Demons

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. –Ephesians 6:12

What are demons? How do you picture them? Below I’ve included a few descriptive elements that describe their nature. Why do I care? I’m a fiction writer.

Satan converses with God. In Job 1:6-7 Satan converses with God. That’s interesting. How is it that the spiritual world consists of evil and good, darkness and light, and the two appear to be in the same place? Can Satan come and go in heaven as he pleases? This brings up the question as to whether Satan is actually an agent of God that was created for the sole purpose of giving man free will. Thoughts?

In Exodus 7:11 it is made known that Satan can imitate God.

Ephesians 2:1-2 says he is the ruler of the kingdom of the air. I wonder what this kingdom is?

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. –Genesis 6:4

Since demons are rebellious and Satan is perhaps governed by God’s allowance, are there or were there demons that rebelled even against Satan? Could this explain the presence of Nephilim? I realize there is debate over what Gn 6:4 means, so this question is based off a few assumptions. I do wonder, aside from the Nephilim, whether there are demons that rebel against the authority of Satan as well though.

Throughout the Bible we see demons cast out and bound, but can they be killed? Can you ever actually extinguish an eternal being? When they fight, can they be hurt or is spiritual battle won by the use of words and calling on authority? But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” –Jude 1:9

Has anyone realized that demons can possess children? Matthew 15:22-29, Mark 7:25-30

A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind. John 10:21 One would assume that this means demons cannot actually do healing.

Finally, a demon that’s cast out goes through arid places seeking rest, but finds none. Read the following story.

Luke 11:14-26 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, “By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils. “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.

“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.”

I’m not sure what this all means to you, but it might give you a better idea about the nature of demons. I’m really interested to hear what you think, so leave comments and we’ll get a lively discussion going.