive role in these chapters). A later source would, then, be responsible for the change in perspective. A third interesting note from this story is, of course, the talking donkey!

The section begins with the Moabites terrified by the presence of the Israelites in their region. Their King, Balak, summons a mystical guru, Balaam, to put a curse on Israel so they will be weakened before a seemingly inevitable military conflict. Balaam is said to have the gift in so much that blessings and curses emanating from him actually come to pass. It is arguable whether his blessings/curses carried weight OR if he simply had a gift for discerning what or whom God was blessing and cursing. Once the job was offered to Balaam, he was approached by God and told not to curse the Israelites. He informed Balak's messengers of the answer. They returned home with the 'bad' news, but more numerous and distinguished princes were sent in their place offering greater reward if Balaam would curse Israel. Balaam affirms that God has already answered on the matter, but is willing to ask him again. This time, God allows Balaam to go with the men, but upon his departure God becomes very angry with Balaam. Why? Two possibilities emerge.

1) In the KJV, Balaam was told that IF the men come to him, he could go. But in the next verse Balaam gets up in the morning and GOES to them. This may show an eagerness, on Balaam's part, to pursue the reward (or, the 'wages of wickedness). This option depends on the KJV translation "if" instead of the modern translation 'then.'

2) It could be, simply, that there was nothing wrong with Balaam going, but there was something very wrong with Balaam's heart on the matter. God, being able to read the human heart, was angered by the condition of Balaam's heart (most likely, his eagerness to get a worldly reward).

So in both theories, the problem is with Balaam's motivation. This becomes clearer in the summary statements about Balaam in other Biblical passages. In any case, Balaam went with the princes of Moab.

Along the way Balaam's donkey deterred him by going off the path, pressing against a wall, and eventually lying down and refusing to go forward. The donkey kept stopping because it was able to see the Angel of the Lord blocking the way. Balaam, unaware of the the Lord's presence, beat the donkey on each of these 3 occasions. After the 3rd beating, God opened the mouth of the donkey and it questioned Balaam's beatings. Eventually, Balaam's eyes were opened and he confessed his sin. He assured the Lord that IF He were displeased, he would turn back (though it seems clear that God is somewhat displeased!). Nevertheless, God allowed Balaam to continue with the princes, but reminded him that he was to only speak what he was told by God.

Balak was not impressed by the delay, but was eager to put Balaam to work. After some sacrifices, Balaam went to a barren height to seek God's thoughts on the matter, but upon returning to the Moabites he uttered and utterly positive blessing over Israel. Balak was angered again, but hoped he could change Balaam's mind and so he brought him to a second location. This time Balaam met with God 'over there,' but with the same results: His oracle was decisively positive. Infuriated, Balak tried 1more time to get Balaam to curse Israel. Yet once again Balaam (this time not even talking with God) blessed Israel (on this occasion the blessing is said to be the Holy Spirit's leading). Needless to say, Balaam was sent home without reward (albeit not before prophesying more good news for Israel).

All in all, in Numbers 22-24, Balaam seems to be a respectable character. He always seeks the Lord and ultimately does what the Lord commands. But what lies beneath? Why is Balaam's reputation in the rest of the Bible so negative? Unfortunately, we learn that behind the scenes and in the depth of his heart, Balaam was most interested in his own selfish gains.

1. He had wanted all along to curse Israel (Deut. 23:4-5, Nehemiah 13:2)
It is revealed that his heart wanted to curse Israel. It can be argued that he willfully went against his heart when blessing them b/c he did, indeed value obedience. Or it can be argued that he was physically trying to curse them, but God changed the words in his mouth! We can't be sure, though Nehemiah's wording suggests the latter. It is interesting to note that Balaam went to the barren heights to meet with God before the first oracle. Second he went 'over there'. Then he seemingly didn't consult God at all. This may be an indication (along with the mention of the Spirit on the 3rd occasion) that Balaam was trying to free Himself from the Lord's blessing being accomplished through his voice.

2. He loved the wages of wickedness (2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11)
Though it isn't made clear in this section of Numbers, it is later revealed that Balaam was, essentially, all about the wages of wickedness. He was more interested in making a profit than in being a prophet. It seems, once again, that he WANTED to curse Israel, but just couldn't.

