WHAT OF DEMONS IN OUR TIME?
WHAT OF DEMONS
-- IN OUR TIME? --
JAN LILLEBY
You will not find much of this controversial topic among Christian denominations. Not of any serious outspoken academia. It may come up as a side-theme in sermons and articles every now and then – and it might come up as a hot theme in theological circles, to fuel tough disputes among scholars.
In this article I shall try to deal with it, so that we can get a Biblical overview of this phenomena…demon possession, in particular as found in the Gospels and Acts.
Are these demon-personalities operating in our time, like they did in the time of Jesus and His apostles?
WHERE IN BIBLICAL SCRIPTURE CAN WE FIND IT?
I have taken the liberty to use AI-generated listing of where in the New Testament one have references to demon-possessions. As by quote,
“Demon possession in the New Testament refers to the belief that individuals could be directly influenced or inhabited by evil spirits. Jesus and his followers frequently cast out these demons through exorcism, a central theme utilized in the gospels to demonstrate the Messiah's authority over spiritual darkness.
The most prominent and widely told accounts of demon possession in the New Testament include:
1. The Gerasene Demoniac
Told in Mark 5:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34, and Luke 8:26-39, this is the most detailed account of an exorcism.
The Symptoms: The possessed man lived among the tombs in the region of the Gerasenes, exhibited superhuman strength (he could not be bound with chains), and would cry out and cut himself with stones.
The Exorcism: When Jesus commanded the spirits to leave, they revealed their name is "Legion" because they are many. They begged Jesus to let them enter a herd of nearby pigs, which he did. The pigs then rushed into the sea and drowned, while the man was found fully restored and sane.
2. The Possessed Boy (or the Epileptic Boy)
Recounted in Mark 9:14-29, Matthew 17:14-21, and Luke 9:37-43, this story involves a father bringing his son to Jesus' disciples, who were unable to heal him.
The Symptoms: The spirit often seized the boy, causing him to convulse, foam at the mouth, grind his teeth, and become rigid. The father noted the spirit frequently threw the boy into fire or water to harm him.
The Exorcism: Jesus rebuked the spirit, causing the boy to cry out and convulse one last time. The boy fell limp—appearing dead to onlookers—but Jesus took his hand, lifted him up, and he was completely healed.
3. The Mute and Blind Men
The New Testament records several instances where demons manifested as physical ailments.
Mute Man (Matthew 9:32-34): A man who was unable to speak due to demonic influence had the demon cast out by Jesus, after which he immediately began speaking.
Blind and Mute Man (Matthew 12:22-30): An individual who was both blind and unable to speak was healed by Jesus, prompting the crowds to marvel. This led to accusations from the Pharisees that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul.
4. Mary Magdalene
The Account (Luke 8:2): Mary Magdalene is noted in the gospels as a dedicated follower of Jesus. The text specifically mentions that she was healed of possession by seven demons.
5. The Slave Girl in Philippi
Recorded in the Book of Acts, Acts 16:16-18:
The Symptoms: A servant girl was possessed by a spirit that enabled her to predict the future (a spirit of divination). This ability made a lot of money for her owners.
The Exorcism: The spirit caused her to follow the Apostle Paul and his companions around, shouting that they were servants of God. Annoyed by this, Paul commanded the spirit in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her, and it left her that very hour.”
WHAT ARE THOSE ENTITIES,
AND WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
Definition. “Demon possession” is a term frequently used to translate the Greek term daimonizomai in the New Testament.
In ancient texts, such as the non-canonical Book of Enoch, demons are explicitly described as the disembodied, restless spirits of the dead Nephilim. Children of the perverted/forbidden intercource between fallen angels and regular women. The children grew up to become huge ‘hybrids’ men of incredible body size. Book of Enoch describes these hybrids as very evil-minded and murderous ‘creatures’ – for which God decided to kill them by sending the flood of Noah. There exist several archeological excavations of skeletons of such huge Nephilim, and images taken. Go on the Internet for your own search if you prefer.
Nephilim – seen in O. T. Scripture (Gen. 6:1-4) – can be listed:
The Nephilim were the giant offspring of "sons of God" (often interpreted as fallen angels) and human women.
When the Nephilim were killed in physical battles and the Great Flood, their bodies perished, but their spiritual essence survived.
