Chapter 86 - Demon-Possession

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The Bible is clear; Satan lies in the attempt to deceive humanity. It serves to distract from his own embarrassing failure and instead, emphasize the failure of the human race.

Satan perpetrates his lies for the purpose of destroying humanity, the object of his hatred and jealousy. They are designed to lead to strongholds and ultimately, entrenched thinking.

What is the next stage in the evolution of satanic strategy? Is it “demon-possession?” Is it an actual possibility or is it merely a demonic ploy designed to provide Satan with an advantage?

Possessed?

In the New Testament, “demon-possession” is translated from the Greek word daimonizomai (dahee-mon-id'-zom-ahee). It is used 13 times in the New Testament. (Matthew 4:24; 8:16; 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15, 16, 18; Luke 8:36; John 10:21) “Demon-possession” is commonly defined as “a condition of being inhabited and dominated by demons.”[1]

The word “possession” is connotative of ownership. Something “possessed” is typically owned. It is important to remember; however, the defeated Satan owns nothing.

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Biblical Path of Ownership

God created the original, eternal earth and its angelic inhabitants. Consequently, He possessed the right of ownership for the original earth and its angelic inhabitants. Relative to His selflessness, God does not obligate angelic or human beings to exist in a state of union with Him. Instead, He selflessly allows them the freedom of choice.

The devil and his angels chose to rebel against God by challenging His nature. Therefore, they were necessarily banished from the presence of God. Thus, the angelic population of the kingdom was significantly reduced.

Congruent with the rebellion, the original heavens and earth were rendered chaotic. They became characterized by waste, ruin, emptiness, and darkness.

God renovated the chaotic heavens and earth and populated it with a new type of creature, the human race. Consequently, He possessed the right of ownership for the renovated heavens and earth and its human inhabitants.

God appointed the first man, Adam, as the representative/representational head of the human race.

Satan did not fail to notice that God had chosen to replace him in His kingdom with inferior human beings. It was clear that he had been replaced not only according to position and authority but also as the primary object of divine love and affection. Motivated by intense hatred and great jealousy, Satan schemed to deceive Adam into abdicating the authority of his representative/representational headship to him.

Adam surrendered (abdicated) his God-given authority over the renovated earth to Satan for Eve. As a result, Adam received life with Eve and Satan received the authority to rule the fallen earth, the “domain of darkness.” Adam’s rebellion against God resulted in the fall of mankind and his habitat, the renovated earth.

Concordant with the success of the scheme, the human race was necessarily separated from God in the realm of satanic authority (“domain of darkness”; realm of sin and death). By his deception, Satan gained authority over degenerated heavens and earth and its fallen human inhabitants.

According to the eternal plan to vindicate His nature, God provided the opportunity for the redemption of the human race. To redeem means to recover ownership of something lost. It typically necessitates the payment of a price. Through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, God paid the price necessary to defeat Satan, strip him of every last vestige of authority, reestablish His own authority over the heavens and earth, and thereby gain the right of ownership for its fallen human inhabitants.

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Satan’s authority over the degenerated heavens and earth and its human inhabitants endured from Adam throughout the remainder of the Old Testament era. He was not relieved of his authority until the end of the era when Christ fulfilled the stipulations of the Eternal Covenant. Concordant with Jesus’ finished, redemptive work, Satan’s authority was revoked and he was utterly defeated.

As a result, Satan’s “house” (realm of authority; the “domain of darkness”) was justly “plundered” and his “property” (the human race) was “carried off.” (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22; etc.) All of his possessions were lost and any future opportunity to “possess” human beings ended.

But what about “demon-possession”? Doesn’t the Bible provide examples of both believers and unbelievers being “demon-possessed”? Beyond the fact Satan was completely and utterly defeated, there are several other factors to consider when assessing who, if anyone, is susceptible to “demon-possession.” For example, the spiritual status of the people said to be “possessed,” Satan’s quality of existence after his defeat, and also his character after his defeat.
First, the people in the Bible said to be “demon-possessed” all had the same spiritual status. They were all unbelievers.

In the Old Testament era before his radical defeat, Satan had legal authority over the fallen earth and its human inhabitants. He gained authority when it was abdicated by Adam at the fall of mankind. It endured until Jesus defeated Satan by His death and resurrection and thus, the fulfillment of the stipulations of the Eternal Covenant. Consequently, Satan’s authority abdicated from Adam was only a problem until the end of the Old Testament era. It was the one era in history where the possibility of “demon-possession” was a reality.

Nevertheless, only unbelievers in the Old Testament era could be “demon-possessed.” Unredeemed, their spiritual status was characterized by separation from God, citizenship in the “domain of darkness” (realm of satanic authority), and subjection to satanic authority.

In contrast, “demon-possession” was not a possibility for the believers during the Old Testament era. They were privileged to experience redemption by faithfully looking forward to the fulfillment of the promised, redemptive work of the Messiah. Their spiritual status was characterized by an intimate union of shared life with God, citizenship in His kingdom (realm of divine authority), and obligation to divine authority. Redeemed by the blood of the cross, the Old Testament believers were in no manner subject to satanic authority.

