The DEMONIC

THE DEMONIC AND DEMONOLOGY

Demonology is the systematic knowledge or study concerning demons or evil spirits.  The Demonic are the subjects of books, movies, television, games, mythology, history and a multitude of studies, satire and conversions.  The purpose of this research is primarily to deal with the examination of cases more than the examples of biblical verses, false mythology or the superstition related to nearly all European demonology.

Many people are affected by spirits and don’t know or believe them to be truth.  A few in societies actually seek out the occult and demonic.  And many Christians wrongly believe that because of the Cross (blood; death and resurrection) of Christ Jesus that the devil and demons have absolutely no power; but the as the apostle Paul said, ‘The God of peace shall soon crush Satan under your feet (Rom. 16:20).’  Thus, for now as the apostle Peter admonished, we must ‘be vigilant and sober-minded, because (our) adversary (enemy), the devil, prowls about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1Peter5:8).’

And don’t suppose that the cunning and evil demonic fight in the same manner as mere mortal men.  This article will address certain truths and claims about demons; however, it is primarily an introduction into the question ‘are demons real?’  And as stated above, this preface is a launching source into numerous cases involving the demonic.  Also, see the formula for sources of influence at the bottom of this article.

The Holy Scriptures

Lockyer points out in his All the Angels in the Bible (1995) that ‘Satan appears 54 times in the Bible.’  Satan is called the ‘adversary,’ ‘the destroyer (Abaddon – Hebrew, Apollyon – Greek; Rev. 9:11),’ Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12 – ‘day-star’ or ‘shining one’), the Devil (accuser, slanderer), Dragon, that old serpent and deceiver of the whole world (Rev. 12:9), Beelzebub (Matt. 12:24; ‘lord of flies’ or ‘prince of demons’), Belial, the Enemy, the Wicked one (Matthew 13:19), the Evil One, father of lies (John 8:44), murderer, the prince of the power of the air (Eph.2:2), the Tempter (1Thes.3:5), prince of this world or of this present darkness (2Cor.4:4), the Tormentor (2Cor.12:7).

Satan is a fallen angel from heaven, who was once anointed, but sought to be as God and thus was cast down from the Highest Heaven (Isa. 14; Ezek. 28).  The word ‘demon’ is derived from the word ‘devil.’  Demons are fallen angels who work with and serve Satan.  Demons are ‘evil spirits’ that can trouble, tempt, influence and even possess humans and animals.  There are tens of millions of angels (Rev.5:11) and tens of millions of demons (evil fallen angels); a small group of them once called themselves ‘Legion, for we are many (Mark 5:9).’

Demons recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Lord of lord and King of kings (Mark1:23; Acts 19:15).  Demons can both control (Mark 5:2), and harm people.  They are unclean spirits and can be violent (Matt. 8:28).  As recorded by Matthew, demons understand there eternal fate and short time, “What do you want with us, Son of God?  Have You come here to torture us before the appointed times (Matt. 8:29)?”  Demons can possess sinners and people disobedient to God (Eph. 2:1).  Thus Paul taught, “…the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”

Demons can torment weak and disobedient people with sicknesses, blindness (Matt.12:22), insanity (Luke 8:26), muteness, and suicide (Mark 9:22).  Satan is very cunning and should not be debated.   However, if the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus dwells in you, than ‘the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).’  But that does not mean that most Christians can overcome demons or battle demons or cast out demons.  For example, when the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, sought to cast out a certain single demon, “the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?’ Then the man that was possessed with the evil spirit attacked them violently and tore their clothes off and they ran out of his house naked, wounded and afraid (Acts19:15).”

Various teachings on Demons

Likely every culture has taught on the spiritual.  Ancient cultures taught various myths (Greek: tales) and included teaching about evil spirits or demons.  Plato taught that ‘every demon is a middle being between God and mortal.’  And that they are ‘intelligent beings.’  Josephus taught that the word for demon is always evil spirit.  McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature defines “Daemoniac (Demoniac) – possessed with a devil… persons suffering under the possession of a demon or evil spirit.”

The Didache (‘Teachings’), one of the oldest Christian manuscripts taught that by making sacrifices to idols one could ‘become partners with demons.’  It also taught as the apostles and early church that the Lord Jesus will come ‘with the angels of His power… and kingdom, to condemn the devil, the deceiver of the world, and to judge everyone according to their deeds…’  All of the Early Church Fathers or elders taught about Demons and that they can be kept away through self-control (Gal. 5:23).

