After you take your final breath, you will be plunged into a very real spiritual realm. It already exists, but you can’t see it now. When you die, I suspect your eyes will be unveiled, and many of your deepest questions will be answered in an instant. Perhaps, in that moment, you’ll know more about angels, Satan, spirits, souls, and demons than anyone left on earth.
A few years ago, I was thinking about what pop culture had fed me about demons. You know, spinning heads, blasphemy, levitating bodies, distorted faces, horns, eyes sunken in, exorcists, and the like. I asked myself, “Is this what demons and demon possession really look like? What do I actually know about demons?” I had to admit that the bulk of my “knowledge” came from these images and speculation. As a result, I set out on a quest to pursue God’s truth.
In this study, we are asking—based on God’s word—what can we know about demons? Not assumption, speculation, movies, and supposed experiences, but facts. For millennia, humans have had what seems to be an insatiable curiosity of the spiritual realm. Perhaps you look forward to when your questions can be fully answered. For now, let’s see what we can learn from God’s word.
We’ve got nine questions about demons, and we will cover the first five in this study:
- What are demons?
- What’s the difference between unclean spirits, evil spirits, and demons?
- What power do demons have?
- How are demons related to illnesses?
- What is demon possession?
As we go about trying to answer these questions using only the Bible, let’s constantly go back to our question: What can we know about demons? You may have heard of an event, or possibly experienced something yourself, that seems to contradict what we learn from the Bible today. But we are on a quest for what God says on the matter. Stick with the study until the end so we can pursue God’s truth together.
1. What are demons?
There are several theories. Some propose demons are the result of angels and humans procreating. Some suggest demons are the spirits of departed humans (in other words, “ghosts”). Another theory claims demons are fallen angels. All theories are worth considering, and some make more sense than others, even with possible biblical reasoning, but so long as we have only God’s word to go by, they will remain theories since the Bible does not explicitly tell us where demons came from.
In New Testament times, it was common to refer to the ruler of the demons as Beelzebub, or Beelzebul. Beelzebub was a Philistine god associated with Baal (which is the root word of his name). He’s also been known as the “Lord of the Flies,” which some believe was a compound derogatory term. First, Beelzebub would be portrayed as excrement, and his worshipers would then be considered “flies.” In New Testament times, he was known as the lord of the demons. When Jesus was accused of casting out demons by the ruler of the demons, Jesus said the ruler of the demons is Satan and, in some sense, equated the demons with Satan.
Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Luke 11:16–20
Although the New Testament provides us with most of what we can know about demons, the Old Testament mentions them on a few occasions as well. Specifically, demons show up in the Old Testament any time people worshiped idols or other gods. For example, when the Israelites were instructed to make their sacrifices to Yahweh—the one, true and living God—instead of other gods, they were told to stop playing the harlot and sacrificing to demons (see Leviticus 17:7). Actually, the word in that passage for demon can also be translated satyr or goat idol, which is why many Satanists and pseudo-Satanists today use goats in their imagery, like the Sigil of Baphomet (the official insignia of the Church of Satan).
Commenting on on the actual sacrifice to other gods, the Bible says this:
They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods;
Deuteronomy 32:16–17
With abominations they provoked Him to anger.
They sacrificed to demons, not to God,
To gods they did not know,
To new gods, new arrivals
That your fathers did not fear.
They worshiped gods that didn’t even exist. Yet that did not mean their sacrifices were spiritually neutral. Satan and his demons accepted such worship. Christians are instructed to worship God and fellowship with other believers around the Lord’s Supper, also known as the Lord’s Table. When Christians dabble in paganism, though, the Bible says they provoke the Lord to jealousy. Here’s what else it says:
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
1 Corinthians 10:14–22
In Matthew 25:41, the Bible says that the devil has “angels.” God has angels, so is the devil the antithesis of God? In short, not at all. When we think of angels, we usually think of very specific spiritual beings. We should remember, however, that the word angel can also generically mean messenger. It’s possible that these devil’s angels are the same ones spoken of in other passages of the Bible, like the stars in Revelation 12:4 and the angels who sinned in 2 Peter 2:4. And it’s also possible that Satan’s messengers are demons.
