Satan and Demons

1. Work of Satan in the world

a) Cosmos

(1) Physical nature of the cosmos

(a) Regularity and order were the nature of the universe prior to the fall (b) Order is still found, but there are also events which damage the order (floods, storms, earthquakes, etc.). (c) This world is the sphere of Satan’s rule.

(2) Spiritual nature of the cosmos (the “world-system”)

(a) The world-system is ignorant – Jn. 17:25 (b) It is under God’s judgment – Rom. 3:19 (c) Whole world is condemned – I Cor. 11:32 (d) The world is cut off from God spiritually and morally – Eph. 2:12 (e) The world is corrupt – 2 Pet. 1:4 (f) The world is defiled (polluted) before God – 2 Pet. 1:4

b) Satan’s work in the cosmos spiritually

(1) He blinds men to spiritual truth – 2 Cor. 4:4

(2) He promotes false faith – 1 Jn. 4:6; James 3:15

(a) He instigates the ministry of false prophets – 1 Jn. 4:1 (b) He is the ultimate author of false doctrine – 1 Tim 4:1 (c) He is the initiator of false sects – 2 Pet 2:1 (d) He attacks deity of Christ

(3) He takes away the seed of the Word – Matt 13

(4) He counterfeits God’s program – Rev 12:9, 20:3, 8, 10

(a) Counterfeit gospel – Gal 1:6 (b) Counterfeit church – Rev 2:9; 3:9 (c) Counterfeit ministry – 2 Cor 11:13-15 (d) The believer’s response to these counterfeits is:

(i) Mark them – Rom 16:17

(ii) Rebuke them – Tit 1:13; 2 Tim. 4:2

(iii) Shun them - 2 Jn 1:10

(iv) Resist them – James 4:7

2. Work of Satan in the political world (God of this world – religious; Prince of this world – political)

a) Satan directs the world system – Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 1 Jn 5:19

(1) He controls world rulers – Ezek 28; Is. 14

(2) He has authority over the earth – Lk 4:5-6; Matt 12:24-26

b) He instigates lust and strife – 1 Jn 2:16; James 4:1-4, 7

c) He manipulates governments – 1 Chron 20:1; Eph 6:12

d) His activity will increase and intensify during the Tribulation – 2 Thes 2:9; Rev 9:20; 16:13-18

3. Work of Satan against the Believer

a) Descriptions

(1) Fowler (bird catcher) – Ps 91:3; 2 Cor 2:11

(2) Sower of tares – Mt. 13:24-29

(3) Wolf – Jn 10:12

(4) Serpent – Rev 12:9; 20:2

b) Opposer of God’s People

(1) He is able to cause physical affliction – Job. 1, 2; Lk. 18:11; 2 Cor. 12:7

(2) He attempts to cause perverted understanding of the Word – Matt 4:6

(3) He tempts – Matt 13:24-30; Lk 22:3

(4) He hinders God’s servants – 1 Thes 2:18

(5) He is permitted to test God’s people – Lk 22:31ff

(6) He is an instigator of fleshly sins (although these can also come from a person’s sinful nature – the devil does not always make me do it).

(a) Lying – John 8 (b) Immorality – 1 Cor 7 (c) Pride – 1 Tim (d) Lust (e) Etc. He is limited by God – Job, James 4:7; Rom 8:16

1. Character and Nature of Demons

a) Demons are intelligent – Matt 8:29, 31; Luke 4:34

b) They experience emotion – James 2:19

c) They are spirit beings – Matt 8:16

d) They are powerful – Dan 10:13; Mark 5:2-4

e) They are subject to Satan – Matt 12:22-30

f) They are multitudinous (and make Satan appear to be omnipresent) – Mark 5:9

g) They are degraded and debased – Matt 10:1

h) They appear to desire a body – Matt 12:43-44

2. Power and Work of Demons

a) They can enter and control the bodies of humans and beasts, so much so that the personality of the individual is completely subordinated – Matt 12:45; Mark 5:2-4

b) They oppose the spiritual progress of God’s people – Eph 6:12

3. Activities

a) They opposed God’s program – Dan 10:10-14; Eph 6:12

b) They execute Satan’s program – Rev 16:13-14; 1 Tim 4:1

c) They assist Satan in tempting humans to sin.

d) They afflict men with infirmities, both physical and mental – Matt 17:15, 18; Mk 9:17, 25; Acts 8:7

4. Chained angels – Luke 8:30-31; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6

a) It appears that there are some fallen angels today who have no freedom to work on earth and that they are in the place where all demons will eventually go.

(1) Some argue that this only means that the demons are restricted to earth.

(2) Others argue that certain demons are imprisoned now.

(3) Tartarus – found only in 2 Peter 2:4

(4) Abyss – Luke 8:31; Rev 9:1-2, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3.

(a) There is an angelic leader of the bottomless pit whose name is Abaddon and Apollyon. (b) Antichrist comes from the Abyss – Rev 11:3, 7; 17:8. (c) Satan will be imprisoned there – Rev 20:1-3.

(5) One possible reason for imprisoning certain demons before the final judgment is based on Gen 6.

(a) Gen 6 would have to refer to the cohabitation of fallen angels and women, with the resultant offspring of “mighty men.” (b) This may be the basis for pagan legends in which the gods and humans produce supernatural offspring. For instance, the Babylonian Gilgamesh was supposed to be 2/3 god and 1/3 human. (c) Until the 4th century, this was the accepted position of the Jews and Christians. (d) Roman Catholicism began to reject this interpretation when it began to worship angels in the 4th century. (e) Celibacy may also have forced the church to interpret the sons of God as humans rather than angels.

(6) 1 Pet 3:8-10 speaks of spirits in prison from the days of Noah.

(7) It has been suggested that Satan was attempting to corrupt humanity and thus prevent the possibility of the incarnation.[1]

5. Destiny

a) Satan will be cast into the Lake of fire forever – Rev 20:2, 10

b) Angels will join him – Matt 25:41

[1] James M. Gray, Spiritism and the Fallen Angels in the Light of the Old and New Testaments (London: Fleming H. Revell, 1920), 119ff.