III. Origin And Personality of demons
A. There are three primary views as to the origin of demons
1. They are fallen angels – (no scripture)
2. They are the souls of wicked men that are allowed to roam the earth (no scripture)
3. They are the Nephilim of Genesis six. The offspring between angels and women who had been taken for sexual gratification (Gen. 6:4 – Jude 1:6
Gen 6:2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives/women for themselves, whomever they chose.
(Note – The word for “wives” in the verse above can also mean “women”. It is the same word “ishshâh” in the Hebrew. Only by context can one know for sure, sometimes it isn’t clear even by context, such as in the above verse)
There is no clear biblical information as to what a demon really is, but the bible does seem to make a distinction between a demon and a fallen angel.
Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
B. Their personality
1. The Bible uses personal pronouns and assigns to them the attributes of personality, i.e. they have intellect, etc. Along with the Greek word for demons we find the following descriptive adjectives: "unclean", "evil", "more evil", "deaf", "dumb", or "mute", "spirits of infirmity", and "divination".
C. Their work
1. As Satan's subjects they carry out his work in the world. In general, their work seems to be one of temptation and deceit. I Tim. 4:1. More Specifically, they seek to torment their victims in various ways. Luke 16:13
2. They can vex, or demonize people, but they can’t own people or possess people like a product from a store.
3. They can intensify the natural strength of a person. Mt. 8:28; Mk.5:4.
4. They can speak through people using the demonized person’s voice. Mk. 5:6; Acts 16:17
5. They can amass themselves in a person. Lk. 8:2; Mk. 5:9; Matt. 12:45
6. They can change a person’s behavior. Mt. 8:28; Lk. 8:27
7. They can bring illness and physical defects. Lk. 8:2; Lk. 11:14; 13:11 Mk. 9:17
8. They can work miracles. Rev. 16:4
9. They can physically injure a person. Lk. 9:39; Mk. 1:26; Mk. 9:20;26
10.They can prophesy truth through people. Acts 16:17
11. They can cause the demonized victim to attack another person. Mt. 8:28, acts
19:1
12. Demons can pretend to be departed spirits of the dead. (familiar spirits)
Understanding the power of demons in the above verses one can ask the question, “if demons can do all the above then is it possible for a demon to penetrate through the skin of a person and enter a body of a Christian? The following are arguments that are used to say “no” to the question posed:
Next - What place can Satan have in the Life of a Believer?
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April 2, 2008 10:42 AM