3. He gave the Moabites advice on an alternative way to defeat Israel (Numbers 31:16, Revelation 2:4)
We find out later in Numbers, and also in Revelation, that instead of going directly home (as seems implied in 24:25), Balaam offered an alternative way to defeat Israel. If they couldn't be externally cursed, perhaps they could be internally corrupted. This is the connection b/w chapters 24 and 25. It is Balaam who recommends that the Moabites tempt Israel with idolatry and adultery.

With the perspective of the whole of Scripture, it becomes clear that Balaam was a worldly minded man. He was most interested in personal profit and was willing to stretch the boundaries to obtain it. He was determined to do his own thing, and even when temporarily prevented, continued pursuing his desired end. He is an example of one who, instead of turning his back on temptation, stays in conversation with it until he succumbs to its pull.

Numbers 20-21

Chapter 20 may be one of the saddest chapters in the Old Testament. The transition from the 'wilderness wanderer' generation to the next generation continues:
1. Death of Miriam (20:1)
2. Punishment of Moses/Aaron (20:2-13)
3. Edom denies Israel passage (20:14-21)
4. Death of Aaron (20:22-29)

The punishment of Moses & Aaron is due to their actions in the 'water from a rock' story. I want to take a closer look at what it was, exactly, that they did to merit such a severe penalty (banned from entering the Promised Land after 40 years of faithful service).

What did Moses do wrong? Here are some possibilities:
1. Pride (He used the term 'we' (v. 10) instead of giving credit to God)
2. Anger (He called the people 'rebels' (v. 10) when he wasn't told to speak to them at all
3. Disobedience (He struck the rock (v. 11) instead of speaking to it (see v. 24)
4. Symbolism (The rock was Christ (1 Cor. 10:4) and so striking it a 2nd & 3rd time was wrong
5. Sovereignty (God wanted Joshua, not Moses, to lead the people into Promised Land)

So which of these possibilities is correct? Perhaps more than 1. Perhaps all in varying degrees. It seems to me that disobedience was the major sin involved. But why was THIS disobedience punished so severely? I think that has a lot to do with the symbolism mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:4. Moses had earlier been commanded to strike the rock (Exodus 17). This may have represented the crucifixion (since the Rock was Christ). Here, a request was to be made of Christ but He was struck twice instead. Though Moses may not have fully understood what the rock represented, he did understand the metaphorical value of a 'Rock' (Deut. 32:4, 15, 18).

The Edomite story is part of a much larger Old Testament narrative dating back to Jacob & Esau and continuing on, especially highlighted in the 1 chapter book of Obadiah.

In Chapter 21 the Israelites experience some military battles. The neighbors of the Promised Land are nervous about Israel's presence and attack Israel. But God is on Israel's side. Arad is destroyed along with Sihon & Og (who was a giant). We are also told the story of the bronze snake. The people complained (as per usual) and so God punished them with bites from venomous snakes. The people repented and asked Moses to pray for them. Moses was told, by the Lord, to make a snake and put it on a banner pole (perhaps cross shaped). Anyone who was bitten would be able to look up to the snake and would then live.

Why would God allow a snake, usually a negative symbol in Scripture, to represent Christ on the cross. We know that it did represent that based on John 3:14-15. It is possible that this snake did still represent Satan while the cross it was placed on represented the cross of Christ. In other words, the symbolism is declaring that by the cross of Christ, Satan will be defeated. Just like the Israelites were healed from the physical poison by looking to the banner poll, we are healed from our spiritual sins by looking to the cross. The snakes in that story were defeated. Satan, in our story, is defeated. This falls in line with Hebrews 2:14. It's also possible to connect this story to 2 Corinthians 5:21 where it says that Jesus 'became sin' for us. In that sense, the snake actually represents, in a somewhat obscure way, what Christ became on our behalf.

Numbers 10:11-19:22

This section begins with the cloud being lifted above the Tabernacle. This meant it was time to move. The Israelites were about to begin making progress toward the Promised Land. God's presence was seen as pivotal for the whole journey. External enemies would be rendered powerless. What could possibly stop them now? Unfortunately, there is an answer to that question: Internal Complaints.

