PART 1-A: DEMON POSSESSION DEFINED AND EXPLAINED
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1. SOURCES OF SUPERNATURAL POWER
There are only two sources of supernatural power in the universe. The first source is made up of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the holy angels; they represent the forces for good. The second source of supernatural power consists of Satan and his demons. They represent the forces for evil.
The term "supernatural" means something above the laws of nature. If something is truly supernatural and cannot be attributed to God and the power under His control, it must be attributed to Satan and the power under his control. There is no neutral supernatural power. There is no white magic and there are no friendly ghosts.
If a happening or phenomenon is supernatural and cannot be explained by the laws of nature, the source of power is on a short list. It is either of God or of Satan.
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5. The Origin of Satan and His Demons
The Bible clearly teaches that there are supernatural beings which have superhuman powers. Holy angels are the agents of God and serve at His pleasure. Demons are the agents of Satan and are dedicated to support his evil activities.[...]
The Bible teaches that God always was but Satan and his demons seem to have an origin. Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden so we know he is at least as old as the human race. How much older than Adam and Eve Satan might be is not known. However, the book of Revelation talks about a war in heaven. Although this book is generally considered to contain prophecies about the end times, in Chapter 12:7-9, the writer (John) seems to have used the historic past tense. As John describes it, there was war in heaven. God and the good angels were on one side and Satan with the evil angels were on the other side. Satan and his angels lost that war and were thrown out of heaven and down onto the earth. This is the best information the Bible provides on the origin of Satan's demons. The conflict between God and Satan will continue until God puts Satan and all his demons in the lake of fire where they will be punished forever, as described in Rev. 12:17 and Rev. 20:10.
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3. Satan's Limited Power
Although Satan does have some supernatural power, there is a limit to this power. The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:4 that "greater is He that is in us (the Holy Spirit) than he that is in the world (Satan)." A powerful illustration of this is found in Revelation 20:1-3 where John, the Revelator, describes what will happen at the beginning of the millennium (the thousand years of peace): "And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him . . . "
This shows the relative power of God and Satan. When it comes time for Satan to be put in his place, God won't need to do it. He won't ask Jesus or the Holy Spirit to do it. He'll just deputize an angel and that's all it will take to completely neutralize Satan.
In the meantime, though, Satan and his demons have real power. Within the limits God has set, Satan and his demons can do real spiritual damage to humans who are not filled by and, therefore, protected by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Demons in the Bible
There is no doubting that demon possession is mentioned frequently in the Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament. Skeptics may claim these accounts of demon possession were really ignorant and superstitious descriptions of such clinical problems as mental illness and epilepsy. However, one of the Gospels was written by a physician named Luke. In fact, the most complete account of the Virgin Birth is recorded by Luke in Chapters 1 and 2 of his Gospel.
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Before going on, we need to clearly understand our terms. I will use the terms Satan and demon exclusively when I talk about the forces of evil, with the exception of direct quotations from the Bible. In the King James Version of the Bible, the term "devil" is sometimes used to refer to Satan and at other times, "devil" refers to one or more of Satan's demons. I will always say Satan when I am talking about the chief of all evil. When I am talking about one of Satan's underlings, I will use the term demon. I will not use the term devil at all, in order to avoid confusion.
C. Demons Knew Who Jesus Was
The word demon comes from the ancient root "da", meaning the knowing ones. From the beginning, the demons knew who Jesus was and they knew something about His mission here on earth.
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D. Demons or Illness?
Physical healing was an important part of the earthly ministry of Jesus. However, Luke makes a clear distinction between physical healing and providing deliverance from demon possession, as shown in these verses.
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E. Demons and Epilepsy
Luke records a case where a child's demon possession caused what we would call epilepsy today. ....
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F. Demons and Speech Disability
Luke also documents the case of a person who had his speech restored when he was delivered from demon possession. ....
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G. Multiple Demons Possessed a Single Person
Luke records two case of persons who were possessed by multiple demons. These cases are important, also, when considering multiple personalities, reincarnation, and channeling.
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H. Physical Disability Caused By a Demon
In Luke 13:10-13, he documents the case of a woman who had a physical disability for eighteen years because of a demon....
I. Summary of Luke's Writings About Demons
- Demons knew who Jesus was: Luke 4:33-35; Luke 4:41.
- Difference between those who were sick and those who were demon possessed: Luke 4:41-42; Luke 7:20-21.
- Some had multiple demons: Luke 8:2; Luke 8:30.
- Demon caused violence and epilepsy in a child: Luke 9:38-42
- Demon caused speech disability: Luke 11:14
- Demon caused physical disability: Luke 13:10-13
4 Real Evil
Demons are real personalities, not just some vague presence of evil. In our society, we have trivialized reference to evil powers. A comedian of the 70s was known for the phrase, "the devil made me do it!" Today, the term demon or devil can show up in a car name, a brand name, or even the name of an athletic team.