Either way, Jesus says Satan is, in fact, the ruler of the demons. Anyone who follows the devil (including the demons) is cursed and has an everlasting fire prepared for them (see Matthew 25:41). And the demons know this and fear for that day. No, Satan is not the antithesis of God. By inspiration, James tells us the demons believe in God and shudder (James 2:19). When Jesus approached a demon-possessed man, the demon said to Jesus, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29). Luke tells us:
When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”
Luke 8:28
Not only do the demons fear what God will do with them, but Satan also has a fearful end awaiting him.
Then He [Jesus] will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Matthew 25:41
What are demons? They are spiritual beings who do Satan’s bidding, always trying to thwart God’s plans and escape His wrath, yet doomed to an everlasting fire.
2. What’s the difference between unclean spirits, evil spirits, and demons?
In the vision of Revelation 16:14, the Bible talks about “spirits of demons,” but as far as we can tell, there is no real difference between unclean spirits, evil spirits, and demons. In Luke 8, we encounter the demon-possessed man in the country of the Gadarenes. Verse 27 says he “had demons.” Verse 29 says:
For He [Jesus] had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.
“Demons” and “unclean spirit” are used interchangeably in this passage. Demons are unclean spiritual beings from the evil one, Satan.
3. What power do demons have?
I don’t think we can fully know the power of demons. But the New Testament does provide a glimpse into their strengths and abilities.
When we think of power, we often have one of two concepts in mind: physical strength or that of influence/authority. When demons possessed humans, they had the strength to overpower a person’s body, and it was never for the better. This wasn’t a superpower they could control like a super villain in a movie. Even in the movies, super villains usually have control over themselves and seek their own interests. In the Bible, when someone was possessed by a demon, they lacked self-control and were sick, injured, and vulnerable.
Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.” […] Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
Mark 9:17–27
The demon on this occasion had been overpowering the boy since childhood. It had seized him and thrown him down, where he foamed at the mouth, gnashed his teeth, and became rigid. Additionally, the demon had tried to destroy the child with both water and fire. Jesus knew this demon to be a deaf and mute spirit, so apparently the boy’s hearing and speech impediments were from the demon too. Now some people have used this passage to try to equate demons with conditions like epilepsy. But the demon was causing the epileptic symptoms and was not the illness itself. (More on that in a future point.) On another occasion:
When He [Jesus] had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
Mark 5:2–7
Again, this demon was interested in overpowering and harming its host’s body. Additionally, the demon provided super-human strength to its host. Normal people can’t break chains with their own power. Clearly, demons, at least while possessing humans, have physical strength beyond human ability, and they always desire harm and destruction.
Spiritually, what power do demons have? Not much. Just like Satan, any power they do have is power granted by God Himself. Consider the adversary of Job in Job 1. Before he wreaked havoc in Job’s life, he had to ask permission from God.
In Mark 1:23–28, a demon conversed with Jesus and tried to demand Jesus to “Let us alone!” This, by itself, shows that demons have emotional, cognitive, and communicative abilities. They weren’t simply “forces of nature” or even “forces of Satan.” They had their own emotions and desires and, in this case, wanted Jesus to leave them alone. But as soon as Jesus responded with, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”, the unclean spirit had no choice but to obey. In the same record involving the man who broke chains, demons requested to be sent into a herd of pigs, instead of being tormented by God. In the end, the demons will have no power to escape the judgment reserved for them.
4. How are demons related to illnesses?
I once heard a preacher whom I respect highly say that if a man who is addicted to cigarettes lived in the first century, the people would have said he has a demon. Perhaps they would have, but the preacher went on to say that demons in the New Testament were nothing more than serious illnesses and bad habits. Today we have medical explanations for illnesses and addictions, so we don’t call them demons anymore. Is there any truth to this claim?
It may have been the case that some people in the first century associated all bad habits and illnesses with demons. And, as we have already seen, demons certainly caused dangerous habits and sicknesses. Don’t let this fact escape your notice: The New Testament references demons about eighty times; eleven of those instances make a clear distinction between illnesses and demon possession. For example:
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
Matthew 4:24
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.
