TEXT-DEMONS INSIGHTS

What are demons according to the Bible?

Demons are evil/fallen angels who follow Satan instead of God. When Satan was cast out of heaven, the demons fell with him instead of staying in their place as God's ministers of good. Somehow, evil was found in them (Ezekiel 28:15). A description of the fall of Satan and his demons can be found in Revelation 12:9, which says "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." Satan's fall is also shown, symbolically, in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-15.

Revelation 12:4 could perhaps indicate that a third of the angels fell with Satan, but this is not explicitly stated. The sin of the angels is also mentioned in Jude 1:6-7. Because verse 7 compares the angels' sins to the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah (i.e. "pursued unnatural desire") this passage can be interpreted as a reference to those demons who came to earth and engaged in sexual activity with human women, producing the Nephilim (Genesis 6:4).

What is the purpose of demons? Just as God's angels are sent to praise Him and aid believers, Satan and his demons are bent on the besmirching of God's name in the earth and the destruction and deception of all those who love and serve Him (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 4:4, 11:14-15). The Bible calls demons "evil spirits" and "unclean" (Matthew 10:1; Mark 1:27) and asserts that they are indeed the angels of Satan (Revelation 12:9). Satan and his demons also attack Christians (2 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 5:8) and do battle with the holy angels (Revelation 12:4-9). Demons, like the holy angels, are spiritual beings that can sometimes take on physical form (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

The demons are powerful, and the Bible indicates that any human being who trifles with them is entering foolish and dangerous territory (2 Peter 2:10-12; Acts 19:13-16). However, though the demons/fallen angels are enemies of God and humanity, they are defeated enemies. Satan may be the prince of this world, but greater is He who is in us than those who are in the world (Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 4:4).


Who is Satan?

When was the fall of Satan, and how did it happen?

Why did God allow the Satan and the demons to sin?

Why does God allow Satan and the demons to attack us?

Spiritual warfare - What does the Bible say?

Are demons and fallen angels the same thing?

The Bible clearly speaks of demons or evil spirits, but what are they? Are demons fallen angels?

Perhaps the clearest answer can be found in Revelation 12:9: "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." This verse states Satan is the devil and the serpent from Genesis 3. He was thrown down to earth with his "angels." The evil spirits or demons described in the Bible appear to be angels who joined Satan in his rebellion against God.

Another helpful passage is found in Matthew 25:41. Jesus teaches, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Those with the devil are called angels, the same beings called demons or evil spirits in other passages. Therefore, we can conclude demons are fallen angels.

When did these angels "fall"? The timing of their fall is not made exactly clear in the Bible. However, some indications are given. For example, Satan appears in the form of a serpent to Eve in Genesis 3. Since demons are fallen angels who joined Satan when he rebelled, they must have fallen prior to the events in Genesis 3. Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 also mention Satan's fall as a past event.

In fact, it is most likely that this fall occurred shortly before the temptation in the Garden of Eden. Satan would have wasted little time after leaving God's presence to tempt those made in God's image. The best answer is that some angels became demons or fallen angels sometime between God's creation of the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:1 and the temptation in Genesis 3.

During the time of Jesus on earth, much activity took place by demons. Still today, many reports are made of activities by evil spirits. Ephesians 6:12 clearly teaches our battle is against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Demonic spirits will continue to operate during the judgment of the tribulation period as well.

However, demonic activity will be defeated at the return of Christ at the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:17-21). After the 1,000-year millennial kingdom, there will be one final battle at which Christ and those with Him will defeat Satan and those with him for good (Revelation 20). The curse will end and a new heaven and earth will be created where all of God's people will dwell with Him forever.

Who is Satan?

When was the fall of Satan, and how did it happen?

Why doesn't God give fallen angels opportunity to repent?

If God knew the Fall was going to happen – that Satan would rebel and Adam and Eve would sin – why did He create them?

Is there demonic activity in the world today?

It's interesting to go through the Gospels and the book of Acts and look at issues that seemed to be medical or psychiatric problems but that Jesus and the disciples attributed to demonic activity. While we might agree that the man who lived in the tombs at the Gerasenes (Mark 5) was possessed, the mute boy with seizures (Mark 9:14-29) in our eyes appears to suffer from epilepsy. And the man in Matthew 12:22 was diagnosed as demon possessed merely because he was blind and mute. Modern medicine would explain away such things, but strangely enough, Jesus did not correct the people when they attributed medical problems to a demon.

There were other cases that were clearly the result of demonic activity, often because those who were possessed said things they shouldn't have known. A man in a synagogue cried out "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24). Mark 3:11-12 says, "And whenever the unclean spirits saw him [Jesus], they fell down before him and cried out, 'You are the Son of God.' And he strictly ordered them not to make him known." Later, Paul removed a demon from a young girl who had been used by men to make money through her divination (Acts 16:16-18).

Is such demonic activity still going on? If so, to what extent?