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Hollywood and demons.
Hollywood is convinced of the existence of literal demonic entities. Movies such as "The Exorcist", "Gremlins", and "Poltergeist" depict demons as actual personalities. In April 1989, a part of a Jim Henson TV special featured a story about demons and their interaction with humans. And Jim Henson is the originator of the "Muppets," a program for children.
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...when passive aggression is not enough to achieve Satan's evil objectives, the demons become Satan's strike force in bringing offensive warfare to bear against humans.
Satan's favorite offensive weapon is demon possession. The Bible has many documented cases of how demons do possess the mind, will, and even body of human beings. Everything you may have read or heard about fictional demons is spelled out in vivid detail in the New Testament of the Bible. See Section 2 of Part 1 for specific examples.
Modern demon possession rarely takes the form of uncontrolled violence and manic behavior. Demons prefer to keep a low profile and possess persons for very brief periods of time. In fact, the victims may be prominent and respected members of society.
7. Symptoms of Demon Possession
Demon possession may last for relatively brief periods of time for any one individual. The rest of the time, the victim of demon possession may appear normal by social standards. Only when a demon is in residence will its presence be detectable in terms of the behavior of the victim. The behavior of these short-term victims of demon possession is characterized by four basic symptoms. These symptoms may appear alone or in groups, for just seconds of time, and in varying degrees of intensity.
The four basic symptoms are: (1) violence, (2) lust, (3) greed, and (4) an unnatural power of persuasion. A born-again (and Spirit-filled) Christian can discern the presence of demons in a human by using a technique which has been used by physicians for centuries: a study of the presence of symptoms. Although the demon (or demons) may never manifest itself openly by causing the victim to speak in a coarse, guttural voice or to act out in an antisocial manner, a study of the past behavior of such a person will reveal the presence of violence, lust, greed, and/or an unnatural power of persuasion.
A. Violence.
There is little doubt that all serial killers and serial arsonists are demon possessed. The classic case is Ted Bundy, who mixed violence with lust. (See Part 2-B, Section 9, for a discussion of demons and criminal behavior.)
Massacre killers are clearly demon possessed, whether the scene of the crime is a school yard, a restaurant, or a commuter train. An assault weapon in the hands of a demon-possessed killer is a frightening thought, indeed. However, after the demonic urge to kill has passed, such a murderer may appear calm, in complete control, and even contrite. This is because of the intermittent nature of modern demon possession.
Violence against family members seems to be on the rise. This includes spousal abuse as well as child abuse. What makes a prominent and well thought of member of the community physically abuse his wife, to the point where someone calls 9-1-1? What drives a parent to go far beyond corporal punishment and cause physical injury which requires medical treatment? Intermittent demon possession is the clear answer. (See the discussion of demonic time-sharing in Section 10 of Part 1-B.
Suicide is frequently associated with demon possession, especially in teens and in adults, where there is no discernible cause. If a demon can induce a person to commit suicide who has not yet accepted Jesus Christ as a personal Savior, Satan has won the battle for that soul forever.
B. Lust.
There is a distinct difference between normal sexual desire and lust. The Bible clearly endorses sex within marriage to the point of full orgasm for both parties. The only sexual sin which can be committed between two people united in holy matrimony is selfishness. (See 1 Cor. 7:1-9 and Heb. 13:4.)
Lust is sexual activity outside the bonds and bounds of legal marriage. This includes fornication (sexual intercourse between two persons who are not married), adultery (sexual intercourse when one or both parties are married to someone else), homosexuality, incest, bestiality (sex activities between humans and animals), and child molestation.
Demons are drawn by a human's interest in illicit sex. Therefore, using pornography in combination with indulging in sexual fantasies is dangerous. Regarding using pornography, Ted Bundy said, "Like an addiction, you keep craving something which is harder, something which gives you a greater sense of excitement until you reach the point where the pornography only goes so far. You reach that jumping off point where you begin to wonder if maybe actually doing it will give you that which is beyond reading about it or looking at it."
When two people are both demon possessed, they may have a lustful affinity for each other which defies all logic. As a minimum, such lustful affinity causes the end of marriages and careers. Often, demon-induced lust leads to murder, completing the profile.
A horrible mix of demonic violence and lust occurs in the case of a person who abducts a child, followed by rape and murder. The media fully documented such a case in late 1993, where an adolescent girl was kidnapped from her own home during a slumber party and later murdered.
C. Greed
Greed here is defined as a need for power as well as money. Problems in this area which relate to demon possession range from irrational shoplifting to overselling time shares.
D. An Unnatural Power of Persuasion
The modern cult leader is a classic example of a person with a demon enhanced power of persuasion. This is persuasive power which goes beyond a charismatic personality coupled with effective communication skills. This is the kind of persuasion which can convince large groups of people to band together with no visible and logical reasons for doing so. A cursory review of the lives of contemporary cultists will show an unnatural power of persuasion coupled with violence, lust, or greed in case after case.
