The Truth About Demons

"I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." —2 Corinthians 11:14 (NLT)

The spirit world is both enticing and mysterious. The Bible tells us that a spiritual realm and spiritual beings do exist, though God has only provided a small glimpse into what it all entails (John 1:14; Ephesians 6:12; Jude 1:6). To try to understand it, people have believed and created myths about both demons and angels.

Some of these are fairly harmless misunderstandings. Others can be confusing at best—and deadly at worst. Let's dispel some of the myths about demons...

Are demons in charge of hell?

"God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment." —2 Peter 2:4

One of the biggest misconceptions about Satan and the other demons is that they're somehow "in charge" of hell. Some believe that Satan is hell's ruler and commands demons to gleefully torment the human souls who go there. But Jesus was clear that hell was created as a place of torment for demons (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:48).

Humans were actually never supposed to go to hell. But since the first people chose to sin, humanity's relationship with God has hung in the balance. We have free will to accept our Creator or reject Him. And now, at the final judgment, both demons and the humans who refused to follow God will suffer together (Revelation 20:10-15).

Will demons submit to humans?

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." —1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

No, demons don't submit to humans. No witch, wizard, medium, shaman, psychic, or spiritualist can ever hope to control a demon. Rather, these people are the ones who serve the demons—even if they don't realize it. If it seems that a person is "controlling" a spirit, it's only because the spirit wants them to believe it. Only God can force demons to do what they don't want to do (Acts 19:13-16).

Demons don't offer hidden truth or wisdom. They can't reveal future events. They don't care about helping humanity with success, fame, or fortune. They can't connect you with your loved ones who have died. They have nothing good to give. All they offer is harm, manipulation, and lies.

The first instance of demonic activity in the world was when Satan lied to Eve (Genesis 3:4). Jesus said of Satan, "He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44b, NLT).

Can demons be killed?

Demons can't die. They are spiritual beings and have no body to kill. Some of those demons who have egregiously sinned are already imprisoned in an abyss where they will wait until final judgment (Jude 1:6). After the final judgment, they will suffer for eternity in hell (Revelation 20:10).

Although demons can oppress Christians, they can't possess someone who has received Christ. Those who accept Christ are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11). He makes us new creations, and He's infinitely more powerful than demons (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 4:4).

The Worst Misconception

Finally, the most dangerous misunderstanding about demons is that they're mildly harmless or, even worse, benevolent toward humanity. The truth is, they don't protect people. They don't act in people's best interests. They hate humans and have had a heavy hand in shaping the cultures and religions of this world (Ephesians 6:12). Any "help" they seem to give is meant to make us more broken and lost than we already are. Their end goal is to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8). They can't hurt God, so they try to destroy those made in His image.

While this information is a little overwhelming, we want to encourage you that it IS possible to defend ourselves against spiritual attacks. If we have received salvation through Jesus, a demon's weapons are limited. The apostle Paul talks about how we have access to the full armor of God, an arsenal which consists of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, our salvation, the Word of God, and prayer (Ephesians 6:14-18). We would be wise to seek out that protection and remain vigilant of the spiritual battle around us.

"Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil." —Ephesians 6:11

ALSO SEE:

• Are demons real?
• What do demons do?
• What's wrong with stories about demons?
• What does the Bible say about divination?
• Is there evidence of demonic activity in the world today?
• How much power does Satan have?
• What does the Bible say about witchcraft?
• Should Christians read horoscopes?
• Are intrusive thoughts sin?
• How can I overcome temptation?
• What is the full armor of God?
• What's the difference between magic and miracles?
• A Study on "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis