The Work of Demons Today

The Work of Demons Today

I. Introduction

Demons are real but defeated foes (Col. 2:15). They are active in tempting and accusing but limited by God's decree. The study counters extremes of ignoring demons or obsessing over them.

II. Biblical Foundation

Category,Reference (CSB),Full Text

Demons,Deut. 32:17,"They sacrificed to demons, not God; to gods they had not known, new gods that had just arrived, which your fathers did not fear."

Demons,Ps. 106:37,They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.

Demons,Matt. 8:31,"Now the demons begged him, saying, ""If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."""

Demons,Matt. 10:8,"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge."

Demons,Matt. 12:24,"""He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!"""

Demons,Mark 1:34,"And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and drove out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him."

Demons,Mark 3:22,"The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, ""He has Beelzebul in him!"" and, ""He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!"""

Demons,Mark 5:12,"""Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them."""

Demons,Luke 4:41,"Demons also came out of many, crying out, ""You are the Son of God!"" But he rebuked them, did not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah."

Demons,Luke 8:30,"""What is your name?"" Jesus asked him. ""Legion,"" he said, because many demons had entered him."

Demons,Luke 10:17,"The Seventy returned with joy, saying, ""Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."""

Demons,1 Cor. 10:20-21,"No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord's table and the table of demons."

Demons,James 2:19,You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.

Demons,Rev. 18:2,"He called out in a mighty voice: Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit..."

Satan,Gen. 3:1,"Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ""Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden'?"""

Satan,Job 1:6,"The day came when the sons of God appeared before the Lord, and Satan also came with them."

Satan,Zech. 3:1,"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan standing at his right side to accuse him."

Satan,Matt. 4:10,"Then Jesus told him, ""Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him."""

Satan,Luke 10:18,"He said to them, ""I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning."""

Satan,2 Cor. 2:11,I have done this so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Satan,1 Thess. 2:18,"So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us."

Satan,Rev. 12:9,"So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him."

Evil Spirits,Judg. 9:23,God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully...

Evil Spirits,1 Sam. 16:14,"Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord began to torment him..."

Evil Spirits,1 Sam. 16:23,"Whenever the evil spirit from God took control of Saul, David would take the harp and play. Then Saul would relax and feel better. The evil spirit would leave him."

Evil Spirits,Acts 19:12-13,"...so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits..."

Allusions (Principalities/Powers),Eph. 1:21,"far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come."

Allusions,Eph. 3:10,so that the manifold wisdom of God is now made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.

Allusions,Eph. 6:12,"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens."

Allusions,Col. 1:16,"for everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him."

Allusions,Col. 2:15,He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

III. Historical Perspective: Puritan Insights and Confessional Warnings on Demons' Work Today

Puritans viewed demons as active in temptation, deception, and affliction, but subservient to God. Their work includes unbelief, pride, and worldly idolatry.

Confessional Baptist views: The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith (LBCF), Chapter 6, describes humanity's fall through sin against God, leading to a state of sin and misery conveyed to posterity. All evil stems from this original corruption, not independent demonic invention.

Keach's Baptist Catechism, Q. 25, states the sinfulness of man's fallen estate consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, want of original righteousness, corruption of nature (original sin), and actual transgressions following it.

Demons' work persists in modern issues like doubt, division, and false teachings. Demons exploit sin.

Cautionary Historical Case: The Salem Witch Trials (1692-1693)Over 200 people were accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts, leading to 20 executions (19 by hanging, 5 men and 14 women; 1 by pressing, Giles Corey) and at least 5 deaths in jail. It began in January 1692 with fits exhibited by Betty Parris (age 9) and Abigail Williams (age 11), nieces and daughter of Rev. Samuel Parris. Accusations spread to Tituba (enslaved woman who confessed under duress), Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne. Causes included social and political instability from wars with Native Americans, family feuds (e.g., Putnam vs. Porter), religious zeal allowing spectral evidence in court, and judicial failures under judges like John Hathorne and William Stoughton. Key drivers: Hysterical girls (Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam Jr.), Rev. Samuel Parris (preached on Satan), and the Putnam family (filed many complaints for grudges). Trials halted in 1693 by Governor William Phips; victims exonerated in 1711 with reparations.

Key Puritan Quotes:

Samuel Rutherford: Christ in four relations hath dominion over devils. Satan goeth no where without a pass.

John Calvin: Demons exist now, but for those of us in Christ they have little or no effect on us personally.

On conscience attacks: Satan attacks the conscience with false reasoning, such as "This sin cannot remain in a true child of God. But it remains in you. Therefore you are not a true child of God." Remedy: Trust Christ's righteousness.

IV. Contrasts in Combating Demons: Biblical Means vs. Extrabiblical Methods

Confessional Baptists combat demons via Scripture (sword of the Spirit), prayer, sacraments (baptism/Lord's Supper as signs of union with Christ), and church fellowship. Resistance is humble obedience (Eph. 2:6; Eph. 4:27).

Contrast 1: Catholic Exorcisms Catholic rites include holy water, crucifixes, and commands (Rite of Exorcism, 1614/1999).

Anneliese Michel (1975-1976, Germany): 23-year-old suffered seizures and voices; underwent 67 exorcisms by Frs. Ernst Alt and Arnold Renz over 10 months. She spoke in demonic voices, rejected food, and died July 1, 1976, of malnutrition and dehydration (weight 68 lbs). Parents and priests convicted of negligent homicide.

Robbie Mannheim (1949, USA): 14-year-old boy (pseudonym "Roland Doe") exhibited violent behavior, scratches, and moving furniture; over 30 sessions by Jesuit Frs. William Bowdern and Walter Halloran in St. Louis. Symptoms included growling, speaking Latin, and levitating beds; ended with first Communion. Basis for(1973). The Exorcist 

Contrast 2: Charismatic Overemphasis Charismatics attribute sins to specific "demons of [sin]" (e.g., "spirit of fear," "demon of addiction"), leading to deliverance ministries. This unbiblically excuses personal accountability (James 1:14-15), categorizes demons per vice (unlike NT general possession), and undermines sanctification (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Believers cannot be possessed (1 Cor. 6:19), but oppressed via sin.

Key Quotes and Critiques:

R.C. Sproul: "For example, we hear that particular demons cause particular sins. There is, they say, a demon of alcohol, a demon of depression, a demon of tobacco, and so on. This is sheer nonsense... It diminishes the reality of sin and our responsibility for it."

Dr. Robert Dean, Jr.: “‘Demonized’ and ‘to have a demon’ are used in Scripture of only one extreme type of demonic activity: to have one or more demons take up residence inside the body... Not every sin or struggle is demonic oppression."

Spiritual warfare involves faith in Word, fearing God, and obedience (James 4:7; Col. 2:15). Scripture suffices; reject extra-biblical ministries. Church proclaims gospel (Eph. 3:10).

V. Conclusion

Demons work, but grace wins (Rom. 16:20). The one in you is greater than the one in the world (1 John 4:4).