Ten observations on devils, demons, evil, familiar and/or unclean spirits.
To the regular reader of End Times Prophecy Report: some of the following will, no doubt, be familiar.
To the occasional reader of End Times Prophecy Report: the reader may be better acquainted with the stories of the churches and the world than of the following.
To the new reader of End Times Prophecy Report: the following will likely be new.
1- Demons/devils/evil spirits are NOT under the control of Satan.
This is one of the stories which is told by the wolves in the pulpit, popular writers and others who labor in the churches of the tares. There is NOTHING to support this contention in all of God’s Word.
Nothing.
Now, there are MUTUAL interests which occur–as among any group of like-minded creatures. One such illustration of this is Revelation 16:13-14. But Satan does NOT control demons/devils/evil spirits: God does.
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
Satan does NOT send devils/demons/evil spirits: Satan has no control over these spirits.
Satan has no more control over demons/devils/evil spirits than the car mechanic down the street.
2- God controls devils/demons/evil spirits.
As the creator of all, this makes perfect sense.
It is also biblical, as ALL verses from the Old Testament concerning evil spirits affirm that evil spirits are sent FROM GOD.
“Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.”
–Judges 9:23-24
“But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.”
–1SAMUEL 16:14-16
“And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.”
–1SAMUEL 16:23
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.”
–1SAMUEL 18:10
“And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.”
–1SAMUEL 19:9
“And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.”
–1KINGS 22:19-23
3- Devils/demons/evil spirits are a judgment from God on the wicked and disobedient.
As the previous Old Testament verses signify.
And even if the one who is sent affliction does not recognize his actions as sin and disobedience.
4- Devils/demons/evil spirits may be cast out IN THE NAME OF JESUS by believers. They may also, on occasion, be cast out by non-believers.
However, those who are not saved apparently also can cast out demons (at least at times) using the name of Jesus.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
—Matthew 7:22-23Notice that Jesus doesn’t tell these people “I don’t know you now” or “I no longer know you.” He says He “never knew” them.
Yet they were able to cast out demons in His name. Or at least they claimed to have cast out demons in His name.
—EXORCISM: 10 Observations on Casting Out Demons
5- Devils/demons/evil spirits are cast out of a person IN THE NAME OF JESUS by God–not by church-appointed exorcists; not by church-approved rituals; not by “holy water” or Bible verses or anything else other than the power of God through the name of Jesus.
As Jesus put it: “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.”
—Luke 11:20
“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”
–Luke 10:17
6- Devils/demons/evil spirits are agents of torment and affliction–even if the one being tormented does not recognize this.
Even if the one being tormented and afflicted believes the devil/demon/familiar or evil spirit is a great treasure which unlocks powers others do not possess.
EVEN IF the one who has accessed the evil spirit–in direct defiance of God’s Word–has jumped through many hoops in order to access this spirit.
These spirits are sent by God to torment and afflict those who are disobedient–particularly to those who practice what the Bible calls “abominations.”
Through this torment and affliction, God attempts to have the afflicted one examine what might be wrong and causing him all of the trouble. In this way, repentance comes about at times.
“But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.”
–1SAMUEL 16:14
7- Many tales are told by the world and the church folk concerning devils/demons/evil spirits.
There are many of these deceptive tales.
WHY would such tales be told?
IF One Does Not Know the Problem, One Can Never Find a Solution
A few of these tales are:
8- Evil spirits are fallen angels.
We can KNOW this is untrue because the Bible specifically declares that fallen angels are in chains beneath the earth until the day of judgment.
NOT running around tormenting and afflicting man.
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
–Jude 1:6
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment”
–2PETER 2:4
(Though there are a few specific bound angels which are released a bit earlier in order to carry out specific tasks from God.
“Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.”
–Revelation 9:14
9- Christians (believers) cannot be troubled by evil spirits.
There is NOTHING in the Bible about believers being exempt from devils/demons/evil spirits.
“He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.”
–Job 36:15
In oppression, i.e. in the time of their oppression. Or, by oppression or tribulation, as the means of opening their ears and hearts.
–Matthew Poole Commentary
God has a variety of ways to chastise those he loves, depending on the need.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
–Romans 3:19
10- Devils/demons/evil spirits are NOT attached to houses, relics, or some other inanimate object.
Demons do not “haunt” places.
They strongly desire to be in the BODY of someone.
They constantly seek a host.
“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.”
—Luke 11:24
—EXORCISM: 10 Observations on Casting Out Demons
There is more–MUCH MORE–to be said on this topic.
It has been almost four years since we last addressed the specifics of this subject.
God willing, a return to this discussion shall not take as long this time.
God willing, the discussion WILL continue…
MORE: OBSERVATIONS: Archives
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: August 16-18, 2019.]
MORE
- EXORCISM: 10 Observations on Casting Out Demons
- Everyday Demons: Demons in Everyday Life
- Demons, Devils, Familiar Spirits: The Demonic is a Perfect Judgment from God
- Alter Ego and Possession
- Ten Clues One is Afflicted With Evil Spirits
- Voices
- The Normalizing of Illegitimate Supernatural Power in the End Times
- Rich, Celebrated and Possessed: The Deception of Possession
- Comedians: Insanity, Torment and the Demonic
- Hearing Voices
- Ancient Israel, Modern America: Sickness, Disease and the Multitudes
- The Afflicted Multitudes
- Forming Thoughts and Taking Them Captive
- Not Everything is a Physical Cause-and-Effect Relationship: Great End Times Deceptions
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- Man Struggles Against God
- God is in Control
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- Tender Mercies of the Lord: Will Not Always Be Available
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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