Because they were a hybrid of divine and earthly nature, they could not go to the human afterlife or heaven, nor could they rest.
Condemned to wander the earth, these restless spirits are what are known today as demons. Or often translated as ‘Evil spirits’.
Why They Are Restless
Because they once had physical bodies, the spirits of the Nephilim are portrayed as desperate to experience the physical realm again. This ancient belief is why many early texts describe demons as hostile entities that seek to possess living hosts.
Modern Theological Views
While this origin is deeply rooted in ancient Jewish and early Christian traditions, modern mainstream theology is divided:
The Book of Enoch view: Demons are the spirits of the dead giants.
The Fallen Angel view: Many mainline traditions view demons simply as the original fallen angels who rebelled against God alongside Satan, rather than the souls of the dead Nephilim.
My personal view on this is that Enoch’s Book is correct: the hybrid human ‘creatures’ were the offspring from intercourse of fallen angels with human women.
This whole thing – demons, evil spirits - seem to have been avoided what concerns eventual teaching among Christian fellowships. Neither can we find any specific doctrine of apostolic N. T. authority, including Paul, which put light on these things. Paul however, did touch slightly in on it, in 1 Cor. 12:10, NASB,
“…and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.”
In apostolic times, there was one special Holy Spirit gift: the discernment/distinguishing of evil spirits, and the casting out of them from possessed people.
But neither Paul nor Peter or any other writer of Scripture do teach on what’s and why’s and how-to’s. This gift of discernment of demons was one out of nine spiritual gifts in Acts time. Like the other eight gifts, it was only operative through the apostles, and never among regular church-members.
In other words, the operation of that power-gift…to cast out demons, was only kept in the smallest of circles, namely the apostles ONLY, plus Stephen and Philip.
Acts 19:13-16, NASB, gives us an example of this strict policy of the Holy Spirit, in that some sons of a Jewish chief priest Sceva, seven in numbers, were overwhelmed and seriously hurt by the demon possessed man as they tried to do exorcism to him,
“13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."
14 Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"
16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
This tells us at least three things worthy of notice: ONE: Only believers in Christ chosen by Him as apostles or co-workers of them, can ever cast out demons. TWO: Demons obviously make the possessed person stronger in body and muscles, and thus capable of even take down seven men. The demon ‘overpowered’ the seven Jewish men. THREE: It seems like demons cannot themselves ‘jump out of a body’ by own will, or pick-and-choose to leave one person for to possess another person. When they are cast out by one who has the Holy Spirit and that special gift of discernment, God’s power grabbed the demon, and threw it back down to where he had come from. It still translates in our minds as mysterious phenomena.
In the case of Jesus and the possessed man in the Gerasene district (mentioned early in this article), the demon in him begged Jesus for PERMISSION to flee into one (or several) of the pigs which were there. And Jesus allowed it, so the flock of pigs threw themselves into the water and drowned. God was the boss in this situation, represented by His Son, Jesus. God has the overruling power over ALL EVIL ENTITIES, whether demons, fallen angels, Nephilim, evil-minded armies (for instance, the Romans), as well as His own goodhearted obedient angels and servants among humankind.
Nobody can just by his own private power or initiative go on for to ‘cast out demons’ in our time.
I shall tell you why.
THE WHOLE DEMON SCENARIO IN N.T.
WAS RIGGED BY GOD FOR A DEMONSTRATION
OF HIS POWER OVER SATAN
What do you mean….rigged???
God allowed for certain demons to appear – including those men or women who was possessed, and in public get cast out, leaving the poor possessed ones FREE of the power of Satan…thus casting glory on Jesus and His Father on high!
It is found precedence in N.T. for the practice of God to let something bad happen to certain people, so to make a scenario in which He let the recovering from such bad incidents become glorifying of God for His immense grace and power. The incident of Lazarus is such an example. Jesus knew he was ill, and yet He deliberately tarried, and did not come to him while he still was alive. He wanted the audience to learn how He was given His Fathers authority over death and disease – thus the glory became evident as He raised Lazarus from the dead! This is a glorious and marvelous testimony to God and His beloved son Jesus Christ! As it was with Lazarus and Jesus tarrying, so it was also with the poor demon possessed persons described in N.T. They suffered while being possessed, but they GREATLY REJOYCED when the mighty Son of God – Jesus and His apostles sat them free!! Just think of Mary Magdalene…!! You will get tears in your eyes as you realize how greatly Jesus freed her from the evil spirits. Think of Lazarus…coming out of the tomb, alive!! Glory to God and His Son Jesus Christ.
