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Devils   (or Demons if you prefer)

The subject of devils and is one that is not often discussed in churches today.  There is very little accurate teaching on the subject and much of what has been taught is pure speculation, supposition and guesswork. 

It has been said that there is so little information given in the bible concerning devils that we can't gain a good understanding of them.  I don't buy that statement for one minute and you should not either.  Organizations have formed entire doctrines out of fewer scriptures than we have on the subject of devils.

Some of you are probably wondering why I use the term "devil" instead of "demon".  Frankly, the word "demon" is not found in the bible anywhere but it has been incorporated into today's usage comes from the Greek usage of "daimon" and the variations of that word.  Daimon literally means:  "an evil, supernatural spirit".  We have the different variations such as: daimonion,  daimoniodes, and diamonizomai but they all indicate that an evil spirit is at work.  We find the word diabolos is used when the Word of God refers to Satan himself.  Please make this very important note:

THE WORD DAIMON AND IT'S VARIANTS ARE NEVER USED TO DENOTE OR DESCRIBE "MENTAL ILLNESS"... NEVER.

There are many "theologians" today who claim the term "devil" was used to indicate a mental defect, or mental illness of some kind.  They also attempt to state that it denotes a "set of ideas" or "religious beliefs" that were not "harmonious" with the teachings of the Old Testament or with Christianity.  How very convenient it is for them to explain devils in this manner!  Then they could deny the presence of a real, personal devil, they could deny the power of Jesus Christ and attribute it to Psychology or Psychiatry.  This would help the religious world of today tremendously!  After all, if we can eliminate Satan from the equation, then everything becomes God and God becomes everything. Unfortunately, their thinking and their teaching on this matter clearly contradicts the Word of God:

Matthew 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Note the difference:   "those which were possessed with devils" and "those which were lunatick". 

In Matthew 17 we have the only other mention of the word "lunatick" in the bible, and it is used of a young boy's father.  Let's look at it closely before we begin to examine what the bible really says about devils.

Matthew 17:15-16 "Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him."

There are 2 other passages that relate to this one:

Mark 9:17-18 "And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not."

Luke 9:38-39 "And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him."

The word used for "lunatick" is literally what we have today "lunacy", or moonstruck.  In other words "crazy".  Matthew 4 seems to indicate, however, that lunacy and devil possession were 2 separate issues:  one required healing, the other required the casting out of; or the removing of,  devils.

What then, are devils?  Where did they come from?  Is a devil a set of ideas or religious beliefs?  Are devil real supernatural beings (as the definition alone suggests)?  Do they interact with mankind today in some form or fashion?  Are they intelligent:  by that I mean intelligent in that they can think, reason, speak?   Are there possessed people today?  Is mental illness and devil possession the same thing?

Let's answer these questions and more as we study the subject of devils.

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