Bible Study (Demonology)

By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD

     I.            GOLDEN TEXT.

1 Timothy 4:16 16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

LESSON NOTES:[1]

     I.            THE WORD DEMON. The word “demon” is taken from the Greek "Daimoion" which is equal to the English form "Daimon." It means an unclean or evil spirit. Demons are rendered as spirits sometimes beings called devils or demoniac beings.

II.            WHAT ARE DEMONS? They are evil spirits belonging to the unseen or spiritual realm. Many times they are embodied in human beings.

                         A.            WHERE DO DEMONS COME FROM? The Word is silent regarding that. However, we do know the following.

Colossians 1:16-17 ¹⁶For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Revelation 4:11 ¹¹"You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

III.            DEMONS THROUGHOUT HISTORY. Evil spirits have been theorized and believed on before Old Testament times of Polytheism to Monotheism and even in Pagan cults. Therefore, demons have a universal appeal, but the Scriptures direct man's thoughts to his original operations and powers.

Luke 10:17-20 ¹⁷And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, LORD, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. ¹⁸And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. ¹⁹Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. ²⁰Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

IV.            THE OLD TESTAMENT. Demonology of the Old Testament is confined to the following Scriptures.

Leviticus 16:21-22 ²¹He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites-all their sins-and put them on the goat's head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. ²²The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.

Leviticus 17:7 ⁷They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.'

Deuteronomy 32:17 ¹⁷They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God- gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear.

Isaiah 13:21 ²¹But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about.

Isaiah 34:13 ¹³Thorns will overrun her citadels, nettles and brambles her strongholds. She will become a haunt for jackals, a home for owls.

Psalm 106:37 ³⁷They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods.

 V.            SATAN. The Old and New Testament also recognized the Prince of Demons sometimes called Satan (adversary) or Devil as having being, power, wisdom, taking the habitation of other forms, such as the serpent.

Genesis 3:1 ¹Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

Matthew 9:34 ³⁴But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."

Luke 11:15 ¹⁵But some of them said, "By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons."

Mark 3:22 ²²And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."

Matthew 12:24 ²⁴But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."

VI.            THE DEVIL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. The New Testament speaks of the Devil as tempter and it goes on to tell the works of Satan. The Devil and demons are combating righteousness and good in any form of the believers, proving to be an adversary to the saints.

Matthew 4:3-5 ³And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. ⁴But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. ⁵Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

1 Thessalonians 2:18 ¹⁸For we wanted to come to you-certainly I, Paul, did, again and again-but Satan blocked our way.

1 Peter 5:8 ⁸Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

VII.            SATAN’S KINGDOM. In the New Testament demons belong to the Kingdom of Satan, who sometimes is called the "Angel of Light" or "The Power of the Air," and their chief power being exercised to destroy the mission of Jesus Christ.

John 8:44-47 ⁴⁴Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. ⁴⁵And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. ⁴⁶Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? ⁴⁷He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

John 12:31 ³¹Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

Ephesians 2:1-2 ¹And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; ²Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 6:12 ¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2 Corinthians 11:14 ¹⁴And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Colossians 1:13 ¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1 John 2:8-11 ⁸Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. ⁹He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. ¹⁰He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. ¹¹But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

VIII.            DEMONS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. The New Testament makes many references to demons, demon possessions, and diseases caused by them.

Matthew 4:24 ²⁴News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.

Matthew 8:16 ¹⁶When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.

Matthew 10:8 ⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Mark 1:32-34 ³²That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Mark 16:17-18 ¹⁷And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Luke 4:40-41 ⁴⁰At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. ⁴¹Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

Luke 9:1 ¹When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,

Luke 13:32 ³²He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.'

Acts 19:11-12 ¹¹God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, ¹²so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

IX.            THE CHURCH BELIEVES THAT DEMONS ARE REAL. It can well be said that the Christian Church believes in demons, Satan, and devils. We believe in their power and purpose. But, moreso, we believe that we have power over them.

 X.            WE HAVE POWER OVER DEMONS. We believe they can be subdued and conquered as in the commandment to the believer by Jesus, "In my name they shall cast out devils" and also in the writing of the Apostles admonishing to watch Satan and the works of the devil and to resist him and then he will flee (withdraw) from you.

Mark 16:17 ¹⁷And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

XI.            DEMONS AND THE UNSAVED. However, we well know of heathen practices of witchcraft and demon cures that have caused a nightmare of unimaginable horrors practiced by those who know not the name of Jesus for such cures of human ills.

XII.            DO NOT SET YOUR FOCUS ON THE DEVIL OR DEMONS. When one embarks upon complete imaginary thoughts on the working of the Prince of the Air or Satan, he might become confused about his many workings, demonstrations, and afflictions upon the people of God and the world, but the words of Jesus teach us that there is assurance and authority over these. "This kind can come out by nothing save by fasting and prayer."

Mark 9:28-29 ²⁸And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? ²⁹And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

XIII.            DO NOT DO THINGS TO INTERACT WITH DEMONS. The predominance of demonism is one of the " Signs of the Times.” Today, it is expressed in the ritualism of “ Spiritualism" —the communication of the living with the dead. It is forbidden in.

Leviticus 20:6-7 ⁶"'I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people. ⁷"'Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 20:27 ²⁷"'A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.'"

Deuteronomy 18:10-11 ¹⁰Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, ¹¹or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

Isaiah 8:19-20 ¹⁹When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? ²⁰Consult God's instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

XIV.            FAMILIAR SPIRITS. The "Familiar Spirits" of the Old Testament are the same as Demons" and Seducing Spirits of the New Testament. Saul's being slain for seeking counsel with one who had a familiar spirit should be a warning to every true child of God to refrain from any involvement with Familiar Spirits or Demonism.

1 Chronicles 10:13-14 ¹³Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, ¹⁴and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

1 Timothy 4:1-3 ¹The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ²Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. ³They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

XV.            THE END TIMES. Demonism is a sign of the approaching end of this Age.

XVI.            PRAYER FOR SALVATION. As we close, if you have not received this Jesus pray this simple prayer:

"Father, I know that I have sinned against You. Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I believe that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. I believe that He was raised from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today.

"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."

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[1] Range, C. F., Ed. Official Manual Church Of God In Christ. COGIC: Memphis, 1973.