Demons - according to the bible

1. Demons… according tothe Bible… 2nd
December 2015
“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world
astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him” (Revelation 12:9).
What is the purpose of demons? Just as God's angels aresent to praiseHimand aid believers,Satan and his
demons arebent on the besmirchingof God's name in the earth and the destruction and deception of all those
who loveand serve God Demons are fallen angels,as Revelation 12:9 indicates above:“Satan’s fall fromheaven is
symbolically described in Isaiah 14:12–13, “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will
ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of
assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon” We can learn more in Ezekiel 28:14–15,”You were anointed
as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery
stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you”.
When he fell,Satan took some of the angels with him—one third of them, accordingto Revelation 12 and Jude 6
also mentions angels who sinned. Therefore, biblically,demons are fallen angels who,alongwith Satan, choseto
rebel againstGod.
We can read in Jude 1 that it says someof the demons are already locked in darkness,bound with everlasting
chains for their sin:“And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper
dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day”(Jude
1:6). Others arefree to roam and are referred to as “the powers of this dark world and . . . the spiritual forces of
evil in the heavenly realms”in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realm”. We can also learn thatJesus through His death on the cross triumphingover them. “And having
disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”
Colossians 2:15). The bibletells us that the demons still follow Satan as their leader and do battle with the holy
angels in an attempt to thwart God’s plan and hinder God’s people by bringingforth evil on us.
Demons, as spiritbeings,havethe ability to take possession of a physical body. We know this as Demonic
possession which occurswhen a person’s body is completely controlled by a demon. This cannot happen to a child
of God, sincethe Holy Spiritresides in the heart of the believer in Christ: “You, dear children, are from God and
have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world”(1 John 4:4).
Jesus, duringHis earthly ministry,encountered many demons. Through the power of ChristHe drove away those
demons and healed the effected which we can learn in Matthew 8: “Many who were demon-possessed were
brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word” (Matthew 8:16).Jesus’ authority over the demons was
one of the proofs that He was indeed the Son of God we can learn in Luke 11:20, “But if I drive out demons by the
finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you”. The demons who encountered Jesus knew who He
was,and they feared Him which we can clearly seein Matthew 8: “What do you want with us, Son of God?’ [the
demons] shouted. ‘Have you come here to tortureus before the appointed time?’” (Matthew 8:29). The demons
know that their power was shortlived because through the power of Jesus Christeven today we know of many of
God ordained people drivingaway these demons and healingthose affected.
Satan and hisdemons mainmandate isto destroythe workof God and deceive anyone theycan.We
can read of a warningwhenPetertellsus:“Bealert and of sober mind.Yourenemy the devil prowls
aroundlike a roaringlionlookingfor someoneto devour”(1Peter 5:8); We can alsolearnwhenPaul is

2. speakingtothe CorinthiansthatSatanmasqueradesevenasthe angel of lighttoleadpeople astray:
“Andno wonder,for Satan himselfmasqueradesasan angel of light. 15
It is not surprising,then,ifhis
servants also masqueradeas servants ofrighteousness.Their end will be whattheir actions deserve.2
Corinthians11:14–15). The demonsare describedasevil orimpure spiritsandJesusgave authorityto
His disciplestodrive themaway: “Jesuscalledhistwelve disciplesto himand gave them authorityto
drive out impurespiritsand to heal every disease andsickness” (Matthew 10:1). AsChristianswe can
learnthat Satandescribedasthe lord of thisage - due tothe multitude whoare followinghisways
because hisdemonsdeceive the world byblindingthemfromknowingthe true gloryof JesusChrist:
“The godof this age hasblindedthe mindsof unbelievers,so that they cannotsee the lightof the
gospel that displaysthe gloryof Christ,who isthe imageof God. (2 Corinthians4:4).
For thispurpose the devil andhisentourage promulgate falsedoctrine whichwe canlearnin 1 Timothy
4:1, “The Spiritclearly saysthat in later times some will abandonthefaith andfollowdeceivingspirits
and thingstaughtby demons”.Inthe same contexttheypromote attackof Christians bothmentally
and physicallythroughhardshipandassuch Peterwarnsus: “Be alert andof sober mind.Your enemy
the devil prowlsaroundlike a roaringlionlookingfor someoneto devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or
Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to
the earth, and his angels with him” (Revelation 12:9).
The demons are powerful, and the Bible indicates that any human being who
trifles with them is entering foolish and dangerous territory (2 Peter 2:10-12; Acts
19:13-16). However, though thedemons/fallen angels are enemies of God and
humanity, they are defeated enemies. Satan may be the prince of this world, but
greater is He who is in us than thosewho arein the world (Ephesians 2:2; 1 John
4:4).