Great Doctrines of the Bible
Lesson 29
Demonology

Introduction
Rationalistic critics and deniers of the supernatural have always scorned the concept of the existence of demons and demon possession. Some have claimed that Christ’s expulsions of demons were merely symbols of His triumph over evil. Others teach that Christ simply accommodated some who were bound by religious superstition.

Today, in contrast, demon influence and possession have been attested to and witnessed by hundreds of missionaries working in pagan areas where demon worship has been a way of life for centuries. In America and other more civilized countries, demon activity is evident from such things as hideous crimes, evil, unnatural, immoral, beastly practices, religious bedlam, the rise of false religions and religious teachers and the phenomenal interest in horoscopes, fortune telling, witchcraft, mediums and occult religions.

To deny the existence of demons is to question the authority of scripture, the deity of Christ and the integrity of the apostles. In this lesson, therefore, it is our purpose to set forth not only the fact of their existence but the vastness of their number, the scope of their strength to resist them and their eventual doom.

Importance of this Lesson

• An amazing fact is that millions of Christians seem utterly unaware of their constant warfare with a vast army and variety of evil spirits under Satan’s control. Depressions, discouragement and many sad defeats in the lives of Christians are due to demon influence.
• How important it is, therefore, if we are to fight the battle of the Lord and live victoriously, that we understand and recognize that we “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (heavens)” (Ephesians 6:12).
• We cannot begin to comprehend the moral corruption, religious confusion, widespread apostasy or fiendish crimes of our day without the proper understanding of the existence, number and nature of demons.
• We cannot, therefore, over-emphasize the importance of this lesson. Study it carefully and prayerfully. Our prayer is that it will help you to clothe yourself with the whole armor of God “that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

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The Lesson

I. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT DEMONS EXIST?

1. The existence and activity of demons is recognized in both the Old and New Testaments.
   1. In the Old Testament:
      1. Israel provoked God by sacrificing to demons (Psalm 106:37; Deuteronomy 32:17).
      2. Demon worship existed then as now (1 Corinthians 10:20), and was condemned and forbidden by God (Leviticus 17:7).
      3. Moses warned Israel against divination, witches, and mediums (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
   2. In the New Testament:
      1. Assumes their existence (James 2:19).
      2. Describes their nature (Luke 4:33; 6:18).
      3. Considered to be evil and unclean (Matthew 12:45).
      4. Recognized as Satan’s emissaries (Matthew 12:26-27).
      5. Claims they are numerous (Mark 5:9), unclean (Mark 1:23), fierce, violent and powerful (Mark 5:3-5).
      6. Subject to the power of Christ (Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:23-25), and are eternally doomed with Satan (Matthew 8:29; 25:41).
         ¨ The word “devil” in the King James Version should rightly be translated “demon.”
2. The authority of scripture: either Satan and his vast army of evil spirits exist or much of the Bible is mere legend or pure myth.
3. Evidence from the history of religion: archaeological findings in many ancient lands are filled with demonic phenomenon. A study of many religions from their origin reveals that belief in Satan and demons is worldwide.
4. Evidence from human experience: Ephesians 2:2-4 teaches that Satan and evil spirits work in the minds and hearts of unbelievers causing them to give way to the lustful desires of the flesh. From the sensual orgies of Greek and Roman culture to the drug addiction, homosexuality, atrocious crimes and devil worship of today, it is evident that human beings are controlled by evil powers.
5. The Deity of Christ: He addressed and cast out demons.

II. WHAT IS THEIR ORIGIN

1. It must be admitted that scripture does not give us a precise answer as to their origin
2. Consequently, good Bible scholars disagree concerning this.
3. Some theories concerning their origin:
   1. They are the disembodied spirits of a pre-Adamic race. We must reject this idea for two reasons:
      1. The only known created beings before Adam were angels.
      2. To accept this idea one must accept the idea that a previous, created civilization existed on an original earth which “became without form and void” (Genesis 1:2), and that a vast period of time may have transpired between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. All of this, or course, is pure conjecture.
   2. They are the spirit of the beings born by the ante-diluvian union between fallen angels who left “their first estate” (Jude 6) and women. Since there is no confirmation of this theory in the Bible, it too, must be considered mere speculation.
4. The best and most logical answer is that demons are the great host of angels who followed Lucifer (Satan) in his rebellion against God (Ezekiel 28:14-17; Isaiah 14:12-17).
   1. Revelation 12:7-10 states that when Satan fell he drew a “third part of the stars of heaven with him.” Stars refer to angels (Isaiah 14:13).
   2. Matthew 25:41 says that hell is “prepared for the devil and his angels.”
   3. Angels are said to be spirits or spirit-beings (Psalm 104:4; Hebrews 1:14).
   4. Some fallen angels are confined until the tribulation period (Revelation 9:2-11; 16:14), but an innumerable army of them are today free to operate under Satan’s direction in the air, the spiritual realm or the heavens (Ephesians 2:2; 6:12).