God just set this stage, and it lasted in the very time of Jesus’ earthly ministry until the end of the apostles’ ministries told in Acts, a time span of slightly 34-37 years, 25 – 60-62 CE. The apostles went into ministry in the same year as the crucifixion, 28 CE.
After this time of the apostles, God ‘rigged down’ His entire set-up, leaving no demons allowed to possess any human being again. The miracles gift were entirely suspended due to the falling away of Israel as the nation of God, Acts 28:28. These Holy Spirit gifts were only given to the Jewish apostles of Jesus Christ for demonstration to Israel of the divine ministry of Jesus as the Messiah.
Peter’s testimony of Christ and His power to set people free is very clear, Acts 10:38, NASB,
"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
And I have already listed above the miracles in which it concerns the horrible thing of demon-possessions seen in N.T. Scripture. Those are what Peter pointed to in his addressing the guests in Cornelius’ house, as well as the other marvelous healing miracles of Jesus in ministry.
If anyone in our time tries to perform with ‘Holy Spirit miracles’ – that person is committing fraud, and thus he must be classified as a liar and a hoax.
DEMONS IN OUR TIMES – WHERE ARE THEY?
There are no demon possessed persons on earth today. However, there are hordes of regular sick people on earth today. But in the lack of, and the absence of miracle healing gifts, we have by God’s mercy gotten a very skilled and refined culture of competent surgeons and doctors to help us get well from infirmities and diseases. God did not leave us to ourselves regarding our personal welfare. He saw to it, that over the centuries we got hold of real efficient medical knowledge and means to make people well. Doctors cannot perform miracles, like that of the apostles. But they can make a whole lot of repairs with human bodies, to help them recover.
I just finished a series of repairs regarding my teeth. I go to a very skilled and professional competent dentist. So, I have a fresh reminder of the facts written above: doctors, dentists, surgeons and diverse specialists are skillful helpers and ‘repair men’ regarding infirmities we might get.
But in the eyes of God and Christ, regarding miracle healings and casting out of demons in our time; no can do!!
WHAT OF THE EVIL POWERS TOLD IN EPH. 6?
I opened this article by pointing out the Greek word which the translators have used for demons or evil spirits, daimonizomai.
When going to Ephesians 6, the chapter which tells of certain evil powers and authorities, Paul did not use that word. He does not point to demons, but to the powers of Satan, the fallen angels. Fallen angels are just angels, and they have a super-natural body type. But demons, they are without any own body, whether earthly or heavenly. Thus demons seek for a body to invade and dominate. But obviously cannot do in our time. God has shut the door for any demon whatsoever to invade any human being on earth after the times of the apostles of Christ.
Therefore it is found – in Eph. 6, exhortation from Paul as to how to make defenses up against those powers, Satan and his hordes of fallen angels – the rulers and evil spiritual entities, Eph. 6:10-20, NASB,
“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
I have emphasized the four first verses, because there we have these evil unseen powers, which we have to meet with our defense ‘weapons’ – which Paul describes in the chapter.
DEMONS OR NO DEMONS: Verse 11 say that it’s all about ‘the schemes of the devil’ – which is to say to us that the devil has attack-plans with which he tries to hurt us.
Verse 12 say firmly that our struggle is not actually coming from humans, but from …the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. In Strong’s Greek Lexicon, the word used is ponéros, no. 4189, and it can mean both ‘forces of wickedness’ AND ‘forces of Iniquity” – but Paul used no words for demons (Greek, daimonizomai).
The wicked fallen angels which is now – as I write this – still out there in the outer space (heavenly places may also mean a physical abode in universe) – it is not the Super-Heaven in which we find Christ sitting at the right hand of God. Fallen angels are not let into that heaven, but they are found in another sphere which we can call for ‘heaven’.
In Rev. 9 we see something new, and this will happen during the Great Tribulation, namely – there will appear physical ‘demon like’ monsters which will scare the shit out of people (pardon my language) – with a look which we cannot really comprehend, and they will cause unbearable pain and fear, it is my impression that these monsters must be of some size – maybe the size of a human, Rev. 9:3-11, NASB,
“3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
5 And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.
6 And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.
7 The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
8 They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.
9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle.
