This post is placed under the Doctrine of God because he sovereignly oversees these evil spirit beings.
Certain modern interpreters of the Bible seem to be embarrassed by the Scriptures about Satan and demons. They therefore try to demythologize the Scriptures below; that is, they try to strip them out of the Bible or explain them away, because they believe they are myths. They have drunk too deeply from anti-supernatural biases embedded in the Enlightenment (c. 1600-1800+).
However, Christians believe in the infallibility and authority of Scripture and therefore interpret these Scriptures, below, as expressing divine truths and reality. Demons and Satan are real.
Let’s first understand the basics from the Bible about Satan and demons, and our victory over them.
I.. Names of the Evil Spirit Being.
A.. Brief intro.
The names vary, but they all express evil and opposition to God’s rule. Cumulatively, these names reveal his evil character or nature and his evil activities.
1.. Satan
It means “adversary.” In Job 1:6 Satan is shown walking into a heavenly council room, with the “sons of God,” who are believed to be angels in this context. So Satan does have access to heaven on some level, accusing us, but Jesus is our Paraclete or our stand-by helper, who intervenes and stops the accusations.
2.. Accuser
In Zechariah 3, the prophet Zechariah got a vision about Joshua the high priest standing before the LORD, and Satan accusing him (Zech. 3:1). Joshua was dressed in dirty clothes, and the LORD put new ones on him. This is an image of what God does for us at salvation. He takes off of us our robe of our unrighteousness and puts on us the robe of righteousness of being in Christ—his righteousness, not ours.
The accuser of the brothers and sisters have been hurled out of heaven, by the salvation, power, and authority that God brought through the Messiah (Rev. 12:10).
3.. Devil
This name literally means “slanderer.”
The Spirit led Jesus to go out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, who slandered Scripture and Jesus’s identity. Jesus passed the temptations with Scripture (Matt. 4:1-11). There is a lesson here for us. We cannot fight the devil with our intellects. Spiritual battles are won with spiritual weapons. We must fill our minds with Scriptures and use them.
Personally I like Ephesians 6:16, which says to raise the shield of faith, which quench the fiery arrows of the enemy. I pray that verse nearly every day. It works!
In heaven Satan is called the devil, the ancient serpent, who leads the whole world astray (Rev. 12:9). This explains why the devil still has authority on earth. He has jurisdiction over unsaved people’s lives.
4.. Deceiver of the whole world
It is his evil work, and he still has jurisdiction over people’s lives because they have not (yet) surrendered to God through Christ (Rev. 12:9). This explains why he is still on the loose and on the prowl. When the last person is called to receive the gospel, then the end of this present age will arrive (Matt. 24:14).
5.. Ancient serpent
This name in Revelation 12:9 refers to the Garden of Eden, when the serpent tempted Eve.
6.. A spirit now at work in the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 2:2 teaches that Satan attacks everyone who is not submitted to Christ through his salvation. Satan was defeated at the cross (Col. 2:13-15), but he still has authority and power and jurisdiction over those areas that have not surrendered to Christ.
7.. Ruler of the kingdom of the air
This title comes from Paul’s statement that Satan rules the air (Eph. 2:2). I don’t take this literally, like oxygen and hydrogen and so on. It means he has jurisdiction and power and authority above humans who live outside of Christ.
8.. Tempter
This name is derived from his activity in tempting Jesus, so he is called the “tempter” (Matt. 4:3).
And Paul calls him by the same name, because he was concerned that persecution would make the Thessalonian new believers fall away from Paul’s gospel (1 Thess. 3:5).
9.. Evil One
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus called Satan the “evil one” (Matt. 6:13). An apt description.
John calls him by the same name when he explains why he is writing his epistle to “fathers,” “children,” and “young men” (1 John 2:13).
10.. Beelzebub
It originally meant Baal-Zebul (“Exalted Baal,” a false god), and the word “Beelzebub” is a mockery of this false god and means “lord of the flies,” taken from a garbage heap, where flies were attracted (Matt. 12:24).
11.. Belial
Second Corinthians 6:15 teaches that this name comes from Hebrew for “scoundrels” or “troublemakers” (belliyya’al) (Deut. 13:13), which was later used for Satan. (2 Cor. 6:15).
12.. The murderer from the beginning
Jesus called him that (John 8:44), and no doubt this refers to Cain, when he killed his brother. Satan inspired him. Wanton death and destruction comes from Satan (John 10:10).
13.. Father of lies
Jesus said the truth is not in Satan, and he speaks his native language—no truth, but falsehoods (John 8:44). “Father” speaks of Satan procreating and leader of lies.
14.. Prince or ruler of this world
John 12:31 says now is the time for the prince of this world to be driven out because Jesus was about to die on the cross. When that happened, Satan’s doom was sealed, but right now, since billions of people have not surrendered their lives to Jesus, Satan still has jurisdiction over them. The real spiritual warfare is won by declaring the gospel and getting as many people saved as possible.
In John 14:30, Jesus says an interesting statement. He says the prince of this world is coming, but he has no hold on Jesus, because Jesus does exactly what his Father has commanded. But what has his Father commanded? His death on the cross. So Satan has a hand in Jesus’s death by evil men, but Satan has lost control over the significance of Jesus’s death—the satisfying the demands of justice by his sacrificial death, his resurrection and ascension and glorification.
15.. Prince of demons
The Pharisees gave the devil this title (Matt. 12:24), but it reflects the truth that Satan leads the demons, so there is a hierarchy of sorts. But the Bible is not clear, about the hierarch, so I personally do not study it or imagine what it is.
16.. God of this age or world
Satan is referred to as a god (2 Cor. 4:4), but it is not what people think. Satan is behind the worship of gods; in fact, they worship Satan. In any case, he has blinded people so they don’t receive the gospel. It takes the Spirit’s power over time to break through this blindness. Never give up praying for and talking to your loved ones who are outside of Christ.
