About Demons: Where they came from, possession, their schemes…

By Elizabeth Prata

Demons are unholy angels. These are the ones who followed satan into rebellion. This occurred sometime between Genesis 1:31 when God declared everything “very good”, and Genesis 3:1 when the serpent was not very good but was the most crafty beast of the field. His fall is described in  Isaiah 14:12–14 and Ezekiel 28:12–18. The ones who didn’t follow satan and remained as God’s servants are the holy angels.

Unholy angels, AKA demons, don’t just destroy humans and oppose God, they also oppose the holy angels. We learn in Jude 1:9 that Michael the archangel was disputing with the devil, arguing about the body of Moses. (Jude 1:9).

Holy angels and unholy angels war with each other too. An angel was dispatched to bring a message to Daniel, but an unholy angel stood in his way for 21 days. He was only overcome when archangel Michael was sent to help, so the angel could go on his way.

So we have seen the unholy angels inciting war in heaven (Revelation 12:7), messing with the activity of the second heaven, and they trouble the earth. They really exist everywhere.

The passage in Matthew 8 is always astonishing when we read it. The passage I’m talking about is about the Gadarene demoniac. Our church elders are preaching through Matthew and we got to the Demoniac passage in Matthew 8:28-34.

Two men were demon possessed, or in biblical terms, “demonized.” That means, as we can see from the text, a demon or demons were literally inside their body. Their biology responded to the demons to the extent that the man screamed, cut his own skin, and broke chains they used to try and bind him. Humans do not have the strength to break iron chains regularly, and they don’t have the desire to live naked among the tombs. This kind of living is what the demons desire, to destroy a man and/or make him unfit for human association.

Not all demons are obviously wild and untamable. Some are seemingly calmer but do their evil through words. We know the demon-possessed slave girl with a spirit of Divination, could speak and think. She earned her master much money. She followed Paul around saying, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” (Acts 16:17b).

In another case, we learn that a “lying spirit” offered to go into the prophet(s) and entice them-

And Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab so that he will go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before Yahweh and said, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You shall entice him and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ (1 Kings 22:20-22).

As a side note, this is why we CANNOT tolerate a confirmed false teacher. They are either demonized(their very body hosting the evil entity) or demon-influenced (externally troubled by a demon, as Paul was), and thus, they are full of lies about God and His people. There is no “eating the meat and spitting the bones.” You’re eating lies and poison.

So demons have various methods they employ. Their total aim and goal is to thwart God’s plans and to destroy God’s people. They also enjoy destroying unsaved people. We know all this because John 10:10 says

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

So far we know that

1. Demons exist
2. Demons used to be holy angels but chose to sin with satan
3. Demons employ various methods to try and thwart God (violent possession, harassing, lying, etc…)
4. Demons can enter a person or even an animal (the pigs)

Can a Christian be demon-possessed? NO. We have the Holy Spirit inside us, and we are sealed with Him as the guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:22). Satan or his minion demons can influence us tempt us like satan did to Jesus in the desert but he cannot enter us.

Here, Tom Pennington answers that question, posed by David Knight of Exposit the Word:

There is so much more to say about demons, of course. This is was just a short introductory piece. Unholy angels are fascinating, the unseen realms, and their doings. But we keep our focus on Jesus. The demons obey Him. They know He is – they called him Son of God in Matthew 28:29). They know their ultimate destination. (Luke 8:31). But Jesus is King. He is in control of heaven, the second heaven (the air), and earth. Someday those evil demons will receive their just punishment. Until then, pray to Jesus alone, but be aware they are in the world attempting to sway you from your walk.

Further resources:

Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached about The Devil and the Fallen Angels. It was a part 2 to a previous sermon called “Good Angels”, and part of his Great Doctrines series. Sadly the recording to “The Devil and the Fallen Angels” is lost. It was synopsized here in an essay, and here in Power Points

Ligonir.org 6-min explanation about demons, or read its transcription.