Demons

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." (I Timothy 4: 1 NIV)

Today there is much misunderstanding and false teaching, not only coming from demons, and from demon inspiration, but also much false teaching about demons (or "devils" often in the KJV). The bible, however, is not the reason for this misunderstanding, for it says much about demons and demonology.

Luke spoke of Jesus casting out "a demon, an evil spirit," (Luke 4: 33 NIV), showing they are the same entity. There is, in the bible, no good demon, for all demons are "evil spirits," there never being any such thing as "good ghosts," although this was contrary to Greek thought. To the Christian, however, it is an oxymoron to say "good demon."

The Greeks, like Socrates, actually sought possession of the various demon gods, and they religously sought their help and their wisdom, and adopted them as their guides in life. Demons were therefore good to have and contact with them was regularly encouraged.

"They sacrificed to demons, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear." (Deuteronomy 32: 17 NIV)

"They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons." (Psalm 106: 37 NIV)

Who are the demons? Are they fallen angels? Or some other order of wicked spirits? The above two verses are the two chief ones from the Old Testament on the subject of demons, and they are cited and alluded to in the New Testament. Before we answer these questions from the scriptures, let us notice these words, again from Paul.

"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons...No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons." (I Corinthians 10: 21, 30 NIV)

Here Paul contrasts the practice of "The Lord's Supper," or "Eucharistic feast," with the pagan religious suppers that were widely practiced among the Gentiles, among the Greeks and the Romans, among those who believed in "many" idol "gods" and "lords." (I Corinthians 8: 5 KJV)

The pagan religious suppers and feasts were often practiced in the name of a particular Roman or Greek deity. In these religious suppers, the participants would regularly invoke the name of the deity, and seek his or her possession and his or her manifested presence, the food and drink being an integral part of these religious suppers. Often the participants would become intoxicated with wine or other strong drink, or drugged with some narcotic, and these were viewed as sacred means of contacting or "becoming one with" or "communing with" the demon or idol god.

The heathens used sacred "cups" for their "drink offerings" to the various deities. The Christians also had their sacred "cup," used in their practice of keeping the Lord's Supper. The pagans had their sacred "tables," being the "table" dedicated to the particular demon and to the feast in his or her honor. The pagans also had their "sacrifices" as part of the "feast," it being what we might call today a "religious barbeque."

Peter alluded to these pagan religious feasts, and of their rites and ceremonies, in these words:

"For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles (heathen or pagans), having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries." (I Peter 4: 3 New American Standard Bible)

Wine was used in the Passover and in the Lord's Supper. So also was wine used in the pagan religious suppers. The difference was that the Christians were not to drink to intoxicate themselves, but rather to drink in memorial of the death and resurrection of Christ, in remembrance of his body and blood, the means of redemption, and in recognition of him being the "bread of life."

Apparently the Corinthians, to whom Paul wrote, were mostly Christians converted from Greek and Roman polytheism and from paganism, had not completely divorced themselves from their former idolatrous practices. They were turning the Lord's Supper into a pagan ritual, attempting a synthesis of the two anti-thetical systems. Many throughout the history of the church have attempted to do likewise.

These "demons" were both "lords" and "gods," as both Moses and Paul testified. They are also identified with the "idols" of the polytheistic nations, or those who believed in a pyramid model of deity or "divine power," in a heirarchy of "gods" and "goddesses."

From the ancient writings of both the Jews and the heathens, the demons are almost univerally believed to be the "spirits of dead men," particularly those who were, on earth, "great men," or "men of power," or who were "heroes" or "men of renown."

They are not equated with the "fallen angels," as some suppose. This was not the general view of the early church fathers, who almost universally believed the demons to be the spirits of the wicked dead, particularly those who were powerfully wicked in life. A more careful reading of scripture on this topic will bear out this ancient definition of what or who are demons? They are identified, in both scripture and ancient pagan tradition, to be "disembodied spirits," and who, after death, desire to yet be "clothed" or "housed" with or in a human body again.

With this background, now let us read what the gospels tell us about demons and demonology, and how Jesus interacted with them, and what he said about them.

"News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them." (Matthew 4: 24 NIV)

"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick." (Matthew 8: 16 NIV)

"While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons." (Matthew 9: 32-34 NIV)

"Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house." (Matthew 12: 22-29 NIV)

"A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."" (Matthew 15: 22 NIV)

"When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."" (Matthew 17: 14-20 NIV)

"He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was." (Mark 1: 34 NIV)

"Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ." (Luke 4: 41 NIV)

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." (James 2: 19 NIV)

"...and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out." (Luke 8: 2 NIV)

"They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him." (Luke 8: 26-39 NIV)

"Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?" (John 10: 20 NIV)

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10: 8 NIV)

"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us." (Mark 9: 38-40 NIV)

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons..." (Mark 16: 17 NIV)

"God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. (One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power." (Acts 19: 11-20 NIV)

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7: 21-23 NIV)

"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'" (Matthew 11: 18 NIV)

These verses do not need as much explanation as they need simply believing. But, let us summarize the leading points from all these historical inspired records.

Demons are disembodied spirits of the wicked dead. Jesus said - "a spirit does not have flesh and bones." (Luke 24: 39 KJV)

Demons are intelligent beings, who can speak, and who can possess an individual, and can cause a transformation in the nervous system, and bring on many ailments, including brain seizures, paralysis, muteness of speech, deafness, blindness, and may also bring extraordinary physical powers to the demon possessed person's body.

Demons believe in the existence and supremacy of Lord God, and of the identity of Christ as the Son of God; However, they do not willingly submit to it nor are they glad of those facts of truth. They tremble before the Almighty, though they have no love for him.

The presence of the kingdom of God in this world was evidenced by a number of things, not the least of which is the casting out of the demons from people. Had this work not been interrupted and postponed, Christ would have continued to cast out every evil spirit, and truly, when he returns, he will finish this work, casting out every evil spirit, including Satan and Anti-Christ, out of this world and into a region of darkness far from this world.

Finally, consider the fact that several of the verses above mention people who were "exorcists" and yet were themselves not servants of God. Some of these "exorcists" found their craft very dangerous! Some of these "exorcists" will try to use the fact that they cast out demons as reason why they should have the right to enter heaven, and yet will be excluded therefrom.

Friend, are you demon possessed? Are you demon led and influenced? Do you believe in the teachings of demons? Then I pray that you are given deliverance in the name of Jesus, the "only name given among men" that can deliver the demon possessed and the demon oppressed.