17.. Angel of the Abyss
The abyss is an underworld cavern, which some believe is bottomless (Rev. 9:11). Satan has authority over this, as well. Second Peter 2:4 says fallen angels were not wiped out into nonexistence, but were put in hell to await judgment.
18.. Abaddon or Apollyon
This is a personification of destruction (Rev. 9:11; Prov. 15:11), and Apollyon means “Destroyer.”
19.. Does the word demon appear in the New Testament?
Yes.
The first Greek noun is daimonion (pronounced dy-moh-nee-on), and it appears 63 times from Matthew to Revelation, but mostly in the four Gospels and from there mostly in the three synoptic Gospels.
The other Greek noun is daimōn (pronounced dy-moan), and it appears once (Matt. 8:31).
We actually get our word demon from both of those Greek words.
So the English noun demon does indeed appear in the NT, and so do the two Greek nouns.
B.. Summary
The names are found throughout key verses in the OT, but mostly in the NT, where the revelation about them becomes clearer and fuller.
II.. Origins of Satan
A.. Brief intro.
This time let’s use the question and answer format. Please note that some answers are speculative.
1.. When did Satan become evil?
We can only speculate, based on Bible-based logic and some hints from Scripture.
He sinned from the beginning (1 John 3:8). This suggests that Satan sinned after God created him with the other angels and before the fall of humanity, when he appears as a serpent in the Garden (Gen. 3:1-16). This implies that he is part of the created order, and he was created good because everything was created good (Gen. 1:31), but now Satan and demons are evil. How did this happen?
2.. What was the sin of Satan that caused his downfall?
Here is a speculative answer, based on Bible logic and hints from Scripture.
We can get a glimpse at it from a verse in the NT. Paul says that a new convert should not be promoted too soon because he might get puffed up and incur the condemnation of the devil (1 Tim. 3:6). This implies–merely implies or hints–that Satan was also arrogant and puffed up.
And Jude 6 says angels did not maintain their own position, but left their proper dwelling. This signifies that they were part of God’s plan, but did not keep to their position. They left or fell or were thrown out.
One passage is in Isaiah 14:12-15. It is about the king of Babylon, but it also goes beyond a man and seems to hint at a higher being, much like, in a corollary opposite way, Messianic prophecies can refer to historical figures, but the Scriptures also go higher than that and are ultimately about the Messiah (Christ). The main sin in Isaiah 14:12-15 is that he will be lifted up with arrogance. “I make myself like the Most High!” (Is. 14:15). This echoes Gen. 3:5, when Satan tempted Eve, saying that she would be like God (Gen. 3:5).
Isaiah 14:13-14 mentions five “I wills.” This is actually in the future tense, which is expressed in English as “will” (or “shall”). So it is not entirely accurate to say the “I will” verses express Satan’s will. However, even the future tense denotes a strong decision: “I shall make myself like the Most High!” It still speaks of arrogance.
In this passage he is called Lucifer (“light-bearer” or “light carrier”), which indicates his high status and special ministry, reflecting God’s glory.
Similar ideas are expressed in Ezekiel 28:1-19, which says that the king of Tyre was also arrogant (vv. 15-17). This poetic passage denouncing him rises above the human level and may refer to a spirit being—Satan.
Thus Satan’s sin was pride and arrogance.
However, if you wish to claim that those verses are not clear about Satan’s origins, then you are certainly entitled. I may agree with you.
3.. But how could Satan be tempted and fall when he had been in the perfect presence of God? What could tempt him?
Angels have a certain measure of free will, because they are persons, and personhood implies that each one has an intellect (mind), emotion (feeling), and will (choice). They can use their will to obey God’s commands and will. But their freewill also implies that they could disobey.
As to what could tempt Satan in God’s holy and pure presence, this is not clear from Scripture, but we can use Bible-based logic. A very powerful being can be tempted in very powerful ways. It is proportional. We humans are tempted by meager things. A created angel has to be tempted in a way that is proportional to him.
One way is self-regard. All it would have taken is one tiny—very tiny—thought entering his mind, which grew. One such thought is that his legitimate exaltation opened the door to self-regard and self-focus, which in turn led to jealousy about God’s status, and then his competing with God. It could even lead to open conflict with the Omnipotent Being called God. All this is reflected in Isaiah 14:15, quoted above. And all this comes out of pride and arrogance, which leads to any downfall in anyone (Prov. 16:18).
But all of this is Bible-based speculation. We don’t know for sure.
4.. Are you actually saying there was a war in God’s holy and perfect heaven?
Why not? There once was. Revelation 12:7 is clear: “Then a war broke out in heaven.” This is why God will create a new heaven and a new earth or overhaul the present one (Rev. 21).
However, some Bible interpreters say this is a mere depiction of a fight that happened at the cross, and it was not a heavenly and literal battle. In Luke 10:18 and Revelation 12:11 speak of Satan being thrown out of heaven. In Luke 10:18, Jesus foresaw this overthrow before he went to the cross. This speaks of his victory on the cross.
In Revelation, Michael waged war against Satan and defeated him. This defeat was guaranteed through the cross. Colossians 2:14-15 teaches that the cross disarmed the rulers and authorities. Jesus made a public disgrace of them and triumphed over them.
Yet other passages speak of Satan is still alive and wreaking damage on people (see the table below on the Activities of Satan); he still has a certain level of power over the worldly kingdoms and republics and unbelievers wherever they live. How do we resolve this? We live in the so-called “already and not yet.” Christ’s victory is already here (in part), but his victory is not yet here in full. This full victory will happen at the second coming (1 Cor. 15:20-28; 54-55).
5.. Does Satan live in the air (Eph. 2:2)?
