SCRIPTURAL BASIS FOR DEMONS

Are they real? There is no doubt that the Bible, interpreted in literal fashion, testifies very clearly to the reality and activity of demons.

EVIDENCE FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. A spirit being spoke through the serpent in Genesis 3 and caused the fall of man. Satan is named the “ruler of the demons” (Matt. 12:24)

2. A demon volunteered to be a “lying spirit” to Ahab (1 Kings 22:20-22)

3. There were spirit beings energizing the world rulers in the time of Daniel (Dan. 10:13-20)

4. No fewer than five different Hebrew words are translated by the Greek Septuagint version of the Old Testament by the well known New Testament Greek words daimon or daimonion. They are shedbim [Deut. 32:17, Ps. 106:37], setrim [Lev. 17:7] ‘elilim [Ps. 96:5] gad [Isa.65:11], and qeter [Ps.91:6]

EVIDENCE FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

More than 100 references to demons sprinkle the New Testament. Four Greek terms definitely refers to demons. Diamon is used once in the critical editions of the New Testament [Matt. 8:31]. Daimonion occurs 63 times, and pneumata [spirits] appears 43 times. The general term for angels, angelos, describes demons in several contexts [Matt. 25:41, Rev. 12:7, 9]

It is a significant testimony to the reality of demons that every writer [though not every book] of the New Testament, except the author of Hebrews, mentions demons or evil angels. Even Hebrews however, directly names the devil [Heb. 2:14].

EVIDENCE FROM THE TESTIMONY OF CHRIST

1. Jesus accepted the fact that Satan was the ruler of an army of demons. (Matt.12:22-28)

2. He regarded Satan and demons as morally responsible persons who were guilty and assigned to the lake of fire (Matt. 25:411)

3. He placed His claims to messiahship partly on His miraculous ability to cast out demons. (Matt. 12:28)

4. He gave His disciples authority to cast out demons (Matt. 10:1)

5. A larger part of His ministry involved the casting out of demons.

The gospels record seventeen mentions of demons connected with the ministry of Christ, and in nine cases they specifically state that Jesus cast out the demon.
From all these evidences, we cannot profess to believe the Bible and deny the reality of demons.