8. Symptoms in Children
Children may have learning or behavior problems which are not directly linked to violence, lust, greed, or an unnatural power of persuasion. However, the Bible clearly documents a case of a young boy who had all the symptoms of what we call epilepsy today. (See Part 1-A, Section 2 of this booklet and Luke 9:38-42.) Both Jesus and the author of the Gospel of Luke (who was a physician) diagnosed the source of the problem as demon possession: "Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father." We now know how to treat epilepsy with anticonvulsants but who knows how many other cases of childhood behavior problems have a demon as the root cause? Parents of children who have certain behavior problems and learning difficulties should consult a Christian psychologist who understands demon possession.
9. Disabilities as Symptoms
The casual reader of the Bible may not be aware that there are at least two cases documented by Doctor Luke where a disability was caused by a demon. In Luke 11:14, a man who didn't speak was able to amaze the crowd with his speaking ability after Jesus drove out his demon.
The second case involved a woman who appeared to have a severe physical disability and hadn't stood up straight for 18 years because of a demon. In Luke 13:10-13, she stood straight when Jesus placed his hands on her and healed her.
It would be dangerous to assume that every person with a disability is demon possessed. However, we may never know how many such cases do involve demons. Parents and human service professionals should be especially suspicious of problems for which there is no discernible physiological or neurological cause. This list should include schizophrenia as characterized by "hearing voices".
[reformatting: boboroshi ] [original URL: http://www.opendoor.com/Higher.Ground/part1a.html]
- The Ordur of Kaos Under Satan (TOKUS)
-- the underlying k@s that makes all this possible
- Satanism Archive
- Smackers -- self-described Satanist expressions
- Compare outsiders' descriptions of Satanism and satanism:
- Propaganda -- non-Satanist religious and academics
- Delusion -- 'satanic ritual abuse' fear-mongering
- Mother Church (CoE)
-- the progenitrix of eco-ethics
items referenced in this archive are
copyright the authors cited per the Berne standard.
Illustr. credits: "krampustile" was cybercrafted by tyagi nagasiva, after
having been scanned from a 1932 postcard printed by "Erika" with krampus on
red and white background, 1998; 'Snake Bar Devils' is an improvement on the
'Authentic Candle of Desperation' packaging from Botanica Del Leon Rayon
(Mexico) by tyagi nagasiva, 1998.
Related sites of interest:
SATANITY, SATANISM, DEVILRY, AND INFERNALITY
The Gospel of Satan: the story of Jesus and the angels, from the perspective of the God of this World
Satanism Bibliography: composite booklist of relevant sources on Satanity and devildom, by category
Satanic Blood Pact: explanation of how, why, and when to make a blood pact with the Devil
Adversarial AEon Begins: the particular and specific incident of a Satanic Blood Pact described
Manifesto Satanika: a generalized Satanic sociopolitical manifesto, with a helpful elaboration
nocTifer: a tender-hearted Satanian (nagasiva yronwode) in all avenues of expression
Bookmarks in compilation from the Magus of the AEon of the AdversaryMAGIC, SPELLS, AND DIVINATION
Hoodoo in Theory and Practice by cat yronwode: an introduction to African-American rootwork
Southern Spirits: 19th and 20th century hoodoo accounts, with ex-slave narratives & interviews
Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers: readings and hoodoo services
Hoodoo Library facilitating an education on conjure, and help procuring modern sources
Herb Magic: illustrated descriptions of magic herbs with free spells, and a way to obtain them
Free Spells from eclectic witches, Coven Kyklos, in their Book of Shadows, called "Spiritual Spells"
Lucky Mojo Spell Archives: love spells, money spells, luck spells, protection spells, and more
Mystic Tea Room: tea leaf reading, teacup divination, and a museum of antique fortune telling cups
Tarosymbolismatrix Tetraktypisciseferoticus: the symbolic foundation of a novel Tarot deck
Change Oracle: rudiments of Yijing (I Ching) and several means of using it for readings
Lucky W Amulet Archive by cat yronwode: an online museum of worldwide talismans and charms
Usenet FAQ Archive: arcane and spiritual FAQs and REFs, brought to you by Lucky Mojo
YIPPIE: the Yronwode Institution, bearing the standard of indigenous ethnomagicologyOCCULTISM, MYSTICISM, AND RELIGION
Arcane Archive: thousands of archived usenet posts on religion, magic, mysticism, and spirituality
Missionary Independent Spiritual Church: inter-faith; candle services; Smallest Church in the World
Sacred Sex: essays and articles on neo-tantra, karezza, sex magic, and sex worship
Aleister Crowley Text Archive: a multitude of texts by an early 20th century occultist