This comes from ancient cosmology (study of the spiritual and physical cosmos). Satan and demons are invisible to us. If they live in the literal air, then they cannot be tossed around by storms and pelted by hail, all of which are natural things, not spiritual things. So if he lives in the literal air, then his kingdom is still an invisible realm that manifests in human hearts and ideas. The words “air,” “above,” and “up” speaks of Satan’s authority over humankind, not a physical realm bound by earthly physics. He is not an earthbound creature, and neither is his spirit kingdom.
6.. Aren’t demons evil dead people?
No, because all dead people face judgment (Heb. 9:27); they don’t come back and haunt people. However, sometimes a demon can manifest in the appearance of a dead person—a ghost—but that is not the same as the demon’s true identity, nor the true identity of the deceased.
7.. Aren’t demons the offspring of angels and women (Gen. 6:2)?
No, because angels are asexual (in terms of reproduction) and do not marry (Matt. 22:30), but Gen. 6:20 says the sons of God married women. These men were probably heroes and warriors, or they descended from Seth (Adam and Eve’s third son), the good lineage. Or both heroes and warriors descended from Seth.
See the posts:
Who Were the ‘Sons of God’ in Genesis?
8.. Aren’t demons spirits of the pre-Adamic race?
This depends on the gap theory between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, which says humans were created during that time. There is no evidence for such a view. This gap theory reads too much into the ancient text, from the overactive imagination of the modern Bible interpreter. Let’s not put ten tons of demands on an ancient text that was intended to carry fifty pounds and offer us clear view of God the Creator in Genesis 1 and humankind being created in his image (Gen. 1:26-27).
B.. Summary
Those questions were designed to clarify some puzzles. Ultimately demonology is not a major theme of Scripture, so sometimes we have to make logical deductions from the Scriptures we do have.
III.. Activities of Satan.
A.. Brief intro
Cumulatively, these activities reveal his evil character and strategies.
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Activities of Satan |
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| Past Activities | ||
| 1 | He was originally created good, as all angels were. | Gen. 1:31 |
| 2 | He led a revolt of angels in heaven (as some interpreters believe he did). Now he is a fallen archangel. | 2 Pe. 2:4; Rev. 12:7-8 |
| 3 | He tempted Eve. | Gen. 3:1-7 |
| 4 | He incited David to sin. | 1 Chron. 21:1-2 |
| 5 | He attacked and afflicted Job. | Job 1:6-19; Job 2:1-10 |
| 6 | He tempted Jesus. | Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13 |
| 7 | He was involved in putting Jesus to death. | Luke 22:2; John 14:30-31 |
| Present Activities | ||
| 8 | He afflicts people with illness. | Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38 |
| 9 | He steals, kills, and destroys, though the context says religious leaders do this. But I think we can expand the meaning to see Satan behind the verse. | John 10:10 |
| 10 | He is the father of lies. | John 8:44 |
| 11 | He does evil to people. | Matt. 13:38-39; Luke 13:11; Luke 13:16 |
| 12 | He tempts believers to sin. | Matt. 16:33; Acts 5:3; 1 Thess. 3:5; 1 Pe. 5:8 |
| 13 | He tries to keep people from true worship. | Matt. 13:19; 1 Pe. 5:8-9 |
| 14 | He thwarts the spread of the gospel. | Matt. 13:19; 2 Cor. 4:3-4; 1 Thess. 2:18 |
| 15 | He wants people to worship him. | Matt. 4:9; Luke 4:5-7 |
| 16 | He masquerades as an angel of light to deceive people. | 2 Cor. 11:14 |
| 17 | He uses many schemes. | 2 Cor. 2:11; Eph. 6:11 |
| 18 | He persecutes the church. | Rev. 2:10; Rev. 12:13-17 |
| 19 | He works through false teachers. | 2 Thess. 2:9-10; 1 Tim. 4:1-2 |
| 20 | He tries to separate believers from Christ. | Rom. 8:38-39 |
| 21 | He (temporarily) holds the power over death. | Heb. 2:14-15 |
| 22 | He empowers people to work signs and wonders to empower a lie, to deceive people. | 2 Thess. 2:9 |
| 23 | He inspires people in the church to teach false doctrines, called “doctrine or teachings of demons.” | 1 Tim. 4:1 |
| Future Activities | ||
| 24 | He will be totally bound and in chains and prison, during the millennium, if one believes in a literal millennium. | Rev. 20:2-3 |
| 25 | He will be set free at the end of the millennium, if one believes in a literal millennium. | Rev. 20:7-10 |
| 26 | He will empower an antichrist or man of lawlessness to work signs and wonders to empower a lie, to deceive people | 2 Thess. 2:9; Rev. 13:2-4 |
B.. Summary
Satan will be active for all of our lives until the Second Coming, when he too will be judged and thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:7-10)
IV.. Theology about Satan
A.. Brief intro
Let’s again use the question and answer format.
1.. Who is Satan?
He is an evil spirit being, and the Scriptures hints—merely hints—that he was a former archangel that fell before man’s fall.
2.. What are demons?
Many Bible interpreters conclude that they too are fallen angels, and apparently they fell with Satan (Jude 6). Scripture hints that Satan took one-third of the angels with him when he fell (Rev. 12:4), if one believes the verse is talking about demons (though many interpreters do not).
Jesus said that Satan is the “ruler” of demons (Matt. 12:24), and Jesus said, “The devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). Demons are those angels.
If they are not fallen angels, then their identity is unknown, other than being evil spirits..
3.. Can an unbeliever be demon possessed?
Yes. The Gerasene (or Gadarene) demoniac seemed unable to control himself (Mark 5:1-20). He seems to have lost a large measure of his free will, though it is difficult to know where to draw the line in the interface between his mind and demonic influence and control.
4.. Can Satan read the unbeliever’s mind?
Let’s discuss this.
Jesus could read any thoughts, believers or unbelievers (Matt. 9:4l 12:15; Mark 2:8; Luke 6:8; 11:17). And God certainly knows all people’s thoughts at all times (Gen. 6:5; Ps. 139:2, Ps. 139:4, Ps. 139:23; Is. 66:18).