Complaint #1 It's too hard! (11:1)
Complaint #2 We want more! (11:4)
Complaint #3 Not me! (11:11-15)
Complaint #4 Not us! (11:21-22)
Complaint #5 Not them! (11:28)
Complaint #6 Not him! (12:1-2)
Complaint #7 We can't! (13:31-33)
Complaint #8 We shouldn't have (14:1-4)
Complaint #9 You've gone too far! (16:1-3)
Complaint #10 You shouldn't have! (16:41)
Complaint #11 We're hopeless (20:2-5)
Complaint #12 Now! (21:1-5)

The overall result of this onslaught of complaints is that the generation in question (even including Moses) was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Instead, they would wander the desert for 40 years.

The Great Catches

The 1st Great Catch
Luke 5:1-11

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Observation
1. But because you say so… (5)
-- Will we say yes despite our senses?
2. Such a large number… (6)
-- Are will willing to follow when full?
3. (Simon) Fell at Jesus’ knees (8)
-- Are we unqualified enough to qualify?
4. From now on you will catch men (10)
-- Are we willing to let God SHAPE us?
5. Left everything and followed (11)
-- Are we totally committed to Him?

The 2nd Great Catch
John 21:1-14

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. 6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." 11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn."

Observation
I’m going out to fish (3)
-- Jesus makes all things sacred
Did not realize it was Jesus (4)
-- Jesus glorified body may have been different
It is the Lord! (7)
-- John recognized Jesus by His fruit, there are marks of God's presence
Jumped into the water (7)
-- Each personality type can live with a passion
Large number (6) Fish… bread… (9) Large… 153… (11)
-- We are most fruitful when we are in God's presence
The net was not torn (11)
-- When Jesus does a work, He can handle the results

Mother's Day!

2 Fears associated with Mother's Day Messages

1. Mother's are afraid
-- I Won't measure up

2. Everyone else is afraid
-- I don't do enough for my mother
-- This will be irrelevant since I'm not a mother

2 Reliefs

1. We'll take a realistic look
2. We'll take a relevant look

How will it be relevant?
1. There is more than 1 kind of mother
a. Biological
b. Spiritual (Galatians 4:19)
c. Heavenly (Galatians 4:26)

Our Subject: The most famous mother of all time

A. Clearing up the Debris

Bible doesn't tell us about Mary, but that hasn't stopped us from filling in the gaps
1. She was NOT immaculately conceived
2. She was NOT sinless
3. She was NOT a perpetually virgin
4. She did NOT ascend to heaven bodily
5. SHe is NOT our great intercessor or co-redeemer

Quotes from Popes
"no man goeth to Christ but by His mother" (Pope Leo 13)
"Mary, his associate in redemption, transcending all others" (Pope Pious 12)
"To her Jesus entrusts His church & all humanity" (Pope Jean Paul 2)

This distracts us from the Biblical picture of Mary, which we can learn much from

B. What can we learn from Mary?

1. She valued presence (Christmas, Jerusalem, Cross)
-- We live in a world more interested in STUFF than PEOPLE
-- Will we make time for our children, parents, Jesus

2. She was in a process (contemplative, cana, crazy)
-- We live in a world more focused on NOW than NEXT
-- Will we walk with Jesus this week, this year, this life?

3. She passed on the baton (Acts, Christmas source, praying for us)
-- We live in a world most obsessed with SELF not OTHERS
-- Will we invest in others, share the story of Jesus, see the big picture?

C. How can we best honor our mothers?

The best way to honor our biological, spiritual & heavenly mothers is to get into the presence of Jesus, stay in a process with Jesus & pass on to eternity with Jesus.

Healing the Sick Son

And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." 49 The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour." 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed. 54 This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

Some Background on this story
~ Jesus had performed unrecorded miracles in Judea
~ This is very similar to a miracle in Matt 8:5 & Luke 7:1
~ This ‘royal official’ was probably from Herod’s House


Application

1. Heard… Went… Begged… (47)
This man was desperate
Desperation is key in a walk with God

2. Took Jesus at His word (50)
This man had great faith
Faith is key in a walk with God

3. When he inquired as to the time (52)
This man was investigative
Thought is key in a walk with God

4. Then the father realized (53)
This man had a growing faith
Growth is key in a walk with God

5. All his household believed (53)
This man was evangelistic
Sharing is key in a walk with God

Numbers 1:1-10:10

About 2 years after the Exodus, Moses is commanded to take a census of Israel. Officially, the administrators of this census are to count men 20 years and older who are fit to fight. God selects 12 men to serve as assistants to Moses, one from each tribe (minus Levi, plus Joseph's 2 sons). The populations are ranked below:

Judah- 74,600
Dan- 62,700
Simeon- 59,300
Zebulun- 57,400
Issachar- 54,400
Naphtali- 53,400
Reuben- 46,500
Gad- 45,650
Asher- 41,500
Ephraim- 40,500
Benjamin- 35,400
Manasseh- 32,200

This creates a grand total 603,550 fighting aged men. If we assume roughly the same number of like-aged women, and add in the children and elderly, we can speculate, safely, that Israel's total population was over 2,000,000. Some would question whether a group of 70 or 72 people could multiple to over 2,000,000 in a mere 400 years, but this is certainly reasonable. Given the fact that the Egyptians feared the Israelites because of their rapid multiplications, we can conservatively say that the Israelite population doubled in size just about every 25 years. This doubling, after 400 years, would create a population of 4,587,520 people. There was, then, plenty of time for Israel's population to expand into the millions.


Chapter 2 discusses how all these people were arranged into camps. The tabernacle, obviously, was at the center of the community and the Levites set up their camp around it. The other 12 tribes were divided into 4 groups, each with a 'captain'

EAST: Judah with Issachar & Zebulun (186,400 fight ready men)
SOUTH: Reuben with Simeon & Gad (151,450 fight ready men)
WEST: Ephraim with Benjamin & Manasseh (108,100 fight ready men)
NORTH: Dan with Asher & Naphtali (157,600 fight ready men)

It has been mentioned that, should these tribes have set up camp in fairly straight lights backwards from the tabernacle, this arrangement with these populations would have created a giant cross shape from a bird's eye view. While this is relatively true, we can't be sure this was intended. There are hints of intentionality in that the cross shape does appear best from the vantage point of the front of the camp (east) and that the tabernacle is close to where Jesus' very heart would have been on the cross.

Chapter 3 clarifies why the Levites weren't included in the arrangement of the 12 tribes. At the time of the Passover, God had ordained that all the firstborn males from every tribe were to be dedicated to the Lord, but now God chose to take the entire Levitical tribe in the place of the firstborn. This seems, to me, to be a very compassionate change since it would keep all parties with their families. The Levites seem to have been chosen b/c of their religious zeal (as seen in the story of the Golden Calf) and their similar size with the number of firstborn males (22,000 vs. 22,273). Further detail is given regarding the individual clans within the Levitical tribe (Gershonites, Kohathites & Merarites). Each was given specific responsibilities which are discussed further in chapter 4.

Chapter 5 provides some specific instruction for maintaining purity within the camp. When a person wrongs another, they are to confess and make restitution (plus an additional 20%). A test to determine the faithfulness of a wife is described as well, although it sounds very primitive. Basically, if a husband became jealous or concerned in any way about the faithfulness of his spouse, he would bring her to the priest who would have her drink some dirty water. If she got sick, it meant she was guilty. If she didn't get sick, it meant she was innocent.

Chapter 6 discusses a special Nazirite vow which could be taken. It consisted of total abstinence from wine, total abstinence from using a razor upon one's head, and total abstinence from going near dead bodies (even if a relative died). A crafted priestly blessing is included a the end of the chapter.

Chapter 7 gives details as to the special gifts that were offered by each tribe at the dedication of the tabernacle. The total accumulation of the offerings is listed at the end of the chapter just before mention is made of Moses hearing the voice of God from within the tabernacle. Chapter 8 & 9 are fairly repetitive from Leviticus. They discuss the setting apart of the Levites and the celebration of the Passover. An interesting question is brought up. Since the Passover is only once per year, do those who are unavoidably 'unclean' at that time have to miss it? Moses' seeks God's reply to this concerned question. God declares that those in such a situation can, indeed, still celebrate the Passover. At the end of chapter 9 we are told once again about the cloud over the tabernacle and it's guidance in terms of when the Israelites were to travel.

The beginning of chapter 10 shows how trumpets were used to organize assemblies. If 2 trumpet blasts were blown, everyone was to assemble. If only 1 blast was made, just the tribal leaders were to assemble.