Matthew 8:16
Unlike illnesses:
- Demons are intelligent (Mark 1:21–27).
- Demons believe in God (James 2:19).
- Demons are set for punishment (Mark 1:21–27).
- Demons provided humans with super-human strength (the opposite effect of illness; Luke 8:26–35).
Additionally, I would counsel Christians not to equate their or other people’s character flaws with demons. I recently saw a post from a Christian online that said, “Demons don’t always come with horns—sometimes, they manifest as pride, perfectionism, and the fear of being vulnerable.” This kind of thinking reduces the influence of Satan to mere character flaws that can be fixed with a healthy dose of self-help. Satan is much more than someone who rubs you the wrong way (or vice-versa). Satan wants to see you fall into sin and death. He wants you not to just annoy people, but also to take them to the destruction he himself awaits. Satan is a lion who wants to devour you.
5. What is demon possession?
What do pop culture and speculation say about demons and possession? And how much of it is true? Let’s look at four images common in films (and even modern so-called “reality” TV).
- The movies show us demon-possessed people levitating and performing magic. The closest the Bible says about this is when the demon-possessed man in the country of the Gadarenes could not be contained and could break chains. The movies depict demon-possessed folks as having The Force-like magic. Is that true? I don’t know.
- Horror films show us that demon-possessed people are grotesque and disfigured. Is that true? In some cases, that seems to have been true. Demons caused bodily harm and illness, which often scarred and disfigured the body. There’s no biblical reason to believe possession itself disfigured the body, but the effects of possession often did.
- The movies say demons must be exorcised by Roman Catholic priests. True or false? False. In fact, the Bible knows nothing of Roman Catholic priests. Jesus is the first person in Scripture who had the power to cast out demons. Based on the reactions of the folks who saw Him do it, there’s good reason to believe He was the first person in history to be able to do this. I think that was for a specific reason, which we will discuss in the next lesson. After Jesus came on the scene casting out demons,He soon gave that power to His lowly disciples—fishermen and tax collectors, not religiously appointed “holy men.” Jesus’ disciples didn’t rely on “holy water” or wooden crosses to subdue demons. Instead, they used the power of prayer and of Jesus’ name and authority. Later, Jesus gave His power to some other common folks, who marveled, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (Luke 10:17). It was the power and authority of Jesus that subjected the demons, not religious trinkets, relics, or titles. Do not, however, misunderstand this point: The power was not in speaking Jesus’ name out loud. In fact, in Acts 19, some charlatans thought all they had to do to cast out a demon was to mention the name of Jesus and His servants. The demon responded, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” (v. 15). Then, after what I can only imagine to be a maniacal laugh (Is this coming from the influence of Hollywood?), the demon-possessed man attacked the fake exorcists. The power was not in the syllables that form Jesus’ name. The power was in Jesus Himself.
- The movies say demon-possessed people blaspheme God and His messengers. This is completely false. Demons know exactly who God is, what power He has, and who His messengers are. They don’t blaspheme; they tremble! I once saw a sign that said, “If the living knew what the dead know, every person would repent and turn to Jesus.” I think it’s equally true that if humans knew half of what demons know, they wouldn’t be so casual or flippant when speaking of the God of the universe. The demons tremble at the thought of God. That’s one fact the demons get right that we often do not. They never blaspheme God! As we saw in the previous point with the charlatans, when we ourselves are irreverent, the demons see that as an opportunity to pounce!
Movie directors are not out to educate. Their goal is to entertain, and, thereby, make money. Sometimes the truth is not entertaining enough, so film producers exaggerate, invent, and pretend. What, then, is demon possession? It’s when God permitted evil spirits who serve Satan to enter human bodies to control and cause harm. The demons did as much harm as they could until Jesus or one of His servants came around and cast them out. Demon possession was not the same as making a mistake, living in rebellion, or being sick, although it sometimes led to sin, disobedience, or physical affliction. This leads to a great follow-up question: Who can be possessed by demons? We will explore that, as well as three other questions in our next lesson, “What’s so scary about demons?“