Therefore, some theologians teach that if Satan could read thoughts, he would be omniscient. But that’s not true. It would just mean that he could read some human thoughts. Rather, omniscience means that God knows everything about everything in one simultaneous act, past, present, future. Only God can do that. He can read all the thoughts of every human right now. Satan or a demon cannot do this.
Do I Really Know God? He Is Omniscient
So I say that at times Satan or a demon can read human thoughts at least in part and in some contexts, like the following one. When Satan’s demons possessed the man from Gerasene (Matt. 8:28-34 // Mark 5:1-17 // Luke 8:26-37), the demons surely had access to his thoughts on some level; otherwise, where does the control come in? How can demons control the body and not the brain, which is an organ in the body, and where thoughts reside? But this is perhaps a rare example of total control.
Clairvoyants and fortunetellers and witch doctors can seem to read our thoughts, but it is probable that demons are simply reporting to them what they saw the client do or say in the recent or distant past. It is difficult to measure exactly and precisely how a spirit being (demon) interacts and interfaces with the human mind and body who have no saving knowledge of God or an experience with the Spirit.
Demons can read some thoughts, but not the depths of the heart. Only God can read them. See my posts with an image that clarifies the differences between the mind and the spirit:
Word Study on Spirit, Soul, and Body
Is Humankind Two or Three Parts?
5.. Can a demon read the believer’s mind?
Since Satan can attack the believer’s mind, he must be able to read it to some degree, but exactly how much is unclear. In my own life, Satan has attacked my mind and knows my weaknesses, so he has access to my mind on some level. But it is difficult to know where to draw the line between access to the mind and reading it or not reading it, but he judges my thoughts by my behavior.
On the other hand, some Bible interpreters teach that since the believer wears the helmet of salvation (Eph. 6:17), it is not likely he can read the believer’s thoughts. Demons read our observations and hear our words and from them deduce our thoughts.
The solution is to get the mind full of Scripture, so the attacks have no strong power over the believer.
6.. Can demons cause diseases?
Yes, sometimes (Mark 9:17-18, 20, 22; Luke 4:39; Luke 13:11, 16; Acts 10:38), and all those passages reflect a connection between the body and an evil spirit. However, we have to be careful and not attribute every disease to Satan. The NT writers are able to distinguish between a natural cause of a disease and a satanic cause: “And so his fame spread throughout all of Syria, and they brought to him everyone having illness and various diseases, suffering pains and being demonized, and epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them” (Matt. 4:24). In other words, this verse distinguishes between demonic attacks and natural diseases.
We need discernment to distinguish between the two causes—natural and demonic.
7.. Should we rebuke Satanic strongholds over a city or territory?
The biblical authors do not teach this. For example, let’s say that we believe that first-century Ephesus was engulfed in a territorial demonic stronghold, such that people were oppressed with magic and the occult. They burned 50,000 drachmas worth of occultic papyri and scrolls, a huge monetary amount (Acts 19:17-20). They did this after a demonic manifestation beat down the seven sons of Scaeva (Acts 19:13-16). Despite the satanic environment, Paul just preached the gospel, which breaks bondages in humans, where Satan and demons attack. The Bible does not record that Paul prayed against territorial spirits over Ephesus. Rather, he focused on people’s lives, the gospel, and getting them saved. That’s the best way to take territories away from the kingdom of Satan and for the kingdom of God. Daniel prayed to God, and then he found out about a prince of Persia hindering his prayer (Dan. 10). He did not pray against this territorial spirit.
Ephesians 6:10-12 says that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual beings and dark, wicked forces of evil. And then Paul counsels believers to put on personal armor, so they can defend themselves when the evil beings attack, not so believers can rebuke spirits in the air. The struggle is personal, not impersonal way up in the heavenly realms.
Next, an angel informed Daniel that there were territorial spirits (Dan. 10:10-14). But Daniel did not rebuke the spirit. He let God do the fighting, and he sent the archangel Michael to fight.
Nonetheless, some scholars like C. P. Wagner (d. 2016), who headed the International Spiritual Warfare Network, and was a leader in the Third Wave (a Renewal Movement after the Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements), came up with a theology of territorial spirits and praying against them. One such passage of Scriptures is Ephesians 6:12-13, which speaks of rulers, authorities, world rulers of this dark world and spiritual hosts of evil in the heavenly realm. So far so good. However, Wagner adds to this scriptural truth a controversial claim. He says that Christians can pray against them; they can speak to them while the demons live in their realm.
To reply to this teaching, instead of praying against and rebuking these evil ruling spirits in high places, Paul personalizes the spiritual warfare in the individual Christian’s life and tells him to put on the armor of God (Eph. 6:10-11; 13-17). He never tells believers to pray against these evil beings out there in the heavenly, spirit realm. Paul finishes this section of Scripture with encouraging the believers to pray in the Spirit and to be alert and to pray for him. They pray to God; they do not rebuke territorial spirits (Eph. 6:18-19).
I personally don’t bother with rebuking territorial spirits. Unbelievers repenting and coming to know the truth of Christ is the best way for them to escape the snares of the devil, one life at a time (2 Tim. 2:24-26). Just preach the gospel and the clarity of Scripture! That’s how the kingdom of God advances and expands, and the kingdom of darkness retreats and shrinks, in inverse proportion.
Paul taught us to put on the full armor of God, down here on our earth, in our realm (Eph. 6:10-17). Then he told us to pray for one another (Eph. 6:18:-20). That’s how we fight against ruling powers and spirits of wickedness in the heavenly realm.
V.. The Devil’s Playground
A.. Brief intro
Satan rules over the invisible kingdom of evil. Sometimes he manifests this kingdom to our human spirits, minds, and eyes. There are ways to protect yourself. Let’s learn how.
