THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL: DEMONS

THE ORIGIN OF DEMONS

God originally created all of the angels, some of which later became demons:

All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  (John 1:3)

For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him.  (Colossians 1:16)

THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION AND FALL

Demons were originally like the other angels of God with the same attributes and positions as the good angels described in Chapter Four of this course.  When Satan rebelled against God, a portion of the angels participated in his rebellion.  God cast them out of Heaven, along with Satan.  They were no longer good spiritual beings (angels).  They became evil spiritual beings (demons):

And there was war in Heaven:  Michael and his angels fought against the dragon (Satan); and the dragon fought and his angels.

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in Heaven.

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:  he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.  (Revelation 12:7-9)

If demons are not "fallen" angels, then we have no other Biblical explanation for their existence. Satan cannot create his own forces, because all things were created by God.  There are two

groups of these fallen angels.  One group is actively opposing God and His people on earth. Another is confined in chains:

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to Hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment... (II Peter 2:4)

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.  (Jude 6)

There are confined demons and active demons. The leader of both groups is Satan, who is called the "prince" of devils  (Matthew 12:24).  Hell is prepared for the Devil and his angels.  It will be their final destiny:

Then shall He (Jesus) say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.  (Matthew 25:41)

When Jesus confronted two men possessed by demons, their response was: 

...What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?  art thou come hither to torment us before the time?   (Matthew 8:29)

The demons in the possessed men knew their final destiny was a place of eternal torment.  Since Hell is a place of torment and was prepared for Satan and his angels, then demons must be the fallen angels.

THEIR SPHERE OF ACTIVITY

Throughout the Bible, demons are shown as active on earth.  Since Satan is not omnipresent (present everywhere), he uses demons to do his will and accomplish his purposes throughout the world.  They constitute the "powers of the air"  (Ephesians 2:2) and the "powers of darkness" (Colossians 1:13) and are all under the control of Satan.

THE ATTRIBUTES OF DEMONS

In their original sinless condition, demons, demons had the same attributes as the good angels previously studied. In their present evil state these demons:

Are spirits: Matthew 8:16; Luke 10:17, 20 Can appear visibly: Genesis 3:1; Zechariah 3:1; Matthew 4:9-10 Can speak: Mark 5:9, 12; Luke 8:28; Matthew 8:31 Believe: James 2:19 Exercise their wills: Luke 11:24; 8:32

Demonstrate intelligence: Mark 1:24 Have emotions: Luke 8:28; James 2:19 Have recognition: Acts 19:15 Have supernatural strength: Acts 19:16; Mark 5:3 Have supernatural presence: Daniel 9:21-23 Are eternal: Matthew 25:41 Have their own doctrine: I Timothy 4:1-3 Are evil: Matthew 10:1; Mark 1:27; 3:11

THE NAMES OF DEMONS

Demons are called evil spirits six times and unclean spirits 23 times in the New Testament. They are also called devils (Mark 1:32) and the devil's angels (Matthew 25:41)

THE ORGANIZATION OF DEMON FORCES

Let us review how God organized His angelic host...

For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  All things were created by Him, and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)

Satan is an imitator, not an originator.  He has organized his demons in a structure similar to that of God's forces:

For 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.  (Ephesians 6:12)

Satan has organized his forces into:

Principalities: Satan has apparently divided the world into principalities.  A principality is the territory or jurisdiction of a prince. Satan has placed a prince over each principality.  The prince of the power of Persia is mentioned in Daniel 10.  This is how Satan works on a national level influencing governments and nations.

Powers and rulers of darkness of this world: These two categories of demons are at work in the social, political, and cultural systems of the world.  You will learn about how to deal with these and the spirits over principalities as you study spiritual strategies for overcoming the world in Chapter Fourteen.

Spiritual wickedness in high places: High places in the Old Testament were where worship was carried on.  This is how Satan works in the religious structures of the world.  You will learn more about this in Chapter Twenty as you study about spiritual wickedness in high places.

These organized groups vary in size.  For example, Mary Magdalene had seven demons in her prior to her deliverance. Luke 8:30 mentions  a "legion" of demons.  A legion in the Roman army which ruled at the time of Jesus referred to 6,100 foot soldiers and 726 horsemen!

These organized forces of demons...

Are United:

In  the case of the demon possessed man recorded in Luke 8:30 the demons were united in their purpose, which in this example was possession of the man. The same is true in Matthew 12:45 and in the case of Mary Magdalene who had seven demons (Luke 16:9).  Jesus spoke of the unity of demon powers when He said:

And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?  (Matthew 12:26)

Have Different Degrees Of Wickedness:

This is illustrated by the demon who said he would return with other evil spirits:

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a  man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they enter in and dwell there:  And the last state of that man is worse than the first... (Matthew 12:43-45)

Can Change Their Functions: 

The demon in I Kings 22:21-23 declared he would be a lying spirit.  This indicates he was not one previously for he said "I will be...".

Are Of Different Kinds:

The Bible teaches that man has a body, soul, and spirit. There are three major kinds of demons that attack the body, soul, and spirit of man:

l. Evil or unclean spirits:  They are responsible for immoral acts, unclean thoughts, oppression, possession, depression, and other strategies of Satan which we will study later.  They afflict the mind and the soulish nature of man.  (Matthew 10:1; 12:43; Mark 1:23-26)

2. Spirits of infirmity: These spirits afflict the physical body.  (Luke 13:11)

3. Seducing spirits:  Seducing spirits afflict the mind, soul, and spirit of man, influencing him to believe false doctrines as indicated in I Timothy 4:1.  These spirits seduce people to believe a lie and be damned to eternal punishment.  They are spirits of false doctrine, cults, false Christs, and false teachers.