A survey regarding
“Do Demons Really Exist?” came up with an interesting result.
“With nearly 1500 Christians responding
to the survey, a whopping 94% said that they believe that demons really do
exist. Most participants reported that because the Bible mentions demons
throughout the Old and New Testaments, demons must exist.”[1]
Now that is a huge group who say
that demons exist. However, when it comes to demons
there are various myths and ideas, but what does the Bible have to say on
the topic?
The Bible, in
reality, has quite a lot to say about demons. Jesus Christ recognised their
existence, Matt 10:1,8; 12:27-28; 25:41; Mk 5:1-16; 16:17; Lk 10:17. Paul also
acknowledged their existence, 1 Cor 10:20. The Old Testament records the
existence of demons, Lev 17:7; Deut 32:17; 2 Chron 11:15; Ps 106:36-37; 95:5;
Is 13:21; 34:14. The New Testament also admits their reality: Matt 12:27,28;
25:41; Lk 10:17; Acts 16:16-18; Jas 2:19; Rev 9:20; 12:4. It has been stated
that,
“Demons are evil spirits that are
opposed to God and God's people… Demons are spiritual beings without physical
form.”[2]
The following
are some of the terms used in the Bible to describe demons, which says
something regarding their nature:
·
Spirit beings: Matt 6:16; 8:6
·
Unclean spirits: Matt 12:43
·
The devil’s angels: Matt 25:41
·
Devils: Mk 1:32
·
Evil spirits: Lk 7:21; 10:17,20
There appear to be a number of
demons, even if we are unable to get a specific total. John in Revelation 12:7
spoke about a war between Michael and his angels and the Dragon (Satan) and his
angels. While in Mark 5:8,9 is
recorded there were a legion (about 6000)
unclean spirits one person. Paul mentioned, “…evil rulers and authorities of
the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits
in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12 NLT). This alludes to numerous possible
rankings of demons.
A far as the
Christian author C.S. Lewis was concerned demons existed. He brought a balanced
perspective on the matter, which would be good to note here. In the preface to
his book on this matter The Screwtape
Letters he said,
“There are two
equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is
to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and to feel an
excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased
by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”[3]
Pause in His presence for a
moment and think this over…
[1] “Do Demons
Really Exist?” http://christiannews.christianet.com/1248356394.htm (24th
October 2018).
[2] “What are
demons?” https://carm.org/demons (24th
October 2018).
[3] Lewis, C.S. The Screwtape Letters. (New York, NY:
HarperCollins, 1996), ix.
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