III. HOW NUMEROUS ARE THEY

1. In Mark 5:9 the demon in the man at Gadara said, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” The word “legion” could mean “multitude” or in military sense could refer to 3000 to 5000 foot soldiers and 300 cavalrymen.
2. In Mark 16:9 it states that Christ had cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene.
3. Under Satan, they constitute a kingdom of darkness (Matthew 12:26; Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13), made up of “principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places.”
4. In other words, the Bible teaches that while Satan himself is not omnipresent, his evil emissaries are so vast in number they can operate everywhere in this world, giving him universal power.

IV. WHOM DO THEY OBEY AND WHAT IS THEIR SPHERE OF OPERATION?

1. Without question, Satan is the prince of demons (Matthew 12:24), who rules a kingdom of demons (Matthew 12:26-27), who do his bidding (Ephesians 2:2; Matthew 25:41).
2. As believers, you and I have been raised up to “sit together with Christ in heavenly places” (the heavenlies or spiritual realm) (Ephesians 2:6; 1:3), and it is in this same sphere where demons wage war against Christ and his followers (Ephesians 6:11-13).
   1. Satan, of course, is the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), and as such, rules the legions of evil spirits who occupy the atmosphere.
   2. Satan and his demons seek bodies to dwell in. They are capable of indwelling or controlling human beings and animals and are apparently helpless until they do (Mark 5:2-13; Matthew 4:24; 8:16; 9:32; 12:22; Acts 8:7; 16:16).

V. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS AND NATURE OF DEMONS?

1. They are unclean (morally and spiritually) (Matthew 12:43; Mark 1:23; Luke 6:18).
2. They are wicked (Matthew 12:45) and evil (Acts 19:23-26).
3. They are exceedingly fierce (Matthew 8:28).
4. They are brutal and violent (Luke 9:39-42; Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 5:13).
5. They are cruel, malicious and depraved (Matthew 12:45; 9:33).
6. Satan is a murderer, a liar, a deceiver and false accuser! So are his followers (John 8:44; Revelation 12:9).
7. They are invisible, supernatural spirit beings.
   1. Luke 24:39 – “...a spirit hath not flesh and bones….”
   2. Ephesians 6:12 – “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood….”
8. They are individual personalities having wills, feeling, intellects and self-determination while operating under Satan’s control.
   1. They think, speak and act through a medium or a person (Acts 19:15-16; Mark 5:10; Luke 4:34).
   2. As Satan’s angels, they have Satan’s great wisdom (Ezekiel 28:12-17; 2 Samuel 14:20).
9. They have enormous power (2 Peter 2:11; Psalm 103:20), which is most evident when they possess a human body (Mark 5:9).
10. Together, with Satan, they are the archenemy of Christ, of God and Christians (Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Luke 22:31).

VI. WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF DEMON INFLUENCE AND POWER?

1. In the lives of unbelievers they:
   1. Blind sinners to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4).
   2. Cause them to walk “according to this world” (Ephesians 2:2)
   3. Take possession of men’s minds and bodies and drive them to all manner of wickedness (Mark 5:2-18; Romans 1:24-32; Revelation 9:20-21; Luke 8:36).
   4. Cause some to repudiate “the faith” and adopt a religious asceticism in its place (1 Timothy 4:1-5).
   5. They cause many to become false prophets (1 John 4:1-4), and sow seeds of discord and confusion in Christendom (Matthew 13:38-40).
   6. They can derange the mind, upset the nervous system and produce physical disabilities and sickness unrelated to organic disorders (Matthew 17:14-21; 12:45; 9:32; 12:22).
      • While the power of Satan and demons has always been restricted, it is most evident in the lives of those, who, like Satan, openly disdain and oppose God.
      • The main objective of demons is to destroy peace and harmony and to cause as much anguish, misfortune, anxiety and confusion as possible.
2. In the lives of believers:
   1. Believers can be sifted (Luke 22:31).
   2. Believers are at constant war with them (Ephesians 6:10-18).
   3. They seek to “devour” the believer (1 Peter 5:8).
   4. They can cause physical affliction (2 Corinthians 12:7).
   5. Christians are not to have fellowship with them (1 Corinthians 10:20-21; Leviticus 19:37), and are told to “try the spirits” since they seek to corrupt Christians with false doctrine (1 John 4:1).
   6. While it is doubtful that born again believers can become demon possessed, Christians are still the object of demonic attacks and influence which can cause sickness, mental and nervous disorders, depression, discouragement and immorality. This is why Christians must “resist” (James 4:7); put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11), and be “steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

VII. WHAT IS DEMON POSSESSION AND WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEMON POSSESSION AND DEMON INFLUENCE?

