Demons on a Leash

Haunted houses, ghosts, demons—our Western culture can’t seem to get enough of the spirit world. The latest Gallup poll indicates that 42% of Americans believe in demon possession, 37% believe in haunted houses, and 32% believe in ghosts. (Not just Americans are enthralled—40% of the British believe in haunted houses, too.)

Though interest in the paranormal is widespread, the majority of people are skeptical. They discount all spirit activity, going so far as to deny the existence of Satan and demons. Atheists stated this view succinctly in a sign they planted next to a manger scene for Christmas 2008 at the capitol building in Olympia, Washington:

There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world.

What is the Christian position?

Clearly, outright denial of Satan and demons is not the answer. That view rejects the revelation in the Bible and the phenomena witnessed clearly and broadly in many lands and societies. The first- and second-world countries, not just third-world countries, experience demonic powers, whether knowingly or unknowingly.

As the former chairman of the theology department at Moody Bible Institute and author of Demon Possession & the Christian, I have carefully studied such topics. Demons are real and need to be taken seriously, even if many claims about evil spirits are fabricated or exaggerated.

Unless we have a biblical view of God, mankind, and the spirit world, we will not have the perspective to understand the evil that plagues our world.

Biblical Perspective on Satan’s Role

How does the Bible throw light on this problem? The biblical answer is connected to the fall of Satan and his angels and his role in the fall of the head of all mankind, Adam.

How could a good and powerful God allow evil spirits to trouble us since the very beginning?

First, let’s recall several truths about the nature of God, the limitations on fallen angels, and God’s final judgment.

The God Factor. The same Bible that presents the inception and continuation of sin and evil also presents God as One who is holy, righteous, and perfect in all His ways and who hates evil (Deuteronomy 32:3–4). He is sovereign, omnipotent, and in control. He has no potential successful rival (Isaiah 41:4, 43:13; Revelation 4:11). Evil did not rise up apart from His control; otherwise, He would not be God.

It seems best to say that God, for good reasons, allowed evil to come into being. Believers confess that God is the Author of a plan, a perfect plan, that included allowing His creatures to choose to sin (Isaiah 45:7; Acts 14:16). His ultimate good purpose must be best served by such a plan.

Perhaps He allowed angels to sin so that He might give a concrete example of the wretchedness and degradation of sin. Perhaps He used the test to gain a group of angels to serve Him from choice and love while others fell. By this means He could show in specific form His hatred and judgment of sin, as in Pharaoh’s case (Romans 9:17–18). We would never know the magnitude of God’s grace in preserving most of the angels and in the costly redemption of unworthy, sinful man. The price of our redemption is the death of the eternal Son of God, who became our God-man Redeemer.

The Angel Factor. Satan was the lead angel, but in pride he deliberately chose to sin against his Creator. The responsibility falls on him, not on God in any way. The angels who joined Satan planned their rebellion despite all they knew of the greatness and goodness of God.

Moreover, Scripture reveals that God is sovereign over these evil spirits and has always limited the expression of their sin and its devastating effects. He allows it for only a finite time between Satan’s fall and His coming judgment. Further, He controls the magnitude of Satan’s evil even within that time frame (Psalm 11:4–7, 96:1–13; Romans 2:1–16).

The Judgment Factor. God in His righteousness has condemned sin in the fullest sense. He has judged it throughout human history. He also judged it in awesome dimensions in the sacrifice of His eternal Son, a sacrificial punishment more than all creatures combined could ever suffer. Ultimately, God will forever punish Satan, his demonic hordes, and all other evildoers in the lake of fire, and He will banish sin forever from the universe when He makes all things new in the new heavens and earth (Revelation 20:10–15, 21:4–5).

So scripture guarantees that God is in full control of His creation; He did not cause evil, and He will judge all evil.

Demons Through the Ages

Demons have always opposed God, His purposes, and His people. In the Old Testament days, demons brought attacks against God’s nation, Israel. Demons also oppose the Church, Christ’s body.

They promote false doctrine and divisions, they produce false teachers and followers, and they incite persecution. No other religion of the world receives such opposition and deadly persecution. Satan and demons hate the Messiah—the Creator who became the Savior—and anyone who follows Him.

Satan and demons have not faded from the scene. They continue their evil activity. Their activity is more blatant in some places than others, but their presence is still experienced worldwide. The Bible warns that their activity will reach new heights in the future. The pinnacle of satanic activity will be embodied in Antichrist and his program (2 Thessalonians 2:9). However, Satan and his fallen angels will ultimately be defeated, and God will throw Satan and his angels into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7–10; Matthew 25:41).

God will create new heavens and a new earth in which believers will enjoy His presence and provisions forever. Throughout eternal ages, righteousness will permanently rule on earth (2 Peter 3:13); and Satan, demons, and human evildoers will be forever punished. By God’s goodness and grace, those who place their trust in Christ will enjoy a wonderful world where there are no more fears, tears, pains, or deaths. There will be no recycling of evil. Evil will be forever banished (Revelation 21–22).

Demonic Activity in the World

Demons are alive and active today, but we can rest in the reality of our Father’s gracious and powerful control.

According to the Bible, demons are real spiritual and personal beings, not just forces or phenomena in the physical and psychological realm. Various Bible passages reveal that they have intellect, emotions, and will. They think, hate, and choose plans of action against God, Christ, and mankind. They especially hate believers in Christ because believers belong to Christ and are foes of Satan.