10 They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months.
11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.”
This will happen while the two witnesses in Rev. 11 are on earth, prophesying in Israel. Probably the witnesses will warn the people of Israel so they can seek shelter for these demon like monsters from the outer space (Abyss). They have a fallen angel of Satan ruling over them, called king in verse 11, by the name Abaddon in Hebrew, and Apollyon in Greek. This reminds us of the angelic ruler over Persia who struggled with Gabriel to stop him to come to Daniel, Dan. 10:13.
They seem to be a horrible monstrous hybrid of a man and Lion and Locust, and have hair like women and wear a crown on their heads. And the scariest weapon: they have large scorpion tails and shall sting men for five months. They are not permitted to kill anyone, but the pain they cause will drive the victims to seek suicide, but they are refused death! They shall sting everyone who has not the Seal of God in their foreheads – which refers to the 144 000 Jewish tribal evangelists in Rev. 7 and 14.
What a hell on earth there will be inside Israel in the Great Tribulation.
So, God will allow for satanic and demonic plagues to punish Israel and force them to call upon Jesus Christ for salvation. But in the days of the apostles, God had seen to it that demon-possessed people was around, so He could demonstrate His divine healing power to the people, and they praised God and Christ for such deliverance! In the Great Tribulation there shall be no healing, but a lot of plagues, pain and fear.
Rev. 12:7-9, NASB, tells of Michael as he, God’s archangel for Israel, grabs Satan and his armies of fallen angels, and CAST THEM DOWN ON EARTH,
“7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war,
8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
Even such a powerful servant of God Almighty, Michael, has struggle with Satan and his forces, thus this encounter in space is called for a war. A war between Satan and Michael, involving their armies. And Michael wins.
Such angelic wars is nothing new in Bible history: Gabriel, the messenger of God who came to Daniel to explain to him visions of prophetic contents, was resisted and fought against by a fallen angel, who presided over Persia, but Michael came to Gabriel’s rescue and won over that fallen angel and his armies. Gabriel then was free to visit Daniel and explain these important Messianic visions, like I told above ( Dan. 10:13).
Gabriel was delayed for 21 days by a demonic entity known as the "prince of the kingdom of Persia". Gabriel was unable to pass until the archangel Michael came to assist him in the fight.
Do we – the church, the ‘One New Man’ in Christ by faith alone, no works, receive any super-natural help and freedom-raids by angelic forces?
I do personally believe that we may receive such help, if God sees fit to grant us this. I have heard of several incidents that cannot be explained rationally as any other thing than ‘Angelic help’. Paul’s words of angels coming for to assist us who shall inherit salvation, may as well be an inter-dispensational doctrine, even valid in this time of the Grace-dispensation. It can seem like that.
My late sister Ruth, she told me of an incident…where she fell down a staircase in her home. She could have been seriously hurt, but as she was about to hit the lower steps…all of a sudden she felt the touch of hands grabbing her waist, and gently let her down as if this was not a fall. The natural forces of gravity were overruled by God’s angel!
But still, Paul urges us to make our own defenses, as he relates his advice to how the Roman soldiers were clad: helmets, breast plates, shields, and battle shoes, etcetera. We are supposed to take on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, the shield of our faith…in short, taking on the entire armor OF GOD to win over all the attacks of the devil. And please notice: Paul urges us to go into prayer and intersession for the good cause of the Gospel as read in verses 18-19. Without our prayers, the armor of God may not fully work as protection. We never can pray too much!
The armor described by Paul here, is but a defensive action. We are not to go on into ‘Spiritual Warfare’ – like maniacs inside Pentecostal and Charismatic communities have propagated over the years. None of us can ever command the devil what to do and not to do. We can only defy him, as we refuse to let any of his evil suggestions get to us.
But I also do believe that in this war-narrative we may receive needed help from God’s angelic forces to be able to get through without too much damages and wounds, both physically and spiritually!
The Christian believers in our times should not go around taken with anxiety and fear of demons and evil entities to attack them. We should go around in faith and trusting the Lord, and also have stored in our remembrance that He is with us, - and He is against the devil and his evil forces.
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