1. While demon possession, witchcraft, divination, sorcery, etc. existed in Old Testament days, we do not know how common or widespread it was. We do know that in Christ’s day demon possession was openly evident and recognized. It is prevalent today in pagan lands where people give themselves to the worship of idols and there is increasing evidence of its existence in America and in other “so called” civilized societies.
2. Evidences of demon possession in the New Testament days:
   1. Acts 8:7 – “For unclean spirits...came out of many...possessed with them….”
   2. Mark 1:32 – They brought those who were possessed with demons.
   3. Matthew 4:24; 8:16 – Those possessed were healed by Christ.
   4. Matthew 9:32 – They brought to Christ a dumb man possessed with a demon.
   5. Matthew 12:24-30 – Christ is accused of casting out demons by Beelzebub.
   6. Acts 16:16-18 – Paul confronts a demon possessed maid.
3. What is demon possession?
   1. Anywhere from one to a great number of evil spirits enter and take complete possession of a human body and mind.
   2. There is immediate evidence of a totally different personality as the victim’s body becomes the means for the demons to express their thoughts, words and acts.
   3. The demon may speak through the victim in an entirely different voice and often in a different language.
   4. The victim is not insane, he is simply controlled by a different personality.
   5. The results of demon possession vary greatly. Supernatural strength (Mark 5:4) and wisdom (Mark 1:23-24) might be evident along with extreme depression, melancholy, idiocy, maliciousness and moral depravity.
   6. One common characteristic is the opposition to Jesus Christ (Mark 1:24; 1 John 4:1-4).
4. What is the difference between demon possession and demon influence?
   1. No one on this earth is totally free from satanic and demonic attacks (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 John 4:1-4).
   2. In demon possession a person’s body is inhabited and his entire personality and mind are taken over.
   3. Demon influence is the exertion of power over a person short of possession.
      The severity of demon influence varies greatly in both Christians and unbelievers, from mild temptation and evil suggestion to cruel depression. When temptations and evil suggestions are yielded to, demon influence increases greatly.
   4. Demon influence can blind men to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4), cause men to lie (Acts 5:3), generate doctrinal corruption (1 John 4:1-4) and total apostasy (1 Timothy 4:1) and can produce corrupt practices (1 Corinthians 10:16-22).
      • Demons can afflict fallen man only to the extent that he willingly disobeys God’s moral law (Exodus 20:3-5). Whenever God’s laws are ignored or spurned, divine restraint is removed and harsh demon influence brings man down to depravity (2 Peter 2:10-12; Romans 1:24-32).

VIII. THE DESTINY OF DEMONS

1. They know their doom is settled (Matthew 8:29).
2. They recognize Christ’s authority and power to destroy them.
3. The word “deep” in Luke 8:31 is the same as the “abyss” or bottomless pit in Revelation 20:1-3.
4. They will be confined to this bottomless pit during the millennium after which they are apparently “loosed out of their prison” for a short time and then they are confined to “the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:10) for eternity.

IX. WHAT RESOURCES DO CHRISTIANS HAVE TO OVERCOME DEMON INFLUENCE AND TO CAST OUT DEMONS TODAY?

1. While some missionaries testify that they have witnessed converts lapse back into demon possession, it is my opinion that such converts were not truly born again. It is my judgment that though Christians can be severely attacked by demons they cannot be possessed. Why?
   1. The bodies of believers are “the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19; 3:16).
   2. The Spirit within Christians is greater than the spirit in this world (1 John 4:4).
   3. We have been delivered from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13; 2:15; Acts 26:18).
   4. We have an interceding high priest who will not allow us to fail (1 Corinthians 10:13; Jude 14; 1 John 2:1).
2. Remember that Christ, whose authority over demons is absolute (Mark 1:24; 5:6-13), lives within every believer (Galatians 2:20), giving us constant access to His unlimited power (2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 1:19-20, 3:20, 6:10; Philippians 3:10).
3. Christians are exhorted to “put on the whole armor of God” so that by prayer and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Satan can be resisted and quenched (Ephesians 6:11-18; James 4:7; 1 John 4:4; Philippians 4:13; Matthew 17:21).
   • If we have power to defeat Satan, the prince, we surely can overcome his emissaries!
4. Christ cast out demons readily by His own power (Matthew 4:24; 8:16; 9:32; 12:22). He granted authority to His apostles to cast out demons (Mark 3:14-15; Matthew 10:8). He gave the seventy power over demons (Luke 10:17). Paul exercised power to cast out demons in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:6-11; 16:18).
   1. It is, therefore, logical to assume that Christians today possess and have access to power by which demons are controlled and cast out (Philippians 4:13; 1 John 4:4).
   2. It must be remembered that Christ alone can save and deliver; therefore, all efforts to overcome and exorcise demons must be done in His name (Acts 16:18).
   3. We can overcome Satan today by faith (Ephesians 6:16), by resisting him (James 4:7), by the blood of Jesus and our testimony (Revelation 12:11), and by the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:4).
   4. However, when it comes to casting demons out of others, much caution should be exercised. Never attempt it lightly lest you be attacked by the demon himself. Always seek the help of other believers and give yourself to much prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21).

Conclusion

• God is still sovereign! Demons and Satan cannot thwart His eternal purposes.
• God uses demons to punish the ungodly (Psalm 78:49; 1 Kings 22:23).
• God uses demons to chasten the godly (Luke 22:31).

Why here on this earth? Because it is here where God has chosen to enact the tremendous drama of our redemption. It is here that God allows demons to demonstrate to the universe the nature and end of evil. In their eternal doom, He justifies His forbearance and reveals His inevitable judgment upon evil.

Examination

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