Undoubtedly there is demonic activity in the world today. How much, we don't know. Job gives a good idea of what demons can do (Job 1—2). Satan enticed the Sabeans to kill Job's servants and take his oxen and donkeys, and the Chaldeans to take his camels. He sent fire from heaven to kill Job's sheep and shepherds, and a wind to collapse the building Job's children were in, killing them all. When Job's faith stood strong, Satan then caused Job to contract a horrible, painful skin condition.

Daniel gives another glimpse of demonic activity in the world. In Daniel 10:11-14, an angel reveals that his arrival was delayed because of the "prince of Persia," a demon who apparently had great spiritual influence over the nation of Persia. In fact, Paul later goes so far as to call Satan the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). There's no reason to think such authority has been or will be revoked until Satan is bound for a thousand years after the Tribulation (Revelation 20:1-3).

So, we know that demons can instigate violence, financial ruin, illness, and even death. They also have authority to influence nations. But there are some common beliefs that the Bible doesn't endorse.

The Bible does not blame all misfortune on demonic activity. Someone who is plagued by fear does not necessarily have a "spirit of fear." Someone who can't manage money is not necessarily being harassed by a "spirit of poverty." Someone who can't find a spouse is not necessarily being tormented by a "spirit of rejection." While it's possible that a person could be subjected to particular attention by demons, the Bible does not indicate that every hardship is a direct result of spiritual warfare. Our world is broken, and we should expect to experience some of that brokenness in our lives.

On a worldwide scale, while it is possible that demons are guiding human institutions to wreak havoc across the globe, the Bible doesn't indicate that Christians should concentrate on stopping those efforts. In the end times, the entire world will be controlled by demonic activity. This will herald the glorification and victory of Christ. Our time is better spent reaching souls than fighting the Illuminati.

There are two things to remember regarding demonic activity today. The first is that the activity appears to be strongest when we look for it. It is absolute foolishness to seek out demons, and in the Old Testament, such attempts were punishable by stoning (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). Demons are the enemy of God's children and want nothing but harm for us (1 Peter 5:8). Modern-day dalliances include spirit guides, tarot cards, Ouija boards, palm reading, horoscopes, and "ghost hunting." Demons are our enemy (Ephesians 6:12). To seek to associate with them is to invite destruction.

The other thing the Bible is clear about is that God is sovereign over demons and has the power and authority to limit their activity. Job 1 and 2 show that Satan couldn't lay a finger on Job without God's permission. In fact, God can use demonic activity for His purposes—to encourage us to return to Him (1 Corinthians 5:5) or to teach us how to trust Him more completely (2 Corinthians 12:7). We have input, though. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray that God will deliver us from evil—most likely referring directly to Satan. We can ask God to protect us from demonic activity (Matthew 6:13).

The Bible doesn't tell us how to exorcise people or expel demons from places. Nor does it emphasize that we are supposed to. Of greater concern in the New Testament is that we should not allow demonic activity to influence us to reject God's authority over our lives. James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This doesn't refer to a spiritual attack that causes earthly harm, but to temptation to sin. Job, again, is our model for this—"In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong" (Job 1:22). We can't control the spiritual forces; we can only pray for protection and resist the temptation to sin.

The goal of demonic activity is to draw people away from God either by keeping unbelievers from coming to Christ or by leading believers to sin so much their spiritual walk becomes more of a hindrance than an encouragement to others (1 John 5:16). Not every hardship with health, well-being, relationships, and government are demonic in nature, but those that are, are designed to pull us from God. We resist demonic activity when we resolve to follow Christ no matter the distractions.

Why does God allow Satan and the demons to attack us?

If God is all-powerful, why does He allow Satan and his demons to attack us? We are not given all the answers to this question, but Scripture does make certain things clear. First, it is not God's desire for Satan to attack people. Satan attacked Eve in the Garden of Eden in the form of a serpent. Adam and Eve sinned, and all people have become sinful in nature and are likewise open to the temptations of Satan (1 Peter 5:8).

When God does allow Satan or his demons to attack a person, there are reasons for it. Job did not see why God allowed Satan to attack him (Job 1:12), yet God used the situation to thwart Satan's boasts and to bring glory to the Lord.

Sometimes, God allows demonic temptation as a test. Even Jesus was tested through temptation by Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1-10). Jesus, unlike Adam, passed the test. He said "no" to sin and won the victory.

Another reason God might allow Satan or his demons to attack is to build our maturity. Ephesians 6:10-18 speaks of putting on the armor of God to stand against Satan. This requires dependence on God through prayer and the use of the Word of God.

Other times, the Lord allows testing so we can be a comfort to others later. "Blessed be the . . . God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort, too" (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

Even when we have no clear answers to explain why God allows Satan or his demons to attack, we still have the promise of Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." No matter how severe the attack, we know that "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God's intention is always for our good. At times, He allows Satan or his demons to come against us, perhaps to strengthen our faith, to test us, or to prepare us to help others in their time of need. Regardless of the reason, we can stand firm in God's promises, including the promise of 1 John 4:4, "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

We are never abandoned. When Satan or his demons attack, God's help is near. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

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