Do Demons Still Possess?

For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all. - Acts 23:8 HCSB

[1]I find it ironic that two thousand years later we are still debating this issue. Both the Scriptures and practical experience indicate that demonic influence has not waned. There is no indication in the Word that their activity ever declined during the beginning of the Church.

Jesus taught that people will attempt use their powers of exorcism as an argument for their salvation on the Day of Judgment[2], which would seem to indicate that demons will both possess humans and be evicted from humans down to the very end.

Paul warned the Corinthians that though idols are only so much wood and stone, the demons that surround those idols are very real and should be taken into consideration.[3] Just because they cannot possess Christians does not mean that they are harmless. Besides, who would want to offend the Lord by participating in any ceremony that glorifies the enemy?

I am not an advocate of conspiracy theories. I don’t think the Illuminati are manipulating us. I do, however, believe that there are too many coincidences in the field of politicosocioeconomics for there to not be some coordination going on. Paul also gave us some insight into the vast spiritual cabal that orchestrates many of the world’s conspiracies. He said that the Devil is the ruler of the atmospheric domain and that He is the spirit that works in the disobedient.[4]

This atmospheric principle has something going on that I haven’t seen carefully examined in the theological tomes I have read. Satan roams the earth, and walks around on it.[5] However, when he tried to harm Job directly, without influencing the minds of humans,[6] he used lightning[7] and wind.[8] I think that it is significant that he used the same tactics on the Messiah.[9] Paul also described demonic forces as being “in the heavens.”[10] At some point, I want to take the time to carefully consider the ramifications of that idea.

Back to the question! The Devil has carefully considered tactics and Christians are to do battle with Lucifer’s spiritual horde. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil that are in the heavens.[11]

This is why we must be careful to wear spiritual armor composed of truth, righteousness, readiness to witness, faith and above all salvation. We must always pray and act under the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we don’t expose ourselves to the flaming arrows of the evil one. [12]

If we keep these passages in mind, it becomes clear that demons still exist and are an immanent threat. To think otherwise is foolish and very, very dangerous.

[1] St. Anthony Plagued by Demons; by Martin Schongauer; 1480s
[2] Matthew 7:22
[3] 1 Corinthians 10:18-22
[4] Ephesians 2:1-2; 1 John 5:19
[5] Job 1:7
[6] Job 1:15
[7] Job 1:16
[8] Job 1:19
[9] Mark 4:36-41
[10] Ephesians 6:12
[11] Ephesians 6:11-12
[12] Ephesians 6:13-18