TLEM
True Light Educational Ministry
Then
you will
know the Truth and the Truth will set you free ( John
8:32)
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WHAT
ABOUT DEMONS?
Many
people, when caught doing something wrong, say the devil made me do it. We
often refer to a child getting into mischief as a demon or little devil. Most
people picture evil in a red suit with horns and a tail carrying a pitch fork.
Very few people can describe the devil and his works. Does the devil have
helpers, and if so, who and what are they?
The
devil (Lucifer, Satan) has under his control the demons, like an army who
serve him. Demons are fallen angels. They were not evil from the beginning.
The tract "What About Angels" showed that angels do exist. This is
further verified by mythologies. Nearly every ancient nation speaks of the
characteristics of beings similar to what we call angels. Babylonian mythology
pictures them as messengers from gods to men. Roman and Greek mythology use
terms such as semi-gods, fauns, and naiads, who visited the earth. Mythologies
are the faint and distorted echoes of a common primeval knowledge possessed by
the culture. If such beings as angels did not exist, we would not find them in
the traditional beliefs of the nations of old.
To
understand the role of the fallen angels, we first must review their fall.
Many Bible scholars believe that Isaiah 14 gives a description of the fall of
Lucifer, the son of the morning, also called Satan or the devil. Some feel
that this angel-prince may well have been an archangel or chief of the angels.
Ezek. 28:12-15 refers to him as the anointed cherub that covereth. Isaiah
tells of his pride and desire to ascend above the heights of the clouds and be
like the most High (Isaiah 14:13,14). In his struggle for power, he apparently
convinced and converted one third of the angels to follow him. These angels
are what we now call demons.
Unlike
God, Satan is not omnipresent, omnipotent, or omniscient. While that is true,
we must remember that he has literally millions of demons available to do his
bidding. Most people think of Satan residing in hell. However, Scripture
teaches that he resides in both heaven and here on earth (Job 1:6,7; Zechariah
3:1,2; Rev. 12:7-12). Satan designs his activities to separate man from God.
Satan
works in very clever ways. One of the special ways is that he imitates what he
is trying to defeat. Consider a counterfeit twenty dollar bill. To pass, it
must look like the real bill or we immediately reject it. Look at some of the
names in the Scriptures that refer to Satan; god of this world (II Cor. 4:4),
the deceiver (Rev. 20:10), the tempter (1 Thes 3:5), a liar (John 8:44), and
the price of demons (Beelzebub) (Matt. 12:24). His strategy has always been
the same. He bases his lies on perverting the word of God. Satan is a Bible
reader, but not a Bible lover. He reads the Scriptures to try to change God's
word.
As a
master of deception, he loves to take God's words out of context. This is
demonstrated at the fall of man (Gen. 3:1-5). Here Satan promised Eve that she
would not die, but become like God. These same promises are still being used
against man today. Today there are many groups following Satan's deceptions.
Many of these groups claim to be following the Scriptures, yet their teachings
are different. They have added to, or changed the words of God. Interestingly,
some actually teach that man will evolve to godhood. Others deny the deity of
Jesus, and His resurrection.
The
fallen angels or demons are divided into two groups. One group is the chained
or bound fallen angels (II Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Luke 8:31; Rev. 9:14). These
angels have no freedom. The second group is the unchained fallen angels. It is
these demons under Satan's control that we must be concerned about. For these
demons are described in Scripture as capable of possessing man. The New
Testament records 12 cases of people possessed by demons. In seven of these
cases Jesus personally freed them. It is interesting that in one case, the
Geresene demoniac (Matt. 8:32; Mark 5:8; Luke 8:33), many demons controlled
the victim. Seven demons possessed Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2).
Besides the 12 cases listed by name, the apostles delivered many unnamed,
possessed people (Acts 5:16; 8:7; 19:22).
In
Addition to their roles in possessing people, demons are active in many other
ways. Scriptures reveal their roles as familiar spirits (Deut. 18:11; Isa
8:10; 19:3), seducing spirits (1 Tim 4:1) and wicked spirits (Luke 11:26). The
most common of these today is the familiar spirit used by channelers, Silva
Mind Control and other occult groups. These are also most likely the spirits
used by the psychics and fortune tellers. Acts 16:16-19 gives a clear example
of this type of demon possession. Here, when Paul delivered the spirit from
the woman, she lost her ability to tell fortunes.
Scripture
records angels both holy and fallen from Genesis through Revelations. Thus we
can be sure they exist and are active today. Much of the New Age movement is
under the guidance of Satan. He uses this movement to help deceive man to
become receptive to possession by his demons. This is done in a variety of
ways. The various programs that use blank meditation, such as Yoga, open the
mind to receiving these demons. The occult practices such as channeling,
psychic readings, tarot cards, the ouija board, invite demons to control the
body. Many cases of those using ouija boards or tarot cards report that after
mastering the techniques the boards or cards are no longer needed.
As for
the psychic readings, remember it is possible for the demons to have the
information available that one believes no other living human could know. It
is these temptations that Satan uses to lead man from God.
It is
important to point out that not every evil act involves Satan or his demons.
Since man by nature is a sinner, most acts although applauded by Satan, are
not caused by him. Some acts are a result of Satan's role as a tempter. He
will use every device in his power to lead man away from God. Unfortunately,
man's nature often makes him susceptible to these temptations. The human
nature of man such as pride and lust, is in a constant battle. This human
nature is called the "flesh" in the Bible.
Christians
have an advantage over Satan and his demons. Paul tells us that Satan cannot
tempt a believer except by God's permission (2 Cor. 10:13). He also tells us
to put on the whole Armour of God so we may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil (Ephesians 6). John teaches that Satan cannot stand the blood of
Christ, nor the Christian's testimony (Rev. 12:1). Finally Christians are
under the protection of the Holy angels (see tract on angels).
Christians
should not only be aware of the temptations of Satan, but when seen point them
out to others. Often simply showing why psychic readings, horoscopes, tarot
cards, or channeling is wrong will help keep someone from falling prey to
Satan.
For
Additional Information Contact
True
Light Educational Ministry
P.O. Box
310
Shirley,
NY 11967
Telephone
(631) 395-4646
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