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Scriptures Say No to the Devil’s Playground |
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| 1 | Divination (using dark ways to guess about the future and your life; it is linked with superstitions) | Deut. 18:10-11; Lev. 19:26; Is. 2:6 |
| 2 | Sorcery (using spells and oaths to control). God promises to testify against sorcerers. | Deut. 18:10-11; Mal. 3:5 |
| 3 | Interpreting omens (reading strange objects like animal entrails or bird flights or bird songs) | Deut. 18:10-11; Lev. 19:26 |
| 4 | Witchcraft (much like sorcery, witches are generalists who occupy a hierarchy and practice all the dark arts | Deut. 18:10-11 |
| 5 | Casting spells (speaking out verbal formulas to exert power over nature and people’s minds) | Deut. 18:10-11 |
| 6 | Mediums and spiritists (they stand between the spirit world and the human and contacts evil spirits, which they are deceased relatives. God says he will cut people off of his people, if they seek mediums and spiritists who are in league with the god Molek, bloodthirsty satanic spirit.) | Deut. 18:10-11; Lev. 19:31 |
| 7 | Consulting the dead (necromancy) | Deut. 18:10-11 |
| 8 | Dark magic (using signs and wonders to maintain a lie that deceives people) | Deut. 18:10-11 |
| 9 | Magic spells | Is. 47:12-13 (In each case Isaiah the holy prophet said that they ultimately cause terror, but they are destined to burn like stubble in the fire.) |
| 10 | Astrology (reading signs in the nighttime stars and planets) | Is. 47:12-13 |
| 11 | Stargazing (reading stars) | Is. 47:12-13 |
| 12 | God says not to listen to the false prophets, diviners, false interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers. They serve the king of Babylon, and Babylon represents the headquarters of evil. | Jer. 27:9 |
| 13 | God promises to destroy Israel’s witchcraft and the casting of spells. Darks can destroy people today, too. | Mic. 5:12 |
| 14 | Yes, the Old Covenant Scriptures (Old Testament) says to put these practioners of the dark arts to death, but this penalty is designed to teach us how seriously God takes these issues and opposes these practices. The NT offers a better solution (see below). | Ex. 22:18; Lev. 20:27 |
| Purpose of the Dark Arts | ||
| 15 | They are calculated to figure out the future (but only God has the future in his hands, so depend on him). | Gen. 44:15; 1 Sam. 38:5-7; Dan. 2:27; Dan 2:27 |
| 16 | They are supposed to control the future (but depend on God, not the dark arts) | Gen. 30:14; Num. 23:23 |
| 17 | But the ultimate goal is for Satan to exercise as much power over people’s minds and souls as possible. Satan is referred to as a god | 2 Cor. 4:4 |
B.. Scriptural solution
The New Covenant Scriptures (New Testament) provide a better solution.
The death penalty is not the best solution. Here is how the New Testament deals with evil.
Simon the sorcerer was saved and rescued from the dark arts, when Peter the apostle told him to repent or perish. At that strong word, Simon asked for prayer (Acts 8:9-24). If you are into the dark arts, you too can pray for repentance of all your bad practices. Renounce them, in Jesus’s name.
A certain Jewish magician named Bar-Jesus (son of Joshua) used to deceive people, but Paul proclaimed a divine punishment on him. Bar-Jesus was to be blinded by darkness. When you today are in the dark arts and magic, you are under spiritual blindness. But in Christ, the light can shine and clarify.
An unnamed female fortuneteller used to tell people about their lives, but she actually had an evil spirit speaking through her. In Jesus’s name Paul commanded the evil spirit to come out of the girl, and it left (Acts 16:16-18). You too can be set free in the name of Jesus.
In the city of Ephesus, seven sons of a Jewish man named Scaeva used to rebuke evil spirits in Jesus’s name. They did this to one client in particular who was controlled by a demon. The human was empowered by the evil spirit and overpowered the seven sons—one man against seven beat the seven. That’s the power of the evil spirit (Acts 19:13-19). This beatdown became known throughout Ephesus and the region. The people realized how wrong and powerful the dark arts were, so they brought all their books and scrolls of incantations and spells and burned them in an act of repentance (Acts 19:17-20).
You too need to get rid of your magic and sorcery books. Throw them in the dumpster or burn them. Don’t give them away.
For more information to resist the devil and evil, see the very last section on knowing God better though Satan’s defeat.
VI.. Terminology of Oppression
A.. Brief intro
I use the Greek lexicon of the New Testament called BDAG, which is an abbreviation for the four main editors who added to it over the decades: Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich. Many consider it authoritative. It is a remarkable achievement in any case.
B.. Eight Key words
1.. Diamonizomai: this verb is pronounced dye-mo-NEE-oh-my.
It is used 13 times,12 times in the synoptic Gospel, and once in the Gospel of John (10:21). Greek has the ability to add the suffix -ize- to a noun or adjective and turn it into a verb. Borrowing this ability from Greek, we can also do this in English: modern to modernize and theology to theologize. The Gospel writers attached the suffix to daimōn (pronounced dye-moan), which means “demon” or “evil spirit.”
Now let’s go for a more formal definition. BDAG defines the verb as follows: “be possessed by a hostile spirit.” Simple and clear. However, if you’re not satisfied with this definition because it is too narrow, then translating the verb can be difficult, but in my own translation of Matthew through Acts, I used “demonized” in order to allow the reader to sort out the degree of the control or oppression or possession or attack. So I simply duplicated the Greek by adding the suffix -ize- to the noun “demon.”
Here is an extreme example.
The most terrible case is the Gerasene demoniac (Matt. 8:28-34 // Mark 5:1-20 // Luke 8:26-39). He was totally possessed to the point of bruising himself with stones (self-harm), running around naked, breaking chains, living in the tombs, and scaring passersby. He was possessed by a legion of demons. This legion owned him. People stayed away, but Jesus approached. Mark and Luke say the man ran right up to Jesus but fell at his feet, shrieking. Jesus set him free.
