DEMON POSSESSION (CONQUERED & CONTROLLED BY EVIL SPIRITS)

Identity of Demons o not mythical creatures o believed in God (Jas. 2:19) o spoke and understood “torment” and the “abyss” (Lk. 8:26-31) o not departed souls of wicked men (Lk. 16:19ff) o remained in Hades o could not leave o didn’t want to hurt anyone

Identity of Demons COMPARE ACTS 5:15, 16 o not figurative for human sickness/suffering o demon possession was distinguished from sickness o “So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them” (Matt. 4:24, RSV) o not figurative for human sickness/suffering o demon possession was distinguished from sickness o “So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them” (Matt. 4:24, RSV) DEMONIACS NOT THE SAME AS

Identity of Demons o possible fallen angels o “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Matt. 25:41) o Satan has “angels” o Satan has “demons” (Matt. 12:24-26) o a future torment for Satan’s angels exists o a future torment for demons exists (Matt. 8:28, 29)

Origin of Demons o God created everything through Christ: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Col. 1:16)

CHRIST CREATED o SATAN o BUT SATAN “SINNED” FROM THE BEGINNING o 1John 3:8, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” o THAT SATAN COULD “SIN” SHOWS THAT HE WAS CREATED GOOD, GIVEN LAW AND HAD THE POWER OF CHOICE! o ***“SIN IS LAWLESSNESS” (1 JOHN 3:4)

CHRIST CREATED o SATAN o ANGELS o BUT SOME ANGELS HAVE “SINNED” o 2Peter 2:4, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned...” o THAT ANGELS COULD SIN SHOWS THAT THEY WERE CREATED GOOD, GIVEN LAW AND HAD THE POWER OF CHOICE!

A THOUGHT o IF DEMONS ARE NOT “ANGELS WHO SINNED,” THEN WE MUST STILL CONCLUDE THAT GOD HAD ORIGINALLY MADE THEM GOOD AND THAT THEY HAD FALLEN FROM THE LAW GIVEN TO THEM o JAMES 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

CAN DEMON POSSESSION HAPPEN TODAY?

ZECHARIAH 13:1 1 "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. “By this water we have to understand not only grace in general, but the spiritual sprinkling-water, which is prepared through the sacrificial death of Christ, through the blood that He shed for sin, and which is sprinkled upon us for the cleansing away of sin in the gracious water of baptism. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin (1 john i. 7; compare v. 6)” (Keil-Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 10, Zechariah, p. 392)

ZECHARIAH 13:1 o THAT THIS IS THE TIME OF CHRIST IS ESTABLISHED BY THE CONTEXT: SEE ZECHARIAH 12:10-14 o POURING OF HOLY SPIRIT (v. 10; cf. Acts 2:1FF) o PIERCING OF CHRIST (v. 10; cf. Jn. 20:25-27) o MOURNING “IN THAT DAY” (v. 11; cf. Lk. 24:17; Acts 2:37) 1 "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

ZECHARIAH 13:1 o THAT THIS IS THE TIME OF CHRIST IS ESTABLISHED BY THE CONTEXT: SEE ZECHARIAH 13:7 o “STRIKE THE SHEPHERD” (PERTAINING TO EVENTS SURROUNDING CRUCIFIXION. FULFILLED IN MATT. 26:31, 56) 1 "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

ZECHARIAH 13:1, 2 1 "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. 2 "It shall be in that day," says the LORD of hosts, "that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land. IN THAT DAY (TIME) WHEN CHRIST WOULD PROVIDE A FOUNTAIN TO WASH SIN AWAY IS WHEN PROPHECY AND UNCLEAN SPIRITS WOULD DEPART FROM THE LAND!

OBSERVATIONS o PROPHETS WOULD DWELL TEMPORARILY o UNCLEAN SPIRITS WERE PERMITTED TO DWELL ON EARTH TEMPORARILY o AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT IS A DEMON

MARK 5 1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.

MARK 5 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." 8 For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" 9 Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. “I will also cause the...unclean spirit to depart from the land” (ZECH. 13:2)

MARK 5 11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. 14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

ZECHARIAH 13:1, 2 1 "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. 2 "It shall be in that day," says the LORD of hosts, "that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land. TO SUGGEST THAT PROPHESY AND DEMON POSSESSION EXISTS 2000 YEARS AFTER THE “DAY” THE “FOUNTAIN FOR SIN” WAS OPENED MAKES ZECHARIAH A FALSE PROPHET!