The Scriptures provide many details about demons. They are spirit beings created by God and responsible to God (Colossians 1:16). They are creatures limited in space, time, and powers. They have become morally perverted and are called “unclean spirits” (Matthew 10:1) or “evil spirits” (Luke 7:21). They promote immoral and sensuous lifestyles (2 Peter 2:1–18). They cause false teachers of depraved minds to oppose the truth and appeal to carnal and selfish impulses (2 Timothy 3:6). They sow false followers of Christ in the world (Matthew 13:37–42). They blind the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing God’s salvation through faith in His Son (2 Corinthians 4:3–4).

Demons promote primitive religions, magic, superstition, and worship of evil spirits. They are the dynamic behind idolatry and their devotees, whether worshipers of the gods Marduk, Asher, Zeus, Jupiter, Apollo, Ra, Diana, Aphrodite, or a host of lesser manmade deities. Witchcraft and astrology are among the earliest false religions that they have inspired in the minds of men. Satanism stands out among their more recent promotions.

The Bible reveals that demons may invade and seek to control humans (Luke 22:3–4). The Greek word for “demon possession” denotes “demon-caused passivity.” It is used of an internal control manifest in either physical or psychological problems.

Demonic Opposition to Believers

Demons—those rebellious angels who followed Satan—especially target true believers who are a threat to them. At least sixteen passages in the New Testament address demonic opposition to Christians. Perhaps their greatest deceptive device is that of counterfeiting (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). Satan sought to be like God, and so he imitates some of God’s powers (as did the magicians in Pharaoh’s court) and distorts God’s message.

Perhaps demons’ greatest deceptive device is that of counterfeiting. They promote legalism as well as license.

Christians must beware of any changes to the gospel of God’s saving grace in Christ. Satan promotes legalism, as well as license (Galatians 5:1–4, 13–14). So Christians must guard their lives by following God’s truth and depending upon the Holy Spirit, lest they let their sinful desires overrule God’s will.

Demons tempt and seek to lead true believers astray from following Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). They promote rebellion and posit slander against God and men (Genesis 3:1–6; Revelation 12:9). They abhor the grace of God and attack the character of God by causing people to think of Him as dominating, restricting, and vengeful. They attack a Christian’s confidence and commitment to Christ, and in their place they insert accusing thoughts.1 They tempt people to lie, to commit sexual sins, to be preoccupied with this world’s values, to rely on human wisdom, to be proud in spiritual matters. They bring discouragement and division, both doctrinal and relational. They incite persecution, prevent service, and infiltrate the church. In each case, we have a choice to make—to give in or stand firm in Christ.

God’s Provision in Our Battle

Every believer is engaged, either knowingly or unknowingly, in direct conflict with Satan and his demons. This is the point of Paul’s warning in Ephesians 6:10–18. If we Christians submit to God, we can depend upon His strengthening for this conflict. We must avail ourselves to God’s provision of spiritual armor.

We should consider ourselves already equipped with the first three pieces of armor, which we received as a result of our position in Christ. We have the belt of truth because we are in Christ, who is the truth of God, and we need not seek truth within any other religion or philosophy. We have the breastplate of Christ’s righteousness through justification by faith. Our feet are covered by the non-slip shoes of peace with God, which we received through the blood of Christ. When we run into opposition, we must remember that God is not against us. He is for us!

In everyday life, we must consciously take up the next three pieces of armor. The shield of faith is confidence in God, His character, and His Word that wards off demonic lies. We must put on the helmet of the hope (certainty) of deliverance in the battle, for we are on the winning side. We are never to give up. Wielding the sword of the Spirit means living by and applying the appropriate sayings of scripture when we face the enemy, just as the Lord Jesus did when He was tested (Matthew 4:1–11).

God’s Sovereign Control

In facing Satan and demons, we believers can rest in the reality of our Father’s gracious and powerful control. We know He has placed limits on our enemies. He did so in the case of Job, one of God’s exemplary followers. In the first attack, the Creator allowed Satan only to touch Job’s possessions, not Job himself (Job 1:12). In the second attack, God allowed Satan to touch only Job’s body, not take his life (Job 2:6). After all of his trials, Job recognized the goodness and power of God (Job 42:1–6).

So God limits the demonic attacks in our world today. Satan is on a leash, and we are under God’s protection (Psalm121:5–8). That does not mean we will never face difficulties or trials, for those are part of this fallen world (and sometimes result from the direct attacks of spiritual beings, Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10). But it does mean we can trust God with whatever comes at us in the battle. We belong inseparably to the Lord (Romans 8:31–39). He guards us and keeps us as we trust in Him (1 Peter 5:6–7). We are to submit to God and resist the devil; then he will flee from us (James 4:7).

Our Authority in the Battle

Demons are alive and active today, not to be dismissed or played with. If you suspect demonic activity in your own life or the life of someone you know, the Bible has the answers.

As a result of our trust in Christ, we enjoy the privileged position of co-crucifixion (Romans 6:3–4), co-resurrection, and exaltation (Romans 6:5; Ephesians 1:19–2:3). This means we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies, far above all angelic opponents. We can have victory over them.

To face successfully the evil in this world, no matter what form it takes, we must recognize the reality and schemes of Satan and his fellow fallen angels, take our stand in the strength and authority of Christ, submit our lives to God, put on the full armor of God, and boldly stand on the truths of God in the face of challenges and temptations by our leashed spiritual enemies.