The other cases of being demonized vary in different degrees. Only the context can determine the meaning of daimonizomai, but the context is not always very helpful. The victims often shriek and fall or throw themselves on the ground or sometimes into the fire or water (Mark 9:22). Thus the term is so broad that it is difficult to know with precision how deep the demonic control is. Sometimes the Gospels portray severe control, by which the human loses his ability to stop it on his own. The demon manifests itself, and a severe reaction occurs beyond the victim’s control, yet he is not as bad off as the Gerasene demoniac, who was possessed or owned by a legion of demons. So his extreme case does not seem to represent others.
Further, it is hard to sort out how the spirit world interacts with the mind, which is ensconced in the brain (body), though ultimately separate. What is the interaction between a spirit being, the mind, and the physical brain?
Let’s keep going to see if we can have more clarity.
2.. Echo: This verb is pronounced eh-khoh,
It is the extremely common verb meaning “have” or “hold,” appearing 708 times. However, in the context of “have a demon,” it is used in Mark and in Luke and Acts 10 times: Mark 3:22, 30; 7:25; 9:17; Luke 4:33; 7:33; 8:27; Acts 8:7; 16:16; 19:13. The two verbs “demonized” and “have a demon” are used interchangeably in Luke 8:27, 36, for example. So it looks like the two terms are synonyms. Therefore, I see no substantive clarity between the two verbs to describe the degree of demonic influence or control. Context will have to guide us.
3.. Katadunasteuō: this verb is used only twice: Acts 10:38 and James 2:6.
It is pronounced kah-tah-doo-nah-STEW-oh. The prefix kata denotes a downward action and often adds a negative nuance when it is a prefix. Example: the verb for “judge” is krinō (pronounced kree-noh), and the verb for “condemn” is katakrinō. The main part of the verb, –dunasteuō, has some rich cognates with revealing definitions, such as “able to,” “ability,” “capability,” “power,” “might,” “strength,” or “force” (etc.) But let’s not over-apply those definitions from the related words to this one verb. I note them just to see the range of definitions of the entire word group.
Instead, let’s define katadunasteuō more strictly. BDAG says it simply means: “oppress, exploit, dominate.”
Acts 10:38 is relevant to this post because Peter summarizes Jesus’s entire deliverance ministry as “healing” all those who were “oppressed” by the devil. The NIV has “under the control of.” The Holman translation says “under the Tyranny of.” Most of the others say “oppressed.”
Since the verb appears in a summary of Jesus’s whole ministry, the context of the Gospels still has to determine how deep the control went in each demonized human. Possession? Oppression? Control? Attack? The contexts often portray severe control, but not as bad as the Gerasene demoniac, which looks like a special case of a legion of demons. But beyond this one case, it is difficult, with this verb, to be precise about the severity of the control in the other ones.
4.. Plēroō: It is a common verb for “fill” and is pronounced play-RAH-oh.
It is used in Acts 5:3 when Peter asked Ananias, “Why has Satan filled your heart?” BDAG has many definitions, but relevant to Acts 5:3 is “fill.”
Since it occurs 86 times, it appears in many different contexts and can also mean “fill” with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52; Eph. 5:28) or with joy (2 Tim. 1:4). The boy Jesus was “filled” with wisdom (Luke 2:40). Its most common usage means to “fulfill” (as in Scripture is “fulfilled,” found in many verses). Another definition is “complete” (2 Cor. 10:6).
Back to Acts 5:3. Evidently, Satan filled Ananias’s heart to overflowing to lie to the Holy Spirit. The question remains: was he converted or saved or born again when Satan filled his heart? Does “fill” = “possess”? If so, how can Satan do this when the Spirit occupied Ananias’s born-again heart? He certainly does not seem as bad off as the other cases who were oppressed by the devil in the synoptic Gospels. He was not thrown into a fire or water (Mark 9:22). No, Satan’s attack compelled Ananias to act deceitfully, so his mind was under the influence of Satan; the man was filled by the evil spirit to lie to the Spirit.
Why Did Ananias and Sapphira Drop Dead?
5.. Deō: This verb is used 43 times and pronounced DEH-oh.
BDAG defines it as follows: “To confine a person or thing by various kinds of restraints, bind, tie.” Second definition: “To tie something to something, to tie to an animal” (e.g. Matt. 21:2, Mark 11:2, 4; Luke 19:30). Third definition: “To constrain by law and duty” (Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:27). This third definition refers to marriage. Fourth definition: “bind and loose” (Matt. 16:19; 19:18), which means to permit or prohibit.
For this post, Jesus met an older woman in a synagogue. Satan bound her for 18 years with a disabling spirit or a spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11, 16). The first definition is relevant to the older woman bound by Satan, and BDAG confirms this by referencing this case under the first definition.
In various other contexts it can mean “bind up” the strong man (Matt. 12:29 // Mark 3:27). It is used in “binding” and loosing (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). Authorities can “bind” a prisoner with chains, as they did to Peter (Acts 12:6) and Paul (Acts 21:33; 22:29). Paul was “compelled” by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22). It can mean the “tie” of marriage (1 Cor. 7:27, 39). Satan is “bound” for a thousand years (Rev. 20:2).
Back to the older woman. Somehow Satan got ahold of her body and bent it forward. He controlled it, bound it, but does this mean the demon also controlled her mind? Possibly. She certainly must have been deeply discouraged. But she does not seem to have been as bad off as other cases, which portrays the victim as losing control of his body like convulsing or throwing him to the synagogue floor or even into fire or water. So once again, it is difficult to be precise since the cases are different and yet often severe.
6.. Kolaphizō: this verb is used 5 times and is pronounced koh-lah-FEE-zo.