In the fullness of time, at the end of the Old Testament era, Jesus willingly experienced incarnation, grew from childhood to adulthood, and demonstrated His holiness on earth by three years of perfect, sinless ministry. Marking the end of the Old Testament era, He died on the cross for the sins of the world and was buried. The beginning of the New Testament era was initiated when Christ was resurrected on the third day, witnessed alive by a large number of people, and ascended into heaven where He was seated and exalted at the right hand of the Father.

The gospels provide a detailed chronology of the redemptive ministry of the incarnate Christ. Among many other things, they contain the stories of several people who were “demon-possessed.” (e.g., Matthew 4:24; 8:16; 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15, 16, 18; Luke 8:36; John 10:21) It is important to note, all of them were unbelievers who existed in the Old Testament era before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The book of Acts also needs further clarification. Providing a chronology of early New Testament church history, it too records instances of people who were “demon-possessed.” (Acts 5:16; 8:7; 16:16-18; 19:11-16) They were unbelievers who had experienced “demon-possession” before the redemptive work of Christ was finished and had yet to hear the Good News of its completion (the reason for Paul’s missionary journeys). As a result, the “demon-possessed” people in the book of Acts were effectively the equivalent of Old Testament era unbelievers. It was a situation unique to the beginning of the New Testament era.

Second, Satan’s quality of existence after his complete and utter defeat was not conducive for “possessing” human beings. As indicated, he was bound; disarmored; disarmed; and his works destroyed. (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22; Colossians 1:13; 1 John 3:8) The letter to the Hebrews states Satan was also “rendered powerless.” (Hebrews 2:14) In Paul’s letter to the Colossians it is clarified his defeat made him a public spectacle (exposed as shattered, empty, and defeated). (Colossians 2:15)

Relative to his utter defeat, Satan’s authority over the human race was revoked. God regained authority over the human race when He paid its price of redemption by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. As a result, God was able to justly “plunder” Satan’s “house” (realm of authority; the “domain of darkness”) and “carry off” his “property” (the human race). (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22; etc.)

The implications of Satan’s defeat should again be clear. He “possesses” nothing.

The only manner in which Satan can be understood to “possess” or own anything at all is by failing to understand the reality of his existence. After his complete and utter defeat, it is, to say the least, meager.

Third, when ascertaining whether people can be “demon-possessed” it is important to address the character of Satan. As previously mentioned, he is a “liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) Relative to his nature, he should be expected to lie. Indeed, Satan lies about everything. It should not be a surprise then that he would lie about his own authority or lack thereof and his ability to own or “possess” unbelievers or believers.

Satan does not have the authority or right to “possess” or own any human being, especially the believer, the one who has already received the covenantal promise and freedom of redemption.

The idea of “demon-possession” is nothing more than a satanic ploy. It is a lie designed by Satan to give him an advantage in spiritual warfare.
According to the Bible, “demon-possession” was only possible in one era of human history. It only occurred in the Old Testament era before Jesus’ fulfillment of the stipulations of the Eternal Covenant. There is no record of “demon-possession” in the New Testament era, after He finished His redemptive work.

In reality, Satan “possesses” or owns nothing. Purchased by the blood of the cross, God alone has the right of ownership for the human race. As a result, Satan does not have the authority to “possess” human beings.
Concordant with his utter defeat by the blood of the cross, Satan was completely desolated. The only remaining means he has to defend himself is to lie. It is an attribute of his nature and thus, an inherent part of his being. Therefore, Satan lies about everything, including his ability to “possess” human beings.

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Remedy or Reinforcement?

Is the presumably long and difficult process of casting out demons a potential remedy for “demon-possession”? Or is it merely another lie used by Satan to reinforce the idea of demon inhabitation and thus, “demon-possession”?

The Greek word translated “cast out,” ekballo (ek-bal'-lo), is used 85 times in the New Testament. (e.g., Matthew 7:22; John 12:31; Acts 13:50; 16:37) It is translated variously as “bring forth, cast (forth, out), drive (out), expel, leave, pluck (pull, take, thrust) out, put forth (out), send away (forth, out). Relative to the New Testament context in which it is used, the Greek word ekballo can mean “to cause to go out or leave, often, but not always, involving force …”[1]

To be “forced to leave” has a very different meaning than to be “cast out.” It does not imply a demon inhabits or “possesses” a human being and thus, its influence or control originates from the inside-out. Instead, “forced to leave” suggests the influence or control of the offending demon originates from the outside-in. Consequently, its influence or control is external only. Rather than “cast out” then, the demon must only be “forced to leave.”

The “casting out” of demons from someone who is “possessed” by them is a satanic lie that has been repeated for so long it has become a commonly held belief and thus, entrenched thinking. Contrary to his actual position of defeat, shame, and poverty, the falsehood of “demon-possession” serves to provide Satan with the appearance of authority, power, and the right of ownership for humanity.

Why does Satan lie about “demon-possession”? To answer that question, it is important to consider the state of mind of someone who is presumably “possessed” and has been led to believe the only remedy is the potentially long and arduous process of casting them out. More often than not, they feel hopeless and as a result, become passive.

What if demons cannot “possess” human beings and, in reality, their influence and affliction is not internal but only external? If true, satanic advantage disappears and spiritual warfare no longer appears nearly as intimidating.

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