ZECHARIAH 13:2 o EITHER DEMONS WERE ‘ CAUSED ’ TO DEPART FROM THE LAND ‘ IN THAT DAY’ OR NOT! o DO YOU BELIEVE THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH OR SOME MODERN DAY PREACHER WHO THINKS DEMON-POSSESSION STILL EXISTS? I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land.

DEMONS EXISTED o WHEN CHRIST WAS HERE (MK. 5:1ff; ETC.) o WHEN THE APOSTLES WERE HERE (ACTS 5:15, 16; 16:16-18; ETC.) o AND POSSIBLY THROUGH THE NEXT GENERATION WHO WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS FROM THE APOSTLES’ HANDS (PHILIP: ACTS 8:7, 17, 18)

IF DEMONS EXIST ON EARTH TODAY: o THERE WOULD BE NO DEBATE o SUCH WOULD BE WELL ESTABLISHED IN THE MINDS OF ALL MEN o THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF BODILY HARM INFLICTED UPON MODERN DAY “EXORCISTS”

ACTS 19: Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" o SOUGHT TO CAST OUT DEMONS BY MERELY CALLING “JESUS” OVER THEM

ACTS 19: Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" o SOUGHT TO CAST OUT DEMONS BY MERELY CALLING “JESUS” OVER THEM o WANTED THE SUCCESS PAUL HAD

ACTS 19: Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" o SOUGHT TO CAST OUT DEMONS BY MERELY CALLING “JESUS” OVER THEM o WANTED THE SUCCESS PAUL HAD o BUT WERE NOT ACCEPTED BY JESUS (OR EVEN THIS DEMON) AS PAUL WAS

ACTS 19:16-17 (THE EFFECT) 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. o THE DEMON DIDN’T HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THEIR COMMAND BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T SUBMIT TO CHRIST’S

ACTS 19:16-17 (THE EFFECT) 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. o THE DEMON DIDN’T HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THEIR COMMAND BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T SUBMIT TO CHRIST’S o EVENTS WERE PUBLISHED FAR AND WIDE

THOSE WHO ‘PRACTICE’ EXORCISMS TODAY: o ARE LIKE THE SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA o THEY KNOW WHO JESUS AND PAUL ARE BUT ARE NOT LEGITIMATE MINISTERS OF CHRIST o E.I., TEACH FALSE DOCTRINE REGARDING SALVATION, THE CHURCH, ETC. o WILL USE SIMILAR DECEPTIVE TACTICS TO FOOL THEIR AUDIENCE o YET, THEY WILL NOT BE OVERCOME BY A DEMON...BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE IN THE LAND TO OVERCOME THEM!!!!

o SHOWED JESUS POWER OVER SATAN 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 "Or how can one enter a strong man‘s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. MATTHEW 12:25-29

o SHOWED JESUS POWER OVER SATAN o IDENTIFIED THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD 28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. MATTHEW 12:28

J. W. MCGARVEY “Jesus here draws a conclusion from the two arguments presented. Since he does not cast out by Satan, he must cast out by the power of God, and therefore his actions demonstrated the potential arrival of the kingdom of God.... the steady, daily conquests of Christ over the powers of evil presented to the people the triumphant progress of an invading kingdom.” (THE FOUR FOLD GOSPEL, P. 302)

o SHOWED JESUS POWER OVER SATAN o IDENTIFIED THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD o SERVED AS A SIGN TO CONFIRM THE WORD AND THE SPEAKER AS TRUE (MK. 16:17-20; ACTS 19:11- 17)

“DOCTRINES OF DEMONS” o DEMONS DO NOT POSSESS BODIES o THEY ARE STILL AT WORK TO POSSESS THE MIND THROUGH FALSE DOCTRINE

“DOCTRINES OF DEMONS” 1 TIMOTHY 4:1-5 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

BEWARE o WHAT YOU TEACH o WHAT YOU BELIEVE “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 JN. 4:1)