BDAG defines it as follows: “To strike sharply, especially with the hand, strike with fist, beat, cuff.” Second definition: “To cause physical impairment, torment” which is used figuratively of an illness. The BDAG editors say that in Paul’s case (see below), the verb describes “painful attacks of an illness, described as a physical beating by a messenger of Satan.” Scholars have guessed what the disease is, one guess being a speech impediment. But no firm conclusion has been reached.
In the other four contexts, Jesus was beat with fists (Matt 26:67; Mark 14:66). Paul was brutally treated (1 Cor. 4:11); Slaves can receive an unjust beating from a harsh master, even when they do well (1 Peter 2:20).
The relevant verse is 2 Corinthians 12:7, which says that Satan beat or tormented Paul’s body. So does this mean illness? BDAG, as noted, concludes that it does and cites many cases of physical illnesses in Greek writings, all outside the New Testament.
However, while it may be true that BDAG says Paul’s body was struck by a physical ailment of some kind, but what if the term could mean constant, severe persecution? The context from 2 Corinthians 11 seems to indicate this. Also, Paul refers to his torment as a thorn in his flesh. The nations that harassed Israel were thorns in its side (Num. 33:55; Josh. 23:13). Paul could have borrowed from those two verses in the Old Testament. Recall that Paul said he had been brutally treated (1 Cor. 4:11). So the thorn could mean severe persecution.
Yet the bulk of the evidence seems to suggest a physical ailment. Maybe Paul did have a speech impediment. After all, Moses did (Exod. 4:19). However, Paul was the main speaker instead of Barnabas (Acts 14:12). So this is probably not the right answer. Yet physical ailment keeps commending itself because Paul said he had one when he arrived in Galatia (Gal. 4:14). In this verse there is no doubt what the Greek says: fleshly / bodily infirmity / weakness. Something was bothering his body.
So which is it in 2 Corinthians 12:7? physical illness or persecution? Satan can attack or beat or torment the body either by persecution and brutal beatings or by a bodily weakness, an illness. Yet because of Galatians 4:14, the scales tip slightly in favor of a physical infirmity or bodily weakness which Satan had weaponized against the apostle.
7.. Katalambanō: this verb is pronounced kak-tah-lahm-bah-noh and is used 15 times.
BDAG defines the verb as (2) “to gain control of someone through pursuit, catch up with, seize.” It is mostly used of evil taking over some, seizing with hostile intent. In Mark 9:18, right after the Mount of Transfiguration, a demon seized a boy and threw him to the ground. He foamed at the mouth and gnashed his teeth and became rigid. This looks like full possession. Jesus set him free.
8.. Lambanō: it is a very common verb (used 258 times) and is pronounced lahm-bah-noh.
It’s basic meaning is to take, but it can also mean arrest or seize. In Luke 939, again right after the Mount of Transfiguration, the same boy was seized by an evil spirit. The boy screams and throws him into convulsions, so that he foams at the mouth. The demon was destroying the boy. This looks like full possession. Jesus rebuked the spirit and healed the boy.
B.. Summary
The common belief that there is only one verb (daimonizomai) for oppression or possession or control or attack is inaccurate. There are at least seven more verbs. Also, possession is a legitimate translation of daimonizomai and “have a demon.” The Gerasene demoniac is the case in point. Other cases seem severe enough to also be called possession or ownership. Yet it is easy to dispute with this latter conclusion because the human does not seem to be totally owned.
No doubt there are other verbs. What do possession, oppression, control, influence, seize, or attack mean in all the verses in the Gospels and Acts and 2 Corinthians?
The Gadarene demoniac was possessed by a legion of demons. The other cases varied widely, but not too widely. The synoptic Gospels indicate cases of severe attacks, like victims losing control of their minds and bodies and being thrown down to the floor and convulsing or even being thrown into fire or water. This looks like possession to me. However, in the case of the woman with a disabling spirit, who was bent double, demonic affliction was physical. She may not have lost control of her mental faculties, but she surely must have been discouraged.
The summary verse of Acts 10:38 seems to bundle all of the demonic cases in the synoptic Gospels under the long verb katadunasteuō. So how is this verb distinguished from the other verbs? Since it appears in a summary verse, the answer is not clear (to me at least).
Sorry I can’t give you the Grand Answer that clarifies all questions about possession or oppression or control or influence or attack. Maybe the answer is the one I have alluded to throughout this post. Let the context decide.
The interaction between (1) the body, (2) the mind which is temporarily ensconced in the brain (body), and (3) an evil spirit is mysterious. We have all felt some sort of a demonic attack on some level, at some time during our lives (I certainly have). Defining the terms is for Bible teachers, yet answers are hard to come by.
And so the bottom line is this: in terms of practical ministry, what is more relevant than sorting out the nuances of the verbs is the soul and body of the person being attacked by a demon or demons and how deep the attack goes because the person gives the demon or demons access.
The most important point is to set demonized people free in Jesus’s name, as Christians did in Acts.
VII.. Our Victory over Satan
A.. Brief intro.
This table summarizes the victory of God through his Son that we have over Satan and his demons.
