Are demons real and active today?
Yes. The New Testament treats demons as real personal spirits, fallen angels in service of evil, who oppose God and deceive people. Jesus cast them out, and the apostles met them in the open. But their power is not ultimate: the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil, and His people resist them through the Word, prayer, and faith, without fear.
This question arose from studying Who is Satan, and what does he do?.
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What the Scripture says
The New Testament treats demons as real persons
This is not myth or metaphor; the Gospels show Jesus speaking to demons as persons. He asked one man's unclean spirit its name, and it replied, 'My name is Legion, for we are many.' The seventy reported with astonishment, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!' When evening came, the people brought the demon-possessed to Jesus, and 'he cast out the spirits with a word.' Demons speak, choose, and act.
He asked him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick;When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
They are fallen angels, not rivals of God
Demons are created spirits who rebelled. Peter says God did not spare angels when they sinned but cast them into pits of darkness, held for judgment, and Jude speaks of angels who did not keep their own domain, kept in everlasting bonds. Revelation calls the dragon's angels thrown down with him. They are powerful, but they are creatures under God's judgment, never His equals.
For if God didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.For 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.
They are active in deception and false teaching
Their work today is often subtle. Paul warns that in later times some will fall away from the faith, 'paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.' He adds that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. John tells us to test the spirits, because not every voice is from God. The enemy's activity is real, and much of it is aimed at lies, division, and falsehood within reach of the church.
But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Jesus is their conqueror
Demons fled from Jesus, and He saw Satan fallen like lightning. John's summary is decisive: 'To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.' Paul says Christ 'stripped the principalities and the powers' and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them at the cross. Whatever demons are, they are a defeated enemy whose Leader has already won the war.
The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
So the believer resists, not fears
Because demons are real, so is the call to resist them. James says, 'Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,' and Peter urges us to be watchful and to withstand him steadfast in faith. Even the demons believe and shudder, yet they do not control those who are in Christ: 'greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.' We are not to be naive, and we are not to be afraid.
Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
Continue this trail
Do believers have guardian angels?→“For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”How do I pray against the enemy without fearing him?→“Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. ’And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”Can a Christian be tormented by demons?→“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”How do I discern demonic influence from ordinary struggles?→“Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”What is the armor of God, piece by piece?→“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”What do angels look like, and can believers see them?→“Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
He asked him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.For 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.
You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
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