What does the Bible say about demons

"Demon" is the most common term we use, but the Greek word is only used once in the New Testament (Matthew 8:31).

Throughout history, people have vacillated between extremes in beliefs about Satan and demons.

While many people reject that Satan is a personal being, many are still interested in the spiritual and believe in demons. Yet just because individuals believe demons exist does not mean they understand anything about them. We see this phenomenon with people who are interested in a vague spirituality and view demons as purveyors of negativity or discouragement rather than malicious spiritual beings seeking to destroy humanity.

The topic of demons is, by all accounts, fascinating for believers because we have divine revelation that prepares us for spiritual battle with our enemies. Christians believe that God has revealed truth about the demonic realms for our benefit. So here, we will wrap up our series by looking at what Scripture says about demons.

What is the biblical terminology for demons?

"Demon" is the most common term we use, but the Greek word is only used once in the New Testament (Matthew 8:31). Typically, a diminutive form of this term is used to refer to evil spiritual beings. In the Old and New Testaments, this term is linked closely with idolatry, false religions, and their evil practices (Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 106:37; 1 Corinthians 10:19-20; Isaiah 13:21; 34:14; Revelation 18:2). Furthermore, it indicates the kind of terror that comes when God’s judgment falls on a nation or people.

"Fallen angels" is another term used for demons (Genesis 6:1-4, Matthew 25:41, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6). Remember, the devil is a fallen angel, and the text in Matthew’s Gospel indicates there are fallen angels that rebelled against God with him.

We can go further, however, and look at one of the most fascinating texts in the Bible (Genesis 6:1-4). The basic meaning of this text is that sometime between the Fall of humanity by Adam’s disobedience and the Flood of Noah, demonic beings cohabited with human women and entered into relationships with them. The Flood was God’s response against humanity for this sin. Because humanity had rejected God, embraced Satan and the demonic, and desired to be in union with the demonic rather than in union with the Triune God, the Lord destroyed humanity.

What we do not read about in Genesis, though, is God’s response against demons—but we do learn about it in the New Testament (2 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10). When the demons sinned, they were punished, cast into hell, and committed to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment. God has essentially set certain limits as to what demons can do if they want to be free until the final judgment, and these fallen angels transgressed even that line. Jude reiterates these same things, with similar examples. These texts show us God’s condemnation of these fallen angels.

Unclean or evil spirits is another term we see frequently used in Scripture to describe these evil creatures (Matthew 8:16; 10:1; Mark 1:23-27; 9:17-25; Luke 7:21; 10:20). These texts help us understand that demons are spiritual beings without bodies of flesh and blood. They are corrupt and rebellious spirits who defile, pervert, contaminate, and harm.

Another term is "rulers and authorities" (Colossians 2:15). The Apostle Paul gives four titles for demonic hosts—rulers, powers, world forces of this darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies (Ephesians 6:12). When we put these titles with those in Colossians, we see that demons empower this world. They rule over regions and interact with the world, but they exist in heavenly places. We do not see these demonic hoards, but we see their impact. We observe how people are deceived by them, commit evil under their influence, and how individuals and nations make horrible and wicked decisions.

"Prince" is another term for demons (Daniel 10:13). This term refers to a demonic being, and it indicates that Persia was being deceived by this particular demonic force.

All these titles emphasize that demons are wicked spiritual beings who are opposed to God and His people and inflict harm, deception, and terror upon the world.

Scripture also tells us about the origin of demons.

There are many different theories about demons that span culture to culture throughout history. Surveying these cultural beliefs of the origin of demons is very insightful for helping us understand not only Scripture but also modern culture.

In Greek thought, demons were conceived of as powers that governed the circumstances of life—essentially replacing God’s providence. Demons were responsible for sending either health or disease, leading people to make good or bad decisions; therefore, it was often believed to be necessary to seek to establish good relationships with the demonic through various rituals and purification rites as well as uses of various omens.

In Babylon, demons were held to be responsible for misfortunes that overtook men, especially bringing about disease. Out of a desire to control demons, the Mesopotamians named the demonic powers, and they had quite a list of ones they believed existed as well as the kinds of evil they would inflict.

Egypt was very similar, with some religious sects going so far as to worship demons. Our modern horoscopes are derived from popular Egyptian demonology.

All these cultures actually reveal some truths about demons. Demons are real spiritual beings who inflict harm. People feared the demonic and sought to deal with demons through superstitious rites or religious worship. They were literally enslaved to demonic worship because they believed if they did not worship and appease the demons, then they would die horrific deaths. These ancient theories about demons and their origins survive in our superstitions today, seeking to draw us away from the truth. Demons did not come from any of these places the ancients believed. However, they are fallen angels, who were originally created good and fell into wickedness by following Satan.

Scripture tells us about the activities of demons.

Demons seek to establish false religions to enslave men to fear so that they will worship the devil and demons rather than the true and living God. Their main mission is to deceive humanity to bring people into ruin, destruction, and ultimately eternal judgment.

In the Old Testament, we do see the influence of demons on the ungodly nations. Idolatry, human sacrifice, wars, fear, famines, and violence were tools of the evil one and his forces to imprison the Gentiles in unbelief and death. God, through Abraham, launched His counterattack, seeking that His name would be proclaimed throughout the whole earth to bring salvation to humanity. God raised people whom He would use to dispel the darkness.

In the New Testament, God sent His Son to battle with the demonic and declare His name throughout all the earth. Christ’s coming sends demons into a full-blown panic. We see demonic activity in Jesus’ time unlike anything before or since, as they knew exactly who He was and what He was doing. They opposed His work (Mark 1:21-28), caused illness (Luke 13:11), and possessed people to cause suffering (Mark 9:17-18). In short, their activity in the New Testament was to oppose Christ and all He has for His people. They wanted to destroy everything good in God’s creation (Luke 8:26-39).

Scripture also informs us about the destiny of demons.

Some demons are already under punishment, awaiting judgment. The rest roam about the earth, working for Satan to deceive and destroy people. These will suffer eternal punishment in the lake of fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels.

What does the Bible teach that demons can do today?

They can do the same things they have done in the past – deceive, destroy, possess people, influence people’s decisions, tempt, give illnesses to people, and cause disasters. The only exception to this litany of offenses seems to be what they did with humans before the Flood, and God’s punishment appears to have ended that kind of behavior going forward.

We shouldn't expect the same overt demonic activity we read about in the Gospels, but we must still recognize the reality of the demonic. In short, we need to be balanced in our thinking. We don’t look for a demon behind every sneeze or headache. Simultaneously, when we minister to people’s needs and deal with their problems, we must reckon with the reality that their problems may not be merely physical but spiritual, and perhaps there can be demonic forces behind some of their issues.

What about Christians and demons?

Christians cannot be possessed by Satan or demons (1 John 5:18-21). However, we can be influenced by the demonic if we do not fill our minds with the truth of God’s Word and keep out what is evil, as Peter was influenced by Satan when he tried to deter Jesus from His divine mission. Nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded to exorcise demons from people who are demon-possessed. Jesus came to destroy the devil’s works, and the way people are set free from Satan is through the power of the gospel.

Finally, believers do not need to fear the demonic because the One within us is greater than all the demonic powers in the universe (1 John 5:4-5; 5:19). When we overcome the world, we are not simply overcoming human evil or depravity but the one who orchestrates the world’s evil. We need not be afraid of the demonic because of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in whom we trust. He is greater, stronger, and mightier. He has overcome.

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