Possessed

Demon possession is a Bible topic long misunderstood. Skeptics ignore it, believers are curious about it, and Hollywood is obsessed with it. The truth is the Bible says it happened and if you want to believe any part of the Bible you have to believe all scripture (II Timothy 3:16). 

 Those who choose to ignore the Bible’s claims that demon possession legitimately happened have several explanations for their skepticism. They say the word “demon” was used figuratively to personify moral evil or that the term was used by Christ accommodatively because of the superstitions of the day. Perhaps the writers of the Bible themselves fell prey to these superstitions and didn’t realize that those healed were merely victims of some sort of mental or physical illness. Some would be so bold as to question Jesus’ deity by concluding He must have been mistaken about demons. According to them, because no one has seen a demon possessed person in modern times it must not have ever existed.

The truth is demons and demon possessions were real. Jesus indicated that He actually believed in demons (Matthew 17:21) and taught that demon possession is directly related to the power of Satan (Matthew 12:25-30). One cannot pick and choose words of Jesus to believe or ignore and be consistent. Based on my belief in the Bible and our Lord, I must believe also that demons existed in that time. But what are they really?

Some have suggested demons are the spirits of evil dead men, others the offspring of angels and women. Some say they are fallen angels. The Bible indicates that the dead return to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 16:19-31) and reading Genesis 6:2-4 out of context and without proper research of Hebrew terms is the only way to conclude that angels have had children by women. However various scriptures point to fallen angels as a possible identity of demons. II Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 talk about angels that sinned against God. Could it be that the bonds mentioned are not literal bonds for physical beings but spiritual bonds for spiritual beings? Matthew 25:41 talks about everlasting fire reserved for Satan and his angels. It seems plausible that demons are angels who once served God but committed themselves to Satan.

One can understand how the devil and his angels could have once been angels of God, but why would God allow these demons to take control of a man or woman and cause them to harm themselves and others? Luke 11:20 teaches that this was allowed to show God’s power during the time of miracles. When the Bible with its testimony of the power of the Godhead was complete, such miraculous signs were no longer necessary (I Corinthians 13:10). This would mean that demons cannot possess people today (despite what all the exorcism movies say). 

 Satan cannot control us, because God promised that we can overcome any temptation (I Corinthians 10:13). The Bible teaches that Satan influences us through the world which is where his power lies (Ephesians 2:2; II Corinthians 4:4). There is no need for the miraculous casting out of evil spirits today, but there is a need for casting out evil behaviors. Satan cannot control us but he can devour us (I Peter 5:8). Beware his evil influence and choose instead to live for Christ (Galatians 2:20).