|
We Already Have Victory over Satan |
||
| 1 | God has power over him. | Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-6; Luke 22:31-32 |
| 2 | Christ’s disarming Satan was prophesied in Eden. | Gen. 3:15 |
| 3 | Christ came to destroy him and his works. | 1 John 3:8 |
| 4 | Satan’s destruction is demonstrated in Christ’s victory over Satan’s temptation | Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13 |
| 5 | Satan’s destruction was demonstrated by Christ’s driving out demons and by his victory on the cross. | Luke 4:40-41; Luke 10:18; Luke 11:20-22 |
| 6 | Christ already bound the strong man (Satan) | Matt. 12:29 |
| 7 | The cross of Christ guaranteed or sealed his defeat. | John 12:31-33; Col. 2:15; Rev. 12:11 |
| 8 | We must pray daily for deliverance and protection. | Matt. 6:13; Luke 11:4 |
| 9 | We must serve the Lord. | 1 Tim. 5:13-15 |
| 10 | We must resist his temptations by being in Christ. | 1 Cor. 7:5 |
| 11 | We must submit to God and then resist the devil. | Jas. 4:7 |
| 12 | We must raise up the shield of faith. | Eph. 6:16 |
| 13 | Repentance and knowing the truth about Jesus and the gospel takes us out of the snares of the devil. | 2 Tim. 2:24-26 |
| 14 | We have overcome (past tense) the evil one. | 1 John 2:13 |
| 15 | We overcome him by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony about Christ. | Rev. 12:10-11 |
| 16 | Christ prays for the victory of our faith. | Luke 22:31-32 |
| 17 | Certain fallen angels were put in prison. | 2 Pe. 2:4 |
| Final Victory over Satan | ||
| 18 | Satan’s defeat was prophesied by Paul. | Rom. 16:20 |
| 19 | Final defeat at Christ’s return and judgment. | Matt. 25:31; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10; Rev. 20:14 |
| 20 | Satan and his demons will be thrown in the lake of fire. | Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:7-10 |
B. Summary
We do not need to fear Satan or demons. Our victory is assured both now in our life and by God, in the future.
VIII.. Application
A.. No fear
Now you can grow in Christ is not to obsess over the spirit world or be frightened of Satan and his demons. You can have victory over them in every moment of every day.
B.. Follow Jesus
The best way is to follow Jesus’s example, when he was attacked (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). He used Scripture. When I was repeatedly attacked, I did not rebuke Satan at every minute, though sometimes I did have to rebuke a spirit. The real victory came when I submitted to God (Jas. 4:7) and quoted Eph. 6:16, which speaks of a shield of faith that quenches the fiery arrows of the enemy. So every day I quote it and pray like this: “Lord, today I lift up over my mind a shield of faith, which quenches the fiery arrows of the enemy.” Then I may tack on “particularly against spirits of despair, anxiety, discouragement, fear” (and other things). And it works! The Satanic influence on my mind is minimal, barely and rarely felt. You cannot fight Satan by natural methods, like intellectualizing the thoughts you have. Fight like Jesus! Use Scripture and submit to God’s will.
C.. Follow these more detailed steps.
1.. Repent
If there is sin in your life, you need to repent. Pray this prayer: “Father, in Jesus’s name, I renounce and repent of my involvement in darkness and spirits and occultic practices. I renounce and repent of my habitual involvement in other sins.” Name your sins specifically.
2.. Surrender to Jesus’s Lordship.
Causing Satan to leave is through your discipleship. You first need to receive Jesus Christ into your heart. Pray this prayer: “Father, in Jesus’s name, I repent of all my sins. I confess that Jesus is Lord. I believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. He has all authority. He has all authority in my life. I surrender my entire life to his Lordship. I now choose the light of Jesus and oppose the darkness of Satan.”
3.. Command Satan or a demon to leave.
Pray this prayer: “In Jesus’s name I rebuke Satan and evil spirits plaguing my mind. I command them to leave. In Jesus’s name, go! But sometimes when a wicked thought crosses your mind, ignore it. You don’t have to rebuke every thought; otherwise you will become self- or demon-focused. Bad idea. If the though won’t go, however, find a mature believer and seek a prayer of deliverance with him.
4.. Pray to receive the power of the Spirit (Luke 11:11-13).
You can even ask God to give you a prayer language (Acts 2:1-4). Pray this prayer: “Father, in Jesus’s name I receive the fullness and baptism in the Holy Spirit. Fill my heart and give me the gift of your prayer language.”
5.. Memorize some key Scriptures.
Start with this one, and pray it out loud: “Father, I lift up over my mind ‘the shield of faith, which quenches the fiery arrow of the enemy’” (Eph. 6:16).
6.. Now go out and share what God has done for you to a mature believer, like a pastor or Bible study leader.
7.. Church
Go to a good Spirit-filled, Bible-teaching church that preaches the Word of God. Attend regularly.
8.. Life of purity
This will go a long way to keep your heart intimate with God and your mind from being doubled or split. If you have one part of your mind in the world and Satan’s kingdom and the other half in God’s kingdom, then you will live a confused life.
D.. Important Scripture
7 Submit to God; resist the devil, and he shall flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he shall draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinner, and purify your hearts, doubleminded. (Jas. 4:7-8)
Those two verses teach us to submit to God, then resist the devil. If you are not surrendered to God, then Satan has easier access to your mind. This explains why unbelievers are constantly attacked. Now, however, thanks to the cross of Jesus, you are free from demonic oppression and the power of sin, and you are liberated to live for Christ and be more like him.
E.. Now for the main point.
Here are key verses that talks about the victory Jesus has already won for us.
13 Although you were dead in your trespasses and uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him, forgiving us all our trespasses. 14 He removed the handwritten certificate of debt against us with the legal demand which were hostile to us. He removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross. 15 He paraded and displayed the rulers and authorities in a public spectacle, triumphing over them in him. (Col. 2:13-15)
This passage means at least three things for your growth in Christ.
First, your trespasses and transgressions were forgiven. Satan can no longer attack you for them. This is the best news of all. Remember the wise saying: “When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!” He will eventually be thrown in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10).
Second, the handwritten certificate of debt with its hostile decrees has been removed or canceled. This certificate said that the law had caught you in your transgressions. You were forfeit to the law and Satan. However, God ransomed you. He did not have to pay money to Satan, because all God had to do was cancel the certificate by paying it another way—the cross. The debt was deeper than Satan’s clutches and his right to own you. It was payable, ultimately to God’s justice, and the cross satisfied the payment—paid in full.
Third, God paraded the evil spirits (rulers and authorities) before the universe, because he had triumphed over them through the cross, again. This looks like what the Roman emperors did to their captive rulers—paraded them in Rome during a triumphal entry.
In Christ, you have victory over demons. Do not let them torment you.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
I mostly used the systematic theologians here. The tables are mine.
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 