Demonology
This is the closing part of a detailed biblical study into the existence, attributes, and operations of demons.
The concluding section should provoke deep thinking. While one is deeply grateful for the omnipotence of the indwelling Spirit of Power, he should be on his guard lest he be ensnared by the evil one, Satan, and the ensnarement be accomplished by these sinister denizens of darkness. — Ed.
Destination Of Demons
That their judgment is sealed, along with their chief “Satan”, Scripture is very clear. In Colossians 2:15 it is written that through His cross our Lord Jesus Christ spoiled “principalities” and “powers”, making a show of them openly and triumphing over them in it. In a coming day they will be cast into the lake of fire, for this place was “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41), where they will be “tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev. 20:10).
Demons know that their doom is sealed. James 2:19 tells us that they “shudder” (American Standard Version). They themselves ask the Lord Jesus, “Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29).
Thus the awful judgment descends relentlessly and surely upon the hosts of evil.
Discrimination Of Demon Persuasion From Demon Possession
Scripture discriminates between the two. We have no doubt that demon possession is a reality. It existed and exists. Some instances of demon possession are given in Matthew 4:24; 8:16; 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22, etc.
There are many things concerning demons that are a mystery, for what is revealed limits our knowledge on the whole subject; yet, we have this certainty, no believer on the Lord Jesus Christ can ever become demon possessed. This is due to the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit Who is a safeguard against any such thing for, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). While the Scriptures tell of demons entering and controlling both humans and beasts, we never read of one instance of a believer being demon possessed. So we conclude that only an unbeliever may become demon possessed.
Since Christians act in a very wrong way at times, can this not be the result of giving heed to the persuasions or suggestions of those who do Satan’s bidding? I think so. Many Christians toy around with thought-reading, palm-reading, fortune-telling, etc., which are all forms of spiritism. This is definitely an activity of seducing spirits. Concerning the persuasion of demons, the words of another give us warning:
“Let Christians take heed against being drawn into tampering with spiritism in any form. To play at planchette with the idea that it is an innocent toy, or to engage in thought-reading, table-turning, palmistry, and clairvoyance is to throw oneself into the devil’s snare.”