And let us not from part of the model or Lord’s Prayer, ‘lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’ or as some versions translate, ‘deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13).’  For you see, “the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit… they oppose each other… if you are led by the Spirit (of the Lord God), you are not under the law of Moses.  The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, discord, jealously, rage, rivalries, theft, lies, slander, selfish ambition, division, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and sins like these.  I warn you… those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21).”  “Don’t you understand that you are slaves to whatever and whoever you choose to obey?  Either you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience (to the Spirit of Christ Jesus), which leads to righteousness and eternal life (Romans 6:16; John 3:16).”

The Quran (Koran) makes many references to demons (jinns).  Even Mohammed said he was ‘possessed (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 6:60)’ as a child, and that he had prayed to the ‘lord of the devils (Sira, Ibn Hisham).’  And that his mother felt he had been possessed by a jinn (demon).   Muslims believe in prayer to God to be freed ‘from the whisperings (temptations or suggestions) of the Shayateen (‘the devil,’ ‘devils,’ ‘Satan;’ Surah Al-Mu 23:97; likely taken in part from Matt. 6:13).’  Muhammad had interacted with Christians in Syria and his Uncle Abu Talib was either a Christian or had learned of the Bible and Christianity.   They believe that ‘the Jinn’ were created with free will and live on earth in a type of parallel to mankind.  Jinn comes from ‘Janna’ which means to hide or conceal; thus they are invisible.  As the Jews taught and Christians before the Muslims, angels were created to worship God and serve Him, but many (1/3) fell.  The Quran (51:56) teaches that God ‘created the Jinn and mankind to worship’ Him.  And that disobedient jinns (angels) are satans or shayateen.  The Bible and the Quran teach that demons or jinns can manifest in a physical form and have relations with human, even intimate.  However, the Quran also states in Al-Jinn 72 that the ‘Qur’an guides unto righteousness’ even the jinn and that demons or devils can be guided ‘to the Right (path)’ and saved ‘on that day’ of judgment (Qu’ran 55:39; 72:1, 13).

It should also be noted that Jesus Christ is the Lord, son of God and only redeemer of mankind; and that the Qu’ran admits that the Taurat (Torah) and Injeel or Injil (gospel) is good (Sura 3:3; 5:68; 6:114; 7:157); and that Iesa (Jesus) was born of Maryam (Mary), but denies Yeshua ha-Messiah (Yeshua Ha-Mashiach; Jesus the Christ) and says he was a Prophet (S. 19:30), but then the Qu’ran and Muslims followers in error substitute Muhammad as their savior, saying in their ‘Morning Prayers,’ Surah 93, “With the Name of Allah… by the Glorious Morning Light… thy Guardian-Lord has not forsaken you…”  The Hilali Khan or Noble Qur’an English translation states, “Your Lord Muhammad has neither forsaken you nor hated you.”

FORMULA of SOURCES of INFLUENCE:

Is = [Nt + E3(M)] (HS) +/- (Sw + Dt+/-p)

 

KEY: Sources of Influence (Is); Nt = Neurotransmitters, Cell health or damage, genetics; E2 = Experiences and Education and Environment; M = Mind, our brain, spirit and soul; HS = Holy Spirit; Sw = spirit of the world; and Dt =/- p = demonic temptations, and possible possession

Thus: the Sum of the Sources of Influence upon an individual, or the sources which influence or effect a person’s physical, mental and spiritual operation and essence is equal to their genetic makeup (including the functioning of their neurotransmitters and cell health or damage) and the educations and experiences and enviroment (which impact their judgment and stimulate or sway a person’s choices and actions, both consciously and subconsciously) and upon this state of the individual comes the effect of the Holy Spirit (both the Spirit of the Lord’s general operation in the world – including being moved by prayers of others – and the extent to which the individual rejects or accepts the Holy Spirit) and upon the person’s status comes the general spirit of the world (specifically of their current location) and upon state or status of the individual comes the effect of the demonic (both their general operation of temptation and suggestion; and possibly the very rare situation of demonic possession).

The Long Formula and explanations are available at this link: SOURCES of INFLUENCE

Read about  Demonic cases recorded in Magnalia Christi Americana